Originally posted by DIIImaster

In response:

 

1.  AoC is not getting bigger.  Funcom's revenue is shrinking more than 10% every quarter, and Funcom itself says that it derives most of its revenue from Age of Conan. 

2.  The main servers?  As detailed in other posts, 16 of AoC's 25 servers are underpopulated.  Only a minority are healthy. 

3.  Numerous guilds /AoCQuit for Aion, or in the alternative, have stopped playing to try Aion. 

 

1. Of course most of their revenue comes from AOC, it is the only modern game they have to offer. Second I would not put much faith in them going away. Not when they have government backing as shown when AO was in trouble.

2. As long as there is one decent server people can have a good time. There are quite a few as even you pointed out. So there is no risk in trying it out for five dollars.

3. This happens in every game, everyone said the same about daoc, swg and eq when WOW released. Those games are still trucking along.

In the end what does it matter? There are enough people to go around for all the mmos currently on the market. I would not say Aion is going to take to many from either aoc or war or most other games set in western style fantasy. There is as much importance in aesthetics (lore,visual interpretation and settings) as there is in polish. Wow has shown us that much.

Originally posted by VultureSkull

Originally posted by Blackwell99

How is $5 bucks for AoC a special deal?

It was gave away free with magazines, and has been spotted for cheaper on various sites a year ago.

..but if you are suggesting that every single game offered in your link is far superior than AoC (MMO or not).

 

I'd have to agree

 

Yes haha very funny, you are of course joking, we all know that.

What a lot of people are failing to realise is that AoC is like a wine, it gets better with age, only quicker.

As i have said in many a post, AoC, despite its bad launch, can now hold its head high amongst other fantasy based MMOs. Although not yet in the realms of WoW, EQ2  and LOTROL, i am sure in 5 years it will be comparable.

 

Please tell me, if you're so clever, which other fantasy based MMO released in the past few years can you compare to AoC.

The ones i mention above are all over 3 years old. Its main competitor was WAR and even though that had a better launch than AoC where is it now? Whereas Aoc is getting bigger as people realise that a bad launch has nothing to do with the current game. Its main servers have very healthy pops and that is the measure of an MMO, not its launch status or a few random people's opinon of it.

AION is coming but i doubt seriously that it will affect AoC subs and i cant think of any other imminent fantasy based MMO being released.

 

 

Now that's funny...wine you say????

More like vinegar....only much, much slower.

1.4-was a joke because of the guards and the lame murder system.

5 months later:..

1.5- Is a disaster combined with a clusterfuck. Which I predicted a long time ago. The second those FC idiots started messing with the stats I knew it was "game over." Sure enough-I was right, (way beyond my expectations) and then came the 1.5 exodus. The NA servers are empty...and are becoming more empty. Sieges are broken, exploits are in full effect. The re evaluation program failed, and FC continues to bleed cash. There still is zero class balance within PvP...I could go on, but im sure you know how laughable the "wine" statement is.

How many posts do you want to see regarding 1.5 "feedback?" Wouldn't be hard to hook you up considering it has it's own section on the AoC boards:

     forums.ageofconan.com/forumdisplay.php

BTW: Aion was released on Sept/22 (way to know what you're talking about)

Although I agree that AoC hasn't had any REAL competition in the form of new blood....until now that is. I can't imagine the massive beating FC will take within the next 12 months with all of the new MMO s coming out.

Although FC is too cowardly to release their population numbers, WAR is more popular on Xfire than AoC. Although both are using ancient "last" generation midware. It reminds me of the Elderly Olympics comparing the two...but whatever...they are both toast.

...and FC is using the same engine for SW---3 generations of MMO's. Now that's comedy!!!!

 a.) It is 1.05 

b.) Why is /was 1.05 a disaster? Your lackage of ways to argument is quite funny.

c,) 1.05 "exodus" happened because in 1.05 there was not enough added to keep players playing. Not because of stats. Some left because of horrible class balance but in every game you have to deal with class imbalance and wait a bit for fixes. 

d.)zero class balance. where do u see this? Since it seems to me that balance is great if we don't speak about casters which are the problem since day one. This doesn't mean "zero class balance" but "huge class balance problems with 2-3 classes"

e.)1.05 feedback. Browse WoW forums - latest patch feedback had 15/50 (i think it is 50 per page) threads that werent whinning crying. Feedback tends to be negative because people take positive stuff for granted. They only raise voices when troubles arrives. (majority - ever heard the saying that silence means approval)

f.)Aion was indeed release on 22nd but since open beta (around 10th) it was affecting games - it was reported that it had 300k+ testers. Wombies do not test other games ... Where do you think these 300k came from? Aoc, War, Vanguard and other smaller games

g.)War is much more like FPS game. FPS players tend to use xfire. Stop using Xfire for the love of god. Me, and others proved you gazillion times why Xfire is useless.

Originally posted by emptyhand

Originally posted by Preta

honestly, people are more concerned about wasting their time than the $5.  i think with lots of mmos, the gameplay is so bad, the cost isn't even the real issue.

