I keep hearing that AoC has 'potential'.  I hear that about a lot of games. 

The biggest problem for me with AoC and other MMORPG's is that their potential should be realized BEFORE LAUNCH... not a year after launch. 

Game companies should just launch games and then tell their customers that 'it will get better if you'll keep paying and waiting'.

Sometimes I wonder if this obsession with calling a game dead, alive, dying or prospering is actually turning the entire business into one big self-fulfilling prophecy.

I mean, even people that barely bother with forums get the general buzz, and follow suit.

Any new release is proclaimed "dead" often before release already, when the beta problems arent dealt with, or for whatever weird reason, subsequently people just look for the problems instead of playing the game, become fixated on finding that reason to quit, and then never look back, even if the game changes a lot, because its "dead", and its comforting to be able to dismiss it.

Same story every release, and the games tend to follow suit: WAR is on the same slope that AoC was at around this time after its release, LotRO never managed to get back on its feet after the bleeding out after release, and lets not talk about Vanguard, shall we?

I think the way too many people approach these things, like a diseased animals, waiting for the symptoms to show clearly so you can justify putting it down, is what actually gives these games a lot of that disease.

Outside of WoW, there never is cautious optimism and good will anymore.

Originally posted by Khaunshar

Sometimes I wonder if this obsession with calling a game dead, alive, dying or prospering is actually turning the entire business into one big self-fulfilling prophecy.

I mean, even people that barely bother with forums get the general buzz, and follow suit.

Any new release is proclaimed "dead" often before release already, when the beta problems arent dealt with, or for whatever weird reason, subsequently people just look for the problems instead of playing the game, become fixated on finding that reason to quit, and then never look back, even if the game changes a lot, because its "dead", and its comforting to be able to dismiss it.

Same story every release, and the games tend to follow suit: WAR is on the same slope that AoC was at around this time after its release, LotRO never managed to get back on its feet after the bleeding out after release, and lets not talk about Vanguard, shall we?

I think the way too many people approach these things, like a diseased animals, waiting for the symptoms to show clearly so you can justify putting it down, is what actually gives these games a lot of that disease.

Outside of WoW, there never is cautious optimism and good will anymore.

Well, that's really a mouthful with multiple mandibles.

I think the first and foremost thing to remember is that some games have genuine issues. I played AoC for two months after release, and just couldn't take it. I was grinding the Plazas (or whatever they were) in my low-60's, and since I was defensive Guardian, I couldn't PvP for jack (in a game that touted its PvP side). I literally spent 35 minutes with another melee character inside one of the city instances wacking at each other. I had too much health regen and didn't do any sort of damage. It was infuriating.

The game ran fairly well until I entered the larger areas, then it would grind to a halt. The areas for the later levels felt deserted and poorly planned (FedEx quests across the entire map without a form of swift transport? Are you kidding me? Nothing like holding the "Forward" button for 35 minutes....). Crafting was all but useless, the various armors were poorly diversified, resource mining was a PITA (particularly the resource quests), the Combo system was interesting for the first little while until I realized that to do Combo XYZ I was pushing 3 buttons in a row... Which is the same thing I did in WoW as a Mage (Frost Nova, PoM + Pyro, Fireblast...) only AoC took longer to register the actions. The shields were interesting, but between the directional attacks, movement, and potions - I couldn't find the fingers to actually use them.

I hit the upper levels and realized that there was nothing to do. PvP? With my damage I couldn't hurt anything. It was like WoW Prot-Warrior syndrome all over again... Plus with the combos and slow registery of moves, anything that might have a chance of being effective was avoided while I sat there for 3 seconds playing out animations. PvE? The raids were buggy, there wasn't anyone else to PvE with who I didn't end up fighting with, and it was after I was camped for 35 minutes due to the idiotic resurrection system limitations that I decided I'd had enough.

AoC had a great storyline going for it, though. Some good graphics and art direction as well, but the technical aspects were just overpowering. There was a little roleplay going on, but roleplay support through mechanics just wasn't there. The clothing layering system shown during the last few weeks of Beta was never put in, emotes were cumbersome, the chat channels were a joke to figure out, and the guild mechanics were about on-par with WoWs.

Of course, that's not to say every single "X Game is Dead" thread is because of genuine issues.

Some of them are just idiots rattling off.

Others are people who've been burned before and just want to make sure that no one else can have fun if they can't.

If you ask me, though, it's because Developers don't know what the heck they're doing and customers are finally figuring out what they want in an MMO.

Personally, I look for the following traits in an MMO:

-Open World. (After playing AoC, I never want to be that instanced again...)

-Strong guild mechanics.

-Strong story.

