This is what you get if you have a half done game and working with SOE. I hope they learn from this that you need more then trailers and nice looking pictures.
While I totally disagree that SOE has had any negative impact.
I do agree that they completely failed to deliver on the trailers, the experience is not what was advertised.
The trend is not of growth but shrinkage - populations are noticeably lower now than just a week ago and heave been steadily sliding all week, particularly since the last patch to ver 1.1. ...
I'm not willing to agree to a shrinkage of subscribers at this time as the majority of subscriptions would not be canceled at this time; but, I'll concede that active user participation has decreased. Which in turn will impact the number of subscriptions in the near future. I had expected that the Station Pass users would have had a significant impact in providing a greater population count, but that doesn't seem to be the case. That last screenshot of yours is disturbing, to see a decrease during prime-time Saturday.
Perhaps a monthly rate of between $5 to $10 would provide a better growth than of $15.
And that is why...
Conservatives' pessimism is conducive to their happiness in three ways. First, they are rarely surprised -- they are right more often than not about the course of events. Second, when they are wrong they are happy to be so. Third, because pessimistic conservatives put not their faith in princes -- government -- they accept that happiness is a function of fending for oneself. They believe that happiness is an activity -- it is inseparable from the pursuit of happiness.
I was speaking only in terms of active players , not subscriptions. But clearly neither is healthy and with the included month coming to an end I think it is certain to get worse soon.
Now I'm hearing that a large segment of the Spanish faction on Blackbeard is calling it quits, citing faction imbalance. A few are moving to other servers, but there is one society (Absolution) whose high-ranking players are more or less leaving the game altogether.
I bet there waiting on what happens with the Free 100,000 copies there giving away in Australia .. there hoping it will boost subscriptions by at least 30,000 .
And this is what happens when there are too many MMO's competing for the same gamer dollar.. The population gets sooo spread, soo thinned out that it's almost fruitless to think that any one game can amass the type of subscriptions such as WoW..
Take a look at all the mmo's SoE offers, and then theres LoTRO, and EvE and Guild Wars, and The new Tabula Rasa and the list just keeps going..
Theres no way that a games population will automatically rise to its fullest potential immediately after release because people rarely just up and quit there current mmo's to take chances on one they probably never heard much about.. The ONLY way for any game to get populations up is either through advertising or through the voice of its players..
To Lukain: Same thing: Wait until the subscription fee kicks in. Besides, from what I have read, Australians will have their own servers and will therefore not improve already existing populations.
Besides, the fact they're giving the game away is already a pretty big indication it's in trouble.
To Vyeth: Much hope was placed in the fact it's a niche title that finally offers something different from the usual sci-fi or fantasy fare. And there's a market there: Just look at the number of sailing/trading/pirate games out there. Many problems with POTBS, though, which I have already discussed, and among those I have a tendency to view its embrace of an uneasy compromise PvE/PvP-wise that will leave both sides unsatisfied as the most crucial. The EVE crowd probably doesn't find it hardcore enough, while the "carebears" are probably tiring of the red circles, ganking, and pointless political game. The PvPers are dismayed at the fact they can't gank their way through the map at all times, and the PvEers find the game repetitive and boring. It's a typical example of a horse designed by committee, which has been entered into the Kentucky Derby; no wonder it's trailing.
I bet there waiting on what happens with the Free 100,000 copies there giving away in Australia .. there hoping it will boost subscriptions by at least 30,000 .
That is a terrible plan if in fact it what they are thinking - Aussies get their own servers so it cannto help the desperate state of the other servers at all.
I bet there waiting on what happens with the Free 100,000 copies there giving away in Australia .. there hoping it will boost subscriptions by at least 30,000 .
Here's a link to the only thread I could find in Game Arena (The Australian Host)
I was speaking only in terms of active players , not subscriptions. But clearly neither is healthy and with the included month coming to an end I think it is certain to get worse soon.
I know, we're both in an agreement (not arguing against you), just that I worded things differently and went into specifics.
And that is why...
Conservatives' pessimism is conducive to their happiness in three ways. First, they are rarely surprised -- they are right more often than not about the course of events. Second, when they are wrong they are happy to be so. Third, because pessimistic conservatives put not their faith in princes -- government -- they accept that happiness is a function of fending for oneself. They believe that happiness is an activity -- it is inseparable from the pursuit of happiness.
