@Riot, can you edit/update your outdated announcement, please?

Risuzaru·Jun 28, 2015·47 votes·15,245 views

Today it's exactly 14 months - since Riot Games Tokyo was officially announced (28th April 2014). Should we celebrate? I'm afraid not. "Hitting that big green "GO" button" didn't happen...

After such a long time, this sentence - "We’re still assembling a crack team of Rioters in Tokyo, but we’re getting close to hitting that big green “GO” button. So hang around; we’re just getting started." - looks like an april fools joke!

I think, it's finally time to edit that news for Riot Games Tokyo, as you did for Riot Games: Seoul, Moscow, Sydney etc. - which took you from 4 to 7 months max.

After over one year of "getting close" in Tokyo, can you tell us how close you're? And please, if you can explain, what you meant by "getting close"? Is it the same as - soon™ ?

Sorry if it's just me - misunderstanding english, it's not my native language.

35 Comments

Cronax42Jun 28, 201522 votes

Have you ever tried setting anything up in Japan, especially as a foreign company? Neither have I, but I have done some reading on the subject and it is notoriously difficult.

I don't understand why people keep pretending this is just a case of waving a magic wand and Riot somehow refusing to do so...

If they add Japanese servers, they will make more money since it will let their playerbase expand. They literally have no reason not to do it, so it's only logical that there are other factors preventing them from doing so. Making those factors public won't make them go away and might even make them worse in some cases, so the best they can do is keep working on it behind the screens.

VioletGilJun 28, 20153 votes

{quoted}

Have you ever tried setting anything up in Japan, especially as a foreign company? Neither have I, but I have done some reading on the subject and it is notoriously difficult.

I don't understand why people keep pretending this is just a case of waving a magic wand and Riot somehow refusing to do so...

If they add Japanese servers, they will make more money since it will let their playerbase expand. They literally have no reason not to do it, so it's only logical that there are other factors preventing them from doing so. Making those factors public won't make them go away and might even make them worse in some cases, so the best they can do is keep working on it behind the screens.

Rioter: "Sorry that we're taking so long. We're still working on it and we'll make a more detailed response as soon as we have good news to show you guys."

All they would need to say to calm the reasonable people down.

satsujinshaJun 29, 20159 votes

{quoted}

Have you ever tried setting anything up in Japan, especially as a foreign company? Neither have I, but I will comment anyway...

I live in Japan and I can assure you, it's not another planet. If it took them much less time before, to release other servers, it shouldn't take much more for server in Japan.

Setting up anything in Russia (country that is your political enemy), if you're American, could be considered more difficult actually (spies everywhere), than setting up anything in Japan (your ally). But it took them 4 months! Great Job Riot btw!

Here are some examples:

Brazil - Riot Games Sao Paulo announced: 13.04.2012 server launch: 13.09.2012 = 5 months

Oceania - Riot Games Sydney announced: 27.02.2013 server launch: 28.06.2013 = 4 months

Russia - Riot Games Moscow announced: 29.11.2012 server launch: 17.04.2013 = 4 months+

Turkey - Riot Games Istanbul announced: 15.02.2012 server launch: 27.09.2012 = 7 months+

Japan - Riot Games Tokyo announced: 28.04.2014 = 1 year, 2 months - still no server launch

nekocafeJun 29, 20151 votes

Seeing as I messaged Riot, including contact information, and informed them that I was more than willing to help them establish the company in Tokyo, there's not really an excuse. I work for a company in Japan that specializes in establishing foreign companies here and making the process as clean-cut as possible. Even filling out most of the paperwork for the entire endeavor. oh well...

SuperMazziveH3r0Jun 29, 20151 votes

If they really tried, they could set up the japanese servers in korea. It is only hour by flight so it should have around 60ms ping. (pretty low compared to other regions)

OrinJun 28, 201510 votes

It's another case of riot not being transparent enough and not telling us anything.

Boeing 747 500Jun 28, 20151 votes

someone is watching gbay99

sao KimJun 28, 20159 votes

Riot is ignoring every post related to japanese server! They never answer or share any information about japanese server or Riot Games Tokyo. I guess they don't have any good news for japanese community, so better to be quiet and pretend that problem doesn't exist!

Everyone know that 14 months is too long - as for a time needed to setup new server. As it was said, it took them about 4 - 7 months for every other server before. We can just guess that they failed in Japan and they're ashamed to admit that!

SensualMuffinsJun 28, 20152 votes

It takes more than just "setting up a server". They have to obtain a building, business licenses and several other permits. It really isn't as easy as, "Hey we're a video game company, we would like server pls, thx."

Sweet Poison LynJun 28, 20158 votes

KaaoxxJun 29, 20158 votes

I am a professor at a university in Japan with a decent player base of Japanese and international students. The lack of a Japanese server since the original announcement has hurt the growth of players at the university because students play on several different servers. I have students playing on NA, China, and SEA servers. They are all waiting for a Japanese server to start playing together and level up new accounts. It also discourages new potential players because they have friends on multiple servers and would love to play the game with people who speak their language.

I on behalf of my students would love to hear any word about any progress made. As a professor who dreams, and it not being too far out of the picture, of bringing e-sports to the Japanese university level, I beg for any type of communication. Silence is only hurting.

