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Lol, thank goodness Smedley did not slam LA -- heh
iskareot
Member Posts: 2,143
(UPDATE TO THIS POST) - 2:30cst Thursday-- I must say this here as I am pretty ticked off.. I have gotton some PMs from people thinking (NO JOKE) that I made this up and THAT that site is fake..
Not only that, but that I should NOT STIR UP TROUBE LIKE THIS??????? W T F ???
Listen to those few that PMd me mad because they are in denial of this foreseen mess you can more or less fuck off. Normally I would not just say that... but you know what... You guys need to READ and make sure you know what your talking about before you think you can accuse me of crap like that.
In case you have not learned, facts are the best ammo to use..because this thing is so messed up that none of us have to make up lies of how bad this is.
Good day...
Well, hes back and he posted on a site I watched some when he did post --
He just did...
Lol, I see that LA and SOE are not seeing eye to eye, this is just written on the walls with this one..
We have offices in Shanghai.. I wish I could have been there. (to just call Smed a twit)--
http://stationblog.wordpress.com/
It’s been a while since I wrote a blog. I’m going to try and do this more often, but I’ve been traveling quite a bit.
I just got back from the China Joy show in Shanghai. That show is very, very cool. The noise from the booths is deafening. You will literally see two companies with full-on bands on stages 30 feet from one another, both going at a volume that will blow out your eardrums. All of this is taking place in one of the most amazing cities on this planet — Shanghai. Imagine taking the Manhattan skyline and expanding it to the square mileage of Los Angeles and it’s a good start. It’s pretty hot there this time of year — it felt like what the surface of Venus must feel like — but it didn’t stop the masses from visiting this show. I’ve never seen more people packed into a convention in my life.
As an American, it really is quite a sight to see how big online gaming is in the Asian market. The closest comparison is probably E3 for online games - with Chinese style. There were three very large exhibit halls filled with online games from all over the world.
We were there showing a new game we’re developing in our Taiwanese studio, SOGA. We’re not quite ready to announce it just yet, but let’s just say there’s a whole lot of Kung Fu fighting going on in it! I played the latest rev when we visited the SOGA team in Taipei after China Joy, and it’s a hell of a lot of fun.
One of the things I like best about SOE’s overall development direction is that we’re creating a wide variety of new games. We have four diverse MMO titles in internal development, not counting the five MMOs we currently have live, or our partnership with Sigil for Vanguard.
Each of these new games is aimed at a very different market and all of them are in different genres. From our perspective, it’s time to shake things up a bit in the online gaming space. We’re aiming for very high production values that will bring us (and gamers) into completely new places. We’re bringing mercenaries, spies, super-heroes and a new whimsical world to life as I write this. We’re also concentrating on bringing each of these games to you on both the PC and the upcoming PlayStation 3.
With the exception of the DC Comics game we’re working on, each of these games is an original IP. Our teams in San Diego, Austin, Seattle and Taiwan are excited about working on game worlds that we’re developing ourselves. It’s often frustrating to work with third party IP. There’s a constant battle over what the right direction is for the game, and from our own recent experience, it’s not something we enjoy. It very often puts handcuffs on what we can and can’t do and, frankly speaking, it’s a lot harder to make great games when the IP holders don’t understand the online gaming market.
The exception to this rule has been our relationship with the team at DC Comics. I have to say they are indeed a pleasure to work with. Jim Lee’s involvement as the Executive Creative Director has been a hell of a lot of fun. I just saw the latest build, and the team has come up with a combat system that I think is hands down the best I’ve ever seen. It doesn’t remotely feel like today’s MMOs. It’s all about the action.
One last thing: In the near future, you’re going to read about another big development here at SOE. We recently acquired a game developer that is going to take us into a new space entirely. We’re really excited about it and I think when you hear what it’s about and see what they’re working on you’ll agree!
I just got back from the China Joy show in Shanghai. That show is very, very cool. The noise from the booths is deafening. You will literally see two companies with full-on bands on stages 30 feet from one another, both going at a volume that will blow out your eardrums. All of this is taking place in one of the most amazing cities on this planet — Shanghai. Imagine taking the Manhattan skyline and expanding it to the square mileage of Los Angeles and it’s a good start. It’s pretty hot there this time of year — it felt like what the surface of Venus must feel like — but it didn’t stop the masses from visiting this show. I’ve never seen more people packed into a convention in my life.
