1
Current system:
- One international region
Good:
- People can play with any group, any friend, against any group or any friend.
- I can apply to any clan, and join their ranks, everything is a GO, with no questions asked.
- A consistent low latency environment is not provided for everyone, all the time. Although the last patch did help a lot, almost to the point of unnoticeable levels in Europe.
Planned PGI system:
- Accounts hard locked to one region, with a one time transfer at start.
Good:
- Latency between players will generally get better.
- EU players can't drop with Devs, NA friends, clans, events, livestream buddies, podcast events. They have to chose what to shoot, latency or community.
- Many from the NA will have accounts in the EU servers, and the most problematic Australasia region will hardly see (if any) changes. Asian region will have the same latency Europeans have today. In short: the problem will not be fixed.
- There are about 20 proper competitive clans, and about ~40-50 total. Further splitting these low numbers is a very bad idea.
- Outside of main time, its already hard to find 8v8s, splitting it in two would make it far worse in both regions.
My proposal #1:
Hybrid of theirs and mine
- Have a region switch on the Launcher(like LoL), have the solo/group matchmaker match for you in the selected region, the custom game/search lobby however would show all regions, with a filter switch EU/NA/ALL.
- From when you first flip the switch, you will have two accounts, with different MC but for the said global lobby, either can access it.
- One time transfer will be provided.
- Old players won't maintain MC for two accounts. There is very little reason for them. They will continue to buy MC on their main account, and will probably transfer to their region. >>> Same money for PGI as they would have with their way.
- New players won't maintain two accounts anyway, there's no reason for it. They simply register and play on their own region, and can take part in events all over the world. If they do, an EU Founders pack is still applicable here. >>> Same money for PGI as they would have with their way.
- The old players don't get riled up, because they still get to keep their friends, can drop with their clans.
- Join people in livestream drops, clans you like, friends you want to all around the world.
- This way is perfectly compatible for 3th and 4rd server regions, where as for others this would mean even more segregation.
- More work for PGI. They said the community/clans/competitive scene are extremely important for them(and it should be). We've heard the talk, now its time for them to walk. The easiest way out isn't the best way out this time.
My proposal #2:
Streamlined, but more far fetched
- Only the solo/group matchmaking game server would be split across regions, the account/purchased item/balance servers not.
- Having a switch is optional at this point, the launcher puts you in the region based on IP or a latency test.
- The custom game/lobby search servers are global.
- That way you only need one account.
- Even less hassle, a truly smooth experience for the user, while making him happy at the same time.
- Same as above.
- I don't know of the technical viability of this one(both could be a technical cakewalk or compared to one another), but both are better for the community than PGIs current suggestion.
- Same as above.
Edited by Chavette, 22 April 2013 - 09:17 PM.
