All Posts by edmonal

I do like EQ2, and am keeping one of my subscriptions active. As for AoC's community, I've never experienced something really awful, but I've purposely stayed on the PvE servers. PvP has a whole lot of mental midgets, who seem to equate self worth with ganking. If I had more time I'd play both games.

Unfortunately you are asking to be flamed. By referring to AoC as a single player game you're just going to get people going, so to me it looks like a troll post. I agree with you on the interface, but that can be changed. As for the second point, to me it's one of aesthetics. Maybe not to you, so in the end this game may not be for you.

Originally posted by Gazenthia

It has a lot of potential, especially as a single player game. Even now, as a single player, its pretty good. But its not what I was expecting.

And you don't bother to explain why you feel that way. Maybe you did in another forum post, but all it looks like is you trying to bait people. Your sig too. You have your own concept of what a MMO is, and that's fine...but it's not all people have the same concept. At the moment all it looks like is that you are trolling.

Originally posted by Diamedes

It doesn't cost 150 million a month(10 mil x $15/mo) so what are we getting for that extra money, not much.

Well first thing they aren't getting that much. Maybe 3 million x $ 12/mo (factor in new subscriptions, multi-month subs, and subtract the China market as they only pay in time cards billed per min) A lot of money still, however Blizzard has to answer to Vivendi, and Vivendi has to answer to the shareholders. Are you getting your money's worth? Only you can decide that, and only you can hit the button to unsubscribe to the game. Online games have recurring costs and there has to be a mechanism for the companies to recoup the cost and make a profit.

Originally posted by forumdigest

 

I for one am not surprised!

So says the self righteous.

Originally posted by Diamedes

 

 

 

 Dude I don't know where you go from talking about a high quality MMO needing a monthly fee to supporting an MMOs employees and their insurance, would you pay every game you've ever played a monthly fee to support their employees 401k?  All this thread is about is whether we should be getting charged to play or not, we pay for the game and the expansions so basically the monthly fee is used for server maintenance and content in the form of patches. I have no idea how much it actually costs to maintain a server but Im almost positive its a very small percentage of the monthly fee. That leaves content then, and I can only really use WoW as an example of that and I know most would agree you don't get your moneys worth for the 15 a month.

And its not the money, its the principle, if the government started charging us 15$ a month for the air we breathe would you pay it because its only 15 a month?

Everything costs money and you have to pay for it one way or the other. Perhaps they should do what LOTRO did and charge $200 at the start and you never have to pay monthly fees again, or go the Asian route and use microtransactions and pay for in-game merchandise with real money.

Originally posted by killagoose

Originally posted by edmonal

I generally don't like game reviews, and really they are pretty useless when it comes to MMOs. You need almost 20 days + to properly review the game. These are just shallow impressions, and really not worth reading.

Then you obviously didnt read the review, because the writter stated several times this was written in parts starting with levels 1 - 20, the next part comes a little later when they have put more time into it.  A many paragraph review based off the first 20 levels...definitely not shallow at all.

I did read it and if they called it "Initial impressions" and then didn't bother putting a quantifiable number on it then I wouldn't complain. It's that number that I look askance at. Given all you really have done is Tortage, why put a number on it at all? In any case numbers are pretty stupid for game reviews anyways, list positives and negatives (which he did) and leave at that.

Originally posted by forumdigest

http://www.mmorpg.com/discussion2.cfm/thread/182511

 

Check my thread from the official EU forums which are closed to the public..

Tell me that the criticism of the game just comes from one or two people.. The number of critics are massive...

Check out this link http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com.  The criticism is massive! The game must be terribly broken!

There are borked things about this game, but using forums (official or not) as proof of something being broken is a silly argument.

Originally posted by pencilrick

 

Originally posted by edmonal

And the purpose of making MMOs is? This is not art with a muse to inspire and drive an artist, MMOs are a commercial endeavour to make money. They are capital intensive to make and run, and if you can't get a decent subscription base then you will fail.  Even if you get the minimum subscription base you're then stuck with not being able to progress or expand the game. Most people like linearity, and to sound cruel, if you don't then it sucks to be you.

 

The only hope for you "sandbox" people is if the cost of development and hosting of a MMO drops enough that smaller outfits actually have a chance to produce a decent game. Maybe it's time to rethink your choice of hobby and find something else to channel your energies into. Personally I'm happy with MMOs, but I take breaks from them every few months and go do something else.

 

Almost every successful businessperson will tell you that "the way to get what you want is to give others what they want."

There are a lot of people who want freedom and exictement in an MMO.  That means non-linear gameplay and risks (i.e., death penalty that stings) and rewards (i.e., stuff that really has to be earned to be valued).

Linear MMO's are really not MMO's at all, but RPG's posing as MMO's.

My point is that there are not enough people to justify trying to create an AAA style sandbox MMO. These are very expensive to develop, and when you're dealing with these types of funds, the holders of the funds are incredibly conservative. I highly doubt that there will be any serious sandbox style MMO in the foreseeable future.

