SOE: I just couldn't buy one of their products and have any confidence it would be a good experience.
The company lacks vision and consistency for their games, completely rewrite core systems on a whim and without regard to how it affects the overall game and generally just doesn't care about their customers. I've never seen a company with such disdain for people who want to be customers.
Even if they did manage to create a decent game the odd of them doing something to screw it up are pretty high.
Funcom and Mythic need to prove themselves again before I spend money on their products, but I would still consider buying them.
I think a lot of people in this thread missed the point of the topic. Developers who ruined games is getting mixed in with developers who made games that don't appeal to someone. For example, I didn't much enjoy City of Heroes, but I wouldn't avoid NCSoft games due to it. The game just wasn't what I found enjoyable, but I can respect it was a well made game.
Originally posted by wolfmann I'd rather miss out on one good game, than being treated as dirt, and served half working games, and have to deal with customer support thats more eager to get your creditcard number than helping you out. I'm not that addicted to gaming, or shinies that I will "HAVE" it no matter what.
That's your choice of course, but I find that line of reasoning somewhat silly.
If, for example, SOE was to announce that they had acquired Star Wars: The Old Republic from Bioware/EA and would be taking charge of the general running of it once it had been released; it wouldn't kill my interest in the game.
I'd certainly not be enthusiastic at the prospect, but I'd continue to follow the game and, if it still looked appealing, wouldn't hesitate to buy it at release. If it sucked then I'd just not play it.
We roll the dice on every MMO we purchase at release and the worst that can happen is that we waste the cost of a retail box a couple of times a year. It's hardly the end of the world.
Playing: EVE, Final Fantasy 13, Uncharted 2, Need for Speed: Shift
I don't buy games that are associated with EA, and personally I don't think I've missed out on much, most of what EA publishes isn't my style or is trash. They ruined the all original, still more innovative than anything today, never duplicated Ultima Online. They buy out great companies and crush them to pieces. I just don't support EA .
Other than that I've never really had a real hatred for other companies. NCsoft has kind of made me cringe from some shady things they've done, SOE with their lack of care, Blizzard with their milking of the dollar, Funcom with their failures. In the end it's just business and they don't owe me anything.
I try to stay away from anything with EA slapped on it.
agreed...
though it seems it's every other game nowadays...
Can't say I missed Spore or Sims 3 though... heard 1943 was best lagfest yet. When EA swallowed Mythic, I lost all hope for the Warhammer MMO. EA won't actively support a game past 2 years, and that's stretching it. Star Wars: The Old Republic will fall in 2 years with the combined effort of of EA not meeting it's profit margin and lack of care for consumer, and Lucasart's lackluster support after a game is released period. The only thing Lucasarts cares about is selling something branded with "Star" or "Wars" in it regardless of the content inbetween.
So my list...
EA is to games/developers as Unicron is to worlds.
Lucasarts is it's own worst enemy to it's franchise.
Forgot Microsoft (as far as gaming)... they nearly destroyed the Mechwarrior franchise, and most of all, they vaporwared True Fantasy Live Online... a sin that should be punishable by being thrown into the sun.
"There is only one thing of which I am certain, and that's nothing is certain."
Though I may still resub to CoX every now and again, after the failed launch of Auto Assault after a nifty beta - what I have seen of Champions Online and Star Trek Online - I will be passing on anything new from Cryptic/NCSoft/Atari.
CCP...CCP. This is a tough one, because for the most part I like Eve Online. Though it is the only game I have ever done the nerdrage quit of deleting everything after four years. I simply could not deal with their obtuse explanations on certain areas of the game and the overall lack of in-game ethics from the GMs. It is one thing to screw up a game technically and another to do what they have done over the years. I dread thinking of them involved in the WoD IP.
I have to agree with what was said about Turbine and DDO. It was supposed to be the old rpger's wet dream come true. It became a combination of erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation.
Blizzard is a curious one as well, mainly having to do with WoW. From beta and the jokes about the Fisher-Price graphics, they have continually taken old ideas from older games - dumbed them down - and called it innovation. One need only look at Cataclysm to see their decade old ideas about innovation.
Though I have no experience with the AoC launch, I still play Anarchy Online from FunCom. Yes, it is a grindfest - but it makes no claims to the contrary, thus there is no peeling away the thinly veiled lie to find the truth as you will with so many other games.
