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Despite losing almost 34 million in 2008, the company had about 40 million left in the bank at the end of the year.
Now, after the initial disaster is over, the populations are starting to stabilize on the servers, and more people are resubbing/joining for the first time than there are people quitting.
The release of Rise of the Godslayer will certainly earn the company money too.
So PLEASE stop trolling and saying that the game is going to go F2P or be shutdown. It's NOT.
EDIT: The poll is supossed to ask "Do you think that AoC will be shutdown or go F2P?"
Playing: AoC, LotRO
Comments
I see you're new to these forums... hehe. Don't worry about it, those people who keep saying AoC is going to shut down/go f2p are just the same 3 or 4 guys who have been saying it for over a year even though they don't play the game anymore. Most people here ignore them now, don't let them make you worried
EDIT: not over a year, but many months
Per X fire the population of AoC is at an all time low, so I don't know what will change but today it is not fine and they used up thier free trials and win backs......so will people buy the expansion knowing it is made by Funcom who false advertises and releases buggy crap?
Hell AoC a year latter is like 1 /10th the game any other decent pay to play MMO was. At least WoW had many worthwhile raids and many group dungeans to do. EQ same, Warhammer was better and had more at release. If the up comming MMOs have any gameplay AoC may lose a good amount of the 40k subs they have left.
Funcom has reviewed all of its assets relevant for
impairment testing. This process has led to
recognition of an impairment loss of around
3,1 MUSD for Age of Conan due to a decrease in
numbers of subscribers for the game. Funcom Q4 10 report.
http://forums.ageofconan.com/showpost.php?p=2926123&postcount=7 500 mains/alts on Tyranny in past 30 days - instead of merge servers let's open a new PvP server, again! http://forums-eu.ageofconan.com/showthread.php?t=106427
I like how this post starts.
...Despite losing 34 million in 2008, with only 40 mil left in the bank...AoC is fine-lol.
I also like...
The poll,"Do you think AoC will shutdown its servers or go offline"...and right now 54% said NO . .. Like never??? (since there was no time frame given in the poll) Because even WoW will close it's servers one day...yet the AoC Fans say NO! (talk about "high" fantasy!!) Or even..i don't know...read the question???
Man i swear you guys provide better "Entertainment Value" than AoC ever did.
PS: Op, when exactly do you think the xpac is coming out...like next Tuesday??
It's a strange thing.
After a major update, slowly over time, the player base seems to increase, more and more new players arriving each day.
Then they release a new major update and players start to leave/quit, then the whole process starts again.
The message here for funcom would be to stop releasing major updates, keep it to small patches/updates, that way they may hold on to their customers all of the time and not some of the time.
Actually he is - that is the worst troll job like ever.
Off course that poll is just plain bad but on the other hand the issue is semantical and everyone with half a brain would have found out what the OP meant. When you meet a doctor and you ask him "doctor tell me honestly - am I dying?" - what the hell do you think a doctor would say? LOL @ that fail
No, i dont think the game will go F2P or offline for that matter, Funcom is still running AO up to this day and im sure AoC will make it in the market.
The next expansion will attract some old and new players, and even if its not a game of 3 million subscribers it will still make it enough to keep the servers running and provide some profit for the company.
That's fine.
But isn't AO F2P?
Plus, Morrison stated in an interview (in June or early July) that going free to play was a viable business option. Don't take him saying that lightly. It wasn't just an arbitrary statement. FC won't even tell you their population (perhaps out of embarrassment), so this statement is the biggest indicator that F2P is coming down the pipeline.
Ask Bliz if WoW is going F2P (CCP or Turbine), and the interviewer would get laughed out of the room. Not so with AoC, quite the opposite.
You add up FC's problems with the game, their cash flow situation (more on that on Wed or Thurs ), I don't really think in 12 months they'll have a choice.
AoC is on the fast-track to becoming irrelevant. An Xpac in the 3rd quarter of 2010 will be way too little too late. You will all be leveling up your starship in STO...or whatever your game of choice is, at that time. You'll have no more desire to go play AoC then, in the same way, you have no desire to go resub to EQ1 right now.
You'll see.
And he is still an embarasment to the trolls. I tend to troll alot but this is just bullshit.
If you do not "No!" say, then think about all the "Oh, that is to say yes," but no, it does not. It means only that we are always open to new ideas and that we, if the game would work well, consider it. But currently there are no plans for Age of Conan Free-to-play to make. We are working to expand and we see how the player a better impression of the game and get back to try out new features and new content to discover. We are happy to note that the hard work pays off and people in the game again.
Source 74.125.43.132/translate_c
(last interview with Craig - that is his style. Everyone knows that he is hella careful guy and never compares fast food with steaks - never say never because gamers will take your word forever)
Add that to my argument about why this game is not intended to go F2P and you are again in pile of shit. Dude you will have to learn to lurk and to support your statements. The only thing that might force them to go F2P is unexpected sub decrease.
