Tabula Rasa

Thank you, Wiccan.  Spot on post.  It's the devs who have really failed us.  Remembering that all the great "potential" that TR has is in their hands and it just makes me sad.  It's like we've been shown a blueprint for an amazing game, and a bunch of high school kids in woodworking shop 101 were given the task of creating it.  

Originally posted by bartwart

 

 

Originally posted by Winterfresh

 

Maybe you don't know how to read, but I did state that NCsoft's annual net profit increased 18% from 2006, though it should be higher considering how many new titles were released.

 

What I also stated - and which was the crux of my point that NCsoft is hemorrhaging money - is that Q4 profits in 2007 were 47% lower than Q4 profits in 2006, when they were also hemorrhaging money from Auto Assault.  Auto Assault, if you didn't know, had less than 10k subscribers before it closed last August.

Reading FTW!

The 47% drop from Q4 2006 to Q4 2007 doesn't mean what you think it means.  Don't read too much into it.  2006 was a funny year, and it probably had something to do with Auto Assault.  They took a loss in Q2 even though they had a nice operating profit (their only reported loss in the last 3 years), and then they reported more net profit Q4 2006 than their pre-tax net profit (the only time that has happened in 3 years).  Seriously, the only drama going on in this company is in the back offices where they keep their bean counters.

 

They would be absolutely crazy to kill Tabula Rasa, much less through some crazy convoluted scheme to promote Robert Garriott just so it would be easier to ax the baby.

 

I appreciate the facts, but I'm not sure how they're related to Tabula Rasa's financial state.  In any case, it'll probably be a while before they decide to kill TR (if they decide to kill it) since Aion seems to be on track for this year and Guild Wars 2 early next, and those are practically licenses to print money.

Originally posted by Salvatoris

That's cool, you want to believe totally unsubstantiated rumors, and ignore the fact that those rumors have been rebuffed directly by the company in question.. that's fine.  You think the game must suck since you believe no one bought it.. I think that sales are low because a lot of sad pathetic losers have nothing else to do but bash a game they haven't given more than a superficial look, if they have even played it at all. It would be different if it was based on the game's merit... rather than intentionally inaccurate rumors about the games financial situation, and wild speculation about it's future.

This game kicks ass... if 2 people bought a copy or 2 million, the quality of the game is unchanged... It's just it's future potential that suffers.  The only legitimate complaint I have seen anyone throw out about the game is a lack of end-game content.... which I believe is myth anyway.  I have played a lot of MMOs and NONE of them had compelling endgame content at launch. Most still don't, years after their launch.  I know.... maybe if you talk enough shit about the game it's sales will go up and all it's problems will be solved. Or maybe screaming doom and gloom about the game's sales anywhere that people will listen is self-fulfilling prophesy...

NO ONE is trying to imply that sales for the game haven't been great... not even good.  But the game is getting regular, positive updates.  I see plenty of other players at my level range. The sky simply isn't falling.  It's funny to see how differently the game is discussed on the planet TR forums and or the stratics forums and here, and MMOHATER central.  It's like tqwo totally different games.

Ah, Salvatoris, my boy, you're always good for a laugh.  The only rumors NCsoft refuted were that it cost $100M to develop, and that the game was restarted no more than once.  It's a sticky situation since the only one trying to discredit the Korea Times journalist is the company in question, and of couse, they're not going to say that TR drastically underperformed than they anticipated.

 And I'm hoping this was hyperbole, because of course the game would suck if there were only two people playing it.  Try to defend or take back a control point with these Wonder Twins and let us know how it goes.

Your last sentence is a riot because...  well, anyone visiting Planet TR or Stratics forums would obviously like the game enough to still be playing it.  But in the name of science, I decided to research this anyway, and here's what I found: absolutely no one on the General MMO board was talking about TR, on the sub-board devoted to TR, half the posts there were requests for free trials even though there was a master thread stickied for just that purpose, and in the only "Should I Buy This??" thread, not a single poster recommended buying it, though everyone talked about how the game had potential.  Unfortunately, promises made aren't promises kept.

