The comment above would be relevant if the game was worth learning what it is about, not something I've played 3 million times already, with dated graphics and pay to win.
Next game, please.
Wrong, sir! Wrong!
Under section 37B of the contract signed by him, it states quite clearly that all offers shall become null and void if - and you can read it for yourself in this photostatic copy - "I, the undersigned, shall forfeit all rights, privileges, and licenses herein and herein contained," et cetera, et cetera... "Fax mentis, incendium gloria cultum," et cetera, et cetera...Memo bis punitor delicatum! It's all there! Black and white, clear as crystal! You STOLE Fizzy-Lifting Drinks! You BUMPED into the ceiling, which now has to be washed and sterilized, so you get... NOTHING!!! You lose! GOOD DAY, SIR
That's a pretty silly thing to say. Tried the game, saw the same old music playing, uninstalled it. The only thing I regret of AA is not selling the key on eBay.
My apologies for not spending 20,000 hours to really learn the essence of the game. But time is a finite resource for humans, and ArcheAge hasn't proven worth of mine. There are thousands of games out there asking for an opportunity to be played that offer better forms of entertainment and don't resort to the good old "pay to win" or "kill 5 boars". I hope you can understand, if you do not, I can't bother to explain it a third time.
AA is not the game you are looking for, move along...
That's a pretty silly thing to say. Tried the game, saw the same old music playing, uninstalled it. The only thing I regret of AA is not selling the key on eBay.
My apologies for not spending 20,000 hours to really learn the essence of the game. But time is a finite resource for humans, and ArcheAge hasn't proven worth of mine. There are thousands of games out there asking for an opportunity to be played that offer better forms of entertainment and don't resort to the good old "pay to win" or "kill 5 boars". I hope you can understand, if you do not, I can't bother to explain it a third time.
You are missing out on a good game, not great, but good game.
If all you saw was the questing. You missed the point of the game. The quest are meh. They are only there to show you what you can do. To give you your first mount, and how to grow them. When you do get more mounts.Youll know what to do.
I understand time is the rarest commodity we as humans have, but there are games that require an investment of time to really understand them. Chess, Poker, and Dungeons and Dragons are a good examples.
If you didnt like ti, oh well. You didnt like it. Best of luck in finding a game youll like.
That's a pretty silly thing to say. Tried the game, saw the same old music playing, uninstalled it. The only thing I regret of AA is not selling the key on eBay.
My apologies for not spending 20,000 hours to really learn the essence of the game. But time is a finite resource for humans, and ArcheAge hasn't proven worth of mine. There are thousands of games out there asking for an opportunity to be played that offer better forms of entertainment and don't resort to the good old "pay to win" or "kill 5 boars". I hope you can understand, if you do not, I can't bother to explain it a third time.
You are missing out on a good game, not great, but good game.
If all you saw was the questing. You missed the point of the game. The quest are meh. They are only there to show you what you can do. To give you your first mount, and how to grow them. When you do get more mounts.Youll know what to do.
I understand time is the rarest commodity we as humans have, but there are games that require an investment of time to really understand them. Chess, Poker, and Dungeons and Dragons are a good examples.
If you didnt like ti, oh well. You didnt like it. Best of luck in finding a game youll like.
Yeah that's fine. Not every game has to be for everyone, we have different tastes.
I have no problem with AA existing and people enjoying it, I just thought AA was going to be a bit more innovative, that's all.
My opinion is my own. I respect all other opinions and views equally, but keep in mind that my opinion will always be the best for me. That's why it's my opinion.
Originally posted by maple2 nope it will fail... it already failed in asian.. so why the hell would it work in Eu..
The reason it "failed" is Korea was because they made some changed that were not liked by the community. Trion is trying to avoid the same thing happening for the western release. Trion is the main reason I think this game will succeed.
Honestly, has anyone ever seen the CEO of any other company actually respond to their community? This guy posts on here, on Reddit and on the official forums. If any company is willing to listen to its fans its Trion.
Originally posted by maple2 nope it will fail... it already failed in asian.. so why the hell would it work in Eu..
The reason it "failed" is Korea was because they made some changed that were not liked by the community. Trion is trying to avoid the same thing happening for the western release. Trion is the main reason I think this game will succeed.
Honestly, has anyone ever seen the CEO of any other company actually respond to their community? This guy posts on here, on Reddit and on the official forums. If any company is willing to listen to its fans its Trion.
