The mediocre success of TSW has nothing to do with setting IMO. I think that what is being shown here is that themeparks have reached their limit as far as audience goes. I played TSW beta and tried to play the free weekend. I simply could not get into it becuase I am tired to go here, kill that etc. over and over again. Themeparks are boring for me anymore and I don't care what flavor they come in.

If you are a thempark fan, there is little reason to play any other game other than the big ones- WoW and GW2 because in reality you are always playing the same game with a different skin.

To bad I was going to post a youtube video of Willie Nelson singing

but this holds true. "Turn off the light's the Party's over"

Sad but true.  My sub just renewed I am going to give it another 30 days just to see, but right now I am not that all very impressed.

I really don't understand why people get so surprised when positions are retired after a title is launched. MMO's generally require a very large staff to develop the game from the ground up. Once it's released, you mainly only need half the staff to maintain and update it.

This is the nature of the industry, especially for MMO's. It has happened to every title and will continue to do so for every future title.

I've worked in the industry for companies like THQ and independent studios. The employees facing the layoffs are well aware of the ups and downs of working in the gaming industry. The difference between a good gaming company and a bad gaming company is that a good company gives these employees enough heads up that it will be happening. A smart employee knows it is inevitable.

Originally posted by Isane

Originally posted by Jaedor
As I understand it, layoffs shortly after a game launches is standard practice in the industry. But it's never fun and I hope it's very temporary for most of these folks. TSW is a great game.

Stating the obvious will , ruin all the conspiracy theories I was about to point out the same not that anyone here cares. They will just use anything to trash a hate rush.

Good job some of us have live and don't have to by into all the hate here however ammusing and sad it is.

TSW is a good Game.

Because its not obvious, if a game does well and thrives after launch (which few outside of WOW/EVE have) then they don't have layoffs. Don't equate the general failure of the industry the past 8 years as an inevitable trend.

Originally posted by LydarSynn

The mediocre success of TSW has nothing to do with setting IMO. I think that what is being shown here is that themeparks have reached their limit as far as audience goes. I played TSW beta and tried to play the free weekend. I simply could not get into it becuase I am tired to go here, kill that etc. over and over again. Themeparks are boring for me anymore and I don't care what flavor they come in.

If you are a thempark fan, there is little reason to play any other game other than the big ones- WoW and GW2 because in reality you are always playing the same game with a different skin.

It's too narrow-minded to blame this all on themepark design.  What's the alternative?  Sandbox?  Developers don't go that route for a reason: it doesn't sell.

Actually, temporary layoffs this late in the year aren't that unusual for many companies, in many industries. It goes like this:

1. Lay off a few people towards the end of the year
2. because of this, you save some money on the end of year budget
3. Because of that, you look better to your investors, and they hand you more money
4. Which you use to re-hire the old employees. If they're lucky, for their old rate.

Originally posted by Jaedor
As I understand it, layoffs shortly after a game launches is standard practice in the industry. But it's never fun and I hope it's very temporary for most of these folks. TSW is a great game.

This is exactly what the SWTOR fanboys said a month ago. Just sayin.

not to be  jerk, ...i like and have an active sub to TSW...

 but....

"ArenaNet is Hiring!

We're actively looking for programmers, designers, and artists to join our world class team. If you're passionate about building online worlds, we'd love to talk to you!"

from the GW2 website.  maybe some of the talent can find a job there, just sayin...

Temporary lay offs..Good tiiiiimes!

Ain't we lucky we got um.

What does this really mean? Game companies (or specifically the publishers) have become greedy to the point that rather then keeping workers, after a production is done they will instead fire them. Its sad that the game industry has shifted into greed much like the movie industry.

"We want profit, so lets make games" is far different from "We want to make games, and we will make profit as a bonus!". I hope people realize that creativity is harmed by looking at money. Greed really spoils anything that is good and makes things so much worst.

Its unfortunate. I have never heard of "temorary layoffs", if I were one of the lay-offs I would not count on the temporary part.

I expect them to go f2p very soon to try and get some revenue. Its obvious they are scrambling and they might be getting some revenue but not enough to compensate for the salaries.

I fear their plans for extra content at a high and quality rate are also jeoperdized. I still don't understand why all of these mmos that are coming out keep putting a price plus a sub on their games. Its obvious the economy is not well and players are getting very picky about what they will pay a sub for, besides the fact that the market value for similar, if not better, games is a lower  price. They have to get their act together and either come up with mmos that commend a sub or just go f2p.

