I've been a long time defender of SOE's current level of cash shop implementation, but given the knee jerk reaction of this community and MMORPG fans as a whole towards any form of RMT, I think Smedley should certainly be a bit more careful with his words. After what we've seen with players' reaction to Blizzard's "cash shop," the last thing Smed really needed to do was make dumb comments like that. In fact, When I read what he said, it sounds as if it's only a matter of time before SOE turns their games turns into a cash shop game with a monthly fee, and while I'm skeptical that this is, in fact, the case, it is a cause for concern.cern.th players' reaction to Blizzard's "cash shop," the last thing Smed really needed to do was make dumb comments like that. In fact, When I read what he said, it sounds as if it's only a matter of time before SOE turns their games turns into a cash shop game with a monthly fee, and while I'm skeptical that this is, in fact, the case, it is a cause for concern.
At this point in time I'd hardly agree that this website's members as well as those of the many other various websites have a "kneejerk" reaction to the idea of RMT.
See below the quote
By now any avid MMO gamer knows what RMT is enough (as it has various variations but one central theme) to have formulated an opinion on it and to make a decision as to whether or not it is a option they want to engage in.
You say RMT trading has variations (or at least I think you do), but you fail to acknowledge that people never take those variations into consideration before condemning the business model. RMT as exhibited in games such as Everquest and Everquest 2 in no way divide the playerbase, and the cash shop has absolutely no bearing on someone's ability to advance when compared to another. It would take the average player about two or three months to reach the max level in Everquest 2 (mainly fighting through the last ten to twenty levels) and about a month or two to reach the cap in the original EQ. XP potions are sold in the shop, but they are in no way necessary like they are in various foreign F2P MMOs. If you want an extra boost in XP, it's there for you, but it's not like you don't level fast enough or have various forms of boosted XP whether it be from veteran rewards or vitality XP other than what you buy off the item shop. Everything else is simply cosmetic and has absolutely no bearing on gameplay whatsoever, making it absolutely laughable when anyone (as they do) ties to paint SOE's games as RMT with a monthly fee.
This is what most of those who voice disagreement with RMT in Blizzard or SOE games fail to realize. They fail to actually take a look at why RMT trading is viewed as the evil that it is and instead of actually taking the time to consider exactly what it does and does not effect. They immediately consider RMT trading itself as the problem (which it isn't really) without considering the effects of the RMT as the issue, hence the term "knee-jerk reaction."
"Kneejerk" reactions happen when exposed to something for the first time.
Not really, see what I've written below the quote for an explanation.
When something has been smeared on the "MMO house walls" and "rubbed in your face" you tend to have gotten a good whiff of what it is. Some people like the smell, others think it stinks.
what?
Actually, a knee-jerk (needs a hyphen because if we're going to disagree on the meaning of a word, we better get technical with our spelling) reaction is just an automatic response to something, and I find it hard to believe you would deny that any mention of RMT trading of ANY sort (as exhibiting in Blizzard's selling of what is it, cosmetic pets for a charity) is met with almost immediate disdain from the majority of this community without any sort of real thought as to what exactly the implications are.
automatic; quick and without thought. : That was only a knee-jerk response. Pay no attention.
No, I believe you fail in assuming that people don't take those variations into consideration. People aren't as stupid as you seem to brand them to be. If you can't handle that people don't like RMT and feel some need to try to explain to them all the different variations (of which they are well aware of and still don't like), well, that's your thing. One day you'll learn that just because someone doesn't like what you like doesn't automatically mean they don't understand it.
Oh, and let's get one thing straight. I never wrote majority. You threw that word out. Don't try to saddle me with it. I mean, if were going to be technical and all let's stick exactly to the words that were said.
I pasted the definition above with the specific wording "quick and without thought" as the focus. Avid MMO gamers have, by now, put much thought into the various RMT schemes and have decided they don't like them. Just because you may like them doesn't invalidate their decision not to.
As for the hyphen comment, get over it. Spent most of this week writing papers for the university and I invoke my right to not give a damn about minor spelling and grammatical errors on matters that are, in the grand scheme, unimportant. Oh, and as for the last bit to which you replied "what", it's called a metaphor. My fault for not spelling it out that you should substitute RMT for crap.
/?m?t??f?r, -f?r/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [met-uh-fawr, -fer] Show IPA
Use metaphor in a Sentence
See web results for metaphor
See images of metaphor
–noun
1. a figure of speech in which a term or phrase is applied to something to which it is not literally applicable in order to suggest a resemblance, as in “A mighty fortress is our God.” Compare mixed metaphor, simile (def. 1).
2. something used, or regarded as being used, to represent something else; emblem; symbol.
"Many nights, my friend... Many nights I've put a blade to your throat while you were sleeping. Glad I never killed you, Steve. You're alright..."
I've been a long time defender of SOE's current level of cash shop implementation, but given the knee jerk reaction of this community and MMORPG fans as a whole towards any form of RMT, I think Smedley should certainly be a bit more careful with his words. After what we've seen with players' reaction to Blizzard's "cash shop," the last thing Smed really needed to do was make dumb comments like that. In fact, When I read what he said, it sounds as if it's only a matter of time before SOE turns their games turns into a cash shop game with a monthly fee, and while I'm skeptical that this is, in fact, the case, it is a cause for concern.cern.th players' reaction to Blizzard's "cash shop," the last thing Smed really needed to do was make dumb comments like that. In fact, When I read what he said, it sounds as if it's only a matter of time before SOE turns their games turns into a cash shop game with a monthly fee, and while I'm skeptical that this is, in fact, the case, it is a cause for concern.
At this point in time I'd hardly agree that this website's members as well as those of the many other various websites have a "kneejerk" reaction to the idea of RMT.
See below the quote
By now any avid MMO gamer knows what RMT is enough (as it has various variations but one central theme) to have formulated an opinion on it and to make a decision as to whether or not it is a option they want to engage in.
You say RMT trading has variations (or at least I think you do), but you fail to acknowledge that people never take those variations into consideration before condemning the business model. RMT as exhibited in games such as Everquest and Everquest 2 in no way divide the playerbase, and the cash shop has absolutely no bearing on someone's ability to advance when compared to another. It would take the average player about two or three months to reach the max level in Everquest 2 (mainly fighting through the last ten to twenty levels) and about a month or two to reach the cap in the original EQ. XP potions are sold in the shop, but they are in no way necessary like they are in various foreign F2P MMOs. If you want an extra boost in XP, it's there for you, but it's not like you don't level fast enough or have various forms of boosted XP whether it be from veteran rewards or vitality XP other than what you buy off the item shop. Everything else is simply cosmetic and has absolutely no bearing on gameplay whatsoever, making it absolutely laughable when anyone (as they do) ties to paint SOE's games as RMT with a monthly fee.
This is what most of those who voice disagreement with RMT in Blizzard or SOE games fail to realize. They fail to actually take a look at why RMT trading is viewed as the evil that it is and instead of actually taking the time to consider exactly what it does and does not effect. They immediately consider RMT trading itself as the problem (which it isn't really) without considering the effects of the RMT as the issue, hence the term "knee-jerk reaction."
"Kneejerk" reactions happen when exposed to something for the first time.
Not really, see what I've written below the quote for an explanation.
When something has been smeared on the "MMO house walls" and "rubbed in your face" you tend to have gotten a good whiff of what it is. Some people like the smell, others think it stinks.
what?
Actually, a knee-jerk (needs a hyphen because if we're going to disagree on the meaning of a word, we better get technical with our spelling) reaction is just an automatic response to something, and I find it hard to believe you would deny that any mention of RMT trading of ANY sort (as exhibiting in Blizzard's selling of what is it, cosmetic pets for a charity) is met with almost immediate disdain from the majority of this community without any sort of real thought as to what exactly the implications are.
automatic; quick and without thought. : That was only a knee-jerk response. Pay no attention.
You say, " "Kneejerk" reactions happen when exposed to something for the first time, " but I said they were automatic reactions. Those two definitions are in no way related to one another and thank you for listing an additional definition of the term along with a citation for further clarity.