It is funny, of all the games I miss the most - I miss Shadowbane.
edit: Yeah, I hated what Microsoft did to FASA/Battletech/Mechwarrior.
SOE - burn in hell you bastards Funcom - When you got too big you became the horses ass
[[ DEAD ]] - Funny - I deleted my account on the site using the cancel account button. Forum user is separate and still exists with no way of deleting it. Delete it admins. Do it, this ends now.
SOE mainly for what happened in SWG - strange thing several folks from my guild were all in a bar in North Austin and made a bet with a developer that the new changes would sink it - of course they said nah we will draw back in former players and you will play more than ever - maybe mmo players aren't as stupid at some companies think - our little group of mmo'ers (probably not unlike many of you) have been playing mmos since MUDDs and have logged more time playing mmos than any developer I know of has making them. But hey what do we know right?
EA from UO to Earth and Beyond (*cry* i miss my JD with full golden dragons) to warhammer
I want to add one thing i feel is important - unless we have the strongest conviction about an upcoming game, we as a community need to do more voting with our feet and stop acting like Pavlov's dogs - far to often i feel we are preordering on far too little trusted information and end up proving right the very company/people we should be drumming out of the industry - if we stop paying for preorder and collectors editions and prepaid months for game that we don't have those convictions about then perhaps those within a given company that say "we can't push the unfinished game out now people won't stay/buy it" will have enough of an arguement to tell the financial people to "suck it up" for the time needed to finish instead of the other way around as it is now.
Unless a company does something incredibly immoral (as in: criminal), I won't refuse to purchase a game just because of the company. If the game offers things I like, or that I think I would enjoy, then I'm going to support that dev team and that game and try them out. Especially since really good MMO's are hard to come by...so many wannabee's riding on certain others' coattails, that a new or unique experience, or just simply a really great game, is tough to find. So if a great game comes from SOE, or Blizzard, or EA, or any of the more-popular-to-vilify companies, then I don't care so long as it's a good product. I'm certainly not going to deprive myself of experiencing a great game just because one particular team for a completely different game within that company did something stupid or questionable.
There is no company I have blacklisted, but SOE would be the closest with what they did with SWG. But if they came out with a game that looked fun, I'd give it a go.
The only thing I have blacklisted is games that use excessive microtransactions. This does not include things such as server transfer or name changes. But stuff tthat effects the virtual world.
I would not touch SOE, Mythic, or Square Enix with a 10 foot pole.
SOE because the two games I have played developed by them Vanguard and Everquest II were god Awful
Mythic because they are in freaking Shambles now and Warhammer was abysmmal
And Square Enix for there damn PlayOnline System they have (which they are not releasing again) and the fact that FFXI ruined the Final Fantasy Universe for me (and FFXII was ass, and FFXIII looks to be just as bad)
I do like NcSoft a lot even though Tabula Rasa was crap but Guild Wars was fun for what it was, and Aion is turning out to be fun.
I love pretty much everything Blizzard has put out, I cannot say that about another company.
I would say funcom but never played one of there games
I never say never but i would be very wary of Blizzard again if we are talking mmos . I simply dont like the way the company runs Warcraft . I think its a great game run by a not so great company which have made it far too easy for me to enjoy now . If i did play anothr blizzard mmo it would only ever be short term knowing the companys tendancy to sacrifice gameplay in search of a quick buck .SOE games have always been disapointing so i m a little wary of them . Warhammer has made me a little scpetical about mythic too . Unless its a must have game like Aion or StarWars knights i would nt rush out and buy it at release .
Adventurine, for saying we could have one character per server, than right before NA launch changing it to one character per client. They screwed me over once, I will never give them money again, no matter how good of a game they can come up with.
Our spirit was here long before you
Long before us
And long will it be after your pride brings you to your end
I see Mythic mentioned a few times, most likely from WAR vets, while DAoC vets have alot more right to complain.
Either way, Mythic never intentionally screwed over their playerbase, unlike SOE. That is why I would give them another chance np. Hell I gave them another chance after the way they handled DAoC ( started good and became awesome before it went crap ).
