AO had a way worse launch than AoC. There were massive technical problems and people couldn't even get into the game. AoC had very high requirements for the time, so many people had problems running it. The game itself ran well enough.
The main problems were the lack of quest content in the later tier of the game, the broken and buggy siege system, and the seriously unbalanced itemization which destroyed pvp. Its clear that the game was rushed for release, and these finer points of the game were not tested enough.
AoC was certainly disapointing at launch in several aspects, but it was not nearly as bad as some people claim.
Funcom's track record is a little concerning, but TSW should be judged based on its own merits and beta process just like any other mmo.
I must agre with you on all points. I hope that people got videocard and memory to run TSW when it lanches in 18 months.
I disagree. AoC had a lot of things with it beyond bugs. The game just wasn't fun to play for those of us who wanted some tactics and strategy with their gameplay, not a twitch game.
If you look at those who love the game and those who hated it, then you can probably see that the first are the lovers of twitch, who hate games like Lotro because it gives them to many buttons. The last, hate AoC because its fighting was to simple and required more button mashing then thinking.
To me AoC was close to a Cryptic game then is healthy for such a big budget game. Cryptic does cheap and cheerful. It works but then they don't spend a fortune on development so they don't need to score a massive hit with long staying players.
The Secret World, I don't know... Ragnar talks a lot about how he wants to make the game easy to play, that you can instantly get into the action. Right, well that describes a Cryptic game. Problem a lot of players leave that game after 3 months or less. Cryptic has by then earned its money, Funcom will not.
The gameplay video shows a player walking sideways while shooting flame. In fact you see flame a lot. What I didn't see was any evidence of anything more challenging. Will the game have combat that appeals?
And before the twitch fans and AoC fans speak up, remember, if the gameplay you loved was really popular, AoC wouldn't be the failure that it is.
I think the biggest failure of Funcom with AoC was that they went into a dungeon before WoW was released and didn't stick their heads out until AoC was released and basically didn't learn from other companies mistakes.
And TsW has been in production for even longer. Has Ragnar learned from other games? Is he going to produce something that is going to be fun to play, for more then the first month?
I don't know. Frankly the more I hear about the game, the more I doubt this game is going to appeal to me. It sounds more and more like a Cryptic title, cheap cheerful, fast and boring as hell.
AO had a way worse launch than AoC. There were massive technical problems and people couldn't even get into the game. AoC had very high requirements for the time, so many people had problems running it. The game itself ran well enough.
The main problems were the lack of quest content in the later tier of the game, the broken and buggy siege system, and the seriously unbalanced itemization which destroyed pvp. Its clear that the game was rushed for release, and these finer points of the game were not tested enough.
AoC was certainly disapointing at launch in several aspects, but it was not nearly as bad as some people claim.
Funcom's track record is a little concerning, but TSW should be judged based on its own merits and beta process just like any other mmo.
I must agre with you on all points. I hope that people got videocard and memory to run TSW when it lanches in 18 months.
I disagree. AoC had a lot of things with it beyond bugs. The game just wasn't fun to play for those of us who wanted some tactics and strategy with their gameplay, not a twitch game.
If you look at those who love the game and those who hated it, then you can probably see that the first are the lovers of twitch, who hate games like Lotro because it gives them to many buttons. The last, hate AoC because its fighting was to simple and required more button mashing then thinking.
To me AoC was close to a Cryptic game then is healthy for such a big budget game. Cryptic does cheap and cheerful. It works but then they don't spend a fortune on development so they don't need to score a massive hit with long staying players.
The Secret World, I don't know... Ragnar talks a lot about how he wants to make the game easy to play, that you can instantly get into the action. Right, well that describes a Cryptic game. Problem a lot of players leave that game after 3 months or less. Cryptic has by then earned its money, Funcom will not.
The gameplay video shows a player walking sideways while shooting flame. In fact you see flame a lot. What I didn't see was any evidence of anything more challenging. Will the game have combat that appeals?
And before the twitch fans and AoC fans speak up, remember, if the gameplay you loved was really popular, AoC wouldn't be the failure that it is.
I think the biggest failure of Funcom with AoC was that they went into a dungeon before WoW was released and didn't stick their heads out until AoC was released and basically didn't learn from other companies mistakes.
And TsW has been in production for even longer. Has Ragnar learned from other games? Is he going to produce something that is going to be fun to play, for more then the first month?
I don't know. Frankly the more I hear about the game, the more I doubt this game is going to appeal to me. It sounds more and more like a Cryptic title, cheap cheerful, fast and boring as hell.
How fare did you run your charracter and when and for how long did play the game. Sounds like you did not leav tortage.
