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The real reason we'll never see East Cost servers.

Noraver··117 votes·8,600 views

Honestly, I would've loved to make this post more civilized and mature, but after all of the lies and Riot telling us to look forward to nothing, I don't think it's necessary anymore, so this is going to be blunt. I went back and read the thread Riot started about the "Server Migration" (Which was total bull), and I had a thought. It's simple, really. How many professional NA teams live on the East coast? None. If Riot moved the servers to the middle of the US (I'm from Canada, eh), then they'd have to move all of the pros as well, or else they'd complain that they're lagging. The Challenger pool would be messed up because of the "sudden lag spike". They cry when they hit 80 ping and claim it's lag. Congrats. Your lag is better than what I play with on a daily basis (90-120). Riot gives off the impression that eSports is growing, and everyone has a shot to become pro, but with these servers, it's impossible. You will never see an East Coast player join/create a professional team. That's a fact.

Haven't purchased RP since last year, and proudly standing by it. As a veteran player, I've dropped down to maybe five games a week now. And that's just sad, Riot. Stop trying to feed us lies like "we'll get around to it eventually". Stop making money angels, and start working with your community. If you don't want to split the population, make the server centralized so everyone on the West and East coasts have the same ping. If you don't want to centralize it, then it just proves you're going to continue babying your precious "pro players" because MUH E$PORT$. It sure does make me feel like a valued customer after spending hundreds on this game.

P.S. I posted this in Gameplay & Balance because this has everything to do with playing a fair game.

139 Comments

Auryiel35 votes

The real reason : it requires an effort on their part and they wouldn't really get anything out of it. Simple as that

Jðrdan20 votes

The real reason : it requires an effort on their part and they wouldn't really get anything out of it. Simple as that

There's no reason a much smaller game in terms of fanbase (such as PlanetSide) offers east and west coast servers, and the most widely-played game in the world doesn't. "Simple as that."

Auryiel22 votes

The real reason : it requires an effort on their part and they wouldn't really get anything out of it. Simple as that

There's no reason a much smaller game in terms of fanbase (such as PlanetSide) offers east and west coast servers, and the most widely-played game in the world doesn't. "Simple as that."

I'm not defending them, I'm making fun of Riot's total lack of care for its east coast playerbase (which I am a part of). They just don't give a f*ck. Yes, it's pathetic that they're still lacking such a basic feature. But hey it's Riot, basic features are not high priority.

Noraver16 votes

But hey it's Riot, basic features are not high priority.

That could not be more true. Who'd of thought their customers would've wanted to play the game on the same, fair level as everyone else?

Rew7113 votes

fair level

If only Riot did consider this.I have a friend who came to the east from the west and even he stated that the "severs were terrable".

DollaMenunaire21 votes

It just sucks man. It's like Riot is just so close to being one of those awesome companies that you can have total faith in.

But then they go and pull shit like this.

MrBuffington8 votes

You're conflating cause and effect.

How many professional NA teams live on the East coast? None. If Riot moved the servers to the middle of the US (I'm from Canada, eh), then they'd have to move all of the pros as well, or else they'd complain that they're lagging. The Challenger pool would be messed up because of the "sudden lag spike".

Riot's servers aren't located in California because that's where pro players live. They're located in California because that's where Riot is. Pro players move to California because that's where Riot is. The idea that professional gamers would be located in an area before the game they play professionally exists is pretty ridiculous.

If you don't want to centralize it, then it just proves you're going to continue babying your precious "pro players" because MUH E$PORT$.

Just so you know, the esports division actually operates at a loss (Quote from nytimes: "Yet despite ticket prices of $15 to $50 for seats at league events, the league itself is a money loser. The tournaments function as marketing to bring in new players and to inspire loyalty in regulars" )

For the record I am an east coast player, and would love to see lower ping for myself. I'm just pointing out your argument is flawed.

Noraver7 votes

Riot's servers aren't located in California because that's where pro players live. They're located in California because that's where Riot is. Pro players move to California because that's where Riot is.

This is what I was trying to stress. How is anyone on the East Coast supposed to become a professional player without moving to California? Sure, there might be some players on the East Cost who are just as good as, if not better than the current "pros", but that jump from 30 to 120 ping jump sure does make a difference in their gameplay. They can't simply up and move to California for a shot at becoming pro just for the ping. Everyone should have a fair chance.