No, I believe you fail in assuming that people don't take those variations into consideration. People aren't as stupid as you seem to brand them to be. If you can't handle that people don't like RMT and feel some need to try to explain to them all the different variations (of which they are well aware of and still don't like), well, that's your thing. One day you'll learn that just because someone doesn't like what you like doesn't automatically mean they don't understand it.
I didn't brand anyone as being stupid. I blamed them as being biased -- being blinded. Actually, I blame them for being blinded by a lot of things. Namely, the negative stereotypical F2P MMO cash shop, blind hatred for John Smedley, blind hatred for SOE, blind hatred for WoW, and blind hatred for Blizzard Entertainment. Nowhere in any of my posts did I allude to anyone being stupid.
My point is not about the fact that people don't like RMT trading but why they do not. Read some threads here and le
Oh, and let's get one thing straight. I never wrote majority. You threw that word out. Don't try to saddle me with it. I mean, if were going to be technical and all let's stick exactly to the words that were said.
Stop accusing me of things I didn't do. In my first thread, I simply used a term such as "this community" meaning that I had, in fact, seen many examples within this community of blind bashing of RMT without any legitimate reason for it. In my second post, I said "the majority" because from what I have seen, more players here do tend to automatically condemn RMT without exploring what exactly its ramifcations are within the game world. My mistake here is I said "the majority" without any real way of proving that it was, in fact, a majority. Still, this has nothing to do with accusing you of using that word of which I did no such thing.
I pasted the definition above with the specific wording "quick and without thought" as the focus. Avid MMO gamers have, by now, put much thought into the various RMT schemes and have decided they don't like them. Just because you may like them doesn't invalidate their decision not to.
I wish you would link me some threads where players have had these discussions amongst themselves where they decide that they just do not like real money trading, even if it involves thirty minute XP potions in a game where you can reach the max level in two months while playing casually.
As for the hyphen comment, get over it. Spent most of this week writing papers for the university and I invoke my right to not give a damn about minor spelling and grammatical errors on matters that are, in the grand scheme, unimportant. Oh, and as for the last bit to which you replied "what", it's called a metaphor. My fault for not spelling it out that you should substitute RMT for crap.
Congratulations, I'm happy for you. Not that I believe college education is any real measure of intelligence (mainly just how well you can read books and regurgitate information), I work for the writing center in my college, but do I spend every moment of my time on a web forum double checking every sentence for a possible gramatical error before giving myself an hour long speech on why I would change what I am considering changing? No, because I have not the patience nor do I have the time. Again, if you will read back over my first post, you'll see I did not include a hypen in the word either. I simply said what I said because if we are, in fact, going to have a debate over the definition of a stupid word of all things, we may as well be proper enough to type said word correctly. -- emphasis on the underlined word there.
/?m?t??f?r, -f?r/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [met-uh-fawr, -fer] Show IPA
Use metaphor in a Sentence
See web results for metaphor
See images of metaphor
–noun
1. a figure of speech in which a term or phrase is applied to something to which it is not literally applicable in order to suggest a resemblance, as in “A mighty fortress is our God.” Compare mixed metaphor, simile (def. 1).
2. something used, or regarded as being used, to represent something else; emblem; symbol.
Yes, I know what a metaphor is. Assuming, this has to do with the last thing you posted, congratultaions, you put in an English literary device in a thread on a web forum about MMORPGs. Why don't we just hand you your English degree right now?
If we do, however, analyze that metaphor, I hope you aren't a woman because your bias is showing through your wet t-shirt (see, I can do that too). You use terms like "smeared" and "whiffed" alongside slang terms like "rubbed in your face" all of which carry a negative connotation. It is quite clear to me that the fact that you do not like RMT trading in any shape, form, or fashion has caused you to take such an offense over my observation of many (that's a better word than most) individuals in the MMO community as well as MMORPG.com have a knee jerk reaction (def: automatic, without thinking) towards RMT.
So that I do not deviate from the topic any more than I already have, this will be the last time I respond to your rants. I leave you with my saying that I am just as entitled to my opinions as you are and that nothing I have stated in any of my posts here were meant to be taken as inherent fact.
I think the real eyebrow raiser here is 85% of online gamers are 35 year old males. So men of other ages and women acount for the other 15%? If true those numbers are really startling.
I find that hard to believe. Every EQ2 guild I know is vastly different in age and gender structure than this.
Smed is like the Emperor in "The Emperor's New Clothes" fairy tale, only that HE is the only one left who didn't realize than if fact he is naked.
Nothing in this interview about visions! About dreams! About coolness and fun. He is an awful bean counter.
You hit the nail on the head Smedley has no vision whatsoever from a fans perspective he is purely a bean counter and not a very good one at that.
but yeah, to call this game Fantastic is like calling Twilight the Godfather of vampire movies....
Originally posted by Mardy But to Smed, the guy who spent $300 just gave them 2 years worth of monthly subscription money, in 1 night. So they are willing to lose however many subscribers in exchange for people spending that much money on these microtransactions. To a corporation, the suits that make decisions, they may think this is the right way to do business. Unfortunately if you look at the games they run currently, they're all sub-200k subscriber games (not counting Free Realms since it's f2p and nobody knows exactly how many people are playing & paying). Smedley, bad for SOE games, bad for the genre.
I think anybody who reads the above statement from Mardy (an accurate statement too) and sees where this genre has gone in the last six years cannot possibly believe the notion that this genre is about satisfying the casual gamer. Smedley, and any RMT game for that manner, caters to the hardcore.
I think I'll write a blog about it, but in brief, the thing that separates casual and hardcore hasn't anything to do with time, but willingness to do what it takes to achieve online success. Given that definition, the games have been becoming more hardcore due to the influence of Smed and those like him.
__________________________ "Its sad when people use religion to feel superior, its even worse to see people using a video game to do it." --Arcken
"...when it comes to pimping EVE I have little restraints." --Hellmar, CEO of CCP.
"It's like they took a gun, put it to their nugget sack and pulled the trigger over and over again, each time telling us how great it was that they were shooting themselves in the balls." --Exar_Kun on SWG's NGE
I think the real eyebrow raiser here is 85% of online gamers are 35 year old males. So men of other ages and women acount for the other 15%? If true those numbers are really startling.
I find that hard to believe. Every EQ2 guild I know is vastly different in age and gender structure than this.
Smed is like the Emperor in "The Emperor's New Clothes" fairy tale, only that HE is the only one left who didn't realize than if fact he is naked.
Nothing in this interview about visions! About dreams! About coolness and fun. He is an awful bean counter.
I've seen smedly make comments about soes player base falling into that range. It was around the time they were hyping free realms and how they wanted to change their demographic.
I am fairly certain he means to reference his customer base an not the entire market. Just a guess, but I suspect runescape has more young players than soe has in total.
I think the real eyebrow raiser here is 85% of online gamers are 35 year old males. So men of other ages and women acount for the other 15%? If true those numbers are really startling.
I find that hard to believe. Every EQ2 guild I know is vastly different in age and gender structure than this.
Obligatory Smed shot:
Come on guys, this is the Smedster we're talking about here. You're not seriously contemplating figures that he drops as being remotely accurate or researched, are you? You know his signature on every forum post and appended to every comment reads "brought to you by Carl's Jr.", in invisible ink, right?
We now return you to your regularly scheduled conversations.
I assume you are correct. But tossing around such... vague estimations makes one wonder if the guy actually works with such concepts in mind? Would explain a lot. Let's hope he has not so much to do with the actual design of Agency and DCU.
People don't ask questions to get answers - they ask questions to show how smart they are. - Dogbert
Originally posted by SuperXero89 Actually, a knee-jerk (needs a hyphen because if we're going to disagree on the meaning of a word, we better get technical with our spelling) reaction is just an automatic response to something, and I find it hard to believe you would deny that any mention of RMT trading of ANY sort (as exhibiting in Blizzard's selling of what is it, cosmetic pets for a charity) is met with almost immediate disdain from the majority of this community without any sort of real thought as to what exactly the implications are.
So much for technical accuracy. It's 1/2 of one of two pets for charity, and only until the end of the year.
"" Voice acting isn't an RPG element....it's just a production value." - grumpymel2
I don't know why they keep developing new games. Their "only" really successful game has been EQ, all the rest were flops. It's mathematically impossible to create MMO every year and expect them to survive, they won't be massive anymore since you can't divide the playebase every year, most people will stay with an MMO they like. This goes for every MMO developer, you can keep churning out the MMO, this is a bubble waiting to burst.
