Let me address your points. I know you're not going to accept them, but this is not for your benefit.

1. That is the rule of every business. Obviously nobody wants to back a losing horse indefinitely. The biggest part of the equation is that :

a) 3000AD is an investor in and owner of QOL. I know how to stretch a dollar, run things lean & mean etc. Been doing it for over a year at QOL as I have been doing for more than 20+ years at my own company. Compared to the wasteful spending and nonsensical project management and handling that came before I got involved. That's what experience gives you.

b) the majority investor - who are also 3000AD clients - leave it up to me to make a determination as to the fate of Alganon. Funny thing is, I have absolutely no intentions of abandoning it. A LOT of work and money has gone into the game since I took it over in Feb 2010 and there is a LOT (wait for the E3 announcement next week) more to come. I'm only just getting started with the Alganon IP.

c) Every single MMO forum is littered with flaming, players complaining, griefing etc. That time could be spent playing the game. My 3000AD game forums have sparse discussions because there is nothing to complain about as gamers are doing what they are supposed to do: playing the games. My games continue to sell and make money. Funny that.

The rules I put in place for the Alganon forums are no different. We don't condone nonsense and so the signal to noise ratio is very low now. The game turned around a LONG time ago and gamers are doing what they're supposed to be doing: playing the game. The forum is absolutely - positvely - no reflection on the game's performance at all. So just because you don't see a million posts, doesn't mean squat. Back in the day, the forums were littered with people complaining, flaming the devs etc - because the game was broken, didn't work as expected and touted etc. Like most MMO forums, it was a lawless frontier.That all came to an end. We release frequent patches, new content etc.

2. Europe has nothing to do with anything. Since last year I had promised that there would be European and Asian servers for the game so that our numerous gamers over there have the best playable experience. I made a lot of promises last year and I've kept all of them. This is just one of them. That plan for European servers is already solid and executed. The European servers are currently being installed and should be live by the end of June. Asian servers will follow. Obviously the better the player experience in those territories, the more likely that the servers will pay for themselves and thus Alganon will profit from the investment I made in them.

So yeah, we're expanding - not contracting - Alganon. Take a wild guess why that is.

3. Alganon has no MMO infrastructure that can be sold. And we don't even have the manpower to make that happen even if we wanted to.

As I've said in numerous posts and interviews, the Alganon engine was built specifically for the game and cannot be adapted to ANY other. Any developer worth his salt should know that it is not something that you can just up and do when you've built an engine with a single purpose game in mind.

We're not in the engine licensing business; we're in the game development business. They are two separate things.

The manpower we have is focused on building and expanding Alganon, not pursuing nonsensical activities.

Case in point, the 3000AD Line Of Defense game was built from the ground up with its own engine and cross with the Galactic Command Online (our other game) engine. Since 3000AD is an owner of  and investor in QOL, if Alganon had an adaptable "engine", I wouldn't be spending all that money and time building a new game engine and infrastructure when we can just adapt the Alganon one since I can in fact do that. Plus, both games have completely different teams. The Alganon team is focused purely on Alganon and nothing else. This is no different from team A at EA using tech that team B built. Happens all the time; but in this case it was not feasible - contrary to all the nonsense that my predecessor was spouting to anyone who would listen about my wanting the Alganon engine etc.

4. We have no plans to relaunch Alganon as a new IP. The Alganon IP is perfectly fine as-is. I have made it into a recognizable brand and I will continue to build on that in much the same way that I built my other IP.

There is no "Alganon infrastructure" capable of adaptation or conversion.

The Alganon game and engine are specifically and purely for Alganon. They are not - and cannot be - used for anything else.

The Alganon game is handled by its own team and has nothing to do with 3000AD's own games. There is no technology or team crossover. Even if I wrote a check tomorrow and bought out the other QOL investors, that still won't change any of this. In fact, as an investor in, president of and managing member of QOL, I can do anything I want because those decisions are mine to make.

