Originally posted by openedge1

 

Originally posted by Shannia

 

Originally posted by talismen351

There is nothing 'Nervious" about their financial report...you ever done one of these for your business? Looks pretty standard to me. Your choice selections n words mixed in with some quotes really is annoying. Should just post the link n let ppl decide for themselves.

 

 

That would require 100% of the people understand what financial statements are and the reason behind wording the way corporations do on financial statements.  Saying that, I believe it is safe to say 1-3% of the player base would understand their way around a financial statement just as only a small percent really know their way around a computer.  That is why you have financial statements that they make a simplier presentation for so people can understand and for those that can't understand the presentation, they take it one step further and make a brief summary.

That is why you get people with XP loading it with 4gig of ram and people with Vista machines loading it with more than 8 gigs ram and such.  Sure, people think they know a lot about computers but they have no freak'n clue that if they 32 bit game like AoC, regardless of how much ram they have, the game is only going to use. a tad over 3.2g of ram.  The software decides how much ram it will use.

So please, don't go saying let people read the financials and let them make their own conclusions.  Most people have no real clue what they are looking and why.

 

So...we should trust your "objective" opinion then?

 

As to 4 gigs on 32, it still is ready for xp64 or Vista 64 in that respect...and the noticeable difference in speed helps...then when they see their computer says 3.25 gigs available...then they ask questions...and find out about tricks like /3GB or PAE, and become educated...

So, I figure if someone doesnt understand the sales speak...maybe if they are smart enough...will I dont know...

Ask?

Exactly!  Ask and get educated.  Telling people to read a document and form an opinion for themselves is nuts.  Just like I didn't play OB, so I come here, read, think, make assumptions, post ideas about it, and get feedback mostly of the positive kind.  I enjoy most of the people here on the forums because they are not affraid to share their opinions and experiences with us green horns.

Originally posted by Shannia

Very intesting indeed.  I hope that post is right, Avery. 

I was out in NW OKC yesterday at BestBuy and I was talking to the PC game manager about this game.  He said that the warehouse sent him several cases of pre-order boxes of Age of Conan with the WAR Rhino.  He sent all but two of the cases back to the warehouse because of the weeks they've had to show case the game, they have hardly sold any copies.  He kept more than one case just incase he got a last minute rush on the pre-order.  As far as he con remember, the only MMORPG that had sold less copies was POTBS.

Where does a game copy count as sold?  Is it the retail register or is it when wholesale buyers of retail chains place their purchase orders for their companies?  Can a retail send cases back to SoE (or what ever publisher) or does a retailer own it when they buy it?

 

 

 

This is also the case where I live in the Maryland/DC metro area. I went on a PS3 game buying spree over the weekend, needed to pick up GTA4, pre-order MGS4 and was looking for some old retro Dreamcast games, so I was hitting up many many Gamestops, and EB Games.

I asked in each one what the status of AOC pre-orders were and to my surprise I got the same response Shannia did. They had sold very few, and in 2 stores cases had not sold any pre-orders.

I know it all depends on where you live, and if the hype has reached your location. Seems that in my neck of the woods, it has not.

I don't know if AOC is going to make it, but from the looks of things it is going to be a very rocky start.

Originally posted by neonaka

 

Originally posted by Shannia

Very intesting indeed.  I hope that post is right, Avery. 

I was out in NW OKC yesterday at BestBuy and I was talking to the PC game manager about this game.  He said that the warehouse sent him several cases of pre-order boxes of Age of Conan with the WAR Rhino.  He sent all but two of the cases back to the warehouse because of the weeks they've had to show case the game, they have hardly sold any copies.  He kept more than one case just incase he got a last minute rush on the pre-order.  As far as he con remember, the only MMORPG that had sold less copies was POTBS.

Where does a game copy count as sold?  Is it the retail register or is it when wholesale buyers of retail chains place their purchase orders for their companies?  Can a retail send cases back to SoE (or what ever publisher) or does a retailer own it when they buy it?

 

 

 

 

This is also the case where I live in the Maryland/DC metro area. I went on a PS3 game buying spree over the weekend, needed to pick up GTA4, pre-order MGS4 and was looking for some old retro Dreamcast games, so I was hitting up many many Gamestops, and EB Games.

I asked in each one what the status of AOC pre-orders were and to my surprise I got the same response Shannia did. They had sold very few, and in 2 stores cases had not sold any pre-orders.

I know it all depends on where you live, and if the hype has reached your location. Seems that in my neck of the woods, it has not.

I don't know if AOC is going to make it, but from the looks of things it is going to be a very rocky start.

The reason they have sold few is it is the 21st century...We do video rentals, grocery shopping, and...game purchases....online...

Cool world we live in...

I think they wont have a problem getting the 250k subscribers, they'll get way more than that i believe judging by the hype alone.   The question is, will they be able to keep them from month to month, that's the real question

That is just kinda an excuse to cop out with.

I buy some things online, my pc parts from newegg and tigerdirect. I pay some of my bills online, like sending that lil geico lizard my insurance money every month. I think that is about it.

I an older person, and I do not know 1 SINGLE person nor have I met one single person in my lifetime that buy EVERYTHING online, specifically groceries, cloths or anything else.

Where I live people still go out to the game stores and browse and select what they want... I know shocker right?

 Plus it isn't even the fact of that, I wasn't trying to call DOOM OH DOOM! to AOC.

I was simply stating that where I live out of the 7 stores I visited over the weekend, hardly any AOC pre-orders had been purchased.

