Originally posted by Krisevol

Originally posted by purewitz

Originally posted by MikeB

Originally posted by Zhauric

Eh, that really isn't saying much in my opinion. In regards to the triple A mmo's out there the subscription numbers in comparison to WoW is rather pedistrian so gaining the #2 foothold is not a difficult feat to accomplish. I believe Aion will be able to capture this at the present time but still a distant #2 at this point. In 2010 who knows what will happen since there are a number of heavily awaited MMO's that should be released then. I'm just hoping this gaming genre picks up and we get more selection of good polished games to play.

 

Which is why I also asked the question -- does #2 only mean a distant second, or do you think Aion can approach WoW-like numbers?

 

Free Realms has 3 or 4 million and Battlefield Heroes a while back hit 1 millions. So really anything is possible. Of course the two I mentioned are free to play games, but players are players. Regardless if they pay tor a sub for a game or not.

Plus Aion looks like it should be a F2P game anyway. I'd say it would go F2P like Spellborn is, but NCSOFT would ratherl kill a game before it would even go F2P(For example: Tabula Rasa.).

 

Free Realms does not have 3-4 mil active players.  I think you fail to marketing. 

You're right, it's 6 million.

And I don't see the big deal about Aion.

Shit sucked when I played it, I'll give it another go when I'm not busy with ToR.

Originally posted by Odela

Originally posted by Krisevol

Originally posted by purewitz

Originally posted by MikeB

Originally posted by Zhauric

Eh, that really isn't saying much in my opinion. In regards to the triple A mmo's out there the subscription numbers in comparison to WoW is rather pedistrian so gaining the #2 foothold is not a difficult feat to accomplish. I believe Aion will be able to capture this at the present time but still a distant #2 at this point. In 2010 who knows what will happen since there are a number of heavily awaited MMO's that should be released then. I'm just hoping this gaming genre picks up and we get more selection of good polished games to play.

 

Which is why I also asked the question -- does #2 only mean a distant second, or do you think Aion can approach WoW-like numbers?

 

Free Realms has 3 or 4 million and Battlefield Heroes a while back hit 1 millions. So really anything is possible. Of course the two I mentioned are free to play games, but players are players. Regardless if they pay tor a sub for a game or not.

Plus Aion looks like it should be a F2P game anyway. I'd say it would go F2P like Spellborn is, but NCSOFT would ratherl kill a game before it would even go F2P(For example: Tabula Rasa.).

 

Free Realms does not have 3-4 mil active players.  I think you fail to marketing. 

 

You're right, it's 6 million.

 

And I don't see the big deal about Aion.

 

Shit sucked when I played it, I'll give it another go when I'm not busy with ToR.

Registered accounts is not pactive playing subscribers. You failed marketing 101 as well. Otherwise , every server in Free Realms would not be "light" when the servers only hold 1 or 2 thousand people each.

Originally posted by Odela

Originally posted by Krisevol

Free Realms does not have 3-4 mil active players.  I think you fail to marketing. 

You're right, it's 6 million.

There's a difference between created accounts and active players.

The only number we have from SoE is how many accounts have been created, now how many of those (I believe now 4 million) accounts actually log in each month?  Or for that matter, bring SoE any money.

Funny how some of these players here can see with their own eyes a statement from the NCSoft PRESIDENT that he's hoping his game gets 2nd place behind WoW, yet fail to realize why he said it. He KNOWS Aion is catering to a niche crowd. I mean you have to be living under a rock to not know that Aion was NEVER intended to be aimed at the Western market until they decided to add more things to lessen the sense of level grinding.

Koreans by nature don't mind endless grinds from their MMOs, see Lineage 1 and 2 for that fact check. So then they introduced Aion with a lesser grind and STILL didn't get it right (I'm sure it had something to do with Korean beta testers drunk from WoW's lack of a level progression grind chiming in). So now they are forced to include the latest grind reducing/PvE adding patch in U.S. version from day 1. But I think it's a little too late now. Understand that WoW's crowd are by in large laid back players that rejected the first honor system implemented in WoW's battlegrounds, which was no more than a painful, life-sapping grind. So if Aion's AP system is anywhere near that sort of system, you'll see players dropping off like flies from a bug zapper in a manure factory.