The meele attack is alot more complicated than WOW and alot of other MMOs out there. Sow I realy dont thinke the combat is the problem. The main problem with AoC is that the promist alot, and had a big ballance issue, memmory glitches, not compatible with low ram PC and low end videocards. There was a huge lvl laps betwen 55-65 that ymir pass fixed 7 months later. TSW will not have this problems becouse the following:
-The game director is brillian and the AoC one has left the game.
-The stories in the game is well producet with no lame grindingquest.
-Your are not locked in on zone/path in the same way becouse there is no lvl.
-There is curently no RL MMORPG on the rise that can compaire to TSW.
-The Graphic is brilliant.
-They have alot more stuff in this game as they have same budget on both games, but have saved alot of money as the game motor is basicly the same and the tool for making items is the same. They get more at the same price.
I beta tested Anarchy Online and was horrified when Funcom decided to go gold on the title. They did it for one reason only. To get money so they could keep working on it. After the awful launch in one region, they wiped the forums ahead of the launch in another region to hide all the negative (and justified)things people said about the state of the game. After this second launch and the backlash that followed, they then said they would not charge a subscription fee until the game was '110% ready' (their own quote). They then wiped this message shortly after and then began to charge a monthly fee. They now will deny any of this ever happened since they have tried to erase all traces of it. It was a good 18 months after launch until AO was in any really decent state to play. But that was not the worst of it.
Through the life of AO, it was all bait and switch from Funcom. But before you blame one man, remember that the AOC producer (Gaute) did not have a hand in this at the start. He came to the forefront on the Shadowlands expansion(don't get me started on that topic) so this is FC as a whole to blame. Their complete disdain for their customers during this time was staggering. FC would ignore serious bugs and promises they made to add extra expansions to get more money and divert people away from the things they were not fixing. They would even just take things out of the game (user-created missions for example) rather than spend time making it work.
Fast Forward to AoC and the very same things happened again. I'm sure those who bought the special edition with the drinking cloaks will testify. Another game of empty promises, misleading customers,some blatant untruths (Sieges tested internally and working 100% was claimed) and things that just went unfixed and still are unfixed. Two years on and the game is only just now where it should be. It's the same bait and switch tactics all over again from FC.
Now here comes the predicted expansion to get more money and divert your attention away. I thought that they would have learnt from AO that you cannot treat your paying customers this way. I was wrong. I have no confidence in them doing anything different with their next MMO. I can only hope the TSW license ends up with a more reputable company.
Anyone who thinks FC have changed and that it was all the fault of one man who has left the company will only have themselves to blame when they get the same treatment in TSW. But it's your money to waste. I'm just saying that they've had two strikes at this so far.
I was very excited when TSW was announced as I have been dying for a cthulhu-mythos type MMO, but was very saddened to hear it was being developed by a company that has a long history of their ambition outreaching their ability and little integrity when it comes their customers.
Be warned. Their past products have taken 1+ years to be even in a decent playable state, you may want to consider this before throwing down your $50.
I beta tested Anarchy Online and was horrified when Funcom decided to go gold on the title. They did it for one reason only. To get money so they could keep working on it. After the awful launch in one region, they wiped the forums ahead of the launch in another region to hide all the negative (and justified)things people said about the state of the game. After this second launch and the backlash that followed, they then said they would not charge a subscription fee until the game was '110% ready' (their own quote). They then wiped this message shortly after and then began to charge a monthly fee. They now will deny any of this ever happened since they have tried to erase all traces of it. It was a good 18 months after launch until AO was in any really decent state to play. But that was not the worst of it.
Through the life of AO, it was all bait and switch from Funcom. But before you blame one man, remember that the AOC producer (Gaute) did not have a hand in this at the start. He came to the forefront on the Shadowlands expansion(don't get me started on that topic) so this is FC as a whole to blame. Their complete disdain for their customers during this time was staggering. FC would ignore serious bugs and promises they made to add extra expansions to get more money and divert people away from the things they were not fixing. They would even just take things out of the game (user-created missions for example) rather than spend time making it work.
Fast Forward to AoC and the very same things happened again. I'm sure those who bought the special edition with the drinking cloaks will testify. Another game of empty promises, misleading customers,some blatant untruths (Sieges tested internally and working 100% was claimed) and things that just went unfixed and still are unfixed. Two years on and the game is only just now where it should be. It's the same bait and switch tactics all over again from FC.
Now here comes the predicted expansion to get more money and divert your attention away. I thought that they would have learnt from AO that you cannot treat your paying customers this way. I was wrong. I have no confidence in them doing anything different with their next MMO. I can only hope the TSW license ends up with a more reputable company.
Anyone who thinks FC have changed and that it was all the fault of one man who has left the company will only have themselves to blame when they get the same treatment in TSW. But it's your money to waste. I'm just saying that they've had two strikes at this so far.