Yeah they introduce a new improved patch for Trion's version of the game.
Trion's already made tons of money off the founder pack sells and its in the top selling list on Steam. I think people like maple2 need better informed opinions.
Originally posted by Siug It's only my prediction but after a couple of months only a few remember AA still exists. Friend who played did not have anything positive to say about it and he's been in MMOs for a very long time.
My second cousin, twicece removed, on my mother's side liked it. He was thrilled.
I got it, and I liked it. Im ready to play.
There you go, two more reviews from long time MMO players.
Yup, tastes are different but I still predict that AA will be a niche game. You can see it even in fanboi central called mmorpg.com - most are apprehensive or negative. Personally I think that CS is way too heavy to bear and I'm not one of those penniless cunts ranting how about everything should be f2p.
Originally posted by Drokkmon This game doesn't have invert y axis option. That's a complete joke.
The combat system of this game with the limited UI customization and usage is like stepping back into EQ. I played back when you could roll on the Russian servers and have tested out Trion's version.... still the same boring mechanics. Too much of this is the "been there done that" feel to keep continuing on into 30 and beyond for a small glimmer of something better.
I have watched this game way back, like 2-3 years now, and have had high hopes of this developing into something good and long term...... I just do not see enough of that "umph" to have many go past 2-3 months after launch (myself included). This sorta reminds me of the days of Vanguard hype and launch, except Vanguard was attempting something new and innovative... there is nothing new or innovative in AA.
Originally posted by Drokkmon This game doesn't have invert y axis option. That's a complete joke.
The combat system of this game with the limited UI customization and usage is like stepping back into EQ. I played back when you could roll on the Russian servers and have tested out Trion's version.... still the same boring mechanics. Too much of this is the "been there done that" feel to keep continuing on into 30 and beyond for a small glimmer of something better.
I have watched this game way back, like 2-3 years now, and have had high hopes of this developing into something good and long term...... I just do not see enough of that "umph" to have many go past 2-3 months after launch (myself included). This sorta reminds me of the days of Vanguard hype and launch, except Vanguard was attempting something new and innovative... there is nothing new or innovative in AA.
what about the LP system? That's new and innovative :P
Originally posted by Siug It's only my prediction but after a couple of months only a few remember AA still exists. Friend who played did not have anything positive to say about it and he's been in MMOs for a very long time.
My second cousin, twicece removed, on my mother's side liked it. He was thrilled.
I got it, and I liked it. Im ready to play.
There you go, two more reviews from long time MMO players.
Yup, tastes are different but I still predict that AA will be a niche game. You can see it even in fanboi central called mmorpg.com - most are apprehensive or negative. Personally I think that CS is way too heavy to bear and I'm not one of those penniless cunts ranting how about everything should be f2p.
Niche game, for sure. I playe Aion from Beta, till it went F2P. I really hate F2P. I really wish AA wasnt F2P.
I dont mind the Cash Shop, but like you, Im not penniless either. Im sure Ill use it sooner or later. For more than APEX.
Its PvP centric. Sure you can avoid it, but the best rewards are from PvP areas. The Labor Point system is harsh. its goin to be a HUGE time sink to get anything done.
Crafting is unforgiving. Not only some RNG, but a chance to fail and destroy items.
its also goin to be big on having a guild or friends to do much of anything worthwhile. I mean, whats the point of building a Clipper ship, just to sail the seas and get killed in PvP. Have your ship destroyed to the point you cannot use it.
The item to fix it requires over 10,000 skill in Alchemy to make. Thats a hell of a lot of potions. The mats for the potions require you to farm hundreds, if not thousands of mushrooms and flowers.
The best gear requires you to get metals from a PvP zone, and requires 50,000 skill in Mining. Just for the ores!
Its a huge Asian grind MMO. It will not be big in the West. The best part is all of these things may seem like negatives to most. I see as fun.
I have the friends, the guild, the time and the money. Will i get ganked, for sure. Will i lose items to rng, of course.
Archeage is literally like no other MMOs I've played. It finally has that something different from WoW and its many sub par clones. Wow nearly does everything in a theme park styled mmo perfectly, all the players are led from one activity to the next. In Archeage it's just get out there and play how you want to. I've literally done nothing but the main quest line and made all of my experience and money from farming and running what's called trade pack runs. They are so much fun and bring such an immersion and experience to the game that for me at least is simply unrivalled.
