<
>

Page 2 of 6

1

2

3

4

5

6

Last

 Thread (149 posts)
Anofalye  4/11/08 9:14:59 PM

Rank: 35/100 Rank: 35/100 Rank: 35/100 Rank: 35/100 Rank: 35/100

Apprentice Member

Joined: 11/19/03
Posts: 7396

The enemy is so dumb! They believe that WE are the enemy! - A famous orc commander.

 

Originally posted by SirBruce

Thanks Templarga, of couse Grimwell is a big man at SOE now and badmouthing my numbers. :(  But hey, it's his job.

Bruce

 

 

SOE cancel button doesn't work properly.  They prolly count peoples they wrongly charged and who want a refund.  I hold them a grudge and I am far from done with my vindicative comments.

 

If anything, you should include a "cancel but denied" grey area for SOE.

 

EQ was a casual game in 1999, compared to other available MMOs (FFA UO, RvR DAoC, Pyramidal system in AC...).  No matter what SOE says.   There is room for hardcore games and system, but never at the expanse of your casuals.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zn8u-JuDiFw 

- "If I understand you well, you are telling me until next time. " - René Levesque about the denial NO on the poll to his dream, project and goal. (Free translation)

Bama1267  4/11/08 10:14:27 PM

Rank: 59/100 Rank: 59/100 Rank: 59/100 Rank: 59/100 Rank: 59/100

Advanced Member

Joined: 8/24/04
Posts: 1178

Originally posted by SirBruce

Nice interview; thanks Laura and Jon for the feature.

For those of you who think MMOGCHART.COM isn't taken seriously by the industry, here are some links:

http://www.ncsoft.net/global/board/downloadlist.aspx?BID=ir_pr

If you download the latest 2008 IR Report, you'll find NCSoft quoting my (older) numbers on page 16:

http://www.mmogchart.com/ncexample.JPG

You might also remember the presentation Vivendi gave to investors regarding World of Warcraft back in 2006:

http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1127055/000095012306007628/y22210exv99w1.htm

There you'll find a very suspicious looking graph on page 15:

http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1127055/000095012306007628/y22210y22210z0015.gif

Two of the sources for the numbers on that graph is Wikipedia and DFC Intelligence, who use my numbers frequently.  Another is NCSoft's own data, which I myself use for my charts.

I will also be giving a presentation at the www.iongameconference.com in May on my latest research.

Why are the numbers important?  Frankly, if you enjoy the game you're playing, then they aren't.  You shouldn't pay too much attention to them.  But if your MMOG starts "dying", you probably already know; the numbers simply provide a confirmation of this.  It also lets you know what other games are popular; they might be ones you want to try out.  But consumer concerns aside, we all have an interest in making sure the industry as a whole is doing well.  By aggregating data from multiple sources and reporting on trends in the industry, we gain insight into where we've been and where we may be going next.  And such data is particular useful to investors -- you know, those people who risk hundreds of millions of dollars in MMOG development every year so you can actually get to enjoy games like World of Warcraft, Tabula Rasa, Lord of the Rings Online, EverQuest II, EVE Online, and future games like Age of Conan, Stargate Worlds, and Warhammer Online.

Bruce

 

  Keep up the good work!

 
chaintm  4/11/08 11:33:10 PM

Rank: 2/100 Rank: 2/100 Rank: 2/100 Rank: 2/100 Rank: 2/100

Novice Member

Joined: 7/02/04
Posts: 466

Got me what all the fuss is about, as I see it, Bruces numbers have been pretty dam accurate for years now as most on his list I have played and would easly concure the numbers just by my experiance alone as a player. Those here I believe that bash the numbers are those that have some ties to MMO's that are not fairing so well.

Your only saving grace is to make an MMO people want, if you don't have the means or resources to do so, do what most people do. Find another line of work, don't bash Bruce's numbers because they put your MMO in a bad light. It is YOU that made your peice of dung, now you have to live with it.

As to the Sony guys, here is a good peice of advice and you have heard it plenty, "don't fix what is not broken" and finally, your spy game has real good possibilities, I know many interested to see what becomes of it, don't screw that one up and you might just have a huge hit on your hands!

salu!

