Originally posted by Prime8 I think the ones who have been playing for months/years telling people what the game is like "truthfully" is whats killing SWG , SWG NGE is its owne worst enemy , sure the "CABAL" like to claim they are hurting SWG but in truth SWG NGE is just bad and isnt getting any better the retention rate is abysmal , the silent majority are speaking quite loudly .
I totally agree with you Prime8. There is no way this game could ever appeal to anyone who has played other games. The quality of the experience is just not there. There are some sounds, an occasional storm trooper, and a droid or two that remind players it is Star Wars. Beyond this, however, the game is so far removed from the lore that it could be called Everquest. Then, there is the issue of the game mechanics. It is neither a FPS or a traditional MMO. Players twitch, bad guys shoot through walls, and specials don't fire. How a good Japanese company like Sony could allow their name to be associated with such rubbish does not make sense to me. NCSoft games, made by Koreans, have far superior quality. This should set the Japanese into high orbit, but SOE keeps on chugging into oblivion...
Well, I would bet that any light-bending barc seen in game will be due to a fanboi willing to drop $60 (creating then cancelling 4 accounts) to obtain it and the posters. $OE already make more money off the current playerbase that purchases new game keys for new items, like the iITV, than from actual new players.
Well, if any active player wants to get rid of a 'friend' , this is the time to do it.
Originally posted by Kazara Well, I would bet that any light-bending barc seen in game will be due to a fanboi willing to drop $60 (creating then cancelling 4 accounts) to obtain it and the posters. $OE already make more money off the current playerbase that purchases new game keys for new items, like the iITV, than from actual new players. Well, if any active player wants to get rid of a 'friend' , this is the time to do it.
That is kind of sad when you think about it "Oooooh I'll get a new shineyz if I buy game again"
Well, I would bet that any light-bending barc seen in game will be due to a fanboi willing to drop $60 (creating then cancelling 4 accounts) to obtain it and the posters. $OE already make more money off the current playerbase that purchases new game keys for new items, like the iITV, than from actual new players.
Well, if any active player wants to get rid of a 'friend' , this is the time to do it.
That is kind of sad when you think about it "Oooooh I'll get a new shineyz if I buy game again"
It is indeed pathetic, but strangley funny too. If any current players are wishing to be fleeced, then $OE is more than willing to accomodate them.
Personally, I think it's about time they put some effort into advertising SWG. There's always advertising features done for EQ & EQII but never anything for SWG. I see plenty of people replying with "lawlz, desperate!" but this is really the first advertising/marketing SWG has had for new players in 2 years or more.
Advertisement would be a waste of money. You won't see them doing it for the same reason they won't do expansions or major work to the game, they know they won't make money on it.
This is just a scheme to soak rabid fanbois (like you) for some extra $$$ and artificially pump up year end numbers. They will come out in January screeching about how up they are in subs. Of course by February they will be back down to 25K or lower.
The best advertisement SWG would have would be to fix the game so that it doesn't suck anymore. Of course that fix is far beyond their limited budget and more importantly, their Dev team's capability. SWG has had SOE's grade F dev team since the days of Heliass and it's not gotten any better.
They could not code a damn thing and just load pre NGE onto a server and gain tens of thousands more REAL subscribers than they could by doing schemes like this, even if they added a bonus: Activate 10 NGE accounts and get a nude holo of Natalie Portman.
SOE could blanket the Super Bowl with SWG ads (at the cost of more money than the budget to make a whole new MMO) and maybe get a hundred thousand to subscribe only to have them cancel because the game sucks. Advertising won't help their product because their product itself isn't any good.
Well, I would bet that any light-bending barc seen in game will be due to a fanboi willing to drop $60 (creating then cancelling 4 accounts) to obtain it and the posters. $OE already make more money off the current playerbase that purchases new game keys for new items, like the iITV, than from actual new players.
Well, if any active player wants to get rid of a 'friend' , this is the time to do it.
That is kind of sad when you think about it "Oooooh I'll get a new shineyz if I buy game again"
It is indeed pathetic, but strangley funny too. If any current players are wishing to be fleeced, then $OE is more than willing to accomodate them.