I've now just started collecting the huge amounts of lumber and linen to start building my boat....then I can take these trade packs across the world and risk attack from other players who can actually steal my pack and hand it in!
ArcheAge made nearly no effort to try and beat WoW at what WoW does so well (questing / instancing), instead it actually thought up an original and fresh idea and made the most beautiful and instanceless world out of it.
Best game I have played in yearssssssssssssssssssssss, it literally is everything I had hoped. Don't listen to any of the Wildstar fan boys, get in and play it yourself.?
Not sure how 10 million a year is necessarily considered "huge".
That means if they had 500k players then those players each spend 20 dollars per year.
I'm not saying that's not good but I don't really see that as being "huge".
Huge? no, i think the proper terminology would have been 'mediocre'
But why should Russian players be any different to players elsewhere? Archeage is a niche game that will only appeal to a fairly small subset of even the PVP community, it is what it is, they will probably do well enough to continue to turn a profit, but i doubt it will ever achieve anything close to 'top 10' status. Players like variety, and the overall PVP focus of Archeage is a strictly limiting factor in players ability to 'play it their way', that imo, will always be a negative factor for this game, the less choice you allow players in how they play a game, the smaller the demographic that it will appeal to, and regardless of how many features are implemented to try to give the game a more 'sandboxy' feel, the less likely they are to have any real effect, the core of the game is after all, PVP, no matter how many disclaimers are made regarding it, involuntary PVP is a central factor of the game that cannot be ignored or circumvented.
This was never going to end well for Archeage. If they were serious about their game then they should have taken a leaf out of CCP's book, Eve online has far more comprehensive methods of handling PVP, and its something that Trion would have done well to pay attention to.
So, this PVP MMO that had to convert to F2P in it's Korean market because it couldn't keep the traction it needed to support a subscription model long term, is being ported to the West while retaining heavy in-game cash shop influences that many players must account during their game time, is going to become "huge" in the West where, with few exceptions, PVP game's don't get traction either?
So, this PVP MMO that had to convert to F2P in it's Korean market because it couldn't keep the traction it needed to support a subscription model long term, is being ported to the West while retaining heavy in-game cash shop influences that many players must account during their game time, is going to become "huge" in the West where, with few exceptions, PVP game's don't get traction either?
Just asking?
Its a PvP MMO. That right there will stop it from goin "huge".
So, this PVP MMO that had to convert to F2P in it's Korean market because it couldn't keep the traction it needed to support a subscription model long term, is being ported to the West while retaining heavy in-game cash shop influences that many players must account during their game time, is going to become "huge" in the West where, with few exceptions, PVP game's don't get traction either?
Just asking?
Its a PvP MMO. That right there will stop it from goin "huge".
I realize it was a long winded question. But there are several points here that are working against AA being "huge".
Not to say it won't do OK, but I think that's the best it will do.........just "OK".
For me, it's not the PVP aspect that is a turn off.
I am personally done playing Massively Monetized Online Role Playing Games.
When a game's business model becomes obviously apparent within my game play, when my in-game objectives are being influenced by how much real $$$ I can spend, I'm not playing.
Huge? no, i think the proper terminology would have been 'mediocre'
Well I don't know which industry in life you work in but if your work force totals roughly 10 personnel and you can turn £10 million a year, you are probably one of the most successful companies in your entire country, actually probably the world.
While I do absolutely agree £10 million a year is not a large volume of money in the gaming industry, it is an incredibly successful product . Even from the Alpha numbers alone, Trion's acquisition to license the game was a wonderful piece of business.
So, this PVP MMO that had to convert to F2P in it's Korean market because it couldn't keep the traction it needed to support a subscription model long term, is being ported to the West while retaining heavy in-game cash shop influences that many players must account during their game time, is going to become "huge" in the West where, with few exceptions, PVP game's don't get traction either?
Just asking?
Its a PvP MMO. That right there will stop it from goin "huge".
I realize it was a long winded question. But there are several points here that are working against AA being "huge".
Not to say it won't do OK, but I think that's the best it will do.........just "OK".
For me, it's not the PVP aspect that is a turn off.
I am personally done playing Massively Monetized Online Role Playing Games.
When a game's business model becomes obviously apparent within my game play, when my in-game objectives are being influenced by how much real $$$ I can spend, I'm done.
