14 DAY TRIAL // Nothing is more frustrating in massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPG) than slow servers and poor customer service. Online players of World of Warcraft are getting so annoyed at the slow speed of the game, they are calling for a boycott. The quality of service in China has decreased so much for World of Warcraft (WoW) that the players are threatening with mass departures.
In China, the game is operated by The9 Limited, a Chinese MMORPG publisher, due to WoW's creator's absence in the region. When any problems arise, The9 Limited must go through Blizzard to resolve technical problems.
WoW is extremely popular in China, with more than half a million players, but according to Joystiq.com the players are getting tired with unstable servers, most of them reporting more than an hour long wait-time to log into the game, plus unpredictable servers that recently cut short an online raid with nearly 1,000 players involved.
On various WoW discussion boards, Chinese game unions have called for a general strike. WoW's servers are maintained by The9, which charges gamers based on the time spent online.
Players also accused The9 Limited of intentionally running slow servers because players are billed by the minute instead of a monthly subscription fee. Slower response means more connection time, which equals more money for The9 Limited. The9 Limited has responded to the accusations by indicating it will carefully look into the matter.