OP might be very experienced in MMIO's but apparently is sort of new at Internet forums.  Most of us here won't believe a lot of what is posted because we know that people's reviews are based on their own preferences and tolerances, and the results vary widely.

I must say, the OP looks like a viral fanboi post, with so many 10's (no game, ever has any feature that's reach a 10 IMO, there is always room for improvement in every area).

So we have to take the OP's opinion with a grain of salt, just like we do the negative posters (and outright trolls)

This game caused some people problems.  We saw reports of not being able to get into the early release (yes, I know they failed to read), we saw complaints of significant server downtime in the first 4 or 5 days of the release as well.

We've read about the lack of content, which is so prevalent some created a thread here to provide tips to people on how to avoid running into the problem.

Some of the PVP builds appear to have been over powered, and the PVE was so overbalanced the Dev's nerfed it on the first day much to the dismay of many people who were used to a more rapid pacing.

The person who rated it about 7.5/10 is probably being  more honest, and I'm just as suspicious of folks being over positive as I am of their being too negative.

No, I don't think there is a coordinated attack on CO to bring the game down, its just too niche to even bother with for most companies to worry about..

Originally posted by Fitzle

So is this the "pro-marketing" review? Are you a employee of Cryptic? I mean, I think this is a fine game with lots of potentiial as well. But I am not the 10/10 guy you seem to be.  I mean, 10/10 is perfection. That means that element of the game could not BE any better than it is. Sorry bub, but there's no part of this game I'd give a 10/10.

I give your review 4/10!

 

You are welcome to your opinion. I was quite clear, or so I thought (in more than one place in the review actually), that the high numbers were -relative- to my extensive experience of AO, SB, WOW, and GW, all from launch, and many other games from lesser play, rather than some ideal of the perfect game. Compared to AOC launch, for example, and in the other categories i rank, CO is indeed a perfect 10. An ideal perfect 10 of a game? I'm admitedly not qualified to say. Please don't put words in my mouth.

Originally posted by Kyleran

OP might be very experienced in MMIO's but apparently is sort of new at Internet forums.  Most of us here won't believe a lot of what is posted because we know that people's reviews are based on their own preferences and tolerances, and the results vary widely.

I must say, the OP looks like a viral fanboi post, with so many 10's (no game, ever has any feature that's reach a 10 IMO, there is always room for improvement in every area).

So we have to take the OP's opinion with a grain of salt, just like we do the negative posters (and outright trolls)

This game caused some people problems.  We saw reports of not being able to get into the early release (yes, I know they failed to read), we saw complaints of significant server downtime in the first 4 or 5 days of the release as well.

We've read about the lack of content, which is so prevalent some created a thread here to provide tips to people on how to avoid running into the problem.

Some of the PVP builds appear to have been over powered, and the PVE was so overbalanced the Dev's nerfed it on the first day much to the dismay of many people who were used to a more rapid pacing.

The person who rated it about 7.5/10 is probably being  more honest, and I'm just as suspicious of folks being over positive as I am of their being too negative.

No, I don't think there is a coordinated attack on CO to bring the game down, its just too niche to even bother with for most companies to worry about..

 

 

1. Re: my lack of forum experience -  Did you happen to see my join date? (which ironically precedes your own... by two years). I have lurked this site for years before actually registering. You see, I actually spend my precious gaming time -playing- the games rather than making 8000+ posts here. How bout you? As far as internet forum days go, my experience goes back to old fashioned BBS in the 80s. How bout yours? Weak try at ad hominem.

2. Could I have been more clear that the ratings I gave were subject to -my own- preferences, even stating as much several times? Are you quoting from my review where I advised readers -expressly- to "take my opinion with a grain of salt?" pfffft

3. The problems you list are relatively trivial, and part of the nature of all new software, not just games. I actually played all the games I listed during the first few weeks of launch, and in comparison, this game is a 10. Stop putting words in my mouth. I never said this game was the perfect piece of software, just rated it in relation to other launches.

4. I find it funny that you addressed -none- of the points in my post specifically, yet took the time to type out such a long reply, which I rate 2 of 10 for entertaining troll factor.

I think Cryptic have done a good job techincally with CO, its actually pretty robust, I am sure the volume of content will be addressed into the future, however I don't believe these are the real concerns with this game and the lack of real depth and lack of genuine conviction in the theme will always make for a lacklustre post creator experience.  

