Age of Conan to "Relaunch?"

Axles

As many of you guys know, AoC didn't have a great launch. More like a Payed Beta most would say.

 

Now if you read enough of this recent interview you can find little things that will be happening to the game in a short time.

 

 Jonric: Why haven't you offered a free trial to attract new players? And what about getting those who left to try the game again? Is this a lost cause?

Craig Morrison: Free trial marketing will be coming soon. We wanted to address the key areas of concern from launch before we began a major campaign of this type. Now that we've started to see a positive trend in players' reactions, we're nearing the point where we feel we'll get better results from such a program. Likewise, we'll be doing re-evaluation offers for previous subscribers. It's certainly not a lost cause. I wouldn't have taken this position and be pushing the team to deliver new game updates if I didn't think we had a good chance of success.

Link to interview

 

 

New interview with E.E.

Link to interview

GS: Have you plan some sort of “Come Back program” for the old subscribers like reactivate for a while old accounts, give bonus items and things like that to show new contents to them?

Yes, we definitely do have plans for that. However, we are biding our time making sure we do such a campaign at the right moment. There are certain updates we want to do to the game before we open up for this, as we want to make sure as many people as possible come back and stay there when we do. We are getting closer and closer to that point, though, thanks to the many updates that we have done to the game. We are also in the process of releasing a trial version, allowing new players to experience the game. Expect more information on that very soon.

Magter

Originally posted by Axles


As many of you guys know, AoC didn't have a great launch. More like a Payed Beta most would say.
 
Now if you read enough of this recent interview you can find little things that will be happening to the game in a short time.
 
 Jonric: Why haven't you offered a free trial to attract new players? And what about getting those who left to try the game again? Is this a lost cause?
Craig Morrison: Free trial marketing will be coming soon. We wanted to address the key areas of concern from launch before we began a major campaign of this type. Now that we've started to see a positive trend in players' reactions, we're nearing the point where we feel we'll get better results from such a program. Likewise, we'll be doing re-evaluation offers for previous subscribers. It's certainly not a lost cause. I wouldn't have taken this position and be pushing the team to deliver new game updates if I didn't think we had a good chance of success.
Link to interview

 

Sweet...the more MMO's out there for me to play, the better. The last thing i want is any MMO out there to completely deminish and be sent to the recycle bin.

 

Elsabolts

F2p Yes, Relaunch No.

Shadow786

Craig Morrison = what Mark Jacobs should  have been

Unfinished

When they send me a refund, than we can talk the future.

finaticd

The majority of the positive reactions are from the 8% or less, minority of players able to tuff it out the past 9 months, the game is no where close to being worth it for most players due to game mechanics and bland content.

PvP system - failure

PvE Raids - failure (read the official forums for more info)

Player progression aside from levels - failure

PvE Group content - failure

Trade skills - failure

class balance and class design - failure

*****************************

This game aimed for the stars and hit rock bottom, dont blame yourself it was a lack of skills or what not in the creation of the game.  There was so much negative feedback given since launch, pity that Funcom ignored pretty much all of it. Well they did delete and censor that type of feedback on their own forums so I guess they didn't ignore it.

Deadman87

Originally posted by finaticd


The majority of the positive reactions are from the 8% or less, minority of players able to tuff it out the past 9 months, the game is no where close to being worth it for most players due to game mechanics and bland content.
PvP system - failure
PvE Raids - failure (read the official forums for more info)
Player progression aside from levels - failure
PvE Group content - failure
Trade skills - failure
class balance and class design - failure

 

/sigh

 

Could please back that up with something else than the word "failure"?

I can help you out here. You say "the PvP system is a failure because..." and then follow up with a *reason* as to why the PvP system is a failure.

Asbo

I am fed up to the teeth of being ripped off by gaming companies and as far as I am concerned spoilcom have not learnt or listened to AO or AoC beta testers who told them they would fail if they didn't postpone retail day and we all know what happened to both games. Total disaster though in their defnece they did manage to get AO up and runnimng but again too little too late imo.