I will just c/p it so you can comment it (not gonna happen )
Anyway whoever predicted that after expansion they will go F2P. Truth be told that won't happen because this expansion does not add anything substantial - it tries to broadthen the existing game. If Conan goes F2P with this expansion it will end up only veterans buying an expansion. It is simply not the type of expansion that would be needed to have fun in game. For example shadowlands in AO offered increased lvl cap, tons of perks, a whole new "continent" along with tons and tons of must have stuff for PVP and first real boss in PVE (Tarasque is pvp boss) . Soon it became a must have to have fun and to be able to be on par with others. (T3 raids and pvp armor in AoC are comming in free update circle) - now, if you want to be a smart ass ... you have to first be smart and have arguments and some reality to the situation. You don't have either. So go play your game - you fail at trolling
(hmm how do you make a quote on this forum ... this looks like a mess)
Admittedly the poll is poorly phrased, but the difference will be in how literally people interpret the question. A literal interpretation of the question would be to take the OP to be asking whether or not AoC will last forever...and no, of course not...that would be an odd view to adopt. Interpreting it in such a literal way (as you seem to think possible in your post) renders the question virtually meaningless unless, somehow, you seriously think there is a question about whether or not AoC will last forever.
A more normal interpretation of this kind of question would take a timescale to be implicit, and to take it to mean "Do you think that AoC will be shutdown or go F2P in the forseeable future?", which I personally would take to be something like the next couple of years or thereabouts.
I'm pretty confident that AoC won't shut down within the next couple of years, and I think it unlikely that it would switch to an F2P model over the same kind of timescale. However, re the last point, it all depends on how many people AoC can attract back - it's a money thing there; I don't think it impossible that it will, but am happy to adopt a wait and see approach in the mean-time, as I'm happy to continue paying for AoC at the moment (though would like more content soon).
A couple of people in my (PvE-server) guild have returned, and the main things they said they objected to in the past were the vast number of bugs that AoC used to have, and the lack of endgame content. End-game content is of course still quite limited (IMO), but the prospect that the Iron Tower will be released soon-ish is tantalising some of my friends.
I've heard a rumour that the expansion will be released in the shortish term (next couple of months), although I personally find this hard to believe.
Edit: Spelling + splitting into more paragraphs
If you are talking about this (video) interview www.gamona.de/games/age-of-conan-rise-of-the-godslayer,interview-pc:article,1544179.html
(Your link had translators involved and all kind of things)
To me this interview was the biggest indicator F2P is an absolute that I have seen yet. He was defending FC as the first to ever introduce F2P with AO. That's called: Pre-defending the action. When AoC does go F2P next year---this is the same line he'll be feeding the AoC subbers.
The other (and most revealing) key in that interview: Morrison says "when it makes sense."
I say (and have been saying along)...it will make sense by the time the xpac for AoC is release in the market place for them to go F2P for a host of reasons. Mostly competitive based reasons.
Thanks for bringing this interview to my attention
If you are talking about this (video) interview www.gamona.de/games/age-of-conan-rise-of-the-godslayer,interview-pc:article,1544179.html
(Your link had translators involved and all kind of things)
To me this interview was the biggest indicator F2P is an absolute that I have seen yet. He was defending FC as the first to ever introduce F2P with AO. That's called: Pre-defending the action. When AoC does go F2P next year---this is the same line he'll be feeding the AoC subbers.
The other (and most revealing) key in that interview: Morrison says "when it makes sense."
I say (and have been saying along)...it will make sense by the time the xpac for AoC is release in the market place for them to go F2P for a host of reasons. Mostly competitive based reasons.
Thanks for bringing this interview to my attention
If AoC goes F2P I'll stop playing, but I don't see why you care so much about it.
Sounds to me like you guys a little too obsessed with a game that many of you don't seem to like.
Currently playing - FF14ARR
Previous games - SWG, World of Warcraft, ShadowBane, Warhammer, Age of Conan, Darkfall, Planetside Asheron's Call, Everquest, Everquest 2, Too many.
AOC will be fine eh? I suppose as long as fine means still running, perhaps you are right.
If you mean will it continue was a thriving MMORPG that is ever growing and evolving, no I don't think so.
Too many new games/expansions on the horizon which wkll all bleed subs from AOC until they have no choice but to go F2P to keep the lights on.
BTW OP, surest way to draw trolls is to create a thread such as yours, it begs for a response which I assume is really the goal of anyone who creates a new thread right?
Here's a trick btw, go ahead and create another thread saying AOC sucks and is dying, and you'll get lots of fans here defending it to the death. Heck, they'll probably even say that the game will go F2P before it ever gets closed.
