Originally posted by openedge1

Ok...Then that must explain the 70k hour loss for WoW on the 9th due to special events for that game the previous week...hmm, I see no mention of that anywhere...do you?

Better yet, lets leave MMO's since you think "events" do this..

CoD4 had a loss of 18k hours on the 9th, or how about CoD World at War which had a 5k hour loss. Left 4 Dead? A loss of 2500 hours. Check out some more if you wish...but you will get the same results.

I understand you wish to be right, but you are not. Again, I state, if you need to troll, get your facts straight.

But, since you feel the need to state the fact it was special events which caused the inflation and then subsequent loss on the 9th, how about this

X-Fire Update - Posted Feb 9th '09

Seems that there WAS an update...coincidence?

Nope.

Cheers

As an update, it still looks like some games are not quite up to snuff yet after the outage. Due to the fact that Xfire averages it's play times over a number of days, it usually has a problem correcting itself for a week or so.

Example, CoD4 is still down about 10k hours from it's previous week, LOTRO (since we believe the event for Xfire may have had some coincidence with the times, we will go back two weeks) is still down about 3k some hours..WAR is down about 600 some hours from last week, or how about that newcomer, Runes of Magic thats seems to be getting some press...down about 600+ hrs. ...and AoC is now down about 300 some hours.

I expect the weekend to put corrections into the times, and put everybody back in tip top shape, so we can start our arguments again fresh on Monday...

Have a good weekend

Cheers

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Originally posted by openedge1

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Originally posted by openedge1

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Ok...Then that must explain the 70k hour loss for WoW on the 9th due to special events for that game the previous week...hmm, I see no mention of that anywhere...do you?
Better yet, lets leave MMO's since you think "events" do this..
CoD4 had a loss of 18k hours on the 9th, or how about CoD World at War which had a 5k hour loss. Left 4 Dead? A loss of 2500 hours. Check out some more if you wish...but you will get the same results.
I understand you wish to be right, but you are not. Again, I state, if you need to troll, get your facts straight.
But, since you feel the need to state the fact it was special events which caused the inflation and then subsequent loss on the 9th, how about this
X-Fire Update - Posted Feb 9th '09
Seems that there WAS an update...coincidence?
Nope.
Cheers

---

As an update, it still looks like some games are not quite up to snuff yet after the outage. Due to the fact that Xfire averages it's play times over a number of days, it usually has a problem correcting itself for a week or so.
Example, CoD4 is still down about 10k hours from it's previous week, LOTRO (since we believe the event for Xfire may have had some coincidence with the times, we will go back two weeks) is still down about 3k some hours..WAR is down about 600 some hours from last week, or how about that newcomer, Runes of Magic thats seems to be getting some press...down about 600+ hrs. ...and AoC is now down about 300 some hours.
I expect the weekend to put corrections into the times, and put everybody back in tip top shape, so we can start our arguments again fresh on Monday...
Have a good weekend
Cheers

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<Mod edit> " OMG.  AOC has gained 4000% since last week... tons of people everywhere".   The same way he picked a maintenance day from early December and compared it to a regular day from Jan to show his 55% growth that he keeps posting about.

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Originally posted by Alandora

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<Mod edit> " OMG.  AOC has gained 4000% since last week... tons of people everywhere".   The same way he picked a maintenance day from early December and compared it to a regular day from Jan to show his 55% growth that he keeps posting about.

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Originally posted by AmazingAvery

My feeling regarding subscription numbers are:

Is the company making enough money to continue to support the game with decent additions

• YES

Is it normal for most P2P mmo's to release sub numbers when doing well or not at all

• YES, there are more that don't announce than do (LOTRO eg)

Is there enough people in game to have an enjoyable experience.

• YES, after the server merges happened the populous was more combined and re-invigorated. A better foundation is there now.

Have I ever had issues finding a group when I need one.

• SOMETIMES, maybe that is down to the hours I play, But NO issues experienced at weekends.

Do I find the game enjoyable and worth my money

• YES, more so as time goes on

Whatever you guys did to summon Avery please undo.

Originally posted by Euthorus

Whatever you guys did to summon Avery please undo.

I fear it doesn't really work.myself have even tried voodoo curses to see if he would vanish but guy is resilient as hell.

