Despite a drop in Guild Wars 2's player base following its initial release last year, the game is seeing a slow but steady rise in players following the introduction of bi-weekly updates, lead designer Isaiah Cartwright told Polygon.
"We've been able to stabilize since the post-launch decline, and we're seeing slow but steady growth in concurrent players and also overall," said Cartwright.
This is because a major patch was recently released. Every MMO sees growth after a content patch. Usually lasts a 2-4 weeks and the population goes back to normal.
I remember in WoW, a major patch would come out and the population on most servers doubled or tripled in size. Granted, that was pre-cataclysm...that is when I stopped playing. But I assume every major patch sees a spike in population.
They release a major patch every two weeks. So by your logic that means they've hit the sweet spot to keep people playing indefinitely. :P
the two weeks is not by coincidence. They said that from their data interest drops sharply after two weeks on any event in the game.
They release a major patch every two weeks. So by your logic that means they've hit the sweet spot to keep people playing indefinitely. :P
the two weeks is not by coincidence. They said that from their data interest drops sharply after two weeks on any event in the game.
Did they? Link to official source, please.
I know you're not one of those who bash this game, but I never read such thing myself, so I'm intrigued.
Not that I will complain anyway - love having new things to do every two weeks for free
It is actually referred to in the article that was linked.
"It's important to plan for the inevitable drop," he said, stating that the introduction of updates every two weeks came about following an accumulation of player-data processed by the studio to work out how often players play and when.
"We ended up thinking that if we got to making these updates more often then players will stick around longer."
James T. Kirk: All she's got isn't good enough! What else ya got?
Despite a drop in Guild Wars 2's player base following its initial release last year, the game is seeing a slow but steady rise in players following the introduction of bi-weekly updates, lead designer Isaiah Cartwright told Polygon.
"We've been able to stabilize since the post-launch decline, and we're seeing slow but steady growth in concurrent players and also overall," said Cartwright.
More vague positive spin...
Can't provide numbers says it all... When does he define post-launch decline? 2 weeks after launch? 5 months? Steady growth from what number 100k to 101k to 102k?
Without numbers or transparency it means nothing... these comments are made to be intentionally vague so that people who want to see success can still see it.
What we do know, based on infinite business data, is that a 20% drop in sales is not a sign of growth.
Despite a drop in Guild Wars 2's player base following its initial release last year, the game is seeing a slow but steady rise in players following the introduction of bi-weekly updates, lead designer Isaiah Cartwright told Polygon.
"We've been able to stabilize since the post-launch decline, and we're seeing slow but steady growth in concurrent players and also overall," said Cartwright.
More vague positive spin...
Can't provide numbers says it all... When does he define post-launch decline? 2 weeks after launch? 5 months? Steady growth from what number 100k to 101k to 102k?
Without numbers or transparency it means nothing... these comments are made to be intentionally vague so that people who want to see success can still see it.
What we do know, based on infinite business data, is that a 20% drop in sales is not a sign of growth.
Guess you have to play to to see success. /shrug
Death is nothing to us, since when we are, Death has not come, and when death has come, we are not.
Can't provide numbers says it all... When does he define post-launch decline? 2 weeks after launch? 5 months? Steady growth from what number 100k to 101k to 102k?
Without numbers or transparency it means nothing... these comments are made to be intentionally vague so that people who want to see success can still see it.
What we do know, based on infinite business data, is that a 20% drop in sales is not a sign of growth.
I'll make the math simple for you because you have already proven not to be very sharp with numbers "
At the end of March I buy 100 oranges .....in June I buy 20% less oranges
July 1st I have 180 oranges ...a 20% drop in sales is still a sign of growth I'm afraid
Can't provide numbers says it all... When does he define post-launch decline? 2 weeks after launch? 5 months? Steady growth from what number 100k to 101k to 102k?
Without numbers or transparency it means nothing... these comments are made to be intentionally vague so that people who want to see success can still see it.
What we do know, based on infinite business data, is that a 20% drop in sales is not a sign of growth.
I'll make the math simple for you because you have already proven not to be very sharp with numbers "
At the end of March I buy 100 oranges .....in June I buy 20% less oranges
July 1st I have 180 oranges ...a 20% drop in sales is still a sign of growth I'm afraid
Your father expects you to sell lots of oranges... you sell 100 by end of march.... your father expects you to sell more than that, you sell 20% less by june.
Your father is wondering why you have sold 20% less oranges, and demands that you change from selling oranges to apples. He calls it a fruit correction.
Your father also wants to remind you that 100 oranges of revenue is not 100 oranges of profit, your father wants to remind you that his actions show he is not content with the amount of oranges you are selling, as noted by the fruit correction.
You don't actually have 180 oranges, because it costs oranges to make oranges.
Try not using personal attacks and implying others aren't sharp with numbers, when you seem to be the one struggling with the logistics of how businesses work.
Can't provide numbers says it all... When does he define post-launch decline? 2 weeks after launch? 5 months? Steady growth from what number 100k to 101k to 102k?
Without numbers or transparency it means nothing... these comments are made to be intentionally vague so that people who want to see success can still see it.
What we do know, based on infinite business data, is that a 20% drop in sales is not a sign of growth.
I'll make the math simple for you because you have already proven not to be very sharp with numbers "
At the end of March I buy 100 oranges .....in June I buy 20% less oranges
July 1st I have 180 oranges ...a 20% drop in sales is still a sign of growth I'm afraid
Neat analogy but it doesn't work.... because out of the 100 oranges you had, 60 of those spoiled. So you have growth...only minor growth. Nobody know how well the game is doing. If it was doing really well, Anet would publish numbers. If it was doing really bad, people would know when the logged in. It is somewhere in the middle. Who really cares. Until Anet puts out something concrete, no one knows.
James T. Kirk: All she's got isn't good enough! What else ya got?
Can't provide numbers says it all... When does he define post-launch decline? 2 weeks after launch? 5 months? Steady growth from what number 100k to 101k to 102k?
Without numbers or transparency it means nothing... these comments are made to be intentionally vague so that people who want to see success can still see it.
What we do know, based on infinite business data, is that a 20% drop in sales is not a sign of growth.
I'll make the math simple for you because you have already proven not to be very sharp with numbers "
At the end of March I buy 100 oranges .....in June I buy 20% less oranges
July 1st I have 180 oranges ...a 20% drop in sales is still a sign of growth I'm afraid
Neat analogy but it doesn't work.... because out of the 100 oranges you had, 60 of those spoiled. So you have growth...only minor growth. Nobody know how well the game is doing. If it was doing really well, Anet would publish numbers. If it was doing really bad, people would know when the logged in. It is somewhere in the middle. Who really cares. Until Anet puts out something concrete, no one knows.
However, with a bit of business knowledge we know that a 20% drop in sales, and a course correction resulting from however the game is doing, is not a sign of good health. People don't fix things unless they are broken.
Can't provide numbers says it all... When does he define post-launch decline? 2 weeks after launch? 5 months? Steady growth from what number 100k to 101k to 102k?
Without numbers or transparency it means nothing... these comments are made to be intentionally vague so that people who want to see success can still see it.
What we do know, based on infinite business data, is that a 20% drop in sales is not a sign of growth.
