Well, it teaches other companies that even though a game is ace in the graphics department, you can't get away with:
- launching an unfinished product*
- developing an mmorpg where eyecandy prevales over gameplay and immersion, for example the choice to instance the gameworld to little bits
*= no mmorpg is perfect as launch but huge client instability, lack of content for higher levels + the usual host of bugs was stretching the limit in this case
I think Darkpony said it best. I might just add false advertising to his list, but I think he is spot-on in his assessment.
If AoC lives long enough to introduce 1.5, it will be their absolute last stand--I think they know this, but I expect they will pretend / spin it differently. Especially when the mainstream publications get hold of this information. We now know that the population is under 100k, which could really be significantly less.
It's good to see that a company that tried to do business the "wrong-way" is facing the accountability that they so badly deserve, and although the fanatics may not be happy with this, when they are playing mmorpg's 5 years from now that delivers everything they say and perhaps more. You'll be happy this happened, but you'll never admit to how you opposed it from happening. Which makes you (in many ways) just as guilty as FC.
Good leading edge information Croemar, thanks for sharing.
Can't wait to see how this gets spinned. I'm sure some of them have already read it and are out doing their research to spin the whole topic... We'll see how it goes.
There is nothing to spin!
It's just sickening to see so many idiotic reactions here how you want Funcom to go bankrupt and thus hundreds of developers and artists (who have families and kids to feed you know) end up on the street without a job in these economic harsh times.
These developers and artists aren't the blame for the stunt GG and this Financial Director pulled on them just as much as they did to us. Mind you.
How do you think the developers and artists feel about all this happening right now?
It's not like they can just resign and find a new job immediately. Especially with the current economic recession people are getting fired! Not hired!
With the rotten apples in form of Gaute G. and this Financial Director kicked out of the company. We can try to spin it the other way and see it as a possitive change for the company trying to turn things around and start with a clean sheet to rebuild their reputation.
With Craig Morrison on the helm as director Age of Conan has made finally some good progress and moving into the right direction.
My, My, as a saying goes here in the US " The Chickens are Coming Home to Roost " i doubt this is the last bad news thats gonna come out here. If im not mistaken there suppose to release there 4th quarter stock report today. Another minor note not sure why but my posts are getting deleted or moved on anything Funcom related i also got a warning for an opion post i made so my guess is there are great attemps to put Funcom in a positive light even here.
" Life Liberty and the Pursuit of Those Who Would Threaten It " MAGA
yes aoc launch was crap, but oh wait.. lie ? in what way did they lie it was known month or two before game release that dx10 isnt in game, it was known that mid lvl will lack content cuz they increased exp cap for lvling since they felt it too fast in beta, but didnt added new content . there was no real lies, small ones maybe.. i cant recall ones? outdated info.. yes ... oh dont bring that dx10 on game box. its WRITEN ENHANCED FOR DIRECTX 10 , its never said, thats its dx10 client.. its not said its dx10 compactible even , for all we know, its dx9 with dx10 features ( yes there is plenty of games like that )
It really doesn't make much difference anymore, but you are seriously spin doctoring here. You're saying, "They didn't lie! Well, their info was outdated... Well maybe they told small lies... " LMAO!
As for the DX10 thing, you're completely full of it. DX10 was a big selling point for this game. They hyped the hell out of it and when they figured out they weren't putting it in at launch, it was quietly announced shortly before launch and that was that. As for knowing it months in advance, there were people playing beta the week before who didn't know it.
Gaute and this were necessarty changes in Funcom, but having some fat trimmed [note: entirely too late to save the rep of AoC and Failcom] in one small indy gaming company is not going to turn around this genre...
As long as SOE and Turdbind is out there milking and bilking, and shitass games keep getting produced, nothing has changed.
Of all that is written, I love only what a person has written with his own blood. -Nietzsche
Well, it teaches other companies that even though a game is ace in the graphics department, you can't get away with:
- launching an unfinished product*
- developing an mmorpg where eyecandy prevales over gameplay and immersion, for example the choice to instance the gameworld to little bits
*= no mmorpg is perfect as launch but huge client instability, lack of content for higher levels + the usual host of bugs was stretching the limit in this case
I think what they'll learn is that the success of WoW is the exception and not the rule for MMO's. And that it's time to stop dumping money into a new MMO hoping it'll be the next WoW killer, and just make a decent game as cheaply as possible. "Bottom up" thinking instead of "top down"
Soon enough, that won't even be a choice. After seeing so many big MMO's just fall flat and fail to make money, investors will turn to other markets.