---

Originally posted by grimal

---

Originally posted by Eir_S Not to be cheeky, but GW2 and MoP will make those layoffs permanent.

---

(OT: And another GW2 fan comes in to start a flame war.)

This is sad news.  More proof that the P2P model is gone and there is only room left for F2P.  I just hope it's only that and not the beginning of the end of the genre.

Game certainly doesn't deserve this.  There was some real creative stuff in this one.

---

No,
TSW is not a P2P model, It's a hybrid. And just for this reason alone, I want to see TSW fail. I don't ever want to see another AAA title MMO come out and think they are worth charging a Boxed fee, Sub fee and then a full fledged in-game item store.

NO %#^* WAY!

If I am paying a Sub, I want equal opportunity. I don't care if it's just a pair of cosmetic sunglasses. If I'm paying 15/mo, there'd better be a way in game for me to acquire them without dropping 10 bucks more.

Funcom has had greedy business models long before TSW came around and they have only benefited Funcom at the expense of the customer.

Yeah I said I wanted to see TSW fail. No, I'm not at all happy about people losing their jobs, but Funcom is a shady dealer. And I'm sorry, but if they can only employ people at the cost of ripping off their customer, then sorry, my opinion holds. The general public is better served without the Funcoms out there.

Originally posted by GeezerGamer

 

---

Originally posted by grimal

---

Originally posted by Eir_S Not to be cheeky, but GW2 and MoP will make those layoffs permanent.

---

(OT: And another GW2 fan comes in to start a flame war.)

 

This is sad news.  More proof that the P2P model is gone and there is only room left for F2P.  I just hope it's only that and not the beginning of the end of the genre.

Game certainly doesn't deserve this.  There was some real creative stuff in this one.

---

 

No,
TSW is not a P2P model, It's a hybrid. And just for this reason alone, I want to see TSW fail. I don't ever want to see another AAA title MMO come out and think they are worth charging a Boxed fee, Sub fee and then a full fledged in-game item store.

NO %#^* WAY!

If I am paying a Sub, I want equal opportunity. I don't care if it's just a pair of cosmetic sunglasses. If I'm paying 15/mo, there'd better be a way in game for me to acquire them without dropping 10 bucks more.

That actually makes sense.

Originally posted by GeezerGamer

 

---

Originally posted by grimal

---

Originally posted by Eir_S Not to be cheeky, but GW2 and MoP will make those layoffs permanent.

---

(OT: And another GW2 fan comes in to start a flame war.)

 

This is sad news.  More proof that the P2P model is gone and there is only room left for F2P.  I just hope it's only that and not the beginning of the end of the genre.

Game certainly doesn't deserve this.  There was some real creative stuff in this one.

---

 

No,
TSW is not a P2P model, It's a hybrid. And just for this reason alone, I want to see TSW fail. I don't ever want to see another AAA title MMO come out and think they are worth charging a Boxed fee, Sub fee and then a full fledged in-game item store.

NO %#^* WAY!

If I am paying a Sub, I want equal opportunity. I don't care if it's just a pair of cosmetic sunglasses. If I'm paying 15/mo, there'd better be a way in game for me to acquire them without dropping 10 bucks more.

Funcom has had greedy business models long before TSW came around and they have only benefited Funcom at the expense of the customer.

Yeah I said I wanted to see TSW fail. No, I'm not at all happy about people losing their jobs, but Funcom is a shady dealer. And I'm sorry, but if they can only employ people at the cost of ripping off their customer, then sorry, my opinion holds. The general public is better served without the Funcoms out there.

 I agree with the cash grab feel the game has, I like the game play, but the limited feel you get while paying a full subscription is unacceptable.

Three measley character slots, limited equipment and gear, all while paying a sub fee? then a cash shop on top of that, not a good idea at all. These games with limited features are doomed if they try and bilk people for subs and ingame shops.

I have no problem with a sub but it better be full featured, eight or more character slots, steady content and everything els you would expect for monthly cash support.

People are so naive, here is what happened/is happening,

Funcom has had a slash and burn approach to gaming since the release of AoC.

TSW was never intended to be a subscription based MMORPG, it was intended to be a F2P all along. However they release the game as a subscription based MMORPG so that Funcom can take two bites of the cherry. They make fast box sales, maybe sell a few months subscriptions and when numbers drop below a set amount freemium is announced.

Only this time all the elements for F2P with a cash shop are already in place at launch.

As for the staff being laid off, Funcom doesn't require them anymore to keep TSW trundling along and monitor the cash shop.

The name "Funcom" is synonymous with "Slash and Burn".