Originally Posted by
maartena
It's not that simple. Codemasters used the same numbering system in their database to uniquely identify a character. Say both started numbering at 0000001, they now have two databases with unique numbering, but many, many, many double numbers, if not 99% of characters. These unique identifiers connect to thousand upon thousands of entries in the character database, and connect to dozens of other databases running along side, such as those for housing, vault contents, your skirmish statistics, etc, etc, etc. They are SO interconnected in such a big web, it would almost be impossible to change out all of the unique identifiers in one database and add them to the other database. Such an undertaking will most likely mean that both databases need to be shut down, one exported to some form of RAW format, have some system to go in and change all of those raw numbers to a new numbering system, and subsequently importing that raw data into the current US database. During this, there can also be NO new changes (ANY changes) to the US database.
Speaking from experience with large ERP system conversions, this would likely mean the entire game will need to be shut down for around a week, and that is assuming that nothing goes wrong. The cost of doing this is probably so large, it would not make ANY financial sense, and they would never recoup the cost of doing this, even if they were to raise the character transfer price to $100 (or EUR 100) after this is all said and done. Doing this would probably mean they LOSE money on it, and NO business would step into a venture if they weren't reasonably sure it would turn a profit, or help the bottom line.
The reason that COPIES (understand the difference!) to Bullroarer works from both and EU and US works most if the time, is because information is being copied to a third database, and if information gets lost in that database, nothing is lost really. The issue does also exist there, but ONLY if a US character with the exact same unique identifier copies to bullroarer, and e.g. an hour later the EU character with that unique identifier also tries to copy. That last character will be getting an error that is isn't possible. Since Bullroarer is only used during beta testing, and when it is it is usually not used by more than 1% of the players, the chances that 2 characters with the same unique ID is unimaginably small and an acceptable risk. It DOES happen however, and if your character can't copy, that is the reason why.
With a transfer from US to EU or vice versa, there is pretty much a 99% guarantee that your unique ID already exist on the other side.
Lastly, with the 5 remaining servers in place I believe there is a lot less need for transfers between the realms, so less people would be buying such a transfer if it were to be developed..... as the population of all remaining servers will probably mean you can raid around the clock.