You are correct on the math part[sort of],this is what i have been saying for a long time.People keep revolving around numbers like they are what PROVES games are good or not,the fact is right now there is not the player base to form ANY opinion based on numbers.
Once the cartoon playhouse WOW dissolves,it will still never be a good indication of a games value because the majority of gamers follow each other around in hype and big name developers like Bioware/Blizzard ect ect.
I would not say SOE has only EQ to fall back on they actually make tons of great games,or have had tons of games developed for them,i would also say for online SWG was a decent success.There is not too many developers operating more than 1 MMO right now,i would say Blizzard could do it based on their fanbois love that would buy anythign and call a lemon great but whatever.
One thing however i might add,is that i agree there is no populace to feed new MMO's[hardcore populace] ,there sort of is a[softcore]populace if you create the right gimmick.Look at games that are being played on Facebook like Happy Farm and similar games,these are pretty much a complete joke,yet they are making more money than Blizzard and have 10x the player base especially on QQ Farm the Taiwan version of Happy Farm.So there is obviously a ton of people out there gaming,it is the gimmick that captures them,they all want to be noticed on Facebook and things like Twitter.Before it was MYspace ,there is always some gimmick floating around that grabs millions of users for goofy reasons.
There was that guy who sold a million copies of that Iphone game,the battle tank one,i don't think anyone would try to argue that it is a great game because it had a million users.So in a way i feel sorry for a lot of these developers they put in a ton of hard work and lots of money and resources only to see cheap ass efforts have more success.
Never forget 3 mile Island and never trust a government official or company spokesman.
I've been a long time defender of SOE's current level of cash shop implementation, but given the knee jerk reaction of this community and MMORPG fans as a whole towards any form of RMT, I think Smedley should certainly be a bit more careful with his words. After what we've seen with players' reaction to Blizzard's "cash shop," the last thing Smed really needed to do was make dumb comments like that. In fact, When I read what he said, it sounds as if it's only a matter of time before SOE turns their games turns into a cash shop game with a monthly fee, and while I'm skeptical that this is, in fact, the case, it is a cause for concern.cern.th players' reaction to Blizzard's "cash shop," the last thing Smed really needed to do was make dumb comments like that. In fact, When I read what he said, it sounds as if it's only a matter of time before SOE turns their games turns into a cash shop game with a monthly fee, and while I'm skeptical that this is, in fact, the case, it is a cause for concern.
At this point in time I'd hardly agree that this website's members as well as those of the many other various websites have a "kneejerk" reaction to the idea of RMT.
See below the quote
By now any avid MMO gamer knows what RMT is enough (as it has various variations but one central theme) to have formulated an opinion on it and to make a decision as to whether or not it is a option they want to engage in.
You say RMT trading has variations (or at least I think you do), but you fail to acknowledge that people never take those variations into consideration before condemning the business model. RMT as exhibited in games such as Everquest and Everquest 2 in no way divide the playerbase, and the cash shop has absolutely no bearing on someone's ability to advance when compared to another. It would take the average player about two or three months to reach the max level in Everquest 2 (mainly fighting through the last ten to twenty levels) and about a month or two to reach the cap in the original EQ. XP potions are sold in the shop, but they are in no way necessary like they are in various foreign F2P MMOs. If you want an extra boost in XP, it's there for you, but it's not like you don't level fast enough or have various forms of boosted XP whether it be from veteran rewards or vitality XP other than what you buy off the item shop. Everything else is simply cosmetic and has absolutely no bearing on gameplay whatsoever, making it absolutely laughable when anyone (as they do) ties to paint SOE's games as RMT with a monthly fee.
This is what most of those who voice disagreement with RMT in Blizzard or SOE games fail to realize. They fail to actually take a look at why RMT trading is viewed as the evil that it is and instead of actually taking the time to consider exactly what it does and does not effect. They immediately consider RMT trading itself as the problem (which it isn't really) without considering the effects of the RMT as the issue, hence the term "knee-jerk reaction."
"Kneejerk" reactions happen when exposed to something for the first time.
Not really, see what I've written below the quote for an explanation.
When something has been smeared on the "MMO house walls" and "rubbed in your face" you tend to have gotten a good whiff of what it is. Some people like the smell, others think it stinks.
what?
Actually, a knee-jerk (needs a hyphen because if we're going to disagree on the meaning of a word, we better get technical with our spelling) reaction is just an automatic response to something, and I find it hard to believe you would deny that any mention of RMT trading of ANY sort (as exhibiting in Blizzard's selling of what is it, cosmetic pets for a charity) is met with almost immediate disdain from the majority of this community without any sort of real thought as to what exactly the implications are.
automatic; quick and without thought. : That was only a knee-jerk response. Pay no attention.
You say, " "Kneejerk" reactions happen when exposed to something for the first time, " but I said they were automatic reactions. Those two definitions are in no way related to one another and thank you for listing an additional definition of the term along with a citation for further clarity.
No, I believe you fail in assuming that people don't take those variations into consideration. People aren't as stupid as you seem to brand them to be. If you can't handle that people don't like RMT and feel some need to try to explain to them all the different variations (of which they are well aware of and still don't like), well, that's your thing. One day you'll learn that just because someone doesn't like what you like doesn't automatically mean they don't understand it.
I didn't brand anyone as being stupid. I blamed them as being biased -- being blinded. Actually, I blame them for being blinded by a lot of things. Namely, the negative stereotypical F2P MMO cash shop, blind hatred for John Smedley, blind hatred for SOE, blind hatred for WoW, and blind hatred for Blizzard Entertainment. Nowhere in any of my posts did I allude to anyone being stupid.
My point is not about the fact that people don't like RMT trading but why they do not. Read some threads here and le
Oh, and let's get one thing straight. I never wrote majority. You threw that word out. Don't try to saddle me with it. I mean, if were going to be technical and all let's stick exactly to the words that were said.
Stop accusing me of things I didn't do. In my first thread, I simply used a term such as "this community" meaning that I had, in fact, seen many examples within this community of blind bashing of RMT without any legitimate reason for it. In my second post, I said "the majority" because from what I have seen, more players here do tend to automatically condemn RMT without exploring what exactly its ramifcations are within the game world. My mistake here is I said "the majority" without any real way of proving that it was, in fact, a majority. Still, this has nothing to do with accusing you of using that word of which I did no such thing.
I pasted the definition above with the specific wording "quick and without thought" as the focus. Avid MMO gamers have, by now, put much thought into the various RMT schemes and have decided they don't like them. Just because you may like them doesn't invalidate their decision not to.
I wish you would link me some threads where players have had these discussions amongst themselves where they decide that they just do not like real money trading, even if it involves thirty minute XP potions in a game where you can reach the max level in two months while playing casually.
As for the hyphen comment, get over it. Spent most of this week writing papers for the university and I invoke my right to not give a damn about minor spelling and grammatical errors on matters that are, in the grand scheme, unimportant. Oh, and as for the last bit to which you replied "what", it's called a metaphor. My fault for not spelling it out that you should substitute RMT for crap.
Congratulations, I'm happy for you. Not that I believe college education is any real measure of intelligence (mainly just how well you can read books and regurgitate information), I work for the writing center in my college, but do I spend every moment of my time on a web forum double checking every sentence for a possible gramatical error before giving myself an hour long speech on why I would change what I am considering changing? No, because I have not the patience nor do I have the time. Again, if you will read back over my first post, you'll see I did not include a hypen in the word either. I simply said what I said because if we are, in fact, going to have a debate over the definition of a stupid word of all things, we may as well be proper enough to type said word correctly. -- emphasis on the underlined word there.
/?m?t??f?r, -f?r/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [met-uh-fawr, -fer] Show IPA
Use metaphor in a Sentence
See web results for metaphor
See images of metaphor
–noun
1. a figure of speech in which a term or phrase is applied to something to which it is not literally applicable in order to suggest a resemblance, as in “A mighty fortress is our God.” Compare mixed metaphor, simile (def. 1).
2. something used, or regarded as being used, to represent something else; emblem; symbol.