X

 
schloob  4/11/08 11:42:24 PM

Rank: 32/100 Rank: 32/100 Rank: 32/100 Rank: 32/100 Rank: 32/100

Apprentice Member

Joined: 4/04/08
Posts: 25

I love looking at those charts every few months.  It makes me feel better about all the trash talking I did when LoTRO fanboys made a big fuss when turbine lied about having 9million characters active.  The moderate fanboys said it was more like 600,000.  They were both way off haha.  I got to endgame before I realized that game imploded because the devs sought to please moderate and not hardcore gamers.  Too late to go back and fix that mistake haha.

 
WSIMike  4/12/08 7:54:16 AM

Rank: 100/100 Rank: 100/100 Rank: 100/100 Rank: 100/100 Rank: 100/100

Elite Member

Joined: 3/09/04
Posts: 1627

"This Space For Rent"



Originally posted by schloob

I love looking at those charts every few months. It makes me feel better about all the trash talking I did when LoTRO fanboys made a big fuss when turbine lied about having 9million characters active. The moderate fanboys said it was more like 600,000. They were both way off haha. I got to endgame before I realized that game imploded because the devs sought to please moderate and not hardcore gamers. Too late to go back and fix that mistake haha.



(<Mod edit>)
If it's really a useful industry tool and companies really look to its stats to judge how well they stand against their competition then great. In that case, the opinion of anyone here makes no difference either way. They either find it useful or they don't.
For myself, I couldn't care less how popular a game is. That WoW has 9 million or whatever players when I played it made no difference to me... I found the game didn't keep my interest and I left. That FFXI has 500-600k players when I played it makes no difference to me. I don't care how many LoTRO has... I play the game because I enjoy it. Not so I can point to a chart and say "uh huh... .ya see that? My MMO can beat up your MMO!"
My point? Some people in these forums put *wayyyy* too much emphasis and concern into those numbers as a way to prove either they're playing the "best" game, or that someone else isn't. Why do you need to justify what you choose to entertain yourself? Is the need to be validated that great for some people? Are they that insecure?
Of course, many times it's merely a convenient "prop" to bolster whatever point-of-view they're trying to force down others' throats. Thus, when the numbers support their argument "they're accurate", when they don't, "they're way off" or "obviously fabricated".
One of the people I parenthetically mentioned above has demonstrated that behavior numerous times in the past. He'll hastily post links to any stats he can find to "prove" a game isn't doing that great. Yet, just as hastily dismiss any that show otherwise. It's so blatantly duplicitous, I can't believe they expect no one to see right through it.
The only meaning I take from any population numbers is this: Is the game doing well enough for the developer to continue supporting and expanding it. If 200k players is a large enough population to do so, then that's awesome. 199k other players and myself will continue to have a fun way to spend our time.
But anyway... If nothing else, the article sure got a rise out of people here.


"Like a bottle with the cork stuck; your true ingredients trapped up inside. Through the cloudy glass, we catch a glimpse of you. Guess that hard shell represents your pride.", 'Glass'

jimmyman99  4/12/08 12:12:17 PM

Rank: 90/100 Rank: 90/100 Rank: 90/100 Rank: 90/100 Rank: 90/100

Elite Member

Joined: 6/07/04
Posts: 2107

"Damn you, poetical justice" - Homer Simpson


Two of the sources for the numbers on that graph is Wikipedia and DFC Intelligence, who use my numbers frequently.  Another is NCSoft's own data, which I myself use for my charts.

I will also be giving a presentation at the www.iongameconference.com in May on my latest research.

Why are the numbers important?  Frankly, if you enjoy the game you're playing, then they aren't.  You shouldn't pay too much attention to them.  But if your MMOG starts "dying", you probably already know; the numbers simply provide a confirmation of this.  It also lets you know what other games are popular; they might be ones you want to try out.  But consumer concerns aside, we all have an interest in making sure the industry as a whole is doing well.  By aggregating data from multiple sources and reporting on trends in the industry, we gain insight into where we've been and where we may be going next.  And such data is particular useful to investors -- you know, those people who risk hundreds of millions of dollars in MMOG development every year so you can actually get to enjoy games like World of Warcraft, Tabula Rasa, Lord of the Rings Online, EverQuest II, EVE Online, and future games like Age of Conan, Stargate Worlds, and Warhammer Online.