To Ramonski7:

Not true. The Lineage series were heavily influenced by the original Everquest, as far as level progression is concerned. Aion on the other hand is influenced more by Everquest 2. If you search a bit on the net, you'll find the strong ties between the Everquest developer team and the Lineage/Aion developer team.

Koreans loving their grind is a myth. If it was true, neither WoW or Aion would have been so well received in that country.

Originally posted by MikeB

So, what do you make of this? Can Aion hope to hit #2? And if so, will #2 be a distant second?

Aion's higher system specs will probably keep them at a distant second, but from what I've seen in the closed beta weekends, everything that WoW does, Aion does better.

It's the first mmo I've played since WoW that actually feels like a "complete" game - not something that's been rushed to release too early with the expectation that players will buy and subscribe while they finish making it.

If they've picked up over 3 million subscribers in Asia, I think they've a fair chance of breaking a million in the West.

Originally posted by Dameonk

Originally posted by Odela

Originally posted by Krisevol

Free Realms does not have 3-4 mil active players.  I think you fail to marketing. 

You're right, it's 6 million.

There's a difference between created accounts and active players.

The only number we have from SoE is how many accounts have been created, now how many of those (I believe now 4 million) accounts actually log in each month?  Or for that matter, bring SoE any money.

Quite - and going by available statistics on the relationship between accounts created and actual revenue, at best that would give Free Realms revenue equivalent to about 100k subscribers.

Originally posted by Rajen

 Meh Aion is good but I don't see it holding that very long... SWTOR and FFXIV will bury it when they are out.

I totally agree. I know I'll be playing SWTOR, when it comes out. Its the only game, I'm really excited about.

Originally posted by purewitz

Originally posted by Rajen

 Meh Aion is good but I don't see it holding that very long... SWTOR and FFXIV will bury it when they are out.

 

I totally agree. I know I'll be playing SWTOR, when it comes out. Its the only game, I'm really excited about.

ok, wait a minute.

no one has played these games. how many times do we have to see people saying that x game will "rule something fierce" and then it comes out and it's not quite what players wanted.

case in point conan, case in point warhammer, case in point Vanguard, Case in point Champions Online (I add it because though it seems to be good, I already see people complaing), case in point, even aion.

Oh, I really like Aion and it will become my main game. but that doesn't mean that my head is in the sand and I don't see a plethora of people who (pick one) A:  jumped the gun and attributed all sorts of nonsense to aion even though the devs have been up front about what it was going to be, B: are tired of standard game play and want somethng different, C: think Aion is too Hardcore, D: think Aion is too carebear, E: was looking for an old school mmo (for some reasn thinking Aion was going to deliver this) and was surprised at a world that isn't as open as they wanted, F: all of the above or other stuff.

Aren't players tired of saying that x game is going to "rule bricks" only to realize that what the devs created is a game and not the second coming?

people need to wait, they need to lower their expectations to something reasonable and take it in stride. Yes, Bioware is a great company but that doesn't mean they are immune to making design decisions that players aren't going to like.

And Final Fantasy has a huge devoted fanbase. So right there they are setting themselves up to fall as they might just include things that the Final Fantasy fanbase would consider sacrilege but make sense in a modern mmo that is fighitng for market share.

It happens in every game.

i think Aion will easily manage to get number zwo spot in the world market....as someone said before, Aion has already 2 mil players in asia...thats right....alone in china, the Licencee Shanda Interactive (Joint Venture with NCsoft) have 1 Mil. User which pay for the game already...i think with more updates and expansion packs this number will even raise...

LOTRO will enter china in the next month i have heard. Distributor is CDC Games, a small player in china. CDC Games dont have the marketing power and reachness of Shanda or Netease.com, so dont overestimate this...and World of Warcraft is still offline in china (6-7 Mio. wow players in china looking for other games like Aion)

Greetings from germany

lol FFXIV will be exclusive to the PS3. Unless the article I read the part where it said "The “FFXIV online” title is planned to launch in 2010, exclusively for PS3" wrong.

http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3174544

And chances are, being exclusive to the PS3, FFXIV might not be the Aion downer.  SWTOR might, but it's like all new mmo's.

