Information from here:

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/funcom-to-close-over-half-of-conan-servers

and here: 

http://forums-eu.ageofconan.com/showthread.php?t=105978

shows that Funcom will be closing down 31 servers. Servers will go from 49 to 18, 8 of which will be Spanish/French/German.

That leaves a total of 4 US servers, 2 Oceanic servers and 4 EU-EN servers (were RP servers are still featured).

Essentially this comes down to 1 server per playtype per region.

- 1 PvP

- 1 PvE

- 1PvPRP

- 1PvERP

Some regions (language and oceanic) don't even have one of each.

As mentioned in the first link, this is the first real indication of the actual player numbers.

The game does not deserve any support from anyone and this attempt to put everyone who is left is just that an attempt to stave off the final pink slips that this pice of over hyped game does not deserve. Let it die.

Well, think what you want but I resubbed just for casual diversion and am having a blast. Heck, last night I was really noticing how great some of the landscapes are.

I think as long as a player realizes its not the end all and be all in gaming and can just enjoy being in the Conan world, they might really like it.

There are issues of course but perhaps not the ones that people complain about. For example It seems that I'm in an area where if I die the run to get my gravestone seems leagues away. That isn't fun I can assure you.

 In any case, server merges can revitalize a game. I've seen it with Lineage 2 where after the merges the players seemed, for the most part, much happier. Happier players means happier word of mouth, etc, etc.

Server merges is needed that's for sure, looking forward to the merge. Will be fun to see a lot of new faces. :)

I am actually a leaning towards the negative side for our server merger because the server I am on is quite busy all day.  Aquilonia RP-PvP.  We are merging with just one other server but it will be interesting to see how the influx will affect players.  Overall positive but curious to see how it pans out. 

Like all new MMO's they open dozens of servers to accomodate subs.  Funcom is doing the right thing by closing several down.  WAR is another game that needs to drop 60% at least since it relies so heavily on population.  At least in AoC if you are solo 100% of the time there is a ton of PvE to get into which can take you up to max level.  I knock WAR's gameplay but for people to say AoC is finished is ridiculous, the population has been steadily increasing for 2 months now on my server and you hardly ever see any moaners in global.  Lets face it, even with all the haters of AoC and WAR out there, both games will still be around for 5 years.

Reducing that many servers just increased the profitablity of Funcom so that has to be a good thing to.

Don't forget that the reduction to 18 servers is temporary and that Funcom plans to open fresh start servers after the mergers are done. Details as how many and which ruleset these will have has not been provided yet though.

It's a good idea for MMOs to have less servers.  Wait times are no big deal, and when you see lots of people online you feel like your game is succeeding and have more fun in turn.  My server for AoC was pretty barren...  Like 40 people online at most times...  It's why I quit.  That, and the game is still in beta.

 18 server left isn't that bad at all.

Just take a look at Warhammer Online.

How many REAL servers would be left when they REALLY start merging and closing down the servers (wich is much needed IMHO) ?

I know for sure that here in EU they can do with just about 10 servers right now. And the same can be said in US.

Wich leaves about 20 servers total left.

Still not that bad at all.

If AoC can keep around 200k subs (after the mergers and coming back offer), then they can make a decent income to keep going and continue to improve the game.

Same with Warhammer Online.

Sure they don't make the bucketload of money Blizzard does. But who else does in the MMO bizz?? (except some Asian titles).

Cheers

Originally posted by Tjommis

Don't forget that the reduction to 18 servers is temporary and that Funcom plans to open fresh start servers after the mergers are done. Details as how many and which ruleset these will have has not been provided yet though.

Funcom has stated they will open 2 new servers once merges are complete.  One will be PvE and the second will be PvP.  Characters CANNOT transfer to these 2 servers, only new characters can play on the servers.

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Originally posted by brimstone728

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Originally posted by Tjommis

Don't forget that the reduction to 18 servers is temporary and that Funcom plans to open fresh start servers after the mergers are done. Details as how many and which ruleset these will have has not been provided yet though.

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Funcom has stated they will open 2 new servers once merges are complete.  One will be PvE and the second will be PvP.  Characters CANNOT transfer to these 2 servers, only new characters can play on the servers.

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And dont forget new servers will be open in February for Poland and Russia ( again probably 1 of each type ) ... as for Korea have no clue

So 18 servers past merge
+ 2 fresh ones PvP and PvE for EU
+ 2 fresh ones PvP and PvE for US
+ 4 for Poland
+ 4 for Russia

So 30 servers to cover EU/US markets.

Note: Merging existing server and opening fresh ones is rather good ( and not allowing transfers to fresh ones ) as there is plenty of people that quit in early stages of AoC and quite few of them dont wanna start the game on already existing servers with all the guild politics and power struggles.

There is also quite few of guilds that plan to start over on new servers as they did not make it on current ones .. either lost to many members or "ruined" reputation etc...

p.s. Imo 30 servers is still to much for 200.000 subscribers ... 200.000 / 30 = 6.600 players per server and for healthy population you need like 12.000-15.000 per server.

Originally posted by brimstone728

Originally posted by Tjommis

Don't forget that the reduction to 18 servers is temporary and that Funcom plans to open fresh start servers after the mergers are done. Details as how many and which ruleset these will have has not been provided yet though.

Funcom has stated they will open 2 new servers once merges are complete.  One will be PvE and the second will be PvP.  Characters CANNOT transfer to these 2 servers, only new characters can play on the servers.