As an American, it really is quite a sight to see how big online gaming is in the Asian market. The closest comparison is probably E3 for online games - with Chinese style. There were three very large exhibit halls filled with online games from all over the world.
We were there showing a new game we’re developing in our Taiwanese studio, SOGA. We’re not quite ready to announce it just yet, but let’s just say there’s a whole lot of Kung Fu fighting going on in it! I played the latest rev when we visited the SOGA team in Taipei after China Joy, and it’s a hell of a lot of fun.
One of the things I like best about SOE’s overall development direction is that we’re creating a wide variety of new games. We have four diverse MMO titles in internal development, not counting the five MMOs we currently have live, or our partnership with Sigil for Vanguard.
Each of these new games is aimed at a very different market and all of them are in different genres. From our perspective, it’s time to shake things up a bit in the online gaming space. We’re aiming for very high production values that will bring us (and gamers) into completely new places. We’re bringing mercenaries, spies, super-heroes and a new whimsical world to life as I write this. We’re also concentrating on bringing each of these games to you on both the PC and the upcoming PlayStation 3.
With the exception of the DC Comics game we’re working on, each of these games is an original IP. Our teams in San Diego, Austin, Seattle and Taiwan are excited about working on game worlds that we’re developing ourselves. It’s often frustrating to work with third party IP. There’s a constant battle over what the right direction is for the game, and from our own recent experience, it’s not something we enjoy. It very often puts handcuffs on what we can and can’t do and, frankly speaking, it’s a lot harder to make great games when the IP holders don’t understand the online gaming market.
The exception to this rule has been our relationship with the team at DC Comics. I have to say they are indeed a pleasure to work with. Jim Lee’s involvement as the Executive Creative Director has been a hell of a lot of fun. I just saw the latest build, and the team has come up with a combat system that I think is hands down the best I’ve ever seen. It doesn’t remotely feel like today’s MMOs. It’s all about the action.
One last thing: In the near future, you’re going to read about another big development here at SOE. We recently acquired a game developer that is going to take us into a new space entirely. We’re really excited about it and I think when you hear what it’s about and see what they’re working on you’ll agree!
I just got back from the China Joy show in Shanghai. That show is very, very cool. The noise from the booths is deafening. You will literally see two companies with full-on bands on stages 30 feet from one another, both going at a volume that will blow out your eardrums. All of this is taking place in one of the most amazing cities on this planet — Shanghai. Imagine taking the Manhattan skyline and expanding it to the square mileage of Los Angeles and it’s a good start. It’s pretty hot there this time of year — it felt like what the surface of Venus must feel like — but it didn’t stop the masses from visiting this show. I’ve never seen more people packed into a convention in my life.
As an American, it really is quite a sight to see how big online gaming is in the Asian market. The closest comparison is probably E3 for online games - with Chinese style. There were three very large exhibit halls filled with online games from all over the world.
We were there showing a new game we’re developing in our Taiwanese studio, SOGA. We’re not quite ready to announce it just yet, but let’s just say there’s a whole lot of Kung Fu fighting going on in it! I played the latest rev when we visited the SOGA team in Taipei after China Joy, and it’s a hell of a lot of fun.
One of the things I like best about SOE’s overall development direction is that we’re creating a wide variety of new games. We have four diverse MMO titles in internal development, not counting the five MMOs we currently have live, or our partnership with Sigil for Vanguard.
Each of these new games is aimed at a very different market and all of them are in different genres. From our perspective, it’s time to shake things up a bit in the online gaming space. We’re aiming for very high production values that will bring us (and gamers) into completely new places. We’re bringing mercenaries, spies, super-heroes and a new whimsical world to life as I write this. We’re also concentrating on bringing each of these games to you on both the PC and the upcoming PlayStation 3.
With the exception of the DC Comics game we’re working on, each of these games is an original IP. Our teams in San Diego, Austin, Seattle and Taiwan are excited about working on game worlds that we’re developing ourselves. It’s often frustrating to work with third party IP. There’s a constant battle over what the right direction is for the game, and from our own recent experience, it’s not something we enjoy. It very often puts handcuffs on what we can and can’t do and, frankly speaking, it’s a lot harder to make great games when the IP holders don’t understand the online gaming market.
