Originally posted by Fadeus The numbers after the CU went down according to who? I have yet to see an official press release stating a loss of players after the CU and before the NGE.And you did not state it that way the first time. You made it clear after the CU it was down too 200-250k. Write it properly and maybe I will read it properly.
An "official press release" from SOE and $0.25 will get you a photocopy of a cup of coffee. My numbers come from personal observation: when the CU hit, there was an immediate population drop of 25-35% (people observed in-game). I was sufficiently ticked off to close my account for the summer. When I left in early June, a population rebound was in progress as new and old people checked out the CU.
When I returned in September, it was clear that the rebound had not been sustained; the observable population was about where it had been in the immediate aftermath of CU. Personally, I found it hard to tell, but other people I knew in-game said that the population was continuing to drop after that. And the bottom fell out with the NDG.
Originally posted by CasualMaker Originally posted by Fadeus The numbers after the CU went down according to who? I have yet to see an official press release stating a loss of players after the CU and before the NGE.And you did not state it that way the first time. You made it clear after the CU it was down too 200-250k. Write it properly and maybe I will read it properly.
An "official press release" from SOE and $0.25 will get you a photocopy of a cup of coffee. My numbers come from personal observation: when the CU hit, there was an immediate population drop of 25-35% (people observed in-game). I was sufficiently ticked off to close my account for the summer. When I left in early June, a population rebound was in progress as new and old people checked out the CU.
When I returned in September, it was clear that the rebound had not been sustained; the observable population was about where it had been in the immediate aftermath of CU. Personally, I found it hard to tell, but other people I knew in-game said that the population was continuing to drop after that. And the bottom fell out with the NDG.
personal observant is nothing but speculation and worth no more. My personal observations from playing HEAVILY during the CU and just before tell me a completely contradictory story.
- Scaris
"What happened to you, Star Wars Galaxies? You used to look like Leia. Not quite gold bikini Leia (more like bad-British-accent-and-cinnamon-bun-hair Leia), but still Leia nonetheless. Now you look like Chewbacca." - Computer Gaming World
Originally posted by Fadeus personal observant is nothing but speculation and worth no more. My personal observations from playing HEAVILY during the CU and just before tell me a completely contradictory story.
Personal observation is really all we have, when SOE does everything possible to prevent us from seeing real numbers. My observations are based on my old stomping ground of Corbantis, once one of the larger servers. I figured that, even if people had found other new activities in other places (as the fanbois claim), they still needed the starports to travel from world to world. So I traveled the galaxy, checking numbers in the starports: consistently low, week after week. Suggestions that I just kept missing the mobs of people rushing thru before and after my visits really don't wash.
Originally posted by CasualMaker Originally posted by Fadeus personal observant is nothing but speculation and worth no more. My personal observations from playing HEAVILY during the CU and just before tell me a completely contradictory story.
Personal observation is really all we have, when SOE does everything possible to prevent us from seeing real numbers. My observations are based on my old stomping ground of Corbantis, once one of the larger servers. I figured that, even if people had found other new activities in other places (as the fanbois claim), they still needed the starports to travel from world to world. So I traveled the galaxy, checking numbers in the starports: consistently low, week after week. Suggestions that I just kept missing the mobs of people rushing thru before and after my visits really don't wash.
So you say and I say otherwise, so what exactly is your point again?
- Scaris
"What happened to you, Star Wars Galaxies? You used to look like Leia. Not quite gold bikini Leia (more like bad-British-accent-and-cinnamon-bun-hair Leia), but still Leia nonetheless. Now you look like Chewbacca." - Computer Gaming World
personal observant is nothing but speculation and worth no more. My personal observations from playing HEAVILY during the CU and just before tell me a completely contradictory story.
Fadeus, please clear something up for me.
You have had your XFire account for like 15 months now. You have roughtly 2600 hours of gaming logged into it.
You played EQ2 1274 hours and SWG only 388 in 15 months. These 2 equal 1662 hours of gaming with the balance of about 1000 hrs divided up over other games.
My question is is where do you get your "personal observations from playing HEAVILY during the CU"?
I don't call 388 hours over a 15 month span "HEAVILY" anything.
Just curious.