"Oooh, Shiney" more or less describes the perceived desires of the infamous "Target Audience", because it describes the NGE... Heavy on FLASH! SIZZLE! BANG! light on substance (ie: a game).
There basically isn't anything SOE could do that would turn off the last remaining rabid fanbois. John Smedley could steal Obraik's car and he'd be here somehow rationalizing it.
The problem for SOE is that their fanbois range in the low single digit thousands. They are still outnumbered by those who would prefer a rollback. There are just far less of them these days who haven't given up and moved on (either to other games or out of MMOs completely).
Personally, I think it's about time they put some effort into advertising SWG. There's always advertising features done for EQ & EQII but never anything for SWG.
I see plenty of people replying with "lawlz, desperate!" but this is really the first advertising/marketing SWG has had for new players in 2 years or more.
Come on Ob, You can hardly call it advertising when they're asking YOU to do all the leg work. Advertising would be commercials, articles in magazines, something more substantial. Not something their web page dept. came up with in 5 minutes (ok, maybe 10 mins.) and plastered it on their site asking YOU the player to do the REAL advertising (sell their game), while they sit and wait for the results. You'd think they'd put more effort if they really wanted more players, then again, they don't have the same funding, let alone spirit to do it.
Well first, let's be honest. Any sort of advertising they did would generate the same amount of negativity from you and your crew So, I'm not really sure it means much that you're unsurprisingly bagging on this.
However, I think recommendations from a person/friend that actually plays the game would be more effective then some sexed up TV advert - peer pressure is a wonderful thing When I'm out buying new things, alot of my decision is based on what my friends have said. TV adverts can put the idea in my head but it's the feedback from friends and family that determines my decision. If this wasn't true, why would people such as yourself be on these forums trying your hardest to throw mud at the SWG name?
Of course you forget that it was largely word of mouth and recommendations from friends that got the word out about how terrible the NGE was and how horribly players were treated by SOE, hence, why the target audience flood never had the chance to happen. (Of course the game sucking had a role in that too).
And the reward we gave friends was better than the trinkets SOE is offering: We saved them $14.99.
Personally, I think it's about time they put some effort into advertising SWG. There's always advertising features done for EQ & EQII but never anything for SWG. I see plenty of people replying with "lawlz, desperate!" but this is really the first advertising/marketing SWG has had for new players in 2 years or more.
First, this is not advertisement. It is nothing more then an attempt to conn the dismal player base into trying to convince someone to play so they can get a cookie.
Second, why are you acting ignorant to a 2 year absence or any attempt to increase subscriptions? Let me help you out - the game sucks bantha poodoo!! It is bad, it's not improved to any state where it was acceptable, and consumers appear to have caught on to SOE's fraud.
SOE has tarnished their image so bad (due to being cornered after committing Wire Fraud then having to refund everyones purchase of a fictious and maliciously marketed product) that they have zero credibility in online gaming. Where once they used to promote their product with pride they are now relying on a few misguided consumers who lack freewill to scam someone else on their behalf.
A true friend would NEVER attempt to encourage you to play a SOE game.
Personally, I think it's about time they put some effort into advertising SWG. There's always advertising features done for EQ & EQII but never anything for SWG. I see plenty of people replying with "lawlz, desperate!" but this is really the first advertising/marketing SWG has had for new players in 2 years or more.
First, this is not advertisement. It is nothing more then an attempt to conn the dismal player base into trying to convince someone to play so they can get a cookie.
Second, why are you acting ignorant to a 2 year absence or any attempt to increase subscriptions? Let me help you out - the game sucks bantha poodoo!! It is bad, it's not improved to any state where it was acceptable, and consumers appear to have caught on to SOE's fraud.
SOE has tarnished their image so bad (due to being cornered after committing Wire Fraud then having to refund everyones purchase of a fictious and maliciously marketed product) that they have zero credibility in online gaming. Where once they used to promote their product with pride they are now relying on a few misguided consumers who lack freewill to scam someone else on their behalf.
A true friend would NEVER attempt to encourage you to play a SOE game.