I'll make the math simple for you because you have already proven not to be very sharp with numbers "
At the end of March I buy 100 oranges .....in June I buy 20% less oranges
July 1st I have 180 oranges ...a 20% drop in sales is still a sign of growth I'm afraid
Neat analogy but it doesn't work.... because out of the 100 oranges you had, 60 of those spoiled. So you have growth...only minor growth. Nobody know how well the game is doing. If it was doing really well, Anet would publish numbers. If it was doing really bad, people would know when the logged in. It is somewhere in the middle. Who really cares. Until Anet puts out something concrete, no one knows.
However, with a bit of business knowledge we know that a 20% drop in sales, and a course correction resulting from however the game is doing, is not a sign of good health. People don't fix things unless they are broken.
Oh I agree with you. That is why they changed things around the way they did. They even said that in the article that was posted. They obviously weren't comfortable as to where the population was headed and took the steps to try remedy the situation. It seems to be working for them. I am not sure for how long with FF14 launching now and several other titles like Wildstar and TESO coming out in the near future. You do have to give some respect to Anet though. They didn't give up and definitely took a gamble doing what they are doing now. Not too many companies have the fortitude to do something like that. It is one reason that I respect Square Enix.
James T. Kirk: All she's got isn't good enough! What else ya got?
Yes population/player activity has increased over the last 6 months.
Not at launch activity, but still picking up nicely. I was one of many people who left with the nov. 15th patch but I have since returned because:
1. I see no other MMO-like game on the horizon that appeals to me.
2. Anet seem to be backpedalling a bit on the geargrindyness of (sigh) "gearprogrssion".
Game seems to be doing fine... I love the living story content patches every 2 weeks, Guild roster (I am in a 500 person guild) is just as active as it was at launch and I meet new players everytime I am online.
With the exception of WoW: Other MMO's would give up all ideals to be as successful as GW2!
Disclaimer: My opinion is purely based on anecdotal evidence/personal experience but at least I have that, compared to some posters here.
We dont need casuals in our games!!! Errm... Well we DO need casuals to fund and populate our games - But the games should be all about "hardcore" because: We dont need casuals in our games!!! (repeat ad infinitum)
So there's nothing about interest dropping after 2 weeks. Thanks for confirming that.
No, not directly, but that can pretty much be inferred from what was written. I mean they specifically targeted the two week window. I am sure that they had their reasons for it.
James T. Kirk: All she's got isn't good enough! What else ya got?
Yes population/player activity has increased over the last 6 months.
Not at launch activity, but still picking up nicely. I was one of many people who left with the nov. 15th patch but I have since returned because:
1. I see no other MMO-like game on the horizon that appeals to me.
2. Anet seem to be backpedalling a bit on the geargrindyness of (sigh) "gearprogrssion".
Game seems to be doing fine... I love the living story content patches every 2 weeks, Guild roster (I am in a 500 person guild) is just as active as it was at launch and I meet new players everytime I am online.
With the exception of WoW: Other MMO's would give up all ideals to be as successful as GW2!
Disclaimer: My opinion is purely based on anecdotal evidence/personal experience but at least I have that, compared to some posters here.
A+. I'm not sure why these people are so worried about weather the game is going to fail or not if they don't even play it! Caetftl only has around 200 posts and they are all negative towards GW2. Doesn't make sense at all.
Death is nothing to us, since when we are, Death has not come, and when death has come, we are not.
A+. I'm not sure why these people are so worried about weather the game is going to fail or not if they don't even play it! Caetftl only has around 200 posts and they are all negative towards GW2. Doesn't make sense at all.
I'm open to suggestions though ,,,If the gloom and doom brothers can point me to a better game that cost $60 or less a year I'll jump on board .
Despite a drop in Guild Wars 2's player base following its initial release last year, the game is seeing a slow but steady rise in players following the introduction of bi-weekly updates, lead designer Isaiah Cartwright told Polygon.
"We've been able to stabilize since the post-launch decline, and we're seeing slow but steady growth in concurrent players and also overall," said Cartwright.
More vague positive spin...
Can't provide numbers says it all... When does he define post-launch decline? 2 weeks after launch? 5 months? Steady growth from what number 100k to 101k to 102k?
Without numbers or transparency it means nothing... these comments are made to be intentionally vague so that people who want to see success can still see it.
What we do know, based on infinite business data, is that a 20% drop in sales is not a sign of growth.
Why can't you understand that people don't buy games twice? If there were 100 gw2 players at launch...and gw2 sold 100 at launch but 10 copies last month ...but those 100 players STILL play the game that is 10 new people playing the game and thus growth.
The box sales drop because the peopel that bought the game aren't buying it twice.
Yes population/player activity has increased over the last 6 months.
Not at launch activity, but still picking up nicely. I was one of many people who left with the nov. 15th patch but I have since returned because:
1. I see no other MMO-like game on the horizon that appeals to me.
2. Anet seem to be backpedalling a bit on the geargrindyness of (sigh) "gearprogrssion".
Game seems to be doing fine... I love the living story content patches every 2 weeks, Guild roster (I am in a 500 person guild) is just as active as it was at launch and I meet new players everytime I am online.
With the exception of WoW: Other MMO's would give up all ideals to be as successful as GW2!
Disclaimer: My opinion is purely based on anecdotal evidence/personal experience but at least I have that, compared to some posters here.
A+. I'm not sure why these people are so worried about weather the game is going to fail or not if they don't even play it! Caetftl only has around 200 posts and they are all negative towards GW2. Doesn't make sense at all.
Some of us have been playing MMOs since UO... we would rather see the direction of the industry go towards longevity instead of quick cash-grabs. We study all of the big MMOs and we remain objective, we learn about the trends, the quality of fans each game has etc.
The question you should be asking yourself is "Why don't I objectively care about the health of the game and whether it will fail or not?" As a fan you should be trying to uncover the truth about the state of the game you play, and where things stand, not just pretending everything is amazing 24-7, when sales are down and the game is going through course corrections.
Yes population/player activity has increased over the last 6 months.
Not at launch activity, but still picking up nicely. I was one of many people who left with the nov. 15th patch but I have since returned because:
1. I see no other MMO-like game on the horizon that appeals to me.
2. Anet seem to be backpedalling a bit on the geargrindyness of (sigh) "gearprogrssion".
Game seems to be doing fine... I love the living story content patches every 2 weeks, Guild roster (I am in a 500 person guild) is just as active as it was at launch and I meet new players everytime I am online.
With the exception of WoW: Other MMO's would give up all ideals to be as successful as GW2!
Disclaimer: My opinion is purely based on anecdotal evidence/personal experience but at least I have that, compared to some posters here.
A+. I'm not sure why these people are so worried about weather the game is going to fail or not if they don't even play it! Caetftl only has around 200 posts and they are all negative towards GW2. Doesn't make sense at all.
Some of us have been playing MMOs since UO... we would rather see the direction of the industry go towards longevity instead of quick cash-grabs. We study all of the big MMOs and we remain objective, we learn about the trends, the quality of fans each game has etc.
The question you should be asking yourself is "Why don't I objectively care about the health of the game and whether it will fail or not?" As a fan you should be trying to uncover the truth about the state of the game you play, and where things stand, not just pretending everything is amazing 24-7, when sales are down and the game is going through course corrections.
I like this response...but
As one of those that have been playing MMOs since there was one, I can't even see why anyone would care, let alone argue about an MMOs numbers. I play what I want, screw you if you don't like the game I'm in. STOP telling me your numbers....don't care.