Ok, I didn't read the whole thread (which went off in a nice direction, good job guys!) but I see where you're coming from. Server imbalance isn't as big a deal when you've got a reasonable pop server, but it is a problem for the lower end servers (and Bonnie is on the cusp). Part of the solution is time (see my other thread which directed me here) but it's not a great answer in the near term.
I do intend to allow server transfers, and am working to put it into 1.3, though that's not a given at all. You shouldn't play a different nationality on a server that you might want to transfer to, but there are plenty of other reasonable servers that you could go to to try a different nation.
As for the population imbalance at low end servers, I don't have an answer off the top of my head, but I'll take it up with design and see what can be done.
Well, the upside is FLS isn't blowing smoke at people and are admitting there's some real problems. That's usually a good sign that there will be at least an attempt to fix them!
Pirates of the BS is dying. Even the Disney kiddie mmorpg Pirates of the Caribbean has more people playing, log into that and you'll always see a good amount of people running about along with a high number of boats in the sea - and thats on a light server.
Plus you can JUMP!!!! Whoever decided not to put jumping in killed the game. ZOMG!!!!
Ohs Noes!! NO JUMP??? Hells nahhh!! Cancel cancel cancel!!
lol..
I have played Pirates of the Carribean and while its kinda fun, it is kiddy and has no pvp outside of that lame duel mode and the ship selection and world is rather small... I DO like the ship control scheme and the fast paced NON instanced action...
Plus you can JUMP!!!! Whoever decided not to put jumping in killed the game. ZOMG!!!!
Heh, I got to make a statement out of this, even though it is off-topic...
Jumping in an MMO platform is a tricky feature. Depends on the platform being used and the physics involved (if any). Sure it is possible to provide Jump Animations with Avatars, but the common problem is that although the model goes up into the air, the collision volume remains in place (does not move with the model during animations). Therefore the effect can be of trying to jump over a rock that goes up to the knees, but because the collision volume does not change, the avatar remains in place (except for bouncing up and down).
With some added programming and effort, it could be possible to jump over such a rock, but enabling a fly mode for a short, as an example. But is such a feature that critical to a pirate game? I can see its uses, but is the effort best spent on that feature or something else, such as fixing a bug?
And that is why...
Conservatives' pessimism is conducive to their happiness in three ways. First, they are rarely surprised -- they are right more often than not about the course of events. Second, when they are wrong they are happy to be so. Third, because pessimistic conservatives put not their faith in princes -- government -- they accept that happiness is a function of fending for oneself. They believe that happiness is an activity -- it is inseparable from the pursuit of happiness.
I think the lack of avatars ability to jump isn't that it is some deal breaker, but rather that it is such a basic aspect of every other MMO. Kind of like on top of all the other stuff some of the real basics are seriously missing, so it gets singled out in that aspect.
The same way someone might complain about a terrible experience at a restaurant by saying "It was so bad that they didn't even have condiments".
I think the lack of avatars ability to jump isn't that it is some deal breaker, but rather that it is such a basic aspect of every other MMO. Kind of like on top of all the other stuff some of the real basics are seriously missing, so it gets singled out in that aspect.
The same way someone might complain about a terrible experience at a restaurant by saying "It was so bad that they didn't even have condiments".
Well this pretty well explains it. Poor poor decision making in the beginning. You look at virtually every MMO out there besides GW (and it's FTP) and they have the ability to really truly explore.
This game is just about pretty pictures to look at. Nothing to really explore. Even today they have a dev log on new capital cities. Granted they look great, but after a few times seeing the same thing and not being able to get up into the cathedrals, buildings, ect... it gets old and stale.
The only way I see populations increasing is if they take away the PTP model on this one. Maybe someday we'll get someone with some real money and vision that will make us a Pirate Game worth paying for.
Ok, get ready for the next two big days, Friday and Saturday. The day of the end of the 1st month subscription and the day after.
Will those servers go; Up, Stay the same, or Down?
Step right up and great ready to place your screenshots here.
And that is why...