I did read your whole question. I avoided bringing up the Cash Shop part.
its debatable. The main thing in the CS is the LP potions. I did a hell of a lot of crafting, and building last Beta. I didnt use one LP pot. I do have the 3,000 store credits to buy them, i just didnt need them.
Actually, I find the Cash Shop lacking. They really need to beef it up a lot. The only thing i bought on the CS was a mystery pack, i got 10 teleporting stones from. Even they where not with Credits, but with Loyalty points
The CS is very lacking in items I would spend real money on. Just about everything you can get off the CS, you can get better in game.
Huge? no, i think the proper terminology would have been 'mediocre'
Well I don't know which industry in life you work in but if your work force totals roughly 10 personnel and you can turn £10 million a year, you are probably one of the most successful companies in your entire country, actually probably the world.
While I do absolutely agree £10 million a year is not a large volume of money in the gaming industry, it is an incredibly successful product . Even from the Alpha numbers alone, Trion's acquisition to license the game was a wonderful piece of business.
Space Industry as it happens, with global connections
But i really question whether the Alpha numbers alone were that significant, and Trion, as well meaning as they might happen to be, has made more than a few questionable choices, which is a shame as they started with so much promise.
I am personally done playing Massively Monetized Online Role Playing Games.
When a game's business model becomes obviously apparent within my game play, when my in-game objectives are being influenced by how much real $$$ I can spend, I'm not playing.
My thoughts exactly. Had this game been subscription based with no cash shop, I would've been all over it.
Not sure how 10 million a year is necessarily considered "huge".
That means if they had 500k players then those players each spend 20 dollars per year.
I'm not saying that's not good but I don't really see that as being "huge".
Considering that TOR got in 13 times that money last year, so no it is not huge by international standard. It is pretty big for Russia though.
Huge is a matter of opinion, AA might be a serious competitor to Eve online and if you think that Eve is huge then I agree. If on the other hand you consider Wow as huge and maybe 2 or so other games who are below it in subs/active players then I kinda doubt it.
But I think AA might do pretty well, not awesome but pretty well. It is still a bit to niched to become really huge with millions of players, or at least that is my guess.
So, this PVP MMO that had to convert to F2P in it's Korean market because it couldn't keep the traction it needed to support a subscription model long term, is being ported to the West while retaining heavy in-game cash shop influences that many players must account during their game time, is going to become "huge" in the West where, with few exceptions, PVP game's don't get traction either?
Just asking?
Its a PvP MMO. That right there will stop it from goin "huge".
I realize it was a long winded question. But there are several points here that are working against AA being "huge".
Not to say it won't do OK, but I think that's the best it will do.........just "OK".
For me, it's not the PVP aspect that is a turn off.
I am personally done playing Massively Monetized Online Role Playing Games.
When a game's business model becomes obviously apparent within my game play, when my in-game objectives are being influenced by how much real $$$ I can spend, I'm done.
I did read your whole question. I avoided bringing up the Cash Shop part.
its debatable. The main thing in the CS is the LP potions. I did a hell of a lot of crafting, and building last Beta. I didnt use one LP pot. I do have the 3,000 store credits to buy them, i just didnt need them.
Actually, I find the Cash Shop lacking. They really need to beef it up a lot. The only thing i bought on the CS was a mystery pack, i got 10 teleporting stones from. Even they where not with Credits, but with Loyalty points
The CS is very lacking in items I would spend real money on. Just about everything you can get off the CS, you can get better in game.
When GW2 launched, the Cash Shop didn't initially make me feel like I was being funneled into it, I had thought there was hope that a Micro Transaction based game could do well and not make me feel like I needed to spend money. But over time, that changed. Development seemed to be heavily geared to Cash Shop items....Especially tie ins to new content. Then I finally quit GW2 when I saw them introduce pay-walls. Is it me? Maybe. But I also think it's the developers and publishers too.
Comments
Wrong, sir! Wrong!
Under section 37B of the contract signed by him, it states quite clearly that all offers shall become null and void if - and you can read it for yourself in this photostatic copy - "I, the undersigned, shall forfeit all rights, privileges, and licenses herein and herein contained," et cetera, et cetera... "Fax mentis, incendium gloria cultum," et cetera, et cetera...Memo bis punitor delicatum! It's all there! Black and white, clear as crystal! You STOLE Fizzy-Lifting Drinks! You BUMPED into the ceiling, which now has to be washed and sterilized, so you get... NOTHING!!! You lose! GOOD DAY, SIR
AA is not the game you are looking for, move along...