Keep that in mind next time you think this will be "good" for the gaming industry. Sure, sometimes heavy speculative investing can bloat a market and cause it to produce garbage, but there's no equation that can show how less money will yield better/more content. The Eve model is the closest thing that comes to this, but even then you have to wonder how much better the game could be if there was more money behind it.
I would have to agree with some of the posts in here about, how is it better for us gamers that companies fail and leave us with less choice. I would have to say it is not. It is up to the consumer to choose wisely in anything. I have wasted alot of time and money on things in life that did not work out as I expected. The difference in those things and AOC is that AOC is constantly evolving and getting better, if you do not like one aspect, go do another until it changes. Not only that, this is a tiny investment for entertainment and not that important.
I have been subscribed since the game came out so I have seen it all. I personally have not had any technical issues with the game. However, I was disappointed with the social part of the game that I think really keeps people long term in these types of games (crafting, social hubs, setting up shops, housing etc.). I do not think PVP keeps people long term even if it is perfect in a game. Eventually you get bored. It should be a part of the overall product.
I am disappointed that SOME of the things that were suppose to be in at launch were not there, DX10 not one of them. The game already looks amazing so whats the point, it will be extra in time, so I do not understand this arguement (except to just find something to complain about). I do understand the arguement at launch of not enough content, but only from power levelers. Anyone taking there time and enjoying the journey had plenty of content and everyone as it is today has plenty. That being said, the content in AOC is not going to match a five year mmo, that is just common sense.
As for the company and its status, it really does not matter or should not matter to us gamers. Why, because your either playing a game or not (and if a game dies you move on to another). Example, if I am enjoying a game and notice that the companies stock falls or said person leaves the company, why would I stop playing, I would not because it has no bearing when I am in game. I do not understand these continued threads on companies status, it just makes no sense unless you have so much hate inside you, and that my friend is a whole different personal issue.
As for AOC and its future new players and past unsubscribed players, everything is of personal taste. If you have not played in awhile then you have no knowledge of whats going on except your own opinions from 4-6 or 8 months ago. If you have never played and are interested, try it and play it for awhile enjoying the journey. I think us gamers have a solid, beautiful game with a ton of potential sitting right in front of us (as with many games). But yet, people keep jumping on a game, rush to do everything in a week, jump off, complain and then have nothing to play so they complain about anything some more.
Personally I do not play everyday but the game is absolutely beautiful, the sound track is incredible, the setting and immersion is damn good, the quest and missions are very well done (i am not a quest gamer but I have no problem with doing AOC's). I did not like itemization at the beginning but it is there now and you have to hunt for it and work for it. I like this because everyone is not running around with the latest and greatest and it fits the universe of the game. As with every game there can be improvement in all areas but that is why they call it an mmo, it takes time and the games evolve.
My advice to people, stop complaining about the games and play the one you think your going to like. As much as people keep complaining about any game, guess what, it is not going to change anything. Your wasting your time and looking silly.
MMOs currently playing: - About to play: Lord of the Rings Online Played: Anarchy Online (alltime favorite) and lots of f2p titles (honorable mentions: 9Dragons, Martial Heroes, Dekaron, Atlantica Online)
AoC as of right now...........is the best mmorpg on the market..nuff said.
Considering I haven't played it for a long time, and I've never been one to fanboi for any game devs, I'd have to conservatively agree...
EQ2 is probably the closest, if you like the EQ style grindfest, it offers graphics and immersion and all the features a good MMO should have... but its SOE crapfest grindorama, so that takes a lot from it. Also the graphics are good, but there has to be some serious optimization issues or something for it to be such a hog.
EvE is just broken IMO, the gate ganking and all that crap is one thing, but [and correct me if I'm wrong] the way you level up your char and learn skills means that a new player starting today will NEVER come close to anyone who has played longer (esp. release) because it takes real time to learn shit.
WoW is WoW, the opiate of the gaming masses.
Darkfall... HAHAHAHAHAH, moving on...
WAR? Boring by all accounts.
AoC is a damn fun game... with room for everyone.
My biggest worry is all the crying about itemization will ruin one of its big appeals to me: You don't have to raidgrind your nuts off to compete. Rather than the EQ/WoW model where your char is just another generic clotheshorse meant to hand phatlewts on, but other than that not signifigantly different than anyone else of the same class, its a lot more about YOU and YOU play your char.
I think that is about to come to an end due to whining.