 

So I would agree the only way they will get me back to even look at another of their products would be if it's free and then I would only try that if many other people were praising the game prior to me even bothering as I have lost that much faith in their BS. Had they got the right person to project manage the job in the first place they would now not be in this position end off!!

 

I will most likely never play another Funcom game again as I have given them two trys and that's enough in my book. No games company deserves to stay in the market place if they fail and with the current climate I feel we will see many fall by the way side. Players are sick of this and while some may bite the word spreads like wild fire if any game sucks. I also feel a games company would get far more kudos if they heald their hands up and say we made a mistake and can not release our game for a futher so many days/month/year due to x,y,z....ect. This would at the very least prove they are attempting to get it right and provided they stay honest and upfront they will get the support of the gaming communities for sure.

 

The last thing a gaming company can do is upset the potential player base before a product even goes live, for example look at the way DFO has acted it has caused 99% of it's own problems due to lack of communication and skills lacking in certain areas, while it may well excel in others, so there needs to be a balance to keep the masses happy.

 

Bandit.

jaxsundane

I'm glad to see many aren't turned completely off as I think at the least the game is going in the right direction finally, but I must also add I am one of the 25 percent who said no  and don't see anything that will change my mind.

1)Enough is enough if I have to play one more mmo set in 3k b.c. I'm going to throw my pc out the window. At this point I'm forced to think there is another reason that every mmo is set in a fantasy setting such as dusty ips' that are costing money but not being used because devs cannot possibly believe by making more fantasy games they are being innovative in any way.

2)I'm kind of particular as most consumers are about who I give my money to and after researching FCs reputation and past launches I made the assumtion they would do exactly what they did with AO and were not worth the time money or effort and as is well documented they lived up to my expectations and then some. A friend left lotro for AOC and hoped I would join her she preordered  and even let me try it out after she finally got it running hoping I would join her (misery loves company) she has since returned but I lucky enough to see first hand what I thought this game for my tastes blows chunks

3)If the bugs can be overlooked the bad design cannot, opinions are like voices but it's hard not to realize the world is just smallish compared to most other good games of it's type I often hear it is this way to pack more graphical prowess into the game but to me it's a bad trade off graphically the industry standard is fine especially if I will have to sacrifice wide open space to adventure and explore.

I'm an mmo fan so I too want to see the industry flourish and with the change in management they seem to be getting reason  #2 taken care of but the rest they just can't fix with this good luck and have fun if and when they get it together though gang.

 

Unfinished

Originally posted by Deadman87

Originally posted by finaticd


The majority of the positive reactions are from the 8% or less, minority of players able to tuff it out the past 9 months, the game is no where close to being worth it for most players due to game mechanics and bland content.
PvP system - failure
PvE Raids - failure (read the official forums for more info)
Player progression aside from levels - failure
PvE Group content - failure
Trade skills - failure
class balance and class design - failure

 

/sigh

 

Could please back that up with something else than the word "failure"?

I can help you out here. You say "the PvP system is a failure because..." and then follow up with a *reason* as to why the PvP system is a failure.

 

Do you really need a re-hash of ALL of the things players had serious issues with in every single thread? I am pretty sure you are very familiar with the 'counter-view' and the things players found dissapointing by now.

Vinterblot

If they offered at least 1 free day to previous subscribers, then yes. I would certainly give it another shot.

If they make me re-subscribe to re-try the game, then I would most certainly not re-try Age of Conan.

Edit: Also, I would love for them to implement PayPal subscritions. If, they have'nt yet.

Graythandor

AoC has the foundation to be a revolutionary game.  The mechanics of combat are brilliant, the story/lore is engaging, and the graphics are beautiful.  What it doesn't have is a well-developed interface, functional characterization system (broken feats, anybody??), or carefully balanced classes.  The game also suffers from an overabundance of pvp qq'ers who know if they whine loud enough they'll get their way.

