Originally by: Leocadminone

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Originally by: CyberGh0st

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One more thing I'd like to add is that history has proven that changing fundamental systems in an MMORPG is a pretty dangerous task, something you do not want to risk if your game is growing strongly.

DAoC-ToA-NF and SWG-CU-NGE are nice examples of this.

Also in DAoC, server clustering lead to the complete destruction of realm pride, and the accelerated failure of the game as a whole ( started by ToA and NF ). I mention this to show the dangers of messing with fundamental mmorpg systems that were in the game since release, things that look better for the game at fist sight, may well prove to be a disaster later on.

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SWG playerbase had been stagnant to slowly shrinking for well over a year before the NGE fiasco. NGE does count as a prime example of how NOT to make major changes to an existing game, I grant - even BEFORE it was released the beta testers were telling SoE "this is a BAD idea, this SUCKS" etc.

I would not classify Eve as "growing strongly" by ANY standard - the subscription numbers I've been seeing indicate a very very SLOW growth rate to stable-not-growing for the last year and more. This appears to be what CCP wants for the game, given their insistance on game rules that allow PvP to be crammed down player throats no matter what - but it's certainly not a recipie for LONG term success. Reference Ultima Online, and why THAT game nearly died despite having a LOT less competiton at the time, and WHY UO saw a major resurgence and revival of playerbase growth after they introduced the "trammel" (sp?) type shards. UO today, despite it's age and limitations, has a HIGHER playerbase than Eve has and probably has a higher playerbase than Eve ever will - and has an infinitely better reputation in the MMORG community.

Eve IMO would be better off if they used a system similar to WoW or EQ etc, where they have "Pvp centric" server and "PvE centric" servers - leave 0 space alone, probably leave low-sec alone, make Hi-Sec actually MEAN "High Security" vs. the current lame so-called "high" security on the "New" PvE server(s), and then watch to see what actually WORKS.

My bet is that they'd never need more than the one current PvP server but would grow the PvE servers as fast as they could get the hardware bought/installed/setup/configured/softwareinstalled/connected/upandrunning.

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