I was very excited when TSW was announced as I have been dying for a cthulhu-mythos type MMO, but was very saddened to hear it was being developed by a company that has a long history of their ambition outreaching their ability and little integrity when it comes their customers.
Be warned. Their past products have taken 1+ years to be even in a decent playable state, you may want to consider this before throwing down your $50.
I se that this is your first post, and quite a good one at that. I would onely like to say that all this has been postet here several times now, and we all know that Funcom had an bad trackrecord with MMO sow fare. The ones that can take som buggs and faulty section can start to play the game at the start and the rest of you can join when you se forum getting more and more positive posts. I do agre that some issues has taken to long to get fixed(like siege), but I must say that the game(AoC) was quite ballanced and filled with content one year after lanch, and with DX10(stunning grafic). The game is good and has a giant expantion comming in a few more weeks. TSW is werry importent for Funcom. This is an chance to win back the customers for real. And it might be the end of MMORPG for Funcom if they cant make this work. This time I belive they will take there time and not give an offician lanch date before the know they can lanch it with as few buggs as possible.
I'm with you in hoping that FC have learnt their lesson, but their track record to date leaves me cynical about their abilities and their integrity.
We'll see what happens and I'll be a happy man if I'm proved wrong as it would mean the launch of a great MMO and not another empty box of broken promises.
Yes, I like the ideas behind this game but if late breaking beta reports indicate the game is unfinished in typical Funcom style I'm going to hold off for 6 mo or more until they get it more complete before giving it a go.
I'd probably have enjoyed AOC as it is today (I sort of liked it back at launch even) but once I leave a game I rarely go back.
Just trying to live long enough to play a new, released MMORPG, playing New Worlds atm
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"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
Yes, I like the ideas behind this game but if late breaking beta reports indicate the game is unfinished in typical Funcom style I'm going to hold off for 6 mo or more until they get it more complete before giving it a go.
I'd probably have enjoyed AOC as it is today (I sort of liked it back at launch even) but once I leave a game I rarely go back.
Kyleran....usually your posts make a lot of sense to me, but this one....just doesn't.
Of course it's not finished. There isn't even a release date for it yet. They have hinted at it not being until 2012....so yeah....it's not finished. Big deal. There are two years of beta left for it.
I would imagine that Blizzard games are unfinished in beta too....that's what beta IS. I would wager a year's salary that ALL GAMES are unfinished during beta, actually. That comment just made less than no sense. There is no "open beta preview" going on here. This game is still in what is an ACTUAL beta...not the shit we've begun CALLING beta that really isn't.
Unless TSW has been RELEASED and we're playing it and find...that it is "unfinished"......I kind of think the whole FunCom thing is just people still being disappointed with FunCom and trying to place a cloud of doom over anything they touch.
Different game, mostly different people working on it, lots of staff changes at FunCom....I think it's a bit early to predict ANYTHING.
Yes, I like the ideas behind this game but if late breaking beta reports indicate the game is unfinished in typical Funcom style I'm going to hold off for 6 mo or more until they get it more complete before giving it a go.
I'd probably have enjoyed AOC as it is today (I sort of liked it back at launch even) but once I leave a game I rarely go back.
Kyleran....usually your posts make a lot of sense to me, but this one....just doesn't.
Of course it's not finished. There isn't even a release date for it yet. They have hinted at it not being until 2012....so yeah....it's not finished. Big deal. There are two years of beta left for it.
I would imagine that Blizzard games are unfinished in beta too....that's what beta IS. I would wager a year's salary that ALL GAMES are unfinished during beta, actually. That comment just made less than no sense. There is no "open beta preview" going on here. This game is still in what is an ACTUAL beta...not the shit we've begun CALLING beta that really isn't.
Unless TSW has been RELEASED and we're playing it and find...that it is "unfinished"......I kind of think the whole FunCom thing is just people still being disappointed with FunCom and trying to place a cloud of doom over anything they touch.
Different game, mostly different people working on it, lots of staff changes at FunCom....I think it's a bit early to predict ANYTHING.
Sow thrue. But i do understand the once that dont dear to preorder it. I will play TSW in Beta and play it from the start with ore without buggs. If it turnsout to be unplayable( i doubt it) I will just whate a while and resub, no harm done. Just like with AoC. People are stil bashing the game for there lanch problems, and I realy dont know why. The onely reason must be becouse the havent tryed the game laterly and dont have a clue about pressent AoC and the comming TSW(late 2011 early 2012).
Quite the opposite. I think a company that has seen the devestating effects of a bad launch is more likely to do a much better job the second time around.
Now, if they mess this one up, they won't get a third chance from me.
EQ1, EQ2, SWG, SWTOR, GW, GW2 CoH, CoV, FFXI, WoW, CO, War,TSW and a slew of free trials and beta tests
Quite the opposite. I think a company that has seen the devestating effects of a bad launch is more likely to do a much better job the second time around.