IMO, if Funcom had paid more attention to the details and polished the nuances of the game better before launch a lot of people would have been willing to tough it out longer to get everything ship-shape.... I mean really, who plays a mmo where your traits, feats, & items have little to no discernible value or effect???  That goes against the most fundamental principles of mmo gaming.  The details started out broken & bugged, then they stayed broken & bugged while Funcom spent their energy nerfing the things touted as "overpowered" rather than fixing the things that were urgently broken... most of us gave up hope when we realized Funcom was in no rush to fix them.

Anyway, it's been about 6 months since I cancelled my sub..... if they offered a promo to get old players to try the game out again, yeah, I'd give it a whirl.  Like I said, I think the game has tremendous promise -- the error was in the execution.  But they better have things in working order when they start that promotion, because NOBODY will give them a third chance.

Deadman87

Originally posted by Unfinished

Originally posted by Deadman87

Originally posted by finaticd


The majority of the positive reactions are from the 8% or less, minority of players able to tuff it out the past 9 months, the game is no where close to being worth it for most players due to game mechanics and bland content.
PvP system - failure
PvE Raids - failure (read the official forums for more info)
Player progression aside from levels - failure
PvE Group content - failure
Trade skills - failure
class balance and class design - failure

 

/sigh

 

Could please back that up with something else than the word "failure"?

I can help you out here. You say "the PvP system is a failure because..." and then follow up with a *reason* as to why the PvP system is a failure.

 

Do you really need a re-hash of ALL of the things players had serious issues with in every single thread? I am pretty sure you are very familiar with the 'counter-view' and the things players found dissapointing by now.

 

The counter-views that has been torn to shreds time and time again? Yes, it seems like we need to do that again, as it seems it cannot be done enough.

 

Why don't you tell me why the PvP system is a failure? And before we start, what are we comparing it against in order to call it a failure? World of Warcraft? Warhammer? Both?

Unfinished

Originally posted by Deadman87

Originally posted by Unfinished

Originally posted by Deadman87

Originally posted by finaticd


The majority of the positive reactions are from the 8% or less, minority of players able to tuff it out the past 9 months, the game is no where close to being worth it for most players due to game mechanics and bland content.
PvP system - failure
PvE Raids - failure (read the official forums for more info)
Player progression aside from levels - failure
PvE Group content - failure
Trade skills - failure
class balance and class design - failure

 

/sigh

 

Could please back that up with something else than the word "failure"?

I can help you out here. You say "the PvP system is a failure because..." and then follow up with a *reason* as to why the PvP system is a failure.

 

Do you really need a re-hash of ALL of the things players had serious issues with in every single thread? I am pretty sure you are very familiar with the 'counter-view' and the things players found dissapointing by now.

 

The counter-views that has been torn to shreds time and time again? Yes, it seems like we need to do that again, as it seems it cannot be done enough.

 

Why don't you tell me why the PvP system is a failure? And before we start, what are we comparing it against in order to call it a failure? World of Warcraft? Warhammer? Both?

/Snore

Completely pointless to re-hash everything to infinity.

if you want pretend all the criticism of the game is imaginary and invalid, be my guest, all the players who left would certainly disagree.

finaticd

PvP system - failure: It took all the bad and not much of the good from other games.  penalties, guards, no death penalties. a 5 tiered system that is easy to abuse while a low level player, poor class balance, lack of interest, lack of meaningful rewards, 5 person kill limit when it is the same people over and over day after day.
PvE Raids - failure (read the official forums for more info) Buggy, to easy, generic encounters, poor class design blows up when it becomes a raid.  Poor gear scaling hampers tanks, heals over time, hamer healing, the simplified mechanics water down raid encounters
Player progression aside from levels - Levels do not really scale a player much aside from defense in PvE, gear does not work to any reasonable degree, naked Vs. epiced is what 5% better damage and survivability?  Anyway after level 80 you are done and can not advance your cartoon aside from looks, so if people are psyched about looks then this is more like the Sims than a RPG.
PvE Group content -  Lack of it at end game, there are what two instances now at 80?  most group instances probably never get run now from lack of players in the 30-70 levels.
Trade skills - the system is pretty lame harvest like 1000 diffrent type of mats and make something that is pretty much useless.  Tradeskills help make keeps but after T3 what is the point?  just join a T3 guild and pass on trade skills.
class balance and class design -  The class balance has not changed much at all since release, which is good if you are one of the 50% of Tyrany's pop that plays a ToS.  However it is a fundemental game flaw, like many design decisions. All classes can stealth all classes can sprint but only melees lose damage production capabilities from stam....hello kiting.  Only one class can tank well, all heals are Hot, all classes can shoot out damage, this game is broken when it comes to classes. Many feats are not worth it so most people use 1 or 2 cookie cutter builds per class.
 