From 2008 Q2 Financial report:
800k copies sold and only 415k "customers" as of August 14th (http://www.funcom.com/funcom/frontend/files/CONTENT/Funcom_Q208_presentation.pdf)

In August my server still had 4-5 Keshatta instances up. There were a lot of people. In October there was 1-2. This was Tyranny server before merge. One of the most populated servers... if not the most.

I'd say 100-150k sounds fairly reasonable, considering the fact that publicly traded company decided to hide facts from investors and not publish details in Third Quarter Financial report. Let's see if they post details in Q4 (on Feb 28th).

Originally posted by Euthorus

Whatever you guys did to summon Avery please undo.

For "amazing" people there's amazing button, called "block".

Pop will go up alot dont worry.

After patch 1.04 and 1.05 people will come back and try AOC, FC will hopefully launch the free trial after 1.05, i belive they will.

1.04 = 2 new lvl 80 dungeons, 1 new lvl 46 dungeon, Wing 3 (raid), PVP-resources <--- Really awesome !, and ALOT more.

1.05 = Itemization, revamping Gem cutting, and ALOT more. One more thing i just saw on the AOC forum, the Game Director posted this in a Thread.

Tarantia Commons is currently planned to be in the same update cycle as the items and statistics update. (i.e. 1.05) It will certainly be on the public test servers during that cycle. Whether it launches in exactly the same update as the stats update will depend on testing. It may come at the same time, or it may come a little after (i.e. as a 1.05.x update just like we did with Ymir's Pass).

So we will also get Tarantia Commons !!!!

I guess that FC will launch DX10 sometime between 1.04 and 1.05

Its all GOOD baby !

Originally posted by DaveTT

 

Pop will go up alot dont worry.

After patch 1.04 and 1.05 people will come back and try AOC, FC will hopefully launch the free trial after 1.05, i belive they will.

1.04 = 2 new lvl 80 dungeons, 1 new lvl 46 dungeon, Wing 3 (raid), PVP-resources <--- Really awesome !, and ALOT more.

1.05 = Itemization, revamping Gem cutting, and ALOT more. One more thing i just saw on the AOC forum, the Game Director posted this in a Thread.

Tarantia Commons is currently planned to be in the same update cycle as the items and statistics update. (i.e. 1.05) It will certainly be on the public test servers during that cycle. Whether it launches in exactly the same update as the stats update will depend on testing. It may come at the same time, or it may come a little after (i.e. as a 1.05.x update just like we did with Ymir's Pass).

So we will also get Tarantia Commons !!!!

I guess that FC will launch DX10 sometime between 1.04 and 1.05

Its all GOOD baby !

If find it interesting that people believe that there is any corelation between the patches and returning players...this is especially NOT true with FC. When most people hear a patch is coming from FC they think what are they going to screw up now. This time that is exceptionally true because now they are going to start playing with stats--I can tell you that it will be disasterous with full confidence; DX10 the samething, they are clearly over their heads and took a bite out of something too big for them to chew. Patches (with any game), at best will keep existing players,  with FC it's player repellant. The question isn't if they are going to screw the game up---it's how bad are they going to screw it up--history has shown us that time and time again, without exception.

Originally posted by Blackwell99

If find it interesting that people believe that there is any corelation between the patches and returning players...

Why is this an issue...it is one of the reasons I came back...

this is especially NOT true with FC. When most people hear a patch is coming from FC they think what are they going to screw up now.

This would have been believed when Gaute was still working on the game...this has NOT been the case now. Old information always makes discussions like yours look misinformed.

This time that is exceptionally true because now they are going to start playing with stats--I can tell you that it will be disasterous with full confidence;

You do realize this was what Craig Morrison did for AO, and was greeted with critical and player praise due to the fixes Craig placed in that game. I actually have FULL confidence he will do the same here.

DX10 the samething, they are clearly over their heads and took a bite out of something too big for them to chew.

And everyone who touches DX10 (which is a Microsoft product by the way, not Funcom's) also has the same results. Loss of frame rates, issues with code. It is a known fact that all games (except for a slight few like CoD4 and Devil May Cry 4) have had issues weith DX10. I do not blame Funcom for having issues with a codec not under their development.

Patches (with any game), at best will keep existing players,  with FC it's player repellant.