The exception to this rule has been our relationship with the team at DC Comics. I have to say they are indeed a pleasure to work with. Jim Lee’s involvement as the Executive Creative Director has been a hell of a lot of fun. I just saw the latest build, and the team has come up with a combat system that I think is hands down the best I’ve ever seen. It doesn’t remotely feel like today’s MMOs. It’s all about the action.
One last thing: In the near future, you’re going to read about another big development here at SOE. We recently acquired a game developer that is going to take us into a new space entirely. We’re really excited about it and I think when you hear what it’s about and see what they’re working on you’ll agree!
______________________________
I usually picture the Career builder commercial with the room full of monkeys and upside down sales chart when thinking about the SOE/SWG decision making process.....
SOE's John Blakely and Todd Fiala issued a warning: "Don't make our mistakes." Ref NGE
Winner of the worst MMOS goes to.... the NGE and SWG..!!! http://www.mmorpg.com/showFeature.cfm?loadFeature=1034&bhcp=1
Comments
lol. I don't know. I think LA has been in the gaming industry to at least understand ALITTLE about it :P
On a side note, I can't belive he reads Wheel of Time. When he first mentioned it two things went through my head:
1st: A Wheel of Time MMO! Finally. This is what I have been waiting for for 7 years of playing WoTMUD.
2nd: SoE? Why does it have toi be SoE?
Anyways, It's not happening. And I will have to agree with Smed. Get well soon Jim Rigney...
Double post
I noticed this at the last chat they did:
[17:53] <Brannoc> *Jeffro* How many months will it take before all combats profs get thier expertise trees
[17:55] <jneri> We will be working on expertise trees in 06 and into the beginning of 07... we are working on getting them right and polished, and frankly Grant said no rushing these or we have to do Real Life PVP in the SOE parking lot
Maybe SOE has (finally) started to say no to LA trying to rush things? (yes, I can look too far into things too :P)
Shanghai? The SWG players have been Shanghaied twice already. And Smed is Smelling the crotch of China JOY /golfclap. Meanwhile your company is tanking
The news of a New game developer being acquired would only be good if it was SOE that was the one who is aquired and a majpr housecleaning of SOE dead wood would occur. ( Fire them...... Fire them all)
Unaware of the Jestor?
http://about.me/JestorRodo/
Friends enjoy his classic Vblog - https://www.facebook.com/GoodOldReliableNathan
So $OE is having problems with $LA?????(Sigil?????) It is MORE than likely the OTHER way around. $OE doesn't have a clue about anything. When I think of $OE I think of the old animated Christmas story"Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer". You know ... the land of the misfits. There is a reason $LA put handcuffs on the misfits from $OE ... they just can't seem to do ANYTHING right. I mean afterall, it is the "Star Wars" name $OE is dragging thru the mud. Just the name itself ("Star Wars") should command a huge following. Now, 3 years later, Galaxies is headed for a MAJOR meltdown as Nov 15th, 2006 gets closer and closer.
It appears that $OE in particular Smedley, is saying $LA (and Sigil) does not understand the online gaming market. (As Smedley says, "With the exception of DC Comics") I submit that it is the reverse. It is Smedley and his misfit Devs and Designers that do not understand the online gaming market. How is it possible for anyone that "supposedly" KNOWS what they are doing to take a game bearing the "Star Wars" title from having 350,00 to as many as 500,000 accounts down to its current level between 30,000 and 50,000 accounts? It sure as hell isn't because they are doing things right. And as Nov 15, 2006 gets closer that number will go down further.
This statement from Smedley really amazes me. He says his Dev team just designed the best combat system he has ever seen ... so he says. Let me stop for a second to catch my breath from laughing so hard. Smedley, $OE, and his misfit Developers wouldn't know a good combat system if it hit them in their heads. The original SWG combat system (not the specials) was the best I have seen in any MMO. I am talking about the mechanics, NOT the use of specials, because we all know some worked, some didn't, and some were too powerful. $OE has had 4 ... that was FOUR different combat systems in SWG. The original (was by far the best), the CU, the NGE, and now they have gone BACK to target lock in some other form. Jesum Christmas .. make up your freaking minds!!!!