Yes population/player activity has increased over the last 6 months.
Not at launch activity, but still picking up nicely. I was one of many people who left with the nov. 15th patch but I have since returned because:
1. I see no other MMO-like game on the horizon that appeals to me.
2. Anet seem to be backpedalling a bit on the geargrindyness of (sigh) "gearprogrssion".
Game seems to be doing fine... I love the living story content patches every 2 weeks, Guild roster (I am in a 500 person guild) is just as active as it was at launch and I meet new players everytime I am online.
With the exception of WoW: Other MMO's would give up all ideals to be as successful as GW2!
Disclaimer: My opinion is purely based on anecdotal evidence/personal experience but at least I have that, compared to some posters here.
A+. I'm not sure why these people are so worried about weather the game is going to fail or not if they don't even play it! Caetftl only has around 200 posts and they are all negative towards GW2. Doesn't make sense at all.
Some of us have been playing MMOs since UO... we would rather see the direction of the industry go towards longevity instead of quick cash-grabs. We study all of the big MMOs and we remain objective, we learn about the trends, the quality of fans each game has etc.
The question you should be asking yourself is "Why don't I objectively care about the health of the game and whether it will fail or not?" As a fan you should be trying to uncover the truth about the state of the game you play, and where things stand, not just pretending everything is amazing 24-7, when sales are down and the game is going through course corrections.
I'm sorry, but where are you getting this info Caetftl?
The game still have mostly high or full pop servers. Many of these servers stlll suffer overflows & ques in WvW. The game isn't perfect, but it's far from failing. The last bit of statistics someone tried to post to show the game is 'failing' actually said the exact opposite. That sales are stable, and while box sales are down, the game is actually doing well (and indeed is one of only 2 games currently keeping NCSoft in the black).
I also don't see why you are implying this game is some kind of cash grab. It has THE most consumer friendly pricing model (perhaps after TERA), out of any MMO I've ever played. Not only does none of the cashshop items have any real affect on th game (so you got a neat costume, who cares?), it's also has managed to stay healthy longer than most of the other MMOs to come out since WoW. GW2 is going on it's 1 year anniversary, still has a healthy population, and is still a game growing at an impressive rate (content wise).
Being a former UO player doesn't give you a badge of honor. Many of us here (myself included) have been playing MMOs that long. Additionally, (no joke) I just introduced some former UO players (pre-trammel), who were die hard fans of the game, to GW2. They're having a blast, and can't believe how much stuff there is to do, especially since the game has no subscription. I can't predict how long they'll be playing, but currently they're ecstatic about the game.
That said, I'm sure we'll see a drop in population with the release of FFXIV, and then again with Wild Star, and possibly with ESO. Maybe even further down the road with EQN there will be yet another one. But here's the thing:
** GW2 is designed with these trends anticipated & expected. Anet knows damn well that games don't have a linearly growing population. All games (especially MMOs) are constantly losing & gaining new players. As such, GW2 is built in a way where it doesn't panic when people stop playing or take breaks. It's fine. It also has mechanics (like the events going on right now) which draw in new players / bring old players back.
Like the first game, GW2 is a game that doesn't panic when populations fluctuate, and has enough content that people play off & on for a while. GW survived healthily off this for almost as long as WoW has. GW2 is following a similar trend, but it's only a year out, so it's hard to say what the future will bring.
Yes population/player activity has increased over the last 6 months.
Not at launch activity, but still picking up nicely. I was one of many people who left with the nov. 15th patch but I have since returned because:
1. I see no other MMO-like game on the horizon that appeals to me.
2. Anet seem to be backpedalling a bit on the geargrindyness of (sigh) "gearprogrssion".
Game seems to be doing fine... I love the living story content patches every 2 weeks, Guild roster (I am in a 500 person guild) is just as active as it was at launch and I meet new players everytime I am online.
With the exception of WoW: Other MMO's would give up all ideals to be as successful as GW2!
Disclaimer: My opinion is purely based on anecdotal evidence/personal experience but at least I have that, compared to some posters here.
A+. I'm not sure why these people are so worried about weather the game is going to fail or not if they don't even play it! Caetftl only has around 200 posts and they are all negative towards GW2. Doesn't make sense at all.
Some of us have been playing MMOs since UO... we would rather see the direction of the industry go towards longevity instead of quick cash-grabs. We study all of the big MMOs and we remain objective, we learn about the trends, the quality of fans each game has etc.
The question you should be asking yourself is "Why don't I objectively care about the health of the game and whether it will fail or not?" As a fan you should be trying to uncover the truth about the state of the game you play, and where things stand, not just pretending everything is amazing 24-7, when sales are down and the game is going through course corrections.
I'm sorry, but where are you getting this info Caetftl?
The game still have mostly high or full pop servers. Many of these servers stlll suffer overflows & ques in WvW. The game isn't perfect, but it's far from failing. The last bit of statistics someone tried to post to show the game is 'failing' actually said the exact opposite. That sales are stable, and while box sales are down, the game is actually doing well (and indeed is one of only 2 games currently keeping NCSoft in the black).
I also don't see why you are implying this game is some kind of cash grab. It has THE most consumer friendly pricing model (perhaps after TERA), out of any MMO I've ever played. Not only does none of the cashshop items have any real affect on th game (so you got a neat costume, who cares?), it's also has managed to stay healthy longer than most of the other MMOs to come out since WoW. GW2 is going on it's 1 year anniversary, still has a healthy population, and is still a game growing at an impressive rate (content wise).
Being a former UO player doesn't give you a badge of honor. Many of us here (myself included) have been playing MMOs that long. Additionally, (no joke) I just introduced some former UO players (pre-trammel), who were die hard fans of the game, to GW2. They're having a blast, and can't believe how much stuff there is to do, especially since the game has no subscription. I can't predict how long they'll be playing, but currently they're ecstatic about the game.
That said, I'm sure we'll see a drop in population with the release of FFXIV, and then again with Wild Star, and possibly with ESO. Maybe even further down the road with EQN there will be yet another one. But here's the thing:
** GW2 is designed with these trends anticipated & expected. Anet knows damn well that games don't have a linearly growing population. All games (especially MMOs) are constantly losing & gaining new players. As such, GW2 is built in a way where it doesn't panic when people stop playing or take breaks. It's fine. It also has mechanics (like the events going on right now) which draw in new players / bring old players back.
Like the first game, GW2 is a game that doesn't panic when populations fluctuate, and has enough content that people play off & on for a while. GW survived healthily off this for almost as long as WoW has. GW2 is following a similar trend, but it's only a year out, so it's hard to say what the future will bring.
What info...he gave his input...no numbers. What are you reading?
Yes population/player activity has increased over the last 6 months.
Not at launch activity, but still picking up nicely. I was one of many people who left with the nov. 15th patch but I have since returned because:
1. I see no other MMO-like game on the horizon that appeals to me.
2. Anet seem to be backpedalling a bit on the geargrindyness of (sigh) "gearprogrssion".
Game seems to be doing fine... I love the living story content patches every 2 weeks, Guild roster (I am in a 500 person guild) is just as active as it was at launch and I meet new players everytime I am online.
With the exception of WoW: Other MMO's would give up all ideals to be as successful as GW2!