Again, I disagree, and I will actually return to many games after patches (EQ2, LOTRO, etc...), and I was most certainly glad I returned to AoC after their fixes...the game runs well for me, is great fun, leveling curve is just right for my casual play style..I am happy with their results.

The question isn't if they are going to screw the game up---it's how bad are they going to screw it up--history has shown us that time and time again, without exception.

Actually, not true. History shows they took AO out of the sh*t can, and made it worthwhile...so much so that critics praised the fixes done by Craig, and made the game at least a viable product to help Funcom exist. Along with the fact that they have several single player games which have received critical praise, and sales to match. AoC has been their only real mistake, and it all is laid at the hands of a select few...stockholders, and Gaute....now Craig is on board, and moving the game in the right direction...

People make mistakes, and I am willing to let them go if they learn from it...and for AoC, the changes represent a better game overall..

Cheers

Originally posted by openedge1

Originally posted by Blackwell99

If find it interesting that people believe that there is any corelation between the patches and returning players...

Why is this an issue...it is one of the reasons I came back...

this is especially NOT true with FC. When most people hear a patch is coming from FC they think what are they going to screw up now.

This would have been believed when Gaute was still working on the game...this has NOT been the case now. Old information always makes discussions like yours look misinformed.

This time that is exceptionally true because now they are going to start playing with stats--I can tell you that it will be disasterous with full confidence;

You do realize this was what Craig Morrison did for AO, and was greeted with critical and player praise due to the fixes Craig placed in that game. I actually have FULL confidence he will do the same here.

DX10 the samething, they are clearly over their heads and took a bite out of something too big for them to chew.

And everyone who touches DX10 (which is a Microsoft product by the way, not Funcom's) also has the same results. Loss of frame rates, issues with code. It is a known fact that all games (except for a slight few like CoD4 and Devil May Cry 4) have had issues weith DX10. I do not blame Funcom for having issues with a codec not under their development.

Patches (with any game), at best will keep existing players,  with FC it's player repellant.

Again, I disagree, and I will actually return to many games after patches (EQ2, LOTRO, etc...), and I was most certainly glad I returned to AoC after their fixes...the game runs well for me, is great fun, leveling curve is just right for my casual play style..I am happy with their results.

The question isn't if they are going to screw the game up---it's how bad are they going to screw it up--history has shown us that time and time again, without exception.

Actually, not true. History shows they took AO out of the sh*t can, and made it worthwhile...so much so that critics praised the fixes done by Craig, and made the game at least a viable product to help Funcom exist. Along with the fact that they have several single player games which have received critical praise, and sales to match. AoC has been their only real mistake, and it all is laid at the hands of a select few...stockholders, and Gaute....now Craig is on board, and moving the game in the right direction...

People make mistakes, and I am willing to let them go if they learn from it...and for AoC, the changes represent a better game overall..

Cheers

Well then I guess the proof will be in the pudding. I don't see anything great about Craig at all (Im not sure about AO, but im sure he's only as good as his last inning). In fact, if the murder system is an indicator on what we can expect--Im afraid it's game over. I mean this game is going on a year very soon. You may be forever forgiving, and that's cool--But that's you...and maybe a handful of other people (each with there own reasons why they are sticking around, some of which has nothing to do with the game Im sure).  All I ever hear is "if's and "buts" when it comes to FC, but it's results that count--and in fact, I would say things have got worse since Craig the Saviour showed up, but i think most can agree it hasn't got better-that's forsure.

I could easily make a list of things that are still wrong with the game, and things that still need to be addressed. These aren't just little issues, they are huge and have been around since the game's launch. I mean really, what has Craig done that has been so outstanding? For every one accomplishment you name--I'll name 3 things that haven't happen or things that have been introduced that failed. Heck I'll even let you wait for 1.4-lol.

You may have returned to AoC because of a patch (I'd be interested to know what patch that was-lol) but when I returned to EvE; their major patches are more like free expansions, but that wasn't what made me go back (that was just a bonus)--perhaps Im more quality oriented, but for me, it was the drastic increase in population, and the community's maturity . Plus CCP is a quality company, I will never feel like they are wasting my time or money. It's original and evolved a great deal, and everything they added worked and was spot on (as far as I can tell). In fact they just broke a population record last weekend...people are gravitating to that game like bees to honey, like druken sailors to a whore house----and it isn't becauses of a patch, it's because of exucution---something that FC hasn't shown yet in AoC. (unless we are talking about the exucution of consumer trust, servers, or population). Not for you perhaps.... but most gamers.