Sago Mactow Former SWG 2yr 7 month Vet 6/26/03 - 1/26/06 Jedi, Master Shipwright, Master Architect DFR Councilman Tarq Server
Originally posted by Sago Originally posted by Fadeus personal observant is nothing but speculation and worth no more. My personal observations from playing HEAVILY during the CU and just before tell me a completely contradictory story. Fadeus, please clear something up for me. You have had your XFire account for like 15 months now. You have roughtly 2600 hours of gaming logged into it. You played EQ2 1274 hours and SWG only 388 in 15 months. These 2 equal 1662 hours of gaming with the balance of about 1000 hrs divided up over other games. My question is is where do you get your "personal observations from playing HEAVILY during the CU"? I don't call 388 hours over a 15 month span "HEAVILY" anything. Just curious.
You presume that I always used xfire and that I bother to load it up on every computer I use to make sure my game times are accurate? I have a vendor account in EQ II that sells online all the time. 15 month span, who said I played SWG for 15 months? Did I, no...
And yes, as I spelled it out for the first time, H E A V I L Y.
do you have a point your trying to get too other then you don't like my opinion?
- Scaris
"What happened to you, Star Wars Galaxies? You used to look like Leia. Not quite gold bikini Leia (more like bad-British-accent-and-cinnamon-bun-hair Leia), but still Leia nonetheless. Now you look like Chewbacca." - Computer Gaming World
You presume that I always used xfire and that I bother to load it up on every computer I use to make sure my game times are accurate? I have a vendor account in EQ II that sells online all the time. 15 month span, who said I played SWG for 15 months? Did I, no... And yes, as I spelled it out for the first time, H E A V I L Y. do you have a point your trying to get too other then you don't like my opinion?
yes my point is .. is that you are full of shit and need to go back to EQ2.
15 months x 4 weeks = 60 weeks
60 weeks x 30hrs perweek gaming = 1800 hrs
You have roughly 2600hrs accounted for on Xfire ... do you sleep?
Sago Mactow Former SWG 2yr 7 month Vet 6/26/03 - 1/26/06 Jedi, Master Shipwright, Master Architect DFR Councilman Tarq Server
Originally posted by Sago Originally posted by Fadeus You presume that I always used xfire and that I bother to load it up on every computer I use to make sure my game times are accurate? I have a vendor account in EQ II that sells online all the time. 15 month span, who said I played SWG for 15 months? Did I, no... And yes, as I spelled it out for the first time, H E A V I L Y. do you have a point your trying to get too other then you don't like my opinion? yes my point is .. is that you are full of shit and need to go back to EQ2.
Ahhh, and this is your professional opinion about me? Kinda like the servers being dead post CU?
- Scaris
"What happened to you, Star Wars Galaxies? You used to look like Leia. Not quite gold bikini Leia (more like bad-British-accent-and-cinnamon-bun-hair Leia), but still Leia nonetheless. Now you look like Chewbacca." - Computer Gaming World
Ahhh, and this is your professional opinion about me? Kinda like the servers being dead post CU?
I didnt say dead. Maybe you have a memort retention problem. I said numbers went down do to missing people in my friends list and read posts in the forum. But you are not the brightest person here are you.
Sago Mactow Former SWG 2yr 7 month Vet 6/26/03 - 1/26/06 Jedi, Master Shipwright, Master Architect DFR Councilman Tarq Server
Originally posted by Sago I didnt say dead. Maybe you have a memort retention problem. I said numbers went down do to missing people in my friends list and read posts in the forum. But you are not the brightest person here are you.
I apologize to the OP, I should have known actually stating I disagree with a negative statistic about SWG would end up in someone having to flame me which lead to a total topic hijack.
Sago, you have no arguement left so you have resorted to personal insult which is just childish. Discussion over, I am unsubscribing from this thread in hopes maybe it will salvaged. Oh and I suggest you look up sarcasm sometime, it might clear up the whole dead statement for ya.
It was an awesome article in every respect and written without bias.
- Scaris
"What happened to you, Star Wars Galaxies? You used to look like Leia. Not quite gold bikini Leia (more like bad-British-accent-and-cinnamon-bun-hair Leia), but still Leia nonetheless. Now you look like Chewbacca." - Computer Gaming World
An "official press release" from SOE and $0.25 will get you a photocopy of a cup of coffee. My numbers come from personal observation: when the CU hit, there was an immediate population drop of 25-35% (people observed in-game). I was sufficiently ticked off to close my account for the summer. When I left in early June, a population rebound was in progress as new and old people checked out the CU.
When I returned in September, it was clear that the rebound had not been sustained; the observable population was about where it had been in the immediate aftermath of CU. Personally, I found it hard to tell, but other people I knew in-game said that the population was continuing to drop after that. And the bottom fell out with the NDG.
Agreed Casual.
This IS an awesome, well written article. Hats off to the OP.