Now, if they mess this one up, they won't get a third chance from me.
I think you missed a game, this is their third MMO, and the last two had bad launches. Maybe now you understand why people are sceptical when you yourself say that you wouldn't give them a third chance
Quite the opposite. I think a company that has seen the devestating effects of a bad launch is more likely to do a much better job the second time around.
Now, if they mess this one up, they won't get a third chance from me.
I think you missed a game, this is their third MMO, and the last two had bad launches. Maybe now you understand why people are sceptical when you yourself say that you wouldn't give them a third chance
AoC's launch was no worse than any other I've seen, and I was there for it. I just think that people are so wrapped up in how bad AO's was, even if they never witnessed it, to the point where they simply *had to* overexagerrate what is going on. AoC's launch only went bad for people who don't have a clue about what their rig can handle. I played it on a 7800GT ffs.
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Now Playing: Skyrim, Wurm Online, Tropico 4 Waiting On: GW2, TSW, Archeage, The Rapture
You know, I'm thoroughly excited about this game. Yes the gameplay footage wasn't exactly what I was expecting but we're all on MMORPG posting on forums because I think we can agree we need something new. I'm hoping this is it. Storytelling/ambiance/look seem to be there..now lets see how they execute it.
I can say I'm hoping they push back to the launch date until 2012. That way they have less pressure to get something out by a hyped deadline and maybe we'll get it in Summer 2011.
Quite the opposite. I think a company that has seen the devestating effects of a bad launch is more likely to do a much better job the second time around.
Now, if they mess this one up, they won't get a third chance from me.
I think you missed a game, this is their third MMO, and the last two had bad launches. Maybe now you understand why people are sceptical when you yourself say that you wouldn't give them a third chance
AoC's launch was no worse than any other I've seen, and I was there for it. I just think that people are so wrapped up in how bad AO's was, even if they never witnessed it, to the point where they simply *had to* overexagerrate what is going on. AoC's launch only went bad for people who don't have a clue about what their rig can handle. I played it on a 7800GT ffs.
Um..I too was there for AoC's launch and it was horrible. I've never been stuck on so many rocks before in my life. and I've seen some bad ones (eq1 was worst) and I've seen some good ones (LOTRO best). But in this generation of MMO, Funcom really needed more work before launching AoC. It's not just an urban myth...there is plenty of proof out there.
After playing AOC for the last month (and really getting into it) no. Because I've learned twice now they aren't a company to just write off. Even if their games have bad launches they do tend to turn them around.
I've read all the horror stories people have had during their launches, experienced some myself during AOC's launch. I still think they have a unique way of building a game world. AOC for example has excellent use of terrain, making the world both look and feel real. I understand some people are turned off by realistic graphics because they don't age so well. However I could see myself enjoying the scenery in AOC for a long time to come. I also understand the loading screens do get to people. However I do not agree with people when they say AOC's zones are small. In tortage maybe, the rest? NO
As I understand it TSW has an even more imaginative lead dev. That definitely counts for something IMO.
I'm expecting issues at TSW's release, I'm actually expecting tons of issues at TSW's release. I'll still probably pick it up, as I love the older weird tales authors that have inspired this story, from Howard, to Lovecraft there's some very good story telling to be found there. If TSW is even a third as good, it will rock.
If Tornquist's (SP) previous work says anything, it's that he understands how to deliver a compelling story based on such lore. How well the rest of the product on launch day turns out remains to be seen, and with their track record you should expect some issues. I still feel regardless of that, if you pass by TSW you may be missing out a very unique experience, as well as some very compelling lore delivered just as well as a companies like Bioware, at least on a story telling level.
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Originally posted by Malickie My 2 tin... After playing AOC for the last month (and really getting into it) no. Because I've learned twice now they aren't a company to just write off. Even if their games have bad launches they do tend to turn them around. I've read all the horror stories people have had during their launches, experienced some myself during AOC's launch. I still think they have a unique way of building a game world. AOC for example has excellent use of terrain, making the world both look and feel real. I understand some people are turned off by realistic graphics because they don't age so well. However I could see myself enjoying the scenery in AOC for a long time to come. I also understand the loading screens do get to people. However I do not agree with people when they say AOC's zones are small. In tortage maybe, the rest? NO As I understand it TSW has an even more imaginative lead dev. That definitely counts for something IMO. I'm expecting issues at TSW's release, I'm actually expecting tons of issues at TSW's release. I'll still probably pick it up, as I love the older weird tales authors that have inspired this story, from Howard, to Lovecraft there's some very good story telling to be found there. If TSW is even a third as good, it will rock. If Tornquist's (SP) previous work says anything, it's that he understands how to deliver a compelling story based on such lore. How well the rest of the product on launch day turns out remains to be seen, and with their track record you should expect some issues. I still feel regardless of that, if you pass by TSW you may be missing out a very unique experience, as well as some very compelling lore delivered just as well as a companies like Bioware, at least on a story telling level.