Disclaimer: My opinion is purely based on anecdotal evidence/personal experience but at least I have that, compared to some posters here.
A+. I'm not sure why these people are so worried about weather the game is going to fail or not if they don't even play it! Caetftl only has around 200 posts and they are all negative towards GW2. Doesn't make sense at all.
Some of us have been playing MMOs since UO... we would rather see the direction of the industry go towards longevity instead of quick cash-grabs. We study all of the big MMOs and we remain objective, we learn about the trends, the quality of fans each game has etc.
The question you should be asking yourself is "Why don't I objectively care about the health of the game and whether it will fail or not?" As a fan you should be trying to uncover the truth about the state of the game you play, and where things stand, not just pretending everything is amazing 24-7, when sales are down and the game is going through course corrections.
I'm sorry, but where are you getting this info Caetftl?
The game still have mostly high or full pop servers. Many of these servers stlll suffer overflows & ques in WvW. The game isn't perfect, but it's far from failing. The last bit of statistics someone tried to post to show the game is 'failing' actually said the exact opposite. That sales are stable, and while box sales are down, the game is actually doing well (and indeed is one of only 2 games currently keeping NCSoft in the black).
I also don't see why you are implying this game is some kind of cash grab. It has THE most consumer friendly pricing model (perhaps after TERA), out of any MMO I've ever played. Not only does none of the cashshop items have any real affect on th game (so you got a neat costume, who cares?), it's also has managed to stay healthy longer than most of the other MMOs to come out since WoW. GW2 is going on it's 1 year anniversary, still has a healthy population, and is still a game growing at an impressive rate (content wise).
Being a former UO player doesn't give you a badge of honor. Many of us here (myself included) have been playing MMOs that long. Additionally, (no joke) I just introduced some former UO players (pre-trammel), who were die hard fans of the game, to GW2. They're having a blast, and can't believe how much stuff there is to do, especially since the game has no subscription. I can't predict how long they'll be playing, but currently they're ecstatic about the game.
That said, I'm sure we'll see a drop in population with the release of FFXIV, and then again with Wild Star, and possibly with ESO. Maybe even further down the road with EQN there will be yet another one. But here's the thing:
** GW2 is designed with these trends anticipated & expected. Anet knows damn well that games don't have a linearly growing population. All games (especially MMOs) are constantly losing & gaining new players. As such, GW2 is built in a way where it doesn't panic when people stop playing or take breaks. It's fine. It also has mechanics (like the events going on right now) which draw in new players / bring old players back.
Like the first game, GW2 is a game that doesn't panic when populations fluctuate, and has enough content that people play off & on for a while. GW survived healthily off this for almost as long as WoW has. GW2 is following a similar trend, but it's only a year out, so it's hard to say what the future will bring.
What info...he gave his input...no numbers. What are you reading?
"when sales are down and the game is going through course corrections. "
Yes population/player activity has increased over the last 6 months.
Not at launch activity, but still picking up nicely. I was one of many people who left with the nov. 15th patch but I have since returned because:
1. I see no other MMO-like game on the horizon that appeals to me.
2. Anet seem to be backpedalling a bit on the geargrindyness of (sigh) "gearprogrssion".
Game seems to be doing fine... I love the living story content patches every 2 weeks, Guild roster (I am in a 500 person guild) is just as active as it was at launch and I meet new players everytime I am online.
With the exception of WoW: Other MMO's would give up all ideals to be as successful as GW2!
Disclaimer: My opinion is purely based on anecdotal evidence/personal experience but at least I have that, compared to some posters here.
A+. I'm not sure why these people are so worried about weather the game is going to fail or not if they don't even play it! Caetftl only has around 200 posts and they are all negative towards GW2. Doesn't make sense at all.
Some of us have been playing MMOs since UO... we would rather see the direction of the industry go towards longevity instead of quick cash-grabs. We study all of the big MMOs and we remain objective, we learn about the trends, the quality of fans each game has etc.
The question you should be asking yourself is "Why don't I objectively care about the health of the game and whether it will fail or not?" As a fan you should be trying to uncover the truth about the state of the game you play, and where things stand, not just pretending everything is amazing 24-7, when sales are down and the game is going through course corrections.
I'm sorry, but where are you getting this info Caetftl?
The game still have mostly high or full pop servers. Many of these servers stlll suffer overflows & ques in WvW. The game isn't perfect, but it's far from failing. The last bit of statistics someone tried to post to show the game is 'failing' actually said the exact opposite. That sales are stable, and while box sales are down, the game is actually doing well (and indeed is one of only 2 games currently keeping NCSoft in the black).
I also don't see why you are implying this game is some kind of cash grab. It has THE most consumer friendly pricing model (perhaps after TERA), out of any MMO I've ever played. Not only does none of the cashshop items have any real affect on th game (so you got a neat costume, who cares?), it's also has managed to stay healthy longer than most of the other MMOs to come out since WoW. GW2 is going on it's 1 year anniversary, still has a healthy population, and is still a game growing at an impressive rate (content wise).
Being a former UO player doesn't give you a badge of honor. Many of us here (myself included) have been playing MMOs that long. Additionally, (no joke) I just introduced some former UO players (pre-trammel), who were die hard fans of the game, to GW2. They're having a blast, and can't believe how much stuff there is to do, especially since the game has no subscription. I can't predict how long they'll be playing, but currently they're ecstatic about the game.
That said, I'm sure we'll see a drop in population with the release of FFXIV, and then again with Wild Star, and possibly with ESO. Maybe even further down the road with EQN there will be yet another one. But here's the thing:
** GW2 is designed with these trends anticipated & expected. Anet knows damn well that games don't have a linearly growing population. All games (especially MMOs) are constantly losing & gaining new players. As such, GW2 is built in a way where it doesn't panic when people stop playing or take breaks. It's fine. It also has mechanics (like the events going on right now) which draw in new players / bring old players back.
Like the first game, GW2 is a game that doesn't panic when populations fluctuate, and has enough content that people play off & on for a while. GW survived healthily off this for almost as long as WoW has. GW2 is following a similar trend, but it's only a year out, so it's hard to say what the future will bring.
What info...he gave his input...no numbers. What are you reading?
"when sales are down and the game is going through course corrections. "
Well the numbers are obviously from the most reliable source possible, the ncsoft earnings reports... and the course correction is openly talked about by anet.
Yes population/player activity has increased over the last 6 months.
Not at launch activity, but still picking up nicely. I was one of many people who left with the nov. 15th patch but I have since returned because:
1. I see no other MMO-like game on the horizon that appeals to me.
2. Anet seem to be backpedalling a bit on the geargrindyness of (sigh) "gearprogrssion".
Game seems to be doing fine... I love the living story content patches every 2 weeks, Guild roster (I am in a 500 person guild) is just as active as it was at launch and I meet new players everytime I am online.
With the exception of WoW: Other MMO's would give up all ideals to be as successful as GW2!
Disclaimer: My opinion is purely based on anecdotal evidence/personal experience but at least I have that, compared to some posters here.
A+. I'm not sure why these people are so worried about weather the game is going to fail or not if they don't even play it! Caetftl only has around 200 posts and they are all negative towards GW2. Doesn't make sense at all.
Some of us have been playing MMOs since UO... we would rather see the direction of the industry go towards longevity instead of quick cash-grabs. We study all of the big MMOs and we remain objective, we learn about the trends, the quality of fans each game has etc.