Ultimately all we have at present is a character creator whose physical application (ie the world you step into) is completely unresponsive or unreactive to anything you choose to do (by design not by accident). it's a world where all the myriad choices of customisation count for diddly squat - there's literally only one thing to apply your powers to once you are out of the starting gate. The world is generic and static, there's no element of player control/choice in how things are resolved and no element of variety, no matter what your powerset, in what you can do to solve them (the choices, consequence and responsibility that comics use to define character are all absent).

Given the experience of CoH and general progression in MMO's and AI, I think Cryptic have lazily or carelessly opted for a very old fashioned style world which actively exists to undermine any virtue given by its characetr creator - as if the variety of choice at the outset just exagerates the complete absence of genuine variety later in the game.

game sucks, end of story..... tried it, hated it, no content, battle system isnt that great, graphics are pretty but take a huge hit on performance (even with a good machine), very few "good specs" if you want your hero to actually do well...... moving on.

Originally posted by tyanya

Given the experience of CoH and general progression in MMO's and AI, I think Cryptic have lazily or carelessly opted for a very old fashioned style world which actively exists to undermine any virtue given by its characetr creator - as if the variety of choice at the outset just exagerates the complete absence of genuine variety later in the game.

You are choice impacting the game world is the future of MMO and no MMO currently out has it. TOR and Secret world will incoporate this.

I wanted to briefly address the overused, yet nebulous use of the word "content" when describing MMOs. This game cost $50, as do most games these days. With CO and other MMOs, this gets you 30 days of play. Last week I finally played through the Crysis FPS games in about 20 hours, which cost me $39.99. I thought this was a decent deal. Renting movies, going to the movies, buying books, or cable television cost about the same (I don't watch much TV per month admitedly).

These are games and entertainment, and for the most part, MMOs are way high on the bang for the buck compared to other entertainment media, especially in relation to the costs.

So much talk about "content," IMO, is from folks who are expecting games to be a bigger part of their existence than they really are or should be. For example, I got my $50 from CO just by being able to make a toon named "Beaver Cleaver," that looks -just like Beaver Cleaver and not an orc, elf or dwarf, and then go blast aliens. The other day I saw "Raoul Duke" which. of course, was Hunter S. Thompson's (RIP) pseudonym, and got about $10 worth or entertainment in that wonderous experience alone.

Thing about CO is it is very open in character design and development. It takes the healer/tank/dps holy trio and throws it right out the window. There are of course,min maxers, and I do that too, but the prospects of interacting in the game world with that kind of flexibility is unexplored territory in MMOs, which are usually quite linear in character design actually, though giving the appearance otherwise. That is one of the big reasons I am a fan of this game. BTW, I only heard about the game -at all- in late July, didn't play beta, so am anything but a "fanboi."

Originally posted by sanskrit

I wanted to briefly address the overused, yet nebulous use of the word "content" when describing MMOs. This game cost $50, as do most games these days. With CO and other MMOs, this gets you 30 days of play. Last week I finally played through the Crysis FPS games in about 20 hours, which cost me $39.99. I thought this was a decent deal. Renting movies, going to the movies, buying books, or cable television cost about the same (I don't watch much TV per month admitedly).

These are games and entertainment, and for the most part, MMOs are way high on the bang for the buck compared to other entertainment media, especially in relation to the costs.

So much talk about "content," IMO, is from folks who are expecting games to be a bigger part of their existence than they really are or should be. For example, I got my $50 from CO just by being able to make a toon named "Beaver Cleaver," that looks -just like Beaver Cleaver and not an orc, elf or dwarf, and then go blast aliens. The other day I saw "Raoul Duke" which. of course, was Hunter S. Thompson's (RIP) pseudonym, and got about $10 worth or entertainment in that wonderous experience alone.

Thing about CO is it is very open in character design and development. It takes the healer/tank/dps holy trio and throws it right out the window. There are of course,min maxers, and I do that too, but the prospects of interacting in the game world with that kind of flexibility is unexplored territory in MMOs, which are usually quite linear in character design actually, though giving the appearance otherwise. That is one of the big reasons I am a fan of this game. BTW, I only heard about the game -at all- in late July, didn't play beta, so am anything but a "fanboi."

i wanted to briefly address this mindset when dealing with MMOs.

MMOs only actually MAKE MONEY if they keep subscribers for months and months, all of which are paying $15/mo. the dev makes almost no money off of the $50 game sale due to the immense cost of the servers, bandwidth, and staffing required to start an MMO that will have hundreds of thousands of players in game. therefore, no content to keep people for months beyond the free period.... no profit, and the game is a failure.