Going to have to agree.
After being on launch and then playing recently, Funcom really did the game well. You still have people hating on the game because they just can't let go of the fact of the bad launch. RotGS is supposedly a test to "open worlds up" making it more of a vast place and the new areas are big indeed.
I will definitely be checking out TSW because it is one of the only MMO's coming out soon that is trying to break some 'MMO Habits' that we've seen in a lot of games lately.
First let me say I enjoy Age of Conan as it is now . When i can get a cheap time card on ebay I play for a couple of months now and then . But i remember what it was like upon launch . This worries me a little because although I like the look of the Secret World and think it could be the most original mmo in a while , I've been burnt by Funcom before . I hope this does turn out to be a great game but I think I will be one of those adopting the wait and see approach this time around . Anyone else feel the same way out there ?
For the record I don't play AOC and have no interest in TSW but I think it's a great question to ask especially for a company with two mmo releases under their belts and both having almost identical problems, I hope for those of you out there willing to help launch the game that they have learned from their mistakes but the problem is mmo devs seem to rarely if ever do that. What you do have going for you again is the fact that once and a half they have been able to pull themselves out of the fire (only counting half since AO was beaten down to a F2P to survive.
but yeah, to call this game Fantastic is like calling Twilight the Godfather of vampire movies....
I'm interested in TSW mainly because of the story. It wasn't the quality of AoC that I didn't like it was that I just found the game extremely borring.. It lasted on my hard drive for 2 days after I bought it. Even now doing the free Trial again I just don't feel the erge to log in.. It would be different maybe if I was a huge Conan buff but, Im not.
But TSW, I'm a big fan of secret societies and stuff like that so I know the game has a big chance to keep me interested so, I know at least I'll give the game a try. Funcom makes great games, I've enjoyed AO and Dreamfall so seeing that this game is being made by different people than AoC it has a good chance it will be vastly different.
Definitely. Both Funcom and NCSoft have succeeded in ensuring I will never purchase one of their games at launch time ever again. Worst management decisions and customer service I have ever seen in the gaming industry by those two companies in regards to AoC and Aion. Regardless how they are run and managed today what happened at launch and for the first few months of those games was unacceptable and downright despicable how things were handled by the companies.
Every game has its issues at launch but what transpired with both of those games was utterly ridiculous especially when you consider it wasn't either of those companies first endeavour into the mmo market and the market history available for those companies to look over to ensure their games did not repeat some of the same mistakes others had made.
There was no excuse for what transpired in either of those games far as I'm concerened, and it would have to be one remarkable game to get me to purchase anything by either of those companies ever again.
1. For god's sake mmo gamers, enough with the analogies. They're unnecessary and your comparisons are terrible, dissimilar, and illogical.
2. To posters feeling the need to state how f2p really isn't f2p: Players understand the concept. You aren't privy to some secret the rest are missing. You're embarrassing yourself.
3. Yes, Cpt. Obvious, we're not industry experts. Now run along and let the big people use the forums for their purpose.
I might give the game a shot 2-3 months after launch given a free open demo. But I will not buy into any hype generated by Erling E. or his (in my opinion) below average intelligence boss.
A zombie MMO is not really creating a lot of static on my radar... A zombie MMO under Funcom: Even less.
Hope it will turn out a great MMO experience but personally: Funcoms trackrecord on MMO's = Less than stellar (actually: Both were craptastic)
I might (but probably wont, because of the other neat games coming out) sit by and watch all the fans telling all the other early adopters that every problem they encounter is actually caused by their own hardware/software even if both are on par with, or above recommended specs.
We dont need casuals in our games!!! Errm... Well we DO need casuals to fund and populate our games - But the games should be all about "hardcore" because: We dont need casuals in our games!!! (repeat ad infinitum)
Under the current dev team I'm not worried at all. The previous AoC guys promised everyone the moon and did all they could to raise hype to a level no game could ever satisfy (side note: they say history repeats itself and I see TOR tip toeing along this same ledge). I'd imagine TSW will go through the normal MMO release and growing pains, but has to the potential to be a lot of fun. I'll check it out.
You are playing a video game. By definition that means you are not hardcore.
Comments
I disagree. AoC had a lot of things with it beyond bugs. The game just wasn't fun to play for those of us who wanted some tactics and strategy with their gameplay, not a twitch game.
If you look at those who love the game and those who hated it, then you can probably see that the first are the lovers of twitch, who hate games like Lotro because it gives them to many buttons. The last, hate AoC because its fighting was to simple and required more button mashing then thinking.
To me AoC was close to a Cryptic game then is healthy for such a big budget game. Cryptic does cheap and cheerful. It works but then they don't spend a fortune on development so they don't need to score a massive hit with long staying players.