 

that said, i don't put aoc in that catagory.  it's a great mmo, compared to 95% of the other crap its competing against.  i don't get why it failed so badly.

 

It's very simple really. Most MMO players just do not like the game.

Reasons might include:

• Instances
• Small zones
• Not enough grouping
• Boring itemization
• Lack of endgame
• Lack of PvP
• Bad character balance
• Performance issues
• etc.

Yes, Age of Conan had a horrible launch, but that is not the reason why it has so little subscriptions today. Funcom did have a veteran comeback campaign but majority of players didn't come back because of the reasons I stated earlier.

I would say the biggest reason for lack of players is how funcom handled the launch, and the first 4 months. Looking at the launch where 800K players bought the game and wanted to play. You had major issues like OOM bugs, lack of content whilst leveling etc. AoC lost roughly half it's players the first 4 months of the game, and this period majority of people left due to the many bugs and how funcom looked like totally retards whilst trying to fix them. The best thing Funcom did was getting rid of Gaute godager as game director. The guy has some good ideas about what he wants, but he simply doesn't cut it as a game director.  Funcom's situation after 4 months was that they had a game full of bugs they needed to fix. So far they have done a good job and the game today can easy stand on it's own feets, however MMO players are also a unforgiving bunch of people. the remember the launch and many won't try the game again. This can be understandable as many feels they where scammed, lied too etc. 

I have never found a lack of PvP in AoC, I have never really found a lack of grouping either. The times I wanted a group I got a group. Sure when fewer players where left it would be harder to get a group for all kind of instances. AoC today is a good game, which I will most likely return to at some point. Expansion can be the point where I return as I do like some of the things I have read about it. :)

I don't know why so many people have a problem with this game, it wasn't all that bad of what I thought. Remember people whining quite a lot about bugs and other game issues, but I were not so bothered by them. Maybe they expected it to be polished even at start like WoW, but how often is that case. I knew the game had to be released unfinished as money spent started to near/exceed planned budget. They maybe could've succeeded if they took some more time, they tried their best, hence all the delays, but Funcom isn't some fatass game company like Blizzard. Neither do they have the manpower or money.

But let me tell you, this was the one MMORPG that didn't remind me of WoW as much like other MMORPGs and thankful for that. I had quite fun for a month, but nowhere near holyshitfun, but how often do I find such a game? Never, only back in the times. This game has a place reserved in my memory, I probably won't forget it.

Originally posted by emptyhand

It's very simple really. Most MMO players just do not like the game.

Yes, most MMO-players prefer WoW and Asian F2P-grinds...

But to get back on topic. Age of Conan the game and 1 month of subscription time for $5 is an extremely good deal.

Arthineas

I think it is time to give it up on this post, AoC will never really be anything because if you want real combat like this proposed you would be playing Darkfall or like me and waiting for Mortal Online. 

This is just another level based game with lovely graphics, button mashing semi (very semi) FPS combat and it adds nothing to the MMO field what so ever. 

Next !!

(hopefully Planetside 2!!!!)

Originally posted by Saorlan

I think it is time to give it up on this post, AoC will never really be anything because if you want real combat like this proposed you would be playing Darkfall or like me and waiting for Mortal Online. 

 

Hehe, Ye Darkfall has given us some amazing insight on how great the mmo-industry could have been.

---

Originally posted by emptyhand
 
It's very simple really. Most MMO players just do not like the game.
Reasons might include:

• Instances
• Small zones
• Not enough grouping
• Boring itemization
• Lack of endgame Lack of PvP Bad character balance Performance issues etc.

Yes, Age of Conan had a horrible launch, but that is not the reason why it has so little subscriptions today. Funcom did have a veteran comeback campaign but majority of players didn't come back because of the reasons I stated earlier.

---

Most MMOs have all the same problems, don't they? Even Aion, which also has a fraction of the content and depth that AOC has. Aside from the PvP, but I'd be shocked to learn that has much to do with its North American success. Makes me think, maybe it is all about polish, and too many devs get in over their heads, trying to be ambitious, and lacking well outlined goals that are achievable in a financially reasonable time frame.
 
I think AOC would have more grouping and more PvP, if it were as well populated as Aion. Which has everything to do with popularity at launch.

Originally posted by AmazingAvery

Nice find they have some other good games at $5 too ! thanks

you make me look at laughing in one hand, crying in the other, drop both and watlk away

Originally posted by AmazingAvery

Originally posted by Blackwell99

Originally posted by Larry2298

 

Does it mean that the monthly price is over charge atm or Funcom planning to reduce the monthly fee as well?

 

 

It means AoC is on "the fast track" to F2P.

Hello Kitty

Goodbye Conan-lol

 

Right...

And so is EvE Online? www.direct2drive.com/d2dturns5

Whatever mate, this is one website with a special deal that is all.

The difference is that it's true about AOC.  I hate Eve, ask any eve fanboy and they can back me up on that.  Still, I can see that it is growing while AOC is losing subs, and it's already at a rate too low to justify much future development.  I expect the game to be exploring alternate payment methods within the year. 