-Strong PvE or PvP gameplay (it doesn't really matter which one - I liked WoW's PvE focus and their initial attempts at PvP battlegrounds with the first incarnation of Alterac Valley, which actually felt epic and required strategy).

-Loads of customization (and I don't mean "stats and talents!" - I mean visual customization).

-Strong battle mechanics.

-Lots of emotes.

-Fairly intuitive UI with an EASY TO USE chat window with plenty of options.

-Strong art style.

-Responsive system with quick graphicsl registration.

Do I want a lot? Yes.

It doesn't mean I wouldn't pay for it, though. It also doesn't mean I won't compromise a little... I like the look of Jumpgate Evolution, for example. I expect some of those things will be missing, but that's due more to the setting than anything else, and I expect other aspects in exchange (like actual Newtonian flight in 'exchange' for emotes).

Personally, I think a lot of games being put out just have Devs/Companies that aren't sure what they're supposed to be doing. PvP wasn't really added to WoW until a full year later - but that didn't matter too much, because there was SO MUCH to do. I love the Warcraft universe, and I wanted to explore every bloody inch before I even thought about PvP. With the enormous open world, I could do that. With AoC, the world was small, dark, and while visually stunning - I knew that the Devs hadn't implemented little tongue-in-cheek jokes (like the hut behind Stormwind).

I don't play an MMO right now because nothing fits right now, and I don't want to compromise too much. I fear the next big thriller for me will probably be Blizzard's next MMO, Jumpgate, or Star Wars (the last one is a bit iffy). With Starcraft 2 and Diablo 3 looming on the horizon, along with Dragonage: Origins from BioWare as an SRPG, I look at half-finished hybrid MMOs as something I'm not going to waste my time playing. Why should I be paying to play half-finished focus-confused games when I could just wait a little longer, pop in a game I KNOW is going to have a high level of polish out-the-gate, and play that?

Hopefully Devs will figure out what they should do. I can't overtly recommend anything because I have different tastes. I believe Darkfall will be successful because it has a clear focus - it's basically FFA PvP with mechanics that SUPPORT that focus. A lot of people want that, and I admit I'm tempted to try it just to see a game who finally backs up what it wants to do... but I probably won't until it matures a bit more.

Oh well, I've rambled on long enough. Peace out.

Originally posted by Jackdog

Originally posted by S1GNAL

Originally posted by Jackdog

I guess Funcom should look on the bright side, it could be a lot worse. by this time in it's lifecycle Vanguard was pretty much deserted, same with a lot of other SoE games. Looks like AoC has found itself a niche somewhere below LoTRO and Warhammer and above EQII and SWG. Now to see what happens when 1.05 hits. It could rise or it it could go down, ineresting verrrrrry interesting.

 

 The single most thing AoC players got, is the belief that the next patch will cure the disease

 

and if it turns out to be crap, it will be the final nail

 

I am interested because we see a few ppl saying that fights also quick in doing and action are lengthend now like LOTRO fights but the action better in them. What do you think about this? 

What will be funny is that some of you guys will immediately go and source out some people expressing their dissatisfaction on the official forums and post it up here as quickly as possible. The point I am trying to make Jack is why the need to have a final thought process like you assume. You assume it will be the final nail for everyone. When really I love it when ex players tell me whats going to happen.

What I can tell you is that I have read more positive potentials than negative ones about the patch. If I was to post them all here what would you say? Difference is "test server forum access".

Patch 1.05 is an enchancement that the paying public asked for. Let's be clear it is not the saviour of the game, it is an enchancement to it, there are many things that every play will find useful in this patch. A whole new playfield for example.

If AoC is dead why does the YG bots picked up 50k more characters in the past month alone a good time after the trial launch?

Originally posted by AmazingAvery

 

 

What will be funny is that some of you guys will immediately go and source out some people expressing their dissatisfaction on the official forums and post it up here as quickly as possible.

Easily do-able right now, no need to wait.

forums.ageofconan.com/showthread.php

Like it or not this is AoC's 'NGE', some players always quit over major game changes, it's a given.

And the EU forums as well forums-eu.ageofconan.com/showthread.php

Originally posted by Unfinished

Originally posted by AmazingAvery

 

 

What will be funny is that some of you guys will immediately go and source out some people expressing their dissatisfaction on the official forums and post it up here as quickly as possible.

 

Easily do-able right now, no need to wait.

 

forums.ageofconan.com/showthread.php

 

Like it or not this is AoC's 'NGE', some players always quit over major game changes, it's a given.

Like I said before the patch will cause QQ bigtime and even your link spells it out. Simple fact is that guy gives the impression he is just like yourself, reading and not playing, in this case testing the patch and get all excited to the point of posting. Like he says he is dreading it through reading and not expeirence. You will find the opposite of what he fears confirm by many ppl on the test sever forum class boards.