Originally posted by DaveTT

 

Pop will go up alot dont worry.

After patch 1.04 and 1.05 people will come back and try AOC, FC will hopefully launch the free trial after 1.05, i belive they will.

1.04 = 2 new lvl 80 dungeons, 1 new lvl 46 dungeon, Wing 3 (raid), PVP-resources <--- Really awesome !, and ALOT more.

1.05 = Itemization, revamping Gem cutting, and ALOT more. One more thing i just saw on the AOC forum, the Game Director posted this in a Thread.

Tarantia Commons is currently planned to be in the same update cycle as the items and statistics update. (i.e. 1.05) It will certainly be on the public test servers during that cycle. Whether it launches in exactly the same update as the stats update will depend on testing. It may come at the same time, or it may come a little after (i.e. as a 1.05.x update just like we did with Ymir's Pass).

So we will also get Tarantia Commons !!!!

I guess that FC will launch DX10 sometime between 1.04 and 1.05

Its all GOOD baby !

Do you really know how these lines above make you sound?

Originally posted by silkworm

Originally posted by DaveTT

 

Pop will go up alot dont worry.

After patch 1.04 and 1.05 people will come back and try AOC, FC will hopefully launch the free trial after 1.05, i belive they will.

1.04 = 2 new lvl 80 dungeons, 1 new lvl 46 dungeon, Wing 3 (raid), PVP-resources <--- Really awesome !, and ALOT more.

1.05 = Itemization, revamping Gem cutting, and ALOT more. One more thing i just saw on the AOC forum, the Game Director posted this in a Thread.

Tarantia Commons is currently planned to be in the same update cycle as the items and statistics update. (i.e. 1.05) It will certainly be on the public test servers during that cycle. Whether it launches in exactly the same update as the stats update will depend on testing. It may come at the same time, or it may come a little after (i.e. as a 1.05.x update just like we did with Ymir's Pass).

So we will also get Tarantia Commons !!!!

I guess that FC will launch DX10 sometime between 1.04 and 1.05

Its all GOOD baby !

 

Do you really know how these lines above make you sound?

Funcom has under-delivered on everything it has ever done since the launch of AO.   Patches take forever, and have limited content.   Look at the much hyped pvp patch?  Look at the recent survey... something that ws hyped for 4 months after launch... finally got released and it was met with a major 'meh'.   Ymir's pass..  probably had it's name appear in 5 press releases... yet took players about 2 hours to finish it and forget about it.

Now we have another list of 'stuff' that is going to be 'awesome' and reignite players.. but it keeps getting delayed and delayed and has joined the ranks of  dx10.  I mean how many times can we hear 'wing 3' is going to be coming to the game soon?

Meanwhile, every other game on the market is adding content and gameplay features very quickly and the game that is far behind is falling further behind..  but yeah.. keep posting those patch notes from 'future patches'... which will be as amazing as the pvp patch.

dead game is dead

A lot of issues here seem to stem from AoC fans side being uneducated or they have no idea what is being discussed and post some random thing anyway, usually misleading.

Does this make the 360 version vaporware going forward? I'm going to echo previous posters and assume with big-money IPs like WOW and WAR effectively spit-roasting AOC, this won't be pretty.

Then again, LOTR is still going, as are a bunch of other niche games (COH/COV)... so maybe Conan survives, but maybe they are going to cancel there expansion.

Sad to see the Conan IP has become so toxic.
 

Funcom blinked first. If they had waited till after WAR released they would have had time to get the game up to speed and would have been able to make a better impression on those initail 800K + players.

Now they have to implement a reason for players to leave games that they are happy with but also they have to re establish credibility to the customers who bought into the pre release hype and were dissapointed. They might have gotten a small boost with the server merges and bargin bin box sales at Christmas, but  that has already started to drop off. Free trials are next, but if they get can get  5% to 10%  of the trials to convert to a payed subscription they stil have to find a way to turn those players into long term customers and that is where AoC falls short.

