MMORPG.com's Garrett Fuller recently spoke with Champions Online's Bill Roper about the upcoming free expansion, Revelation.

MMORPG.com:

How has Champions been growing in 2010? What trends have you seen?

Bill Roper:

We've seen a real stabilization of our player base over the past couple of months, which is great. Every MMO has a period where numbers ebb, and getting a handle on what our everyday turnout of gamers is lets us plan more effectively for the future. It also lets us work on growing that base now that the game is on the right path in terms of stability and features. We're also working diligently on probably the single biggest issue players have which is multiple paths to max level, which is not only great news for our solid core, but also the many new players we're looking to bring into the game through aggressive demo and referral programs.

Read the Revelation Interview.

 "and by Stabilized we mean we stopped hemoraging players since the Vibro Pay Fiasco and STO bugs bleed over"

Really CO need to have a Asterik anytime it's mentioned ;)

Originally posted by nekollx

 "and by Stabilized we mean we stopped hemoraging players since the Vibro Pay Fiasco and STO bugs bleed over"

 

Really CO need to have a Asterik anytime it's mentioned ;)

Not to mention that it has "stabilized" with XFire numbers showing lower numbers than for the several years old CoX. That cant be good...

But hey, I guess it is his job to make a good spin for everything.

Yea I cringed when I read that, between the numbers have stabilized and the "which is great" part.

I can understand trying to be positive...but reall this would have been like the captain of the Titanic saying that they have just added a interior swimming pool...which is great!

 Yea considering Stormshade said on the co forums that they have a sub base of 20k or so. Just Epic isnt it.

Originally posted by Chuckanar

 Yea considering Stormshade said on the co forums that they have a sub base of 20k or so. Just Epic isnt it.

a few hundred of which are lifers who can't quit, you know it's true

 I would not be surprised if that is 50 % life subs.

Originally posted by Chuckanar

 I would not be surprised if that is 50 % life subs.

10k Lifers? I dunno, considering durring the lifetime Fiasco a large nuber got refunds it's not like lifers are 100% permant 

Originally posted by Chuckanar

 Yea considering Stormshade said on the co forums that they have a sub base of 20k or so. Just Epic isnt it.

That's not what he said. From forums.champions-online.com/showthread.php discussing the 20k number:

I'm not sure where you got that number, and I can't tell you the actual number of subs we have. However, I do want to correct you on one thing:

Our actual number of subscribers is significantly higher than you have been led to believe.

Thanks,

Stormshade

Originally posted by Squidi

Originally posted by Chuckanar

 Yea considering Stormshade said on the co forums that they have a sub base of 20k or so. Just Epic isnt it.

 

That's not what he said. From forums.champions-online.com/showthread.php discussing the 20k number:

I'm not sure where you got that number, and I can't tell you the actual number of subs we have. However, I do want to correct you on one thing:

Our actual number of subscribers is significantly higher than you have been led to believe.

Thanks,

Stormshade

 

One of these days, these game companies will learn that it is always better to just state the numbers.

Just letting the rumors float around is far worse then just owning your game, flaws and all. Low subs or not.

Hype and spin and false hopes or promises, are far worse for the people actually paying for your game. You have a fan base, treat them with respect.

Once a game is released, the best thing going for a game, is the word of mouth advertising from paying customers. Keep them happy and asking friends and family to join them will be worth far more than any spin or hype put out by any company.

Originally posted by barezz

Yea I cringed when I read that, between the numbers have stabilized and the "which is great" part.

I can understand trying to be positive...but reall this would have been like the captain of the Titanic saying that they have just added a interior swimming pool...which is great!

I see no future for this game, and I'm being optimistic even calling it a game.  There will be no room for it once DCUO is released. It can't even draw CoX  players away from the aging MMO. The future looks bright for CoX with Going Rogue, and DCUO with this ultimate IP. STO is looking weak, and I wouldn't see it very difficult for players to shift gears to the other huge  IP in sci-fi community. Star Wars Old Republic is shaping up much better. Cryptic took a huge gamble letting their development team go with CoX to NCSoft. It appears it was a gamble that is going to cost them everything. I foresee Cryptic going under in   few  years time unless there is a dramatic shift in the company. The vison and direction of their games need to shift along with that change. With the market being so bad right now, there is no room for inexperienced teams to survive. You should have stuck with your original team Jacky boy! They were the talent, that you were riding on!

Call me crazy, but still having a blast in CO, never understood the mindless hate that folks showed it, there seems to be two sets of players surrounding the game...those who log in and play and those who never log in but spend hours upon hours bashing the game....par for the course I guess.

Originally posted by storm-dragon

Call me crazy, but still having a blast in CO, never understood the mindless hate that folks showed it, there seems to be two sets of players surrounding the game...those who log in and play and those who never log in but spend hours upon hours bashing the game....par for the course I guess.

Only time will tell if it is a good game or not.

I recently just did a re-sub and I am having a blast with it again after taking a long break.  I'm not sure what the end game is like but I'm having some fun working my way there.