BTW, what i just wrote WAS brief.... what you wrote, was not..... if it takes me more than 30 seconds to read, it isnt brief.

Nonsense. Box sales are the cream. The time they make the most money of all.

Servers are only hired as they are used. There is no big initial outlay. When you have enough players to add a server it's already paid for by their subs before you even hire it.

I give the character designer a 10

Wasn't into the powers, but the look was exactly what I wanted. Exactly.

Viral anti-marketer?

Righto. I didn't realise Fantasy Island was such a paranoid place to live.

Originally posted by baff

Nonsense. Box sales are the cream. The time they make the most money of all.

Servers are only hired as they are used. There is no big initial outlay. When you have enough players to add a server it's already paid for by their subs before you even hire it.

 

 

 

 

I give the character designer a 10

Wasn't into the powers, but the look was exactly what I wanted. Exactly.

 

 

 

Viral anti-marketer?

Righto. I didn't realise Fantasy Island was such a paranoid place to live.

are you retarded? you obviously have no idea what you are talking about.... monthly subs are where the money is for MMOs, not the box cost.

are you telling me that cable companies, or internet companies make the most money off the install fees? hell no, they make their money off the monthly fee that they charge, because there is almost no cost to them to keep the service running after the initial setup. the same is true for MMOs.

I will certainly not say that this practice exists but I think it again is just a phrase thrown around far too much by the mmo community.  Now if you want to accuse Mc Donald's of "viral marketing" against Burger King fine but what particular game company has the inclination or resources to recruit (and most likely pay) people to work against some random competition.  If I'm making a fantasy game it still doesn't behoove me to waste time viral marketing against a competitor who may not even offer the same features as my game which makes the point mostly moot.

  Now what you truly need to do is remember that anger is a much stronger burning fuel than joy and most people aren't going to go out of their way posting about something they like,  but lot's will harp on for days about something they hated, often times you can look at the negative comments and clearly see by the things a player lists as a "problem" and see "ok this guy just doesn't like the game" and truthfully that is the majority of the comments I've seen directed towards CO, I do think more people should just state they don't like a game and move on but that is not the nature of people so in all it's best to ignore that because it isn't the fight worth fighting.

Originally posted by banthis

Originally posted by rummblebelly

This game has "potential" but as it stands now is not a great game. Every launch has bugs and CO is far from any exception as the game is riddled with bugs, From broken missions to actual game mechanics being broke.  However the most glaring problem is the complete lack of content. The zones (what few they have) are very bland and become boring rather quickly. Also the developers have even admitted to the lack of quest after there patch that reduced xp by 40 percent at launch.

 

Please list these broken missions because at lvl 25 I've only run into 2 busted public missions and they're both fully functional as of last week.   Also list these broken game mechanics...I've not noticed any...sure there's some unbalanced things but what game doesnt have balance issues?    I've also not noticed this lack of content we're constantlyf inding things in our crime computer, drop quests etc.    The game launched with a minimal set of zones boo hoo..thats what expansions and free content upgrades are for.   I think if theyd' of launched with TOO many zones like say hmm Warhammer the population would of been far to spread out and thus reducing the amount of  fun when you can't complete anything that requires more than 1 person.

The xp reduction was removed by like lets see LAUNCh...and the lack of content is only towards the end levels there's more than enough content pre lvl 30.

You'll be running into both these broken quests pretty shortly since they are both around level 27. Both are located in Downtown Mil. One involves tracking down a bigfoot's mate. The mate is currently spawning inside a building. Occasionally you can see it's arm sticking out. The second quest involves speaking to an NPC preparing to give a speech near the museum. So far the NPC just stands there unable to be spoken too.

I can say that those are the only two actual broken quests I've run into. I have run into a few that were very buggy. Instanced quests where I had to zone out and back in before it would register as complete. In Dr. Destroyers lair, which you will also do soon, has the end boss bug out quite frequently but it does fix itself if you wait around enough.

I respect your opinion but this game has first of all had one of the worst launches I have ever seen.  It changed the game completely from what the people who wanted lifetime subs expected.  Games don't receive that much negative attention the second they are launched, even if a game suffers from bugs or something.

Saying that there are only a few buggy missions out of 100 isn't something that one should rate a game on IMO.  Bugs are things that just shouldn't be present, and a fewer amount of them than other games should only mean a lesser negative, not a positive.  Even at release.

