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AC1 Subscription Chart
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Member UncommonPosts: 2,329
I just noticed the often refered to "MMOG Subscription Growth" charts were updated. http://pw1.netcom.com/~sirbruce/Subscriptions.html
Holy crap is all I can say...
I didn't realize how bad not being in stores really hurt the game. Look how steep the loss is on AC1 compared to other games, except for The Sims Online which is to be expected. I don't think AC1 is any special case to warrant that amount of cancelations. It could be just because it's old but I doubt it since EQ and UO are no where near the same cancelation rate. Actually looking at most games are doing rather well and are stable (other than the Sims) but AC1 and AC2 are dwindling fast.
I can't believe Turbine hasn't pushed harder to get it back in stores. Even with the expansion coming out, being out of stores for even a couple more months at this rate hurts the game badly. Though just today on the official AC2 boards there was a post about "exciting" news coming next week. From the wording of the replies it seemed that AC2 might be back in stores and in that case I bet there could be a chance that would include AC1 too.
Comments
From a game 5 years old im not surprised its losing customers, its to be expected.
Comparing it to EQ1 or UO is just stupid, imo, since both of those were basically "firsts"
What was it, UO was the first MMORPG ever? and EQ1 was the first 3D MMORPG ever.
AC1 came in a close second for 3D MMORPG's since EQ1 soaked up the original surplus and isn't letting them go whilst AC1 got left with the refuse and lack of advertisement to never really spike and get as high.
Meh....needless to say EQ1 is crap and i don't understand why anyone even remotely likes it.
UO was the second graphical MMORPG ever, a not so known one called Meridian 59 was the first, and amazingly, its still up and running, you too can play for a nonimal monthly fee! hehe.
EQ and AC released very close to each other, So you have to give AC some credit there too, they were developed at the same time, not one after the other if I recall. AC was just never advertised by microsoft, they kept very quiet about it so it never got the attentions EQ did.
- Fadeus Hawkwood
- Scaris
"What happened to you, Star Wars Galaxies? You used to look like Leia. Not quite gold bikini Leia (more like bad-British-accent-and-cinnamon-bun-hair Leia), but still Leia nonetheless. Now you look like Chewbacca." - Computer Gaming World
It isn't really surprising, but if you play the game at a higher level (say 80+ level) it's entirely understandable. There is almost NO content whatsoever in the game. As in my other posts, it's either too easy, or too hard (and not enough of a community to play the hard stuff). They keep churning out mid-level (40-80) and the really hard high level stuff, but there is no one to fellowship with to attempt these quests. And even a lot of the content that is added is kind of "iffy" in terms of following the storyline. Such as the Noir Investigation Quest. It was kind of fun, but how does a noir film based movie/story fit into this game? And what do you get from it? A dapper suit and hat. Nice and all, but how does that give you something useful? And the butterfly necklace (can't remember name of it offhand). That was the most annoying thing I've ever seen in a game. Cause sooo much lag and problems, it wasn't even funny. I don't think I need to go on. Turbine has a LOT of work to do to get the game back on track. The first day or two of each patch month are about all I can play, because again of the content. I don't want to grind out level after level after level day in and out. Quests are what make or break the game, and they don't have the quality they used to have.
I still prefer AC to all the other games out there on all other levels except content. I'd much rather play a game with more dated graphics if it is fun and exciting. Now all that is left in AC is grinding out level after level. And for what? No new real items from the quests to get anymore.
Anyways, I'll stop rambling now. If they can resurrect the game to it's former glory days, I'll be the first in line to sign up!
Win XP Pro
AMD Athlon XP 3000+, 2.16 GHz
1 Gig PC3200 DDR400 RAM
120 Gig Ultra ATA HD
30 Gig EIDE HD
ATI Radeon 9200 128MB
SoundBlaster Live! Gamer 5.1
8X DVD+/-RW
I'm sorry to say, but whoever is in charge of Turbine's marketing department should be fired, then jailed! They have no clue at all on how to advertise the game. And based on their actions (inactions) they have no desire at all to advertise AC.
As far as I know, AC has had only ONE free trial. And that was years ago. It lasted for 1 month. That was how I got introduced to AC. How many free trials has UO, and EQ had? AC has made enough true profit to be considered a success. It made enough money to fund the multi-million flop AC2. And to fund the next 2 MMORPG flops - MEO, and DnD Online. (I still can't believe they are attempting to make 2 brand new MMORPGs at the same time. To be released at the same... time. LOL!)
Thus, AC is a moneymaker. It is what's currently keeping AC2 alive, and MEO, DnDO continuing developement, while also keeping AC itself up and running. Why the heck is the company skimping on aggressivly advertising Asheron's Call? Why are they doing soooo FEW free trials to get intrest from new players who have never played a MMORPG before... who are now losing their MMORPG virginity to AO, DAoC, EvE, SWG, and all the other's with continous free trials?