I think this is my que to reactivate my account and try out the game again. I'll have to try drag some friends and colleagues with me, and then we'll see. :-)

Originally posted by chryses

I am actually a leaning towards the negative side for our server merger because the server I am on is quite busy all day.  Aquilonia RP-PvP.  We are merging with just one other server but it will be interesting to see how the influx will affect players.  Overall positive but curious to see how it pans out.

Don't worry, it won't trouble you at all. I have 2 alts on that other server (Corinthia RP-PvP) that is merging with Aquilonia. It's a pretty dead server, very - extremely - low pop, I don't think you will even see the difference.

Originally posted by BigMango

Originally posted by chryses

I am actually a leaning towards the negative side for our server merger because the server I am on is quite busy all day.  Aquilonia RP-PvP.  We are merging with just one other server but it will be interesting to see how the influx will affect players.  Overall positive but curious to see how it pans out.

 

Don't worry, it won't trouble you at all. I have 2 alts on that other server (Corinthia RP-PvP) that is merging with Aquilonia. It's a pretty dead server, very - extremely - low pop, I don't think you will even see the difference.

 

Thats something that was mentioned before.  Over the last 4-6 months, players have basically already done the server mergers.   Most rerolled already and new players were directed to the servers at the top of each list.

Originally posted by Elsabolts

The game does not deserve any support from anyone and this attempt to put everyone who is left is just that an attempt to stave off the final pink slips that this pice of over hyped game does not deserve. Let it die.

I resubbed to AoC not to long ago, its not that bad. It had a terrible release, and Ersling (whatever his name is) is gone. He was the trash for the most part. Right now the game is very enjoyable, and a lot of good people play it. (except for this in Global chat).

I play on Tyranny and the population right now is pretty good... but with 4 more servers coming in, (2 of which I think have 0 population) it should be a just a right amount of players and guilds.

At launch I couldn't run the game for more than 30 minutes without crashing, and only 5 minutes without my map disappearing... but all those problems are gone now. There is still very minor memory leakage, but its near negligable and won't affect your gameplay unless you have been playing for like 20 hours straight.

Conclusion: Don't listen to this dude, if you haven't played since release it is still worth a shot. Unless of course you didn't like the gameplay and the core views of the game. Never hold grudges.. unless you're talking about SOE, then its ok.

Originally posted by Murdus 

Never hold grudges.. unless you're talking about SOE, then its ok.

Nahhh I'll keep holding the grudge, thanks. 

Re: the news

All I can do is a Nelson "HaHa."  They should have merged months ago.  Too bad about all those Battlekeeps.  Hope you didn't grind too hard.

Server merge is actually a good thing to bring peoples back.  For me, the lack of players (too many servers) is what makes me quit WAR.   I played AOC for a very limited time, low pop was not the reason i left, but if i was the case, i would certainly give the game another try now that population issues are no longer a problem.

This game is incredible, the PVP is AMAZING and like no other in any game, the graphics are the TOP of any game PERIOD! This is the most unique, interesting, and immersive game in the world right now.

DX10 will be the Death of Conan? Are you FIng Serious, last time I checked the DX9 in this game was so far beyond the rest fing WORLD it doesn't matter. WHen they drop in DX10, do you really think that DX9 goes away?

The Classes in this game are the most unique and interesting I have seen in years, all require a mastery of understanding to harness their full potential, which could be mastered and played in multiple different ways.

Conan is about to launch Patch 4, which is bringing the first round of DX10 lovelyness, 3 new dungeon maps from mid to max level. And the World PvP is being insented to move into the persistant Border Kingdoms where guild own BATTLE KEEPS, for mass warfare. THe PvP reagent system as loot from players in the Border Kings is goign to CHANGE THE GAME as far as PvP goes.

SO talk trash about a game you know nothing about and cna't Quantify a single thing except, 

" When I played it almost a year ago it was buggy, yes, and my system stunk so bad I couldn't handle it" 

Server Merges a sign of weakness? my server is PoPulated, when I log in and my servers has the same population as ANY OTHER MMO there Do you think I care if they only have 4 -8 massive servers?  NO a long as they keep rolling Content, Which They DO! 

4.8 GB's of content and fixes have been added to this game in 9 months people, 

{ Mod Edit }

Originally posted by octa

Originally posted by Murdus 

Never hold grudges.. unless you're talking about SOE, then its ok.

 

Nahhh I'll keep holding the grudge, thanks. 

 

Re: the news

All I can do is a Nelson "HaHa."  They should have merged months ago.  Too bad about all those Battlekeeps.  Hope you didn't grind too hard.

In that case, can you pull out that FC doll again and show us where it hurts?

Originally posted by BearShammy 

In that case, can you pull out that FC doll again and show us where it hurts?

It still hurts in the wallet.  God damn collector's edition >_<  It's not even good enough for a paperweight.

This is the natural cycle of a dying MMO.  The hardcore grind-a-holics will come out in droves to blindly support their broken, ill-fated, game.  I mean, who wants to admit they wasted months of their life into something that had no chance.

Tabula Rasa, Auto Assault, AC2.  I've seen it many a times.  You are a symptom.  One of many we will begin to see as FC flails around in its death throes.

This is not the beginning of the end.

This is the middle of the end.

This is their best attempt to drag things out as long as possible and desperately hope to milk enough subscription dollars to break even (or maybe even fund a desperate third game). At this point, they may as well pump what money they have left into Anarchy Online. lol.

I must say, I predicted this almost 5 months ago. But then again, other people predicted it too.

Bad games deserve to die. Age of Conan wasn't just bad, it was terrible.