 

 

Despized

Yeah i voted yes...BUT:

 

I better get a free MONTH for the month I wasted upon release when I beta tested the game rather than got a real free month.

Axles

Originally posted by Despized


Yeah i voted yes...BUT:
 
I better get a free MONTH for the month I wasted upon release when I beta tested the game rather than got a real free month.

 

I have made a post long ago about them doing something like this. I think when they feel the game is "worth it" they should give old account holders 1 month free play, or even 2 weeks.

 

I don't think they will do this until after the patch 1.5 Lets hope Dx10 makes it in before that. It would add to the plus side of checking it out again.

 

I thank all of you for the imput. lets try to keep it constructive to give Funcom a better idea as to what they could to to "Rectify" things with the lost player base.

Nadia

Originally posted by Axles

Link to interview

thanks for posting the link !

Deadman87

Originally posted by finaticd


PvP system - failure: It took all the bad and not much of the good from other games.  I see you think you have actually said something here, when in fact you haven't. It's just a random claim anyone could make, and hold no substance. penalties, guards, no death penalties Penalties, guards and no penalties? Having guards around in order to avoid complete farm sessions of people on ressurection pads is a bad thing which leads the PvP system into a failure? And what did you mean about "penalties/ no penalties"?. a 5 tiered system that is easy to abuse while a low level player The people PvP'ing in Tortage is getting too much PvP XP, and that their level range is not capped is stupid. One should get to max PvP level 1 while still beeing in tortage imo., poor class balance, This is just ridicilous, and I will do a /laugh while I move on (was this your first mmo?)lack of interest,People are constantly bashing and sieging each other. That people lack the interest of doing PvP is just not true. lack of meaningful rewards, The insanely cool PvP armors? Their stats is actually pretty good, and will be even better once the next patch hit live.5 person kill limit when it is the same people over and over day after day. Is that so weird? Imagine all the guilds farming each other of not for that limit. No doubt they still do though, but at least it's a bit harder to do with that cap on.
The PvP system isn't flawless, but it's not at all a failure.
Player progression aside from levels - Levels do not really scale a player much aside from defense in PvE, This is bad how? I rather like beeing able to fight someone 20 levels above me as opposed to beeing stared to death like in WoW. Your health and abilities increase also, so I just don't see the problem here. gear does not work to any reasonable degree, naked Vs. epiced is what 5% better damage and survivability? Now you are just proving that you are guessing. Let me inform you: It's 25%, not 5, and in the next patch it will be upped to 50%. This is to create a better feeling of achievement in the RPG system of the game, which I will gladly welcome. Anyway after level 80 you are done and can not advance your cartoon aside from looks, so if people are psyched about looks then this is more like the Sims than a RPG. What are we comparing it against now? What popular other games let you customize your character significantly beyond feat trees, tradeskills, PvP levels and armor customization when you have reached max level?
PvE Group content -  Lack of it at end game, there are what two instances now at 80?  most group instances probably never get run now from lack of players in the 30-70 levels. You just won't stop guessing will you. I haven't been PvE'ing in the later levels much, but at least I know there are more than two level 80 instances. Two was actually added in the latest update, and the BRC wing 3 was opened. And after the server merges, I haven't had any trouble finding groups that were willing to go into dungeons with me.
Trade skills - the system is pretty lame harvest like 1000 diffrent type of mats and make something that is pretty much useless.  Tradeskills help make keeps but after T3 what is the point?  just join a T3 guild and pass on trade skills. That it is a lame harvest grind I won't disagree on. But it isn't exactly the norm to have a great harvesting system in MMORPG's, so by calling this a failure, you are also calling almost all the other popular MMO's material grinding systems a failure. That the things you make are useless, is mostly true. The exception would be the culture armor sets, that are really good to look at, and boast stats that doesn't completely suck ass. This, and a better gemming system is getting much better when 1.5 arrives though, as it is mostly the poor itemization that makes the tradeskills flawed.

