I really hate SOE...

Fumarmata

..but the best thing they have done in YEARS is the All Station Pass - it pains me to say it but respect is due - $21.99 for EQ, EQ2, SWG and Planetiside...is amazing.

(This isn't a fanboi post, I really hate SOE - check my past posts)

Riotgirl

I agree, excellent value! But (you knew there was a but) after SoL [Shadows of Luclin] was released for EQ, my enthusiasm took a nose-dive. Shortly after, I quit EQ and will not play another SoE game. Sounds like another SoE basher, eh? Fans support developing companies (think Blizzard, ID, Valve) and buy their products (games), and are really supportive because of ethos inherent in their games. Well, snap for SoE - except after what happened with EQ, from reading the reviews of SWG (I was never a Star Wars fan), and from hearing that EQ2 would be split between 'good' and 'evil' races with NO PvP, I turned off from SoE completely.

I wouldn't say I hate SoE, just not taken with their vision for their games. I don't care how cheap the games, or how good a deal it is, it's not so much the money but the time that I'm not willing to waste. That said, if you like their products (games), then it's hard to beat.

Regards,
Riotgirl

jimothypetro

I don't like SOE a whole lot, but I'm certainly not stubborn enough to pass up on a game that is fun, even if it would be made by SOE.

And yes, that access pass is a great deal. If I ever decide to buy EQ2 I'll probably get that so I can play PS, too.

ianubisi

It is a great value, and I expect we'll see more relationships like this in the future...perhaps consortiums of companies willing to share a revenue pool. Imagine AC + DAOC + AO all for $20/month.

EPDJ

worst thing they ever did was make infantry p2p -_-

rathma

Great deal, too bad none of the games are good.

WillJones420

I really do believe that Sony should ditch their attempts at making online RPG's and just stick with console games and general electronics. Everything SOE has done, IMO, has been just a hair less than simply to downright crappy.

EQLive - Was great at the start thanks to Verant, but once SOE took completely over and started pumping out the expansions it turned to crap.

Planetside - hanven't played it myself, but I've heard some pretty harsh things so I'll assume it blows.

SWG - best community I've ever played with in an MMO to date. That's all it had going for it though. The game itself was a sticky film of digital scuzz.

EQ2 - not bad, but not quite good. If they weren't so money hungry and desperate to compete with WoW they could have delayed their release and took time to make the game better. It's too bad the release ruined it for me, I really wanted to like this game.

hercules

I judge a game by the game never by the company since they have tons of different developers.

But tbh why is there so much SoE bashing.

There was EQ1 which many including me say was made but verrant but they were still SoE employees just had more autonomy

Planetside which is the best MMOFPS out there.Of course if you hate FPS and think of it as a MMORPG then you hate it.

EQ2 not a bad game at all IMHO.

SWG which to me is the bad egg but hundreds of thousands love it and it was partly made by lucasarts.

Necrotic

Well the most noticible thing is that the mayor companies have absolutely horrible customer support. By this I mean they dont give a damn about what its paying customer thinks and treats them like <insert animal feces>. Most of these companies besides this just look for more ways to extort money out of the people that play their games(ie an endless barrage of required expansions). Even though the game play in planetside wasnt great it was good enough. BBut then came the expansion so I canceled my account right there and then. Only way to continue was to buy it or face being fired by superrior weapons. I am just tired that big companies do whatever they want because they know people will always be around to pay for a title that is well known like SWG, even though the game isnt even worth anything. Sadly I do not see any revolution by the players any time soon, so I will stay without a game until perhaps DnL comes out and proves to me it isnt following this trend and that it meets its goals.

bhug

05.02.11
$22 for the monthly subscription, but about $200 for the initial software too. And no small amount of agrivation dealing with their CS getting your system up to grade to run stabily in the games. Also euro types have an extra 17% vat added on the top to both subscription & software.