Originally posted by ohreally

Originally posted by Mysk

Originally posted by ste2000

Originally posted by Wolfdor

SC was so successful they had to rush out and create more items to try and bait people in again.  Hey don't forget you have 150 free, fun, iconic, and exciting SC's to get your habit started!

Yes and from next month you can buy the Flaming Excalibur of  the Uberness for just $50
The I.W.I.N. button will cost only $100.
We are getting there............SoE is like an open book
Gogo IGE............sorry I meant SoE.

 

Sadly this is what I expect to see happen as well, although I expect it to take about a year before before they do it.

Cash shops are never supposed to be about purchasing functional weapons and armor and I am not at all against item malls given the correct circumstances (no or next to no monthly fee).  SOE, on the other hand, is SOE.

We'll see comments like,  "Don't have time to raid? Buy that breastplate / weapon for $100!", and excuses such as "We've had a lot of demand for this service from people who want to experience the content but who don't have time to..." blah blah blah.

Yeah. Maybe I'm just too tired to think straight at the moment, but I fully expect this to happen.

 

it won't be a year. They have limited time to make this work and they know it. There are two forces at work here with a fine line of balance. They have to balance the profitability of this new market with the eventuallity that enough subscribers will quit playing to negate it's value. They will need to make as much profit in a short time because that's all they have. The game may last another year, or even more, but the question is, will it make them profit. There is also one other issue they have....SOE is a stock holder owned company. Unlike Blizzard or Turbine, they can't have non profitable products on their balance sheets. The stock holders would scream bloody murder.

Thinking about it it becomes clear that for instance if xp-potions don't sell well they nerf the xp gained in the game so people need to buy them or face an endless grind.

Most likely yes, just not right now.  Wait about 2-3 months til they for some stupid reason think we have forgotten they had said that they wouldn't sell highend gear.  It will pop up on their completely unannounced.

Oh wow another SOE game that went RMT shocking. The thing with SOE that pisses me off is the fact they have a cash shop and yet still making you P2P. I think SOE games present and furture will fail because of this and i am positive they will do this to all of their games and it shows they did RMT to SWG and now EQ and EQ2 now only time will tell when SOE goes under due to one mans greed.

Free Realms and Agency will do fine, this is no indication of SOE's ability to make games, just their decisions on how to keep said games profitable after they've been out a few years.

They aren't the only company that get desperate when games start to die.

Originally posted by Ginfress02

Originally posted by ohreally

Originally posted by Mysk

Originally posted by ste2000

Originally posted by Wolfdor

SC was so successful they had to rush out and create more items to try and bait people in again.  Hey don't forget you have 150 free, fun, iconic, and exciting SC's to get your habit started!

Yes and from next month you can buy the Flaming Excalibur of  the Uberness for just $50
The I.W.I.N. button will cost only $100.
We are getting there............SoE is like an open book
Gogo IGE............sorry I meant SoE.

 

Sadly this is what I expect to see happen as well, although I expect it to take about a year before before they do it.

Cash shops are never supposed to be about purchasing functional weapons and armor and I am not at all against item malls given the correct circumstances (no or next to no monthly fee).  SOE, on the other hand, is SOE.

We'll see comments like,  "Don't have time to raid? Buy that breastplate / weapon for $100!", and excuses such as "We've had a lot of demand for this service from people who want to experience the content but who don't have time to..." blah blah blah.

Yeah. Maybe I'm just too tired to think straight at the moment, but I fully expect this to happen.

 

it won't be a year. They have limited time to make this work and they know it. There are two forces at work here with a fine line of balance. They have to balance the profitability of this new market with the eventuallity that enough subscribers will quit playing to negate it's value. They will need to make as much profit in a short time because that's all they have. The game may last another year, or even more, but the question is, will it make them profit. There is also one other issue they have....SOE is a stock holder owned company. Unlike Blizzard or Turbine, they can't have non profitable products on their balance sheets. The stock holders would scream bloody murder.

Thinking about it it becomes clear that for instance if xp-potions don't sell well they nerf the xp gained in the game so people need to buy them or face an endless grind.

They already did that to alternate advancement. After 140 AA points, your AA EXP gain is cut by something like 50%. They just released AA EXP Potion through this marketplace. Coincidence? I think NOT.

Originally posted by safwd

So you get a pretty suit of armor with no stats

Two pets that if they fight for you is a benefit but in a PVE game does it really matter. Yes there is PVP in EQ2 but most players in the game are not on PVP servers.

Some glowing skulls that it looks like you can put in your house.

