Found this on reddit today which I think will answer for those still searching for the ultimate truth on SWG.

And also their new soon to launch MMO Planetside2.

http://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/xlir0/iama_john_smedley_22_year_game_industry_veteran/

1. ID was confirmed to be John Smedley via his Twitter

2. Found his insights very revealing. While I don't agree with SOE or what they do, I gotta give him props for stuff like this.

Q: What do you feel about SWGEmu?

A: well officially I have to say it's bad. but that's officially.

Some very interesting tidbits in that Q&A.

SOE seems to be totally committed to the F2P model for their future MMO's, and they've built a really promising engine (ForgeLight). Also seem to be steering away from "big IP" licensing, which makes sense, because it increases costs and decreases creative freedom. And it appears that they're working on more than just PS2 and EQ-Next.

Perhaps they can make a comeback and recapture the glory days of EQ and SWG ? The next year will be interesting...

Originally posted by jpnz

2. Found his insights very revealing. While I don't agree with SOE or what they do, I gotta give him props for stuff like this.

Q: What do you feel about SWGEmu?

A: well officially I have to say it's bad. but that's officially.

This said, I doubt SoE will waste attorney money on a game that they aren't running anymore...

massively commentary

http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/03/soes-john-smedley-tackles-an-epic-ama/

Smedley also admitted that SOE is working on additional undisclosed IPs. When asked about SWTOR's transitioning to F2P, he stated, "It is the only way to go for new games. It was the right decision for SWTOR (which is a fantastic game). Wait untill you see our next round of games after PS2."

Originally posted by Psychow
What's his favorite color?

Green ofc

Originally posted by Fangrim

Originally posted by Psychow
What's his favorite color?

Green ofc

I saw that answer coming after I hit reply...heh

Given the outcome of SWTOR and with the knowledge of the many ex SOE developers leading the work at Bioware, I may start to think Smedley is honest when he says the NGE was a mistake; He listened to the wrong people and has now learned to listen more to the players.

Originally posted by Sandbox

 He listened to the wrong people and has now learned to listen more to the players.

I doubt he ever will. Wait until you see, how EQ Next looks like. I am very sure, it will be far away from what we players asked for.

Or look at his greedy F2P-model. It is most propably the worst in industry. For sure not, what players asked for.

[–]75 points 

Originally posted by Grixxitt

[–]75 points 

11 hours  ago

 

As someone who has never played Planetside, just seeing this makes me want to go out and fucking buy PS2. Please clone yourself and rename the company Smedley Online.

 

 

My favorite post by a random

 

Also,

 

 

 

[ As a president of a company mainly dealing with MMOs, what is it like when you realise one of your products is starting to lose customers, and what steps do you take to try and rectify this? ]

 

16 hours  ago

we do our best to listen to our players and give them what they want. If it starts to lose customers we try and make the game better or add features to give the players more of what they want.

 

 

 

 

 

This pretty much explains SWG, EQ2, and many other decisions made by SOE over the years.

"listen to our players and give them what they want"...

Players: we want to win and get phat lootz.  Oh and can I do it in the next 5 minutes, The Jersey Shore is coming on.

Originally posted by dave6660

Originally posted by Grixxitt

 

we do our best to listen to our players and give them what they want. If it starts to lose customers we try and make the game better or add features to give the players more of what they want.

 

 

"listen to our players and give them what they want"...

Players: we want to win and get phat lootz.  Oh and can I do it in the next 5 minutes, The Jersey Shore is coming on.

It all depends on who they listen to unfortunately.

Still though, its SOE.

On a scale from 1 - 10 with 1 being a perfect company and 10 being Electronics Arts, SOE is probably about a 3 (currently)

Taken from the Q&A on reddit:

ambivilant 181 points 

A skunk just sprayed somewhere near my house. I have no air conditioning so I can't close my windows. It's also 90 degrees outside. How do I sleep comfortably without letting the skunk stench waft inside?

Originally posted by Nadia

massively commentary

http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/03/soes-john-smedley-tackles-an-epic-ama/

Smedley also admitted that SOE is working on additional undisclosed IPs. When asked about SWTOR's transitioning to F2P, he stated, "It is the only way to go for new games. It was the right decision for SWTOR (which is a fantastic game). Wait untill you see our next round of games after PS2."

Only way to for video games, I agree.

Produce an in depth mmoRPG and the subscriptions will be there.  You shouldn't have to market a game to be free to get a tide of players in, and then hope for the 1% of the population that makes up for it by being such hard core fans that they overbuy in the CASH SHOP.

But that's the truth of the market.

SoE is what it is...I have enjoyed quite a few of their games over the years, however they have broken my heart on occasion.  Regardless...I will play an SoE game any day of the week before I pick any game with EA attached to it.  As far as Smedley himself, I think his longevity is a testament to at least something...A lot of poeple can't hang in the MMO world and just end up making some lame social media crap games.  He must be doing something right...right? ;) 

I am truly interested in what PS2 is going to be like.  Cautiously optimistic.  It could be big, much bigger than the first.