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Newsletter, Issue 3: From the Library
Stradden
Managing EditorMember CommonPosts: 6,696
This week's From the Library took a look at a favorable article written about SOE's treatment of EverQuest II. Do you agree with what was said? Have things changed since then? How do you feel about SOE?
Let us know!
Cheers,
Jon Wood
Managing Editor
MMORPG.com
Comments
While the additions referred to were good, shouldn't most of them have been in the game at commercial release? I don't think it's any secret that the game was released unfinished and when gamers got to the end tier much sooner than anticipated, high end content was sadly lacking. SoE wants to toot its horn for "hundreds of additions since launch". The only problem is that most of those were game fixes for lack of content, unbalanced encounters, and broken systems (tradeskilling). Even now, you can log in and find less than 10 players in either Bloodline Chronicles or Splitpaw, even though these add-ons were heralded as the second coming. Not to mention they cost additional money and then were severely nerfed (Splitpaw).
Personally, I don't see EQ2 lasting much longer. They are making the game into a WoW clone because they think they can garner WoWs 4 million subsriber base (which is an overstated number anyway). What SoE doesn't realize is EQ2 does not have the history of Blizzard's Warcraft series and they have destroyed most of their credibility by what they did to SWG. In fact, I think you will find more than just me who would argue SoE is now in the process of doing to EQ2 exactly what they did to SWG, just minus the Jedi. And that, my friends, is not a good thing for ANY mmorpg.
The Bloodline Chronicles is Sonys first Adventure Pack. According to John Smedley these Adventure Packs are an industry first
Um..that's because all other MMO's add content like this as part of the monthly fee. City of Heroe's had FIVE, yes FIVE "Adventure" packs their first year for FREE. Sony had the gall to CHARGE people. They charge for every little thing. That's why people are leaving and the game in huge numbers.
That's why I left to play WoW.
As as side note. Instead of just touting the Sony corporate propoganda, do you think you could maybe research just a little to see how bad they spin the truth? I mean bragging that you are charging something other competitors give away is hardly something to be proud of. Yet they seem to be and you seem to be spinning that as a POSITIVE thing for MMO players. It's not.
Question is: "Are you there to be the spokesman for the players or the companies?"
It's always something...
Yeah gotta love those industry first lol Nice to see smedly the wonder idiot is still flying thru the gaming universe clueless as ever and trying to milk every last possible buck out of the community before soe folds up like a mouse trap.
anytime a company starts charging for every little thing. it isnt a good sign on said companies future well being.
AS and example take a look at the airlines . those that are hitting the bottom are charging for everything and anything to help keep them afloat. YET. those that are doing fine are not.
HMMM. This leads me to belive SOE is in serious trouble and are fighting to stay afloat.
BTW boys woohooo !!! e-mail in game wow what a concept. i should tell eve online about this concept. oh wait they had it from the start lol..
You are a silly fool smed. you really are lol
charging to use an in game e-mail ... man im going out now and buy 20 copies just for THAT feature alone.
Hmm. I don't recall CoH releasing any type of new areas with 5 dungeon levels for free at all. As I remember they had something called live events that just spawned in crudely modeled MOBs with a cheesy story. The adventure packs are nothing but extra story and content ontop of the new dungeons and abilitys that THE EQ2 DEV TEAM(not SOE) ships out every month. It isn't like you ever hafta buy one at all. My GF plays, doesn't have 1 adventure pack and she can play without any hinderances at all, it's almost like they dont exist
Charging for a mail system? It doesn't cost extra money to send mail, not like its part of a pack or anything like that. It wasn't in the original concept because at it's core EQ2 was supposed to be nothing but immersive fantasy. It wasn't until a bunch of elietist ran on the forums and complained about there not being an e-mail system that it got complicated. EQ2 is still the "Find a party and Play for 5 hours straight" that it always was. I mean it isn't the 2nd most popular MMORPG in America for no reason.
Also blaming SOE for anything a game turns into is just plain ignorant and narrow. The development and QA team decides the direction of a game, not the freaking publisher. It pisses me off when people say ANYTHING that has an SOE name is crap (even though the creators of said games are totally different and have different goals). You people really need to understand how a game company works before you start writing articles or crying about how people are coping other people. If I had a dollar for all the things blizzard took from other MMOGs I would be a millionare.
In my opinion, whomever created the EQ2 world messed it up really good. I can think of a million things I'd like to do in an updated EQ1 world. I'd love to see how the story of EQ1 might have actually progressed. Instead the story they came up with was entirely too far fetched and they literally blew thier own world apart, which was stupid.
I've played EQ2 and I can honestly say that I'd go back to playing EQ1 again before I'd ever think of playing EQ2. And I have. I don't care how many expansions they make for EQ2, it's broken. Maybe I'll give them another chance when they come out with EQ3 in 10 years.
Why the hell is there a need for a look back at some positive SOE articles? What makes it "Fellate SOE Day"? The people at SOE responsible for hiring the devs and the QA folks and checking their work and providing direction (happy, Mehoron?) have absolutely trashed one of the most innovative early MMOs, SWG. They charge out the yin-yang for stuff that should have been in the game in the first place, but was left out because they had to rush to production for no good reason, while leaving a tremendous list of large, glaring bugs in place for not weeks, not months, but YEARS. Anything SOE touches will turn to crap. They pander to the absolute lowest common denominator, and even insult their intelligence.
But you know, that's fine, if people want to keep buying SWG and EQ2, fine. However, I hate how the gaming media still gives them a free pass for deplorable quality control and outrageous , 'Baghdad Bob' spin. I know, and will never buy from SOE again. I feel sorry for folks who don't know and get entangled. But mostly I worry that the colossal giant will start absorbing more and more games like some twisted, incompetent Microsoft.
Well, dude, then you are a fairly unique person with a happy disposition. If everything is fine and fun for you, more power to you. Cheers!
i know its highly unpopular to be positive on a message board, but...
I came back to EQ2 a month ago when I upgraded my computer. I have a high lvl mage on WOW I am abandoning out of boredom.
I really enjoy the game. I especially enjoy what is a great community. Best people I have ever met in a game. I know this can be a random experience - my first guild is the the one i am sticking with cause I've made good friends - but I find the mechanics of the game make for good grouping, skill based encouters. everyone feels like they do their part. and the graphics are so imerssive.
im not crazy about the reduction of the death penatly to WOW standards. but i understand it from a business perspective. its still challenging, tho, unlike WOW. I think everyone who hasn't tried it since lauch and has a rig that can handle the graphics should try it out - and as the poster above mentioned - post lvl 20 - and GROUP! Its a social game, for goodness sake. I have a conjuror I play when i want to solo, but its so much more fun to group...
It is what it is!
"With all of the recent backlash against Sony Online Entertainment regarding the recent treatment of Star Wars: Galaxies, we thought it might be fun to look back at something a little bit more positive."
I played SWG for over two years. All we CAN DO is look back at what was once a great game. Concerning SOE, they are not being truthful and are completely out of touch for what the game needs. They delete posts in the forums and ban you permanently now for speaking up against changes in the game. People are leaving this game in droves.
Guess SOE never heard the phrase: The customer is always right!