Of all that is written, I love only what a person has written with his own blood. -Nietzsche
let me put it this way for you to understand the situation. if they hadnt said anything about the game, just "this is what we have" i wouldnt have any problem with the game. i enjoy the game. It isnt about the money i've paid, it isnt about the bugs, incomplete things the game has. Its the indecency this company has shown.
for another poster. Yes there probably are good people who are just trying to do best they can in that company but sometimes the innocent suffer along with the guilty. you want to help suffering innocents? these people need that more than funcom employees.
dont you just love the sweet sweet smell of "justice" in the morning? My day is already brighter. There are a few more to fire for me to change from monthly subs to 6 month though. Where is that dev. who was talking about demonogist and the price you had to pay for thingies your toon did?
What does that tell you? That directly says losses on ANY game are going to be the norm right now.
So Funcom lost 19 million last year? Blizzard lost 72 MILLION last year!
If the "most successful MMO out right now" is racking up huge losses, people should be more focused on that and not Funcoms minimal losses in comparison. That means EVERY MMO is going thru hard times right now, and instead of wishing for these games to die you should all be worried that YOUR FAVORITE MMO does not end up dying as well!
Aside from that, many people here are foolishly hoping that AoC dies, when they should be wishing that the patches keep pumping out turning it in to a great game that all will want to play. Wishing that AoC dies is only going to hurt yourselves and potential entertainment for you in the future. AoC dying would not be a good thing.
Originally posted by Smikis its not developers who release games.. its guys with big bucks, and they dont care if someone said game wasnt finished, they dont play, they are not gamers.. and they probably got no clue what endgame is yes aoc launch was crap, but oh wait.. lie ? in what way did they lie
it was known month or two before game release that dx10 isnt in game, it was known that mid lvl will lack content cuz they increased exp cap for lvling since they felt it too fast in beta, but didnt added new content . This is plainly not true. FC announced DX10 was canceled for launch the DAY BEFORE the game launched.And what does it matter what the reason was for lack of content? What matters to the consumer was that the content was lacking. If there was any valid reason for it, they should have delayed launch or let players play for free until the game was ready. there was no real lies, small ones maybe.. i cant recall ones? outdated info.. yes Many features, used to hype sales not in the game, (Drunken brawling, scope of RvR was severely limited, mounted combat, number of pieces of armor, mature, etc...) I don't know why you call them small lies. They didn't tell people all these features would be in the game to make them feel good. They did it to get their money.
Plus, how bout all the times they'd announce fixed/added/new features that would be in just after the next billing cycle then those features wouldn't show?
You know, I dont know why people are acting like this is "fail" is solely due to Funcom. I dont think most of you people realize one thing.... In the middle of our economy right now, EVERY game racking up huge losses. BLIZZARD posted losses for last year, even though they had RECORD SALES. Here is the source - http://www.gamespot.com/news/6204549.html?part=rsstag=gs_playstation_2subj=6204549 What does that tell you? That directly says losses on ANY game are going to be the norm right now. So Funcom lost 19 million last year? Blizzard lost 72 MILLION last year! If the "most successful MMO out right now" is racking up huge losses, people should be more focused on that and not Funcoms minimal losses in comparison. That means EVERY MMO is going thru hard times right now, and instead of wishing for these games to die you should all be worried that YOUR FAVORITE MMO does not end up dying as well! Aside from that, many people here are foolishly hoping that AoC dies, when they should be wishing that the patches keep pumping out turning it in to a great game that all will want to play. Wishing that AoC dies is only going to hurt yourselves and potential entertainment for you in the future. AoC dying would not be a good thing.
If your source of income INCREASES, and your net financial outflow does not then also INCREASE, you have a spending problem. Essentially, they have placed themselves in a situation where they are spending more than they make....and its likely tied to the new MMO they are making out of their own pocket.
You know, I dont know why people are acting like this is "fail" is solely due to Funcom. I dont think most of you people realize one thing.... In the middle of our economy right now, EVERY game racking up huge losses. BLIZZARD posted losses for last year, even though they had RECORD SALES. Here is the source - http://www.gamespot.com/news/6204549.html?part=rsstag=gs_playstation_2subj=6204549 What does that tell you? That directly says losses on ANY game are going to be the norm right now. So Funcom lost 19 million last year? Blizzard lost 72 MILLION last year! If the "most successful MMO out right now" is racking up huge losses, people should be more focused on that and not Funcoms minimal losses in comparison. That means EVERY MMO is going thru hard times right now, and instead of wishing for these games to die you should all be worried that YOUR FAVORITE MMO does not end up dying as well! Aside from that, many people here are foolishly hoping that AoC dies, when they should be wishing that the patches keep pumping out turning it in to a great game that all will want to play. Wishing that AoC dies is only going to hurt yourselves and potential entertainment for you in the future. AoC dying would not be a good thing.