The Secret World, I don't know... Ragnar talks a lot about how he wants to make the game easy to play, that you can instantly get into the action. Right, well that describes a Cryptic game. Problem a lot of players leave that game after 3 months or less. Cryptic has by then earned its money, Funcom will not.
The gameplay video shows a player walking sideways while shooting flame. In fact you see flame a lot. What I didn't see was any evidence of anything more challenging. Will the game have combat that appeals?
And before the twitch fans and AoC fans speak up, remember, if the gameplay you loved was really popular, AoC wouldn't be the failure that it is.
I think the biggest failure of Funcom with AoC was that they went into a dungeon before WoW was released and didn't stick their heads out until AoC was released and basically didn't learn from other companies mistakes.
And TsW has been in production for even longer. Has Ragnar learned from other games? Is he going to produce something that is going to be fun to play, for more then the first month?
I don't know. Frankly the more I hear about the game, the more I doubt this game is going to appeal to me. It sounds more and more like a Cryptic title, cheap cheerful, fast and boring as hell.
How fare did you run your charracter and when and for how long did play the game. Sounds like you did not leav tortage.
The meele attack is alot more complicated than WOW and alot of other MMOs out there. Sow I realy dont thinke the combat is the problem. The main problem with AoC is that the promist alot, and had a big ballance issue, memmory glitches, not compatible with low ram PC and low end videocards. There was a huge lvl laps betwen 55-65 that ymir pass fixed 7 months later. TSW will not have this problems becouse the following:
-The game director is brillian and the AoC one has left the game.
-The stories in the game is well producet with no lame grindingquest.
-Your are not locked in on zone/path in the same way becouse there is no lvl.
-There is curently no RL MMORPG on the rise that can compaire to TSW.
-The Graphic is brilliant.
-They have alot more stuff in this game as they have same budget on both games, but have saved alot of money as the game motor is basicly the same and the tool for making items is the same. They get more at the same price.
FC fanbois are not going to like this post.
I beta tested Anarchy Online and was horrified when Funcom decided to go gold on the title. They did it for one reason only. To get money so they could keep working on it. After the awful launch in one region, they wiped the forums ahead of the launch in another region to hide all the negative (and justified)things people said about the state of the game. After this second launch and the backlash that followed, they then said they would not charge a subscription fee until the game was '110% ready' (their own quote). They then wiped this message shortly after and then began to charge a monthly fee. They now will deny any of this ever happened since they have tried to erase all traces of it. It was a good 18 months after launch until AO was in any really decent state to play. But that was not the worst of it.
Through the life of AO, it was all bait and switch from Funcom. But before you blame one man, remember that the AOC producer (Gaute) did not have a hand in this at the start. He came to the forefront on the Shadowlands expansion(don't get me started on that topic) so this is FC as a whole to blame. Their complete disdain for their customers during this time was staggering. FC would ignore serious bugs and promises they made to add extra expansions to get more money and divert people away from the things they were not fixing. They would even just take things out of the game (user-created missions for example) rather than spend time making it work.
Fast Forward to AoC and the very same things happened again. I'm sure those who bought the special edition with the drinking cloaks will testify. Another game of empty promises, misleading customers,some blatant untruths (Sieges tested internally and working 100% was claimed) and things that just went unfixed and still are unfixed. Two years on and the game is only just now where it should be. It's the same bait and switch tactics all over again from FC.
Now here comes the predicted expansion to get more money and divert your attention away. I thought that they would have learnt from AO that you cannot treat your paying customers this way. I was wrong. I have no confidence in them doing anything different with their next MMO. I can only hope the TSW license ends up with a more reputable company.
Anyone who thinks FC have changed and that it was all the fault of one man who has left the company will only have themselves to blame when they get the same treatment in TSW. But it's your money to waste. I'm just saying that they've had two strikes at this so far.
I was very excited when TSW was announced as I have been dying for a cthulhu-mythos type MMO, but was very saddened to hear it was being developed by a company that has a long history of their ambition outreaching their ability and little integrity when it comes their customers.
Be warned. Their past products have taken 1+ years to be even in a decent playable state, you may want to consider this before throwing down your $50.
I se that this is your first post, and quite a good one at that. I would onely like to say that all this has been postet here several times now, and we all know that Funcom had an bad trackrecord with MMO sow fare. The ones that can take som buggs and faulty section can start to play the game at the start and the rest of you can join when you se forum getting more and more positive posts. I do agre that some issues has taken to long to get fixed(like siege), but I must say that the game(AoC) was quite ballanced and filled with content one year after lanch, and with DX10(stunning grafic). The game is good and has a giant expantion comming in a few more weeks. TSW is werry importent for Funcom. This is an chance to win back the customers for real. And it might be the end of MMORPG for Funcom if they cant make this work. This time I belive they will take there time and not give an offician lanch date before the know they can lanch it with as few buggs as possible.