And an EXP potion which is nice but only last for 30 minutes so no big deal there.

Who cares.

What happens when SOE does add items that you consider innapropriate for cash sales?

I sure hope people don't take your attitude of 'who cares', because that just allows them to take it one step further next time.

For the record SOE is in discussions about adding armor and weapons to the store.  Read the interview for yourself. 

www.tentonhammer.com/node/51153

Ten Ton Hammer: You mentioned you won’t be selling “uber armor,” but what about armor or weapon sets that aren’t overpowering, as an idea for returning or casual players?

Bruce Ferguson: I don’t know that I can say yes or no to that to be honest with you. It’s an ongoing discussion here as to whether we could do something like that or not, and I don’t think we have a final decision. But as I said, what we don’t want to do is make 80 percent or 100 percent of our customers unhappy with us. Obviously we’re trying to give people a little bit of fun without impacting significant core game play.

Originally posted by bobfish

Free Realms and Agency will do fine, this is no indication of SOE's ability to make games, just their decisions on how to keep said games profitable after they've been out a few years.

They aren't the only company that get desperate when games start to die.

I get teh impression that SOE is using any profit they might make from this new market to fund development of these two new games. I know they aren't released yet, but when they are, and they become profitable in their own rite (if they do) do you think they will be pulling the plug on EQ1 and EQ2? There are several articles in various places online about an EQ3.....One such says they would never release EQ3 while the other 2 are still being played...Sure would be interesting to see how their fanboy botlicker base would feel if they went to log in one morning and found the game gone...It would be just like SOE to do it with no notice too...

Originally posted by micona

All you EQ2 players should try out LOTR , it's not perfect but at least it's not full of lies and rmt .

I dont regret switching one bit and having a blast , not trying to sell the game but i dont give EQ2 et sony much time in mmo's tbh the way it's going .

** no /pizza either :P

LOTR sucks big time, I would rather play EQ2 as it is than play a crap game like that.

Originally posted by LuckyR

Originally posted by micona

All you EQ2 players should try out LOTR , it's not perfect but at least it's not full of lies and rmt .

I dont regret switching one bit and having a blast , not trying to sell the game but i dont give EQ2 et sony much time in mmo's tbh the way it's going .

** no /pizza either :P

 

LOTR sucks big time, I would rather play EQ2 as it is than play a crap game like that.

 

Thanks, Smed, seems like you are getting around a lot these days.

Another SOE bootlicker heard from.

Originally posted by ohreally

Originally posted by bobfish

Free Realms and Agency will do fine, this is no indication of SOE's ability to make games, just their decisions on how to keep said games profitable after they've been out a few years.

They aren't the only company that get desperate when games start to die.

 

I get teh impression that SOE is using any profit they might make from this new market to fund development of these two new games. I know they aren't released yet, but when they are, and they become profitable in their own rite (if they do) do you think they will be pulling the plug on EQ1 and EQ2? There are several articles in various places online about an EQ3.....One such says they would never release EQ3 while the other 2 are still being played...Sure would be interesting to see how their fanboy botlicker base would feel if they went to log in one morning and found the game gone...It would be just like SOE to do it with no notice too...

I get a similar impression about SOE right now.  They have 3 major projects underway and I think a fourth for the asian market.   All of these projects were started a number of years ago when SOE was doing much better than they are currently.  

Fast forward a few years and they have 7 MMO that generate the revenue of maybe one decent game when all combined and all of their projects still require funding.  Their marketshare is maybe 20-25% of what it used to be.  Sony prime is cutting and slashing unprofitable projects and divisions. 

This is just a suspision, but I would not be surprised if Smed got a mandate to show that all the money being invested in the new projects is a worthwhile investment.  SOE might be doing fine with their PS3 initiatives, ringtones and all the other widgets they do, but on the MMO side the books have to show they are not sustainable currently.  Since SOE can no longer hide in the motion pictures division it makes sense that they are now having to account for their time, money and manpower.   Compound that by the overall state of Sony and it become a scary picture.

The way the EULA and Station Cash changes were ushered suggests that SOE might be in some real trouble. 

Daffid, I have been saying that all along, there is big trouble in SOE city.  They can put any kind of face on it they like, but it is a desparate cash grab by very desparate people.  It is about time Sony woke up to the consistent poor performance of this group.

Personally, the best thing Sony could do is clean out the entire executive suite at SOE.  Those people have to be the most bumbling inept group in the gaming industry including those yahoos at EA.  To go from an industry leader to a fading also ran is pretty good indicator that the SOE execs have lost touch with the industry.