But when people say accounts levels did NOT go down AFTER CU hit is plain wrong. As seen in my friends list and reading posts on the forums as evidence to that fact. This is clear evidence that people left.
It is possible that some people (who had quit) came back to see if the CU was worth playing which could account for a spike increase for a short amount of time in the immediate days following the CU update. BUT, weeks later those numbers started going right back down.
OP needs an award.
Sago Mactow Former SWG 2yr 7 month Vet 6/26/03 - 1/26/06 Jedi, Master Shipwright, Master Architect DFR Councilman Tarq Server
Originally posted by Sago I didnt say dead. Maybe you have a memort retention problem. I said numbers went down do to missing people in my friends list and read posts in the forum. But you are not the brightest person here are you.
I apologize to the OP, I should have known actually stating I disagree with a negative statistic about SWG would end up in someone having to flame me which lead to a total topic hijack.
Sago, you have no arguement left so you have resorted to personal insult which is just childish. Discussion over, I am unsubscribing from this thread in hopes maybe it will salvaged. Oh and I suggest you look up sarcasm sometime, it might clear up the whole dead statement for ya.
It was an awesome article in every respect and written without bias.
Hey Fad... What happened to the sig man??? Not "EVE-y" anymore?
SOE knows what you like... You don't! And don't forget... I am forcing you to read this!
After spring break I think I might start working on another article, though not necessarily to due entirely with SWG. I have something in mind right now that I've been playing with and gathering sources.
Originally posted by n2k3156 Originally posted by docminus re: original post of this thread: /bumpCan't remember where I saw it, a possible later deleted post at SOE forums perhaps, that the NGE actually was planned from the start of SWG (also in connection to a possible console version, which atm SOE definetly has admitted of not being in developement).
Don't know where you might have saw that, but I don't believe that to be true. It just doesn't make any sense. Why would they plan to do that during the beginning of SWG, if they just could have released that version first? Perhaps they planned a simpler version of pre-CU for the console, then they scrapped that plan. Later, when they needed to do something to revive SWG, they resurrected that plan and used it as the basis of the NGE.
That is all pure speculation of course. If you could find proof of that, I would be interested.
yes, true, it is speculation. and it doesn't make sense. but then again, how much sense does it make to promise Jedi, if they weren't implemented fromt he beginning? how much sense does it make to push the NGE within a week? just metnioned this, bec. I am certain that there were some rumors floating around a while back, but with tons of posts on tons of forums, it is a pain to use search, even if you know what you are looking for
Originally posted by Fadeus The only point I would argue on that would be the CU actually causing customer loss. I beleive loss was already there and the CU was a moment or revival, it just wasn't anywhere enough to make LEC content with keeping it when they got a look at WoW's numbers.Very well written however, excellent article.
The CU caused me and my entire guild to leave, so that's customer loss right there
I do agree that there was a declining interest in the game before the CU, but i think that is the CU's fault as well. Look, if there had never been a cu planned, all that development time would have gone into adding content and fixing the existing game's most important issues (mind bar, armor and buff caps, etc.) like the community asked for.
Furthermore, the CU was never asked for by ANYONE on the forums. What was asked for was a combat BALANCE to the existing system, not the "upgrade" that was given. I dont understand the argument about how the community asked for the cu. Its completely false. No one could have imagined that all the requests about fixing the current game would result in soe changing the game into the level based disaster that was the cu.
Furthermore, the CU was never asked for by ANYONE on the forums. What was asked for was a combat BALANCE to the existing system, not the "upgrade" that was given. I dont understand the argument about how the community asked for the cu. Its completely false. No one could have imagined that all the requests about fixing the current game would result in soe changing the game into the level based disaster that was the cu. [/b][/quote]
Exactly. Thats one of the main points of the article is to get across this idea that SOE/LA perverted what they had been telling the community for months so as to change the game when no change was warranted, only a slight balancing.
I agree that a combat upgrade was never asked for and it was advertised as a combat "balance". Players were very tired of seeing classes receive nerf after nerf in an attempt to balance the professions one at a time. The players wanted the professions balanced together but never asked for an "upgrade" in the way combat was done.
JTL and the CU saw an initial influx of vets who had been dropping out of the game, but the population soon started to drop again after the vets had checked out the CU. I remember a lot of discussion about why SOE had decided to implement a level based system when the skill based system had worked just fine previously. This was seen by many players as the beginning of the EQ emulation by SOE.
