What the guy said

[Albereth]

Funny how in life you come across all sorts of experts. On Saturday I met the Guild Wars expert. I was trying to pay for my pre-ordered deluxe extra special supa-doopa collector's edition of Factions with nifty cardboard container and the brain surgeons at BT had no clue on how to process a transaction but I digress.

I was told, emphatically, by the young gentlebeing that I must play on the US servers because their maps are up to date and the European servers have bugs everywhere.

Not wishing to cause any distress in the till jockey's life, or to deflate his position as Guild Wars uber star of the universe I nodded politely, smiled and backed away. To my credit I didn't even think of looking for a big stick even though he had never heard of the afore mentioned big old box of Factions goodies.

As is true of any cess pit, the bigger chunks will eventually float to the surface. So this chunk, my dear readers, is now being shared with you with the intention of some forthright debate upon the merits of being upon a given server set. Are there any differences? Would the game play experience be different - latency issues? Are there difference release versions across the world? Do all guild members need to be on the same servers?

[Ruslan74]

We mostly play on the EU servers coz of time zone issues. You tend to find more people at the EU than US servers simply coz they are more into our time zone.

As for latency, its all up to your connection. Shaped ADSL works fine most of the time, I have ISDN which should be unshaped and dont really have any issues with EU or US servers. Average ping from their servers is around 400ms.

Funny how the BT guy explained the game though. :p

[rainy]

I only played on a US server once, but I didn't notice any differences, neither in contents nor in stability. The lag was also not noticeable. Guild members don't need to be on the same servers unless they want to form a party - then they have to meet up in the same district.

Personally I think that dude was talking a load of crap. I have played on the European servers all the time and I can't say I noticed any bugs. Then again, sometimes I don't notice a bug even if it is the size of a cat and walking right in front of me holding up a sign saying 'BUG!!'... so take it with a grain of salt ;)

[Ruslan74]

heck, i do notice a lot of bugs lately... more around the Aurora Glade region... :p


:banana:

[Albereth]

I found bugs in BF2 - there is one of those dumpsters at back yard in Mastuur city full of the annoying flying things.

You can hear the crickets in the Chinese maps but you don't get to see them.

Anyway - I'm staying on the EU servers and have already put my Factions stuff on. Hopefully it all works. I kind of find it hard to believe that I bought Factions for R50.

[Ruslan74]

R50 is for the pre-order pack. the full game is further discounted since you got that pack, so now you would pay around R200 for the expansion when its out.

when in any town you type /preorder and your inventory should have two customized items for your ritualist and assassin. this of course after you added the cd-key in the pre-order pack. ;)

[gus]

@Albereth: That guy was talking total crap. You are right to simply ignore him. Please play EU. There are international districts where people from various regions can meet up to play together, but those area are often deserted.

[Pios]

Well, I think that 'UBER EXPERT' is full of proverbial crap.

There is NO diff between the servers, Unless you lucky enough to be able to connect to the korean ones, they get goodys a few hours before the rest of the world, yet, I am totaly sure there is no diff since there is actually no way of knowing where your instance is 'ACTUALLY' hosted.

The system if i recall makes this choice based on latency and you may actually be on a EU server or a US server without changing the server you play on, It all has to do with the way ANET decides where the best posible place is for your instance.

So. The only reason there is US/EU/Korea/Japan regions is for favour.
This is the whole World at War thing for those of you that dont know.

Just my 0.02 pence.

Pios
\

[Albereth]

@Useless - this pre-order pack. I paid R50 for what? Do I still need to buy the Factions expansion albeit at a reduced price? Or what?

Do I need to take my Snake182 taming bat to Budget Technologies and explain things to the people there. Guess what - they told me the collectors set was held up in Customs until May.

What do I do?

[Pios]

Well, I am hoping that my local store will have the propper factions game by saterday. However i am not sure since there has been no 'Releases for this Month' posters up that contain factions ANYWHERE i went.

Oh well, Guess the CC will have to do the job online if i cant get it by saterday.

Anyhow.

Send my Regards to the lamers there, Ask them if you can macro a few hundered hours of repetative skill grinding ?

I am sure they will attempt to sell you something ...

[Ruslan74]

@Albareth - yes, the pre-order pack kinda cuts down the price for the actual expansion. when you go to BT take your invoice for the pre-order so they can give you the price for the expansion including the discount.