Of course players quit when patches change their OP class into normality or brings some harder work into play. I am not disputing that, just that if you want to be honest at least leave the widespread doom and gloom posts as fact at the door. Position both sides at least. You know some players, you know the ones that pay to play, actually like the changes and think it is good groundwork. The game is not dead, not dying, I really think if you had 2 pens in each hand and wrote a strike down for good or bad based solely on experience in that thread the picture is not what i think  your trying to push.

See post #20 in that thread as a common though on 1.05 from all the impressions from ppl I have garnered

Also I recommend reading Sil's replies.

The overwhelming trend is MMO populations slowly taper off over time.

There are rare exceptions like CCP's EvE, which constantly adds massive free content expansions on a regular basis.

Did I ever make any claim that AoC will go dark soon? nope.

The 'everything is getting better everyday' spiel isn't enough to counter the damage done to this game by failing to deliver and than pretending it did or someday will. The snail's pace of the development cycle is hurting it too.

Players leave games, some faster than others. AoC holds the record for losing the most the fastest,  FC beat the previous record holder - themselves.

This game has been dead since the first few months of its release.

And you keep hearing people say it has / had great potential because it does / did.

But Funcom is such a terrible MMO developer especially in terms of supporting games after their release, AoC was doomed to fail.

Honestly, Funcom should switch to making non-MMO RPGs instead. Or at least a F2P / microtransaction MMO. They just aren't a good enough company to charge monthly fees for their games because they cannot constantly support their games with (good) enough content. 

However, AoC was indeed a really fun game... for a few months. And it looks better than any MMO ever. Too bad after a few months, the game gets super boring.

I was in beta and pre-launch and left in the first month after launch, i have to admit i was one the haters and slagged it off a bit, at the time i was a wow robot thoe.

But after some time away i re-subbed last week for another look, this time ive gone back with a blank slate and started a fresh with the thought of trying to enjoy it and not compare to other mmo's.

Well i have to say im loving it and having a blast, the server is far from empty and there are folk all over.

The graphics are second to none, and compares with lotro for brilliant scenery, i think AoC and lotro are  the best looking mmo's out.

I think this time round i will be in game for sometime, till startrek or Old republic hits anyway.

AOC reminds me soooo much of Vanguard. Obviously I am not speaking of the game content rather Im speaking of the (mis)management and trending of the games themselves. Each of the 2 games were very much over hyped, promised content pre-release yet never delivered, and have a small yet fanatic fanbase. Each of the 2 games also believe that with each new patch, the game will start to revive itself and be a contending AAA title.
Vanguard isnt dead but it is a niche game which will cater to around 50k loyal subs. AOC also isnt dead and it is also just another niche game which will also cater to around 50k+ loyal subs.

There are a few games that operate outside the gaming community standard and those are EVE and WOW. These 2 games are extraordinary and shouldnt be used as a measuring stick in which to compare other MMOs.

AOC isnt dead but at the same time, Funcom hasnt come to the realization that it is a niche game which will have a very limited player base either. It took VG about 18 months to come to that realization before it settled for what it actually was and I hope that FC realizes it soon as well so they can focus on what is best for their current playerbase instead of trying to lure in players who have no interest in ever playing their game. Once FC realizes this then they can make the game truely outstanding for the current players who like AOC for what it is.

Originally posted by k1klass

I was in beta and pre-launch and left in the first month after launch, i have to admit i was one the haters and slagged it off a bit, at the time i was a wow robot thoe.

But after some time away i re-subbed last week for another look, this time ive gone back with a blank slate and started a fresh with the thought of trying to enjoy it and not compare to other mmo's.

Well i have to say im loving it and having a blast, the server is far from empty and there are folk all over.

The graphics are second to none, and compares with lotro for brilliant scenery, i think AoC and lotro are  the best looking mmo's out.

I think this time round i will be in game for sometime, till startrek or Old republic hits anyway.

That's a common trend and opinion I see a lot in game and on the boards.

Star Trek definately has my eye too.

Originally posted by C-L-I-C-K

This game has been dead since the first few months of its release.

And you keep hearing people say it has / had great potential because it does / did.

But Funcom is such a terrible MMO developer especially in terms of supporting games after their release, AoC was doomed to fail.

Honestly, Funcom should switch to making non-MMO RPGs instead. Or at least a F2P / microtransaction MMO. They just aren't a good enough company to charge monthly fees for their games because they cannot constantly support their games with (good) enough content. 

However, AoC was indeed a really fun game... for a few months. And it looks better than any MMO ever. Too bad after a few months, the game gets super boring.