I'm with you in hoping that FC have learnt their lesson, but their track record to date leaves me cynical about their abilities and their integrity.
We'll see what happens and I'll be a happy man if I'm proved wrong as it would mean the launch of a great MMO and not another empty box of broken promises.
This is the best forum for review, never trust fansite or gamesite for review.
Yes, I like the ideas behind this game but if late breaking beta reports indicate the game is unfinished in typical Funcom style I'm going to hold off for 6 mo or more until they get it more complete before giving it a go.
I'd probably have enjoyed AOC as it is today (I sort of liked it back at launch even) but once I leave a game I rarely go back.
"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
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"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
Kyleran....usually your posts make a lot of sense to me, but this one....just doesn't.
Of course it's not finished. There isn't even a release date for it yet. They have hinted at it not being until 2012....so yeah....it's not finished. Big deal. There are two years of beta left for it.
I would imagine that Blizzard games are unfinished in beta too....that's what beta IS. I would wager a year's salary that ALL GAMES are unfinished during beta, actually. That comment just made less than no sense. There is no "open beta preview" going on here. This game is still in what is an ACTUAL beta...not the shit we've begun CALLING beta that really isn't.
Unless TSW has been RELEASED and we're playing it and find...that it is "unfinished"......I kind of think the whole FunCom thing is just people still being disappointed with FunCom and trying to place a cloud of doom over anything they touch.
Different game, mostly different people working on it, lots of staff changes at FunCom....I think it's a bit early to predict ANYTHING.
President of The Marvelously Meowhead Fan Club
AO @ launch, horrible
AoC @ launch, horrible
I'll not be pre-ordering TSW, but if the game is good I'll play it, but Funcom will not get any more pre-orders out of me!
Sow thrue. But i do understand the once that dont dear to preorder it. I will play TSW in Beta and play it from the start with ore without buggs. If it turnsout to be unplayable( i doubt it) I will just whate a while and resub, no harm done. Just like with AoC. People are stil bashing the game for there lanch problems, and I realy dont know why. The onely reason must be becouse the havent tryed the game laterly and dont have a clue about pressent AoC and the comming TSW(late 2011 early 2012).
Quite the opposite. I think a company that has seen the devestating effects of a bad launch is more likely to do a much better job the second time around.
Now, if they mess this one up, they won't get a third chance from me.
EQ1, EQ2, SWG, SWTOR, GW, GW2 CoH, CoV, FFXI, WoW, CO, War,TSW and a slew of free trials and beta tests
I think you missed a game, this is their third MMO, and the last two had bad launches. Maybe now you understand why people are sceptical when you yourself say that you wouldn't give them a third chance
AoC's launch was no worse than any other I've seen, and I was there for it. I just think that people are so wrapped up in how bad AO's was, even if they never witnessed it, to the point where they simply *had to* overexagerrate what is going on. AoC's launch only went bad for people who don't have a clue about what their rig can handle. I played it on a 7800GT ffs.
Writer / Musician / Game Designer
Now Playing: Skyrim, Wurm Online, Tropico 4
Waiting On: GW2, TSW, Archeage, The Rapture
You know, I'm thoroughly excited about this game. Yes the gameplay footage wasn't exactly what I was expecting but we're all on MMORPG posting on forums because I think we can agree we need something new. I'm hoping this is it. Storytelling/ambiance/look seem to be there..now lets see how they execute it.
I can say I'm hoping they push back to the launch date until 2012. That way they have less pressure to get something out by a hyped deadline and maybe we'll get it in Summer 2011.
Um..I too was there for AoC's launch and it was horrible. I've never been stuck on so many rocks before in my life. and I've seen some bad ones (eq1 was worst) and I've seen some good ones (LOTRO best). But in this generation of MMO, Funcom really needed more work before launching AoC. It's not just an urban myth...there is plenty of proof out there.
My 2 tin...
After playing AOC for the last month (and really getting into it) no. Because I've learned twice now they aren't a company to just write off. Even if their games have bad launches they do tend to turn them around.
I've read all the horror stories people have had during their launches, experienced some myself during AOC's launch. I still think they have a unique way of building a game world. AOC for example has excellent use of terrain, making the world both look and feel real. I understand some people are turned off by realistic graphics because they don't age so well. However I could see myself enjoying the scenery in AOC for a long time to come. I also understand the loading screens do get to people. However I do not agree with people when they say AOC's zones are small. In tortage maybe, the rest? NO
As I understand it TSW has an even more imaginative lead dev. That definitely counts for something IMO.