Still, I'm looking forward to what the future holds for this game, and can only hope it doesn't go the way of Auto Assault.

Originally posted by enhaxed

LOL Sal I don't know why you bother - this is MMORPG.com - troll central, it is full of losers with no clue and nothing better to do than bash games.

They keep posting rubbish and since their goal has never been veracity you will never get them to admit it, my advice don't bother.  If you want a serious discussion of TR and it merits/flaws this is the last place to come.

Let the trolls /cry to each other, just thank your lucky stars these avatars of fail aren't in game with us.

"LOL, mmorpg.com is full of trolls even though most of us have actually played the game and acknowledge that it has potential.

They keep posting rubbish, and if you want a serious discussion of TR, this is the last place to come even though all my posts here are about TR and nothing else.  No, I couldn't possibly be a fanboi, why do you ask, LOLs?

Let the trolls /cry to each other, just thank your lucky stars I'll still play with you when the game is shut down."

For the record, I don't actually want TR to be shut down.

Originally posted by WiccanCircle

 

Originally posted by Salvatoris

{SNIP}

I think that sales are low because a lot of sad pathetic losers have nothing else to do but bash a game they haven't given more than a superficial look, if they have even played it at all.

This game kicks ass...  {SNIP}

Sal... we have played it.  Don't kid yourself that people are somehow unaware of how "This game kicks ass, dude!"

 

A few people bought it.  A few people have played it.  A few of us even came BACK to see if the game had revived itself from the pathetic, shllow, empty, hallow game code that was launched last fall.

And by and large most people don't like it.

Most people aren't even around to complain about the game anymore.  They gave it up as a lost cause and did the same thing I did today - Uninstalled it from my harddrive.

This company really didn't d justice to the potential that this game could have been.  The prose on the box drew me in like a moth to a flame.  It sounds wonderful!  But this game is nothing but a shell.

Empty.

Repetative.

Hallow.

Shell.

People shouldn't kid themselves.  The game is bad.  If you are having fun with a few friends in the game it is because you are having fun with a few friends... and I am guessing that like always, doing anything with your friends can be fun.

But it isn't the game.  It is the group that is merely killing time until May 20th.  These same friends will be fun to play with in the next MUCH better game.

See you in that one

Not all of us are looking for orcs and goblins... not all of us want a game about big hulky bare-chested men in skirts with swords and axes.  You're right that I am playing with a group of friends.  But it's a group of friends that I met through my mechwarrior team, and guys I played Anarchy Online and Battlefield and SWG with. 

This game is a lot closer to perfect for me than any other MMO I have played.  It does a great job of mixing a shooter game with the depth of an MMO.  The action isn't as good as the best FPS and the it is certainly doesn't have the depth of features that some MMOs have... I look forward to the day that a game can perfectly combine the two... but right now, this is the only game that even tries to offer that.  It has great graphics, runs smooth, combat is a blast and it's full of quests.  Maybe they run out at 50, I guess I'll see when I get there.  Of course, I have never played an MMO that had compelling endgame content, and I've played quite a few.. so I won't be surprised if this one doesn't either. I don't feel like I have to be married to a game until death do us part... when it's not fun any more, I'll move on and not haunt it's forums pissing and moaning about it..

Do I intend to play Conan, of course I do... but the jury is still out on it. I may not enjoy it as much as TR... the lore certainly appeals to me less than that of TR.  And yes, game does kick ass :P

Originally posted by WiccanCircle

 

 If you are having fun with a few friends in the game it is because you are having fun with a few friends... and I am guessing that like always, doing anything with your friends can be fun.

That night in the drunk tank at the local police jail is some of my fondest memories, yup the most fun I ever had throwing my guts up.

Originally posted by Vato26

 

Originally posted by D3mis3

 

Originally posted by LoompaOompa

Not at all. I have many times seen all of the servers with medium population.

