All Posts by Sylvanus

I'll admit that I'm slightly disappointed that we won't see the Mission Architect feature for a few more months, I'm happy about a few things:

• There's plenty of cool & innovative ideas that are going to be released soon.
• We really won't have to wait all that much longer for the Mission Architect (MA).
• The devs saw that the MA needed more time to cook and is not only allowing for that, but are also releasing what can be released.

The future is bright, my friends.  CoH/V continues to be an innovative leader in MMOs.

The negativity in this forum is amazing.  I guess it's in vogue to be a pessimist.

Regardless, for those commenting who haven't played since BETA (many of you), the Tabula Rasa has vastly improved.  NCSoft is making an excellent move and should be commended.

Very nice article.  :)

I continue to have fun playing CoH/V.  NCSoft NorCal has made numerous enhancements to the game.  It plays incredibly well.  (I've been around since the first month.  I was very skeptical of the game)

To each his own.  For me?  CoH/V fits the bill.

And here I was hoping for some kind of lifetime subscription or huge content update stuff.  :)

Originally posted by Draccan

Vehicles?

 

Too bad the game is now run on a skeleton crew development-wise

Sometime soon, I'll re subscribe for another month.  I enjoy the game. 

Originally posted by openedge1

Recently went back for some GW loving as I wait for AoC to get their act together.

This game is still fun. Not all the trappings of an MMO, but definitely what a casual player needs.

This game will be quite fun in my opinion, and again the no fee monthly model is a winner.

I completely agree.  :)

:(  Mass Effect comes out this week.  I really LOVE TR, but....  Gah!  :D

Originally posted by SpectralHunt

Ever since NCSoft took over the game completely, we are slowly starting to see more micropayment (wedding pack anyone?) and alternate revenue streams.  Makes me wonder if the game is losing subs and therefore not as profitable as NCSoft thought it would be.

At any rate, it's an optional function but...

I can't help but think this is a slippery slope.  I can't help but think NCSoft is just experimenting on how much the playerbase is willing to accept.  Before NCSoft took over, the devs said there would be no in-game advertising but now there will be.  I expect to see more micropayment options like the wedding pack in the near future which were generally free before.

I don't like the trend.

 

The wedding pack is optional.  To date, any micro-transaction items have eventually been available for free.  If you want to bemoan about not having a tux or tiara, so be it.  I certainly wasn't interested in it and as a result don't have it. ... Yet.

Originally posted by Guintu

 

But then we're just hoping the money is going to be spent to make the game better.  Look at our government and all the propositions we have every year.  How much money actually gets spent on things that are promised instead of a nicer hourse or car for the fat cats?  What are they going to do give a $5 a month raise to people and the rest will go to the CEO of Ncsoft?  Plus just because you give someone more money doesn't make them more creative, unless they have people threatening to leave the company unless they get a raise.  What are they going to do with the extra money they make?  Give raises?  Hire more people?  Build a nicer lounge?  Buy Rock Band so people can play it when their not working? 

 

The questions they should be asking to see if this is going to actually help is:

1.  How many people will actually keep the ads on?

2.  If we made a F2P server with ads how many of the P2P people would move to F2P?  I would think it would be about 1-3% because most people would pay to not have ads in a game.

3.  How many new players would they get if they made a F2P server with ads (I think this is the big question)?   I think the game population would double if not triple. 

4.  When Champions comes out (and if its good) how many people will leave COH/COV?

You're dizzying yourself with questions.  You have a simple choice if you're a subscriber.  Ads on or off.  Make your choice.  If you find you don't care for the decisions made down the road, you don't have to remain a subscriber.  While it might be a fun mental exercise, chasing your tail with possibilities you can't answer is pointless.  The only way you'll be able to find out it through time and patience.

So, until then... Game on! 

Originally posted by Sovrath

 All they have proven is that they have kept up on their promise to keep the game updated. Which is fine.

So will that content (as I've mentioned above) be noticeable. Will the players actually see beefier or more expansions OR will that money go to stem the ever rising cost of creating those expansions?

Based on your own statements, then we should take them for their word.  They've kept up on their promise.  There's a new game in the same genre due out next year, not including the rumored PS3 DC Comics project.  One would gather there's plenty of reasons not to loose the "trust" or good feelings of their currently "exclusive" community.

Your last statement raises decent interesting questions.  However, there's plenty to speculate on.  There always is.  For now however, they've kept their promise and provided an out for those who do not wish to participate.  For these reasons, the least we could do is give them the benefit of the doubt.  They've earned that.

Should you choose not to support, vote with your dollars.  BTW, while I know and understand (and have grown up in the cable age) where you're coming from, I don't remember seeing commercials during a movie or show on HBO.  :)  In between and on other channels? sure.  I guess my tolerance is greater than some.

