Kudos to Mythic for their quick server "cloning" to address overpopulation on a few of their servers. This IMHO is the correct way to deal with such a problem, rather than let players suffer with login queues.

Here's a snippet of what they've done:

That's right, they're not just transferring characters, they're enabling these players to choose so they don't have to recreate them. And if they try out the new server and don't like it, they can just return to their original characters. Simple solution really.

I've often been critical of queues, I think it's the height of audacity to sell a service and make customers stand in line if the infrastructure cannot handle the capacity. Worst still are companies that then charge players to alleviate the problem on their own.

I'm pretty damned tolerant of a wide array of issues on the launch of MMORPGs, games of this complexity are still IMHO in their infancy. Where I draw the line is when additional money grabs are made to capitalize on the issues that should be the host's tasks to solve. It's nice to finally see a company that solves their problems rather than monetizing them further to the customers.

This goes a long way in rebuilding my faith my Mythic. It may be 'just a game' but there are responsibilities associated in any business and it's great to see at least one company step up to the plate.

I've had an "EA is the Devil" category on this blog for years, it's somewhat tongue-in-cheek but there's a real reason it's there too.

Keen just opened up a bucket of worms by making the issue of 'incomplete' MMORPG launches an ethical issue of inflated customer expectations. The problem is, he's pumping EA-Mythic as his example of a company he trusts to deliver on what he'd hold others accountable for.

I probably would have discussed more of the premise, but as it was, I choked on my drink and sprayed my desk in the process.

Needless to say, I don't think EA is the bastion example of ethical behaviour when it comes to customer expectations in the MMORPG market. I also don't think Mythic is a good example of responsible budgets and deadlines for the health of their products, although that perspective is interwoven with their arrival to their EA-Mythic roost.

I'm surprised to hear this from a fellow Peter Molyneux fan, the king of raised expectations. Developers do get excited and hype stuff that they want to get into the game, and much of that stuff doesn't make it in time, or doesn't work as planned. Passion for your game just comes out that way. This is especially true with the complexities involved in MMORPGs.

I think the implication that there's an intentional bait-and-switch is absurd. There's no sinister attempt to hijack expectations. Wishful thinking perhaps. From evidence Funcom seems almost too honest about their shortcomings.

I still see this as more of a Craft than purely a business. I'm more often disappointed when it's treated as the later.

Mythic has just announced that they are planning for local Australian servers for Warhammer.

That's a smart move. There must be swarms of Aussies just waiting for a mass-market MMO that doesn't suck for lag. Warhammer could scoop up that entire country's supply of MMORPG gamers. The only MMO off-hand I can think of that has Aussie servers is Fury, but of course that's where that game was made.

Here in Canada, our pings can get bad enough using U.S. servers, so I can't even imagine how horrid it must be for Hawaii or Alaska, let alone Australia. You might as well be playing from the moon.