If your source of income INCREASES, and your net financial outflow does not then also INCREASE, you have a spending problem. Essentially, they have placed themselves in a situation where they are spending more than they make....and its likely tied to the new MMO they are making out of their own pocket.
Oh, so, all the talk in that article where they consistently mentioned the Financial Crisis has nothing to do with it then?
MMO losses dont rack up in the 70+ MILLIONS until the months of release anyway. That is over double of the entire budget it took to create WoW, which was estimated around 30million thru a total of 5 years, which is approx 6m a year. This loss was over 11 times as much, and it was only 4th quarter losses not even the entire year.
No fanboi or FC-hired fifth colonist can remove from me the happiness that i feel today. I am proud over those that voiced concern and reason in the midst of the abuse and collective blindness from the FC-apparatus and their minions. First battle over, final victory will come the day this game is nothing but forgotten.
Sandnes will continue in the job for a new CFO is in place. Etter en overgangsperiode vil han så begynne i en «ny stilling i en annen bransje» ifølge spillselskapet. After a transition period, he will then begin a "new position in another industry" according to spillselskapet.
Isn't it fascinating that everyone who gets canned from Funcom over AoC ( Gaute and now the CFO ), leave to go to other industries? Hell, we can get rid of every bad element in the gaming world. Just send them to Funcom and then wait for them to get fired. I vote for Brad McQuaid and Richard Garriott to be put iin charge of The secret World.
yes aoc launch was crap, but oh wait.. lie ? in what way did they lie it was known month or two before game release that dx10 isnt in game, it was known that mid lvl will lack content cuz they increased exp cap for lvling since they felt it too fast in beta, but didnt added new content . there was no real lies, small ones maybe.. i cant recall ones? outdated info.. yes ... oh dont bring that dx10 on game box. its WRITEN ENHANCED FOR DIRECTX 10 , its never said, thats its dx10 client.. its not said its dx10 compactible even , for all we know, its dx9 with dx10 features ( yes there is plenty of games like that )
It really doesn't make much difference anymore, but you are seriously spin doctoring here. You're saying, "They didn't lie! Well, their info was outdated... Well maybe they told small lies... " LMAO!
As for the DX10 thing, you're completely full of it. DX10 was a big selling point for this game. They hyped the hell out of it and when they figured out they weren't putting it in at launch, it was quietly announced shortly before launch and that was that. As for knowing it months in advance, there were people playing beta the week before who didn't know it.
small lies was more of = sieges etc, stuff that was not on release, well it was but wasnt fixed, how was dx10 sell points.. every non retard. who could read forum saw info 24/7 every time they check forum it was there..
if you just decide to hop into game shop, and buy random thing.. with dx10 as feature..( it wasnt even feature.. it didnt said it got dx10 graphics.. ). then maybe you deserve to be ripped off for stupidity
as for ppl playing beta, yes dx10 beta, it wasnt pure dx10 engine.. it was dx9 with dx10 features, just like its written on game box, then they decided it wasnt what they wanted.. and dx10 boost was almost non existant, they removed that.. and went to full dx10, you cant even see difference ? do you
maybe you should pick your game box, open vocabulary and check what does that word actually means..
I'd just like to point out that most of you guys who hate Funcom for releasing an unfinished product are aiming at the wrong people. Typically the developers have very little to do with the release dates. That usually either comes down to investers or the Publisher. The publisher in this case would be Eidos. Funcom could say "it's not ready we need this long" all day long but the publishers could say, turn over a client candidite to us by this date, and there's nothing Funcom can do besides work the hardest they can to have as many patches ready by launch as possible. ONce the code is turned over Eidos then says it's launching this date and then marketing has to pick up the ball and run with it. Funcom isn't in this for you or me or gamer's just like no other gaming company is. Funcom's main goal is to return a profit to the investors and earn some cash so they can keep working for hte next week.
If you want to be mad blame Eidos (which has incidently hasn't been a decent company since probably the late 90's and has a history of forcing things out the door unfinished for the quick return) or the investers. Or god forbid yourselves for buying into marketing hype when every MMO player knows that no MMO is ever ready at release. Never has been, probably never will be.
Just to add something. Here's a list of published games by Eidos. Take a look through the list and if you've been gaming for a while think back about all the ones that were really buggy or unfinished. As I said Eidos depends on Name recognition to get a quick return on inferior products and has driven several great development houses out of business due to this.