The question you should be asking yourself is "Why don't I objectively care about the health of the game and whether it will fail or not?" As a fan you should be trying to uncover the truth about the state of the game you play, and where things stand, not just pretending everything is amazing 24-7, when sales are down and the game is going through course corrections.
Thank you for educating me on which questions I should ask myself. I'm afraid I will just skip your lesson because I am neither a NCSoft investor nor an A-Net employee.
I play games as entertainment and the questions I ask myself is:
Am I having fun? And: Are there other people ingame to share the fun with?
The answer to both questions, in my case, is YES. And that is enough for me.
By all means: If you enjoy (over) analyzing games instead of playing them, go ahead and have fun with that, but please refrain from lecturing me about how I "should" do the same!
We dont need casuals in our games!!! Errm... Well we DO need casuals to fund and populate our games - But the games should be all about "hardcore" because: We dont need casuals in our games!!! (repeat ad infinitum)
Yes population/player activity has increased over the last 6 months.
Not at launch activity, but still picking up nicely. I was one of many people who left with the nov. 15th patch but I have since returned because:
1. I see no other MMO-like game on the horizon that appeals to me.
2. Anet seem to be backpedalling a bit on the geargrindyness of (sigh) "gearprogrssion".
Game seems to be doing fine... I love the living story content patches every 2 weeks, Guild roster (I am in a 500 person guild) is just as active as it was at launch and I meet new players everytime I am online.
With the exception of WoW: Other MMO's would give up all ideals to be as successful as GW2!
Disclaimer: My opinion is purely based on anecdotal evidence/personal experience but at least I have that, compared to some posters here.
A+. I'm not sure why these people are so worried about weather the game is going to fail or not if they don't even play it! Caetftl only has around 200 posts and they are all negative towards GW2. Doesn't make sense at all.
Some of us have been playing MMOs since UO... we would rather see the direction of the industry go towards longevity instead of quick cash-grabs. We study all of the big MMOs and we remain objective, we learn about the trends, the quality of fans each game has etc.
The question you should be asking yourself is "Why don't I objectively care about the health of the game and whether it will fail or not?" As a fan you should be trying to uncover the truth about the state of the game you play, and where things stand, not just pretending everything is amazing 24-7, when sales are down and the game is going through course corrections.
I'm sorry, but where are you getting this info Caetftl?
The game still have mostly high or full pop servers. Many of these servers stlll suffer overflows & ques in WvW. The game isn't perfect, but it's far from failing. The last bit of statistics someone tried to post to show the game is 'failing' actually said the exact opposite. That sales are stable, and while box sales are down, the game is actually doing well (and indeed is one of only 2 games currently keeping NCSoft in the black).
I also don't see why you are implying this game is some kind of cash grab. It has THE most consumer friendly pricing model (perhaps after TERA), out of any MMO I've ever played. Not only does none of the cashshop items have any real affect on th game (so you got a neat costume, who cares?), it's also has managed to stay healthy longer than most of the other MMOs to come out since WoW. GW2 is going on it's 1 year anniversary, still has a healthy population, and is still a game growing at an impressive rate (content wise).
Being a former UO player doesn't give you a badge of honor. Many of us here (myself included) have been playing MMOs that long. Additionally, (no joke) I just introduced some former UO players (pre-trammel), who were die hard fans of the game, to GW2. They're having a blast, and can't believe how much stuff there is to do, especially since the game has no subscription. I can't predict how long they'll be playing, but currently they're ecstatic about the game.
That said, I'm sure we'll see a drop in population with the release of FFXIV, and then again with Wild Star, and possibly with ESO. Maybe even further down the road with EQN there will be yet another one. But here's the thing:
** GW2 is designed with these trends anticipated & expected. Anet knows damn well that games don't have a linearly growing population. All games (especially MMOs) are constantly losing & gaining new players. As such, GW2 is built in a way where it doesn't panic when people stop playing or take breaks. It's fine. It also has mechanics (like the events going on right now) which draw in new players / bring old players back.
Like the first game, GW2 is a game that doesn't panic when populations fluctuate, and has enough content that people play off & on for a while. GW survived healthily off this for almost as long as WoW has. GW2 is following a similar trend, but it's only a year out, so it's hard to say what the future will bring.
What info...he gave his input...no numbers. What are you reading?
I think most people can handle a few negative numbers bashing their favorite mmorpg, but this guy has continuously driven his numbers down our throats and he just doesn't get it. It's getting old. Check out all of his 235 posts. They are all about numbers and input concerning only one game. caetftl
People have discussed in other forums and topics about different companies hiring people to bash their opponents in forums and other media like this. I laughed, and thought no one would hire someone to do that. I have changed my mind! When someone has over 200 posts about one title then there is something wrong. He says that he is trying to do it for the genre, but there are other games that he could be discrediting just as easily. It's fine to have a few discussions now and again on the topic, but he is on the GW2 forum only and I hope that the Moderators here take note of it.
Death is nothing to us, since when we are, Death has not come, and when death has come, we are not.
Yes population/player activity has increased over the last 6 months.
Not at launch activity, but still picking up nicely. I was one of many people who left with the nov. 15th patch but I have since returned because:
1. I see no other MMO-like game on the horizon that appeals to me.
2. Anet seem to be backpedalling a bit on the geargrindyness of (sigh) "gearprogrssion".
Game seems to be doing fine... I love the living story content patches every 2 weeks, Guild roster (I am in a 500 person guild) is just as active as it was at launch and I meet new players everytime I am online.
With the exception of WoW: Other MMO's would give up all ideals to be as successful as GW2!
Disclaimer: My opinion is purely based on anecdotal evidence/personal experience but at least I have that, compared to some posters here.
A+. I'm not sure why these people are so worried about weather the game is going to fail or not if they don't even play it! Caetftl only has around 200 posts and they are all negative towards GW2. Doesn't make sense at all.
Some of us have been playing MMOs since UO... we would rather see the direction of the industry go towards longevity instead of quick cash-grabs. We study all of the big MMOs and we remain objective, we learn about the trends, the quality of fans each game has etc.
The question you should be asking yourself is "Why don't I objectively care about the health of the game and whether it will fail or not?" As a fan you should be trying to uncover the truth about the state of the game you play, and where things stand, not just pretending everything is amazing 24-7, when sales are down and the game is going through course corrections.
I'm sorry, but where are you getting this info Caetftl?
The game still have mostly high or full pop servers. Many of these servers stlll suffer overflows & ques in WvW. The game isn't perfect, but it's far from failing. The last bit of statistics someone tried to post to show the game is 'failing' actually said the exact opposite. That sales are stable, and while box sales are down, the game is actually doing well (and indeed is one of only 2 games currently keeping NCSoft in the black).
I also don't see why you are implying this game is some kind of cash grab. It has THE most consumer friendly pricing model (perhaps after TERA), out of any MMO I've ever played. Not only does none of the cashshop items have any real affect on th game (so you got a neat costume, who cares?), it's also has managed to stay healthy longer than most of the other MMOs to come out since WoW. GW2 is going on it's 1 year anniversary, still has a healthy population, and is still a game growing at an impressive rate (content wise).