Yes, I know what a metaphor is. Assuming, this has to do with the last thing you posted, congratultaions, you put in an English literary device in a thread on a web forum about MMORPGs. Why don't we just hand you your English degree right now?
If we do, however, analyze that metaphor, I hope you aren't a woman because your bias is showing through your wet t-shirt (see, I can do that too). You use terms like "smeared" and "whiffed" alongside slang terms like "rubbed in your face" all of which carry a negative connotation. It is quite clear to me that the fact that you do not like RMT trading in any shape, form, or fashion has caused you to take such an offense over my observation of many (that's a better word than most) individuals in the MMO community as well as MMORPG.com have a knee jerk reaction (def: automatic, without thinking) towards RMT.
So that I do not deviate from the topic any more than I already have, this will be the last time I respond to your rants. I leave you with my saying that I am just as entitled to my opinions as you are and that nothing I have stated in any of my posts here were meant to be taken as inherent fact.
Well, for clarification, this isn't one of my rants. My rants are much longer. I only propose that since you can understand that people are entitled to their own opinions that you stop assuming that those posting a negative opinion on RMT's haven't had such thought and discussions in the manner you list as appropriate in order to validate said opinions. It is true, of course, that there may be some who have not taken such time to reflect on the matter as there are always exceptions. That stated it must be noted that there have been too many threads on this site to count over the last few years that your use of the site's search function should retrieve them easily to read at your leisure.
I agree that college isn't a measure of intelligence and only barometer of ability to read/listen and repeat. I appreciate the offer of the English degree however I'll pass. I much prefer my European History degree I'm working toward and to remain out of ranks with grammar fascists.
As for my dislike of RMT in any form, you surmise incorrectly that it is the cause of my disagreement with your assertion that "the majority" or many have a knee-jerk (put the hyphen in just for you; cookies are in the mail) reaction to RMT. It's your assumption that they haven't had significant exposure to and discourse of the topic. It is fairly accurate to state, I think, that you haven't been involved in the great bulk of the discussion on this forum regarding RMT nor in the many debates this forum's users have engaged with their MMO gaming friends offline. Thus it is irresponsible to define their responses here as knee-jerk, which to me has connotations of labeling them ill-informed or "stupid". You may just have to entertain the possibility that the posts that you are reading are their true, educated feelings on the matter.
Lastly, my bias (which everyone has; you are positively biased toward the use of RMT in your preferred form/variation I take it) isn't showing through a "wet t-shirt". With respect to this topic that t-shirt came off a long time ago. Though I must admit being a male I don't think I'd personally want to be in a wet t-shirt scenario however if the ladies demand it I shall endeavor to accommodate, though an Adonis I am not.
"Many nights, my friend... Many nights I've put a blade to your throat while you were sleeping. Glad I never killed you, Steve. You're alright..."
I think the real eyebrow raiser here is 85% of online gamers are 35 year old males. So men of other ages and women acount for the other 15%? If true those numbers are really startling.
I find that hard to believe. Every EQ2 guild I know is vastly different in age and gender structure than this.
Obligatory Smed shot:
Come on guys, this is the Smedster we're talking about here. You're not seriously contemplating figures that he drops as being remotely accurate or researched, are you? You know his signature on every forum post and appended to every comment reads "brought to you by Carl's Jr.", in invisible ink, right?
We now return you to your regularly scheduled conversations.
I assume you are correct. But tossing around such... vague estimations makes one wonder if the guy actually works with such concepts in mind? Would explain a lot. Let's hope he has not so much to do with the actual design of Agency and DCU.
Candidly, I'm at a point that I don't know what to think of the guy. I've progressed from unfettered hatred of the guy in November 2005 to a belief that he is genuinely incompetent about 6 months later and am now in a state of genuine bewilderment. If pressed I'd have to liken him to a spent cartridge on a battlefield: he's nothing left to contribute to the fight.
"Many nights, my friend... Many nights I've put a blade to your throat while you were sleeping. Glad I never killed you, Steve. You're alright..."
What I find amusing that Smed takes great pride in using RMT for EQ2. Selling shortcuts is just as bad as gold sellers and to make matter worse this is on top of the biannual expansions that the EQ players always have to pony up. SOE knows how to rape every crying Lincoln out of their players wallets. Nice.
Amen to that brother, you forgot to mention how he fleeces every SWG player by trying to sell loot cards via a lottery (forcing you to buy more until the one you wanted came up) and charging a subscription fee alongside it! Smedley has got some pretty shameless scams going on with his RMT + subscription fees where he preys upon the weak minded! However as far as he'a concerned it's all good business.
He's been going crazy for RMT since his RMT project The Agency was announced many moons ago (wonder when that scam is launched?). He's brought it into every game SOE can because it's just another method of squeezing blood from a stone as his playerbase further dwindles. The reason I never played EQ or EQ2 was the amount of expansions there were to get (even 5 years ago!), it was so confusing and expensive then he brings along RMT alongside subscription fees. This guy is out to fleece the MMORPG playerbase in the most obscene and shameless way he can.
I spoke to Smedley on this issue and he said this,
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This post and the images within are merely the views of Agricola1 and refer to no person or persons either living or dead. Any similarities are merely coincidental and any offence caused to anyone reading the post was not intended. If anyone has taken offence to anything in this post please send Agricola1 a PM and you will be issued a full apology personally and he will consider editing the post. I also apologize publically to anyone either living or dead that may have been offended by this post as this was not the intent, thankyou.
"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It would be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience"
I think the real eyebrow raiser here is 85% of online gamers are 35 year old males. So men of other ages and women acount for the other 15%? If true those numbers are really startling.
I find that hard to believe. Every EQ2 guild I know is vastly different in age and gender structure than this.
Smed is like the Emperor in "The Emperor's New Clothes" fairy tale, only that HE is the only one left who didn't realize than if fact he is naked.
Nothing in this interview about visions! About dreams! About coolness and fun. He is an awful bean counter.
While I hate to agree with Smed on just about anything, he's right in that area. There has been extensive demographic study done by marketing firms as well as game companies themselves to verify those statistics.
What you have to realize is us mid-thirties guys ( and gals ) have been playing games since the late '70's. We were playing games when games weren't "cool" or mainstream.
While if you look at the majority of those in their '40's - '50's and above, they were mostly "too old" to mess with "kid stuff" ( video games ) back when we were embracing them.
And while you do have many younger people playing games nowadays, most of those are stuck to things like Myspace and their texting and hanging out and other "social" trappings, with gaming taking up a smaller percentage of their time.
What I find amusing that Smed takes great pride in using RMT for EQ2. Selling shortcuts is just as bad as gold sellers and to make matter worse this is on top of the biannual expansions that the EQ players always have to pony up. SOE knows how to rape every crying Lincoln out of their players wallets. Nice.
No it's not. There is a clear difference between selling gold and equipment and temporary boosts.
What I find amusing that Smed takes great pride in using RMT for EQ2. Selling shortcuts is just as bad as gold sellers and to make matter worse this is on top of the biannual expansions that the EQ players always have to pony up. SOE knows how to rape every crying Lincoln out of their players wallets. Nice.
No it's not. There is a clear difference between selling gold and equipment and temporary boosts.
You can buy and sell gold, equipment, and even characters in EQ2 , so SOE has that covered too.
No it's not. There is a clear difference between selling gold and equipment and temporary boosts.
Is there? What is it?
Since SOE does both it doesn't really matter, though some have to be bought by trade card lottery in SWG which has been banned in several states in the U.S.A.
"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It would be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience"
If I remember right Smedley was apart of Verant. He got his role because they sold out to SoE. I could be wrong but I believe that was what happened. Anywho, SoE blows and so does Smedley. I loved SWG other then the bugs when it was released aka Bio-Engineer not working, Combat medics able to black bar your from bugs, and etc.
I loved the Creature Handler class it was so original at the time. The crafting in SWG was superior to any other game even to date. WTF, has SoE not capitalized on this? I still to play EQ. I have had 5 accounts over the pass 10 years. I played at release and was in a top 5 server wide raiding guild for the first 5 years. I have done it all raiding wise for multiple games and other then graphics EQ's is still way better then WoW's and EQ 2's.