5th May is what they said would be the release date for Factions... bummer... :sad:

[Albereth]

What they said was that the collector's edition was held up. But they also said all you needed was that pre-order edition to be able to play. Anyone have any idea who the local distributor is and I'll give them a call

[Ruslan74]

i could get Factions overseas but i have already paid for my BT copy... its only a week though... have been waiting for 6 months for my X360 so why worry? :p

[Albereth]

Checked their site - standard is ETA 28 April, Collectors 6 May

[rainy]

You can only access Factiosn for 24 hours with the Preorder edition. That would be 24 hours before the actual launch. Then I think you need a full version to be able to play.

[Ruslan74]

mm... i just checked my order... i have the standard edition... oh boy... but i wont be here to collect or play it... hahahaha... :banana: and :sad:

[rainy]

Well, since I am in Jo'burg basically the whole 27th, I won't be able to make much of those preview hours...

[Albereth]

Rainy, have you and Megnut go something sorted for the Clannie on Sunday? Or do you want to visit?

[rainy]

Why me and Megnut? I dont have any plans for Sunday yet. I can only say on short notice if I can play or not.

[Albereth]

Dear Mark



GUILD WARS FACTIONS – UPDATE



Ok, the best way to put this would be to say I have good news and I have bad news.



THE BAD NEWS – Collectors Edition

The bad news on the Guild Wars Factions Collectors Edition is that it has been delayed world-wide by 1 week and its new ETA is now 06 May.



THE BAD NEWS – Normal Edition

Additionally Guild Wars Factions Normal Edition may not make its ETA of the 28 April and may only arrive on 2nd May due to the holidays. This is a maybe and could still possible arrive on Friday, however if you are expecting delivery you will definitely only see it on the 2nd or 3rd.



THE GOOD NEWS – both Editions – This will also apply to the Normal Edition



This is a mail we have just received from NC Soft



“Players of the original Guild Wars Prophecies campaign who are struggling or unable to obtain a copy of Guild Wars Factions Collector's Edition, will in fact still be able to play in the 48-hour head start event and take advantage of two additional character slots - to do so, they will need to add a Factions pre-order Key. Not only will these two slots be available for use in the head start event, they will be active and playable for a further 10 days following the event. After this time, the player will be required to add a full Factions retail Key to keep their slots, failure to do so will result in the character slots expiring.”



“Note: Customers will need to own the original Guild Wars to take advantage of this offer. We believe as most people wanting the CE will be original players this will address the issue sufficiently.”



In other words you will need a Guild Wars Factions Pre-order pack and a copy of the original Guild Wars.



NB: If you have not ordered the Guild Wars Factions Pre-order pack and would like to take advantage of this offer you will need to do one or two of the following:-



1. Get to your nearest BT Games Store and pick up a copy ASAP. If you have already pre-ordered - the pre-order pack price of R 49.00 will be deducted from the original game, thus technically it is free;

2. If you want delivery you will need to pay R 25.00 for shipping. Although the pre-order pack costs R 49.00 this amount will be deducted from the price of the original game, thus technically it is free.

3. If you do not have a copy of the original Guild Wars you’ll need to get one ASAP!!!



Additionally, if you as of yet have not paid for your Guild Wars pre-order please do so by close of business 26 April 2006. All pre-orders not paid for by this date will be cancelled.



I sincerely hope this has made sense, however if you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me personally.



Kind Regards



Shannon Rogotzki

BT Games – A Budget Technologies initiative





Tel: +27 11 794-4450

Fax: +27 11 794-4518

Email: Shannon@budgettech.co.za

Web: www.btgames.co.za

[Ruslan74]

thanks for the info... lucky you got hold of her before she left for E3... :)

[rainy]

That's nice. So there is no pressure concerning the full version, since you will be able to play for then days with the preorder version and an original GW... very nice of them :D

[Ruslan74]

yeah, i think most of the Factions stuff got preloaded during the show-off days a while back.

[rainy]

I just got that very sam email. I think they send it out to everyone who is either registered with them or preordered GW:F (or both)...

[Albereth]

Soz Rainy - you earlier question. I had responded but I think the maid fired up the iron and dropped the power in the house. Machine is on UPS but not my gateway.

Megnut had mentioned that she'd be up in Joburg this weekend and wouldn't be able to play. I kinda assumed from your post saying that you'd be here meant you'd also be away from your machine - not that you meant you weren't going away. Just being doff.

[rainy]

Lol, nope I am just going to Jo'Burg on Thursday with my wife for a shopping trip. We will be back by Thursday evening...

[SaintMg]

i never got a mail but i have not pre-ordered but am registered

i guess you all knew that already just my bit of :spam:

[Pios]

Sorry to have to be the barer of bad news But You WILL NOT be able to play for ten days after the preview headstart. Only till monday.

That is from the official site.

[rainy]

I just sent an email to NCSoft. They can only confirm or deny the info.

EDIT: ncsoft just confirmed. Find attached the complete email.