Splitting the server means splitting the community.
There's a whole lot of problems with that:
Guaranteed split:
Fewest mixed-region guilds form. This limits player interaction to the greatest degree.
Possible strong rivalries between regional guilds may form, may even outweigh any actual game lore that the devs try. It might be fun, but even these are abruptly ended when the split happens.
The community is inherently unstable, they know the split is coming and some may play half-heartedly or not at all, others may switch to solely antisocial gameplay on the starting EU server since they don't intend to stay there.
"Maybe" split:
This community has the greatest amount of uncertainty, and are likely unstable as well.
More mixed-region guilds form compared to the guaranteed split, but fewer than with no split at all.
Huge "Charlie Foxtrot" when the split does happen, lots of complaints, broken guilds, and some loss of players.
Guaranteed no split:
Greatest number of mixed-region guilds form, with nothing artificially limiting their creation. The best types of player interaction are possible when everyone can be involved.
Greater community stability. Friends won't be lost on the other side of an uncrossable digital void.
Any regional rivalries that do form won't be rudely interrupted by the world being ripped in half.
If the split does happen:
Mixed region guilds are torn apart.
NA players who do stay may feel unwelcome on the EU server.
If there is any technical issue at all, such as an NA player causing lag for an EU player - or even the perception of them causing lag - then the NA players will definitely be MADE to feel unwelcome.
If the server had strongly-regional guilds, their rivalries are abruptly ended by the split, they can now only interact on the forums and via comparing game stats. Whee, fun.
A critical mass of players, or a certain vibrancy to the game may be lost. This may very well mark the end of the game's "Golden Age" as perceived by players.
Splitting up the map so different map zones/sectors are in different regions, but the entire map is unified into one world:
It's basically like how EVE handles it, with one big world.
Regional servers for an undeveloped region can just be running in the EU until then, so players can settle ahead of time.
Clearly marked regional boundaries make it easier for players to find an area suited to them.
Devs: define those areas early on.Strong interactions involving actual gameplay between regions is still possible, rather than just forum wars or stats boasting.
If the boundaries are determined ahead of time then players can get ready in advance and settle in the appropriate areas. The NA servers can be moved later on once dev finances are good.
Mixed-region groups can settle along the boundaries, with dual sister cities on each side and players are not artificially limited in how they can interact.
If none of that convinced you, here's an emotional argument:
This is what it's like when the servers split and you had a bunch of friends and guildmates in the other region:
( If you hate Doctor+Rose, ignore this image please.
)
And of course everything is different if the community is ginormous. If every zone is bursting at the seams, and all the players are begging for a split, it will be much less traumatic.
Devs: Then again, you can always expand the map. Personally, I want to play with the cool British folks and the awesome Russians and the crazy in a good way Asians and the great people from countries I wouldn't have known existed except for that one Animaniacs song.