You are missing out on a good game, not great, but good game.
If all you saw was the questing. You missed the point of the game. The quest are meh. They are only there to show you what you can do. To give you your first mount, and how to grow them. When you do get more mounts.Youll know what to do.
I understand time is the rarest commodity we as humans have, but there are games that require an investment of time to really understand them. Chess, Poker, and Dungeons and Dragons are a good examples.
If you didnt like ti, oh well. You didnt like it. Best of luck in finding a game youll like.
Yeah that's fine. Not every game has to be for everyone, we have different tastes.
I have no problem with AA existing and people enjoying it, I just thought AA was going to be a bit more innovative, that's all.
My opinion is my own. I respect all other opinions and views equally, but keep in mind that my opinion will always be the best for me. That's why it's my opinion.
The reason it "failed" is Korea was because they made some changed that were not liked by the community. Trion is trying to avoid the same thing happening for the western release. Trion is the main reason I think this game will succeed.
Honestly, has anyone ever seen the CEO of any other company actually respond to their community? This guy posts on here, on Reddit and on the official forums. If any company is willing to listen to its fans its Trion.
Pirate 101....probably some others, but I decided to choose the most obnoxious answer
Yeah they introduce a new improved patch for Trion's version of the game.
Trion's already made tons of money off the founder pack sells and its in the top selling list on Steam. I think people like maple2 need better informed opinions.
Yup, tastes are different but I still predict that AA will be a niche game. You can see it even in fanboi central called mmorpg.com - most are apprehensive or negative. Personally I think that CS is way too heavy to bear and I'm not one of those penniless cunts ranting how about everything should be f2p.
The combat system of this game with the limited UI customization and usage is like stepping back into EQ. I played back when you could roll on the Russian servers and have tested out Trion's version.... still the same boring mechanics. Too much of this is the "been there done that" feel to keep continuing on into 30 and beyond for a small glimmer of something better.
I have watched this game way back, like 2-3 years now, and have had high hopes of this developing into something good and long term...... I just do not see enough of that "umph" to have many go past 2-3 months after launch (myself included). This sorta reminds me of the days of Vanguard hype and launch, except Vanguard was attempting something new and innovative... there is nothing new or innovative in AA.
what about the LP system? That's new and innovative :P
Niche game, for sure. I playe Aion from Beta, till it went F2P. I really hate F2P. I really wish AA wasnt F2P.
I dont mind the Cash Shop, but like you, Im not penniless either. Im sure Ill use it sooner or later. For more than APEX.
Its PvP centric. Sure you can avoid it, but the best rewards are from PvP areas. The Labor Point system is harsh. its goin to be a HUGE time sink to get anything done.
Crafting is unforgiving. Not only some RNG, but a chance to fail and destroy items.
its also goin to be big on having a guild or friends to do much of anything worthwhile. I mean, whats the point of building a Clipper ship, just to sail the seas and get killed in PvP. Have your ship destroyed to the point you cannot use it.
The item to fix it requires over 10,000 skill in Alchemy to make. Thats a hell of a lot of potions. The mats for the potions require you to farm hundreds, if not thousands of mushrooms and flowers.
The best gear requires you to get metals from a PvP zone, and requires 50,000 skill in Mining. Just for the ores!
Its a huge Asian grind MMO. It will not be big in the West. The best part is all of these things may seem like negatives to most. I see as fun.
I have the friends, the guild, the time and the money. Will i get ganked, for sure. Will i lose items to rng, of course.
Not sure how 10 million a year is necessarily considered "huge".
That means if they had 500k players then those players each spend 20 dollars per year.
I'm not saying that's not good but I don't really see that as being "huge".
Godfred's Tomb Trailer: https://youtu.be/-nsXGddj_4w
Original Skyrim: https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/109547
Serph toze kindly has started a walk-through. https://youtu.be/UIelCK-lldo
Archeage is literally like no other MMOs I've played. It finally has that something different from WoW and its many sub par clones. Wow nearly does everything in a theme park styled mmo perfectly, all the players are led from one activity to the next. In Archeage it's just get out there and play how you want to. I've literally done nothing but the main quest line and made all of my experience and money from farming and running what's called trade pack runs. They are so much fun and bring such an immersion and experience to the game that for me at least is simply unrivalled.