And by no means is the game failing.  It is a great Sci-fi game with many flaws, yes, but the good far outweigh the bad (most of which is actively being worked on)

 

  In reality they either decreased server capacity, or increased their size for what they believe to be medium. In all actuallity, the population is rapidly declining (from personal experience, and many, MANY, other players experiences).

 

 

After my clan kicked me out for some stupid reasons I will not share, I thought I'd find a new clan. Then i realized, why? I'm just wasting money on rooftop jumping (having leveled 2 toons to 50). So with about 30 seconds of thought I cancelled and am relieved to not pay anymore.

YAY to unfounded, hate-filled, conspiracy theories! 

 

 

The fact is, you have no actual basis to back up your claim that NCSoft has been altering the server capacities.  Therefore, you are spouting conspiracy theories.  SWG Vets tried to use the same argument for NGE's server populations, and it was still as baseless as your argument.  Also, in the other posts that you posted on the 23rd, it seems you have a mighty big chip on your shoulder towards NCSoft.  You really need to release the hate.  And, based on your attitude about the game, is probably the reason why you were kicked from your clan.  I'd say kudos to them.

I'll give you that TR does have flaws.  I left after my free month not because it was "ultimate fail" as some of the bashers claim it to be.  No, I left because it wasn't what I wanted and I was also burnt out on MMORPG's at the time.  However, you didn't see me here bashing this game with arguments that have no basis.  Nope... just like the SWG vets, you really need to let go of your hate.

Look all I know is that if it doesn't fit my expectations then there must be a conspiracy.  That's just unconcscious knowledge.

1st, ive only played this game in beta, and it was descent.

But the aura around this game reminds of of another game, Asherons call 2. (DUN DUN DUN)

I remember when ac2 had little to no publicity, yet had a pretty constant flux of subs, and the population wasent horribly low, for the 1st year it was even quite abundant, and content updates were deliverd consistantly every month, yet all this was masking an impending doom.(ac2 had server merges then shut down completly,1 of few sub. games to be completly shut down)

I may go back to TR, i have considerd it a few times, especialy with my new pc arriving this week,however, i dont want to establish myself on another TITANIC, you know, this wonderful ship that seems cool and amazing, but then sinks all of a suden with no warning. I am only posting my paranoia based on what seems to be a 10/1 ratio of bad vs good posts among all the online gaming forums and magazines i read.Once again using ac2 as a refference, it had better reviews, and less public bashing, and it still tanked, keep that in mind. In the end income is the final factor, regardless of what people say on forums.

With all the economic discussions and arguments over Korean Times articles, no one has pointed out the bottom line.   NCSoft can try to spin their economic situation however they want, but there is no avoiding this:

http://stocks.us.reuters.com/stocks/overview.asp?symbol=036570.KS

The daily prices fluctuate from day to day so look at the little graph and see their stock price over the last year.  It's listed in S. Korean Won which is about 0.001005 US dollars.

In other words, last year NCSoft stock was worth $70 and went as high as $90.   Now it is down to $50. 

People can say whatever they want regarding theories about the costs of MMORPGs but in the end, this kind of stock drop is not a good thing for any company.   MMORPGs are products, and products are supposed to make profits. 

Originally posted by Salvatoris

The worst thing this game has going for it is inaccurate negative word of mouth...

Word of mouth regarding TR is completely accurate because it is based on the opinions of those spreading it.  If more people thought this game was so great as you do, then the WORD OF MOUTH would reveal it.  That's what it does and that's what makes it so powerful.   

I tried it, I played it.  And I would rather watch re-runs on TV than spend money on it.   That's only one opinion, it has no influence, it has no wieght.   But add that to all the others that say much the same thing, then that is when it becomes something with credibility.   That's when it becomes word of mouth.   And that doesn't change when a small, vocal minority tries to say otherwise.

There isn't some big, evil, organized conspiracy trying to ruin this game, Garriott and his inept Dev team did that all on their own.