The only company that really deserve a ban is SOE for the crap they pulled with SWG, screwing over the vets in the hopes of getting more new subs instead of just fixing and expanding the game ( see EVE Online ).
Also for all the RMT / TCG stuff they are pulling lately with all their games.
It is just very risky to do business with SOE, because one day you are happily playing your beloved game and next day it may be ruined.
Still I won't give a permanent ban, you never know what the future may hold
If you are interested in subscription or PCU numbers for MMORPG's, check out my site : http://mmodata.blogspot.be/ Favorite MMORPG's : DAoC pre ToA-NF, SWG Pre CU-NGE, EVE Online
I would Have to say SoE. SoE and their constant updates that 3/4th the population of people playing the game do not want. Concluding in Star Wars gallxies and Everquest 2.
I wouldnt blacklist a developer because of a past experience. Or i should say...i have not had an experience worthy of any company being blacklisted. As of yet.
I refuse to completely blacklist a company, although the following are ones who's products I make sure are REALLY good before I throw any money at them:
SOE - For the recent act of putting RMT in games
FunCom - When I subscribed to AoC mr card was charged three times for one month
EA - Bad supports, DRM issues, low quality products much of the time. Although, this has been starting to change.
And that's about it. Companies I love dealing with:
Turbine - Fair pricing, no issues with charges, high quality products, easy account mangement
Blizzard - As much as I dislike WoW, all of their billing systems are simple and streamlined, no extra charges. The expansions are a bit much, the customer support is decent enough. They do also release very polished products.
NCSoft - Also, very easy account mangement and solid releases.
____________________________ Telthalion Rohircil - Guardian - Elemandir - Lord of The Rings Online --- == RIP == Torey - Commando - Orion - Tabula Rasa == RIP == --- Jordaniel Torey - Navy Megathron, Active Armor Tank - Tranquility - EVE Online --- Torey Scott - Rifleman - Fallen Earth ____________________________
"I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but I know World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones." - Albert Einstein
Funcom is the only one I've totally written off. I got fooled with Anarchy Online, I let myself be fooled with AoC. Those people couldn't put together a solid game if their lives ( or jobs) depended on it.
Comments
SOE: I just couldn't buy one of their products and have any confidence it would be a good experience.
The company lacks vision and consistency for their games, completely rewrite core systems on a whim and without regard to how it affects the overall game and generally just doesn't care about their customers. I've never seen a company with such disdain for people who want to be customers.
Even if they did manage to create a decent game the odd of them doing something to screw it up are pretty high.
Funcom and Mythic need to prove themselves again before I spend money on their products, but I would still consider buying them.
I think a lot of people in this thread missed the point of the topic. Developers who ruined games is getting mixed in with developers who made games that don't appeal to someone. For example, I didn't much enjoy City of Heroes, but I wouldn't avoid NCSoft games due to it. The game just wasn't what I found enjoyable, but I can respect it was a well made game.
That's your choice of course, but I find that line of reasoning somewhat silly.
If, for example, SOE was to announce that they had acquired Star Wars: The Old Republic from Bioware/EA and would be taking charge of the general running of it once it had been released; it wouldn't kill my interest in the game.
I'd certainly not be enthusiastic at the prospect, but I'd continue to follow the game and, if it still looked appealing, wouldn't hesitate to buy it at release. If it sucked then I'd just not play it.
We roll the dice on every MMO we purchase at release and the worst that can happen is that we waste the cost of a retail box a couple of times a year. It's hardly the end of the world.
Playing: EVE, Final Fantasy 13, Uncharted 2, Need for Speed: Shift
I don't buy games that are associated with EA, and personally I don't think I've missed out on much, most of what EA publishes isn't my style or is trash. They ruined the all original, still more innovative than anything today, never duplicated Ultima Online. They buy out great companies and crush them to pieces. I just don't support EA .
Other than that I've never really had a real hatred for other companies. NCsoft has kind of made me cringe from some shady things they've done, SOE with their lack of care, Blizzard with their milking of the dollar, Funcom with their failures. In the end it's just business and they don't owe me anything.
Funcom and Aventurine mainly. Also very very careful of SoE.
agreed...
though it seems it's every other game nowadays...