Best wishes & happy gaming.

Originally posted by damian7

i11 was when?  november?  it's now april and i12 isn't on test yet?  so we're still looking at huge amounts of time between issues.

 

we don't get a discount on the monthly sub, and it seems that since the buyout, issues sure as hell don't come out any faster... so what exactly is the pro side of this to us, the consumer?

 

 

If you play the game, you'd know that they've made significant changes to the game since November.  You'd also know that through issue 12, content was all planned via Cryptic.  Issue 13 is the first NCSoft NorCal release not under Cryptic's direction.  It takes time to put out content - especially if you have a small staff.

Originally posted by mindspat

 

Destructible Billboards and vending machines would be a brilliant addition!

 

That WOULD be awesome!  :)

Originally posted by Sovrath

Well that's the thing. They say they are going to use the money for more development. Ok. Prove it.

Will the new content be noticeable over what is already provided?

NC should say something like "we will have an additonal update each year" or something like that.

Because otherwise all they are saying is "hey, we are going to have advertisements and, as with all revenue streams, it will be used for our games."

Well of course it will.

Subscribers have received 10 free updates already and technically a free game if you didn't purchase both CoH & CoV.  Issues 11 & 12 are on their way as well.  I think they've "proven" plenty.  :)

Originally posted by Kryogenic

 

It's an obvious corporate spin to lead people to believe that they are going to try to breath new life into a game as old as CoX is, and it's an even bigger spin to lead people to believe that the lion's share of that ad revenue is going to go the development of new content for the game.

You people need to get out in the world some more and stop worshiping at the alter of corporate shills.

New Content:  They have to have new content if they're going to compete.  It's not a matter of if or how many dollars are allocated to it, it's a matter of when/how soon and how well it'll be designed and implemented.

Worshiping Corporate Shills: That's your entitled opinion.  Disagreeing with you does not make one clueless.

As always, best wishes & happy gaming!

Originally posted by Feldron

I mean its likely one of the games biggest complaints, low frequency of updates or additional content

so its good that they are tring too move things along at a faster pace here

Champions Online, while thematically similar, will play differently.  I look forward to both.  :)

Originally posted by Guintu

I really don't see many people saying ok to the advertising unless their going to get something in return.  I mean just so NCsoft can get more money to add content isn't going to be a good enough reason for most players.  If they gave a discound like making it $5 a month or $15 for 2 months or even better F2P servers with advertising then I can see that working.  Actually if they made servers that are F2P I know so many people hate ads in game that they would pay $15 a month just to not have the ads.  I don't think NCsoft sees the big picutre, maybe a few people wouldn't mind the ads, but I know more people would hate them.  I've read enough forums with people complaining about ads in games.  I guarentee you that if the put ads in games and let people opt-out, probably about 85% or more will opt-out.  I'm all for advertising in games, but I would even opt-out if I wasn't getting something for the ads. 

The entire purpose of the in-game ads are to allow for the team to expand.  So you are getting something in return. 

Hopefully you play the game to enjoy it.  You'd pay the same price with or without the ads.  The OPTION is there for you.  It's really that simple.  If you don't think it's fair, then don't allow it.  There.  Was that really all that difficult?  Nope.  Game on! 

Originally posted by Kryogenic

 

It's not a question of being subjected to ads. It's being subjected to ads in a game with a monthly subscription fee.

 

They want to add "optional advertising", well then they need to make an optional payment plan to go with the adds.

Sure I'll turn on some ads and be spammed with Power Drink and McDonlads ads, but it's taking a slightly corrupt concept, like paying to play every month, and adding some extra smarmy super sauce to it.

There are some great articles on Gamespot and Gamespy with some industry insight as to how some professionals feel about the fact that with the increase of in-game advertizing, the prices of the games haven't gone down.

CoH is showing it's age and I'm willing to bet that they aren't going to add anything major to the game. This is a ploy to get some add revenue to fund the company. Mark my words, there won't be any major additions to the game. Sure they'll port over power sets that work for different ATs and maybe throw in one or two sets that have been getting developed for awhile, now, but don't be foolish... it's not gonna suddenly breath new life into an old game.

But as long as we have blind little fanbois out there that are more than willing to bend over and take one in the rear, companies will continue to do these kinds of things.

And as long as we have sunshines like you, the world will still be filled with things to make us chuckle.

Originally posted by BatJeff

for example... you're walking through the hollows and see a "Gatorade... Is IT In You?" billboard. Then ....

To those looking to dictate how the added money is spent?  They've already told you what it's intended for.  Also, they're considerate enough to allow it as an option for those who don't care for it.  That says much about NCSoft and I applaud them for it.

I've said this was a good idea since I started playing in May/June 2004.  I'll be happy to allow for it.