Here are a few things to look at:

People don't trust SOE with this game anymore--far too many broken promises and outright misdirection.  So either let someone with a reputation for integrity run it, or make sweeping changes to SOE as an organization.

Everyone connected with the alleged ToOW/NGE bait and switch should be shown to the door, all the way up the foodchain.

The EULA should provide for players getting at least 45 days warning of major game changes.  They can then sub for 30 days, and if the game is entirely revamped again, they can make an informed decision about continuing to play.

Dishonest marketting ploys aimed at getting people to purchase things that SOE and LA have already planned to delete should be forbidden, and anyone involved in such ploys should be immediately dismissed and subject to legal action.

Some people working on the game have developed hostile relationships with the playerbase in the aftermath of the NGE, move them to other projects.  Their attitudes get in the way of doing a good job for people they generally dislike.

SOE and LEC kept sub money from people who upped their subscription to play advertised professions and features in the ToOW.  Give them their money back.  Start with anyone that bought ToOW and sub time that extended beyond Nov. 14, 2005.  The service that was advertised and paid for ended on that date.

Develop a collaborative system for coming up with and testing new content, and do not allow management to circumvent the process based on knee jerk reactions to a competitor's success.

Now, the game itself.  It's broken.  The NGE hyper-speed combat apparently causes lags and misfires, still.  Fix it.  Instancing bug ruins group attempts to enter instances.  Fix it.  Group waypoint arrows are still broken.  Fix them.  Collision detection was promised on Nov. 16, 2005.  Fix it.

If anyone really wants to bring server populations up, well, here are some ideas off the top of my head.  If saying, "we want to bring up the server populations" is just another way to string people along though, for pity's sake, go home and rethink your life.

Bringing pre-cu back will probably bring the populations up, of course with a big game coming out in 5 days, it probably wont go up very much.

They really need a classic server. Their stubborness, given their inherit greed, really baffles me.

Originally posted by HastorHadron

They really need a classic server. Their stubborness, given their inherit greed, really baffles me.

Apparently their unwillingness to admit they were wrong is stronger than their usual greed.

Originally posted by ArcAngel3

The EULA should provide for players getting at least 45 days warning of major game changes.  They can then sub for 30 days, and if the game is entirely revamped again, they can make an informed decision about continuing to play.

I really like this idea. I think it's both fair and reasonable to the consumer and developer.

Originally posted by Suvroc

Originally posted by ArcAngel3

The EULA should provide for players getting at least 45 days warning of major game changes.  They can then sub for 30 days, and if the game is entirely revamped again, they can make an informed decision about continuing to play.

I really like this idea. I think it's both fair and reasonable to the consumer and developer.

Originally posted by kefkah

 

Originally posted by Suvroc

Originally posted by ArcAngel3

The EULA should provide for players getting at least 45 days warning of major game changes.  They can then sub for 30 days, and if the game is entirely revamped again, they can make an informed decision about continuing to play.

I really like this idea. I think it's both fair and reasonable to the consumer and developer.

/agree

 

The only people I see not liking this idea are people who  don't want consumers to know what they're paying for in advance.

Originally posted by ArcAngel3

 

Originally posted by kefkah

 

Originally posted by Suvroc

Originally posted by ArcAngel3

The EULA should provide for players getting at least 45 days warning of major game changes.  They can then sub for 30 days, and if the game is entirely revamped again, they can make an informed decision about continuing to play.

I really like this idea. I think it's both fair and reasonable to the consumer and developer.

/agree

 

Developers are free to continue to express themselves creatively and make actual improvements AND subscribers are given accurate information so that they can make an informed decision about continuing to play.

 

The only people I see not liking this idea are people who  don't want consumers to know what they're paying for in advance.

Agreed.

However the only problem is how does one define major game changes? I'm sure that some unscrupulous developers would argue that point to justify their unannounced changes. Personally I would say anything that affects the basic core mechanics of that game.

SWG will gain server populations if, and ONLY if, they reinstate Pre-CU.  Anything else means decline.

And they already have lost 95%+ of the pre CU populations.

Originally posted by jrgambit

Bringing pre-cu back will probably bring the populations up, of course with a big game coming out in 5 days, it probably wont go up very much.

I hear ya brother, but this is assuming they want to populate the current game, since that's their stated goal.

Originally posted by Suvroc

 

Originally posted by ArcAngel3

 

Originally posted by kefkah

 

Originally posted by Suvroc

Originally posted by ArcAngel3

The EULA should provide for players getting at least 45 days warning of major game changes.  They can then sub for 30 days, and if the game is entirely revamped again, they can make an informed decision about continuing to play.

I really like this idea. I think it's both fair and reasonable to the consumer and developer.

/agree

 

Developers are free to continue to express themselves creatively and make actual improvements AND subscribers are given accurate information so that they can make an informed decision about continuing to play.

 

The only people I see not liking this idea are people who  don't want consumers to know what they're paying for in advance.

 

Agreed.

However the only problem is how does one define major game changes? I'm sure that some unscrupulous developers would argue that point to justify their unannounced changes. Personally I would say anything that affects the basic core mechanics of that game.

I think our answer, ironically, can be found by looking at the NGE.  What I mean by that is, it's an example of what people should be informed of in advance. 

Let's break it down:

Changing from a role-play game to a first person shooter,

Removal of extensive quest content,

Removal of professions,

Removal of pets,

Unlockable alpha class, now availabel at start up, and no longer an alpha class,

crafting based economy replaced by loot based economy,

entire combat system revamp,

movement system revamp,

chat system revamp,

camera position revamp,

disabling or loss of function for all items related to removed professions and combat functions.

We were warned about the CU, and it also gives examples of what players should know about BEFORE they are asked to resubscribe:

Introduction of level system,

combat system revamp,

loss of function for all items and craftables related to removed combat/healling abilities.

Other major changes from SWG include the removal of decay and battle fatigue.

How's that for a list of examples to start with?

Everything here strikes me as a paradigm shift, or a move from one kind of game to another.  E.G. rpg to fps, more than 30 professions to 9, pets to no pets, crafting to looting, decay to no decay, skill points to levels etc. etc.

Core components of the original game be it professions, pets, combat, movement, quests etc. are swapped out for a new core component.

The easy answer is to say anything that constitutes a paradigm shift in the game.  Maybe another way to put it is core content and core functions.

Modifications to core functions would be things like my rifle that used to shoot 70m now shoots 72.  That's not a paradigm shift.  Another modification to a core function would be, I used to be able to have 1 pet, now I can have 2.  The core function is still there, but it's been "enhanced."  This is what I happen to think that word really means btw.  Changing the hp of a boss in an instance would be another modification.  Deleting instances from the game would be a paradigm shift.  In other words, it's no longer the game you originally purchased.  How's that sound?