Can't say I missed Spore or Sims 3 though... heard 1943 was best lagfest yet. When EA swallowed Mythic, I lost all hope for the Warhammer MMO. EA won't actively support a game past 2 years, and that's stretching it. Star Wars: The Old Republic will fall in 2 years with the combined effort of of EA not meeting it's profit margin and lack of care for consumer, and Lucasart's lackluster support after a game is released period. The only thing Lucasarts cares about is selling something branded with "Star" or "Wars" in it regardless of the content inbetween.
So my list...
EA is to games/developers as Unicron is to worlds.
Lucasarts is it's own worst enemy to it's franchise.
Forgot Microsoft (as far as gaming)... they nearly destroyed the Mechwarrior franchise, and most of all, they vaporwared True Fantasy Live Online... a sin that should be punishable by being thrown into the sun.
"There is only one thing of which I am certain, and that's nothing is certain."
EA because of Earth and Beyond.
SOE because of SWG/NGE.
Though I may still resub to CoX every now and again, after the failed launch of Auto Assault after a nifty beta - what I have seen of Champions Online and Star Trek Online - I will be passing on anything new from Cryptic/NCSoft/Atari.
CCP...CCP. This is a tough one, because for the most part I like Eve Online. Though it is the only game I have ever done the nerdrage quit of deleting everything after four years. I simply could not deal with their obtuse explanations on certain areas of the game and the overall lack of in-game ethics from the GMs. It is one thing to screw up a game technically and another to do what they have done over the years. I dread thinking of them involved in the WoD IP.
I have to agree with what was said about Turbine and DDO. It was supposed to be the old rpger's wet dream come true. It became a combination of erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation.
Blizzard is a curious one as well, mainly having to do with WoW. From beta and the jokes about the Fisher-Price graphics, they have continually taken old ideas from older games - dumbed them down - and called it innovation. One need only look at Cataclysm to see their decade old ideas about innovation.
Though I have no experience with the AoC launch, I still play Anarchy Online from FunCom. Yes, it is a grindfest - but it makes no claims to the contrary, thus there is no peeling away the thinly veiled lie to find the truth as you will with so many other games.
It is funny, of all the games I miss the most - I miss Shadowbane.
edit: Yeah, I hated what Microsoft did to FASA/Battletech/Mechwarrior.
funcom, soe
SOE - burn in hell you bastards
Funcom - When you got too big you became the horses ass
SOE.
SOE mainly for what happened in SWG - strange thing several folks from my guild were all in a bar in North Austin and made a bet with a developer that the new changes would sink it - of course they said nah we will draw back in former players and you will play more than ever - maybe mmo players aren't as stupid at some companies think - our little group of mmo'ers (probably not unlike many of you) have been playing mmos since MUDDs and have logged more time playing mmos than any developer I know of has making them. But hey what do we know right?
EA from UO to Earth and Beyond (*cry* i miss my JD with full golden dragons) to warhammer
I want to add one thing i feel is important - unless we have the strongest conviction about an upcoming game, we as a community need to do more voting with our feet and stop acting like Pavlov's dogs - far to often i feel we are preordering on far too little trusted information and end up proving right the very company/people we should be drumming out of the industry - if we stop paying for preorder and collectors editions and prepaid months for game that we don't have those convictions about then perhaps those within a given company that say "we can't push the unfinished game out now people won't stay/buy it" will have enough of an arguement to tell the financial people to "suck it up" for the time needed to finish instead of the other way around as it is now.
I will stay away from Blizzard for overbooking and blaming it on their customers for playing too much, SOE for bugs, and EA for lag.
Unless a company does something incredibly immoral (as in: criminal), I won't refuse to purchase a game just because of the company. If the game offers things I like, or that I think I would enjoy, then I'm going to support that dev team and that game and try them out. Especially since really good MMO's are hard to come by...so many wannabee's riding on certain others' coattails, that a new or unique experience, or just simply a really great game, is tough to find. So if a great game comes from SOE, or Blizzard, or EA, or any of the more-popular-to-vilify companies, then I don't care so long as it's a good product. I'm certainly not going to deprive myself of experiencing a great game just because one particular team for a completely different game within that company did something stupid or questionable.
Mythic
Funcom
SOE
He who keeps his cool best wins.