I'm expecting issues at TSW's release, I'm actually expecting tons of issues at TSW's release. I'll still probably pick it up, as I love the older weird tales authors that have inspired this story, from Howard, to Lovecraft there's some very good story telling to be found there. If TSW is even a third as good, it will rock.
If Tornquist's (SP) previous work says anything, it's that he understands how to deliver a compelling story based on such lore. How well the rest of the product on launch day turns out remains to be seen, and with their track record you should expect some issues. I still feel regardless of that, if you pass by TSW you may be missing out a very unique experience, as well as some very compelling lore delivered just as well as a companies like Bioware, at least on a story telling level.
For every minute you are angry , you lose 60 seconds of happiness."-Emerson
Going to have to agree.
After being on launch and then playing recently, Funcom really did the game well. You still have people hating on the game because they just can't let go of the fact of the bad launch. RotGS is supposedly a test to "open worlds up" making it more of a vast place and the new areas are big indeed.
I will definitely be checking out TSW because it is one of the only MMO's coming out soon that is trying to break some 'MMO Habits' that we've seen in a lot of games lately.
For the record I don't play AOC and have no interest in TSW but I think it's a great question to ask especially for a company with two mmo releases under their belts and both having almost identical problems, I hope for those of you out there willing to help launch the game that they have learned from their mistakes but the problem is mmo devs seem to rarely if ever do that. What you do have going for you again is the fact that once and a half they have been able to pull themselves out of the fire (only counting half since AO was beaten down to a F2P to survive.
but yeah, to call this game Fantastic is like calling Twilight the Godfather of vampire movies....
Funcom has produced two of my all time favorite games. Both had a rough launch, but were polished into gems of superior quality.
I will have no hesitation when it comes time to play TSW.
I'm interested in TSW mainly because of the story. It wasn't the quality of AoC that I didn't like it was that I just found the game extremely borring.. It lasted on my hard drive for 2 days after I bought it. Even now doing the free Trial again I just don't feel the erge to log in.. It would be different maybe if I was a huge Conan buff but, Im not.
But TSW, I'm a big fan of secret societies and stuff like that so I know the game has a big chance to keep me interested so, I know at least I'll give the game a try. Funcom makes great games, I've enjoyed AO and Dreamfall so seeing that this game is being made by different people than AoC it has a good chance it will be vastly different.
I'm not intrigued by this game because of what happened with AoC
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I will be watching it and hope its worth a damn at release.
I will not preorder or even buy it on release day. A few months after release I will buy it if its not bugged to hell and back.
I was there for the release of AO and AoC, so lessen learned about funcom and release day.
Definitely. Both Funcom and NCSoft have succeeded in ensuring I will never purchase one of their games at launch time ever again. Worst management decisions and customer service I have ever seen in the gaming industry by those two companies in regards to AoC and Aion. Regardless how they are run and managed today what happened at launch and for the first few months of those games was unacceptable and downright despicable how things were handled by the companies.
Every game has its issues at launch but what transpired with both of those games was utterly ridiculous especially when you consider it wasn't either of those companies first endeavour into the mmo market and the market history available for those companies to look over to ensure their games did not repeat some of the same mistakes others had made.
There was no excuse for what transpired in either of those games far as I'm concerened, and it would have to be one remarkable game to get me to purchase anything by either of those companies ever again.
1. For god's sake mmo gamers, enough with the analogies. They're unnecessary and your comparisons are terrible, dissimilar, and illogical.
2. To posters feeling the need to state how f2p really isn't f2p: Players understand the concept. You aren't privy to some secret the rest are missing. You're embarrassing yourself.
3. Yes, Cpt. Obvious, we're not industry experts. Now run along and let the big people use the forums for their purpose.
I will just sit by and watch.
I might give the game a shot 2-3 months after launch given a free open demo. But I will not buy into any hype generated by Erling E. or his (in my opinion) below average intelligence boss.
A zombie MMO is not really creating a lot of static on my radar... A zombie MMO under Funcom: Even less.
Hope it will turn out a great MMO experience but personally: Funcoms trackrecord on MMO's = Less than stellar (actually: Both were craptastic)
I might (but probably wont, because of the other neat games coming out) sit by and watch all the fans telling all the other early adopters that every problem they encounter is actually caused by their own hardware/software even if both are on par with, or above recommended specs.
We dont need casuals in our games!!! Errm... Well we DO need casuals to fund and populate our games - But the games should be all about "hardcore" because: We dont need casuals in our games!!!
(repeat ad infinitum)
Under the current dev team I'm not worried at all. The previous AoC guys promised everyone the moon and did all they could to raise hype to a level no game could ever satisfy (side note: they say history repeats itself and I see TOR tip toeing along this same ledge). I'd imagine TSW will go through the normal MMO release and growing pains, but has to the potential to be a lot of fun. I'll check it out.
You are playing a video game. By definition that means you are not hardcore.