OMG I thought it was fake.... It is real:) If someone invites me to nge i will think about our friendship again lol.... It^s like your best friend screwing your ex....
" Oh yes this Barc Speeder looks different than the other speeders.... it could be yours . And you only need to pay for one more gamebox "
"The instant travell thingy is usefull, isn´t it ? Just 15 $ and you have one too. "
"A special pet ? No problem ... lets say 15 $ ?"
"Nice painting, isn´t ? Only 15 $ today "
"You ask for something to make the grind less painfull ? A few bucks and you get this amazing xp bost device. "
"A holo barc is something realy complicated ... 60 $ ok for you ? "
yes you will see those new shinys and blinkys in the game
but you will not see the new players that are meant to be connected with the appearance of those items
if you see 10 of those new holo bikes, do you realy expect to see 40 new players ... in a game where the gathering of 30 players allready counts as a mass event on most servers ?
oh come on people ! why dont you just take it as what it is ? it is selling virtual items for real life money nothing more nothing less it worked in the past and it will work today " Oh yes this Barc Speeder looks different than the other speeders.... it could be yours . And you only need to pay for one more gamebox " "The instant travell thingy is usefull, isn´t it ? Just 15 $ and you have one too. " "A special pet ? No problem ... lets say 15 $ ?" "Nice painting, isn´t ? Only 15 $ today " "You ask for something to make the grind less painfull ? A few bucks and you get this amazing xp bost device. " "A holo barc is something realy complicated ... 60 $ ok for you ? " yes you will see those new shinys and blinkys in the game but you will not see the new players that are meant to be connected with the appearance of those items if you see 10 of those new holo bikes, do you realy expect to see 40 new players ... in a game where the gathering of 30 players allready counts as a mass event on most servers ?
Wile i am playing 2 free mmo's i have yet to pay for one item, some do some dont as in swg some play and most don't....
Also that exp item will dropp off the mobs but if you want it you can buy it also...
Ok how bout we look at this from a wider perspective then just SWG is trying to get subscribers...
1. Other MMO's are constantly trying new buddy programs and free trials. SWG is trying something new. For instance if one MMO company never tryed offering free trials then there would be no free trials. I dont recall any other MMo that gives gifts for getting your peeps to play. Could be wrong but not aware of one. If LOTRO started offering something like this it would praised thru the streets.
2. Anywhere you go you have people clammering on about how SWG has no subs. So what is the big debate about that? SWG used to have 500k subs in an almost single market to 20k subs 4 yrs later now that there are over 200 MMO's. Yes the game has thinned out on players and it stinks. The game is really top notch if you know how to set your keymaps and understand wtf is goin on. Is it buggy? sure all MMO's are to a certain extent. Is it nothing but a big pile of rancor shit? NO!! The game is hot and it delivers the most versatile keymapping and HUD in the industry. I could name a million things i like about SWG and maybe 5 things i dont like about it. Its all in the playstyle and the person.
The point is there is so many bad threads going around that focus on the bad stuff. And these people 9 out 10 times havent played in 2 yrs....hmmm they gotta be right huh ?
Try the game its free if you like it buy it if not move along...
Ok how bout we look at this from a wider perspective then just SWG is trying to get subscribers... 1. Other MMO's are constantly trying new buddy programs and free trials. SWG is trying something new. For instance if one MMO company never tryed offering free trials then there would be no free trials. I dont recall any other MMo that gives gifts for getting your peeps to play. Could be wrong but not aware of one. If LOTRO started offering something like this it would praised thru the streets. 2. Anywhere you go you have people clammering on about how SWG has no subs. So what is the big debate about that? SWG used to have 500k subs in an almost single market to 20k subs 4 yrs later now that there are over 200 MMO's. Yes the game has thinned out on players and it stinks. The game is really top notch if you know how to set your keymaps and understand wtf is goin on. Is it buggy? sure all MMO's are to a certain extent. Is it nothing but a big pile of rancor shit? NO!! The game is hot and it delivers the most versatile keymapping and HUD in the industry. I could name a million things i like about SWG and maybe 5 things i dont like about it. Its all in the playstyle and the person. The point is there is so many bad threads going around that focus on the bad stuff. And these people 9 out 10 times havent played in 2 yrs....hmmm they gotta be right huh ? Try the game its free if you like it buy it if not move along...