"True friends stab you in the front." | Oscar Wilde
"I need to finish" - Christian Wolff: The Accountant
Just trying to live long enough to play a new, released MMORPG, playing New Worlds atm
Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions. Pvbs 18:2, NIV
Don't just play games, inhabit virtual worlds™
"This is the most intelligent, well qualified and articulate response to a post I have ever seen on these forums. It's a shame most people here won't have the attention span to read past the second line." - Anon
That was an interesting interview,it seems they have been working very hard.I still think it will be a problem to get players back,or new players in,it is no longer a brand new released game ,that stigma always caters to new players.So no matter how hard they work,it will be a old game trying to gain customers,a VERY hard thing to do.
Good luck to them anyhow,i think they are showing a legit effort.
Never forget 3 mile Island and never trust a government official or company spokesman.
If enough folks play and enjoy AoC that pay the subsciption fee to keep the servers and support staff afloat, then it will last as long as the people play. I agree, the trolling does need to stop.
Momo sucks, I have proof.
If AoC goes F2P I'll stop playing, but I don't see why you care so much about it.
Sounds to me like you guys a little too obsessed with a game that many of you don't seem to like.
WTF do you care if it goes F2P...you are saying you'll pay for this crap product, but if they give it away ...you'll stop. Try the other way around--it may benefit you more.
oddly enuff people do resub to eq1. they leave an come back. this has been going on for years. long as their main guild is their they pop back in play for few weeks to months an get what loot they can then new shiny someting pops up an off they go.
im guilty of this my self acutaly. but in fairness more than half the negative things said by a select few agbout aoc as it stands now is incorect/opion .
i should just make a copy an past for why xfire is not the gauge of a games health.1 person in my guild in aoc uses xfire an reson i know that the xfire updated an caused them to be booted .thats the 1st person in any mmo that i have played that said they use it.an again it shows then that cod4 is the wow killer as its almost always number 2 on time played .
"Civilized men are more discourteous than savages because they know they can be impolite without having their skulls split, as a general thing." Robert E. Howard, The Tower of the Elephant (1933)
If AoC goes F2P I'll stop playing, but I don't see why you care so much about it.
Sounds to me like you guys a little too obsessed with a game that many of you don't seem to like.
WTF do you care if it goes F2P...you are saying you'll pay for this crap product, but if they give it away ...you'll stop. Try the other way around--it may benefit you more.
could ask the same question of you?why is it so important it goes free to play for you then? why do you belive f2p would benifit aoc?
ftp most of the time means cash shop .an thats bad over all for a games health as well as it comunity.
"Civilized men are more discourteous than savages because they know they can be impolite without having their skulls split, as a general thing." Robert E. Howard, The Tower of the Elephant (1933)
If you are talking about this (video) interview www.gamona.de/games/age-of-conan-rise-of-the-godslayer,interview-pc:article,1544179.html
(Your link had translators involved and all kind of things)
To me this interview was the biggest indicator F2P is an absolute that I have seen yet. He was defending FC as the first to ever introduce F2P with AO. That's called: Pre-defending the action. When AoC does go F2P next year---this is the same line he'll be feeding the AoC subbers.
The other (and most revealing) key in that interview: Morrison says "when it makes sense."
I say (and have been saying along)...it will make sense by the time the xpac for AoC is release in the market place for them to go F2P for a host of reasons. Mostly competitive based reasons.
Thanks for bringing this interview to my attention
I should be writting to a girl. But I guess you need to be educated more than she does. Call me good samaritan.
1.) F2P is a concept that was "invented" by Funcom years ago. If my memory serves me correct it was Craig's move and it is only natural for the community to think about it with another FC product that has undergone pretty much the same path (and GD is bringing that up to assure the community at given time that is not a real option). What Craig effectively is doing here is not hinting that the game would go F2P (he is to damn smart for somehting like that) but rather to explain that the game is not at the point where they would be seriously considering this option. But it remains an option. How is talking about history with AO (which if I remember correct he didn't even say that was correct) pre-defending?
If I would be on his position I wouldn't have said anything solid because game is on thin ice and haters would hold to my word like it is gold. He cannot predict how people will react to improved AoC and it's expansion. Off course in future F2P is a valid option to consider but with 10's of thousands of people paying for the game and another few thousands waiting for it to be fixed ... it is out of the question FOR NOW! But nor me, nor you, nor him can predict as far as you go - to think 1 year ahead about such a delicate matter that is affected by so many things would be irrational, even more you have to be nuts to go so far.
2.) I proved you already (with more solid arguments than you presented btw) that the game is not meant to go F2P anytime soon (read my comment on how this expansion is not meant for F2P. It might happen but that would happen only if there is a HUGE subscriptions drop. Which I do not see. Now, granted there are quite a few new games in a horizon and it will be a race to the finish line - if FC let them all beat their horse (speccialy WoW and GW2) there is F2P as an option. Otherwise - what would kill AoC? (Aion . puhlease!)