The Bard class is still by far my most favorite class playing with then any other game. Wish more games would implement this type of playing style. To totally be active and to use NPC's for your dps and etc.
I actually went back to EQ the 50/50 server for about 6 weeks. I enjoyed every little bit of it except the lack of groups out there to do something. The only thing, I wish EQ would of done was added more LdoN type dungeons. Anywho, if I could of gotten the wife to quit WoW and play EQ I would of stayed with EQ.
If I remember right Smedley was apart of Verant. He got his role because they sold out to SoE. I could be wrong but I believe that was what happened. Anywho, SoE blows and so does Smedley. I loved SWG other then the bugs when it was released aka Bio-Engineer not working, Combat medics able to black bar your from bugs, and etc. I loved the Creature Handler class it was so original at the time. The crafting in SWG was superior to any other game even to date. WTF, has SoE not capitalized on this? I still to play EQ. I have had 5 accounts over the pass 10 years. I played at release and was in a top 5 server wide raiding guild for the first 5 years. I have done it all raiding wise for multiple games and other then graphics EQ's is still way better then WoW's and EQ 2's. The Bard class is still by far my most favorite class playing with then any other game. Wish more games would implement this type of playing style. To totally be active and to use NPC's for your dps and etc. I actually went back to EQ the 50/50 server for about 6 weeks. I enjoyed every little bit of it except the lack of groups out there to do something. The only thing, I wish EQ would of done was added more LdoN type dungeons. Anywho, if I could of gotten the wife to quit WoW and play EQ I would of stayed with EQ.
I say, boot Smedley and try to make a EQ3.
Before Smed was CEO at SOE he worked there and pitched the idea of EQ to the then CEO. She thought it would go nowhere and created verant (always owned by SOE) to create EQ so that when it belly flopped it wouldn't be associated with SOE. Well it didn't so Verant was absorbed back into SOE.
Also let's not forget SOE also has the higest subscription fees too with their life support ... erm I mean station pass at $30 the last time I looked. Add into that the RMT and crazy gambling games with the trading cards, Smed would be making a mint if he had any subscribers left!!!!!
"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It would be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience"
Originally posted by Gameloading Originally posted by JestorRodo What I find amusing that Smed takes great pride in using RMT for EQ2. Selling shortcuts is just as bad as gold sellers and to make matter worse this is on top of the biannual expansions that the EQ players always have to pony up. SOE knows how to rape every crying Lincoln out of their players wallets. Nice.
No it's not. There is a clear difference between selling gold and equipment and temporary boosts.
Yes it is. Its the use of additional funds over and above the cost of the game and the monthly subscription to gain an advantage over those who do not ie Not cheat.
Micropayments are used in some massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPGs). These are typically free to play games with no monthly fee, which offer players the possibility of purchasing in-game currency redeemable for items. These items are often more powerful than those that can be obtained by non-paying players or offer an advantage or feature otherwise unavailable.
Comments
At this point in time I'd hardly agree that this website's members as well as those of the many other various websites have a "kneejerk" reaction to the idea of RMT.
See below the quote
By now any avid MMO gamer knows what RMT is enough (as it has various variations but one central theme) to have formulated an opinion on it and to make a decision as to whether or not it is a option they want to engage in.
You say RMT trading has variations (or at least I think you do), but you fail to acknowledge that people never take those variations into consideration before condemning the business model. RMT as exhibited in games such as Everquest and Everquest 2 in no way divide the playerbase, and the cash shop has absolutely no bearing on someone's ability to advance when compared to another. It would take the average player about two or three months to reach the max level in Everquest 2 (mainly fighting through the last ten to twenty levels) and about a month or two to reach the cap in the original EQ. XP potions are sold in the shop, but they are in no way necessary like they are in various foreign F2P MMOs. If you want an extra boost in XP, it's there for you, but it's not like you don't level fast enough or have various forms of boosted XP whether it be from veteran rewards or vitality XP other than what you buy off the item shop. Everything else is simply cosmetic and has absolutely no bearing on gameplay whatsoever, making it absolutely laughable when anyone (as they do) ties to paint SOE's games as RMT with a monthly fee.
This is what most of those who voice disagreement with RMT in Blizzard or SOE games fail to realize. They fail to actually take a look at why RMT trading is viewed as the evil that it is and instead of actually taking the time to consider exactly what it does and does not effect. They immediately consider RMT trading itself as the problem (which it isn't really) without considering the effects of the RMT as the issue, hence the term "knee-jerk reaction."
"Kneejerk" reactions happen when exposed to something for the first time.
Not really, see what I've written below the quote for an explanation.
When something has been smeared on the "MMO house walls" and "rubbed in your face" you tend to have gotten a good whiff of what it is. Some people like the smell, others think it stinks.
what?
Actually, a knee-jerk (needs a hyphen because if we're going to disagree on the meaning of a word, we better get technical with our spelling) reaction is just an automatic response to something, and I find it hard to believe you would deny that any mention of RMT trading of ANY sort (as exhibiting in Blizzard's selling of what is it, cosmetic pets for a charity) is met with almost immediate disdain from the majority of this community without any sort of real thought as to what exactly the implications are.
dictionary.reference.com/browse/kneejerk
Slang Dictionary
knee-jerk
1. mod.
automatic; quick and without thought. : That was only a knee-jerk response. Pay no attention.
No, I believe you fail in assuming that people don't take those variations into consideration. People aren't as stupid as you seem to brand them to be. If you can't handle that people don't like RMT and feel some need to try to explain to them all the different variations (of which they are well aware of and still don't like), well, that's your thing. One day you'll learn that just because someone doesn't like what you like doesn't automatically mean they don't understand it.
Oh, and let's get one thing straight. I never wrote majority. You threw that word out. Don't try to saddle me with it. I mean, if were going to be technical and all let's stick exactly to the words that were said.
I pasted the definition above with the specific wording "quick and without thought" as the focus. Avid MMO gamers have, by now, put much thought into the various RMT schemes and have decided they don't like them. Just because you may like them doesn't invalidate their decision not to.
As for the hyphen comment, get over it. Spent most of this week writing papers for the university and I invoke my right to not give a damn about minor spelling and grammatical errors on matters that are, in the grand scheme, unimportant. Oh, and as for the last bit to which you replied "what", it's called a metaphor. My fault for not spelling it out that you should substitute RMT for crap.
dictionary.reference.com/browse/metaphor
met⋅a⋅phor
/?m?t??f?r, -f?r/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [met-uh-fawr, -fer] Show IPA
Use metaphor in a Sentence
See web results for metaphor
See images of metaphor
–noun
1. a figure of speech in which a term or phrase is applied to something to which it is not literally applicable in order to suggest a resemblance, as in “A mighty fortress is our God.” Compare mixed metaphor, simile (def. 1).
2. something used, or regarded as being used, to represent something else; emblem; symbol.
"Many nights, my friend... Many nights I've put a blade to your throat while you were sleeping. Glad I never killed you, Steve. You're alright..."
Chavez y Chavez
At this point in time I'd hardly agree that this website's members as well as those of the many other various websites have a "kneejerk" reaction to the idea of RMT.
See below the quote
By now any avid MMO gamer knows what RMT is enough (as it has various variations but one central theme) to have formulated an opinion on it and to make a decision as to whether or not it is a option they want to engage in.
You say RMT trading has variations (or at least I think you do), but you fail to acknowledge that people never take those variations into consideration before condemning the business model. RMT as exhibited in games such as Everquest and Everquest 2 in no way divide the playerbase, and the cash shop has absolutely no bearing on someone's ability to advance when compared to another. It would take the average player about two or three months to reach the max level in Everquest 2 (mainly fighting through the last ten to twenty levels) and about a month or two to reach the cap in the original EQ. XP potions are sold in the shop, but they are in no way necessary like they are in various foreign F2P MMOs. If you want an extra boost in XP, it's there for you, but it's not like you don't level fast enough or have various forms of boosted XP whether it be from veteran rewards or vitality XP other than what you buy off the item shop. Everything else is simply cosmetic and has absolutely no bearing on gameplay whatsoever, making it absolutely laughable when anyone (as they do) ties to paint SOE's games as RMT with a monthly fee.
