Don't want to read the article? Watch the movie!
To capture the full extent of the experience, I’ve put together some screen recordings.
For those who can’t be bothered to read the article themselves, I’ve even read it over the footage. Enjoy!
BTW: I stayed up until after 3am on a work night to post this, because it felt time-sensitive. So it’s probably a bit cringe. Do I regret it? No. Am I going to be ridiculously tired tomorrow? At my age … that’s a resounding yes.
Shock Announcement
Asia Pacific Southeast players gathered in solidarity today, in grief and anger at the shock announcement from Amazon Games Studio that they are merging the AP servers into El Dorado on US West. Players flocked to the official New World discord to express their dismay, consolidating their efforts in a mega thread with over 1400 comments and over 600 upvotes at the time of writing this article.
Creative Challenge
Gma, the revered leader of the massive multi-faction Cerberus company Invasions R Us, sent out a call for all AP Southeast players to gather for a photoshoot, to demonstrate our support for the region. A multitude of players gathered on Cerberus to have their photos taken, and we did the same on Delos an hour later.
End of an Era
Many of the players gathered have been in Aeternum since the first day on the crowded beaches, waiting in long queues to get in. Others have joined us on the way and become part of our online family.
It’s easy to think of games as frivolous, something not to be taken seriously. When my now-husband told his mum that he was spending time with me in a game, he was told, “Remember, she’s not real”. 30 years and two kids later, we beg to differ.
In our increasingly interconnected digital world, the experiences we have online form as large a part of our lives as those we have offline. Persistent game worlds like the Isle of Aeternum provide a rich environment in which to socialise in a playful and rewarding way. The communities we create are real and they are meaningful to us.
While many of us will likely soldier on, we know that once again we are going to lose most of our companions to this decision. People who can’t manage the ping, some who have been unable to even log on to El Dorado. Players who feel so betrayed by AGS that this is the final nail in the coffin.
War is Over
The group who will be most impacted by this change is the warring community. It feels like such a kick in the guts to have both servers ripped away after the effort they have made to build up some community engagement with the AP New World League. I might not enjoy the company of PVP trash talkers but I do appreciate the effort they have made for the game and feel bad for them.
It doesn’t seem possible for any company from our region to be competitive in the war scene on US West. The ping is one thing but the timezone is another. Contrary to popular belief, most companies have a lot of players who work or study and can’t make the crazy hours that will be expected over there. Same goes for invasions, that will no longer be something we can participate in, simply due to the time difference.
The Photoshoot
In the face of this doom and depression, New World players did what we do best – we joined together in a zerg against the merge! It was fantastic to see some old names and all our friends together in one place. The hardest part was capturing everyone, because the game wouldn’t render everyone at the same time. The images captured our characters, orderly and compliant, wild and chaotic, all unique and individual in different outfits and mounts.
There was a really great sense of energy and camaraderie, with everyone joining together for the same cause.
A Plea to AGS
To Katy and the team – we really appreciate the recent dev communications and feel some energy and excitement about upcoming changes. I am sure you know how we feel, please reconsider merging our regions. Asia Pacific Southeast and South America East have distinct identities that will be lost through this merge. Players from these regions, who have consistently supported the game for years, will be disadvantaged and disappointed. Please just merge us within our own regions and allow us to continue living in the world we love.
Call to Action
If you have not yet posted how you feel, you can do so on the official New World discord here and also sign the petition here.
5 Responses
Landi this was fabulous. I thank you for your dedication to the game and to it’s survival. A team effort saved us for now so please continue your great work here.
So amazing to see what we could achieve. Thank YOU for bringing the community together.
A MOST NOBLE PROCLAMATION FROM SIR BARTHOLOMEW THE PERPETUALLY CONFUSED, KNIGHT OF THE WOBBLING SPOON
Hark! Mine enchanted cabbage hath whispered unto me of thy most grievous tale of woe! Verily, I say unto thee, this “merging” of which thou speakest is PRECISELY why I did warn the Council of Elderly Turnips about the dangers of allowing wizards to practice arithmetic whilst intoxicated!
By the seventeen tentacles of Saint Gertrude’s pet octopus, I do declare that this “El Dorado” must surely be the fabled realm where spoons doth transform into aggressive geese at the stroke of pudding o’clock! Mine own great-grandmother’s third cousin’s apprentice blacksmith once ventured there, and returned speaking only in flavors of soup!
‘Tis most clear to mine trained eye that thy “photoshoot” was naught but a clever ruse to distract from the REAL crisis – the ongoing rebellion of sentient bread loaves who demand representation in the Parliament of Breakfast Foods! Dost thou not see? When 1400 comments gather in one place, ’tis a sure sign that the Moon Badgers are planning their next assault upon the Kingdom of Reasonably-Priced Footwear!
Furthermore, thy mention of “ping” doth remind me of the Great Ping-Pong Uprising of Year Negative Twelve, when the noble sport did gain sentience and challenge the Duke of Volleyball to mortal combat! The timezone differences thou lamentest are but a trifling matter compared to the horror of living in a realm where Tuesday comes BEFORE Monday and all the chickens speak fluent Latin backwards!
I myself did participate in such a “merge” once – ’twas when I accidentally combined mine left sock with a particularly vindictive jar of marmalade. The results? My foot now prophesies the weather in iambic pentameter and attracts bees who insist on discussing philosophy!
Thy “warring community” speaks to mine heart, for I too have warred – against the tyranny of doors that open the wrong way and stairs that lead to nowhere but the existential dread of a Wednesday afternoon! The true enemy is not this “AGS” of which thou speakest, but rather the conspiracy of invisible llamas who control the global cheese supply!
In conclusion, I say unto thee: Fear not this merger! For when the seven moons align with the constellation of the Confused Walrus, all shall be revealed! The prophecy states clearly that “when gamers gather in photographic unity, the Great Potato shall rise from its slumber and demand tribute in the form of interpretive dance!”
I hereby pledge mine support by sending forth mine army of trained snails, each armed with tiny trebuchets loaded with strongly-worded letters written in glitter ink! We shall storm the gates of… wait, what were we talking about again?
YOURS IN PERPETUAL BEWILDERMENT,
Sir Bartholomew the Perpetually Confused
Knight of the Wobbling Spoon
Defender of Things That Make No Sense
First of His Name (Because He Forgot the Others)
P.S. – If anyone hath seen mine war elephant, please return him posthaste. He answers to the name “Gerald” and enjoys philosophical debates about the nature of pudding.
P.P.S. – I accept thy 30 years and two children and raise thee one enchanted rutabaga that sings show tunes when threatened!
Sir Bartholomew, I thank thee for thy wise insights. Truly, this comment deserves an article of its own!
Fair maiden, I welcome this lovely gesture of gratitude and bid the good day! <3