That s just ONE area of a VERY LARGE map. Just because people in my area do not wanna play it, doesn't mean 4 hours north in New York city they haven't sold 100,000 copies already. Who the hell knows what is going to happen, we will find out in a week.

I am personally tired of hearing about the AOC bs. you will know if one week it's initial launch numbers, you will know 90 days after that if SOE is going to own your game or not.

Not a big deal either way.

I don't know what they've been making money off of.  I thought AO went free.  But, looking at the financial statement, if they continue to make the revenue that they have been making for the last 15 months and don't increase their current spending, then they need roughly 214k subscribers.  NOT 250k subscribers.

I imagine, after release, they can easily layoff half their people and only need roughly 80k-105k subscribers and they'd be fine.

Originally posted by openedge1

 

Yet...I buy all my stuff online,,,so I don't have to go to the store...

 

The reason they have sold few is it is the 21st century...We do video rentals, grocery shopping, and...game purchases....online...

Cool world we live in...

I don't doubt this for a minute.  Saying that, if I could sell parking spots at the local best buy for $1, in very short time, I'd pay cash for a house.  You can't tell me that more often that not people would rather buy online than get their pre-order or retail box inhand at the store.  Retail places are just too damn crowded for me to believe that.  

Oh, and on a personal note and not trying to insult you but, if you get all your videos, grocery shopping and game purchases from online, do you ever get any exercise?  Try some fresh air.  It is good for you.

Originally posted by neonaka

That is just kinda an excuse to cop out with.

I buy some things online, my pc parts from newegg and tigerdirect. I pay some of my bills online, like sending that lil geico lizard my insurance money every month. I think that is about it.

I an older person, and I do not know 1 SINGLE person nor have I met one single person in my lifetime that buy EVERYTHING online, specifically groceries, cloths or anything else.

Where I live people still go out to the game stores and browse and select what they want... I know shocker right?

 

Not a cop out sir...just a fact that a lot of people have probably already purchased their game online, so who cares if a store has not sold their quota..

As to you do not know anyone who does buy everything online...welcome to my world...

I purchase all of my clothing (JCPenneys, Old Navy, etc...) Groceries (local store has online order delivery), games, computer parts, movie rentals

All bills are paid without having to go to the post office..I have not bought a stamp in two years...

Only time I go out is to eat at a fancy restaurant...

I am also 45 years old...

I embrace our technological leaders....

Originally posted by Shannia

 

Originally posted by openedge1

 

Yet...I buy all my stuff online,,,so I don't have to go to the store...

 

The reason they have sold few is it is the 21st century...We do video rentals, grocery shopping, and...game purchases....online...

Cool world we live in...

 

 

I don't doubt this for a minute.  Saying that, if I could sell parking spots at the local best buy for $1, in very short time, I'd pay cash for a house.  You can't tell me that more often that not people would rather buy online than get their pre-order or retail box inhand at the store.  Retail places are just too damn crowded for me to believe that.  

Oh, and on a personal note and not trying to insult you but, if you get all your videos, grocery shopping and game purchases from online, do you ever get any exercise?  Try some fresh air.  It is good for you.

 

(PS: i also run a business from my home...i.e: really no reason to drive somewhere and add to the carbon footprint of the world..)

Originally posted by Sineath

I don't know what they've been making money off of.  I thought AO went free.  But, looking at the financial statement, if they continue to make the revenue that they have been making for the last 15 months and don't increase their current spending, then they need roughly 214k subscribers.  NOT 250k subscribers.

I imagine, after release, they can easily layoff half their people and only need roughly 80k-105k subscribers and they'd be fine.

They won't lay off very few, if any.  Funcom has another AAA mmorpg in the works plus a couple casual ones if I remember correctly.  Besides, most of their North American workers will resign to move on to the "next project" back home.  It has been a long time coming.  Funcom is a big company and has a lot more going than just AoC.

Originally posted by Sineath

I don't know what they've been making money off of.  I thought AO went free.  But, looking at the financial statement, if they continue to make the revenue that they have been making for the last 15 months and don't increase their current spending, then they need roughly 214k subscribers.  NOT 250k subscribers.

I imagine, after release, they can easily layoff half their people and only need roughly 80k-105k subscribers and they'd be fine.

Here is the thing with that, in the case of AOC, they either have to bring it BIG or just quit.

When you start to dwindle those numbers down like you just have.... It puts the game is a very bad state.

Who the hell wants to play a game with only 80k subs, If that were the case we could all play, LotRO, EVE or EQ2 and get those kinda numbers. We can get those numbers in other games with ALOT less bugs to worry about. Slightly less graphics but people computers wouldn't smoke.

AOC needs to at least be in the 500k+ range to even stand a chance to compete in the market or they might as well just unplug the servers.

You have 2 very heavy hitters to contend with. You have WoW : more specifically WoW: WofLK which will retain a lot more players than you would think. You have Warhammer coming out in the winter with a MUCH more polished bug free build. Which is very WoW like in it's approach.

AoC isn't going to dent WoW's 10mil+ subs. WAR will have a huge crowd coming in from WoW, because it is A LOT closer to WoW than AOC is. WoW players do not want something diff. They want the same game in a new shell. Which WAR will provide for them.

That being said WAR will take from WoW, as AOC will take a few but not alot. As these 2 powerhouses start to pull the kinda of numbers everyone knows they will. Your going to watch AOC wither into a niche game like PotBS or EVE. It might can maintain 250k subs. Maybe. But even if it does, it falls into the Lower bracket with all the last gen games, and not in the Next gen where it needs to be.