How are Stargate developers gonna avoid a SWG failure?

Clackamas

How are Stargate developers gonna avoid a SWG failure?

Copeland

Well since Lucas Arts was the biggest problem with SWG i doubt they'll have much problem avoiding the same issues. Lets just hope the game gets made and doesn't turn to vapor.

apocalance

1) don't release too early
2) release with plenty of fun content to get to the high level game
3) have something fun for people at the "end game" to do other than play more toons
4) try not to be so sweeping with changes (nerfs/buffs/whatever)
5) remember that we're all SG fans, that's why we're going to play the game
6) challenge us..
7) avoid scenarios where there's a serious suspension of disbelief from what we know from watching SG
8) be sure to have a successful plan and follow through with it
9) gm events
10) keep it FUN! game should be enjoyable and rewarding

just my 2¢

wolfmann

Stick with the story and history of Stargate.

Simple as that.

daeandor

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Originally posted by wolfmann

Stick with the story and history of Stargate.
Simple as that.

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No doubt.

And don't try to copy WoW.

OSUIvan

The best thing that they can do is stick with the story line.  And do not try to copy to much from other games.  just my 2 pennies though.

Rabiator

Number 1)-4) from apocalance's list. Especially 1): release only when things work.

Because people seem to be less forgiving these days when a game is released half-baked. MMORPG veterans are telling us that SWG was full of bugs at the start and never got quite rid of them. But the game still was a major success, only recently the NGE seems to have driven many people away.
Similar tales are heard about Anarchy Online, which had a a lousy start by all accounts but recovered.

But these days are over. I have beta-tested two games this year, Auto Assault and Seed. Both were released somewhat prematurely and are now suffering from poor subscriber numbers.

In the case of AA, the game mechanics were actually not THAT bad (a few annoying bugs but not real showstoppers), but content beyond level 20 (of 80 max.) was thin. A violation of rule number 2) mostly.

Seed really ignored 1) , with many announced features simply not existing and a rather crash-prone client. In this case I'm really sorry for the devs, because the game shows lots of potential and original ideas. They also were quite honest about the state of the game, but were forced to release it anyway.
I still hope Seed will recover but I'm sceptical...

XsinisterX

1- Listen to the community

2- Changes are ok.. massive nerfing is not!

apocalance

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Originally posted by XsinisterX
1- Listen to the community
2- Changes are ok.. massive nerfing is not!

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In my experience, the community is always split. It's best to have a well thought out plan and execute it according to internal testing results. Watch for sweeping trends to validate theories on balance.

bah.. who am I anyway.. no one.. /ignore me

tute

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Originally posted by apocalance

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Originally posted by XsinisterX
1- Listen to the community
2- Changes are ok.. massive nerfing is not!

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In my experience, the community is always split. It's best to have a well thought out plan and execute it according to internal testing results. Watch for sweeping trends to validate theories on balance.

bah.. who am I anyway.. no one.. /ignore me

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Well, coming from CoX, I would like the non-nerf crowd to win this one.  I don't want to see another game start concentrating on more on balance instead of content a year after its release.  Maybe they can do what Cryptic does now and release new features that aren't so overwhelming so they can buff if needed instead of nerfing.  The difference being they do this from the start so it appears they are 'giving' to the players and not taking away.

Sylvarius

dont let the community have as much of a say.  im serious.  this is what screwed SWG over.  all they did was go back and forth listening to the Jedis whine, the players, everyone.  eventually they just overloaded and went crazy.

i dont really know to tell u the truth.  but i think if Stargate Worlds just makes a really in depth game, there isnt to much they could fuck up.

hellsink

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Originally posted by Sylvarius
dont let the community have as much of a say.  im serious.  this is what screwed SWG over.  all they did was go back and forth listening to the Jedis whine, the players, everyone.  eventually they just overloaded and went crazy.

i dont really know to tell u the truth.  but i think if Stargate Worlds just makes a really in depth game, there isnt to much they could fuck up.

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IMHO there is always a way to mess up a game, fulling it with bugs, nerfing, boring quests,a poor tranding system, among many other ways to make a game unworthing to play.

BlackHawkLV

Bugs don't rally mess up the game. Look at Battlefield 2 . Buggy as hell but still one of most popular MMOFPS out there.

Maybe to not mess up the game they shouldn't force peaple to do something. For example in DDO after lvl 3 you just can't lvl up without party... I hate looking for party. in my opinion if someone need me they will summone me. Or if they force partying then they should put in auto-party option that joins those who doesn't care what kind of party they are in.

neuronomad

Occasionally do tie-ins directly with the plots going on within the tv shows.   Maybe occasionally mention events that happened ingame on the shows.  Even have ingame contest that the winners would get walkon roles on the shows it.

neuronomad

Oh another idea, please let me play as a character serving on the Daedalus.

dmodus

Samantha Carter, in a bikini. Can't fail then.

Lazzaro

Easy, they don't have SOE devs.

aspen1

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Originally posted by Copeland

Well since Lucas Arts was the biggest problem with SWG i doubt they'll have much problem avoiding the same issues. Lets just hope the game gets made and doesn't turn to vapor.

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Im sorry i think SOE was the problem

Sundiego

Number of things:

1) Do a skill based system instead of a very limited class and level system. That way its easier to balance it and people wont yell NERF on all the classes. This also allows more customization and will set it a bit apart.

2) BETA BETA BETA. Listen to the community, do BETA earlier and longer. Stress test the servers to limit lag and test everything out. The biggest problem MMORPGs face is that they want to do a longer Beta but end up running out of time. Do it earlier and make sure people know that.. ITs just BETA.

3) Constant updates and changing storyline. Instead of dealing with "rebalancing updates" focus on events and changing things around. One giant war for example, maybe.. Just maybe it ends.

There are more of course but.. thats enough for now.

viadi

simple dont change the game mechanics every other patch

EDIT: oh and take out more bugs than you add

Sturmrabe

is SOE in charge of this?

MuppetHero

while I am not a fan of SWG, i would not call it a failure. Its still going with no plans of stopping. A Failed game it is not. earth and beyond failed. you know a  game that Doesnt play anymore. or Dark and Light. Something so wrong that its rated no more then a 5 by most media outlets. The game is not in the red so not sure how you can call it a failed game. sucky maybe. failed no.

phosphoros

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Originally posted by Clackamas
How are Stargate developers gonna avoid a SWG failure?

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Not be idiots and screw their customers?
Not hate their player-base?
Not be so removed from the players that you make the most idiotic decisions and then be surprised when the player-base revolts?
Not use the Unreal3 Engine... oh nevermind. j/k

balle68

i just need a Rifle and a cammo suit and i am ready to role

JayAdan

Well, I can tell you all that we have a fantastic team working on the game who know and love Stargate. The last thing that they want to do is create a game that doesn't feel like Stargate.

We also listen to our community. Our community forums are quite active and many of the dev team members participate in those discussions. I might also mention that I'm hear and reading these forums as well, but that woulud be redundant.

Keep an eye out. We're going to be providing a lot more details about the game in the coming months and you can judge for yourselves.

Zuba

simplly put.

1. create a great game with lush graphics and great gameplay.

2. make sure it dont lagg unlike knight online.

3. helpful GMs and customer support.

4. great community like ryzom.

5. make sure leveling up(grinding) is fun.

6. make sure no bugs are in the game.

if all these can be archived then it will no doubt beat eve online to the sci-fi title mmorpg of the year.

and im a fan of SG-1 and SGA im just waiting on channel 4 in the uk to air the next season of SG-1 and five to air SGA season 2.