Sorry to break it to the fanboys but teh ten post newbies starting "I Love It" threads are a waste of time. People might believe guild mates or personal friends but I don't think anyone is dumb enough to buy into those loads of manure. If hey are that dumb well , I will just fall back to PT barnums philosopy on that.  

it is doubtful that AoC is even treading water right now and I predict a gradual sinking to a 25K to 50K base of fans, mostly in the EU market.

Originally posted by Blackwell99

 

You may have returned to AoC because of a patch (I'd be interested to know what patch that was-lol) but when I returned to EvE; their major patches are more like free expansions, but that wasn't what made me go back (that was just a bonus)--perhaps Im more quality oriented, but for me, it was the drastic increase in population, and the community's maturity . Plus CCP is a quality company, I will never feel like they are wasting my time or money. It's original and evolved a great deal, and everything they added worked and was spot on (as far as I can tell). In fact they just broke a population record last weekend...people are gravitating to that game like bees to honey, like druken sailors to a whore house----and it isn't becauses of a patch, it's because of exucution---something that FC hasn't shown yet in AoC. (unless we are talking about the exucution of consumer trust, servers, or population). Not for you perhaps.... but most gamers.

Anyone remember this?

http://kotaku.com/gaming/eve-online/scandal-hits-eve-online-234863.php

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Originally posted by Sevenwind

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Originally posted by Blackwell99

 
You may have returned to AoC because of a patch (I'd be interested to know what patch that was-lol) but when I returned to EvE; their major patches are more like free expansions, but that wasn't what made me go back (that was just a bonus)--perhaps Im more quality oriented, but for me, it was the drastic increase in population, and the community's maturity . Plus CCP is a quality company, I will never feel like they are wasting my time or money. It's original and evolved a great deal, and everything they added worked and was spot on (as far as I can tell). In fact they just broke a population record last weekend...people are gravitating to that game like bees to honey, like druken sailors to a whore house----and it isn't becauses of a patch, it's because of exucution---something that FC hasn't shown yet in AoC. (unless we are talking about the exucution of consumer trust, servers, or population). Not for you perhaps.... but most gamers.

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Anyone remember this?
http://kotaku.com/gaming/eve-online/scandal-hits-eve-online-234863.php
 

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What about the gm in AoC who gave a guild a free city? Ive never played eve but it sounds like the same to me.

Originally posted by Hamrtime2

 

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Originally posted by Sevenwind

 

 
Anyone remember this?
http://kotaku.com/gaming/eve-online/scandal-hits-eve-online-234863.php
 

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What about the gm in AoC who gave a guild a free city? Ive never played eve but it sounds like the same to me.
 

Exactly, the two of you are here in the AoC forums everyday posting negative threads when no company probably listed here on these forums can apply for sainthood.

Originally posted by Jackdog

Funcom blinked first. If they had waited till after WAR released they would have had time to get the game up to speed and would have been able to make a better impression on those initail 800K + players.

Now they have to implement a reason for players to leave games that they are happy with but also they have to re establish credibility to the customers who bought into the pre release hype and were dissapointed. They might have gotten a small boost with the server merges and bargin bin box sales at Christmas, but  that has already started to drop off. Free trials are next, but if they get can get  5% to 10%  of the trials to convert to a payed subscription they stil have to find a way to turn those players into long term customers and that is where AoC falls short.

Sorry to break it to the fanboys but teh ten post newbies starting "I Love It" threads are a waste of time. People might believe guild mates or personal friends but I don't think anyone is dumb enough to buy into those loads of manure. If hey are that dumb well , I will just fall back to PT barnums philosopy on that.  

it is doubtful that AoC is even treading water right now and I predict a gradual sinking to a 25K to 50K base of fans, mostly in the EU market.

 

It is a funny little 'twist' on conventional wisdom, no?  The CW used to be that you wanted to beat your competitor to market.

But with Warhammer and AOC..    Even if you say that AOC fixed none of their issues, they still probably would have been better off launching after warhammer.  People would have gotten more angry with warhammer if there was something 'to look forward to'.   Catch them before they have time to fix issues, and give them hope that your game is better (even if it is not).

oddly enough I have been doing the Vanguard trial for a couple of days now and I have seen more newbies in it than I saw in AoC in Tortage even post merge on the  Wiccana server.