It wasn't other games that caused people to leave SWG without anyone to replace them. After six months of claiming there was no change in the number of people canceling, the Smed himself made a post on the OBoards admitting the NGE caused a mass exodus of players away from the game. It was his clasic post where he said the anemic player population wasn't going to change until the game reached a baseline fun level. He went on to say the game was "nowhere near fun". That was the only truthful statement the Smed ever made, infact that statement is still true today.
SWG only ever reached around 250K-300K players. The current subscriber numbers are around 30K-50K, with the actual number of people who play the game at around 15K-25K. The difference between the subscriber number and the player number is the Station Access accounts.
"The point is there is so many bad threads going around that focus on the bad stuff. And these people 9 out 10 times havent played in 2 yrs....hmmm they gotta be right huh ?"
I guess I am that 1 out of 10 that played for the last 4 years and still thinks it sucks.
TBH, I don't think a magazine article is the best medium for an MMO. They're great for single player/non-MMO games because those games are typically short and you can see the entire game in a short period of time. With an MMO like SWG though, they simply can't cover the entirety of the game and often not beyond the beginning areas of it. As we all know (or should) there's much more to an MMO then what you see in those beginning parts and overall, the majority of your time in an MMO isn't spent there. Of course, this is different if the reviewer actively plays the game, but then is that really any different to this latest SWG promotion?
The UK PC Gamer review of the NGE contradicts your beliefs that magazine articles aren't effective. It was a 2 page spread, it highlighted what had been changed, what was worse and finished the article by awarding it a fantastic 27%.
Best selling PC games mag in the UK effectively killed the game here. I'd say that's pretty effective.
PC Gamer
Can't counter an argument with a valid discussion point? Fishermage(aka Fisherprice) recommends you cut and paste: ad hominem
"You will come to the conclusion that the only people crazier than the managers who thought this a good idea are those who put up with it and pay for it." - Salvaje (who paid to play the NGE for 18 months) /golfclap
Comments
The NGE goes from bad to worse, holo bikes and movie posters in a universe your meant to be immersed in.
This has turned into a classic thread. Good job bane and the others with the pics. They sum up $OE's vision.
But come on Lucasarts! You approved this, shame on you. Atleast should have Ed the duck posters in game if you have those movie posters.
I totally agree with you Prime8. There is no way this game could ever appeal to anyone who has played other games. The quality of the experience is just not there. There are some sounds, an occasional storm trooper, and a droid or two that remind players it is Star Wars. Beyond this, however, the game is so far removed from the lore that it could be called Everquest. Then, there is the issue of the game mechanics. It is neither a FPS or a traditional MMO. Players twitch, bad guys shoot through walls, and specials don't fire. How a good Japanese company like Sony could allow their name to be associated with such rubbish does not make sense to me. NCSoft games, made by Koreans, have far superior quality. This should set the Japanese into high orbit, but SOE keeps on chugging into oblivion...
Akevv Ostone
No Longer SWG Free
Well, I would bet that any light-bending barc seen in game will be due to a fanboi willing to drop $60 (creating then cancelling 4 accounts) to obtain it and the posters. $OE already make more money off the current playerbase that purchases new game keys for new items, like the iITV, than from actual new players.
Well, if any active player wants to get rid of a 'friend' , this is the time to do it.
That is kind of sad when you think about it
"Oooooh I'll get a new shineyz if I buy game again"
All i can say is Wow !!!
That is kind of sad when you think about it
"Oooooh I'll get a new shineyz if I buy game again"
It is indeed pathetic, but strangley funny too. If any current players are wishing to be fleeced, then $OE is more than willing to accomodate them.
Advertisement would be a waste of money. You won't see them doing it for the same reason they won't do expansions or major work to the game, they know they won't make money on it.
This is just a scheme to soak rabid fanbois (like you) for some extra $$$ and artificially pump up year end numbers. They will come out in January screeching about how up they are in subs. Of course by February they will be back down to 25K or lower.
