Just a few days after ZAM published an editorial about PlanetSide's current-day relevance, we received news that the MMOFPS is merging its existing servers down to just one. Published by SOE in 2003, PlanetSide never enjoyed wide-spread success, but went on to become a fairly popular niche MMO. In the recent editorial, ZAM editor Pwyff said,"Interestingly, while Planetside is probably one of the best FPSMMORPGs I've played to date, it's also very sad to see that it's one of the most abandoned MMOs I've seen in quite some time."

In an official email announcement released today (see the full text after the jump), SOE said the "Werner" server will be merged into the "Gemini" server on August 25. While the reasoning behind the merge may be obvious, SOE described the action to be "in the interest in maintaining a high level of competition and gameplay" within the MMO. The official release urges players to "preserve your legacy" by logging in to access the name-changing character options, since it will apply to everyone. "After the merge, many character names will be duplicated, and priority will be given to players who have logged in most recently and to those who created their names first," the release states. "As a thank you to our loyal PlanetSide players, special merits will be given to native Werner players to represent your past server."

The character name change system seems fair enough; it's rather typical for a merge like this. The bonuses offered as compensation aren't fabulous, but most players will probably prefer it rather than nothing at all.

More importantly, the whole of PlanetSide's player base will exist on a single server after August. SOE must have come to the conclusion that the change is what the game needed, although we won't be able to see exactly how the change impacts gameplay until later this summer. Because the announcement was released via email, you can find the full text pasted below:

In the interest in maintaining a high level of competition and gameplay within the three empires of PlanetSide®, the Werner server will be merged into the Gemini server on August 25, 2009.

Preserve your Legacy! After the merge, many character names will be duplicated, and priority will be given to players who have logged in most recently and to those who created their names first. (See below for name change details.)

As a thank you to our loyal PlanetSide players, special merits will be given to native Werner players to represent your past server. Characters will receive their merits upon logging in to Gemini for the first time after the server merge is complete.

Character Name Conflict Rules

• Players that have logged in to their characters during the ninety (90) day period immediately preceding the server merge will have priority to their character names.

• If both players have logged in to their characters during the ninety (90) day period immediately preceding the server merge, priority goes to the player who created the character name first.

• If neither player has logged in to their characters during the ninety (90) day period immediately preceding the server merge, priority still goes to the player who created the character name first.

• Characters who are deemed the lower priority duplicate name based on the rules described above will have a "-W" (for Werner characters) or a "-G" (for Gemini) added to the end of their name.

• Any player who receives the "-W" or "-G" to the end of his or her character name will be able to change his or her name by using the following command in game: /rename <currentname> <new name>

• There is no deadline for name change completion, but once a name is changed it cannot be changed again.

• Reserve, trial and rental accounts that did not convert to a fully paid and entitled subscription prior to August 25, 2009, will have all characters on such accounts deleted, will not be eligible to have characters moved to the Gemini server as part of the server merge, and will no longer have access to characters on those accounts after the server merge (August 25, 2009).

• Example of a name conflict: If "Thom" from Werner was created before "Thom" from Gemini, then "Thom" from Werner would remain the same, and "Thom" from Gemini would become "Thom-G" on Gemini.

Outfit Name Conflict Rules

Duplicated outfit names will change similar to duplicated character names.

• Priority will be given to the outfit name created first. The outfit name created second will be deemed the duplicate name.

• Outfit names that are deemed to be the duplicate outfit name will have a "-W" (for Werner outfits) or an "-G" (for Gemini outfits) added to the end of their outfit name.

• Outfits with a duplicate name containing the "-W" or "-G" suffix, will be allowed to change their outfit name. Outfit leaders will be permitted to change the outfit name while in game with the command: /outfitrename <new name>

• There is no deadline for name change completion, but once a name is changed, it cannot be changed again.