Turbine
Adventurine
Mythic
Blizzard
SOE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i hope soe is swallowed up by the earth and everyone in that company burns in hell for eternity
There is no company I have blacklisted, but SOE would be the closest with what they did with SWG. But if they came out with a game that looked fun, I'd give it a go.
The only thing I have blacklisted is games that use excessive microtransactions. This does not include things such as server transfer or name changes. But stuff tthat effects the virtual world.
I would not touch SOE, Mythic, or Square Enix with a 10 foot pole.
SOE because the two games I have played developed by them Vanguard and Everquest II were god Awful
Mythic because they are in freaking Shambles now and Warhammer was abysmmal
And Square Enix for there damn PlayOnline System they have (which they are not releasing again) and the fact that FFXI ruined the Final Fantasy Universe for me (and FFXII was ass, and FFXIII looks to be just as bad)
I do like NcSoft a lot even though Tabula Rasa was crap but Guild Wars was fun for what it was, and Aion is turning out to be fun.
I love pretty much everything Blizzard has put out, I cannot say that about another company.
I would say funcom but never played one of there games
I never say never but i would be very wary of Blizzard again if we are talking mmos . I simply dont like the way the company runs Warcraft . I think its a great game run by a not so great company which have made it far too easy for me to enjoy now . If i did play anothr blizzard mmo it would only ever be short term knowing the companys tendancy to sacrifice gameplay in search of a quick buck .SOE games have always been disapointing so i m a little wary of them . Warhammer has made me a little scpetical about mythic too . Unless its a must have game like Aion or StarWars knights i would nt rush out and buy it at release .
S.O.E.
Adventurine, for saying we could have one character per server, than right before NA launch changing it to one character per client. They screwed me over once, I will never give them money again, no matter how good of a game they can come up with.
Our spirit was here long before you
Long before us
And long will it be after your pride brings you to your end
I see Mythic mentioned a few times, most likely from WAR vets, while DAoC vets have alot more right to complain.
Either way, Mythic never intentionally screwed over their playerbase, unlike SOE. That is why I would give them another chance np. Hell I gave them another chance after the way they handled DAoC ( started good and became awesome before it went crap ).
The only company that really deserve a ban is SOE for the crap they pulled with SWG, screwing over the vets in the hopes of getting more new subs instead of just fixing and expanding the game ( see EVE Online ).
Also for all the RMT / TCG stuff they are pulling lately with all their games.
It is just very risky to do business with SOE, because one day you are happily playing your beloved game and next day it may be ruined.
Still I won't give a permanent ban, you never know what the future may hold
If you are interested in subscription or PCU numbers for MMORPG's, check out my site :
http://mmodata.blogspot.be/
Favorite MMORPG's : DAoC pre ToA-NF, SWG Pre CU-NGE, EVE Online
I would Have to say SoE. SoE and their constant updates that 3/4th the population of people playing the game do not want. Concluding in Star Wars gallxies and Everquest 2.
I wouldnt blacklist a developer because of a past experience. Or i should say...i have not had an experience worthy of any company being blacklisted. As of yet.
I refuse to completely blacklist a company, although the following are ones who's products I make sure are REALLY good before I throw any money at them:
SOE - For the recent act of putting RMT in games
FunCom - When I subscribed to AoC mr card was charged three times for one month
EA - Bad supports, DRM issues, low quality products much of the time. Although, this has been starting to change.
And that's about it. Companies I love dealing with:
Turbine - Fair pricing, no issues with charges, high quality products, easy account mangement
Blizzard - As much as I dislike WoW, all of their billing systems are simple and streamlined, no extra charges. The expansions are a bit much, the customer support is decent enough. They do also release very polished products.
NCSoft - Also, very easy account mangement and solid releases.
____________________________
Telthalion Rohircil - Guardian - Elemandir - Lord of The Rings Online
---
== RIP == Torey - Commando - Orion - Tabula Rasa == RIP ==
---
Jordaniel Torey - Navy Megathron, Active Armor Tank - Tranquility - EVE Online
---
Torey Scott - Rifleman - Fallen Earth
____________________________
"I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but I know World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones." - Albert Einstein
SOE.
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.
Funcom is the only one I've totally written off. I got fooled with Anarchy Online, I let myself be fooled with AoC. Those people couldn't put together a solid game if their lives ( or jobs) depended on it.