MrBuffington8 votes

It's pretty difficult to up and move to California in hopes of becoming a pro player. It's much easier to prove that you're good enough to become a pro player and get recruited by an existing organization. It's possible to reach mid-high challenger without being in California; Nightblue3 is based in Michigan (I believe) and MegaZero is in Pennsylvania (those are just players I know, I'm sure there are many more). Nightblue3 hit challenger in EUW, where he consistently had like, 120+ ping. Not to mention pro players playing at that elo while leaving California to visit home, etc.

I'm not saying that ping doesn't have a huge impact on your ability to play; it absolutely does. There are several champions in the game that are nearly unplayable (to their full potential) unless you have low ping. Someone recently came on Boards with a study showing that the number of high elo players in the west coast is far greater than east coast, with ping cited as a potential contributing factor. You can still play at a high enough level to get recognized when you have high ping, though. Becoming a pro player is more about connections than anything; randomly moving to California to become a free agent is a pretty bad idea; climbing the ladder, getting a popular stream, and getting connected with pro organizations are much better ways of gaining recognition than just moving to California and thinking that the reduced ping will suddenly turn you into Faker.

Everyone should have a fair chance.

Supposing Riot uproots their entire company to the dead center of North America, people on either coast will probably complain that the players in central NA have an unfair advantage. Having two separate servers cuts off interactions between the coasts; east coast players can't benefit from playing with pro players on the west coast, nor will they gain recognition of pro players and organizations, so unless teams are deliberately visiting the east coast servers to scout for players, they probably won't get recognized for gameplay alone anyways.

If your argument is just that players should have a more level playing field, I agree, it sucks having high ping. If your argument is about becoming a professional player, however, that's an entirely separate conversation, and, for the most part, is more heavily gated by factors other than your ping.

BlazingSalvo3 votes

To be fair, being a jungler or support (relies on game knowledge and shotcalling) is completely different from being an AD carry. Chaox might be a good example since he was in New York, but then again, when he was in TSM house he had rank 1 and rank 2 on NA so ...

Arch Mage Magnus8 votes

You'll hear the same excuse time and time again; "It's a free game".

Sasaeru8 votes

Quas made challenger on NA servers while playing in Venezuela. Sooooo...

BlazingSalvo4 votes

Which is about as close to San Francisco as New York.

TenSlashTen4 votes

oh 1 guy did it. He's a a hero! Alright no USA east servers right? 1 guy can denounce hundreds and thousands of others.

Agent20907 votes

If they ever do it, I'm eager to see all the. "NA West vs NA East" threads, much like the "NA vs EU" stuff.

TheDuelist9991 votes

west would have better teams with way more experience east would have better solo q with more players.

Orbv7 votes

It's odd seeing that they just opened another office in California that they're migrating at least half of their team to...

5 Stacks GG7 votes

maybe the're would be pro's from east coast if they didnt lag all day every day

Mediocre Joe5 votes

yeah we will probably get to the end of S5 and there will be nothing new about this migration they will just keep putting it off for a really long time then will finally just release East coast servers because they don't want their pros to get high ping. When they could have just done it from the very beginning and not bitched about this whole splitting up NA bullshit

TenSlashTen5 votes

been waiting for FREE TRANSFERS(BECAUSE THEY"RE NOT FREE YET FOR SOME STUPID REASON???????) so I could move to LAN once and for all for YEARS YEEEEEAAARRRSSSSS every other game I play lets me region hop all damn day long.

Why's it have to be the games I like that have a lazy ass companies? shit luck I guess. It's a real downer after 5+ years still treated like the first week this game went to open beta. Despite being a vet and closed beta tester. Infact my ping on NA has GONE UP since season 1. Thats right. GONE UP Disgusting.

TenSlashTen2 votes

oh and yeah my ping jumped again this year. Last year it was 80+ on NA now its 95-120 again.

Jib Jig5 votes

Stop trying to feed us lies like "we'll get around to it eventually".

lol I wish they'd tell us something that believable. Right now they've just been saying "yep, it's a problem alright."

HandsLikeHouses3 votes

http://boards.na.leagueoflegends.com/en/c/riot-official/0YOGUwHG-stability-upgrade-and-planned-migration-for-na-servers

Not sure if any of you saw this, and I'm not sure If I can believe it myself, but that's what they planned on doing. Basically nothing will really happen for a while.

Noraver11 votes

http://boards.na.leagueoflegends.com/en/c/riot-official/0YOGUwHG-stability-upgrade-and-planned-migration-for-na-servers

Not sure if any of you saw this, and I'm not sure If I can believe it myself, but that's what they planned on doing. Basically nothing will really happen for a while.