Performance: my older comp, an XPS with a 9800 GTS graphics card, 3 gigs of RAM, a 3.4GHz P4 Processor, was incapable of running the game unless everything was on the lowest settings, and there were still a number of problems.  I am sure my newest machine could run it, but I just got it and it's Core i7 920 CPU.

UI: There are not enough skills at lower levels.  The game takes the simplistic route out of having a cluttered UI, WoW had a cluttered UI because it was a complicated game.  The makers knew of 3rd party software and support it, many raids are impossible without it.

Fun Factor: Not enough quests, especially for what is essentially a single-player game.  Trying travel powers for the first time was practically the highlight of my gaming, I said wow, that is cool.  That was the peak pretty much.  Saying a game has the best PvP since GW is not something that is easy to say, and it is certainly impossible to say that about this game.  I don't enjoy that creatively made characters are punished in PvP for expressing their creativity and it shows that only generic hero builds such as mage or rogue get anywhere in PvP.

Grouping: I haven't played long enough to get to endgame but I am pretty sure there are only 5 people in a group max???  Too few.  I'd rather play Diablo 2 online.

Comparing a game to AoC is not fair because AoC was riddled with problems, many of which were not Funcom's fault, but many of which were.  Overall AoC is a failed MMO.  So far, CO looks the same way.  Many reviewers take weeks to review an MMO, but this game is so simplistic and shallow that reviewers have already released a number of negative reviews about it.

 Let the hate of the CO keep going, it will not change anything. I will no longer be replying to hate and lies on a 2 week old game that is fine. It is about time more people respond to the BS hate but it is time to enjoy CO and let the haters be self behind.

Originally posted by slim26

 Let the hate of the CO keep going, it will not change anything. I will no longer be replying to hate and lies on a 2 week old game that is fine. It is about time more people respond to the BS hate but it is time to enjoy CO and let the haters be self behind.

cool! bye bye then, hope cryptic closes the game after a year and you lose all that money you paid for your lifetime sub... then maybe you will learn your lesson.

Originally posted by ArcAngel3

Most of the negative stuff I've read is about the plan to charge real cash for performance enhancements at the item shop, in addition to the monthly sub.  Cryptic said that there will be some of this, but that these items will also be available in-game.

What's that look like at this point?  Is the item shop fully operational?  Any performance enhancements available?  If so, can you get them in-game?  If you can, is it part of a fun quest or is just a boring grind that is more likely to get you to go RMT?

So far you can purchase little toys that follow you around. In addtion, these "toys" can also be purchased with perk points in game. BTW, these tys don't do anything except stand around and look cute.

Originally posted by Dameaus

game sucks, end of story..... tried it, hated it, no content, battle system isnt that great, graphics are pretty but take a huge hit on performance (even with a good machine), very few "good specs" if you want your hero to actually do well...... moving on.

Just the opposite, no problems running the game. Tried a number of different specs and each brings it's own special way of doing things. However, it appears from your comments this game isn't for you. now go find something that does

Originally posted by Dameaus

Originally posted by slim26

 Let the hate of the CO keep going, it will not change anything. I will no longer be replying to hate and lies on a 2 week old game that is fine. It is about time more people respond to the BS hate but it is time to enjoy CO and let the haters be self behind.

 

cool! bye bye then, hope cryptic closes the game after a year and you lose all that money you paid for your lifetime sub... then maybe you will learn your lesson.

Why would they? considering it seems to be doing pretty well. It was no 1 in PC sales and considering they didn't exactly spend that much money on devolopment like wAR/AoC. They should have plenty of money for content devolopment.

The haters are wrong. The game is great. I have encounted no issues. I've been playing MMOG's since UO beta and this is the most fun I've ever had in any MMOG.

Originally posted by lethys

I respect your opinion but this game has first of all had one of the worst launches I have ever seen.  It changed the game completely from what the people who wanted lifetime subs expected.  Games don't receive that much negative attention the second they are launched, even if a game suffers from bugs or something.

 

Saying that there are only a few buggy missions out of 100 isn't something that one should rate a game on IMO.  Bugs are things that just shouldn't be present, and a fewer amount of them than other games should only mean a lesser negative, not a positive.  Even at release.

 

Performance: my older comp, an XPS with a 9800 GTS graphics card, 3 gigs of RAM, a 3.4GHz P4 Processor, was incapable of running the game unless everything was on the lowest settings, and there were still a number of problems.  I am sure my newest machine could run it, but I just got it and it's Core i7 920 CPU.