Every investor wants to see some ROI, and the QOL investors are no different. The point of fact is that QOL can be folded at any time and the investors can write off the entire investment in their taxes as a loss. Standard procedure. There really isn't anything to it. And if Alganon doesn't make it, then like every property that has failed to yield meaningful revenue results, it will be closed. I currently have absolutely no plans to do that. Quite the contrary in fact. Wait for the E3 announcement next week.

Sales have nothing to do with reviews. Unless you're paying for it.

And it is well known (unless you're using it to attack someone - as in this case) that review scores are meaningless and have no correlation to sales either.

Many - many - well reviewed games are rubbish, tank at retail and the devs/pubs are long gone.

Gamers who like a certain type of game, will buy it - regardless of a review or meaningless score.

Stick to facts if you want to sling mud.

Gamespot? Seriously?

http://www.armchairgeneral.com/all-aspect-warfare-pc-game-review.htm

http://www.avault.com/reviews/pc/aaw-pc-review/

http://www.outofeight.info/2009/08/all-aspect-warfare-review.html

http://www.incgamers.com/Reviews/967/All-Aspect-Warfare-Review-PC

..and that's not including the ones from print magazines.

The fact is, you can't base a game on not only a bad review, but on a review period. Reviews are subjective and based on the reviewers opinion. And judging from the fact that I decided to actually revisit the game premise and concept by coming out with a bigger and better MMO version, should tell you that the game did just fine in terms of sales. Which of course is the most important aspect.

You said keyboard controls didn't work. That was obviously false.

The control scheme works just fine - at least for those who bought and played the game. Just because it wasn't done the way (mouse view + keyboard controls) you want it, doesn't make it bad or clunky. In fact, that control scheme is pretty standard.  Especially for a PC (not a console port) game developed in 2007 (!) and released in 2009.

But your opinion is fine; after all, that's what choices are about.

LOD has a completely different control scheme in which you do use the mouse to control the view camera and keyboard to steer/thrust.

As I said before, they are completely different games and engines. The only point of my pointing you to it, was to show that we have in fact developed games with massive scope, high-end features etc and that LOD is not the first. That was in response to previous comments. I never asked you to base your opinions of LOD on that of AAW. What would be the point of that, when the latter is not even a sequel, let alone derived from the same game engines?

I am allowed to defend my game and the way I do things. If you don't like it, that is something that you have to deal with.

If you're waiting for PSN, why aren't you playing PS at this point?

Gaming is about choices. Go with what you like and move away from what you don't. What is so difficult about that? I never said I was out to please everyone all the time. I have absolutely no interest in that because for every 1 person who doesn't like my games (or me) there are hundreds who do. It is those people that I care about and they are ones who make what I do possible because they buy my games.

Not sure what you're talking about, keyboard flight controls work just fine.

Just because weapon swapping takes time, doesn't make it clunky. There is a specific timer in each weapon which is the time it takes to switch a weapon, reload etc. Even reload has a timer. It is no different than if there was an animation (like other games) which would also result in the same timer delay.

Apart from being a totally different type of game, LOD uses a totally different game engine. So things work differently. But if you think that a delay in weapon switching, ammo reloading etc is clunky, then I guess you won't be playing it because we have that in LOD as well.

I don't expect the game to appeal to everyone. That isn't and never was my goal. LOD is a re-imagination of the AAW premise but in a different setting, new engine, new dynamics, new player experience etc. For one thing, it is nowhere as hardcore (and at times frustrating) as AAW.

If you want a simplistic fps MMO with no innovation or instrinc gameplay, there are many out there to choose from. LOD may not be for you. But if you can get into the Beta (due out later this year), then I think all your questions will be answered.