TBH, Aion has great gameplay. 

Excuses like "It will be an Asian grinder" makes this thread feel a little like the 'special class' in school.  Be the intelligent person and do a little digging. 1.5, the NA release version, is doing a lot to the 'Asian version' to make the leveling grind just that much less (ie. More exp per kill and quest turn in, on top of more quests being added) But tbh, that's what an mmoRPG is. Free epics with face-rolling gameplay should die with WoW!

A lot of people are just afraid of  the "Cute Japanese Characters" that will pwn their face in a pvp game.

 edit: With 2-3 Million subscribers in the Asia-Pacific area in the first 10 months of release shows good potential. "Westerners" have this predetermined stereotype that an Asian mmo is bad, or it could never be as good as a suprerior western product. lol

 i got a strong final fanstasy 7/8 vibe playing aion as a gladiator, it was a good vibe.

My honest opinion about this is WoW will be second to Aion.  It will take some time, but the game is just as addictive if not more so and I honestly think NCSoft is underestimating their product and the subscriber base out there.  Also, WoW is prone to attract hardcore gamers who focus on leveling.  Hardcore gamers are a minority, so Aion has a chance to knock out WoW since there has never been anything like this, or this gorgeous, before in an MMORPG.  There are alot of casual gamers it will attract, and it may even take away some of the hardcore Warcrack Addicts.   Aion has alot of potential in it, but it has to be presented right.  I believe NCSoft has finally got the formula right.  This game is great for everyone from the first time MMOer to the hardcore veteran.  It simply has something to offer everyone(even those flight sim junkies who love to fly).  The general appeal and uniqueness will be what makes this game a strong competitor with WoW.  When World of Warcraft initially released, it took a familiar formula and perfected it, and added a couple unique features.  Unfortunately, they left out a real plot line which makes it far too easy for the game to bore the casual gamer.  Since then, MMOs following that formula have become a dime a baker's dozen, leading many gamers to desire something original.  The time is right for this new style of Fantasy MMO and the release of Aion could not be more perfectly timed.

HI to the Aion community,

I have been waiting for this game to be releases here in europe for Months, only to find out that it is now going to be a pay-to-play game.   I am really disappointed in you guys, not only is it pay-to-play but it is still a full priced game to start off.  Some of us aren't financially in a position to afford this no matter how much we would like to play.

I have played RFOnline for two years, first on the retail server, then on the RFEquilibrium server when retail closed.  I was happy to give up my high lvl, well equipt, and well known character to play this game and start a fresh as a noobie but since finding out it's now going to be pay-to-play I have had to reconsider.  And to be honest, I don't think I will be the only one!

MAKE IT FREE-TO-PLAY AND ADD A CASHSHOP..... THAT WAY THOSE PEOPLE WHO WISH TO SPEND REAL MONEY TO IMPROVE THEIR CHARACTERS CAN DO SO..... AND THE REST OF US CAN JUST WORK HARD.....

Good luck in Game, I will maybe see you IF they make it FREE-TO-PLAY

Star Wars The Old Republic can't kill Aion.  Totally different niches.  Star Wars is a sci-fantasy MMO.  Aion is fantasy.  Star Wars will undoubtedly be a strong game though.

I know it's just part and parcel of forums in general, but I really don't see any point is saying 'FFXIV and SWTOR are going to destory Aion'. Aion is a known quanity (for the most part at least) having been out in Korea and China for sometime now, and doing quite well I might add. It doesn't take much effort to find solid info on AIon and decide, based on that info, if it's even your style of game or not

What little info is available on FFXIV makes it look nothing like FFXI, so anyone who wants FFXI with better graphics should just give up now. Add to that the developers trying a lot of new things (no levels and such), which while it's good to see, doesn't mean it will be any better than what we have now, just different. As good as some squareenix games are they have made some pretty forgetable ones.