Any game that partners with $OE will not get my business. Most recently Sigil's Vanguard: Saga of Heroes. It isn't because the game won't be a good game when released. It is because they are in bed with $OE. I am NOT willing to invest one, two, three or more years of my time and money just to have my game dramatically altered just because $OE feels the need to change something. Eventually $OE will gain creative control over Vanguard and that will be the END of the game. Don't tell me $OE wouldn't do this. They just recently changed everyones toons appearance without the consent of the account holder. Someone please tell me the reason this had to be done? I say it was done because they couldn't figure out how to actually fix stuff that is really broken so they had to do something.
I invested over 3,900 hours of game time and spent over $1,200.00 playing SWG just to have it gutted by some misfits that don't have a CLUE on what they are doing. I will not place myself in that position again. And I KNOW I am FAR from being the only person that feels that way as I estimate that Sigil lost at least 50% of their potential customers by what I read on their forums when the announcement was made.
On a side note, my nephew, who is 15 (he and I played SWG for 2 1/2 years. He started when he was 12), recieved EQII as a birthday gift. So he played it for a month. He initially liked the game but within one month he said it lost his interest because it was an inferior game to SWG and had experienced some more of $OEs BS on breaking everything when ever they put a patch/update out.
Sago Mactow
Former SWG 2yr 7 month Vet
6/26/03 - 1/26/06
Jedi, Master Shipwright, Master Architect
DFR Councilman
Tarq Server
Those of us "in the know" have known this for a while. Ya'll just haven't been listening. You'd rather place the blame 100% on SOE.
Currently Playing: Dungeons and Dragons Online.
Sig image Pending
Still in: A couple Betas
Do the friggen math people. I'm not saying SWG's problems are solely at the feet of LEC... but ya'll who wish to bash SOE from hell to high water need to realize just WHO is in charge of SWG when all is said and done. And, just a clue, it's not SOE.
Currently Playing: Dungeons and Dragons Online.
Sig image Pending
Still in: A couple Betas
It's a real shame about Smed. His posts are sometimes well written and tbh, rather personable. Too bad he views the world through a Belly Window.
And it was refreshing to see a little honesty out of him with his remarks about working with somebody else's IP.
Ok, I just made two nice comments about Smed. I'm heading to the doctor.
I realize I said I quit. I never said it was forever
You can hate on SOE all you want but you're deliberately missinterpreting what he's saying. I personaly am not a huge fan of SOE but everything Smed said is 100% true and it's exactly what several of us who work within/around the industry have been telling folks here for years now. The problems with SWG are unique to SWG because SWG is the only SOE title currently in production that is a 3rd party IP. The DC comics title will be their only other title that they are developing under a 3rd party IP. Vanguard, while a 3rd party holds the IP is also being developed and supported by that 3rd party. SOE will have no design input into the game so it falls outside the discussion.
No I think if you pay attention to the facts it's quite clear that he's very fed up with the situation between LEC and SOE and is tired of taking 100% of the heat for mixups caused by changes in direction dictated by a 3rd party (LEC).
Oh, and, by the way: SWG only ever had 300,000 accounts, not 500k. The only time that 500k was 'reported' was when LEC made the announcement which included trial accounts, not paying subscribers.
Sigil owns, operates, supports and develops Vanguard. SOE is going to be handling: Distribution & Billing of the game, I suspect they'll also be heavily involved in Promoting the game. None of those 3 roles involve Development. Sigil builds the game. SOE just gives you the means to pay for it.
As to your mention of the 'four different systems' in SWG that's exactly what smedly was talking about when he said that dealing with a 3rd Party IP that doesn't have the same direction causes problems. Do you HONESTLY think SOE wanted to change the combat system 4 times? They were told to make it easier, simpler to learn, etc. By the IP Holder. So they did. I fault SOE for many things. But core changes to the game are directed by the Producer, not the Developer, typically.
Currently Playing: Dungeons and Dragons Online.