Those of you interested in this, when you get the chance, please download the demo for my 2009 game, All Aspect Warfare. You will need the full download and the patch. Play that game (use cheat mode!) and you will see that I've actually done a game like this before. All I'm doing with LOD is building a similar - but more accessible and more forgiving game - using similar and better ideas, but with a new engine and more fleshed out environment (one of the biggest complaints with AAW).

Try it and see. You can also pick up the full game on Steam.

There is a wealth of information on the game, feedback to player inquires etc on the official forums.

If you have a specific question you don't see there or in the FAQ, just ask and I will do my best to answer it.

For the record: I never have - and never will - make games that everyone and their mother-in-law want to play. I cater to specific group of players who like the games that I develop. Considering how many games I've developed over the years - and the fact that I'm still in business and have made a very decent living from it - I'm perfectly happy catering to that group and could care less about what everyone else is doing. I develop games that I see myself playing.

*Post response removed due to mod deleting previous posts.*

Originally posted by zeowyrm

Originally posted by Dethnoble

Mod edited, why?

Nothing wrong with stating opinions about a developer for a game.  That is part of the point to these forums - to talk about the game, its developers, and to voice an opinion on both.  I've seen many opinions about SOE's Smedley or even the original lead on Alganon, David Allen.

Just because a particular dev decides he wants to come here, rile up people up, and then report anything he feels is a negative comment about him does not change the fact that he is STILL A DEV.  Being a dev of the game makes him open to opinions on that game's forums; this is how these forums traditionally have been.  If he does not like what is said, he should go back to his game's forums where he can moderate.

My opinion still stands about that particular dev - egotistical and has tunnel vision.  He has not proven otherwise based upon the continous posts in which he riles people up and belittles them.  I just find it funny, for someone who considers themselves highly intelligent, is that he cannot stand criticism.   I had learned early on in my life that you learn from the criticism people have of you rather than hiding from it or having it muzzled so that you can pretend it is not there.

[Mod Edit]

That's funny. Especially considering that I now own part of the company. Trust me when I tell you this, I'm not going anywhere; and neither is Alganon. So don't play it; that's your choice and I have no interest in doing anything to make you change your mind.

The problem with the internet is that people are used to spouting off on forums, feeling all tough and whatnot. When someone engages in kind, the perpetrators cry foul. It is always easy to hide behind the cloak of anonymity while attacking someone for no apparent reason. If you don't insult or attack someone, it is highly unlikely that there will be any cause for discourse.

A new blog with a bunch of new shots are up.

Originally posted by FrodoFragins

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't rubberbanding a server issue?  It sure sounds like the issue is inefficient server code and/or poor server hardware.  There are plenty of MMO's that don't have these issues, even when connecting to servers in other countries.

 

I appreciate that the developers are trying to improve things, but adding US servers isn't the solution.  Consolidating the US servers into one is the only logical choice given the anemic populations.

 

Clearly, you have no idea what you're talking about.

Originally posted by Defect

Originally posted by dsmart

Our servers are currently located in Las Vegas and we're currently working on a plan to deploy servers in the central and east coast, as well as internationally (through various partners*)

 

* this has been in the works for months but as is the nature of such deals, it pretty slow to wrap. But we're on it.

Sounds good! I can't wait for the central server!

I know you guys have been working very hard on this game and I am enjoying it. I have been with you since closed beta and things really have come a long way. Keep up the hard work!

Yah, it has been a LOT of work this past year, but yeah it is coming along. And there's a lot of exciting news to come.

Originally posted by Defect

Originally posted by madeux

Originally posted by Defect

I am a paying Alganon player and supporter; I love the game.

However, I do agree with the latency issues and rubberbanding. I live in Oklahoma (Central US) with a 25Mbps Fiber connection.

The issue does need to be looked into.

Also, would it not make sense to put a server in Dallas (Central US) so that everyone in the US will have decent latency when the issues are fixed?

One of your problems is in the belief that a 25mbps connection will help you with latency.  

One of your problems is not realizing that I am an IT professional by profession. I understand that the bandwidth has nothing to do with latency, however, being central going to the west coast should not result in rubberbanding.