This is what most of those who voice disagreement with RMT in Blizzard or SOE games fail to realize. They fail to actually take a look at why RMT trading is viewed as the evil that it is and instead of actually taking the time to consider exactly what it does and does not effect. They immediately consider RMT trading itself as the problem (which it isn't really) without considering the effects of the RMT as the issue, hence the term "knee-jerk reaction."
"Kneejerk" reactions happen when exposed to something for the first time.
Not really, see what I've written below the quote for an explanation.
When something has been smeared on the "MMO house walls" and "rubbed in your face" you tend to have gotten a good whiff of what it is. Some people like the smell, others think it stinks.
what?
Actually, a knee-jerk (needs a hyphen because if we're going to disagree on the meaning of a word, we better get technical with our spelling) reaction is just an automatic response to something, and I find it hard to believe you would deny that any mention of RMT trading of ANY sort (as exhibiting in Blizzard's selling of what is it, cosmetic pets for a charity) is met with almost immediate disdain from the majority of this community without any sort of real thought as to what exactly the implications are.
dictionary.reference.com/browse/kneejerk
Slang Dictionary
knee-jerk
1. mod.
automatic; quick and without thought. : That was only a knee-jerk response. Pay no attention.
You say, " "Kneejerk" reactions happen when exposed to something for the first time, " but I said they were automatic reactions. Those two definitions are in no way related to one another and thank you for listing an additional definition of the term along with a citation for further clarity.
No, I believe you fail in assuming that people don't take those variations into consideration. People aren't as stupid as you seem to brand them to be. If you can't handle that people don't like RMT and feel some need to try to explain to them all the different variations (of which they are well aware of and still don't like), well, that's your thing. One day you'll learn that just because someone doesn't like what you like doesn't automatically mean they don't understand it.
I didn't brand anyone as being stupid. I blamed them as being biased -- being blinded. Actually, I blame them for being blinded by a lot of things. Namely, the negative stereotypical F2P MMO cash shop, blind hatred for John Smedley, blind hatred for SOE, blind hatred for WoW, and blind hatred for Blizzard Entertainment. Nowhere in any of my posts did I allude to anyone being stupid.
My point is not about the fact that people don't like RMT trading but why they do not. Read some threads here and le
Oh, and let's get one thing straight. I never wrote majority. You threw that word out. Don't try to saddle me with it. I mean, if were going to be technical and all let's stick exactly to the words that were said.
Stop accusing me of things I didn't do. In my first thread, I simply used a term such as "this community" meaning that I had, in fact, seen many examples within this community of blind bashing of RMT without any legitimate reason for it. In my second post, I said "the majority" because from what I have seen, more players here do tend to automatically condemn RMT without exploring what exactly its ramifcations are within the game world. My mistake here is I said "the majority" without any real way of proving that it was, in fact, a majority. Still, this has nothing to do with accusing you of using that word of which I did no such thing.
I pasted the definition above with the specific wording "quick and without thought" as the focus. Avid MMO gamers have, by now, put much thought into the various RMT schemes and have decided they don't like them. Just because you may like them doesn't invalidate their decision not to.
I wish you would link me some threads where players have had these discussions amongst themselves where they decide that they just do not like real money trading, even if it involves thirty minute XP potions in a game where you can reach the max level in two months while playing casually.
As for the hyphen comment, get over it. Spent most of this week writing papers for the university and I invoke my right to not give a damn about minor spelling and grammatical errors on matters that are, in the grand scheme, unimportant. Oh, and as for the last bit to which you replied "what", it's called a metaphor. My fault for not spelling it out that you should substitute RMT for crap.
Congratulations, I'm happy for you. Not that I believe college education is any real measure of intelligence (mainly just how well you can read books and regurgitate information), I work for the writing center in my college, but do I spend every moment of my time on a web forum double checking every sentence for a possible gramatical error before giving myself an hour long speech on why I would change what I am considering changing? No, because I have not the patience nor do I have the time. Again, if you will read back over my first post, you'll see I did not include a hypen in the word either. I simply said what I said because if we are, in fact, going to have a debate over the definition of a stupid word of all things, we may as well be proper enough to type said word correctly. -- emphasis on the underlined word there.
dictionary.reference.com/browse/metaphor
met⋅a⋅phor
/?m?t??f?r, -f?r/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [met-uh-fawr, -fer] Show IPA
Use metaphor in a Sentence
See web results for metaphor
See images of metaphor
–noun
1. a figure of speech in which a term or phrase is applied to something to which it is not literally applicable in order to suggest a resemblance, as in “A mighty fortress is our God.” Compare mixed metaphor, simile (def. 1).
2. something used, or regarded as being used, to represent something else; emblem; symbol.
Yes, I know what a metaphor is. Assuming, this has to do with the last thing you posted, congratultaions, you put in an English literary device in a thread on a web forum about MMORPGs. Why don't we just hand you your English degree right now?
If we do, however, analyze that metaphor, I hope you aren't a woman because your bias is showing through your wet t-shirt (see, I can do that too). You use terms like "smeared" and "whiffed" alongside slang terms like "rubbed in your face" all of which carry a negative connotation. It is quite clear to me that the fact that you do not like RMT trading in any shape, form, or fashion has caused you to take such an offense over my observation of many (that's a better word than most) individuals in the MMO community as well as MMORPG.com have a knee jerk reaction (def: automatic, without thinking) towards RMT.
So that I do not deviate from the topic any more than I already have, this will be the last time I respond to your rants. I leave you with my saying that I am just as entitled to my opinions as you are and that nothing I have stated in any of my posts here were meant to be taken as inherent fact.
I find that hard to believe. Every EQ2 guild I know is vastly different in age and gender structure than this.
Smed is like the Emperor in "The Emperor's New Clothes" fairy tale, only that HE is the only one left who didn't realize than if fact he is naked.
Nothing in this interview about visions! About dreams! About coolness and fun. He is an awful bean counter.
You hit the nail on the head Smedley has no vision whatsoever from a fans perspective he is purely a bean counter and not a very good one at that.
but yeah, to call this game Fantastic is like calling Twilight the Godfather of vampire movies....
I think anybody who reads the above statement from Mardy (an accurate statement too) and sees where this genre has gone in the last six years cannot possibly believe the notion that this genre is about satisfying the casual gamer. Smedley, and any RMT game for that manner, caters to the hardcore.
I think I'll write a blog about it, but in brief, the thing that separates casual and hardcore hasn't anything to do with time, but willingness to do what it takes to achieve online success. Given that definition, the games have been becoming more hardcore due to the influence of Smed and those like him.
__________________________
"Its sad when people use religion to feel superior, its even worse to see people using a video game to do it."
--Arcken
"...when it comes to pimping EVE I have little restraints."
--Hellmar, CEO of CCP.
"It's like they took a gun, put it to their nugget sack and pulled the trigger over and over again, each time telling us how great it was that they were shooting themselves in the balls."
--Exar_Kun on SWG's NGE
I find that hard to believe. Every EQ2 guild I know is vastly different in age and gender structure than this.
Smed is like the Emperor in "The Emperor's New Clothes" fairy tale, only that HE is the only one left who didn't realize than if fact he is naked.
Nothing in this interview about visions! About dreams! About coolness and fun. He is an awful bean counter.
I've seen smedly make comments about soes player base falling into that range. It was around the time they were hyping free realms and how they wanted to change their demographic.
I am fairly certain he means to reference his customer base an not the entire market. Just a guess, but I suspect runescape has more young players than soe has in total.
I find that hard to believe. Every EQ2 guild I know is vastly different in age and gender structure than this.
Obligatory Smed shot:
Come on guys, this is the Smedster we're talking about here. You're not seriously contemplating figures that he drops as being remotely accurate or researched, are you? You know his signature on every forum post and appended to every comment reads "brought to you by Carl's Jr.", in invisible ink, right?
We now return you to your regularly scheduled conversations.
I assume you are correct. But tossing around such... vague estimations makes one wonder if the guy actually works with such concepts in mind? Would explain a lot. Let's hope he has not so much to do with the actual design of Agency and DCU.
People don't ask questions to get answers - they ask questions to show how smart they are. - Dogbert
So much for technical accuracy. It's 1/2 of one of two pets for charity, and only until the end of the year.