Sig image Pending
Still in: A couple Betas
Bah we all know what Smedly was really doing in Shanghai
http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/asiapcf/08/01/china.dogs.ap/index.html
I realize I said I quit. I never said it was forever
You can hate on SOE all you want but you're deliberately missinterpreting what he's saying. I personaly am not a huge fan of SOE but everything Smed said is 100% true and it's exactly what several of us who work within/around the industry have been telling folks here for years now. The problems with SWG are unique to SWG because SWG is the only SOE title currently in production that is a 3rd party IP. The DC comics title will be their only other title that they are developing under a 3rd party IP. Vanguard, while a 3rd party holds the IP is also being developed and supported by that 3rd party. SOE will have no design input into the game so it falls outside the discussion.
No I think if you pay attention to the facts it's quite clear that he's very fed up with the situation between LEC and SOE and is tired of taking 100% of the heat for mixups caused by changes in direction dictated by a 3rd party (LEC).
Oh, and, by the way: SWG only ever had 300,000 accounts, not 500k. The only time that 500k was 'reported' was when LEC made the announcement which included trial accounts, not paying subscribers.
Sigil owns, operates, supports and develops Vanguard. SOE is going to be handling: Distribution & Billing of the game, I suspect they'll also be heavily involved in Promoting the game. None of those 3 roles involve Development. Sigil builds the game. SOE just gives you the means to pay for it.
As to your mention of the 'four different systems' in SWG that's exactly what smedly was talking about when he said that dealing with a 3rd Party IP that doesn't have the same direction causes problems. Do you HONESTLY think SOE wanted to change the combat system 4 times? They were told to make it easier, simpler to learn, etc. By the IP Holder. So they did. I fault SOE for many things. But core changes to the game are directed by the Producer, not the Developer, typically.
You need to read my post before trying to say i said something. I never said $OE was designing Vanguard. This is what I DID say, " Eventually $OE will gain creative control over Vanguard and that will be the END of the game."
I have not missinterpreted anything. anyone that that reads what Smed says and is without bias will get the same from Smeds statements. smed DID say DC Comics was the "exception".
What ever ... you believe what you want. I am not trying to convinve you of anything. I want you to prove to me there never was 350K or 500K accounts. Can you prove it? I think not. Then you have NO busuness argueing the point. I base my statement on a LA press release. It doesn't say where they got their numbers from. BUT the other side of the coin .... $OE adds all their single account holders in with their Station Pass Account holders to fudge the numbers ... that is all too well known. It seems that you may be saying there was 200K +/- trial accounts? That seems just a tad far fetched.
Yes. This has always been $OE. Jeff Freeman was the main person pushing the NGE. He was an $OE develpoer. What happened was they convinced $LA it was for the better.
Sago Mactow
Former SWG 2yr 7 month Vet
6/26/03 - 1/26/06
Jedi, Master Shipwright, Master Architect
DFR Councilman
Tarq Server
Do the friggen math people. I'm not saying SWG's problems are solely at the feet of LEC... but ya'll who wish to bash SOE from hell to high water need to realize just WHO is in charge of SWG when all is said and done. And, just a clue, it's not SOE.
Point of Fact: LEC has been in the gaming industry long enough to know something about it. And the fact that they haven't done an MMO before only points more to the fact that SOE screwed over Galaxies.
LEC gave it over to SOE to make and implement with LEC overseeing their IP. SOE made the game, SOE implmented the game, SOE messed over the game. LEC isn't happy about it.
I also find it suspicious that SOE only did this to one of their games. Does it point to LEC behind it? No. It points to the fact the Galaxies was the most "Out-there" MMO they had. It was the most diffrent and it needed to be brought in and made "Better" because that was obviously why it was failing...
Do the friggen math people. I'm not saying SWG's problems are solely at the feet of LEC... but ya'll who wish to bash SOE from hell to high water need to realize just WHO is in charge of SWG when all is said and done. And, just a clue, it's not SOE.
Point of Fact: LEC has been in the gaming industry long enough to know something about it. And the fact that they haven't done an MMO before only points more to the fact that SOE screwed over Galaxies.
LEC gave it over to SOE to make and implement with LEC overseeing their IP. SOE made the game, SOE implmented the game, SOE messed over the game. LEC isn't happy about it.