 I just commented on what I felt I could comment on, in case you wonder how some of your points got removed.

 

I am also a hater of how mage classes can sprint after me after a fight while me and my barbarian have to trot slowly away while beeing spammed with magic missiles.

Think Silirrion said in his latest newsletter that they were going to do a revamp of the mage classes in the next patch though (yes, I have said a lot of "next patch" now, but that means that FC is actually listening and fixing the player concerns).

Axles

Hard work on FC new GD honestly. It's a show me don't tell me type of world. He's done both. Lets hope he keeps it up.

Shohadaku

 I actually just did resub last month to AOC after trolling their forums to see if it's improved. I left a few months after launch.

I am impressed with how much has been fixed and optimized. It runs totally sweet on my non-uber system with options twards the high end. (ati 3700 nvidia 9600gt 2gig ram).

I really feel anyone who liked the potential of the combat system to take another look now.

Huge improvement in game preformance and I havn't seen any major bugs in the 40 levels I have gone through (made a new toon). The game was mismanaged at launch, but the guys running the show now seem to have gotten the message from the angry players back at launch loud and clear

Sora2810

I agree.It's a great game, just took it some time to get on it's feet.

courtsdad

Originally posted by Deadman87

Originally posted by Unfinished

Originally posted by Deadman87

Originally posted by finaticd


The majority of the positive reactions are from the 8% or less, minority of players able to tuff it out the past 9 months, the game is no where close to being worth it for most players due to game mechanics and bland content.
PvP system - failure
PvE Raids - failure (read the official forums for more info)
Player progression aside from levels - failure
PvE Group content - failure
Trade skills - failure
class balance and class design - failure

 

/sigh

 

Could please back that up with something else than the word "failure"?

I can help you out here. You say "the PvP system is a failure because..." and then follow up with a *reason* as to why the PvP system is a failure.

 

Do you really need a re-hash of ALL of the things players had serious issues with in every single thread? I am pretty sure you are very familiar with the 'counter-view' and the things players found dissapointing by now.

 

The counter-views that has been torn to shreds time and time again? Yes, it seems like we need to do that again, as it seems it cannot be done enough.

 

Why don't you tell me why the PvP system is a failure? And before we start, what are we comparing it against in order to call it a failure? World of Warcraft? Warhammer? Both?

 

Just as counter points in politic can be torn to shreds by either side. The proof is in the pudding. AOC is not eve close to where Funcoms investors had hoped.

Gravarg

I just resubbed yesterday, and I'm glad I did.  Things are different now, and the next patch offers more end game content.  My old guild let me back in and we had a siege last night, it was a blast.  All you  haters stop hating, the game is infinitely better than it was at launch, and imo it wasn't bad to begin with, just lack of content for 60+.  That's all fixed now

S1GNAL

It might be free to try it out again, but it is sure stealing your free time. And there is no way in heaven or hell that I am going to ever thouch a Funcom product again. That customer service made me mislike everything about Funcom. The lies, the unpaid GM staff, not listening to beta players, no response on mails or petition during the first 1-2 months when i played etc.. I felt like a complete tard.. why play a game when you get threaded like garbage by the creators?

 

Edit: And NOOO! I am not one of those that quit duo to low performance. It was the game play and the bugs and the support all together. I pointed out a lot of the limiting linear core elements in AoC from beta on, but ofc no response. They should have listened to gaming nerds like me.

whit333

I left right after launch, even before my first free month had expired. But I am willing to give it another chance, should I read about some good improvements and coming population growth