Thanks for your input, though.

Indeed.

Our servers are currently located in Las Vegas and we're currently working on a plan to deploy servers in the central and east coast, as well as internationally (through various partners*)

* this has been in the works for months but as is the nature of such deals, it pretty slow to wrap. But we're on it.

Originally posted by Daffid011

Your original post has no link to anything and it has never been edited.  So no it didn't have whatever you want to claim it did.  That is a fact.

Several others commented about the lack of screen shots.  Again a fact.

 

Making personal attacks against me will not change that. 

 

 

 

Really? Here are the facts from THIS thread:

Post #1 was the announcement

Post #2 was someone asking for screen shots

Post #3 was my post with a link to the blog WITH the shots

Post #22 was another of my post with both link types

Go ahead and argue all you want, but those are the facts.

And the only person making personal attacks - and whining much ado about nothing - is you.

Originally posted by Daffid011

Originally posted by dsmart

Originally posted by MadDemon64

I honestly think we have gotten a little too sidetracked.  Anyone who plays Alganon, I request that you please take screenshots of your characters new models (especially if you play a human female or kujix), or take screenshots of the new character creation screen, or even make a movie.  I think that will solve the biggest concern mentioned in this thread: lack of screenshots and coverage in general.

*sigh* well, if it really means that much to you, I'll have the guys take some shots and I'll do new blog post about it and post the link here. How does that sound?

It sounds like something that should be taken for granted to be honest. 

 

If you read a post titled "New character models are here" written on March 17th one would naturally expect to see pictures of the new models. Failing that the link that you later added that goes to your blog post on March 17th, again one would naturally assume there would be screen shots there. 

 

Why act like it is some huge inconvenience to put up some pictures of what you are trying to get people interested in?

It is people like you that makes doing this NOT FRIGGING WORTH IT.

My post original here DID link to shots via the blog post.

If some folks didn't bother to go to the directed link - which DID contain shots - that's their problem, not mine.

If some folks feel that there should be more shots, that's their problem, not mine. The blog post was not a graphics showcase; it was a dev update, pure and simple.

So what you're going on about is patently irrelevant, inconsequential and just another stab at trolling.

Now I'm offering to add a specific post about shots and you want to continue this pointless and ludicrous rhetoric? Know what? Fark it - forget I said anything. I'll go find something else to do with my time. Anyone wanting to see more shots than I've posted in my dev blog, can download the game. After all, it is FREE.

Have a nice day.

Originally posted by MadDemon64

I honestly think we have gotten a little too sidetracked.  Anyone who plays Alganon, I request that you please take screenshots of your characters new models (especially if you play a human female or kujix), or take screenshots of the new character creation screen, or even make a movie.  I think that will solve the biggest concern mentioned in this thread: lack of screenshots and coverage in general.

*sigh* well, if it really means that much to you, I'll have the guys take some shots and I'll do new blog post about it and post the link here. How does that sound?

Originally posted by B1mble

Originally posted by DanMcC

Do people really play this?

Yes.

Strangely enough it is actually quite good as well.  I found my time with it to be more fun than quite a few others that I attempted.  The new models are a great improvement and hopefully more stuff will follow.

Its only downfall is the smear campaign launched by a majority of people who never actually played the current version thus rendering it with a nonexistant pop.  Sheep will listen to sh*t rather than find out for themselves after all :S.

I think anyone who takes a look at the game's dev roadmap since I took over in Feb 2010, can quite clearly see that a detailed and scheduled plan was executed without fail. I wrote an entire blog about it actually.

That plan started with the  Patch 1.1.15.2203   (03/2010) and up to the latest Patch 2.6.0 (04/2011).

It has been an extraordinary amount of work which was further exacerbated by the fact that the game wasn't actually finished when it was first released in last 2009. So we spent a year finishing, fixing, tweaking - and implementing much needed features in order to make the game whole and competitive.

