I just have to say it

[Quasimojo]

I feel that all the crap I took on the Sigil forums during beta about my reservations regarding SoE even being involved, gives me a legitimate right to say that I...freaking...told...you...so.

Me: SoE is the new publisher??? That's terrible news!
Them: Doesn't mean anything. They're just making the packaging and doing the marketing. They won't be involved in game design.
Me: Hellooo. It's happened before. Anyone remember EQ?? McQuaid and Co. created a game, SoE got involved and soon bought them out, only to begin bleeding the game dry. SoE is the evil freaking empire.
Them: Doesn't mean anything. Brad knows what he's doing. He won't give up his creative license.
Me: All I know is that this some some major bad mojo...
Them x about 100: You're just making stuff up.
Them x about 100: Just because you're paranoid doesn't make it true.
Them x about 100: Lol! He's delusional. Watch him thrash, folks!
Them x about 100: When you can prove it, you'll have a valid point. Until then, you're just Chicken Little.

Fast forward to today. 'Nuf said.

Brad McQuaid seriously let his fan base down. He's sold his soul to the devil. He'll never again be able to muster fan support for his own game. He's like the hunchback, Ephialtes of Trachis, from the movie, 300.

Enjoy your spoils, Brad. I hope you live forever.

[Dllshock]

The difference is that EQ was good before SOE took it over.

[Drool]

I
Them: Doesn't mean anything. They're just making the packaging and doing the marketing. They won't be involved in game design.
Me: Hellooo. It's happened before. Anyone remember EQ?? McQuaid and Co. created a game, SoE got involved and soon bought them out, only to begin bleeding the game dry. SoE is the evil freaking empire.

14 expansions later, you're still an idiot.

Them: You're a moron.
Me: You're probably right, lemme go back to Telegard.

[rhagz]

The difference is that EQ was good before SOE took it over.

Verant was a division of SOE from day 1. There was no takeover.

[Quasimojo]

Unbelievable. In the very face of it, people will still try and reason their way out of even recognizing the obvious.

I said in the beginning there was a very real possibility of SoE taking over VG. People said no way. I submit for you, Exhibit A - current events.

Now, I'll admit, whether it is a good or bad thing is completely subjective. I'll just say that no one is raving on and on about what a great job SoE did with EQ after the creative reigns were taken from McQuaid's group.

I should have stuck to my guns. I decided a long time ago not to subscribe to another SoE MMORPG, because of the way they handled them. The way people (both Sigil and the fanbase) spun their initial involvement with Vanguard gave me hope that I could still enjoy the game McQuaid sold us on, in spite of the SoE logo on the box. Now, with SoE calling all the shots (as everyone said they would never be allowed to do), it's not gonna happen. Call it principle, mule-headedness, ignorance, I don't really care. SoE lost me as a customer a long time ago, and I've since seen no reason for that to change.

By the way, I can't imagine why this thread was moved to the ooc forum, unless it was in the interests of limiting its exposure. It most certainly qualifies as general Vanguard discussion.

[Quasimojo]

Verant was a division of SOE from day 1. There was no takeover.

"The difference is that EQ was good before SOE took it [EQ] over."

[Quasimojo]

14 expansions later, you're still an idiot.

Them: You're a moron.
Me: You're probably right, lemme go back to Telegard.

/shrug

Whatever. So they're making enough money selling expansions to justify continuing to create them. I see publishers making a profit on crap games every day. That hardly makes them a success in the eyes of the fan base. Or, do you think that just because it's on the store shelves, the publisher must have done a good job?

[DCpunk]

I said the same thing. I posted that SOE would most definitely own this game eventually - whether it be in 6 months or 6 years, it WILL happen.

[Dazzler Desiderare]

/shrug

Whatever. So they're making enough money selling expansions to justify continuing to create them. I see publishers making a profit on crap games every day. That hardly makes them a success in the eyes of the fan base. Or, do you think that just because it's on the store shelves, the publisher must have done a good job?

No matter how much you want it to be so, you need to realize its not about the fan base. Its about making money and sustaining a profit margin. If you think otherwise you are fooling yourself.

Its like that no matter where you look when it comes to money. As much as it pisses me off, there is no "the customer is always right" anymore. If it were true I would be getting my money back on 2 accounts that I wasted on this pile.