I'd just like to point out that most of you guys who hate Funcom for releasing an unfinished product are aiming at the wrong people. Typically the developers have very little to do with the release dates. That usually either comes down to investers or the Publisher. The publisher in this case would be Eidos. Funcom could say "it's not ready we need this long" all day long but the publishers could say, turn over a client candidite to us by this date, and there's nothing Funcom can do besides work the hardest they can to have as many patches ready by launch as possible. ONce the code is turned over Eidos then says it's launching this date and then marketing has to pick up the ball and run with it. Funcom isn't in this for you or me or gamer's just like no other gaming company is. Funcom's main goal is to return a profit to the investors and earn some cash so they can keep working for hte next week. If you want to be mad blame Eidos (which has incidently never been a decent company since probably the late 90's) or the investers. Or god forbid yourselves for buying into marketing hype when every MMO player knows that no MMO is ever ready at release. Never has been, probably never will be.
Originally posted by Smikis its not developers who release games.. its guys with big bucks, and they dont care if someone said game wasnt finished, they dont play, they are not gamers.. and they probably got no clue what endgame is yes aoc launch was crap, but oh wait.. lie ? in what way did they lie
it was known month or two before game release that dx10 isnt in game, it was known that mid lvl will lack content cuz they increased exp cap for lvling since they felt it too fast in beta, but didnt added new content . This is plainly not true. FC announced DX10 was canceled for launch the DAY BEFORE the game launched.And what does it matter what the reason was for lack of content? What matters to the consumer was that the content was lacking. If there was any valid reason for it, they should have delayed launch or let players play for free until the game was ready. there was no real lies, small ones maybe.. i cant recall ones? outdated info.. yes Many features, used to hype sales not in the game, (Drunken brawling, scope of RvR was severely limited, mounted combat, number of pieces of armor, mature, etc...) I don't know why you call them small lies. They didn't tell people all these features would be in the game to make them feel good. They did it to get their money.
Plus, how bout all the times they'd announce fixed/added/new features that would be in just after the next billing cycle then those features wouldn't show?
I'd call em liars and scammers.
about official annoucement, you might be right, but there is always unofficial info
about brawling well, i never saw this feature announced anywhere, i was reading forums few months before game release, i played in beta ( not closed ) , and only source about brawling, was someone making post about it on forums with some info i never saw or knew.. so i doubt it was announced to promote game
number of armor pieces well thats how you look at them , it didnt rly felt like playing with 1600 armor sets, so you might be right, mounted combat was in game since release, how good it was? or how usefull ,not that much , they never announced mounted combat as full scale combat like on foot, well they did few months ago. .as its comming in patch or expansion, but it wasnt like that before release
You know, I dont know why people are acting like this is "fail" is solely due to Funcom. I dont think most of you people realize one thing.... In the middle of our economy right now, EVERY game racking up huge losses. BLIZZARD posted losses for last year, even though they had RECORD SALES. Here is the source - http://www.gamespot.com/news/6204549.html?part=rsstag=gs_playstation_2subj=6204549 What does that tell you? That directly says losses on ANY game are going to be the norm right now. So Funcom lost 19 million last year? Blizzard lost 72 MILLION last year! If the "most successful MMO out right now" is racking up huge losses, people should be more focused on that and not Funcoms minimal losses in comparison. That means EVERY MMO is going thru hard times right now, and instead of wishing for these games to die you should all be worried that YOUR FAVORITE MMO does not end up dying as well! Aside from that, many people here are foolishly hoping that AoC dies, when they should be wishing that the patches keep pumping out turning it in to a great game that all will want to play. Wishing that AoC dies is only going to hurt yourselves and potential entertainment for you in the future. AoC dying would not be a good thing.
Activison Blizzard also made 2.3 billion dollars in the last THREE months. nuff said
Comments
Well, it teaches other companies that even though a game is ace in the graphics department, you can't get away with:
- launching an unfinished product*
- developing an mmorpg where eyecandy prevales over gameplay and immersion, for example the choice to instance the gameworld to little bits
*= no mmorpg is perfect as launch but huge client instability, lack of content for higher levels + the usual host of bugs was stretching the limit in this case
I think Darkpony said it best. I might just add false advertising to his list, but I think he is spot-on in his assessment.
If AoC lives long enough to introduce 1.5, it will be their absolute last stand--I think they know this, but I expect they will pretend / spin it differently. Especially when the mainstream publications get hold of this information. We now know that the population is under 100k, which could really be significantly less.
It's good to see that a company that tried to do business the "wrong-way" is facing the accountability that they so badly deserve, and although the fanatics may not be happy with this, when they are playing mmorpg's 5 years from now that delivers everything they say and perhaps more. You'll be happy this happened, but you'll never admit to how you opposed it from happening. Which makes you (in many ways) just as guilty as FC.