========== SWG - 1st Gen MBH (Closed) EVE (Closed) WoW (61 Orc Hunter - Blackwing Lair) GuildWars (Boring...)
Originally posted by nilden The 1% creature handler thing kinda ticked me off since I was a member of BEAST an all creature handler cross-server guild.
Yeah, I have to agree with your irritation. One of my alternate server faves was a MCH/Doc and I knew many, MANY creature handlers. Hell, I even knew a BH/CH. He was an awesome guy who belonged to the Bounty Hunter's Guild (I loved those guys). Based on my experiences in the game, I'd have to say there were at least as many active Critter Handlers as there were smugglers.
It kinda makes you wonder where the devil they were getting their numbers from.
The really sad part is that not all that long ago a Loyal Customer was considered a companies greatest asset, seems some people in managment have forgotten that.
Wow. Brilliant essay, with impressive scholarship. I do think you've missed one case against SOE in the business ethics argument, though. Namely, the announcement of the NGE mere days after retailing the Trials of Obi-Wan expansion (already having offered additional in-game bonuses for pre-ordering it, as incentive), obviously keeping the NGE secret so that most of those who'd leave over it would have already paid for the expansion. And then - only after mass outcry and threat of legal action - SOE finally backing down and offering refunds on the expansion.
Dasharr Eandall, SWG, Smuggler/Pistoleer (retired after 2.5+ years)
Originally posted by Fadeus The only point I would argue on that would be the CU actually causing customer loss. I beleive loss was already there and the CU was a moment or revival, it just wasn't anywhere enough to make LEC content with keeping it when they got a look at WoW's numbers.
Very well written however, excellent article.
The CU caused me and my entire guild to leave, so that's customer loss right there
I do agree that there was a declining interest in the game before the CU, but i think that is the CU's fault as well. Look, if there had never been a cu planned, all that development time would have gone into adding content and fixing the existing game's most important issues (mind bar, armor and buff caps, etc.) like the community asked for.
Furthermore, the CU was never asked for by ANYONE on the forums. What was asked for was a combat BALANCE to the existing system, not the "upgrade" that was given. I dont understand the argument about how the community asked for the cu. Its completely false. No one could have imagined that all the requests about fixing the current game would result in soe changing the game into the level based disaster that was the cu.
True. Here's a personal anecdote: I was a self-confessed "forum whore" who spent 10-20 hours a week (even more sometimes) on the official SWG forums pre-CU (I'd pull up the exact number of total hours, but I can't get to the stats anymore now that my account's expired. Trust me though, it was a lot). In that time, I saw almost every imaginable suggestion for the game being made, ranging from the crazy to the obvious, from the clever to the impossible. And you know what? I never saw a single request for a level system in SWG. Not a single one!
Dasharr Eandall, SWG, Smuggler/Pistoleer (retired after 2.5+ years)
Comments
When I returned in September, it was clear that the rebound had not been sustained; the observable population was about where it had been in the immediate aftermath of CU. Personally, I found it hard to tell, but other people I knew in-game said that the population was continuing to drop after that. And the bottom fell out with the NDG.
When I returned in September, it was clear that the rebound had not been sustained; the observable population was about where it had been in the immediate aftermath of CU. Personally, I found it hard to tell, but other people I knew in-game said that the population was continuing to drop after that. And the bottom fell out with the NDG.
personal observant is nothing but speculation and worth no more. My personal observations from playing HEAVILY during the CU and just before tell me a completely contradictory story.
- Scaris
"What happened to you, Star Wars Galaxies? You used to look like Leia. Not quite gold bikini Leia (more like bad-British-accent-and-cinnamon-bun-hair Leia), but still Leia nonetheless. Now you look like Chewbacca." - Computer Gaming World
So you say and I say otherwise, so what exactly is your point again?
- Scaris
"What happened to you, Star Wars Galaxies? You used to look like Leia. Not quite gold bikini Leia (more like bad-British-accent-and-cinnamon-bun-hair Leia), but still Leia nonetheless. Now you look like Chewbacca." - Computer Gaming World
Fadeus, please clear something up for me.
You have had your XFire account for like 15 months now. You have roughtly 2600 hours of gaming logged into it.
You played EQ2 1274 hours and SWG only 388 in 15 months. These 2 equal 1662 hours of gaming with the balance of about 1000 hrs divided up over other games.
My question is is where do you get your "personal observations from playing HEAVILY during the CU"?
I don't call 388 hours over a 15 month span "HEAVILY" anything.
Just curious.