It is quite difficult for any game to come back from such a bad initial start; which puts us squarely behind the curve ball. I've thus far spent over $250K marketing the game just these past few months alone. Some of you may have seen all the online ads, print magazine ads (e.g. PC Gamer, Beckett's etc) - they aren't cheap at all.

Despite our troubles, trials and tribulations, the game's population is still rapidly growing and so my goal is to continue growing Alganon as best I can.

Sure we don't have thousands of players online at one time, but it is not the kind of game that even needs a large pop for anyone to enjoy it, since PvP is not the focus - just another feature. Games that have a very large player pop are always guaranteed to have hundreds of players available for grouping, guilds, PvP etc. We're not there yet, but we're on our way there along with plans for localized servers (the 2.6.0 build completes our extensive localization code changes!) etc

To this end, we've added a TON of new stuff and there is a LOT more to come that I'm not talking about just yet. More news coming soon! ;)

Originally posted by maji

Originally posted by dsmart

OK, I think this is getting ridiculous now, don't you think? Let's try this shall we?

1. Go to www.qol.com/blog (the link I originally posted). Here you will see three blog entries.

2. The second blog entry is "When in doubt, do it anyway". Click on it. Half way down the screen are smaller versions of the before/after images and each goes to a larger image when clicked.

Please tell me how anyone could have missed that because it is puzzling to me.

Oh THERE they are. How people could have missed that? I can tell you that. First, people click normally on the newest links first (because nothing is as old as news from yesterday). Especially since written below the "long road" entry as part of the description "CHARACTER MODELS" (in caps). Yes, I know it says "CHARACTER MODELS in prevous blog entry", but people looking for screens will click on that entry anyway, since the "CHARACTER MODELS" stands out so much. So they click on the "long road entry", and as confirmation they see again, written as a huge headline "CHARACTER MODELS", so they assume they are at the right part of the website.

And then they search and search and scroll through the entry, and find nothing about screenshots. They scroll up and down, and frown, and think "but... hmm... duh...", and some of them will close the browser tab right then. Others will go back to the main section of the blog, and look around. Since the "when in doubts" headline and description say nothing about character models, many people will give up here as well, and close the tab. The very persistent users will click on "when in doubts" headline anyway. There, they see a lot of text, and on the first page they see nothing in that text about character models either, nor any screen shots or links to them. So many will close the tab there. Some will scroll down to page two. Those with hugeass resolutions and very slim browsers (ie no addons or something) will now see the top of the screenshots, most won't. In the long text, there is now, half way down on the second page, the character models mentioned. Since it's no headline, most people will miss that, as well as the majority of the people who won't see the top of the screenshots. So they will close the tab too. Those who DO read the whole text (which will be a tiny number) or those with the aforementioned screens and display settings will find a shot.

So, in short: for the current generation of users who don't have much time and a short attention span, the screenshots are hidden too well, they won't find them. Heck, I'm a programmer and also do web design at times, and didn't find them quickly enough (for my taste). Not to mention quickly enough regarding the importance of new models. And no matter if for you they are well placed, for most users they ain't, and when they go to a website looking for something, and they don't find it, then that will just leave a sour aftertaste.

 

I hope that answered your question. :)

Yes it did. But I already figured that out, hence the reason that I posted the direct URL in my second post. Yet, there were one or two people still saying they weren't seeing the shots. Which tells me that they didn't bother to click the link in my follow up post. Gamers sure have a short attention span, don't they? And in this day and age, everyone wants someone to hold their hand. :)

Right. For that, you'd have to download and play the game. Those who are already playing the game, don't need to ask.

Fact is, with so many combinations, you can't show one set and not the other. Which is why I picked one and used that in my blog. It wasn't supposed to be a showcase because for that, we would need an entire gallery of shots showing every possible combination. What's the sense in that when you can just update the game and see for yourself?