[Drool]

/shrug

Whatever. So they're making enough money selling expansions to justify continuing to create them. I see publishers making a profit on crap games every day. That hardly makes them a success in the eyes of the fan base. Or, do you think that just because it's on the store shelves, the publisher must have done a good job?

edited - Labyrrinth

No company is going to continue putting out content if the players are not enjoying the game. Is EQ or EQ2 as big as WoW? Hell no. But are you judging success by sheer numbers? If so, then again you are an idiot.

Success to most gamers is summed up by entertainment. Enjoyment. Challenge. EQ and EQ2 have sustained a very happy, albeit modest, fan base since the get go. EQ2 has actually grown in popularity since launch.

This doesnt mean that everyone has to keep playing EQ from day one for it to be a success. I stopped after Planes of Power because frankly, I was bored. But I would never be as ignorant as to call it a failure because the "Evil Empire" SOE has control of the world.

[Lord_Phoenix]

"The difference is that EQ was good before SOE took it [EQ] over."

SOE has always been in control of EQ. Verant was originally a division of Sony Interactive Studios America, which changed it's name to 989 Studios.

[BoydofZINJ]

You were 100% correct, OP. ANd you know what - you ARE A MORON if you knew it and stayed with it and dont like Sony. I am neutral with Sony - and I saw it comming so I dont mind. I hope it helps! But if you did not like Sony and you saw it comming then why did you stay?

[Aneas]

edited - Labyrrinth

No company is going to continue putting out content if the players are not enjoying the game. Is EQ or EQ2 as big as WoW? Hell no. But are you judging success by sheer numbers? If so, then again you are an idiot.

Success to most gamers is summed up by entertainment. Enjoyment. Challenge. EQ and EQ2 have sustained a very happy, albeit modest, fan base since the get go. EQ2 has actually grown in popularity since launch.

This doesnt mean that everyone has to keep playing EQ from day one for it to be a success. I stopped after Planes of Power because frankly, I was bored. But I would never be as ignorant as to call it a failure because the "Evil Empire" SOE has control of the world.

*You're* the one who made the connection between 14 expansions and quality of the game, not me. I merely pointed out that they don't have to sell all that many copies of each expansion to make it worth their efforts to keep the game alive. As long as it's turning a profit, it makes sense to keep it going.

In other words, 14 expansions doen't mean squat. It doesn't prove that SoE didn't take the game down hill from the moment they took over, as you implied.

"You're an idiot."
...
"You're an idiot."

Grow up, please. You shouldn't act so much differently behind your internet anonymity than you would in person.

EDIT: *sigh* somehow I managed to end up with two accounts here. This is still me, Quasimojo. Apologies.

[Aneas]

You were 100% correct, OP. ANd you know what - you ARE A MORON if you knew it and stayed with it and dont like Sony. I am neutral with Sony - and I saw it comming so I dont mind. I hope it helps! But if you did not like Sony and you saw it comming then why did you stay?

Read it again, and maybe you'll get it this time.

Reading comprehension for the win.

EDIT: *sigh* somehow I managed to end up with two accounts here. This is still me, Quasimojo. Apologies.

[Lord_Phoenix]

[I]
Success to most gamers is summed up by entertainment. Enjoyment. Challenge. EQ and EQ2 have sustained a very happy, albeit modest, fan base since the get go. EQ2 has actually grown in popularity since launch.


I could have sworn that EQ2 subscriber numbers took a nose dive after the initial spike at launch. Of course, SOE likes to be hush hush about subscriber numbers. Then again, they released at the worst time they could, right before WoW hit the shelves.

[rhagz]

EQ2 hasn't grown since launch. It's grown since it bottomed out however. They launched fairly strong, and nose-dived soon after. It took them a while to get the game in shape and they've gotten stable since then. They hit 350k or so at peak just after launch and dropped down to 150k. It's around 200k or so now.

[Lord_Phoenix]

EQ2 hasn't grown since launch. It's grown since it bottomed out however. They launched fairly strong, and nose-dived soon after. It took them a while to get the game in shape and they've gotten stable since then. They hit 350k or so at peak just after launch and dropped down to 150k. It's around 200k or so now.

I kind of figured it would go up after panning out. Same thing happened with EQs subscriber numbers just after EQ2 and WoW launched. It fell by over half.

[Vryce]

I hear Nostradamus predicted an SOE takeover of Sigil...