No PvE servers are under populated

by Adam Holisky Jan 9th 2009 at 11:15AM

We've been paying pretty close attention the server issues lately. From the missing mail a few months ago, to instability in instances, to the creation of a new U.S. PvE server.

Zarhym has come out and said there are no PvE realms under populated, and that's the reason why Blizzard has introduced a new PvE realm, and not a new PvP realm. He goes on to point out that while some PvE realms are not having queues, they are only a few hundred people away from having to suffer through them every evening.

And while there are PvP realms that have queues, there are "several PvP realms that are a little too under populated."

So what does this mean?
First, it is a very clear indicator that people prefer to level their characters and immerse themselves in the game in a PvE style.

Second, it means that the game is going strong enough still to warrant new server openings; unlike Age of Conan which just combined servers. While the PR on combining servers is terrible for a company, the actual effect of isn't usually too bad. If it weren't for all the bad press combining servers would get for Blizzard, I have to wonder if they'd combine a few low population PvP servers.

Finally, I think this helps illustrate a significant reason why PvE to PvP transfers were finally opened up a few months ago. PvP servers need more population, and PvE servers seem to be what the majority of people want. If you think about it, a good way to get people to go to PvP servers is to open up transfers, thereby increasing the PvP servers populations overall and alleviating the stress on the PvE servers. Now since Blizzard is still having to opening up new PvE servers, one has to wonder if the PvP server transfer option is a success in this regards. My personal opinion is that is has been, due to providing more options for the playerbase, but I'm sure others might disagree.

Nonetheless, it's quite interesting to know that the PvE realms reign supreme in the Blizzard universe.

Tags: pve, pvp, server-population, server-transfer, servers, transfer, transfers, under-populated

Filed under: Realm News, Analysis / Opinion, Odds and ends, News items

Reader Comments (Page 7 of 7)

Amaxe Jan 9th 2009 3:37PM

Quickshiv said...

I have a slight different view. I do play on a pvp server and there is the occasional ganking her and there but I would say that in the entire time I have been playing on a pvp server, which is about 1.5 years, I have been camped all of 3-4 times.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Either your experience or mine was unusual. I got ganked a lot until I was high enough to hit back for effect. Even then, you couldn't avoid getting hit from behind while fighting 3-4 mobs at once.

I'd be camped at least once a month, and ganked 3-4 times a week

peagle Jan 9th 2009 3:37PM

@The Scarlet Mathematician

I appreciate your intelligent response, no need to get on the defensive. I'm not trash-talking PvE, I simply feel the open challenges (and yes albeit griefing is certainly one of the less appealing facets) of PvP servers are the vintage of the game I wish to enjoy. Each to his/her own.

supersaint Jan 9th 2009 4:02PM

And yet, even with this latest news about the pve realms, Blizz still stubbornly tries to push people towards arenas.

Pvp below lvl 80 is pointless now, due to the token changes they made.

In the future, after Wow has run its course, gaming historians will look back at Blizz, and they will say that their downfall began when they started balancing the classes for arena play and not focusing on pve issues.

Xigageshi Jan 9th 2009 4:51PM

in my experience, the first 6 months of a new pvp server are fun as hell, battles over hilsbrad foothills ad infinitum

when everyone hits the cap and starts running raids and what not, the fun factor tapers out and all thats left are gankers.

rocnroll Jan 9th 2009 4:53PM

Someone once posted on a similar thread about being civil while tagging mobs. If the opposite faction wants to AOE tag, simply flip your flag and when you take damage, they are flagged. Then have at it.

I'm at the bottom of the food chain, 75 priest and I'm ganked 3-4 times a week (and sick of it). Though it has it moments, like yesterday when a 72 hunter and a 70 DK tried to gank me and my friend an 80 rogue. :) Hunter died, DK ran (real fast).

Raging Jan 9th 2009 4:55PM

Just a comment about how giving transfers from PvE to PvP is a good thing cause it lowers the population from one to the other (since people say PvE tends to be higher). Well my current realm (bloodscalp-PvP) is sitting at 300+ ques every night and we got a free realm transer. We were all happy until we saw where it went... it was to a PvE server which was pointless. People roll on PvP servers for a reason so why then would blizz give them the option of going to PvE? Personally i dont think its the type of realm that has the high populations, i think its how old the realm is...

Mark Jan 9th 2009 7:30PM

I've played both PVP and PVE. There is a distinct lack of tenseness in PVE worlds, when you can walk through Stranglethorn without worrying its a whole different experience than on a PVP server. On the other hand, nobody ever ganks with a fair fight, its always 2/3 on 1 or several levels higher, or they are all pvp-specced and you have pve gear.. pvp servers are mostly just frustrating. Now if they had an enforcable adults-only pvp server, then maybe.........

Plastic Rat Jan 9th 2009 10:11PM

I really don't have a problem with being ganked or the disruption of normal questing on a PvP server. I saw it as just part of the fun. It's exciting to constantly be on the lookout for enemies that are intelligent.

The reason I now play on a PvE realm?

Simple. PvP servers are lightning rods for douchebags. Whether they're on your side or the enemy side, you will encounter FAR, FAR more assholes on a PvP server. You have to quest, group and join guilds with those people.

I'm quite happy running around my PvE server with a larger concentration of decent people. I can run around flagged whenever I feel like it, without having to deal with some barely literate teen's daddy issues.

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