Sago Mactow
Former SWG 2yr 7 month Vet
6/26/03 - 1/26/06
Jedi, Master Shipwright, Master Architect
DFR Councilman
Tarq Server
You presume that I always used xfire and that I bother to load it up on every computer I use to make sure my game times are accurate? I have a vendor account in EQ II that sells online all the time. 15 month span, who said I played SWG for 15 months? Did I, no...
And yes, as I spelled it out for the first time, H E A V I L Y.
do you have a point your trying to get too other then you don't like my opinion?
- Scaris
"What happened to you, Star Wars Galaxies? You used to look like Leia. Not quite gold bikini Leia (more like bad-British-accent-and-cinnamon-bun-hair Leia), but still Leia nonetheless. Now you look like Chewbacca." - Computer Gaming World
yes my point is .. is that you are full of shit and need to go back to EQ2.
15 months x 4 weeks = 60 weeks
60 weeks x 30hrs perweek gaming = 1800 hrs
You have roughly 2600hrs accounted for on Xfire ... do you sleep?
Sago Mactow
Former SWG 2yr 7 month Vet
6/26/03 - 1/26/06
Jedi, Master Shipwright, Master Architect
DFR Councilman
Tarq Server
Ahhh, and this is your professional opinion about me? Kinda like the servers being dead post CU?
- Scaris
"What happened to you, Star Wars Galaxies? You used to look like Leia. Not quite gold bikini Leia (more like bad-British-accent-and-cinnamon-bun-hair Leia), but still Leia nonetheless. Now you look like Chewbacca." - Computer Gaming World
Sago Mactow
Former SWG 2yr 7 month Vet
6/26/03 - 1/26/06
Jedi, Master Shipwright, Master Architect
DFR Councilman
Tarq Server
I apologize to the OP, I should have known actually stating I disagree with a negative statistic about SWG would end up in someone having to flame me which lead to a total topic hijack.
Sago, you have no arguement left so you have resorted to personal insult which is just childish. Discussion over, I am unsubscribing from this thread in hopes maybe it will salvaged. Oh and I suggest you look up sarcasm sometime, it might clear up the whole dead statement for ya.
It was an awesome article in every respect and written without bias.
- Scaris
"What happened to you, Star Wars Galaxies? You used to look like Leia. Not quite gold bikini Leia (more like bad-British-accent-and-cinnamon-bun-hair Leia), but still Leia nonetheless. Now you look like Chewbacca." - Computer Gaming World
This IS an awesome, well written article. Hats off to the OP.
But when people say accounts levels did NOT go down AFTER CU hit is plain wrong. As seen in my friends list and reading posts on the forums as evidence to that fact. This is clear evidence that people left.
It is possible that some people (who had quit) came back to see if the CU was worth playing which could account for a spike increase for a short amount of time in the immediate days following the CU update. BUT, weeks later those numbers started going right back down.
OP needs an award.
Sago Mactow
Former SWG 2yr 7 month Vet
6/26/03 - 1/26/06
Jedi, Master Shipwright, Master Architect
DFR Councilman
Tarq Server
I'd take a job offering from MMORPG.com.
Hint hint to the mods.
NGE Refugee.
"The man who exchanges Liberty for Iconic classes is a fool deserving of neither." - Me and Ben Franklin
excellent article.
I'm sure population went seriously down allready about JTL release.
I sooo miss the days when loads of ppl were around and i had big business going with my BE.
BE was the most intricate and complex crafting thingy i ever saw in any game.
Could someone pplllzzzzz hack SOE and get the servercode from pre-JTL and host a server i coulod join ?
brgds Nicolai
I apologize to the OP, I should have known actually stating I disagree with a negative statistic about SWG would end up in someone having to flame me which lead to a total topic hijack.
Sago, you have no arguement left so you have resorted to personal insult which is just childish. Discussion over, I am unsubscribing from this thread in hopes maybe it will salvaged. Oh and I suggest you look up sarcasm sometime, it might clear up the whole dead statement for ya.
It was an awesome article in every respect and written without bias.
Hey Fad... What happened to the sig man??? Not "EVE-y" anymore?
SOE knows what you like... You don't!
And don't forget... I am forcing you to read this!
Thanks to everyone whose read my article so far.
After spring break I think I might start working on another article, though not necessarily to due entirely with SWG. I have something in mind right now that I've been playing with and gathering sources.
NGE Refugee.
Don't know where you might have saw that, but I don't believe that to be true. It just doesn't make any sense. Why would they plan to do that during the beginning of SWG, if they just could have released that version first? Perhaps they planned a simpler version of pre-CU for the console, then they scrapped that plan. Later, when they needed to do something to revive SWG, they resurrected that plan and used it as the basis of the NGE.
