Is one mega server for the whole game possible? I would love that

That is the question, which is why I wonder if something like that will be possible in our lifetimes.

Also keep in mind what happens when the server goes down - having 1 mega server has its drawbacks too.

Although if they ever were to attempt it, I'd suggest 3 mega servers - 1 PvE, 1 PvP, and 1 RP.

That was how they consolidated the servers this far since the game started with well over a 100, but I fully support them dropping it down to just 3 servers! One PvE, one PvP and one RP. For each region too so in total 6 servers I suppose.

Of course they can. It's just more and more instances is all. Rather than 2 Fleets, we'd have the population to support 6.

Darth THC is correct when he repliex "No different, because every area will still be instance-capped as they are now. There will be more instances, but none will have more people than they do now, so your over-burdened, low-end video card and processor won't have to draw any more people than they do now."

Furthermore, i'm not sure how this would be done practically, they could simply link the existing servers, so they oprate like they are now, but you no longer can choose a server selection so server selection goes away, because all servers are operating linked. this is quite possible, and in fact rprobably how each of the current servers worked, they probably about 3 or 4 servers making up Red Eclipse, maybe 8 making up Jedi Covenant etc.

Another approach is they may transfer every one to this super server, even though the actual machines are all over the world, this again happens quite alot. Still it's a huge QoL improvment solves all your cries for cross realm warzones or queues, etc.

I am fine without mega server, but cross server tech for warzones GSF and maybe the flashpoints in the group finder would be nice.

that can be solved in several ways.

Option 1:
Instead of server selection, when you log on, you can choose one of 3 options:

1. pvp
2. pvE
3. RP

it will then group instances in that category and you will zone in to an instance dedicated to that rule set. Furthermore, when you check the instances, they will sort them according to pvE, pvp, RP - next to the number - this can be either the text indicating or using colour code. Pvp instances will be color coded red when you check your map, pvE ones will be colour coded yellow, and RP colour coded Green.

Option 2.
PvP and PvE are really only a matter on whether pvp is by defualt on or by defuault off, and you can set that, no need to separate instances or anything like that, by selecting pvp, all it does is toggle the option in your settings to default you on for pvp, and will try to put you with people who have that on. Same with RP select RP, it will bunch you to instances with people who have that option selected just like it does when it determines your location, you logging on from Europe? the physical server that will handle your character would be one closest to your location. Even if you switch to a pvp instance or a pVE one or RP it wil select one that is generated by a server location closest to you.

The only exception is if you physically jump to a groups instance, in which case you will be in the location that the group leader is operating from, but as soona s you leave group and zone to anew area, you will be once more handled by your nearest server.

there will be no need for cross server tech, that is exactly one of the perks of a mega server, ah..i see what you mean. Group finder, GSF, Warzone and ranked queues will now match you via the entire population. not just the ones on your locality server. When it has compiled a group or team, you will alll be placed in an instnace. you don't need to know where the physical location of the server your instance is on is, it could be in europe or in north america, there woud be algorithms and criteria that will determine which location to use. ofc and grouping people up will generally fit a set of criteria first for optimum results, for example, the only timeyou would expect the computer to place a player in north america east coast in an instance that is located on a server in Europe or north america west coast is if there werent enough people to available in east coast to match you with, - assuming taht it will pick the server location based on the majority of where the people who it has grouped together are, and only place you elsewhere if there were not enough

the idea is you never have to wait long. T?here would probably be an option to keep you local for any queued activity for those very worried about latency, ut you would know that this would inevitably result in a longer quue time till a group that matches your criteria can be found But that would be an option that is off by default which you would have to turn on.

I found this article and the date on it made me laugh a little.

This is the capabilities of the EVE Online server as of 1/13/2011. This is over three years ago and almost a full year before this game even launched. At that time (and they have upgraded since) they could sustain nearly 100,000 users online on the same server. The current "Megaservers" of SWTOR are not capable of this 3 years later. Lets not even talk about the outdated server setup they had at launch.

I firmly believe having 1 RP/1 PVP/1 PVE server would be as big of an improvement (if not more) than the last merge that created the current large servers. This may or may not happen depending on where they stand with the scalability of the current architecture. If it entails a total redesign I think we will never see it.

The real big downside would be 9000 more threads from people losing conflicting character names.

LOVE this solution!!!