Sorry to step on toes of those looking forward to their upcoming games, but it will get much worse.  I would recommend you pass on anything coming out of SOE for now until something changes.

 I'm terribly disappointed that they've implemented this in game.  

I've always enjoyed EQ2 and think it does offer quite a variety of things to do in game as well as having a wonderful story line etc.,  BUT this past year I've honestly felt a a bit  used after last summers 'come back and play for free crap'.  Then an expansion that rolls the whole game in to one for new subscribers, but existing we have to pay the same for a game we already own?  Oh yea we got a bear mount and a few new toys.  

Now with this in game $$ systerm - you know its only the tip of the iceburg and SOE will keep adding a bit more and a bit more if the community doesnt 'mind'.

 I'm seriously going to consider re-upping my subscription when it comes due.  There are too many other MMO's out there competing for people's time and money.  

Treat your subscribers right SOE or watch them disappear 

Originally posted by Ozmodan

Daffid, I have been saying that all along, there is big trouble in SOE city.  They can put any kind of face on it they like, but it is a desparate cash grab by very desparate people.  It is about time Sony woke up to the consistent poor performance of this group.

Personally, the best thing Sony could do is clean out the entire executive suite at SOE.  Those people have to be the most bumbling inept group in the gaming industry including those yahoos at EA.  To go from an industry leader to a fading also ran is pretty good indicator that the SOE execs have lost touch with the industry.

Sorry to step on toes of those looking forward to their upcoming games, but it will get much worse.  I would recommend you pass on anything coming out of SOE for now until something changes.

Smedley said he wants to achive at least 1 Million boxes sales of DC Online and The Agency.
I just can't stop laughing.
I might concede that DC Online could actually sell 1 million boxes but that's because the IP rather than the quality of the game.
What I am sure they cannot do is to retain 1 million subscribers, which is not just going to happen, I give it a couple of months and DC will have 100K subs top.
Any other Console developer with an IP like DC Comics, could have made a game which could have sold more than 1 million boxes.
So it will be hardly an achievement for SoE.
As for The Agency, to me it will end up like The Matrix, it looks pretty much the same thing to me.

What SoE is doing is slowly leaving the MMO market and entering the more wild and difficult market of the console.
I don't think Smedley knows what he is doing.
Firstly he is overlapping the other Sony game division, which has more experience in the sector.
Secondly they are leaving a market which in few years time will be worth Billion of Dollars.
WoW is just the tip of the iceberg, and SoE is getting it wrong going toward the more mainstream game market.

Sony Pictures (which SoE answer to) should have a look at what Smedley is doing, I think they are too busy producing movies to have a good look at SoE business.
If Sony Pictures actually wants to convert SoE to a more mainstream game developer, then Smedley is not the man.
They should poach executives from EA or Blizzard if they want to make SoE a powerhouse.
Either way Smedley is just a nuisance.

Originally posted by ste2000

Sony Pictures (which SoE answer to) should have a look at what Smedley is doing, I think they are too busy producing movies to have a good look at SoE business.
If Sony Pictures actually wants to convert SoE to a more mainstream game developer, then Smedley is not the man.
They should poach executives from EA or Blizzard if they want to make SoE a powerhouse.
Either way Smedley is just a nuisance.

Actually SOE got moved into the SCEI and are no longer part of the movie division. 

Now that they are part of a division that knows something about games, they will have to explain their plans and their performance to people who understand the gaming market.

Originally posted by Daffid011

Originally posted by ste2000

Sony Pictures (which SoE answer to) should have a look at what Smedley is doing, I think they are too busy producing movies to have a good look at SoE business.
If Sony Pictures actually wants to convert SoE to a more mainstream game developer, then Smedley is not the man.
They should poach executives from EA or Blizzard if they want to make SoE a powerhouse.
Either way Smedley is just a nuisance.

 

Actually SOE got moved into the SCEI and are no longer part of the movie division. 

Now that they are part of a division that knows something about games, they will have to explain their plans and their performance to people who understand the gaming market.

 

 

Well if that's true,  I find it funny they allowed SoE to make games which are tailored more for console than for PC.
SoE is supposed to be specialised in the MMO market, they actually started it with UO, so they should use their expertise (if they have any left) to make quality MMOs.
The Agency and DC online are closer to Guild Wars than then they are to EQ/EQ2, not sure what's going on there, but someone has to wake up.
 