AC2 got destroyed by the worse ever case of gross missmanagement. On every level.
AC is currently, slowly, being killed off by missmanagement on some level. Definatly at the marketing level.
And WHY do they give a contionous FREE trial for the flop AC2.... but NOT for the moneymaker AC?!?
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DAoC
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Honestly I wish MS owned AC again, everything I am hearing about it I am not liking, I haven't had much opportunity to play but I can't even recognize the landmarks anymore, they have changed everything around and made the roaming mob levels a lot higher, I don't even know where I can run anymore or where i should be going honestly. I am starting to feel like I did in AC 2, which isn't a good thing. No purpose, no central place I call home, just alot of crap everywhere.
- Fadeus Hawkwood
- Scaris
"What happened to you, Star Wars Galaxies? You used to look like Leia. Not quite gold bikini Leia (more like bad-British-accent-and-cinnamon-bun-hair Leia), but still Leia nonetheless. Now you look like Chewbacca." - Computer Gaming World
More or less exactly why I ended my subscription. I'm hoping they will refocus on AC with the new expansion pack. After all, it's all profit for them now. They've made more than it cost by many times. I skeptical, but still hoping.
Some of the geographical changes were cool, if you followed the evolution of the storyline. And some of the tweaks and updates were good as well. But the game as an RPG has lost it's storyline. There is no role to play anymore. It's basically become like a FPS where you just run around killing things and buying/finding better equipment. And I can't see paying $12 US per month for that. I own Doom 3 and many other FPSers; if I wanted mindless killing I'd play them, and not have to pay a monthly fee.
And the 3rd party apps have ruined the role-playing in the game too. It takes out the challenge/fun and sometimes even frustration (which turns into a glorious sense of accomplishment when found/completed) out of the game. I remember the first time I found the Dark Rain scroll off the undead (can't remember the name of it). I was the first one in everyone I knew that found it. Same with Atlans (back a few years ago). I was the first to get one, and was so proud of it. Sure they were all extremely frustrating, just like Aun Ralirea. But when you actually worked to find it, it felt so good. I miss those days.
Win XP Pro
AMD Athlon XP 3000+, 2.16 GHz
1 Gig PC3200 DDR400 RAM
120 Gig Ultra ATA HD
30 Gig EIDE HD
ATI Radeon 9200 128MB
SoundBlaster Live! Gamer 5.1
8X DVD+/-RW
I have 2 atlans, including blackfire, stoned onto each, are they pretty much so trash now too? BF used to be a rediculously hard item to get after a VERY long waiting list.
- Fadeus Hawkwood
- Scaris
"What happened to you, Star Wars Galaxies? You used to look like Leia. Not quite gold bikini Leia (more like bad-British-accent-and-cinnamon-bun-hair Leia), but still Leia nonetheless. Now you look like Chewbacca." - Computer Gaming World
Basic atlans, including all stones are pretty much useless. You can upgrade your atlan, via various methods (adding diamond ingots/powder etc). Once you have upgraded it, some people like it, but I've never seen a character above 70 use any form of atlan in a real combat/questing situation.
The best weapons are ones you find on monsters/chests that have low workmanship and high base stats. They can then be "tinkered." ie. salvage materials added to enhance it's properties. Armor is the same way. Very little quest armor or weapons are any good. Personally, I've seen as high as base armor level 500ish on tinkered armor. The average seems to be around high 300 to mid 400s for base AL now. Pretty much anything other than quest items can be tinkered, including orbs and wands.
Even what used to be really good quest items, are all not so good anymore due to the tinkering of basic items.
Win XP Pro
AMD Athlon XP 3000+, 2.16 GHz
1 Gig PC3200 DDR400 RAM
120 Gig Ultra ATA HD
30 Gig EIDE HD
ATI Radeon 9200 128MB
SoundBlaster Live! Gamer 5.1
8X DVD+/-RW
So after all the cry for mid level quests a long time ago so the mid level'ers had something valueable to sell, such as the sim gear, have now been completely undone? I am not understanding what turbine is thinking at all. From what I am see'ing however with the server population counts now in AC 1, which when I left was a booming game, it seems real obvious they really don't know how to manage an MMORPG on their own.
- Fadeus Hawkwood
- Scaris
"What happened to you, Star Wars Galaxies? You used to look like Leia. Not quite gold bikini Leia (more like bad-British-accent-and-cinnamon-bun-hair Leia), but still Leia nonetheless. Now you look like Chewbacca." - Computer Gaming World
The economy has been going downhill for quite some time. The answer to pretty much any complaint for at least 6 months or so was to just throw in high leave/AL/SL/dmg loot onto monsters. As soon as they did that, they changed the entire economy.