Good leading edge information Croemar, thanks for sharing.
There is nothing to spin!
It's just sickening to see so many idiotic reactions here how you want Funcom to go bankrupt and thus hundreds of developers and artists (who have families and kids to feed you know) end up on the street without a job in these economic harsh times.
These developers and artists aren't the blame for the stunt GG and this Financial Director pulled on them just as much as they did to us. Mind you.
How do you think the developers and artists feel about all this happening right now?
It's not like they can just resign and find a new job immediately. Especially with the current economic recession people are getting fired! Not hired!
With the rotten apples in form of Gaute G. and this Financial Director kicked out of the company. We can try to spin it the other way and see it as a possitive change for the company trying to turn things around and start with a clean sheet to rebuild their reputation.
With Craig Morrison on the helm as director Age of Conan has made finally some good progress and moving into the right direction.
I don't know tho. But that is just my 2 cents.
My, My, as a saying goes here in the US " The Chickens are Coming Home to Roost " i doubt this is the last bad news thats gonna come out here. If im not mistaken there suppose to release there 4th quarter stock report today. Another minor note not sure why but my posts are getting deleted or moved on anything Funcom related i also got a warning for an opion post i made so my guess is there are great attemps to put Funcom in a positive light even here.
MAGA
It really doesn't make much difference anymore, but you are seriously spin doctoring here. You're saying, "They didn't lie! Well, their info was outdated... Well maybe they told small lies... " LMAO!
As for the DX10 thing, you're completely full of it. DX10 was a big selling point for this game. They hyped the hell out of it and when they figured out they weren't putting it in at launch, it was quietly announced shortly before launch and that was that. As for knowing it months in advance, there were people playing beta the week before who didn't know it.
Gaute and this were necessarty changes in Funcom, but having some fat trimmed [note: entirely too late to save the rep of AoC and Failcom] in one small indy gaming company is not going to turn around this genre...
As long as SOE and Turdbind is out there milking and bilking, and shitass games keep getting produced, nothing has changed.
Of all that is written, I love only what a person has written with his own blood. -Nietzsche
Well, it teaches other companies that even though a game is ace in the graphics department, you can't get away with:
- launching an unfinished product*
- developing an mmorpg where eyecandy prevales over gameplay and immersion, for example the choice to instance the gameworld to little bits
*= no mmorpg is perfect as launch but huge client instability, lack of content for higher levels + the usual host of bugs was stretching the limit in this case
I think what they'll learn is that the success of WoW is the exception and not the rule for MMO's. And that it's time to stop dumping money into a new MMO hoping it'll be the next WoW killer, and just make a decent game as cheaply as possible. "Bottom up" thinking instead of "top down"
Soon enough, that won't even be a choice. After seeing so many big MMO's just fall flat and fail to make money, investors will turn to other markets.
Keep that in mind next time you think this will be "good" for the gaming industry. Sure, sometimes heavy speculative investing can bloat a market and cause it to produce garbage, but there's no equation that can show how less money will yield better/more content. The Eve model is the closest thing that comes to this, but even then you have to wonder how much better the game could be if there was more money behind it.
I would have to agree with some of the posts in here about, how is it better for us gamers that companies fail and leave us with less choice. I would have to say it is not. It is up to the consumer to choose wisely in anything. I have wasted alot of time and money on things in life that did not work out as I expected. The difference in those things and AOC is that AOC is constantly evolving and getting better, if you do not like one aspect, go do another until it changes. Not only that, this is a tiny investment for entertainment and not that important.
I have been subscribed since the game came out so I have seen it all. I personally have not had any technical issues with the game. However, I was disappointed with the social part of the game that I think really keeps people long term in these types of games (crafting, social hubs, setting up shops, housing etc.). I do not think PVP keeps people long term even if it is perfect in a game. Eventually you get bored. It should be a part of the overall product.
I am disappointed that SOME of the things that were suppose to be in at launch were not there, DX10 not one of them. The game already looks amazing so whats the point, it will be extra in time, so I do not understand this arguement (except to just find something to complain about). I do understand the arguement at launch of not enough content, but only from power levelers. Anyone taking there time and enjoying the journey had plenty of content and everyone as it is today has plenty. That being said, the content in AOC is not going to match a five year mmo, that is just common sense.