As for SWTOR, yeah I think the CG teaser is as awesome as the next guy, but that doesn't tell me anything about the game, and while bioware may have a great reputation, and deserverdly so, as a single player RPG developer, the main reason for that is because of their ability to tell a good/great story in a good/great way, not there ability to design deep and interesting gameplay systems, which is in an MMO is very important to it's life span. With SWTOR so far all I have heard is that they will be sticking to there strengths, and as awesome as co-op KOTOR sounds don't forget you can finish those games in < 40 hours, nothing for an MMO, and good story driven content takes a LOT longer to develop than it takes to play through.

This is not to say either game will be crap and AIon will be the next WoW, just that Aion is a solid, fun game and any predictions about how great/crap either FFXIV of SWTOR are going to be are far too premature.

Originally posted by twiggly

lol FFXIV will be exclusive to the PS3. Unless the article I read the part where it said "The “FFXIV online” title is planned to launch in 2010, exclusively for PS3" wrong.

http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3174544

It's a console exclusive for the PS3, but will in fact be coming to the PC, as well.
When it was announced the made a slight mistake saying "Exclusive" because it's not.

And here a 1up article that followed yours shortly there after that.

www.1up.com/do/newsStory

These companies are so completley obssessed with Blizzard and wow, that even their conference calls and meetings all they tlak about is wow. I rember the same thing happening with WAR and aoc, the idiots couldnt stop talking about how they were going to match and hurt wow.  Hey ncsoft u can stay second np, second  place is for the fail companies. 

Originally posted by suzani

HI to the Aion community,

I have been waiting for this game to be releases here in europe for Months, only to find out that it is now going to be a pay-to-play game.   I am really disappointed in you guys, not only is it pay-to-play but it is still a full priced game to start off.  Some of us aren't financially in a position to afford this no matter how much we would like to play.

I have played RFOnline for two years, first on the retail server, then on the RFEquilibrium server when retail closed.  I was happy to give up my high lvl, well equipt, and well known character to play this game and start a fresh as a noobie but since finding out it's now going to be pay-to-play I have had to reconsider.  And to be honest, I don't think I will be the only one!

MAKE IT FREE-TO-PLAY AND ADD A CASHSHOP..... THAT WAY THOSE PEOPLE WHO WISH TO SPEND REAL MONEY TO IMPROVE THEIR CHARACTERS CAN DO SO..... AND THE REST OF US CAN JUST WORK HARD.....

Good luck in Game, I will maybe see you IF they make it FREE-TO-PLAY

At this point we should be grateful that some developers don't charge a subscription fee on top of an RMT item mall (see Champions Online). Besides, the AAA quality of Aion warrants the subscription fee, unlike the low quality F2P games out there.

Originally posted by brad813

My honest opinion about this is WoW will be second to Aion.  It will take some time, but the game is just as addictive if not more so and I honestly think NCSoft is underestimating their product and the subscriber base out there.  Also, WoW is prone to attract hardcore gamers who focus on leveling.  Hardcore gamers are a minority, so Aion has a chance to knock out WoW since there has never been anything like this, or this gorgeous, before in an MMORPG.  There are alot of casual gamers it will attract, and it may even take away some of the hardcore Warcrack Addicts.   Aion has alot of potential in it, but it has to be presented right.  I believe NCSoft has finally got the formula right.  This game is great for everyone from the first time MMOer to the hardcore veteran.  It simply has something to offer everyone(even those flight sim junkies who love to fly).  The general appeal and uniqueness will be what makes this game a strong competitor with WoW.  When World of Warcraft initially released, it took a familiar formula and perfected it, and added a couple unique features.  Unfortunately, they left out a real plot line which makes it far too easy for the game to bore the casual gamer.  Since then, MMOs following that formula have become a dime a baker's dozen, leading many gamers to desire something original.  The time is right for this new style of Fantasy MMO and the release of Aion could not be more perfectly timed.

Too bold a statement. Aion is a niche game in this region of the world, where PvE reigns supreme. The initial sustained subscriptions should be better than those of AoC or WAR, but there are still many ifs hanging above Aion. The very first is the ability of NCsoft to battle the botters/hackers and gold sellers.