Yes I agreed too and many others share you opinion. Funcom miss the market with 90%

I agree the game has vastly improved since launch and might be worth looking at again, i'm still playing btw. However i can understand anyone who tried it and got fed up with the bugs and the lack of content after level 30 and left and won't come back. Game developers have to realise that for any game to survive players have to be in it from day one or not at all. It's no good hoping people will come back to AoC,  most players just move on to something else. The only reason i'm still playing and still playing LOTRO is that there is pretty much nothing new at the moment, following the failure of WAR and CoS. When ST and SW come out that will be it for games like AoC unless as someone said earlier they can maintain that hardcore of niche players, and they will only achieve that with much more content at the top end, at least one expansion in the next six months etc... It was/is a great game, but as usual it was f**ked from launch.

Nope, it's not dead yet. They have updated this game so much since the launch. I recommend to try it if you want something new. Only bad thing is you don't have enough things to carry on at max level char.

Originally posted by Ensj

 I recommend to try it if you want something new. Only bad thing is you don't have enough things to carry on at max level char.

I think that has been a problem since day 1 and will continue to be a major problem for the life of this game. I may be old school but in other MMOs I play the game starts at end game, with end game crafting, quests, raiding, grouping dungeans, etc. and it takes insane play time to run out of stuff to do. In AoC because of the slow development cycle the people at level cap will always be starved for stuff to do.

Originally posted by finaticd

Originally posted by Ensj

 I recommend to try it if you want something new. Only bad thing is you don't have enough things to carry on at max level char.

I think that has been a problem since day 1 and will continue to be a major problem for the life of this game. I may be old school but in other MMOs I play the game starts at end game, with end game crafting, quests, raiding, grouping dungeans, etc. and it takes insane play time to run out of stuff to do. In AoC because of the slow development cycle the people at level cap will always be starved for stuff to do.

That is a problem you see in WoW too these days. People don't want the grind for gear that was previously, WoW started this trend by making MMO games availbale and easy for a large majority if players that didn't really have the time to play before. These so called casual players also want to see endgame stuff, and Ovdr the patches Blizzard simplified, and made things easier. Now casual players can do most of the endgame dungeouns, they can get the same things as most other players.

The bad part is the hardcore gamers gets bored and moves on, without hardcore gamers the game will start to bleed subscription and end up with a small portion of the playerbase that likes the game for what it is. Look at DFO, they are now apparantly talking about reducing the grind. And DFO was supposed to be hardcore MMO'ing.

Threads like this make me want to put a forks in my eyeballs.

People really need to stop throwing around the word "dead" in relation to MMOs. If there are still servers up, people are obviously still playing it, and it is obviously not dead. Just because you ragequit a game doesn't mean you have to get out the pitchfork and torch and make sure no one else enjoys it since you didn't.

Originally posted by anakinsella

Threads like this make me want to put a forks in my eyeballs.

People really need to stop throwing around the word "dead" in relation to MMOs. If there are still servers up, people are obviously still playing it, and it is obviously not dead. Just because you ragequit a game doesn't mean you have to get out the pitchfork and torch and make sure no one else enjoys it since you didn't.

Think this will be the first QFT I've done on these boards.

Originally posted by mackdawg19

Originally posted by anakinsella

Threads like this make me want to put a forks in my eyeballs.

People really need to stop throwing around the word "dead" in relation to MMOs. If there are still servers up, people are obviously still playing it, and it is obviously not dead. Just because you ragequit a game doesn't mean you have to get out the pitchfork and torch and make sure no one else enjoys it since you didn't.

 

Think this will be the first QFT I've done on these boards.

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Originally posted by VultureSkull

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Originally posted by DiSpLiFF

i wasn't trying to badmouth the game just give my personal opinion. If you like the combo system thats great, i thought it was cool at first until i started to pvp on my conq. I almost threw my keyboard out the window because its so easy for any class to just run away and get out of the combo. I really don't see how you can disagree with the statement.

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I see your point, but I concentrate on PVE and the when playing pvp i do experience what you say here, ie if you perform long combos ur targets move out of range so that the final blow does not land. This is a known tactic, and to over come it i used shorter albeit less powerful combos.
I hear there is a problem in seiges too where melee fighters dont stand much of a chance aganist casters and it turns out a caster match. These are problems i admit, however i still enjoy this system over auto attack..

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My take on that is that is how it would normally turn out if these situations were real and is in other games that do this. Melee fighters would be taken out by the casters or archers in a siege type situation. Are siege weapons available to knock down walls or gates (so melees can rush casters and archers? I never sieged in AoC when I played but I did in Dark Age of Camelot. Melee characters rarely got close to the keeps or outpost if there were players or npcs guards. You had to knock down the doors or blow a whole in the walls in order for melee fighters to get in the action. Casters went down quick after that if melees got near them.