Being a former UO player doesn't give you a badge of honor. Many of us here (myself included) have been playing MMOs that long. Additionally, (no joke) I just introduced some former UO players (pre-trammel), who were die hard fans of the game, to GW2. They're having a blast, and can't believe how much stuff there is to do, especially since the game has no subscription. I can't predict how long they'll be playing, but currently they're ecstatic about the game.
That said, I'm sure we'll see a drop in population with the release of FFXIV, and then again with Wild Star, and possibly with ESO. Maybe even further down the road with EQN there will be yet another one. But here's the thing:
** GW2 is designed with these trends anticipated & expected. Anet knows damn well that games don't have a linearly growing population. All games (especially MMOs) are constantly losing & gaining new players. As such, GW2 is built in a way where it doesn't panic when people stop playing or take breaks. It's fine. It also has mechanics (like the events going on right now) which draw in new players / bring old players back.
Like the first game, GW2 is a game that doesn't panic when populations fluctuate, and has enough content that people play off & on for a while. GW survived healthily off this for almost as long as WoW has. GW2 is following a similar trend, but it's only a year out, so it's hard to say what the future will bring.
What info...he gave his input...no numbers. What are you reading?
I think most people can handle a few negative numbers bashing their favorite mmorpg, but this guy has continuously driven his numbers down our throats and he just doesn't get it. It's getting old. Check out all of his 235 posts. They are all about numbers and input concerning only one game. caetftl
People have discussed in other forums and topics about different companies hiring people to bash their opponents in forums and other media like this. I laughed, and thought no one would hire someone to do that. I have changed my mind! When someone has over 200 posts about one title then there is something wrong. He says that he is trying to do it for the genre, but there are other games that he could be discrediting just as easily. It's fine to have a few discussions now and again on the topic, but he is on the GW2 forum only and I hope that the Moderators here take note of it.
Being objective is not bashing a game. However, accusing anyone that doesn't absolutely love the game of bashing it, is being something that is called something else.
It isn't bashing to mention the earnings report and gw2 wiki, and official dev quotes.
I suggest you learn what civil discourse is, and learn some tolerance to people that have different opinions (in this case facts) than those of the world as you perceive it.
Some of us don't need to insult other posters... we share our opinions, and are perfectly fine with others having their own opinions. We aren't afraid of disagreeing, and we don't freak out when people disagree with us. We don't resort to ad hominems, straw man arguments, or straight up just misconstruing what the opposing view says.
I implore you to subscribe to this mentality... because at this point you are witch-hunting.
Yes population/player activity has increased over the last 6 months.
Not at launch activity, but still picking up nicely. I was one of many people who left with the nov. 15th patch but I have since returned because:
1. I see no other MMO-like game on the horizon that appeals to me.
2. Anet seem to be backpedalling a bit on the geargrindyness of (sigh) "gearprogrssion".
Game seems to be doing fine... I love the living story content patches every 2 weeks, Guild roster (I am in a 500 person guild) is just as active as it was at launch and I meet new players everytime I am online.
With the exception of WoW: Other MMO's would give up all ideals to be as successful as GW2!
Disclaimer: My opinion is purely based on anecdotal evidence/personal experience but at least I have that, compared to some posters here.
A+. I'm not sure why these people are so worried about weather the game is going to fail or not if they don't even play it! Caetftl only has around 200 posts and they are all negative towards GW2. Doesn't make sense at all.
Some of us have been playing MMOs since UO... we would rather see the direction of the industry go towards longevity instead of quick cash-grabs. We study all of the big MMOs and we remain objective, we learn about the trends, the quality of fans each game has etc.
The question you should be asking yourself is "Why don't I objectively care about the health of the game and whether it will fail or not?" As a fan you should be trying to uncover the truth about the state of the game you play, and where things stand, not just pretending everything is amazing 24-7, when sales are down and the game is going through course corrections.
I'm sorry, but where are you getting this info Caetftl?
The game still have mostly high or full pop servers. Many of these servers stlll suffer overflows & ques in WvW. The game isn't perfect, but it's far from failing. The last bit of statistics someone tried to post to show the game is 'failing' actually said the exact opposite. That sales are stable, and while box sales are down, the game is actually doing well (and indeed is one of only 2 games currently keeping NCSoft in the black).
I also don't see why you are implying this game is some kind of cash grab. It has THE most consumer friendly pricing model (perhaps after TERA), out of any MMO I've ever played. Not only does none of the cashshop items have any real affect on th game (so you got a neat costume, who cares?), it's also has managed to stay healthy longer than most of the other MMOs to come out since WoW. GW2 is going on it's 1 year anniversary, still has a healthy population, and is still a game growing at an impressive rate (content wise).
Being a former UO player doesn't give you a badge of honor. Many of us here (myself included) have been playing MMOs that long. Additionally, (no joke) I just introduced some former UO players (pre-trammel), who were die hard fans of the game, to GW2. They're having a blast, and can't believe how much stuff there is to do, especially since the game has no subscription. I can't predict how long they'll be playing, but currently they're ecstatic about the game.
That said, I'm sure we'll see a drop in population with the release of FFXIV, and then again with Wild Star, and possibly with ESO. Maybe even further down the road with EQN there will be yet another one. But here's the thing:
** GW2 is designed with these trends anticipated & expected. Anet knows damn well that games don't have a linearly growing population. All games (especially MMOs) are constantly losing & gaining new players. As such, GW2 is built in a way where it doesn't panic when people stop playing or take breaks. It's fine. It also has mechanics (like the events going on right now) which draw in new players / bring old players back.
Like the first game, GW2 is a game that doesn't panic when populations fluctuate, and has enough content that people play off & on for a while. GW survived healthily off this for almost as long as WoW has. GW2 is following a similar trend, but it's only a year out, so it's hard to say what the future will bring.
What info...he gave his input...no numbers. What are you reading?
I think most people can handle a few negative numbers bashing their favorite mmorpg, but this guy has continuously driven his numbers down our throats and he just doesn't get it. It's getting old. Check out all of his 235 posts. They are all about numbers and input concerning only one game. caetftl
People have discussed in other forums and topics about different companies hiring people to bash their opponents in forums and other media like this. I laughed, and thought no one would hire someone to do that. I have changed my mind! When someone has over 200 posts about one title then there is something wrong. He says that he is trying to do it for the genre, but there are other games that he could be discrediting just as easily. It's fine to have a few discussions now and again on the topic, but he is on the GW2 forum only and I hope that the Moderators here take note of it.
Being objective is not bashing a game. However, accusing anyone that doesn't absolutely love the game of bashing it, is being something that is called something else.
It isn't bashing to mention the earnings report and gw2 wiki, and official dev quotes.
I suggest you learn what civil discourse is, and learn some tolerance to people that have different opinions (in this case facts) than those of the world as you perceive it.
Some of us don't need to cry for mods, we don't need to insult other posters... we share our opinions, and are perfectly fine with others having their own opinions. We aren't afraid of disagreeing, and we don't freak out when people disagree with us.
I implore you to subscribe to this mentality... because at this point you are witch-hunting.
You are comparing earnings reports from the quarter of release of a b2p game to the quarters directly after.
I don't think someone is going to pay 60 bucks every damn month...
"As you read these words, a release is seven days or less away or has just happened within the last seven days those are now the only two states youll find the world of Tyria."...Guild Wars 2
Yes population/player activity has increased over the last 6 months.