Conservatives' pessimism is conducive to their happiness in three ways. First, they are rarely surprised -- they are right more often than not about the course of events. Second, when they are wrong they are happy to be so. Third, because pessimistic conservatives put not their faith in princes -- government -- they accept that happiness is a function of fending for oneself. They believe that happiness is an activity -- it is inseparable from the pursuit of happiness.
Ok, get ready for the next two big days, Friday and Saturday. The day of the end of the 1st month subscription and the day after. Will those servers go; Up, Stay the same, or Down?
Step right up and great ready to place your screenshots here.
I don't see any feasible way they'd go up, since people's subs start when they buy them...so it's not like a bunch of new people would suddenly be starting.
Well I've been talking about this with the two people I'm playing the game with.
Feeling is the numbers or population levels are already lower than a week ago.
I felt that after this weekend.. the next two to three weeks would be critical.
A large rant could follow next but I won't do it because.. I don't think it will do any good.
*I* don't think the population is dropping because of what the Devs didn't do, didn't finish or did do.
I feel that its pretty much a certain type of behaviour that a certain segment of the games players.. want to force on others (and yes bypassing intended game mechanics aka exploiting which should result in a ban... is pretty much forcing something on another player.. as you didn't do it as intended by the game).
Some of that will be fixed.. but how much population do they lose by then? I doubt many people will come back to be honest.
I liked old school UO so.. I'll stick around until at least May.
I just won't be suprised to see the population continue to dwindle for a period of time. Then we'll see what the FLS reaction is.. as I'm sure they have to retain a certain number of players for quite some time to really see a profit on their product.
Well, my real feeling is that right now this game is REALLY appealing to the people that like the 2 or 3 features it does well...but I am really questioning how many people that will be. The problem is, the rest of the game is weak enough that ANYONE not enjoying those 2 or 3 things just isn't going to pay for it.
It's why I've changed my opinion from initially thinking they should just focus on their strengths to support their diehard base, to instead making the PVE and rest of the game more vibrant because I don't think that base is big enough to support the game.
Comments
I do agree that they completely failed to deliver on the trailers, the experience is not what was advertised.
Perhaps a monthly rate of between $5 to $10 would provide a better growth than of $15.
And that is why...
Conservatives' pessimism is conducive to their happiness in three ways. First, they are rarely surprised -- they are right more often than not about the course of events. Second, when they are wrong they are happy to be so. Third, because pessimistic conservatives put not their faith in princes -- government -- they accept that happiness is a function of fending for oneself. They believe that happiness is an activity -- it is inseparable from the pursuit of happiness.
I was speaking only in terms of active players , not subscriptions. But clearly neither is healthy and with the included month coming to an end I think it is certain to get worse soon.
--------------------------------
Achiever 60.00%, Socializer 53.00%, Killer 47.00%, Explorer 40.00%
Intel Core i7 Quad, Intel X58 SLi, 6G Corsair XMS DDR3, Intel X-25 SSD, 3 WD Velociraptor SATA SuperTrak SAS EX8650 Array, OCZ 1250W PS, GTX 295, xFi, 32" 1080p LCD
Now I'm hearing that a large segment of the Spanish faction on Blackbeard is calling it quits, citing faction imbalance. A few are moving to other servers, but there is one society (Absolution) whose high-ranking players are more or less leaving the game altogether.
The game is a mess, a total mess.
--------------------------------
Achiever 60.00%, Socializer 53.00%, Killer 47.00%, Explorer 40.00%
Intel Core i7 Quad, Intel X58 SLi, 6G Corsair XMS DDR3, Intel X-25 SSD, 3 WD Velociraptor SATA SuperTrak SAS EX8650 Array, OCZ 1250W PS, GTX 295, xFi, 32" 1080p LCD
I bet there waiting on what happens with the Free 100,000 copies there giving away in Australia .. there hoping it will boost subscriptions by at least 30,000 .
And this is what happens when there are too many MMO's competing for the same gamer dollar.. The population gets sooo spread, soo thinned out that it's almost fruitless to think that any one game can amass the type of subscriptions such as WoW..
Take a look at all the mmo's SoE offers, and then theres LoTRO, and EvE and Guild Wars, and The new Tabula Rasa and the list just keeps going..
