The Secret World: Funcom Profits Down Due to Crowded F2P MMO Space

SBFord

Funcom has released its Q4 2013 financial statements. The numbers are down sharply from a year ago. According to the report, Age of Conan and The Secret World are still viable properties that make money but the revenue gain is leaner due to an increasingly crowded free to play MMO market. Funcom reported revenue of $23.6M in Q4 2012 as opposed to $21.4M in Q4 2013.

According to the Funcom Financial Report:

"The activity level decreased leading up to the November and December sale, resulting in lower revenue as expected. Player numbers and revenues from Age of Conan and Anarchy Online were relatively stable in the fourth quarter considering the competitive pressure.

Check out the full report at th link above.

FlyByKnight

So they're blaming competition for numbers being down? Doesn't that mean the only reason why they... never mind. *Sigh*

Rhazmuz

I think a reason is also the ever sleep enducing pace with which they release new updates.. Now Tokyo is postponed yet again, and have even been broken down into further separate updates in order to get anything out in a somewhat timely fashion.  

AOC and TSW have been great game for me, but Ive stopped playing bot due to how slow they are at updating them.. a shame.. At least ESO is here soon

Volgore

There is PLENTY of room on the market for a good game.

Unfortunately most companies aren't able to deliver such, that's the problem.

Azaron_Nightblade

Originally posted by FlyByKnight
So they're blaming competition for numbers being down? Doesn't that mean the only reason why they... never mind. *Sigh*

It's a valid reason, and one that even applies to the big players like WoW.

There's a ridiculous amount of MMO's on the market right now, with new ones popping up constantly.

Sure, it's not the only reason, but it's definitely something that's part of it.

jazneo

the combat in game sucks that reason no one play it 

 

bcbully

This is what happens when you do not not make proper PvP in 2014. 

 

TSW has some of the best PvE in the business.

 

Let this be a lesson.

Solar_Prophet

Originally posted by bcbully

This is what happens when you do not not make proper PvP in 2014. 

 

TSW has some of the best PvE in the business.

 

Let this be a lesson.

The PvP crowd is niche. Always has been, always will be. Period. So unless you actually have some kind of proof to back up your ridiculous assertion, kindly go back to your little badly translated kung fu game that almost nobody has heard of or cares about (despite the fact it's FFA PvP). Thanks.

Krimzin

F2P is going to come crashing down in the near future. Sub Games like Eso are going to show developers that players dont mind paying a monthly for a solid game.

Braindome

Originally posted by bcbully

This is what happens when you do not not make proper PvP in 2014. 

 

TSW has some of the best PvE in the business.

 

Let this be a lesson.

What kinda statement is that? Lol.

MamasGun

Originally posted by bcbully

This is what happens when you do not not make proper PvP in 2014. 

 

TSW has some of the best PvE in the business.

 

Let this be a lesson.

Lol. No, no, no no no no, no.  The reason their numbers are down is not because no one is PvP'ing.

Dakeru

Originally posted by Solar_Prophet

The PvP crowd is niche. Always has been, always will be. 

That's probably true but it's still no excuse for the horrible mechanics of their pvp. 

All factions start at the same spot with a 10 sec invulnerability buff. Then they all run towards the zone where the relic is being defended. By the time you arrive the buff is off and you have 2 options:

-Run into the large aoe of the defenders

or

-Wait and get slaughtered from behind by the other respawners

 

Oh and of course the client makes this a messy and laggy experience.

To spice the mix up a bit more there are still bugs which have been never fixed. You will still frequently hear things such as:

"Sorry, guys my UI is glitched and I can't plant the relic."

"How much time is left? My UI is broken and it won't show me the timer."

Appok

Solution: Make better content and fix the animations

Geebus80

ahh the old corporatist schtick, free market, free market when speaking to the gov about regulation, but as soon as profits are down they blame that same  free market.

 

In this case it is more about bad content and poor effort on the part of funcom to keep up with their customers needs than saturation though.

ulrik12345

The F2P market is crowded with BAD and generic F2P titles, which is what TSW suffers from. Generic and uninteresting game-mechanics seen a billion times in the MMORPG genre. The game-mechanics as well as the gameplay in most MMORPGs are stuck in 2004, and those who have advanced beyond target based combat  and repetitive button-mashing always seem lack an other crucial aspect such as interesting quests, decent graphics etc. In an MMORPG you will ALWAYS have to choose between either good and interesting combat, fun and engaging quests or decent graphics.

The secret World: Good graphics and cool quests - Downright shitty target-based combat from 1999. 

Age of Conan: Good graphics and decent storytelling (good from 1-20) - Shitty target-based combat mixed with DanceDance Revolution.

Vindictus: Good graphics and good and well executed combat - Shitty storytelling and boring quests.

The market is too crowded for another game where you have to choose and sacrifice one or another. 

Mikeha

This game was a failure before it was even released.

Rusque

I've been saying this since the advent of f2p. Eventually you reach such a critical mass of f2p titles that you spread those who are the "payers" too thin and can't support anything anymore.

f2p only works when you have a concentration of people willing to shell out in the cash shop, once you divide those people across too many games, f2p's true colors will show.

 

DeaconX

This MMO would be hands down the best out there right now, if only the combat weren't so drab.

CazNeerg

The F2P market isn't anywhere close to crashing.  As more games come out, some of the weaker ones will probably shut down, but the market itself isn't going anywhere.

Sentime

As far as AoC, it's one of the worst F2P models out there.  If it wasn't such a scam I'd still be playing AoC and encouraging others to try the game. 

 

Funcom can't see the forest through the trees.

flizzer

Originally posted by DeaconX
This MMO would be hands down the best out there right now, if only the combat weren't so drab.

I have to agree.  The story and questing in this game is amazing.  If it wasn't for the lackluster combat I would still be playing. 

 

If an MMO only could give us the total package instead of doing one or two things right. 

Tsumoro

Originally posted by DeaconX
This MMO would be hands down the best out there right now, if only the combat weren't so drab.

I would concur, TSW has awesome PVE with its story and how you approach quests. Plus the characters are fantastic. But the combat, doesn't seem to match up with the quality behind the game. Which is odd, considering AOC was always praised for its combat system, no idea why they couldn't just merge the two!

Cetra

stop making bad games.

Age of Conan is a launch flop at least with fun combat.

You made secret world with shit combat.

Most impt element in a mmo is COMBAT. Every mmo developer should get this basic  into their head.

syltmacka

i think the combat is fine. but its hard. oh so friking difficult.

orbitxo

you guys are so funny only focusing on TSW n AOC...when clearly they have other games. in mobile etc...

lets not forget TSW brought them most of last years revenue.

cleary one- if not the best mmo out there!- they should of stayed with sub base imo. i would of supported it 100%!!!!

 

 

Mikeha

Originally posted by justmemyselfandi

That's how competition works.

You want to compete, you deliver AAA goods with AAA effort and you do. not. stop.

If you can't compete, you get shoved out of the way.

A lesson Funcom has yet to learn.