I've now just started collecting the huge amounts of lumber and linen to start building my boat....then I can take these trade packs across the world and risk attack from other players who can actually steal my pack and hand it in!
ArcheAge made nearly no effort to try and beat WoW at what WoW does so well (questing / instancing), instead it actually thought up an original and fresh idea and made the most beautiful and instanceless world out of it.
Best game I have played in yearssssssssssssssssssssss, it literally is everything I had hoped. Don't listen to any of the Wildstar fan boys, get in and play it yourself.?
Huge? no, i think the proper terminology would have been 'mediocre'
But why should Russian players be any different to players elsewhere? Archeage is a niche game that will only appeal to a fairly small subset of even the PVP community, it is what it is, they will probably do well enough to continue to turn a profit, but i doubt it will ever achieve anything close to 'top 10' status. Players like variety, and the overall PVP focus of Archeage is a strictly limiting factor in players ability to 'play it their way', that imo, will always be a negative factor for this game, the less choice you allow players in how they play a game, the smaller the demographic that it will appeal to, and regardless of how many features are implemented to try to give the game a more 'sandboxy' feel, the less likely they are to have any real effect, the core of the game is after all, PVP, no matter how many disclaimers are made regarding it, involuntary PVP is a central factor of the game that cannot be ignored or circumvented.
This was never going to end well for Archeage. If they were serious about their game then they should have taken a leaf out of CCP's book, Eve online has far more comprehensive methods of handling PVP, and its something that Trion would have done well to pay attention to.
So, this PVP MMO that had to convert to F2P in it's Korean market because it couldn't keep the traction it needed to support a subscription model long term, is being ported to the West while retaining heavy in-game cash shop influences that many players must account during their game time, is going to become "huge" in the West where, with few exceptions, PVP game's don't get traction either?
Just asking?
Its a PvP MMO. That right there will stop it from goin "huge".
I realize it was a long winded question. But there are several points here that are working against AA being "huge".
Not to say it won't do OK, but I think that's the best it will do.........just "OK".
For me, it's not the PVP aspect that is a turn off.
I am personally done playing Massively Monetized Online Role Playing Games.
When a game's business model becomes obviously apparent within my game play, when my in-game objectives are being influenced by how much real $$$ I can spend, I'm not playing.
Well I don't know which industry in life you work in but if your work force totals roughly 10 personnel and you can turn £10 million a year, you are probably one of the most successful companies in your entire country, actually probably the world.While I do absolutely agree £10 million a year is not a large volume of money in the gaming industry, it is an incredibly successful product . Even from the Alpha numbers alone, Trion's acquisition to license the game was a wonderful piece of business.
I did read your whole question. I avoided bringing up the Cash Shop part.
its debatable. The main thing in the CS is the LP potions. I did a hell of a lot of crafting, and building last Beta. I didnt use one LP pot. I do have the 3,000 store credits to buy them, i just didnt need them.
Actually, I find the Cash Shop lacking. They really need to beef it up a lot. The only thing i bought on the CS was a mystery pack, i got 10 teleporting stones from. Even they where not with Credits, but with Loyalty points
The CS is very lacking in items I would spend real money on. Just about everything you can get off the CS, you can get better in game.
Space Industry as it happens, with global connections
But i really question whether the Alpha numbers alone were that significant, and Trion, as well meaning as they might happen to be, has made more than a few questionable choices, which is a shame as they started with so much promise.
My thoughts exactly. Had this game been subscription based with no cash shop, I would've been all over it.
Considering that TOR got in 13 times that money last year, so no it is not huge by international standard. It is pretty big for Russia though.
Huge is a matter of opinion, AA might be a serious competitor to Eve online and if you think that Eve is huge then I agree. If on the other hand you consider Wow as huge and maybe 2 or so other games who are below it in subs/active players then I kinda doubt it.
But I think AA might do pretty well, not awesome but pretty well. It is still a bit to niched to become really huge with millions of players, or at least that is my guess.
When GW2 launched, the Cash Shop didn't initially make me feel like I was being funneled into it, I had thought there was hope that a Micro Transaction based game could do well and not make me feel like I needed to spend money. But over time, that changed. Development seemed to be heavily geared to Cash Shop items....Especially tie ins to new content. Then I finally quit GW2 when I saw them introduce pay-walls. Is it me? Maybe. But I also think it's the developers and publishers too.