The best advertisement SWG would have would be to fix the game so that it doesn't suck anymore. Of course that fix is far beyond their limited budget and more importantly, their Dev team's capability. SWG has had SOE's grade F dev team since the days of Heliass and it's not gotten any better.
They could not code a damn thing and just load pre NGE onto a server and gain tens of thousands more REAL subscribers than they could by doing schemes like this, even if they added a bonus: Activate 10 NGE accounts and get a nude holo of Natalie Portman.
SOE could blanket the Super Bowl with SWG ads (at the cost of more money than the budget to make a whole new MMO) and maybe get a hundred thousand to subscribe only to have them cancel because the game sucks. Advertising won't help their product because their product itself isn't any good.
That is kind of sad when you think about it
"Oooooh I'll get a new shineyz if I buy game again"
It is indeed pathetic, but strangley funny too. If any current players are wishing to be fleeced, then $OE is more than willing to accomodate them.
"Oooh, Shiney" more or less describes the perceived desires of the infamous "Target Audience", because it describes the NGE... Heavy on FLASH! SIZZLE! BANG! light on substance (ie: a game).
There basically isn't anything SOE could do that would turn off the last remaining rabid fanbois. John Smedley could steal Obraik's car and he'd be here somehow rationalizing it.
The problem for SOE is that their fanbois range in the low single digit thousands. They are still outnumbered by those who would prefer a rollback. There are just far less of them these days who haven't given up and moved on (either to other games or out of MMOs completely).
Come on Ob, You can hardly call it advertising when they're asking YOU to do all the leg work. Advertising would be commercials, articles in magazines, something more substantial. Not something their web page dept. came up with in 5 minutes (ok, maybe 10 mins.) and plastered it on their site asking YOU the player to do the REAL advertising (sell their game), while they sit and wait for the results. You'd think they'd put more effort if they really wanted more players, then again, they don't have the same funding, let alone spirit to do it.
Well first, let's be honest. Any sort of advertising they did would generate the same amount of negativity from you and your crewHowever, I think recommendations from a person/friend that actually plays the game would be more effective then some sexed up TV advert - peer pressure is a wonderful thing
When I'm out buying new things, alot of my decision is based on what my friends have said. TV adverts can put the idea in my head but it's the feedback from friends and family that determines my decision. If this wasn't true, why would people such as yourself be on these forums trying your hardest to throw mud at the SWG name?
Of course you forget that it was largely word of mouth and recommendations from friends that got the word out about how terrible the NGE was and how horribly players were treated by SOE, hence, why the target audience flood never had the chance to happen. (Of course the game sucking had a role in that too).
And the reward we gave friends was better than the trinkets SOE is offering: We saved them $14.99.
Second, why are you acting ignorant to a 2 year absence or any attempt to increase subscriptions? Let me help you out - the game sucks bantha poodoo!! It is bad, it's not improved to any state where it was acceptable, and consumers appear to have caught on to SOE's fraud.
SOE has tarnished their image so bad (due to being cornered after committing Wire Fraud then having to refund everyones purchase of a fictious and maliciously marketed product) that they have zero credibility in online gaming. Where once they used to promote their product with pride they are now relying on a few misguided consumers who lack freewill to scam someone else on their behalf.
A true friend would NEVER attempt to encourage you to play a SOE game.
Second, why are you acting ignorant to a 2 year absence or any attempt to increase subscriptions? Let me help you out - the game sucks bantha poodoo!! It is bad, it's not improved to any state where it was acceptable, and consumers appear to have caught on to SOE's fraud.
SOE has tarnished their image so bad (due to being cornered after committing Wire Fraud then having to refund everyones purchase of a fictious and maliciously marketed product) that they have zero credibility in online gaming. Where once they used to promote their product with pride they are now relying on a few misguided consumers who lack freewill to scam someone else on their behalf.
A true friend would NEVER attempt to encourage you to play a SOE game.
I might resub for a month for that
I might resub for a month for that
That is temping
OMG
I thought it was fake.... It is real:)
If someone invites me to nge i will think about our friendship again lol....