"" Voice acting isn't an RPG element....it's just a production value." - grumpymel2
You are correct on the math part[sort of],this is what i have been saying for a long time.People keep revolving around numbers like they are what PROVES games are good or not,the fact is right now there is not the player base to form ANY opinion based on numbers.
Once the cartoon playhouse WOW dissolves,it will still never be a good indication of a games value because the majority of gamers follow each other around in hype and big name developers like Bioware/Blizzard ect ect.
I would not say SOE has only EQ to fall back on they actually make tons of great games,or have had tons of games developed for them,i would also say for online SWG was a decent success.There is not too many developers operating more than 1 MMO right now,i would say Blizzard could do it based on their fanbois love that would buy anythign and call a lemon great but whatever.
One thing however i might add,is that i agree there is no populace to feed new MMO's[hardcore populace] ,there sort of is a[softcore]populace if you create the right gimmick.Look at games that are being played on Facebook like Happy Farm and similar games,these are pretty much a complete joke,yet they are making more money than Blizzard and have 10x the player base especially on QQ Farm the Taiwan version of Happy Farm.So there is obviously a ton of people out there gaming,it is the gimmick that captures them,they all want to be noticed on Facebook and things like Twitter.Before it was MYspace ,there is always some gimmick floating around that grabs millions of users for goofy reasons.
There was that guy who sold a million copies of that Iphone game,the battle tank one,i don't think anyone would try to argue that it is a great game because it had a million users.So in a way i feel sorry for a lot of these developers they put in a ton of hard work and lots of money and resources only to see cheap ass efforts have more success.
Never forget 3 mile Island and never trust a government official or company spokesman.
At this point in time I'd hardly agree that this website's members as well as those of the many other various websites have a "kneejerk" reaction to the idea of RMT.
See below the quote
By now any avid MMO gamer knows what RMT is enough (as it has various variations but one central theme) to have formulated an opinion on it and to make a decision as to whether or not it is a option they want to engage in.
You say RMT trading has variations (or at least I think you do), but you fail to acknowledge that people never take those variations into consideration before condemning the business model. RMT as exhibited in games such as Everquest and Everquest 2 in no way divide the playerbase, and the cash shop has absolutely no bearing on someone's ability to advance when compared to another. It would take the average player about two or three months to reach the max level in Everquest 2 (mainly fighting through the last ten to twenty levels) and about a month or two to reach the cap in the original EQ. XP potions are sold in the shop, but they are in no way necessary like they are in various foreign F2P MMOs. If you want an extra boost in XP, it's there for you, but it's not like you don't level fast enough or have various forms of boosted XP whether it be from veteran rewards or vitality XP other than what you buy off the item shop. Everything else is simply cosmetic and has absolutely no bearing on gameplay whatsoever, making it absolutely laughable when anyone (as they do) ties to paint SOE's games as RMT with a monthly fee.
This is what most of those who voice disagreement with RMT in Blizzard or SOE games fail to realize. They fail to actually take a look at why RMT trading is viewed as the evil that it is and instead of actually taking the time to consider exactly what it does and does not effect. They immediately consider RMT trading itself as the problem (which it isn't really) without considering the effects of the RMT as the issue, hence the term "knee-jerk reaction."
"Kneejerk" reactions happen when exposed to something for the first time.
Not really, see what I've written below the quote for an explanation.
When something has been smeared on the "MMO house walls" and "rubbed in your face" you tend to have gotten a good whiff of what it is. Some people like the smell, others think it stinks.
what?
Actually, a knee-jerk (needs a hyphen because if we're going to disagree on the meaning of a word, we better get technical with our spelling) reaction is just an automatic response to something, and I find it hard to believe you would deny that any mention of RMT trading of ANY sort (as exhibiting in Blizzard's selling of what is it, cosmetic pets for a charity) is met with almost immediate disdain from the majority of this community without any sort of real thought as to what exactly the implications are.
dictionary.reference.com/browse/kneejerk
Slang Dictionary
knee-jerk
1. mod.
automatic; quick and without thought. : That was only a knee-jerk response. Pay no attention.
You say, " "Kneejerk" reactions happen when exposed to something for the first time, " but I said they were automatic reactions. Those two definitions are in no way related to one another and thank you for listing an additional definition of the term along with a citation for further clarity.
No, I believe you fail in assuming that people don't take those variations into consideration. People aren't as stupid as you seem to brand them to be. If you can't handle that people don't like RMT and feel some need to try to explain to them all the different variations (of which they are well aware of and still don't like), well, that's your thing. One day you'll learn that just because someone doesn't like what you like doesn't automatically mean they don't understand it.
I didn't brand anyone as being stupid. I blamed them as being biased -- being blinded. Actually, I blame them for being blinded by a lot of things. Namely, the negative stereotypical F2P MMO cash shop, blind hatred for John Smedley, blind hatred for SOE, blind hatred for WoW, and blind hatred for Blizzard Entertainment. Nowhere in any of my posts did I allude to anyone being stupid.
My point is not about the fact that people don't like RMT trading but why they do not. Read some threads here and le
Oh, and let's get one thing straight. I never wrote majority. You threw that word out. Don't try to saddle me with it. I mean, if were going to be technical and all let's stick exactly to the words that were said.
Stop accusing me of things I didn't do. In my first thread, I simply used a term such as "this community" meaning that I had, in fact, seen many examples within this community of blind bashing of RMT without any legitimate reason for it. In my second post, I said "the majority" because from what I have seen, more players here do tend to automatically condemn RMT without exploring what exactly its ramifcations are within the game world. My mistake here is I said "the majority" without any real way of proving that it was, in fact, a majority. Still, this has nothing to do with accusing you of using that word of which I did no such thing.
I pasted the definition above with the specific wording "quick and without thought" as the focus. Avid MMO gamers have, by now, put much thought into the various RMT schemes and have decided they don't like them. Just because you may like them doesn't invalidate their decision not to.
I wish you would link me some threads where players have had these discussions amongst themselves where they decide that they just do not like real money trading, even if it involves thirty minute XP potions in a game where you can reach the max level in two months while playing casually.
As for the hyphen comment, get over it. Spent most of this week writing papers for the university and I invoke my right to not give a damn about minor spelling and grammatical errors on matters that are, in the grand scheme, unimportant. Oh, and as for the last bit to which you replied "what", it's called a metaphor. My fault for not spelling it out that you should substitute RMT for crap.
Congratulations, I'm happy for you. Not that I believe college education is any real measure of intelligence (mainly just how well you can read books and regurgitate information), I work for the writing center in my college, but do I spend every moment of my time on a web forum double checking every sentence for a possible gramatical error before giving myself an hour long speech on why I would change what I am considering changing? No, because I have not the patience nor do I have the time. Again, if you will read back over my first post, you'll see I did not include a hypen in the word either. I simply said what I said because if we are, in fact, going to have a debate over the definition of a stupid word of all things, we may as well be proper enough to type said word correctly. -- emphasis on the underlined word there.
dictionary.reference.com/browse/metaphor
met⋅a⋅phor
/?m?t??f?r, -f?r/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [met-uh-fawr, -fer] Show IPA
Use metaphor in a Sentence
See web results for metaphor
See images of metaphor
–noun
1. a figure of speech in which a term or phrase is applied to something to which it is not literally applicable in order to suggest a resemblance, as in “A mighty fortress is our God.” Compare mixed metaphor, simile (def. 1).
2. something used, or regarded as being used, to represent something else; emblem; symbol.
Yes, I know what a metaphor is. Assuming, this has to do with the last thing you posted, congratultaions, you put in an English literary device in a thread on a web forum about MMORPGs. Why don't we just hand you your English degree right now?
If we do, however, analyze that metaphor, I hope you aren't a woman because your bias is showing through your wet t-shirt (see, I can do that too). You use terms like "smeared" and "whiffed" alongside slang terms like "rubbed in your face" all of which carry a negative connotation. It is quite clear to me that the fact that you do not like RMT trading in any shape, form, or fashion has caused you to take such an offense over my observation of many (that's a better word than most) individuals in the MMO community as well as MMORPG.com have a knee jerk reaction (def: automatic, without thinking) towards RMT.