Originally posted by Shoal

Because someone has to take a stand for truth.

And to put the lie to posters who make alts to hide who they really are.

When we see less unbridled hype with real balanced discussion of the game's issues, then we won't be the only ones to be bringing up the flaws.

Oh please, you are not that important. There are flaws in the game, but most of us are enjoying playing it. Sorry if you don't, well not really, but you are not truth bringers. In fact the most vocal of the critics sound like whiners.

And the purpose of making MMOs is? This is not art with a muse to inspire and drive an artist, MMOs are a commercial endeavour to make money. They are capital intensive to make and run, and if you can't get a decent subscription base then you will fail.  Even if you get the minimum subscription base you're then stuck with not being able to progress or expand the game. Most people like linearity, and to sound cruel, if you don't then it sucks to be you.

The only hope for you "sandbox" people is if the cost of development and hosting of a MMO drops enough that smaller outfits actually have a chance to produce a decent game. Maybe it's time to rethink your choice of hobby and find something else to channel your energies into. Personally I'm happy with MMOs, but I take breaks from them every few months and go do something else.

Originally posted by ndpunch

 

Originally posted by Xasapis

For all its flaws, AoC is released. Compare it with Darkfall is like comparing a living human with a ghost. Some will say it doesn't exist. Most will say that no comparison is possible. A selected few believe in ghosts.

Correction, a game has been released. That game which Failcom promised, or even half of it, is NOT released. No siege, no trading, no dx10... all those core features are missing, they don't exist until proven otherwise.

 

Some core features aren't there yet, and maybe they won't be. The game is still here, and not in the ether of promise that is Darkfall. Your use of "Failcom" just cements your juvenile mentality and makes me resent the fact that I've now just wasted 2 minutes of my life responding to your tirade.

I generally don't like game reviews, and really they are pretty useless when it comes to MMOs. You need almost 20 days + to properly review the game. These are just shallow impressions, and really not worth reading.

Originally posted by AOCtester

Oh .. the fanbois are now at the "this game is not for everyone" stage

But I guess thats true... Broken Traders and Spellweaving disabled from certain classes is defently not for everyone

AOC is one of the most shallow games to be released as MMO game ever.  And the few parts that make it abit deeper and challenging are broken....

And you're in all out hate phase. I doubt you would find many people saying this game is for everyone. That's just a bad generalization, you don't like the game, we know. Labeling those who disagree with you with derogatory comments is just silly. Unless this is how you amuse yourself....

Great summation elfstone.

As for those other "insightful" people: I have played swg pre and post cu as well as trying nge, eq2, ao, lotro, vsoh, ffxi, ddo and wow. Unless we agree on our experiences in those games then your statement is no truer then mine.

You also missed the point. I said I liked the game, but I don't presume others will. I do believe that the only way to make an intelligent decision is to try it yourself. Even then if you don't have the rig to play it, or are deeply offended by instancing, or nudity, or the experience of  a brand new MMO then stay away. Do not depend on these or any other forums to get a true idea of what the game is like.

I disagree, I'm finding this game to be engaging and currently sucking up all my free time. It's not perfect, but then no game is. The only reason I'll bite on this topic is the title. If $50 is too much money for you to spend, then yes you need to be very careful on how you spend it. If it isn't then I think you should try the game. I'll try WAR when it comes out too, but I personally believe that you can't get a good sense of a game from forums or reviews. You either have to depend on the opinions of people you trust, or try it yourself.

I'm 27 and have had a couple of groups, mostly to finish quests. I've asked individuals standing around. I haven't found the quests to be that bad, and in most cases flow nicely (I'm in the Stygian area) This game is not for all people, but at least you have the option of questing or joining a grind group...and they are out there. Future MMOs will very much be mostly solo, WoW has set the direction and major gaming companies will follow.

Like WoW? EQ2? VSOH? Tabula Rasa? I think the only one that didn't suffer this is LOTRO, and kudos for Turbine for knowing better and limiting scope to something that was manageable.

Not sure what server you're playing on, but I'm always seeing people and often I'm trying to do the same quest as them, makes for pretty quick pugs. If you don't see anyone, then you can change instances using the yellow arrow in the mini-map.

This game is not a lot of button smashing, EQ2 holds the title for that. It's also not as simple as auto-attack on...wait for the cool down.  This game is holding my attention unlike any other MMO I've played, and the first computer game that has made me stay up far too late.  The game mechanics aren't quite like other games, and it requires a computer that is no more then 2 years old...this will limit the number of people who will like it.

And what did you expect? In a FFA pvp environment with very little rules, the jerks and anit-social rule. Same thing in FPS games too, where a lot of these people first started playing, once you have friends and a guild it'll become easier. You can organize a group to stomp the kiddies and keep stomping them till they either log or cry. I stay away from those servers, because I don't like dealing with that crap it doesn't make me "stronger", just makes me feel I should spend my time doing something more worthwhile.