Theres no way that a games population will automatically rise to its fullest potential immediately after release because people rarely just up and quit there current mmo's to take chances on one they probably never heard much about.. The ONLY way for any game to get populations up is either through advertising or through the voice of its players..
To Lukain: Same thing: Wait until the subscription fee kicks in. Besides, from what I have read, Australians will have their own servers and will therefore not improve already existing populations.
Besides, the fact they're giving the game away is already a pretty big indication it's in trouble.
To Vyeth: Much hope was placed in the fact it's a niche title that finally offers something different from the usual sci-fi or fantasy fare. And there's a market there: Just look at the number of sailing/trading/pirate games out there. Many problems with POTBS, though, which I have already discussed, and among those I have a tendency to view its embrace of an uneasy compromise PvE/PvP-wise that will leave both sides unsatisfied as the most crucial. The EVE crowd probably doesn't find it hardcore enough, while the "carebears" are probably tiring of the red circles, ganking, and pointless political game. The PvPers are dismayed at the fact they can't gank their way through the map at all times, and the PvEers find the game repetitive and boring. It's a typical example of a horse designed by committee, which has been entered into the Kentucky Derby; no wonder it's trailing.
That is a terrible plan if in fact it what they are thinking - Aussies get their own servers so it cannto help the desperate state of the other servers at all.
--------------------------------
Achiever 60.00%, Socializer 53.00%, Killer 47.00%, Explorer 40.00%
Intel Core i7 Quad, Intel X58 SLi, 6G Corsair XMS DDR3, Intel X-25 SSD, 3 WD Velociraptor SATA SuperTrak SAS EX8650 Array, OCZ 1250W PS, GTX 295, xFi, 32" 1080p LCD
Here's a link to the only thread I could find in Game Arena (The Australian Host)
http://www.gamearena.com.au/forums/536/thread.php/4605775
Nothing says irony like spelling ideot wrong.
http://www.gamearena.com.au/pirates/
JUNE
Nothing says irony like spelling ideot wrong.
And that is why...
Conservatives' pessimism is conducive to their happiness in three ways. First, they are rarely surprised -- they are right more often than not about the course of events. Second, when they are wrong they are happy to be so. Third, because pessimistic conservatives put not their faith in princes -- government -- they accept that happiness is a function of fending for oneself. They believe that happiness is an activity -- it is inseparable from the pursuit of happiness.
I just found this on the FLS Forums:
Rusty[FLS]
Ok, I didn't read the whole thread (which went off in a nice direction, good job guys!) but I see where you're coming from. Server imbalance isn't as big a deal when you've got a reasonable pop server, but it is a problem for the lower end servers (and Bonnie is on the cusp). Part of the solution is time (see my other thread which directed me here) but it's not a great answer in the near term.
I do intend to allow server transfers, and am working to put it into 1.3, though that's not a given at all. You shouldn't play a different nationality on a server that you might want to transfer to, but there are plenty of other reasonable servers that you could go to to try a different nation.
As for the population imbalance at low end servers, I don't have an answer off the top of my head, but I'll take it up with design and see what can be done.
http://www.burningsea.com/forums/showpost.php?p=134316&postcount=36
Which is good in the respect that FLS does seem to know acknowledge there is a problem - the first step to fixing it?
EDIT: And this thread:
http://www.burningsea.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12923
Post # 11 (again by Rusty) is important - seems marketing fell down in Spain too? I wonder who was responsible for that? (rhetorical question!)
SECOND EDIT: Actually, that whole thread is definately worth a read.
Nothing says irony like spelling ideot wrong.
Well, the upside is FLS isn't blowing smoke at people and are admitting there's some real problems. That's usually a good sign that there will be at least an attempt to fix them!
Pirates of the BS is dying. Even the Disney kiddie mmorpg Pirates of the Caribbean has more people playing, log into that and you'll always see a good amount of people running about along with a high number of boats in the sea - and thats on a light server.
Plus you can JUMP!!!! Whoever decided not to put jumping in killed the game. ZOMG!!!!
Ohs Noes!! NO JUMP??? Hells nahhh!! Cancel cancel cancel!!
lol..