So that I do not deviate from the topic any more than I already have, this will be the last time I respond to your rants. I leave you with my saying that I am just as entitled to my opinions as you are and that nothing I have stated in any of my posts here were meant to be taken as inherent fact.
Well, for clarification, this isn't one of my rants. My rants are much longer. I only propose that since you can understand that people are entitled to their own opinions that you stop assuming that those posting a negative opinion on RMT's haven't had such thought and discussions in the manner you list as appropriate in order to validate said opinions. It is true, of course, that there may be some who have not taken such time to reflect on the matter as there are always exceptions. That stated it must be noted that there have been too many threads on this site to count over the last few years that your use of the site's search function should retrieve them easily to read at your leisure.
I agree that college isn't a measure of intelligence and only barometer of ability to read/listen and repeat. I appreciate the offer of the English degree however I'll pass. I much prefer my European History degree I'm working toward and to remain out of ranks with grammar fascists.
As for my dislike of RMT in any form, you surmise incorrectly that it is the cause of my disagreement with your assertion that "the majority" or many have a knee-jerk (put the hyphen in just for you; cookies are in the mail) reaction to RMT. It's your assumption that they haven't had significant exposure to and discourse of the topic. It is fairly accurate to state, I think, that you haven't been involved in the great bulk of the discussion on this forum regarding RMT nor in the many debates this forum's users have engaged with their MMO gaming friends offline. Thus it is irresponsible to define their responses here as knee-jerk, which to me has connotations of labeling them ill-informed or "stupid". You may just have to entertain the possibility that the posts that you are reading are their true, educated feelings on the matter.
Lastly, my bias (which everyone has; you are positively biased toward the use of RMT in your preferred form/variation I take it) isn't showing through a "wet t-shirt". With respect to this topic that t-shirt came off a long time ago. Though I must admit being a male I don't think I'd personally want to be in a wet t-shirt scenario however if the ladies demand it I shall endeavor to accommodate, though an Adonis I am not.
"Many nights, my friend... Many nights I've put a blade to your throat while you were sleeping. Glad I never killed you, Steve. You're alright..."
Chavez y Chavez
I find that hard to believe. Every EQ2 guild I know is vastly different in age and gender structure than this.
Obligatory Smed shot:
Come on guys, this is the Smedster we're talking about here. You're not seriously contemplating figures that he drops as being remotely accurate or researched, are you? You know his signature on every forum post and appended to every comment reads "brought to you by Carl's Jr.", in invisible ink, right?
We now return you to your regularly scheduled conversations.
I assume you are correct. But tossing around such... vague estimations makes one wonder if the guy actually works with such concepts in mind? Would explain a lot. Let's hope he has not so much to do with the actual design of Agency and DCU.
Candidly, I'm at a point that I don't know what to think of the guy. I've progressed from unfettered hatred of the guy in November 2005 to a belief that he is genuinely incompetent about 6 months later and am now in a state of genuine bewilderment. If pressed I'd have to liken him to a spent cartridge on a battlefield: he's nothing left to contribute to the fight.
"Many nights, my friend... Many nights I've put a blade to your throat while you were sleeping. Glad I never killed you, Steve. You're alright..."
Chavez y Chavez
Amen to that brother, you forgot to mention how he fleeces every SWG player by trying to sell loot cards via a lottery (forcing you to buy more until the one you wanted came up) and charging a subscription fee alongside it! Smedley has got some pretty shameless scams going on with his RMT + subscription fees where he preys upon the weak minded! However as far as he'a concerned it's all good business.
He's been going crazy for RMT since his RMT project The Agency was announced many moons ago (wonder when that scam is launched?). He's brought it into every game SOE can because it's just another method of squeezing blood from a stone as his playerbase further dwindles. The reason I never played EQ or EQ2 was the amount of expansions there were to get (even 5 years ago!), it was so confusing and expensive then he brings along RMT alongside subscription fees. This guy is out to fleece the MMORPG playerbase in the most obscene and shameless way he can.
I spoke to Smedley on this issue and he said this,
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"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It would be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience"
CS Lewis
I find that hard to believe. Every EQ2 guild I know is vastly different in age and gender structure than this.
Smed is like the Emperor in "The Emperor's New Clothes" fairy tale, only that HE is the only one left who didn't realize than if fact he is naked.
Nothing in this interview about visions! About dreams! About coolness and fun. He is an awful bean counter.
While I hate to agree with Smed on just about anything, he's right in that area. There has been extensive demographic study done by marketing firms as well as game companies themselves to verify those statistics.
What you have to realize is us mid-thirties guys ( and gals ) have been playing games since the late '70's. We were playing games when games weren't "cool" or mainstream.
While if you look at the majority of those in their '40's - '50's and above, they were mostly "too old" to mess with "kid stuff" ( video games ) back when we were embracing them.
And while you do have many younger people playing games nowadays, most of those are stuck to things like Myspace and their texting and hanging out and other "social" trappings, with gaming taking up a smaller percentage of their time.
No it's not. There is a clear difference between selling gold and equipment and temporary boosts.
No it's not. There is a clear difference between selling gold and equipment and temporary boosts.
You can buy and sell gold, equipment, and even characters in EQ2 , so SOE has that covered too.
Is there? What is it?
"" Voice acting isn't an RPG element....it's just a production value." - grumpymel2
Is there? What is it?
Since SOE does both it doesn't really matter, though some have to be bought by trade card lottery in SWG which has been banned in several states in the U.S.A.
"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It would be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience"
CS Lewis
If I remember right Smedley was apart of Verant. He got his role because they sold out to SoE. I could be wrong but I believe that was what happened. Anywho, SoE blows and so does Smedley. I loved SWG other then the bugs when it was released aka Bio-Engineer not working, Combat medics able to black bar your from bugs, and etc.
I loved the Creature Handler class it was so original at the time. The crafting in SWG was superior to any other game even to date. WTF, has SoE not capitalized on this? I still
to play EQ. I have had 5 accounts over the pass 10 years. I played at release and was in a top 5 server wide raiding guild for the first 5 years. I have done it all raiding wise for multiple games and other then graphics EQ's is still way better then WoW's and EQ 2's.
The Bard class is still by far my most favorite class playing with then any other game. Wish more games would implement this type of playing style. To totally be active and to use NPC's for your dps and etc.
I actually went back to EQ the 50/50 server for about 6 weeks. I enjoyed every little bit of it except the lack of groups out there to do something. The only thing, I wish EQ would of done was added more LdoN type dungeons. Anywho, if I could of gotten the wife to quit WoW and play EQ I would of stayed with EQ.
I say, boot Smedley and try to make a EQ3.
Before Smed was CEO at SOE he worked there and pitched the idea of EQ to the then CEO. She thought it would go nowhere and created verant (always owned by SOE) to create EQ so that when it belly flopped it wouldn't be associated with SOE. Well it didn't so Verant was absorbed back into SOE.
Also let's not forget SOE also has the higest subscription fees too with their life support ... erm I mean station pass at $30 the last time I looked. Add into that the RMT and crazy gambling games with the trading cards, Smed would be making a mint if he had any subscribers left!!!!!
"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It would be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience"
CS Lewis
No it's not. There is a clear difference between selling gold and equipment and temporary boosts.
Yes it is. Its the use of additional funds over and above the cost of the game and the monthly subscription to gain an advantage over those who do not ie Not cheat.
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Whats a Micro Trans? how they work?
Micropayments are used in some massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPGs). These are typically free to play games with no monthly fee, which offer players the possibility of purchasing in-game currency redeemable for items. These items are often more powerful than those that can be obtained by non-paying players or offer an advantage or feature otherwise unavailable.
- Wikipedia
Ideas of Smedley's and/or SOE's that kill their MMO's (checked if tried already):
X Heroic Opportunity Wheel
X Too many redudant classes
X Combat too flashy (i.e., first level warriors with flaming sword attacks when they do not have flaming swords)
X NPC's with whiny New York accents who insult your character
X RMT
X Boxed-in "on rails" in-game tutorials
Now, after $10's of millions of dollars, let's see how many times SOE continues to check-mark the above list and shoot themselves in the foot.
Sorry, I did not mention the other 20 things they get wrong; just not enough energy right now.