The biggest problem with the economy is that there is no way to control how much or how many of a resource or item are out there. In WoW they have programmed sink hole to suck money/resources out of the game so that things don't get too inflationary. How well it works in the future is yet to be seen, but they are at least on the right track. There are too many very-very-very rich people in the game. Which has dramatic consequences on the economy. The more money in a game, the more inflationary it gets. But that is a topic for another discussion.
Turbine isn't all bad. They have tried, and often do fix problems in-game. However, they are more reactionary to problems. This is a big problem because most of the time fixes are thrown into the game, without analyzing how it will affect the rest of the game, not just the problem. Then the next month, there is a fix for the fix etc.. The game has to be reworked now that most chars are averaging about 50+. Just dumping more powerful items into the game doesn't solve the problem of the lack of content or community. They are working on the expansion pack, which has a number of potentially great tweaks for the game. Which may be why the slow down in terms of monthly patches. If you haven't seen the ToD web page, check it out at http://ac.turbinegames.com/index.php?page_id=279. I'm hoping they get a lot of things right with the update. I've got my fingers crossed. AC was/is the best MMOG ever despite it's outdated graphics. They still have the basic fundamentals right, just have to tweak it for higher level of gameplay.
Win XP Pro
AMD Athlon XP 3000+, 2.16 GHz
1 Gig PC3200 DDR400 RAM
120 Gig Ultra ATA HD
30 Gig EIDE HD
ATI Radeon 9200 128MB
SoundBlaster Live! Gamer 5.1
8X DVD+/-RW
No, I don't think they are all bad at all. As I said in my AC 2 review, they build wonderful engines. They just shouldn't try to build cars, what they are good at is engines. What I don't get is what happenned to the turbine that handled AC 1 pre AC 2 up til the last months when the new craft skill system came out that ran a game very sucessfully and smoothly for years, with little change to it? They went from that to what honestly seems to me overly mindful of their forum community and making every change wanted. It seems to me they are learning the Edsel lesson Ford did, far later in life. They should read their history better.
- Fadeus Hawkwood
- Scaris
"What happened to you, Star Wars Galaxies? You used to look like Leia. Not quite gold bikini Leia (more like bad-British-accent-and-cinnamon-bun-hair Leia), but still Leia nonetheless. Now you look like Chewbacca." - Computer Gaming World
I'd say the biggest problems started when some of the AC1 devs went off to AC2. After that the causes can generally be narrowed down to a couple of crying kids that wanted the game to be less challenging, and easier to level. Or they felt their char wasn't as strong as someone of the "X" class. And yes, turbine was at fault for being over-attentive to the minority in the forums that wanted this or that changed. Albeit some changes were ok, a majority of them just ended up nerfing what they tried to do, or something else.
I miss the good ol' days of AC. Where you'd have a blast with the great community, hunting, quest and always have something to do. Now it's all about bots and 3rd party apps. No sense of accomplishment anymore, no pride in your char. I can't even remember the last time I saw an admin (or "envoy" now) in-game just chatting it up or having fun. I remember before the AC2 days, and when the game was still great, there would be admins on quite a lot. Not helping, but just out there chatting with the players. Of course if they had to go and help someone they would, but they'd usually be back. The more regular players and it's devs had a more personal relationship, and it was great. I even tolerated the griefers when exploits were found, and I was hit by a few of them, just because it was a great game.
I really hope they get the expansion pack right. If things aren't improved on, I'll be canceling my subscription and moving onto Guild Wars. I've been patient for far too long, and I'm pretty close to reaching my "time to cancel" place. It's sad when you get that on what was such a great game.
Win XP Pro
AMD Athlon XP 3000+, 2.16 GHz
1 Gig PC3200 DDR400 RAM
120 Gig Ultra ATA HD
30 Gig EIDE HD
ATI Radeon 9200 128MB
SoundBlaster Live! Gamer 5.1
8X DVD+/-RW
AC was never designed as a PvP game. Darktide was an afterthought as far as I recall and to me honestly shouldn't have had any effect on the game.
I also have to say it gets tiring making all class's "even" so they can PvP one on one and they are even with a chance of success. That completely destroys the teamwork concept of an MMO.
- Scaris
"What happened to you, Star Wars Galaxies? You used to look like Leia. Not quite gold bikini Leia (more like bad-British-accent-and-cinnamon-bun-hair Leia), but still Leia nonetheless. Now you look like Chewbacca." - Computer Gaming World
Hmmm thats weird what server do you play? Do you try PvP or PvPlite?
in my opinion some of the servers are over crouded.....just because theres no more newbs running around the Lifestones doesnt mean the games gone down.
if you try darktide you will have some challange and fun