During the first free month of an mmorpg, if you say anything and I mean anything at all they will blast you for it and then tell you to go back to playing WoW, their entire arguement will be how this game is the greatest game in the world while having no real basis onto why its so great.

Then a month later after the free month is over, they are no where to be found and the game usually ends up losing more and more subscriptions till almost all the servers are low and need merges.

Exactly, same story every time.

Fanatism is the enemy of intelligence and rationalism.

They want to justify their own purpose in playing the game, so they bash you for hating it.

It's kind of a bass-ackwards thing, but it's entirely logical in the scheme of things. Games are like cults, so those who play are some form of cultists and boy do they think like them: you don't like my god? Well go back to your god! My god is right and yours is wrong, and you just can't handle it!

At least they can quit the game, it's not so easy to quit a real cult.

Originally posted by Plasuma!!!

They want to justify their own purpose in playing the game, so they bash you for hating it.

It's kind of a bass-ackwards thing, but it's entirely logical in the scheme of things. Games are like cults, so those who play are some form of cultists and boy do they think like them: you don't like my god? Well go back to your god! My god is right and yours is wrong, and you just can't handle it!

At least they can quit the game, it's not so easy to quit a real cult.

I lol'd.

Anyways, he's right. People are attracted to new things, though they're not sure if people will like it or not, or if they even will for that matter. It creates an insecurity and causes them to be irrational. In the end of the free trial, they either get bored, frustrated, the game has too few players by then, everyone's an asshole or they simply can't pay for it and end up leaving.

The free month is the end of the Fanboi phase.

Fanboi-ism starts in development phase pre Beta.

There are two types of Fanboi (mainly)

On is motivated by the mistaken belief that if they suck up enough they will somehow be recognised by the Devs and elevated to a position of power.
Beta Player (play for free)
Moderator
 or maybe even GM?

The last too seemed rediculous until Funcom fueled the Fanboi fire by doing this in AoC... we saw the result.

You see these guys on Forums and often after they have been there for a while they will even start speaking for the Developer with statements like "the Developer says..." (when in fact , the Developer never said any such thing)
These guys give the game community a bad reputation and drive new players / members away. 

The second type of Fanboi wants to influence design.  This lot are smart and far more sinister.  Devs stupid enough to listen to them end up with a game that truly is 'niche'.  See PotBS.
They are more subtile, and tend to be leaders in the Fanboi Community, although they are more 'reasonable' and will often berate and scould junior fanbois.
They will often make statements about how the game will work (which appear as fact although they may not be).

The free play month is the last gasp.
After that paying customers take over and complaints can no longer be shouted down.
At that point game flaws can no longer be ignored (since continued subscriptions depend on  a good game).
During this phase most fanbois just fade away... and move on to the next big thing... under another name.
 

Originally posted by ChrisChan

During the first free month of an mmorpg, if you say anything and I mean anything at all they will blast you for it and then tell you to go back to playing WoW, their entire arguement will be how this game is the greatest game in the world while having no real basis onto why its so great.

 

Then a month later after the free month is over, they are no where to be found and the game usually ends up losing more and more subscriptions till almost all the servers are low and need merges.

Quite true, alas. What I bemoan is there is apparently new place for any middle ground, that you can critize a game and still like other aspects, hoping that some critizism might lead to betterment. I am afraid tho, that is just foolish idealism... betterment through conversation. Pftt.

This brings back funny memories of AoC. Some nuthead was spammin OOC at release about how bad AoC was and a huge horde of fanboys would go apeshit... same thing happend every evening until that guy quit (or got banned).

Those were fun days.

Originally posted by Forumfall

This brings back funny memories of AoC. Some nuthead was spammin OOC at release about how bad AoC was and a huge horde of fanboys would go apeshit... same thing happend every evening until that guy quit (or got banned).

 

Those were fun days.

This is an example of the first type of fanboi.

The type that drives other people from the game.

It was 'fun'?  I wonder if Funcom thinks that the fanbois driving other paying customers away was 'fun'?

Because, despite all their talk and boasting - fanbois don't tend to stay.
Are the Fanbois still supporting PotBS?, AoC?, WAR?, Spellborn? or CO? with their subscription cash?
No.
Most are now playing Aion (and are at the end of the first month of that so they are busy bailing out of that too)

True FANS do, but for the most part the true fans are not fanbois.  True fans tend to be helpful and will acknowledge a game's faults because they like the game and want it to get better.

We see this behaviour in every game.  What players think they gain by driving other players away from a game is beyond me.  How does that help anyone?  And if you really liked the game you would encourage other people to stay and play.  After all, if almost everyone leaves then there is a good chance the game will die.

Its funny that you'd mention it.  It's related to something I've noticed about box buyers.

Pre-release: ZOMG I can't wait for this box, best game in the world. blah blah blah.

Release date: play play play fanboy fanboy fanboy

5 days before monthly subscription:  Start bashing game, don't subscribe.

After cancelled: blah blah blah... bad game terrible game... blah blah blah

In the last year, how many games have seen this happen?

AOC, Warhammer, Aion, Fallen Earth ???

What gives?  My guess is either short attention span, unrealistic expectations, or just not enough money to subscribe...

Am I missing something?  I genuinely am curious.

Ken

Im in my first month of Aion still, and i dont think its the shizznit. its a good game and im having fun, not much else to it when it comes to mmos. you either have fun in it and stick with it or you dont. but the opposite kind of person in your examples is equally lame. why stalk the forums and spew shit on a game you dont play anymore? bitter about those 50 bucks you'll never get back? theres always to sides to the same coin =)

Originally posted by RealmLords

Its funny that you'd mention it.  It's related to something I've noticed about box buyers.