I have played Pirates of the Carribean and while its kinda fun, it is kiddy and has no pvp outside of that lame duel mode and the ship selection and world is rather small... I DO like the ship control scheme and the fast paced NON instanced action...
Jumping in an MMO platform is a tricky feature. Depends on the platform being used and the physics involved (if any). Sure it is possible to provide Jump Animations with Avatars, but the common problem is that although the model goes up into the air, the collision volume remains in place (does not move with the model during animations). Therefore the effect can be of trying to jump over a rock that goes up to the knees, but because the collision volume does not change, the avatar remains in place (except for bouncing up and down).
With some added programming and effort, it could be possible to jump over such a rock, but enabling a fly mode for a short, as an example. But is such a feature that critical to a pirate game? I can see its uses, but is the effort best spent on that feature or something else, such as fixing a bug?
And that is why...
Conservatives' pessimism is conducive to their happiness in three ways. First, they are rarely surprised -- they are right more often than not about the course of events. Second, when they are wrong they are happy to be so. Third, because pessimistic conservatives put not their faith in princes -- government -- they accept that happiness is a function of fending for oneself. They believe that happiness is an activity -- it is inseparable from the pursuit of happiness.
I think the lack of avatars ability to jump isn't that it is some deal breaker, but rather that it is such a basic aspect of every other MMO. Kind of like on top of all the other stuff some of the real basics are seriously missing, so it gets singled out in that aspect.
The same way someone might complain about a terrible experience at a restaurant by saying "It was so bad that they didn't even have condiments".
This game is just about pretty pictures to look at. Nothing to really explore. Even today they have a dev log on new capital cities. Granted they look great, but after a few times seeing the same thing and not being able to get up into the cathedrals, buildings, ect... it gets old and stale.
The only way I see populations increasing is if they take away the PTP model on this one. Maybe someday we'll get someone with some real money and vision that will make us a Pirate Game worth paying for.
Ok, get ready for the next two big days, Friday and Saturday. The day of the end of the 1st month subscription and the day after.
Will those servers go; Up, Stay the same, or Down?
Step right up and great ready to place your screenshots here.
And that is why...
Conservatives' pessimism is conducive to their happiness in three ways. First, they are rarely surprised -- they are right more often than not about the course of events. Second, when they are wrong they are happy to be so. Third, because pessimistic conservatives put not their faith in princes -- government -- they accept that happiness is a function of fending for oneself. They believe that happiness is an activity -- it is inseparable from the pursuit of happiness.
I don't see any feasible way they'd go up, since people's subs start when they buy them...so it's not like a bunch of new people would suddenly be starting.
The only change will be cancellations leaving.
It will be interesting to see what the next couple of days bring.
Many people (gamers who have beta tested etc) have said that the game was good fun in the short term but has nothing to retain players long term.
They have often been called trolls and doomsayers.
I guess we will soon see?
Nothing says irony like spelling ideot wrong.
Well I've been talking about this with the two people I'm playing the game with.
Feeling is the numbers or population levels are already lower than a week ago.
I felt that after this weekend.. the next two to three weeks would be critical.
A large rant could follow next but I won't do it because.. I don't think it will do any good.
*I* don't think the population is dropping because of what the Devs didn't do, didn't finish or did do.
I feel that its pretty much a certain type of behaviour that a certain segment of the games players.. want to force on others (and yes bypassing intended game mechanics aka exploiting which should result in a ban... is pretty much forcing something on another player.. as you didn't do it as intended by the game).
Some of that will be fixed.. but how much population do they lose by then? I doubt many people will come back to be honest.
I liked old school UO so.. I'll stick around until at least May.
I just won't be suprised to see the population continue to dwindle for a period of time. Then we'll see what the FLS reaction is.. as I'm sure they have to retain a certain number of players for quite some time to really see a profit on their product.
Well, my real feeling is that right now this game is REALLY appealing to the people that like the 2 or 3 features it does well...but I am really questioning how many people that will be. The problem is, the rest of the game is weak enough that ANYONE not enjoying those 2 or 3 things just isn't going to pay for it.
It's why I've changed my opinion from initially thinking they should just focus on their strengths to support their diehard base, to instead making the PVE and rest of the game more vibrant because I don't think that base is big enough to support the game.