This is the reason I made the thread. I went back and read it again and realized how offended I was by their decision to make a thread title so deceptive, and then say "Nope, no East Coast servers, fuck you guys!".

TheJuzzo6 votes

Far from deceptive, just a guy that has a job working with servers using very common terminology.

You always 'Migrate' to new servers when you upgrade from old ones. I guarantee that he posted that as an IT guy announcing what he was up to. It is your ignorance of his field that makes you think of it as deceptive.

Anyways, I understand your frustration, however you guys with no technical knowledge, trying to bitch about tech stuff gets old. The self righteousness of it in particular.

Ahrily Dont Ahri3 votes

You may be right, but correct or not, all of us have the right to bitch about this. The world's most played online game, holding massive tournaments, cranking out champions and skins all the time, cannot make a good enough server for the NA. They should go ask blizzard's SC2 management team, ask how they made it so that servers are all over the world, yet also so you can choose the server location of your wish without any trouble. Massive project? Yes. Not enough money? I doubt it. Better in the long run? Definitely.

Last week, I got 3 of my friends to play. They said gameplay was 10/10, players 2/10, and servers 0/10. Seriously, they had worse connection than the tiny online games they play most people don't know about. They no longer play due to the lag, and I see some people who are gold/diamond/plat quitting or no longer playing seriously because they lag out too much. I have periods of up to 10 secs where my ping jumps to 999, everything is ghosting, minions are teleporting, and I cannot move at all. GG.

MadCast Craiden5 votes

Look, let's be honest, I'm in the IT field....and it's bullshit to me ok? I live, breathe, and die by computers. For as popular as Riot is becoming, if they wanna survive, they need to stop pissing off their customers. Sacrifice some of the hefty profits, get east coast servers (up to date ones preferably so there's no excuses there) and make the player base happy. Do that, and there game will expand more and they'll make those expenditure's back in no time...If they can't keep up with a growing player base that demands an acceptable connection, they'll go somewhere else where they can get that, and Riot will crumble with the few loyal "pro's" they have left. There's a point when you have to stop focusing solely on the people that are currently fueling your game, and focus on the ones that COULD be fueling your game and figure out why they aren't. Since they already know, they need to haul ass to fix it, before they have a mass exodus of east coast players.

60254696_DEL3 votes

All they say is that theyre "working on it". Its been 5 years, and it has just gotten worse. I started playing on June this year with a steady 101 ping. Since then, its been rising consistently especially from the last patch. I cant even play without getting the "Attempting to Reconnect" problem now, and when I email they tell me to follow computer-related steps which doesn't even make any difference

junglerboy161 votes

Similar story here, started playing 1 year ago the day preseason 4 came out, and my ping used to be around 90. Now it is completely inconsistent week to week, and frequently spikes, particularly at crucial moments in a game, such as whenever I go below 20% health. There is almost no room for the cool/flashy mechanics that you see the pros use if you lag to death every time you get low, and that makes this game really not fair (the only way to avoid lag is to never die at all, not impossible, but pretty freakin' hard if you're a new player).

60254696_DEL2 votes

Similar story here, started playing 1 year ago the day preseason 4 came out, and my ping used to be around 90. Now it is completely inconsistent week to week, and frequently spikes, particularly at crucial moments in a game, such as whenever I go below 20% health. There is almost no room for the cool/flashy mechanics that you see the pros use if you lag to death every time you get low, and that makes this game really not fair (the only way to avoid lag is to never die at all, not impossible, but pretty freakin' hard if you're a new player).

It is pretty despressing especially when you try to explain it to your teammates, most if not all of them would deny your reason as, for the lack of a better word "noob excuses". Sometimes, It just makes me wonder why I keep coming back and spend several hours on lol despite knowing the unfairness and having all these lag spikes. I guess thats what happens when youre addicted to something, but I do admit I really love this game and probably the only game which Ive spent most of my freetime with.

I really hope they can do something next year and give us regular updates. Not just another "We're working on it!" cliche. I would be fine with atleast 80-100 ping because I started this game with steady 101 ping and have used to it. Just watching streams of Faker having 9 ping, what comes first to my mind is dreams that'll never come true. One can only dream...Amumu

Gavran1 votes

frequently spikes, particularly at crucial moments in a game, such as whenever I go below 20% health.

the only way to avoid lag is to never die at all,

I hope you don't honestly believe there's a relationship between how well you're playing and how well your connection is performing...

... er that's not right.

You're saying "I lag when I play badly" what you should be saying is "When I lag I play worse."