 

Pre-release: ZOMG I can't wait for this box, best game in the world. blah blah blah.

Release date: play play play fanboy fanboy fanboy

5 days before monthly subscription:  Start bashing game, don't subscribe.

After cancelled: blah blah blah... bad game terrible game... blah blah blah

 

In the last year, how many games have seen this happen?

AOC, Warhammer, Aion, Fallen Earth ???

 

What gives?  My guess is either short attention span, unrealistic expectations, or just not enough money to subscribe...

Am I missing something?  I genuinely am curious.

 

Ken

 

KEN! YOU HAVE AN MMORPG.COM ACCOUNT! =D

Anyways, I think what it is is that most of these players really like the game but hate the devs for making the game p2p. In such case, they trash the game because they can't pay for it and are jealous others can. It just doesn't realistically hit them until they realize they have to give it up.

Originally posted by RealmLords

...

 

What gives?  My guess is either short attention span, unrealistic expectations, or just not enough money to subscribe...

Am I missing something?  I genuinely am curious.

 

Ken

 

I think it's about e-peen.

That sounds like an immature answer - but I honestly can't put it better.

I think that it's all about these people being self important and when they realise that all their fanboi-ing didn't make the Devs send them a personal "OMG you are so awesome please be a GM for us and play for free!" email they chuck a tantrum?

Anyway... aren't you a Dev?
Didn't you run a Beta and shut it down when you had people just out to play for free or actively try to sabotage it?

That's a story I want more info on!  Would you be prepared to answer some questions on that?

Originally posted by ChrisChan

During the first free month of an mmorpg, if you say anything and I mean anything at all they will blast you for it and then tell you to go back to playing WoW, their entire arguement will be how this game is the greatest game in the world while having no real basis onto why its so great.

 

Then a month later after the free month is over, they are no where to be found and the game usually ends up losing more and more subscriptions till almost all the servers are low and need merges.

Welcome to 6 years ago.

I registered this name (and I do not have any other accounts on this site) back in 2006 but I've been reading up on MMORPG.com forums since I quit Shadowbane for WoW.  It's always been here like this and always will be.

I think this can be summarized in one word, "hype".

Bob finds a new MMO, one that  he thinks will be revolutionary.

Bob follows the game and is constantly on the forums defending his game, he always has "information" to throw at doubters.

Bob pre-orders and eagerly waits for release.

Bob finally gets his copy, loads the game and has a week of fun and excitement.

Bob has now been playing his new game for 2 weeks and he quickly sees the game has problems.

Bobs crusade to prove his game was immune to failure and revolutionary, has failed. Thus Bob cancels his sub because it was not what he expected.

Bob is now a hater (on a new forum handle of course).

And the hype claimed another fanboy, which is hypes favorite meal.

This occured more on the Aion sites more than any other new mmo I have been involved in - probably due to the fact that there were half a dozen CBT weekends and then an OBT plus the free month so there was a lot of time beteen testing phases for the fanbois to abuse anyone who criticised anything.

My fav flame was the "Go back to WoW if you hate it so much" reply to a comment I made simply about not really liking the click to move control in CBT and I posed the question if it could be replaced (which it was anyway) - what was really amusing is that I never mention that I played WoW, either some really good ESP or just a coincidental flame.

Originally posted by ChrisChan

During the first free month of an mmorpg, if you say anything and I mean anything at all they will blast you for it and then tell you to go back to playing WoW, their entire arguement will be how this game is the greatest game in the world while having no real basis onto why its so great.

 

Then a month later after the free month is over, they are no where to be found and the game usually ends up losing more and more subscriptions till almost all the servers are low and need merges.

Not that I disagree with this, but do you also notice that topics like this also happen very often after a free month or right after release. Both are not needed in my opinion.

You are absolutely right guys! People are the reason for this, not the games themselves. Damn fanbois. /sarcasm

In all seriousness, everyone has a right to change their minds. What you think is silly is that those people are so hyped before the end of their first free month. At that point one must think "is it worth it?" If it is not, then you don't subscribe.

Come to think of it - Maybe it's not the fanbois who quit the game but the doubters so theres nothing to fight over about in the local chat.

Originally posted by Gyrus

That's a story I want more info on!  Would you be prepared to answer some questions on that?

Yeah, I did a really bad job on beta 1.  99% of the problems were me being clueless.

You answered most of it already ...

"OMG you are so awesome please be a GM for us and play for free!" email they chuck a tantrum?"

Then I had a really bad server bug, which shut down beta because of crashes.

Then I pitched a tantrum on my web site about the kids, and went back to work.  (childish on my part, but it felt good)

Ken

The reaction to attack nay-sayers is quite logical and makes sense when you look at what MMO's need in order to be entertaining. 

You need other players to interact with in order for a MMO to be fun and playable in the long run, so when you see negative things being said about a game you love you react because that negative comment can hurt _your_ personal game experience (this is utterly different from single player games).

The fanboy problem starts when you don't have a realistic view on the game you love to play and begin to attack reasonable objections. Its gets even worse when the fanboy deep down know its correct and therefore attacks the person who came with the objection instead of just the issue at hand.

But the problem also goes the other way. New games can easily hurt the player experience in other games, and that will bring people from other games to attack the new games in order to prevent a bleeding of players to the new games and these people are just as bad as the fanboys.

Often they don't even realize their own motivation for badmouthing a game, they seriously believe what they are writing, often based on a few days of playing the new game and then wanting to return to the old one and have all their friend come back with them.

But the worse ones of them know quite well what they are doing and are as bad as the worst fanboys out there.