Not at launch activity, but still picking up nicely. I was one of many people who left with the nov. 15th patch but I have since returned because:
1. I see no other MMO-like game on the horizon that appeals to me.
2. Anet seem to be backpedalling a bit on the geargrindyness of (sigh) "gearprogrssion".
Game seems to be doing fine... I love the living story content patches every 2 weeks, Guild roster (I am in a 500 person guild) is just as active as it was at launch and I meet new players everytime I am online.
With the exception of WoW: Other MMO's would give up all ideals to be as successful as GW2!
Disclaimer: My opinion is purely based on anecdotal evidence/personal experience but at least I have that, compared to some posters here.
A+. I'm not sure why these people are so worried about weather the game is going to fail or not if they don't even play it! Caetftl only has around 200 posts and they are all negative towards GW2. Doesn't make sense at all.
Some of us have been playing MMOs since UO... we would rather see the direction of the industry go towards longevity instead of quick cash-grabs. We study all of the big MMOs and we remain objective, we learn about the trends, the quality of fans each game has etc.
The question you should be asking yourself is "Why don't I objectively care about the health of the game and whether it will fail or not?" As a fan you should be trying to uncover the truth about the state of the game you play, and where things stand, not just pretending everything is amazing 24-7, when sales are down and the game is going through course corrections.
I'm sorry, but where are you getting this info Caetftl?
The game still have mostly high or full pop servers. Many of these servers stlll suffer overflows & ques in WvW. The game isn't perfect, but it's far from failing. The last bit of statistics someone tried to post to show the game is 'failing' actually said the exact opposite. That sales are stable, and while box sales are down, the game is actually doing well (and indeed is one of only 2 games currently keeping NCSoft in the black).
I also don't see why you are implying this game is some kind of cash grab. It has THE most consumer friendly pricing model (perhaps after TERA), out of any MMO I've ever played. Not only does none of the cashshop items have any real affect on th game (so you got a neat costume, who cares?), it's also has managed to stay healthy longer than most of the other MMOs to come out since WoW. GW2 is going on it's 1 year anniversary, still has a healthy population, and is still a game growing at an impressive rate (content wise).
Being a former UO player doesn't give you a badge of honor. Many of us here (myself included) have been playing MMOs that long. Additionally, (no joke) I just introduced some former UO players (pre-trammel), who were die hard fans of the game, to GW2. They're having a blast, and can't believe how much stuff there is to do, especially since the game has no subscription. I can't predict how long they'll be playing, but currently they're ecstatic about the game.
That said, I'm sure we'll see a drop in population with the release of FFXIV, and then again with Wild Star, and possibly with ESO. Maybe even further down the road with EQN there will be yet another one. But here's the thing:
** GW2 is designed with these trends anticipated & expected. Anet knows damn well that games don't have a linearly growing population. All games (especially MMOs) are constantly losing & gaining new players. As such, GW2 is built in a way where it doesn't panic when people stop playing or take breaks. It's fine. It also has mechanics (like the events going on right now) which draw in new players / bring old players back.
Like the first game, GW2 is a game that doesn't panic when populations fluctuate, and has enough content that people play off & on for a while. GW survived healthily off this for almost as long as WoW has. GW2 is following a similar trend, but it's only a year out, so it's hard to say what the future will bring.
What info...he gave his input...no numbers. What are you reading?
I think most people can handle a few negative numbers bashing their favorite mmorpg, but this guy has continuously driven his numbers down our throats and he just doesn't get it. It's getting old. Check out all of his 235 posts. They are all about numbers and input concerning only one game. caetftl
People have discussed in other forums and topics about different companies hiring people to bash their opponents in forums and other media like this. I laughed, and thought no one would hire someone to do that. I have changed my mind! When someone has over 200 posts about one title then there is something wrong. He says that he is trying to do it for the genre, but there are other games that he could be discrediting just as easily. It's fine to have a few discussions now and again on the topic, but he is on the GW2 forum only and I hope that the Moderators here take note of it.
Being objective is not bashing a game. However, accusing anyone that doesn't absolutely love the game of bashing it, is being something that is called something else.
It isn't bashing to mention the earnings report and gw2 wiki, and official dev quotes.
I suggest you learn what civil discourse is, and learn some tolerance to people that have different opinions (in this case facts) than those of the world as you perceive it.
Some of us don't need to cry for mods, we don't need to insult other posters... we share our opinions, and are perfectly fine with others having their own opinions. We aren't afraid of disagreeing, and we don't freak out when people disagree with us.
I implore you to subscribe to this mentality... because at this point you are witch-hunting.
You are comparing earnings reports from the quarter of release of a b2p game to the quarters directly after.
I don't think someone is going to pay 60 bucks every damn month...
No... im really not... q1 was not the release of the game, and from q1 to q2 there was a 20% loss in sales.
Comments
the two weeks is not by coincidence. They said that from their data interest drops sharply after two weeks on any event in the game.
It is actually referred to in the article that was linked.
"It's important to plan for the inevitable drop," he said, stating that the introduction of updates every two weeks came about following an accumulation of player-data processed by the studio to work out how often players play and when.
"We ended up thinking that if we got to making these updates more often then players will stick around longer."
James T. Kirk: All she's got isn't good enough! What else ya got?
More vague positive spin...
Can't provide numbers says it all... When does he define post-launch decline? 2 weeks after launch? 5 months? Steady growth from what number 100k to 101k to 102k?
Without numbers or transparency it means nothing... these comments are made to be intentionally vague so that people who want to see success can still see it.
What we do know, based on infinite business data, is that a 20% drop in sales is not a sign of growth.
Guess you have to play to to see success. /shrug
Death is nothing to us, since when we are, Death has not come, and when death has come, we are not.
I'll make the math simple for you because you have already proven not to be very sharp with numbers "
At the end of March I buy 100 oranges .....in June I buy 20% less oranges
July 1st I have 180 oranges ...a 20% drop in sales is still a sign of growth I'm afraid
Your father expects you to sell lots of oranges... you sell 100 by end of march.... your father expects you to sell more than that, you sell 20% less by june.
Your father is wondering why you have sold 20% less oranges, and demands that you change from selling oranges to apples. He calls it a fruit correction.
Your father also wants to remind you that 100 oranges of revenue is not 100 oranges of profit, your father wants to remind you that his actions show he is not content with the amount of oranges you are selling, as noted by the fruit correction.
You don't actually have 180 oranges, because it costs oranges to make oranges.
Try not using personal attacks and implying others aren't sharp with numbers, when you seem to be the one struggling with the logistics of how businesses work.
Neat analogy but it doesn't work.... because out of the 100 oranges you had, 60 of those spoiled. So you have growth...only minor growth. Nobody know how well the game is doing. If it was doing really well, Anet would publish numbers. If it was doing really bad, people would know when the logged in. It is somewhere in the middle. Who really cares. Until Anet puts out something concrete, no one knows.
James T. Kirk: All she's got isn't good enough! What else ya got?
However, with a bit of business knowledge we know that a 20% drop in sales, and a course correction resulting from however the game is doing, is not a sign of good health. People don't fix things unless they are broken.