As for the company and its status, it really does not matter or should not matter to us gamers. Why, because your either playing a game or not (and if a game dies you move on to another). Example, if I am enjoying a game and notice that the companies stock falls or said person leaves the company, why would I stop playing, I would not because it has no bearing when I am in game. I do not understand these continued threads on companies status, it just makes no sense unless you have so much hate inside you, and that my friend is a whole different personal issue.
As for AOC and its future new players and past unsubscribed players, everything is of personal taste. If you have not played in awhile then you have no knowledge of whats going on except your own opinions from 4-6 or 8 months ago. If you have never played and are interested, try it and play it for awhile enjoying the journey. I think us gamers have a solid, beautiful game with a ton of potential sitting right in front of us (as with many games). But yet, people keep jumping on a game, rush to do everything in a week, jump off, complain and then have nothing to play so they complain about anything some more.
Personally I do not play everyday but the game is absolutely beautiful, the sound track is incredible, the setting and immersion is damn good, the quest and missions are very well done (i am not a quest gamer but I have no problem with doing AOC's). I did not like itemization at the beginning but it is there now and you have to hunt for it and work for it. I like this because everyone is not running around with the latest and greatest and it fits the universe of the game. As with every game there can be improvement in all areas but that is why they call it an mmo, it takes time and the games evolve.
My advice to people, stop complaining about the games and play the one you think your going to like. As much as people keep complaining about any game, guess what, it is not going to change anything. Your wasting your time and looking silly.
AoC as of right now...........is the best mmorpg on the market..nuff said.
FC may not die, im enjoying AO too much for that
btw: all AO players hate AoC
MMOs currently playing: -
About to play: Lord of the Rings Online
Played: Anarchy Online (alltime favorite) and lots of f2p titles (honorable mentions: 9Dragons, Martial Heroes, Dekaron, Atlantica Online)
Considering I haven't played it for a long time, and I've never been one to fanboi for any game devs, I'd have to conservatively agree...
EQ2 is probably the closest, if you like the EQ style grindfest, it offers graphics and immersion and all the features a good MMO should have... but its SOE crapfest grindorama, so that takes a lot from it. Also the graphics are good, but there has to be some serious optimization issues or something for it to be such a hog.
EvE is just broken IMO, the gate ganking and all that crap is one thing, but [and correct me if I'm wrong] the way you level up your char and learn skills means that a new player starting today will NEVER come close to anyone who has played longer (esp. release) because it takes real time to learn shit.
WoW is WoW, the opiate of the gaming masses.
Darkfall... HAHAHAHAHAH, moving on...
WAR? Boring by all accounts.
AoC is a damn fun game... with room for everyone.
My biggest worry is all the crying about itemization will ruin one of its big appeals to me: You don't have to raidgrind your nuts off to compete. Rather than the EQ/WoW model where your char is just another generic clotheshorse meant to hand phatlewts on, but other than that not signifigantly different than anyone else of the same class, its a lot more about YOU and YOU play your char.
I think that is about to come to an end due to whining.
Of all that is written, I love only what a person has written with his own blood. -Nietzsche
let me put it this way for you to understand the situation. if they hadnt said anything about the game, just "this is what we have" i wouldnt have any problem with the game. i enjoy the game. It isnt about the money i've paid, it isnt about the bugs, incomplete things the game has. Its the indecency this company has shown.
for another poster. Yes there probably are good people who are just trying to do best they can in that company but sometimes the innocent suffer along with the guilty. you want to help suffering innocents? these people need that more than funcom employees.
www.mercycorps.org/silentdisasters/nigerhunger
I need more vespene gas.
Gordon? BWHAHAHAHA *wheeze*cough* heh.. heh heh.. hahaha~!.. eh.. ehhh... phew..
.. and yet, I'm still having chuckle fits.
'kay, I'm good now.
Looks like I was right.
You know, I dont know why people are acting like this is "fail" is solely due to Funcom. I dont think most of you people realize one thing....
In the middle of our economy right now, EVERY game racking up huge losses.
BLIZZARD posted losses for last year, even though they had RECORD SALES. Here is the source - http://www.gamespot.com/news/6204549.html?part=rsstag=gs_playstation_2subj=6204549
What does that tell you? That directly says losses on ANY game are going to be the norm right now.
So Funcom lost 19 million last year? Blizzard lost 72 MILLION last year!
If the "most successful MMO out right now" is racking up huge losses, people should be more focused on that and not Funcoms minimal losses in comparison. That means EVERY MMO is going thru hard times right now, and instead of wishing for these games to die you should all be worried that YOUR FAVORITE MMO does not end up dying as well!
