New article up on IGN: pc.ign.com/articles/100/1002200p1.html

Snippet:

"According to Morrison, Funcom has "definitely turned a corner" and the company is seeing positive trends, as it reported in its most recent quarterly report. As a public company, Morrison isn't allowed to discuss subscriber numbers, but he said that it's a good sign that many of the complaints about the game now deal with the nitty-gritty mundane gripes that are almost universal amongst RPGs, rather than serious problems or concerns.
And this is why Funcom has launched the revaluation program. While the company is doing everything it can to trumpet the changes and relaunch the game, Morrison explained that "the proof is really in people playing it and seeing it for themselves."

We did ask him about the Xbox 360 version of Age of Conan, which has been in the works for years now. He said that Funcom still has a small team working on it, but technical issues remain. "We most definitely underestimated the challenges of getting the engine to run on the 360," he said.

It's true that developers would always love to have more time to work on their games before they launch, and in the case of Age of Conan Funcom has learned some valuable lessons that Morrison said the company was applying toward its next big project, The Secret World. Still, MMOs are expected to grow and evolve over time, and Age of Conan appears to be back on track."

Nice little read, what about the folks coming back to the game and trying it out, how are you getting on?

oh right, when the global economy (and most of its corporations) lost 50% of their wealth in the recession, i saw a lot of posters bragging that funcoms stock value declines were a result of aoc sucking.

I assume that positive numbers probably reflect a bit of a turn around in the industry as a whole.

Equating funcom stock value to aoc is a bit of a stretch, since aoc is just a part of the company, they have other business ventures, anarchy and casino machines (i think) to be specific.  If youve been paying attention, casinos have been hit very hard by the recession.

the game is turning around now, but i wouldnt use their stock value as a gauge of that.

unless they broke down their revenues in their report to show their cash flows from aoc...which i doubt they would do.

Originally posted by AmazingAvery 

Nice little read, what about the folks coming back to the game and trying it out, how are you getting on?

I couldn't really figure out what I should be doing.

pvp was nice for a while, but I'm not sure what I'm fighting for

is there something besides pvp i could be doing? (80dt here)

the only thing that could save this game is by making it more low end comp friendly. They could do this without taking away from high end graphics.

Originally posted by crunchyblack

oh right, when the global economy (and most of its corporations) lost 50% of their wealth in the recession, i saw a lot of posters bragging that funcoms stock value declines were a result of aoc sucking.

If you look back at the numbers, Funcoms stock had already dropped from 50 NOK to leess than 10 well before any global recession.

I assume that positive numbers probably reflect a bit of a turn around in the industry as a whole.

Equating funcom stock value to aoc is a bit of a stretch, since aoc is just a part of the company, they have other business ventures, anarchy and casino machines (i think) to be specific.  If youve been paying attention, casinos have been hit very hard by the recession.

never seen these 'casino machines" mentioned in any of the financial reports.Funcom seems to focus it's reports on AoC. Can you provide a link?

the game is turning around now, but i wouldnt use their stock value as a gauge of that.

unless they broke down their revenues in their report to show their cash flows from aoc...which i doubt they would do.

 I like it so far.. The PvP is still unbalanced, granted, but in general I think they have made major improvements. Of course, it helps to have a good friendly guild to be in and I have the roleplaying stuff to lean back on if bored with the rest. But I'm glad to be back. :)

Though.. I admit... EU-Aquilonia has some real ***** around... ^^

Originally posted by AmazingAvery

Nice little read, what about the folks coming back to the game and trying it out, how are you getting on?

Heya Avery, I was curious how you personally feel about the changes?

I've heard a few vets complain, but I've also seen some people who havn't been playing recently very happy, what are your thoughts on the changes?

(Anyone else is welcome to chyme in too, I've been following AoC for a while but never really got into it from its bad rep on these forums... though a lot of its ideas are really interesting..  would love to see if they got this title where it should be)

Originally posted by Jackdog

Originally posted by crunchyblack

oh right, when the global economy (and most of its corporations) lost 50% of their wealth in the recession, i saw a lot of posters bragging that funcoms stock value declines were a result of aoc sucking.

If you look back at the numbers, Funcoms stock had already dropped from 50 NOK to leess than 10 well before any global recession.

I assume that positive numbers probably reflect a bit of a turn around in the industry as a whole.

Equating funcom stock value to aoc is a bit of a stretch, since aoc is just a part of the company, they have other business ventures, anarchy and casino machines (i think) to be specific.  If youve been paying attention, casinos have been hit very hard by the recession.

never seen these 'casino machines" mentioned in any of the financial reports.Funcom seems to focus it's reports on AoC. Can you provide a link?

the game is turning around now, but i wouldnt use their stock value as a gauge of that.

unless they broke down their revenues in their report to show their cash flows from aoc...which i doubt they would do.

 

Thought i read somewhere that they did something along the lines of video poker....not sure where i got that is why i put the (i think) next to it.

Either way a lot goes into these financial reports, more than just subs.  Looking at them and saying "aoc is a failure look at funcoms financial reports" is ignoring a lot of other aspects.

Originally posted by Laughing-man

Originally posted by AmazingAvery

Nice little read, what about the folks coming back to the game and trying it out, how are you getting on?

 

Heya Avery, I was curious how you personally feel about the changes?

I've heard a few vets complain, but I've also seen some people who havn't been playing recently very happy, what are your thoughts on the changes?