Originally posted by Salvatoris

Originally posted by AmazingAvery

Originally posted by Blackwell99

Originally posted by Larry2298

 

Does it mean that the monthly price is over charge atm or Funcom planning to reduce the monthly fee as well?

 

 

It means AoC is on "the fast track" to F2P.

Hello Kitty

Goodbye Conan-lol

 

Right...

And so is EvE Online? www.direct2drive.com/d2dturns5

Whatever mate, this is one website with a special deal that is all.

 

The difference is that it's true about AOC.  I hate Eve, ask any eve fanboy and they can back me up on that.  Still, I can see that it is growing while AOC is losing subs, and it's already at a rate too low to justify much future development.  I expect the game to be exploring alternate payment methods within the year. 

That may happen and is beside the point that a singular website is offering a deal for $5 for the game themselves has no relation to the game going F2P the two are unrelated and your point is backed up by other things not deal related. Not saying your wrong just that your impression is different to guy quoted who thinks this because of a deal seperate from FC.

Originally posted by AmazingAvery

Originally posted by Salvatoris

Originally posted by AmazingAvery

Originally posted by Blackwell99

Originally posted by Larry2298

 

Does it mean that the monthly price is over charge atm or Funcom planning to reduce the monthly fee as well?

 

 

It means AoC is on "the fast track" to F2P.

Hello Kitty

Goodbye Conan-lol

 

Right...

And so is EvE Online? www.direct2drive.com/d2dturns5

Whatever mate, this is one website with a special deal that is all.

 

The difference is that it's true about AOC.  I hate Eve, ask any eve fanboy and they can back me up on that.  Still, I can see that it is growing while AOC is losing subs, and it's already at a rate too low to justify much future development.  I expect the game to be exploring alternate payment methods within the year. 

 

That may happen and is beside the point that a singular website is offering a deal for $5 for the game themselves has no relation to the game going F2P the two are unrelated and your point is backed up by other things not deal related. Not saying your wrong just that your impression is different to guy quoted who thinks this because of a deal seperate from FC.

I agree.  The special five dollar pricing doesn't mean the game is on it's way to closing down.  I do think, on a related note, that both of the games we are discussing suffer from slow sales.  I think that is why they were chosen for the special pricing over other games that are selling better at full price.

Originally posted by Salvatoris

Originally posted by AmazingAvery

Originally posted by Salvatoris

Originally posted by AmazingAvery

Originally posted by Blackwell99

Originally posted by Larry2298

 

Does it mean that the monthly price is over charge atm or Funcom planning to reduce the monthly fee as well?

 

 

It means AoC is on "the fast track" to F2P.

Hello Kitty

Goodbye Conan-lol

 

Right...

And so is EvE Online? www.direct2drive.com/d2dturns5

Whatever mate, this is one website with a special deal that is all.

 

The difference is that it's true about AOC.  I hate Eve, ask any eve fanboy and they can back me up on that.  Still, I can see that it is growing while AOC is losing subs, and it's already at a rate too low to justify much future development.  I expect the game to be exploring alternate payment methods within the year. 

 

That may happen and is beside the point that a singular website is offering a deal for $5 for the game themselves has no relation to the game going F2P the two are unrelated and your point is backed up by other things not deal related. Not saying your wrong just that your impression is different to guy quoted who thinks this because of a deal seperate from FC.

 

I agree.  The special five dollar pricing doesn't mean the game is on it's way to closing down.  I do think, on a related note, that both of the games we are discussing suffer from slow sales.  I think that is why they were chosen for the special pricing over other games that are selling better at full price.

Definately agree there too, and I agree that AoC may end up with micro transactions and variations of F2P like AO has too. I just think that right now that it will or is being fast tracked. We have no release date for the expansion and I think the start of things may happen another 6-8 months after then, which could very well be a year from now in conjunction with another content update.

On a side note always liked the look of EvE, never played it, always thinking that even if I start playing that too and drop right off LOTRO in place that the game has been out too long for me to catch up. I feel like I left something behind. Also I did buy it for $5 too, downloaded but not installed yet, so I will give it a go at somepoint. More so that I hear it uses Enlighten tech that AoC will be with the expac release.

They also removed the $5 AoC deal for now but left EvE up still :) So I brought mount and blade now too haha!

Originally posted by Sabradin

you make me look at laughing in one hand, crying in the other, drop both and watlk away

That doesn't make any sense...

Unless of course you're a wow-player and you meant "wotlk away"

Originally posted by emptyhand

Going F2P would be a very good thing for AoC. As a P2P MMO Age of Conan is pretty average or below average but as a F2P MMO it would be up there in top-5, and that would attract a lot of players.

I don't think cash shop would be as bad as some people think. I personally wouldn't even mind a couple of ingame ads.

I'm sure AoC will go F2p, but not before the expansion arrives, and then they will use the same model as AO most likely. Basic game is free the expansions is paid for. If they don't do this I will be surprised. :)