SkullduggeryJun 29, 20151 votes

Meanwhile all the KR transfer students are like lol 60ping

C0ntract0rJun 28, 20154 votes

I just want to say, I like how everyone that makes and comments in these threads regard themselves as the most intelligent business men/women on the planet that also know everything there is to know about computers, game servers, game development, and business licensing in foreign countries.
Cause honestly, in order to believe half the shit people are typing they would literally have to think that of themselves.

a call beyondJun 28, 20153 votes

Ao Shin where?

ThePurpleKnightJun 28, 20153 votes

{quoted}

Ao Shin where?

Ao Shin is the dragon that lives in Magma Chamber right?

QuadradactylJun 29, 20152 votes

They announced that he won't be out till 2016, if at all. They said they teased him too early.

SinjectionJun 29, 20153 votes

HAHAHAHAHA. You really expected your server, all the way over in Asia, to come to you so soon? Son, I've been waiting since 2011 for an East Coast server to come to me. Get in line.

satsujinshaJun 29, 20158 votes

Are you trolling or you really don't know anything!?

Riot has confirmed many times already, that there will be no East Coast server. "What they are making however is their own private network infrastructure that would be used ONLY for League of Legends traffic..." Go, check this thread

As you can see, there wasn't any announcement for east coast server - since they're not making it. But there was announcement for japanese servers at Riot official site over one year ago. Also there was announcement of japanese server coming soon™, at "Tokyo Game Show 2014"!.

Son, I've been waiting since 2011 for an East Coast server to come to me. Get in line.

Sorry to make it clear for you - you were waiting all these years for nothing! But good news is, you will get "private network infastructure", which will fix your ping problems (if you have decent internet connection ofc).

btw talking about line - Japan was last in that line (it's most likely last region, that is getting a server). After China, Korea, Russia, Australia, Turkey, Brazil, Indonesia, Philipines etc

TaymeJun 28, 20152 votes

Soon™

L0rdAsmodeusJun 28, 20151 votes

Hopefully after the NA roadmap stuff gets finished, something will be done about this and other similar promised things "new tribunal etc..." but don't keep your hopes up. Viktor

only TristanaJun 28, 20151 votes

The same as Ao Shin

C0ntract0rJun 28, 20152 votes

uhm, how exactly, a rioter has stated ao shin was teased too early in development and was put on hold due to problems regarding balancing/development of kit.

Calliope x RoxyJun 29, 20152 votes

So Ao Shins kit isnt balanced/developed....yet they release Ekko, an AP assassin with a slow, a stun, a large ass shield, and an OP passive that does massive amount of damage and its a slow/movement speed buff? AS WELL as a 1.3 ap scaling nuke heal for Ekko? alright then, riot. show us Ao Shins kit.

OtterPupJun 29, 20152 votes

You have an incredibly narrow view of what balance means. Consider the fact that Ao Shin wasn't just a dragon, but an East Asian style of dragon, one that is very thin but long. Imagine what hit box would be like? His face and front would be super skinny and nearly impossible to hit moving at you, but come from the side and you could never miss. And don't bring up velkoz, velkoz has a very large central collider and the tentacles don't count, so it works. Ao Shin's design being imbalanced wasn't in reference to "dang, guess those skills are a little strong" and more "this character doesn't work with the basic combat mechanics of our game"

MigrañaboyJun 29, 20151 votes

Due to the high Z to XY aspect ratio, it means that Ao Shin has a large hitbox or that the dragon will be too small just for ants to appreciate.

The only way that this snake dragon could work as a champion is that his body is hidden under a tornado like tornado man from justice league. But everyone knows that would suck. Or make him into a disposable Baron like creature to make everyone mad. kek

Another problem is, that being a large champion and game not having turn rate as Dota, this champion will look sort of herp derp when transitioning 180° constantly. Not as expected from a long creature. Riot just dun gooffed when stating he was a "leak".

QuadradactylJun 29, 20151 votes

That isn't what they meant at all. They wanted him to have a long narrow body but it isn't working with our current hit boxes. It had nothing to do with the damage balance of him.

QuadradactylJun 29, 20151 votes

They have been very clear with him. They said there were issues with him and it wasn't just his kit. They were unsure what to do thematically and his model isn't working so he was shelved till 2016. IF he comes out at all.

TwotgobblenJun 29, 20151 votes

LOOOOOOOOL you expected a Japanese server in a year? We don't even have an East coast server in our own country. Plz, Rito makes way too much money to care.

supes the lostJun 29, 20151 votes

{quoted}

Riot has confirmed many times already, that there will be no East Coast server. "What they are making however is their own private network infrastructure that would be used ONLY for League of Legends traffic..." Go, check this thread

Edit: I made a mistake when I decided to post this, plz no hate messages, I will not delete the message because it's not too bad, but I mean no harm, I just misread.

TolforJun 29, 20153 votes

"Why won't company X do Y?" "BECAUSE THEY MAKE TOO MUCH MONEY!" So tired of that non-logic being used to explain/complain about things. Do you realize how little sense it makes?

"According to my business expertise, Riot doesn't want to set up a server in your region, thereby unifying the region's playerbase, bringing in new players, and making them more money. Why not, you ask? Because they make so much money, of course!"

C0ntract0rJul 3, 20151 votes

You have to remember, kids on the internet know EVERYTHING about running a business, internet infrastructure, and game/computer coding, meanwhile riot is a bunch of tards with diapers on their heads..
Or sat least thats everyone complaining about riot seems to think at least.