I also find it suspicious that SOE only did this to one of their games. Does it point to LEC behind it? No. It points to the fact the Galaxies was the most "Out-there" MMO they had. It was the most diffrent and it needed to be brought in and made "Better" because that was obviously why it was failing...
I agree this shows a few things, yes some of us know the deal, LA pulls alot of the strings... (Well of course it does) -- HOWEVER no different to say that SOE should know how to handle this better.
As we can see this is the president of SOE coming out and saying that they are having issues with LA -- plain and simple, no bullshit and no mixing words. I dare say this is not going to last, I mean we have all said the game is doomed in the past... (In hope more so then knowing) --
BUT when the freaking president comes out in public and says this, he has stired the pot and rattled the cage now.
No matter what, both take blame... period. SOE and LA fucked this up so bad, they are both going to start blaming each other (MARK MY WORDS ON THIS BIGTIME) --- They both have egg on thier face and now each party is going to be blaming each other here real soon, if they arn't already.
No matter who did what first, SOE is the dev team... period. They really are holding the motor as LA drives the bus...
BUT for the first time we have seen Smedley call it out as he sees it and NOW this will bring bad light to the game even more so.
I'm sorry but when you see a president of one half of a joint venture say this... IT IS NOT a good thing.
Oh and these stats:
MMORPGs stats on saving the game... smoking all the others by far..
______________________________
I usually picture the Career builder commercial with the room full of monkeys and upside down sales chart when thinking about the SOE/SWG decision making process.....
SOE's John Blakely and Todd Fiala issued a warning: "Don't make our mistakes." Ref NGE
Winner of the worst MMOS goes to.... the NGE and SWG..!!! http://www.mmorpg.com/showFeature.cfm?loadFeature=1034&bhcp=1
LordCaptain wrote
Point of Fact: LEC has been in the gaming industry long enough to know something about it. And the fact that they haven't done an MMO before only points more to the fact that SOE screwed over Galaxies.
LEC gave it over to SOE to make and implement with LEC overseeing their IP. SOE made the game, SOE implmented the game, SOE messed over the game. LEC isn't happy about it.
I also find it suspicious that SOE only did this to one of their games. Does it point to LEC behind it? No. It points to the fact the Galaxies was the most "Out-there" MMO they had. It was the most diffrent and it needed to be brought in and made "Better" because that was obviously why it was failing...
I dont quite understand the logic in the first statement, why does the fact LEC hasnt done an MMO before point to SOW screwing over galaxies ?
LEC did give it to SOE to make, but the Rage of the Wookies expansion and the Trials of Obi-wan were definately tie-ins initiated by LEC, LEC definately had to finalise any changes to the game - remember the Jedi Village ? that had to be approved by LEC before implementation, so did the Death Watch Bunker before that. This proves that LEC definately had a control over all aspects of the game. Lucas and his companies have always controlled EVERY aspect of tar Wars thats why its made them so much money.
SOE actually has done a combat rebalance to Matriz as well havent they ? and there has been changes to EQ2 as well as far as im aware ?
Sago, LEC demanded the game be changed. They wanted a game more like Battlefront. They brought focus group testing information and sales numbers from their other Star Wars games and told SOE that SWG was to meet those expectations. Jeff Freeman and a team from EQ2 was put in charge of building that system.
Yes, it was the worst change in MMO history to any game. SOE has had their name completely tarnished as a result. They warned LEC that this would probably be the result, but LEC basically told them to do it anyway because they were sure that the numbers would change for the better.
Now, I am not saying SOE is blameless in this.. They developed the system, they under tested it and they brought it to the comunity in a halfassed manner. It's completely their fault that it launched bugged and incomplete.
LEC is to blame for not understanding the MMO market.
SOE is to blame for the shoddy product itself.
Together they are like the Ishtar of online gaming.
Former SWG beta tester and player
Yeah, but I think even you can see the writing on the wall with this one.
No matter what- I have to think you know enough to know when somthing is not going well.
I hold them both responsible for this mess, make no mistake at all... BUT when one said calls out the other in a statement you are going to have a ripple effect.
You can love that mess of the game all you want, but when the leaders of both sides start pointing fingers you better start wondering whats next.