Oh I agree with you. That is why they changed things around the way they did. They even said that in the article that was posted. They obviously weren't comfortable as to where the population was headed and took the steps to try remedy the situation. It seems to be working for them. I am not sure for how long with FF14 launching now and several other titles like Wildstar and TESO coming out in the near future. You do have to give some respect to Anet though. They didn't give up and definitely took a gamble doing what they are doing now. Not too many companies have the fortitude to do something like that. It is one reason that I respect Square Enix.
James T. Kirk: All she's got isn't good enough! What else ya got?
Yes population/player activity has increased over the last 6 months.
Not at launch activity, but still picking up nicely. I was one of many people who left with the nov. 15th patch but I have since returned because:
1. I see no other MMO-like game on the horizon that appeals to me.
2. Anet seem to be backpedalling a bit on the geargrindyness of (sigh) "gearprogrssion".
Game seems to be doing fine... I love the living story content patches every 2 weeks, Guild roster (I am in a 500 person guild) is just as active as it was at launch and I meet new players everytime I am online.
With the exception of WoW: Other MMO's would give up all ideals to be as successful as GW2!
Disclaimer: My opinion is purely based on anecdotal evidence/personal experience but at least I have that, compared to some posters here.
We dont need casuals in our games!!! Errm... Well we DO need casuals to fund and populate our games - But the games should be all about "hardcore" because: We dont need casuals in our games!!!
(repeat ad infinitum)
No, not directly, but that can pretty much be inferred from what was written. I mean they specifically targeted the two week window. I am sure that they had their reasons for it.
James T. Kirk: All she's got isn't good enough! What else ya got?
A+. I'm not sure why these people are so worried about weather the game is going to fail or not if they don't even play it! Caetftl only has around 200 posts and they are all negative towards GW2. Doesn't make sense at all.
Death is nothing to us, since when we are, Death has not come, and when death has come, we are not.
I'm open to suggestions though ,,,If the gloom and doom brothers can point me to a better game that cost $60 or less a year I'll jump on board .
Why can't you understand that people don't buy games twice? If there were 100 gw2 players at launch...and gw2 sold 100 at launch but 10 copies last month ...but those 100 players STILL play the game that is 10 new people playing the game and thus growth.
The box sales drop because the peopel that bought the game aren't buying it twice.
Some of us have been playing MMOs since UO... we would rather see the direction of the industry go towards longevity instead of quick cash-grabs. We study all of the big MMOs and we remain objective, we learn about the trends, the quality of fans each game has etc.
The question you should be asking yourself is "Why don't I objectively care about the health of the game and whether it will fail or not?" As a fan you should be trying to uncover the truth about the state of the game you play, and where things stand, not just pretending everything is amazing 24-7, when sales are down and the game is going through course corrections.
I like this response...but
As one of those that have been playing MMOs since there was one, I can't even see why anyone would care, let alone argue about an MMOs numbers. I play what I want, screw you if you don't like the game I'm in. STOP telling me your numbers....don't care.
I'm sorry, but where are you getting this info Caetftl?
The game still have mostly high or full pop servers. Many of these servers stlll suffer overflows & ques in WvW. The game isn't perfect, but it's far from failing. The last bit of statistics someone tried to post to show the game is 'failing' actually said the exact opposite. That sales are stable, and while box sales are down, the game is actually doing well (and indeed is one of only 2 games currently keeping NCSoft in the black).
I also don't see why you are implying this game is some kind of cash grab. It has THE most consumer friendly pricing model (perhaps after TERA), out of any MMO I've ever played. Not only does none of the cashshop items have any real affect on th game (so you got a neat costume, who cares?), it's also has managed to stay healthy longer than most of the other MMOs to come out since WoW. GW2 is going on it's 1 year anniversary, still has a healthy population, and is still a game growing at an impressive rate (content wise).
Being a former UO player doesn't give you a badge of honor. Many of us here (myself included) have been playing MMOs that long. Additionally, (no joke) I just introduced some former UO players (pre-trammel), who were die hard fans of the game, to GW2. They're having a blast, and can't believe how much stuff there is to do, especially since the game has no subscription. I can't predict how long they'll be playing, but currently they're ecstatic about the game.
That said, I'm sure we'll see a drop in population with the release of FFXIV, and then again with Wild Star, and possibly with ESO. Maybe even further down the road with EQN there will be yet another one. But here's the thing:
** GW2 is designed with these trends anticipated & expected. Anet knows damn well that games don't have a linearly growing population. All games (especially MMOs) are constantly losing & gaining new players. As such, GW2 is built in a way where it doesn't panic when people stop playing or take breaks. It's fine. It also has mechanics (like the events going on right now) which draw in new players / bring old players back.
Like the first game, GW2 is a game that doesn't panic when populations fluctuate, and has enough content that people play off & on for a while. GW survived healthily off this for almost as long as WoW has. GW2 is following a similar trend, but it's only a year out, so it's hard to say what the future will bring.
What info...he gave his input...no numbers. What are you reading?
"when sales are down and the game is going through course corrections. "
Well the numbers are obviously from the most reliable source possible, the ncsoft earnings reports... and the course correction is openly talked about by anet.
Thank you for educating me on which questions I should ask myself. I'm afraid I will just skip your lesson because I am neither a NCSoft investor nor an A-Net employee.
I play games as entertainment and the questions I ask myself is:
Am I having fun? And: Are there other people ingame to share the fun with?
The answer to both questions, in my case, is YES. And that is enough for me.
By all means: If you enjoy (over) analyzing games instead of playing them, go ahead and have fun with that, but please refrain from lecturing me about how I "should" do the same!
We dont need casuals in our games!!! Errm... Well we DO need casuals to fund and populate our games - But the games should be all about "hardcore" because: We dont need casuals in our games!!!
(repeat ad infinitum)
I think most people can handle a few negative numbers bashing their favorite mmorpg, but this guy has continuously driven his numbers down our throats and he just doesn't get it. It's getting old. Check out all of his 235 posts. They are all about numbers and input concerning only one game. caetftl
People have discussed in other forums and topics about different companies hiring people to bash their opponents in forums and other media like this. I laughed, and thought no one would hire someone to do that. I have changed my mind! When someone has over 200 posts about one title then there is something wrong. He says that he is trying to do it for the genre, but there are other games that he could be discrediting just as easily. It's fine to have a few discussions now and again on the topic, but he is on the GW2 forum only and I hope that the Moderators here take note of it.
Death is nothing to us, since when we are, Death has not come, and when death has come, we are not.
Being objective is not bashing a game. However, accusing anyone that doesn't absolutely love the game of bashing it, is being something that is called something else.
It isn't bashing to mention the earnings report and gw2 wiki, and official dev quotes.
I suggest you learn what civil discourse is, and learn some tolerance to people that have different opinions (in this case facts) than those of the world as you perceive it.
Some of us don't need to insult other posters... we share our opinions, and are perfectly fine with others having their own opinions. We aren't afraid of disagreeing, and we don't freak out when people disagree with us. We don't resort to ad hominems, straw man arguments, or straight up just misconstruing what the opposing view says.
I implore you to subscribe to this mentality... because at this point you are witch-hunting.
You are comparing earnings reports from the quarter of release of a b2p game to the quarters directly after.
I don't think someone is going to pay 60 bucks every damn month...
"As you read these words, a release is seven days or less away or has just happened within the last seven days those are now the only two states youll find the world of Tyria."...Guild Wars 2
No... im really not... q1 was not the release of the game, and from q1 to q2 there was a 20% loss in sales.