It^s like your best friend screwing your ex....
oh come on people !
why dont you just take it as what it is ?
it is selling virtual items for real life money
nothing more nothing less
it worked in the past and it will work today
" Oh yes this Barc Speeder looks different than the other speeders.... it could be yours . And you only need to pay for one more gamebox "
"The instant travell thingy is usefull, isn´t it ? Just 15 $ and you have one too. "
"A special pet ? No problem ... lets say 15 $ ?"
"Nice painting, isn´t ? Only 15 $ today "
"You ask for something to make the grind less painfull ? A few bucks and you get this amazing xp bost device. "
"A holo barc is something realy complicated ... 60 $ ok for you ? "
yes you will see those new shinys and blinkys in the game
but you will not see the new players that are meant to be connected with the appearance of those items
if you see 10 of those new holo bikes, do you realy expect to see 40 new players ... in a game where the gathering of 30 players allready counts as a mass event on most servers ?
Wile i am playing 2 free mmo's i have yet to pay for one item, some do some dont as in swg some play and most don't....
Also that exp item will dropp off the mobs but if you want it you can buy it also...
Theres too many words in that ad. I need more pictures because I hate to read.
Is a man not entitled to the herp of his derp?
Remember, I live in a world where juggalos and yugioh players are real things.
I might resub for a month for that
That is temping
Not really. She has a chest on her like a 10 year old boy.
Is a man not entitled to the herp of his derp?
Remember, I live in a world where juggalos and yugioh players are real things.
Are sony insane? hosting 2 files of 2 GB each on servers that don't support resuming?
Get a fucking clue!
Ok how bout we look at this from a wider perspective then just SWG is trying to get subscribers...
1. Other MMO's are constantly trying new buddy programs and free trials. SWG is trying something new. For instance if one MMO company never tryed offering free trials then there would be no free trials. I dont recall any other MMo that gives gifts for getting your peeps to play. Could be wrong but not aware of one. If LOTRO started offering something like this it would praised thru the streets.
2. Anywhere you go you have people clammering on about how SWG has no subs. So what is the big debate about that? SWG used to have 500k subs in an almost single market to 20k subs 4 yrs later now that there are over 200 MMO's. Yes the game has thinned out on players and it stinks. The game is really top notch if you know how to set your keymaps and understand wtf is goin on. Is it buggy? sure all MMO's are to a certain extent. Is it nothing but a big pile of rancor shit? NO!! The game is hot and it delivers the most versatile keymapping and HUD in the industry. I could name a million things i like about SWG and maybe 5 things i dont like about it. Its all in the playstyle and the person.
The point is there is so many bad threads going around that focus on the bad stuff. And these people 9 out 10 times havent played in 2 yrs....hmmm they gotta be right huh ?
Try the game its free if you like it buy it if not move along...
It wasn't other games that caused people to leave SWG without anyone to replace them. After six months of claiming there was no change in the number of people canceling, the Smed himself made a post on the OBoards admitting the NGE caused a mass exodus of players away from the game. It was his clasic post where he said the anemic player population wasn't going to change until the game reached a baseline fun level. He went on to say the game was "nowhere near fun". That was the only truthful statement the Smed ever made, infact that statement is still true today.
SWG only ever reached around 250K-300K players. The current subscriber numbers are around 30K-50K, with the actual number of people who play the game at around 15K-25K. The difference between the subscriber number and the player number is the Station Access accounts.
Nice try Matt...
but the game blows.
"The point is there is so many bad threads going around that focus on the bad stuff. And these people 9 out 10 times havent played in 2 yrs....hmmm they gotta be right huh ?"
I guess I am that 1 out of 10 that played for the last 4 years and still thinks it sucks.
Best selling PC games mag in the UK effectively killed the game here. I'd say that's pretty effective.
Can't counter an argument with a valid discussion point? Fishermage(aka Fisherprice) recommends you cut and paste: ad hominem
"You will come to the conclusion that the only people crazier than the managers who thought this a good idea are those who put up with it and pay for it." - Salvaje (who paid to play the NGE for 18 months) /golfclap