Do yourself a favor though.. FUCK what Grant or Kurt, or even Julio or Helios says at this point.. look for the big toes to say things.. in the end they are the ones with the major calls.
______________________________
I usually picture the Career builder commercial with the room full of monkeys and upside down sales chart when thinking about the SOE/SWG decision making process.....
SOE's John Blakely and Todd Fiala issued a warning: "Don't make our mistakes." Ref NGE
Winner of the worst MMOS goes to.... the NGE and SWG..!!! http://www.mmorpg.com/showFeature.cfm?loadFeature=1034&bhcp=1
Let me just interject as kind of an outsider. I played the game from July of '03 to March of '06.
The plain and simple fact is that it became a game I no longer recognized and was not fun anymore in the slightest.
The game was run by two companies as I see it.
Both are equally responsible in my eyes I don't care what symantics are wrapped around it by the forums. The game I liked was replaced by a greatly inferior model. (Kinda like when Ford replaced the Mustang with the Mustang II. UGGH!!)
I don't really care who is responsible, Until it is fixed, neither of them profit from my coin with the venture!
Case closed!!
Well said... I agree as well with you too.
Now the finger pointing has began
______________________________
I usually picture the Career builder commercial with the room full of monkeys and upside down sales chart when thinking about the SOE/SWG decision making process.....
SOE's John Blakely and Todd Fiala issued a warning: "Don't make our mistakes." Ref NGE
Winner of the worst MMOS goes to.... the NGE and SWG..!!! http://www.mmorpg.com/showFeature.cfm?loadFeature=1034&bhcp=1
Mr. Freeman clearly stated on his blog before he removed it, that He and someone else was the brain child behind the NGE and pushed it forward to sell to LEC.
I don't think (then or now) that BattlefronII (maybe I never played it enough) was what they were trying to copy. I would agree that $OE and $LEC tried to mimic KOTOR as well as WOW and Diablo. They even changed the color of pearls in SWG from white to some kind of brown. The pearl in KOTOR was that brownish color. There was other things also, I think the combat system in the NGE was very similar. KOTOR had a small combat que that only worked while the crosshairs was over your intended target.
I whole heartedly agree ... this was a joint failure between $OE and $LA. $OE's ideas .... $LECs approval. what the people at LEC needed to realize is if I wanted to play KOTOR or WoW, or any other game I would go play that game. The BIG mistake was turning SWG into a mismatch of other games. Hence, SWG lost its own identity.
Personally, if I made a change and it had a negative effect on the playerbase I would UNdo what was done. But before it got to that I would have prolly kept it in a TC for an extended period of time, then put it on a (single) server that was desigated as being the first to get publishes and updates before all the other servers.
The benefits of having a server like that is you can advertise it as "the" server to get all the updates and such before all the other servers (kind of like a "live" test server). The downside, and this needs to be right out front, the playbase needs to know that it is a "live" test server so things are GOING to get broken. But a persons toon will never be deleted. People that have accounts on this server could also have access to a specific restricted forum to post their likes and dislikes.
Sorry for getting off topic.
Sago Mactow
Former SWG 2yr 7 month Vet
6/26/03 - 1/26/06
Jedi, Master Shipwright, Master Architect
DFR Councilman
Tarq Server
Finally, an SOE MMO that takes the focus back to "kill, loot, repeat" and instant rewards. Nice to see that they're covering all corners of the market.
A** Still Raw From Your Last SWG Subscription? Come join us at RLMMO.com
Those of us "in the know" have known this for a while. Ya'll just haven't been listening. You'd rather place the blame 100% on SOE.
Elnator, while we are taking a close look at the words Smedley wrote, take note of this: "and from our own recent experience". This indicates to me that only recently has there been a strain in the working relationship between the companies. The appearance of the two LEC guys, frankly, has made for improvements in the game and communication about the game from my player perspective. I can understand there is a sort of titanic battle of wills going on behind the scenes, but dang I still love the game and moving back towards the virtual world/player centric game would be so sweet. Whatever it takes.
to me Smed's comment read like this...
"we want to put things into SWG that have nothing to do with star wars...those jerks at LEC just dont understand gaming...."
SWG ADDICT...clean since the NGE