Aside from that, many people here are foolishly hoping that AoC dies, when they should be wishing that the patches keep pumping out turning it in to a great game that all will want to play. Wishing that AoC dies is only going to hurt yourselves and potential entertainment for you in the future. AoC dying would not be a good thing.
Plus, how bout all the times they'd announce fixed/added/new features that would be in just after the next billing cycle then those features wouldn't show?
I'd call em liars and scammers.
If your source of income INCREASES, and your net financial outflow does not then also INCREASE, you have a spending problem. Essentially, they have placed themselves in a situation where they are spending more than they make....and its likely tied to the new MMO they are making out of their own pocket.
If your source of income INCREASES, and your net financial outflow does not then also INCREASE, you have a spending problem. Essentially, they have placed themselves in a situation where they are spending more than they make....and its likely tied to the new MMO they are making out of their own pocket.
Oh, so, all the talk in that article where they consistently mentioned the Financial Crisis has nothing to do with it then?
MMO losses dont rack up in the 70+ MILLIONS until the months of release anyway. That is over double of the entire budget it took to create WoW, which was estimated around 30million thru a total of 5 years, which is approx 6m a year. This loss was over 11 times as much, and it was only 4th quarter losses not even the entire year.
Blizzard has the pockets and the goodwill of the public to survive a few more quarters of losses. I doubt Funcom does.
Amen brother!
It really doesn't make much difference anymore, but you are seriously spin doctoring here. You're saying, "They didn't lie! Well, their info was outdated... Well maybe they told small lies... " LMAO!
As for the DX10 thing, you're completely full of it. DX10 was a big selling point for this game. They hyped the hell out of it and when they figured out they weren't putting it in at launch, it was quietly announced shortly before launch and that was that. As for knowing it months in advance, there were people playing beta the week before who didn't know it.
small lies was more of = sieges etc, stuff that was not on release, well it was but wasnt fixed, how was dx10 sell points.. every non retard. who could read forum saw info 24/7 every time they check forum it was there..
if you just decide to hop into game shop, and buy random thing.. with dx10 as feature..( it wasnt even feature.. it didnt said it got dx10 graphics.. ). then maybe you deserve to be ripped off for stupidity
as for ppl playing beta, yes dx10 beta, it wasnt pure dx10 engine.. it was dx9 with dx10 features, just like its written on game box, then they decided it wasnt what they wanted.. and dx10 boost was almost non existant, they removed that.. and went to full dx10, you cant even see difference ? do you
maybe you should pick your game box, open vocabulary and check what does that word actually means..
I'd just like to point out that most of you guys who hate Funcom for releasing an unfinished product are aiming at the wrong people. Typically the developers have very little to do with the release dates. That usually either comes down to investers or the Publisher. The publisher in this case would be Eidos. Funcom could say "it's not ready we need this long" all day long but the publishers could say, turn over a client candidite to us by this date, and there's nothing Funcom can do besides work the hardest they can to have as many patches ready by launch as possible. ONce the code is turned over Eidos then says it's launching this date and then marketing has to pick up the ball and run with it. Funcom isn't in this for you or me or gamer's just like no other gaming company is. Funcom's main goal is to return a profit to the investors and earn some cash so they can keep working for hte next week.
If you want to be mad blame Eidos (which has incidently hasn't been a decent company since probably the late 90's and has a history of forcing things out the door unfinished for the quick return) or the investers. Or god forbid yourselves for buying into marketing hype when every MMO player knows that no MMO is ever ready at release. Never has been, probably never will be.
Just to add something. Here's a list of published games by Eidos. Take a look through the list and if you've been gaming for a while think back about all the ones that were really buggy or unfinished. As I said Eidos depends on Name recognition to get a quick return on inferior products and has driven several great development houses out of business due to this.
http://www.allgame.com/cg/agg.dll?p=agg&sql=3:424~T2
QFT!!
Plus, how bout all the times they'd announce fixed/added/new features that would be in just after the next billing cycle then those features wouldn't show?
I'd call em liars and scammers.
about official annoucement, you might be right, but there is always unofficial info
about brawling well, i never saw this feature announced anywhere, i was reading forums few months before game release, i played in beta ( not closed ) , and only source about brawling, was someone making post about it on forums with some info i never saw or knew.. so i doubt it was announced to promote game
number of armor pieces well thats how you look at them , it didnt rly felt like playing with 1600 armor sets, so you might be right, mounted combat was in game since release, how good it was? or how usefull ,not that much , they never announced mounted combat as full scale combat like on foot, well they did few months ago. .as its comming in patch or expansion, but it wasnt like that before release
Activison Blizzard also made 2.3 billion dollars in the last THREE months. nuff said