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Day of Concession
howardb
Member Posts: 286
I really, really, really thought it would release in march and I was wrong. If they decide to postpone it there must be a good reason or they wouldn't. Even so when they're still postponing - and then only for 8 weeks - there can't be too big problems or they would've postponed longer. I mean a delay is a delay wheather it's a day or a year. If they're breaking a date they might as well delay for the time needed and don't break the next date as well. A delay cost money and if the game is so broken that they can't fix it in another 8 weeks they might as well just release it on schedule. Another delay after this last one won't be good for their reputation. I can see the headlines. "Age of When?", "Hyborean adventures is set to 10.000BC, but 10.000AD is more like it" and so on.
I've said earlier that the best guarrantor for AoC's successful launch is AO's failed launch. I still believe this and even more so today than I did yesterday. Funcom's worst fear is another AO launch. This delay is the proof. And another thing; fans of MMO's should be happy because Funcom has done what Sigil should've done with Vanguard. Gamers 1 - Big nasty Corporate money-making Ogre's 0. Damn. I'm like the spouse of a wife-beater. There I go making excuses for Funcom again.
And finally for the difficult stuff: To all of you who came here to bring your case in a mature and rational way, with circumstantial evidence from testers and other sources. I'm talking about the real followers of AoC and not those who just come to troll without no real insight into AoC at all. I'm sorry. I was wrong. You were right. The game wasn't ready as you correctly pointed out.
Comments
Yes, it was the beta testers that wanted the game to be delayed. Nothing more to it. Thats the whole point of having a beta.
It's not the end of the world. I can name several games that would be in better shape presently had they waited a few more months to release the final project. I do not mean Vanguard here, they were going to sink under their leadership no matter what they did, I do mean SWG, MxO, AO, EQII, even L2 could have used a bit more polish at launch. A few of these games became what I consider (at a point for one (sorry)) the best games I have played at given times.
I think what is making people gun shy is the release of 1) Vanguard, and the non-release of 2) Gods and Heroes. There were some out there who were calling for WAR's head within seconds of them delaying their release a few back. The thing is, these are different companies being represented here. AoC and WAR are not being run by Perpetual or Vigil. They are being run by people who realize that if they do not have a cohesive project, they will be wiped out by the competition in 1.2 seconds. These two titles need to be in shape before they hit the shelves, otherwise, the same people who are claiming the projects are dead now, will be the same people complaining how bad the game is when it becomes available. Seems to me, they want to make you happy subscribers, and not rabid forum junkies ala Vanguard and SWG.
Go ahead and be disappointed that you cannot get your fix for a few more months, but for God's sake, at least be happy they are showing enough initiative by trying not to rip you out of another $50-60. I think that has happened way to often in this niche of the industry.
Although, I am sure EQ2, WoW, and Lotro would love for them to release a pile so they can get their customers back faster...
Played (more than a month): SWG, Second Life, Tabula Rasa, Lineage 2, Everquest 2, EvE, MxO, Ryzom.
Tried: WoW, Shadowbane, Anarchy Online, Everquest, WWII Online, Planetside
Beta: Lotro, Tabula Rasa, WAR.
Slowly the marketing/money people are not getting their way just to make quick buck in the gaming field. Game companies over the last year are starting to learn from other companies such as Blizzard and Mythic that a few quick bucks here at launch do not outweigh the loss of millions of dollars later by players refusing to stay with buggy games while companies try to fix their betas in a live format. Loosing a few million by delaying to get the product costumer approved is far better then loosing much more in the long run.