That is all pure speculation of course. If you could find proof of that, I would be interested.
yes, true, it is speculation. and it doesn't make sense. but then again, how much sense does it make to promise Jedi, if they weren't implemented fromt he beginning? how much sense does it make to push the NGE within a week?
just metnioned this, bec. I am certain that there were some rumors floating around a while back, but with tons of posts on tons of forums, it is a pain to use search, even if you know what you are looking for
The CU caused me and my entire guild to leave, so that's customer loss right there
I do agree that there was a declining interest in the game before the CU, but i think that is the CU's fault as well. Look, if there had never been a cu planned, all that development time would have gone into adding content and fixing the existing game's most important issues (mind bar, armor and buff caps, etc.) like the community asked for.
Furthermore, the CU was never asked for by ANYONE on the forums. What was asked for was a combat BALANCE to the existing system, not the "upgrade" that was given. I dont understand the argument about how the community asked for the cu. Its completely false. No one could have imagined that all the requests about fixing the current game would result in soe changing the game into the level based disaster that was the cu.
For the Horde!
[b][quote]Originally posted by LilT
Furthermore, the CU was never asked for by ANYONE on the forums. What was asked for was a combat BALANCE to the existing system, not the "upgrade" that was given. I dont understand the argument about how the community asked for the cu. Its completely false. No one could have imagined that all the requests about fixing the current game would result in soe changing the game into the level based disaster that was the cu.
[/b][/quote]
Exactly. Thats one of the main points of the article is to get across this idea that SOE/LA perverted what they had been telling the community for months so as to change the game when no change was warranted, only a slight balancing.
NGE Refugee.
The 1% creature handler thing kinda ticked me off since I was a member of BEAST an all creature handler cross-server guild.
"classification of games into MMOs is not by rational reasoning" - nariusseldon
Love Minecraft. And check out my Youtube channel OhCanadaGamer
Try a MUD today at http://www.mudconnect.com/I agree that a combat upgrade was never asked for and it was advertised as a combat "balance". Players were very tired of seeing classes receive nerf after nerf in an attempt to balance the professions one at a time. The players wanted the professions balanced together but never asked for an "upgrade" in the way combat was done.
JTL and the CU saw an initial influx of vets who had been dropping out of the game, but the population soon started to drop again after the vets had checked out the CU. I remember a lot of discussion about why SOE had decided to implement a level based system when the skill based system had worked just fine previously. This was seen by many players as the beginning of the EQ emulation by SOE.
==========
SWG - 1st Gen MBH (Closed)
EVE (Closed)
WoW (61 Orc Hunter - Blackwing Lair)
GuildWars (Boring...)
Yeah, I have to agree with your irritation. One of my alternate server faves was a MCH/Doc and I knew many, MANY creature handlers. Hell, I even knew a BH/CH. He was an awesome guy who belonged to the Bounty Hunter's Guild (I loved those guys). Based on my experiences in the game, I'd have to say there were at least as many active Critter Handlers as there were smugglers.
It kinda makes you wonder where the devil they were getting their numbers from.
_______________________
Kote lo'shebs'ul narit
Dasharr Eandall, SWG, Smuggler/Pistoleer (retired after 2.5+ years)
The CU caused me and my entire guild to leave, so that's customer loss right there
I do agree that there was a declining interest in the game before the CU, but i think that is the CU's fault as well. Look, if there had never been a cu planned, all that development time would have gone into adding content and fixing the existing game's most important issues (mind bar, armor and buff caps, etc.) like the community asked for.
Furthermore, the CU was never asked for by ANYONE on the forums. What was asked for was a combat BALANCE to the existing system, not the "upgrade" that was given. I dont understand the argument about how the community asked for the cu. Its completely false. No one could have imagined that all the requests about fixing the current game would result in soe changing the game into the level based disaster that was the cu.
True. Here's a personal anecdote: I was a self-confessed "forum whore" who spent 10-20 hours a week (even more sometimes) on the official SWG forums pre-CU (I'd pull up the exact number of total hours, but I can't get to the stats anymore now that my account's expired. Trust me though, it was a lot). In that time, I saw almost every imaginable suggestion for the game being made, ranging from the crazy to the obvious, from the clever to the impossible. And you know what? I never saw a single request for a level system in SWG. Not a single one!
Dasharr Eandall, SWG, Smuggler/Pistoleer (retired after 2.5+ years)