Originally posted by ste2000

Originally posted by Daffid011

Originally posted by ste2000

Sony Pictures (which SoE answer to) should have a look at what Smedley is doing, I think they are too busy producing movies to have a good look at SoE business.
If Sony Pictures actually wants to convert SoE to a more mainstream game developer, then Smedley is not the man.
They should poach executives from EA or Blizzard if they want to make SoE a powerhouse.
Either way Smedley is just a nuisance.

 

Actually SOE got moved into the SCEI and are no longer part of the movie division. 

Now that they are part of a division that knows something about games, they will have to explain their plans and their performance to people who understand the gaming market.

 

 

Well if that's true,  I find it funny they allowed SoE to make games which are tailored more for console than for PC.
SoE is supposed to be specialised in the MMO market, they actually started it with UO, so they should use their expertise (if they have any left) to make quality MMOs.
The Agency and DC online are closer to Guild Wars than then they are to EQ/EQ2, not sure what's going on there, but someone has to wake up.
 

Sony is looking for anything to boost PS3 marketshare.  If I recall right there is an interview where Smedly thinks they can make an MMO that gets 20 million subs through the PC, but mostly though consoles.  I have no doubt Smed oversold his ability to make games for the PS3.

Originally posted by Daffid011

Originally posted by ste2000

Originally posted by Daffid011

Originally posted by ste2000

Sony Pictures (which SoE answer to) should have a look at what Smedley is doing, I think they are too busy producing movies to have a good look at SoE business.
If Sony Pictures actually wants to convert SoE to a more mainstream game developer, then Smedley is not the man.
They should poach executives from EA or Blizzard if they want to make SoE a powerhouse.
Either way Smedley is just a nuisance.

 

Actually SOE got moved into the SCEI and are no longer part of the movie division. 

Now that they are part of a division that knows something about games, they will have to explain their plans and their performance to people who understand the gaming market.

 

 

Well if that's true,  I find it funny they allowed SoE to make games which are tailored more for console than for PC.
SoE is supposed to be specialised in the MMO market, they actually started it with UO, so they should use their expertise (if they have any left) to make quality MMOs.
The Agency and DC online are closer to Guild Wars than then they are to EQ/EQ2, not sure what's going on there, but someone has to wake up.
 

 

Sony is looking for anything to boost PS3 marketshare.  If I recall right there is an interview where Smedly thinks they can make an MMO that gets 20 million subs through the PC, but mostly though consoles.  I have no doubt Smed oversold his ability to make games for the PS3.

 

 

Its rumored that EQ3 is a title being bounced about for the PS3 but won't be released to compete with EQ or EQ2. If they are already talking EQ3 and only on a console AND not until EQ1 and 2 are history, it tells me there may already be a deadline in place for the PC versions. As I said before they have a relatively small window in which to make this Station Marketplace profitable. It looks to me like this is a "Last Lunge" before dying sort of attempt. Like a Hail Mary pass at teh end of a football game, except even if they score, they still don't win...

Smed Lied and EQ Died....

I don't think SOE is giving up on the PC market, just the subscription PC market.  Also I think they are getting away from any demographic that has a history with them and trying to start fresh with younger players.  Not that they won't take those players, but they are resigned that they have burned down most of those bridges and need a new base of customers.

It sounds like they really want to get in bed with kids who think RMT is the bomb.  As can be evidenced by this article and the new cash shops.

Originally posted by Darksix

Originally posted by safwd

So you get a pretty suit of armor with no stats

Two pets that if they fight for you is a benefit but in a PVE game does it really matter. Yes there is PVP in EQ2 but most players in the game are not on PVP servers.

Some glowing skulls that it looks like you can put in your house.

And an EXP potion which is nice but only last for 30 minutes so no big deal there.

Who cares.

 

I can say that I care..anyone else???

I very care. the moment they expand the 'item availability' to include non-fluff i'll be trying to find another game. unfortunately LotRO made my wife motion sick :s

fixed typos... sigh

Originally posted by Daffid011

I don't think SOE is giving up on the PC market, just the subscription PC market.  Also I think they are getting away from any demographic that has a history with them and trying to start fresh with younger players.  Not that they won't take those players, but they are resigned that they have burned down most of those bridges and need a new base of customers.

It sounds like they really want to get in bed with kids who think RMT is the bomb.  As can be evidenced by this article and the new cash shops.

 

 

Great plan, alienate your 26-45 demographic. We are only the ones with more money to spen on both games AND top of the line equipment that is apparently required to play new SOE games. Lets make teh teenagers our target. They have the attention span of a melting ice cube and will jump ship at a moment's notice if the game gets too slow or something that looks better comes along....

Again, Way to run the company into the ground Smed...