3.) I really don't know what is so wrong with F2P system. Besides admitting your own mistakes ofc. Think of F2P as an extended veteran comeback (just a side note here- ao was supposed to be F2P only for a year but F2P was such a sucess they still have it like that). Most of the players who would have extended the subscription because they like the game will pay for expansion as well. Basically only those who would have never played the said game if they had to pay for it are actually enjoying it for free - therefore the subscription drop minimum. It can only benefit the game to be free - keep in mind that most of MMO community already owns AoC (1.2M - the ones not 100% satisfied with WoW ) and box sales cannot be boosted much more. The only players that could add a substantial amount of money from box sales are Koreans. I think that F2P is one of the most brilliant things Craig had ever pulled.
(I played AO for a long long time - every person I knew was actually a subscriber ... Froobs - free noobs were mostly running around in low lvl areas ... when they grew up they bought the game. Sadly I cannot find the number of players prior to AO F2P but I think it was measured in few thousands of players - a mark that AoC is very far from)
If AoC goes F2P I'll stop playing, but I don't see why you care so much about it.
Sounds to me like you guys a little too obsessed with a game that many of you don't seem to like.
WTF do you care if it goes F2P...you are saying you'll pay for this crap product, but if they give it away ...you'll stop. Try the other way around--it may benefit you more.
could ask the same question of you?why is it so important it goes free to play for you then? why do you belive f2p would benifit aoc?
ftp most of the time means cash shop .an thats bad over all for a games health as well as it comunity.
You have no idea what is the concept of F2P that was used by Funcom before, do you?
It goes like this - there is vanilla version + notum wars expansion that is completely free of charge. Other expansions must be purchased, and for them applies the monthly subscription fee like you are used to MMO's
If AoC goes F2P I'll stop playing, but I don't see why you care so much about it.
Sounds to me like you guys a little too obsessed with a game that many of you don't seem to like.
WTF do you care if it goes F2P...you are saying you'll pay for this crap product, but if they give it away ...you'll stop. Try the other way around--it may benefit you more.
Quality usually goes down the drain and so does dev's interest in maintaining the product. (Although I acknowledge Funcom's previous strategy.)
I think you should consider leaving the AoC forums and just go enjoy whatever 'totally popular' 'sucessful' 'living' games that you seem to care so much about.
Your definition of crap is my definition of good MMO that doesn't cater to children, unskilled players and doesn't follow any stupid graphical theme - it's realistic styled fantasy and has an atmosphere that I enjoy and I have friends and guildmates worth playing with, as for you I think you find more entertainment telling other people what to pay for or what is enjoyable and what is 'crap'.
Currently playing - FF14ARR
Previous games - SWG, World of Warcraft, ShadowBane, Warhammer, Age of Conan, Darkfall, Planetside Asheron's Call, Everquest, Everquest 2, Too many.
yeah i rember an they had bill boards an advertisments in game to off set the cost.less its added to a load screen in aoc that dynamic wount work.besides theirs just now geting their 1st expasnion going.it couldnt follow what anarchy online did atm.thats why i said most ftp have cash shops not all.
besides if thats why these people troll saying ft2 is the only way aoc can live on, is so they can play a game for free that has only been bad mouthed by them .seems well self defeting tho im sure entertaining in their veiw.
ft2 doesnt fit the model for where their going with aoc over all any way. their still working on xbox 360 version if posts are corect.
"Civilized men are more discourteous than savages because they know they can be impolite without having their skulls split, as a general thing." Robert E. Howard, The Tower of the Elephant (1933)
Yes and no, FunCom offers Anarchy Online "Classic" + Notum Wars for free, after that you have Shadow Lands, Alien Invasion, Lost Eden and the booster Legacy of the Xan.
You can play AO Classic, NW and Shadowlands for 5$ per month, if you want more expansions it's 14.95$
The f2p model FunCom implemented for AO was great, the overall population grew and slowly the paid customer base started to grow also.
Ad astra per astrada
i think we all know by now that AOC isnt going anywhere. So dont worry about what you see on these forums. The trolls look for food in any way they can!!
I dont think AoC going to die or going to F2P in next expansion. AoC has good player base atm and i believe most of people will come back to play expansion when release.
From Funcom 50 people(this number grows last few month, thats what i heard) working on expansion for last 1 year to make their game F2P? C'mon be realist, AoC not going to F2P. Keep dreaming..
Well anarchy isnt really free to play, just the origional map. If you want the best gear, the faster trip to endgame, and two classes you need the expansions, which are box and p2p.
I wouldnt mind if aoc did this, locking out teir 4 equipment to free players, along with the expansion maps.
It still wouldnt be an item mall f2p, by any means.
I agree, with you in general, they will take aoc this route. this games been on the exact same track as anarchy.