Bruce 


First of all, id like to say that I appreciate your efforts and your commitment to your work. However, as many users pointed out (some in a very rude way), your data mixes valid and invalid information. If you want your work to be taken seriously, you should not mix facts with guessing, however intelligent that guessing might be. Rating sources for reliability is good, but not enough. If you mix real data (financial reports, official company statements, employee interviews) with guessing (anonymous tips, unconfirmed/unclear company statements, etc), then people will assume that all your data is just a guess.

One way to avoid it is separate charts with confirmed and unconfirmed data. This way, when people compare various subs, they know that that data is solid or not. Once again, thnx for the effort.

I am the type of player where I like to do everything and anything from time to time.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holodomor - pre-WW2 genocide.

Vrazule  4/12/08 12:16:00 PM

Rank: 2/100 Rank: 2/100 Rank: 2/100 Rank: 2/100 Rank: 2/100

Novice Member

Joined: 2/20/04
Posts: 461

If life is but a dream, then why must we row so hard?

I'll accept the accuracy of SirBruce over any random rabid poster from this site.  Ballpark figures are good enough for me, accuracy to a Tee is only important to accountants.  I like the chart because it shows me which companies are on the up and up when they talk about their own business versus those who lie out their asses, like Turbine and SOE.  Both have a history not only about misleading subscription numbers, but also in shady and unprofessional practices against their customers, mistreatment of customers on bulletin boards and so forth.  All of these are reasons why I won't play their games, they just don't deserve my money.  I also factor in their style of development and typical end product, which I have never like from both of those companies either.

With PvE raiding, it has never been a question of being "good enough". I play games to have fun, not to be a simpering toady sitting through hour after hour of mind numbing boredom and fawning over a guild master in the hopes that he will condescend to reward me with shiny bits of loot. But in games where those people get the highest progression, anyone who doesn't do that will just be a moving target for them and I'll be damned if I'm going to pay money for the privilege. - Neanderthal

Munki  4/12/08 3:38:37 PM

Rank: 41/100 Rank: 41/100 Rank: 41/100 Rank: 41/100 Rank: 41/100

Advanced Member

Joined: 12/04/02
Posts: 1150

Location: Canada
Playing now: COD4

Originally posted by SirBruce

Nice interview; thanks Laura and Jon for the feature.

For those of you who think MMOGCHART.COM isn't taken seriously by the industry, here are some links:

http://www.ncsoft.net/global/board/downloadlist.aspx?BID=ir_pr

If you download the latest 2008 IR Report, you'll find NCSoft quoting my (older) numbers on page 16:

http://www.mmogchart.com/ncexample.JPG

You might also remember the presentation Vivendi gave to investors regarding World of Warcraft back in 2006:

http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1127055/000095012306007628/y22210exv99w1.htm

There you'll find a very suspicious looking graph on page 15:

http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1127055/000095012306007628/y22210y22210z0015.gif

Two of the sources for the numbers on that graph is Wikipedia and DFC Intelligence, who use my numbers frequently.  Another is NCSoft's own data, which I myself use for my charts.

I will also be giving a presentation at the www.iongameconference.com in May on my latest research.

Why are the numbers important?  Frankly, if you enjoy the game you're playing, then they aren't.  You shouldn't pay too much attention to them.  But if your MMOG starts "dying", you probably already know; the numbers simply provide a confirmation of this.  It also lets you know what other games are popular; they might be ones you want to try out.  But consumer concerns aside, we all have an interest in making sure the industry as a whole is doing well.  By aggregating data from multiple sources and reporting on trends in the industry, we gain insight into where we've been and where we may be going next.  And such data is particular useful to investors -- you know, those people who risk hundreds of millions of dollars in MMOG development every year so you can actually get to enjoy games like World of Warcraft, Tabula Rasa, Lord of the Rings Online, EverQuest II, EVE Online, and future games like Age of Conan, Stargate Worlds, and Warhammer Online.

Bru