And for the record, AZ player here still get lag. My usual ping may be lower than yours (around 40-80) but (ignoring the differences in our ISPs) I spike just as frequently as you do, being closer to the servers doesn't help when the servers are having issues.

Also until my ISP started offering better service I was getting 90+ ping every game.

junglerboy161 votes

I wasn't saying anything about when I am playing badly, sometimes it happens right after I make some sort of clutch play and escape with a sliver of health, sometimes it is just a huge lag spike as the ability that just killed me takes 2 extra seconds to register which results in the game looking like it froze for a moment. It normally has nothing to do with ho well I play, it is just that it seems to always spike at inconvenient times.

Gavran1 votes

Well sure but seems to is the key word. Negativity Bias and all. And that in a time where it's totally harmless (walking to lane for example) you probably rarely notice at all.

junglerboy162 votes

Point taken. It probably is just that I notice it most when I am low simply because when I am low and in a risky situation, I am more attuned to how the game is working because of nerves, adrenaline, etc.

Cain the Enabler3 votes

Throttle everyone's ping to a minimum 80ms BAM problem solved.

Aithos3 votes

You are way off base for a number of reasons:

  1. no one is talking about "moving" the league servers or the LCS
  2. adding east coast servers and then matching people with a preference for location would be easy and invisible to the players
  3. you could split the U.S. Into two regions like Europe but that's not a great plan

The point is that there is no reason besides money that you wouldn't want to do it. That's the reality, Riot won't be adding any new customers but it will effectively double their server and datacenter and support staff costs. The executives and shareholders won't allow that kind of hit to profit so there it is. The game guys have to convince the executives that improving the latency for more than half the country will make for happier customers who play more and spend more money. Until that happens we won't see east or Midwest servers

Long Dong Wukong3 votes

tl;dr they're full of shit

meatbeater882 votes

tournaments are played on lan right?

Toothierosprey32 votes

Hurr hurr we need better server because we git 100 ping... I WISH I HAD 100 PING.

Cryoid4 votes

Hurr hurr we need better server because we git 100 ping... I WISH I HAD 100 PING.

So true.

Gavran2 votes

In the business world "training" doesn't mean "learning new skills for the first time" or anything remotely close to that.

Please don't assume the worst about things you don't understand.

ChefKomatsu2 votes

Be happy with what you have item 3073

Noraver1 votes

[deleted]

Noraver2 votes

Be happy with what you have item 3073

I understand some people have it even worse than I do. I sometimes (albeit rarely) rise to 140~ ping. I can't even imagine what it's like playing like that constantly. The difference between even 90-140 is huge. Which is again, why I made this thread! We shouldn't HAVE to play like that. D:

I Will Be Hokage2 votes

I play with anywhere from 80-120 ping everyday. Pros are pussies.

Raiyza2 votes

I'm on the east coast and this problem only started with the latest patch.

Essilyn2 votes

No one even mentions how EU already has a EU West and EU Nordic/East.

I mean yeah it's multiple countries that span much further then the US does from coast to coast, but if you subscribe to the "we want the region to be on the same ladder" logic, then one could ask about EU being split in half.

My personal opinions as a reason there's no east coast server is the following:

  1. As a west coast company who likes to be really hands on in regards to their work, it's a big effort to make a satellite office in the east coast just for a few guys to keep an eye on the east coast server farm.

  2. They (rightly) think that most people are just going to "live with it" and play on the NA server anyways. East coast players would have to migrate their accounts to LAN in a large enough number to make Riot scared for them to change their minds.

  3. The professional scene has already followed Riot and based themselves on the West coast, which could alienate the east coast players, as during the LCS splits, most NA professionals would play on NA West. NA East players could be de-valued, and people would say things like, "Oh you're playing on NA East without the pros of course you'll be high challenger." The Challenger scene also revolves around the top placed teams in the Ranked 5 ladder. EU already plays double the games for their challenger series because of this, and the NA staff may not want to work that much.

In the end, I'm for NA East servers, even if that means I now become the one with 120 ping when playing with all my league friends since they're east coasters. EU already kind of makes it work. I'm sure it can't be too difficult.

Mycat Smokes Pot2 votes

Aren't pro games played on Local Area Network?

http://youtu.be/F4fatIYLpOo?t=9m24s

I mean it's like, duh!

Fail thread, still upvoted cuz I do want a better ping.

Colonel J1 votes

The real reason is most likely Adobe AIr.

Fiorinol2 votes

The real reason is most likely Adobe AIr.

Adobe AIR is a platform. BS.

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