(Anyone else is welcome to chyme in too, I've been following AoC for a while but never really got into it from its bad rep on these forums... though a lot of its ideas are really interesting..  would love to see if they got this title where it should be)

You never tried AoC because of the bad rep on these forums? I'm sure just about any game here at this site there is trolls and doomsayers bashing a game along with over the top fans. I would never let anyone's opinion convince me the game is fun or stinks. They had a free trial on the official page. Fileplanet still has a free trial link to all registered users. Give the game a try and decide for yourself.

http://www.fileplanet.com/promotions/age-of-conan/trial/

I like the changes. I been back since November. I'm not into PvP so I can't comment if it is worse or better. What I don't like at the moment is the outrageous prices for level 50 gear on the auction.

 EDIT: Just wanted to say wasn't bashing you. Just wanted you to try the game and get your feet into it. You may like it! Atleast you tried.

Originally posted by Sevenwind 

You never tried AoC because of the bad rep on these forums? I'm sure just about any game here at this site there is trolls and doomsayers bashing a game along with over the top fans. I would never let anyone's opinion convince me the game is fun or stinks. They had a free trial on the official page. Fileplanet still has a free trial link to all registered users. Give the game a try and decide for yourself.

http://www.fileplanet.com/promotions/age-of-conan/trial/

I like the changes. I been back since November. I'm not into PvP so I can't comment if it is worse or better. What I don't like at the moment is the outrageous prices for level 50 gear on the auction.

 EDIT: Just wanted to say wasn't bashing you. Just wanted you to try the game and get your feet into it. You may like it! Atleast you tried.

Well I did give a free trial a go a while back when they first offered them but my machine back then couldn't handle it, just got a new computer a little while ago. 

Edit:  BTW Thanks for the link!  ^,^

Originally posted by crunchyblack

oh right, when the global economy (and most of its corporations) lost 50% of their wealth in the recession, i saw a lot of posters bragging that funcoms stock value declines were a result of aoc sucking.

I assume that positive numbers probably reflect a bit of a turn around in the industry as a whole.

Equating funcom stock value to aoc is a bit of a stretch, since aoc is just a part of the company, they have other business ventures, anarchy and casino machines (i think) to be specific.  If youve been paying attention, casinos have been hit very hard by the recession.

the game is turning around now, but i wouldnt use their stock value as a gauge of that.

unless they broke down their revenues in their report to show their cash flows from aoc...which i doubt they would do.

Inexpensive, stay at home entertainment always sells well during an economic recession, your argument fell apart after that.

Tried it again today with that come back deal.

Uninstalled within the hour. Still is a terrible mess and has a community i wouldn't touch with a 10 foot pole.

Originally posted by Nadril

Tried it again today with that come back deal.

Uninstalled within the hour. Still is a terrible mess and the server I was on has a community i wouldn't touch with a 10 foot pole.

Fixed.

The server I am on is just fine.

Most of the posts im seeing here are not doing the Funcom folks any good in my opion. There are several folks posting not very good comments again. I do not know but looks likes you get duped into trying free trial and still have to give a credit card number and are charged, someone else has posted this. Keep pluging away Avery don't think its gonna do any good but hey if your happy so be it. When i say here i mean posts on mmorpg.

Global has been horrible since this win-back program started.

For those trying out the game again, don't judge the community by global chat.. most of us don't use or view it.

If you roll on Set feel free to hit me up.

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Originally posted by templarga

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Originally posted by Nadril

Tried it again today with that come back deal.
Uninstalled within the hour. Still is a terrible mess and the server I was on has a community i wouldn't touch with a 10 foot pole.

---

 
Fixed.
The server I am on is just fine.

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Even though you don't know what server I'm on (it isn't the same as yours though, it's a PvP server) I don't think it really matters. I'm not one to complain about communities, I'm really not, but AoC just ramps that up until a whole new level.

And if I have to play on a boring PvE server just for a reasonable community count me out. Not like the PvP was any fun anyways, I enjoyed walking around and getting 3 shot by necros and rangers...

Originally posted by Nadril

 

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Originally posted by templarga

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Originally posted by Nadril

 

Tried it again today with that come back deal.
Uninstalled within the hour. Still is a terrible mess and the server I was on has a community i wouldn't touch with a 10 foot pole.

---

 
Fixed.
The server I am on is just fine.

---

 

Even though you don't know what server I'm on (it isn't the same as yours though, it's a PvP server) I don't think it really matters. I'm not one to complain about communities, I'm really not, but AoC just ramps that up until a whole new level.

And if I have to play on a boring PvE server just for a reasonable community count me out. Not like the PvP was any fun anyways, I enjoyed walking around and getting 3 shot by necros and rangers...

You complain about the community on a PVP server. Then you complain about balance on a PVP server. Sounds like a PVE server is the place to be.

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Originally posted by templarga

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Originally posted by Nadril

 

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Originally posted by templarga

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Originally posted by Nadril
 
Tried it again today with that come back deal.
Uninstalled within the hour. Still is a terrible mess and the server I was on has a community i wouldn't touch with a 10 foot pole.

---

 
Fixed.
The server I am on is just fine.

---

 
Even though you don't know what server I'm on (it isn't the same as yours though, it's a PvP server) I don't think it really matters. I'm not one to complain about communities, I'm really not, but AoC just ramps that up until a whole new level.
And if I have to play on a boring PvE server just for a reasonable community count me out. Not like the PvP was any fun anyways, I enjoyed walking around and getting 3 shot by necros and rangers...

---

You complain about the community on a PVP server. Then you complain about balance on a PVP server. Sounds like a PVE server is the place to be.

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No, it sounds like a different game is the place to be. Why am I going to play Age of Conan if I play on a PvE server? Because I looove to raid so much? Come on now. I'm not going to play on a ruleset I find boring just to try and hide the games flaws, I'm just going to do something else.

I never planned on actually playing for longer than the 2 weeks anyways, especially with Aion right around the corner in a couple of months. I did think I'd at least make it through those 2 weeks though, I had hopes that Funcom could use that little noodle of theirs a little bit. Doesn't seem like it though, what a shame.