 

UI: There are not enough skills at lower levels.  The game takes the simplistic route out of having a cluttered UI, WoW had a cluttered UI because it was a complicated game.  The makers knew of 3rd party software and support it, many raids are impossible without it.

 

Fun Factor: Not enough quests, especially for what is essentially a single-player game.  Trying travel powers for the first time was practically the highlight of my gaming, I said wow, that is cool.  That was the peak pretty much.  Saying a game has the best PvP since GW is not something that is easy to say, and it is certainly impossible to say that about this game.  I don't enjoy that creatively made characters are punished in PvP for expressing their creativity and it shows that only generic hero builds such as mage or rogue get anywhere in PvP.

 

Grouping: I haven't played long enough to get to endgame but I am pretty sure there are only 5 people in a group max???  Too few.  I'd rather play Diablo 2 online.

 

Comparing a game to AoC is not fair because AoC was riddled with problems, many of which were not Funcom's fault, but many of which were.  Overall AoC is a failed MMO.  So far, CO looks the same way.  Many reviewers take weeks to review an MMO, but this game is so simplistic and shallow that reviewers have already released a number of negative reviews about it.

I respectfully disagree with you on a lot of this what exactly that happened to AOC was not Funcoms fault?  And honestly how do you compare a game with a couple bugged out quests to a game that was realeased with broken stats,broken sieges,numerous bugs, advertised features missing drunken brawling and DX 10.  Again most of the comments I've read point out CO has not been what most expected but it is far from the release of AOC and if you think this is a truly bad launch you must have missed the launch of SWG,AOC,AO,POTBS,D&L and many more games.

Originally posted by sanskrit

 

1. Re: my lack of forum experience -  Did you happen to see my join date? (which ironically precedes your own... by two years). I have lurked this site for years before actually registering. You see, I actually spend my precious gaming time -playing- the games rather than making 8000+ posts here. How bout you?  LOL, you obviously lack practice than, because you are the one who almost didn't play CO due to what you read here, not me. And according to my wife, I play MMO's far too much for her liking)  As far as internet forum days go, my experience goes back to old fashioned BBS in the 80s. How bout yours? Was a Genie subscriber back in the day, paid $6.00/hr off peak just ot connect to the BBS's (on a 1200 baud modem) . Bet my experience matches up to yours. Weak try at ad hominem.  You created the OP with a snarky attitude, I just replied in kind.

2. Could I have been more clear that the ratings I gave were subject to -my own- preferences, even stating as much several times? Are you quoting from my review where I advised readers -expressly- to "take my opinion with a grain of salt?" pfffft  - Of course you were clear, all reviews/ratings are based on a players own preferences and tastes, but you are being disingenious IMO when you overhype a game and giving any game (especially a new release) a 10 in anything is fanboism and shows no objectivity.

3. The problems you list are relatively trivial, and part of the nature of all new software, not just games. I actually played all the games I listed during the first few weeks of launch, and in comparison, this game is a 10. Stop putting words in my mouth. I never said this game was the perfect piece of software, just rated it in relation to other launches.

Actually, some of them aren't so minor depending on a person's tolerance to them.  You are willing to give the company a pass, which is fine, but you dismiss their complaints as if they have no bearing.  Maybe not to you, but to some other folks, they just might. 

4. I find it funny that you addressed -none- of the points in my post specifically, yet took the time to type out such a long reply, which I rate 2 of 10 for entertaining troll factor.  Well duh.... I haven't played the game, why would I challenge your point by point assertion about the game elements?  I was challenging the original premise of the OP, that CO suffers from a conspiracy of anti-viral marketing.  I disagree, I think people have just posted what they didn't care for about the game. Be it the points I mentioned, or the cash shop, or whatever, people have legitimate complaints and yet you came here and thought you needed to post a new thread (something you'll rarely see me do, despite my 8K posts) and call people who dislike some part of the game haters, trolls and have some sort of tin foil hat agenda.   (in fact, you called them idiots for having a different opinion than yourself.

And the green text summarize you the best of all.  You are a fanboi, no matter when you started following the game, and anyone who disagrees with your viewpoint of the game is an idiot, a hater and heavens worst of all, a troll.  (LOL, ouch, that sure hurts-not)

At the end of the OP you invited people to comment, so i did.  Not to specifically slam on CO, I could care less about the game, hope it does great.  I just find it entertaining to tackle post by folks with a fanboi (or trolling) attitude about a game and challenge their "truths' and assertions.

Good luck and I hope you continue to enjoy playing CO, I'll be here lurking under a bridge somewhere.