It's honestly tough to announce this, but it's an announcement which I'm sure you'll admit isn't unexpected, even if it is a surprise. When I found myself managing this server about two years ago, I promised myself that I'd keep it up as long as I could, so long as even a few people were enjoying themselves. It has, however, reached a point at which this is no longer feasible.
As such, last weekend I messaged Tim to recommend that we make one final payment towards the server, and formally shut Empire War v2 down after almost exactly three years, and about 85 months after it came up in 2012. The servers are paid for until Christmas Eve, and should shut down soon after.
My exact reasons for this are thus:
Further to this, we frankly don’t have the money to pay for another month, we have finally spent our reserves. Yes, this could be bypassed with large-scale downsizing and a donation drive, but it’d just be dragging the server out.
However, I wholeheartedly believe the clean-break of shutting EW v1 down was a mistake. As such, after discussion with Tim we have decided the following:
Lastly, of course, to Tim himself. We’ve been through ups and downs over the past 7 years, staff and players have come and gone, but he’s the one permanent fixture of this amazing place. Thank you for creating a place and community that was a fixture of our childhoods, even if many of us have now left childhood behind… It’s honestly so strange to have him go from 12-year old Tobberz’s god-figure to a good online friend.
I can’t tell you who’s involved yet, and there is certainly no ETA. But I’m more than hopeful something will come of this. It would be a momentous step up from where we are now. It certainly won’t be ready by the time v2 shuts, so there would be an indeterminate gap. I’m confident this isn’t the true end.
A final note: I will talk with Tim about this last month of the server, specifically regarding the store, and donations in the month before we shut down. Expect further announcements on this topic and others in the coming days and weeks.
See ya, it’s been a true pleasure.
-Tobberz
As such, last weekend I messaged Tim to recommend that we make one final payment towards the server, and formally shut Empire War v2 down after almost exactly three years, and about 85 months after it came up in 2012. The servers are paid for until Christmas Eve, and should shut down soon after.
My exact reasons for this are thus:
- I am completely dissatisfied with Empire War in its current state and have neither the motivation nor the skills to properly transform it into an active, innovative, fun siege server. This is a downward trend, and nothing will change.
- Empire War itself is buggy and laggy to the extent it’d require medium to long-term activity from both me and Tim to completely fix and transform, and that’s something neither of us can provide, and no one can take our place.
- Furthermore, I personally have realised I cannot reasonably spend my time effectively owning and managing EpicQuestz, alongside being a full dev, head moderator, and manager on Empire War.
Further to this, we frankly don’t have the money to pay for another month, we have finally spent our reserves. Yes, this could be bypassed with large-scale downsizing and a donation drive, but it’d just be dragging the server out.
However, I wholeheartedly believe the clean-break of shutting EW v1 down was a mistake. As such, after discussion with Tim we have decided the following:
- The EW name, website & discord server will remain in the hands of the Leadership permanently.
- Remaining donations in reserves will be kept safe, aside.
- A personal promise from me that all v2 donors will be compensated in some way should a v3 come up in the future, unlike on v1. Further to this, all v2 files will be kept intact for the future.
Lastly, of course, to Tim himself. We’ve been through ups and downs over the past 7 years, staff and players have come and gone, but he’s the one permanent fixture of this amazing place. Thank you for creating a place and community that was a fixture of our childhoods, even if many of us have now left childhood behind… It’s honestly so strange to have him go from 12-year old Tobberz’s god-figure to a good online friend.
The Future
Me being me, I can’t leave such a huge chunk of my past behind without trying to hold on to some of it. As such, I can confirm that efforts, discussions and brainstorming has already begun for an official continuation of Empire War in some way. This is very much still in the works, but we’re proceeding quite quickly. This is the reason for making those three statements earlier, there truly is something substantial coming.I can’t tell you who’s involved yet, and there is certainly no ETA. But I’m more than hopeful something will come of this. It would be a momentous step up from where we are now. It certainly won’t be ready by the time v2 shuts, so there would be an indeterminate gap. I’m confident this isn’t the true end.
A final note: I will talk with Tim about this last month of the server, specifically regarding the store, and donations in the month before we shut down. Expect further announcements on this topic and others in the coming days and weeks.
See ya, it’s been a true pleasure.
-Tobberz