http://wowriot.gameriot.com/blogs/Epidemic-Obesity/Age-of-Conan-Desperate-for-Subscribers/

Discuss this sad news about the apparent struggles of the next step in MMO's.

Will Funcom manage to bait 430.000 more players to have AoC persevere in the months to come, especially with things like Wrath of the Lich King, WAR and maybe even a surprise encounter with the alleged release of Darkfall on the horizon?

I guess only time will tell...

Unahim, think for a second. You got that information from WOWRIOT.COM. Why would believe anything WOWRIOT.COM has to say about Age of Conan? That's like going to the Ku Klux Klan and asking how they feel about black guys. You can pretty much guess, can't you?

And if this is the same Unahim from the "alleged" Darkfall forums, I thought you'd be more intelligent than that. If this isn't, my mistake.

it's a real shame

yeah, truly desperate almost

Remember, everyone has to compete with the monolith that is WOW. They have to woo over players, and if this is what it takes, then I suppose they'll have to do it. It is disparate, but still, business is business.

I'm pretty sure WoTLK will dwarf everything else by comparison considering that Blizzard already has the massive MMO playerbase under it's mind control device that is World of Warcraft. AoC seems to be going the way of the Do-Do, and Vangaurd, and Tabula Rasa, and countless others that came after and before the time of WoW

Snuffler that is the biggest pile of crap I have heard in a long time. Digging up a thread with links two months old tells me you are not very up to date. AoC is vibrant with people and you'll find +1500 people logged on to every server in the middle of the night. So it is safe to say that there is a horde of people that do not understand a shit off all the bitching from Cartoonistan on the WOW continent. I do not understand why WOW people can't let different gaming communities be, as if WOW is soo good. WOW is a FCKing joke to be honest. I was shocked when I finally about 1 year back tried the thing. I remember it was just about christmastime and I had just finisted Lost Planet which was a fantastic gaming experience. I wanted however to try WOW as a couple of my friends(which by the way is playing AoC now) wanted me to join in. I was in absolute disbelive when I saw this crap that aledgedly are supposed to have about 4 mill players in the western world. WOW is holding an abysmal technology level, so it is not really relevant to discuss if it is running bugfree or not. It's like discussing how good tetris is caus it is bugfree. WOW is bugfree is first of all not a salespoint, second thing a game with tetrisstyle coding better be bugfree as it is not really that complex or even trying to invent something new.

Snuffler, I am pretty sure WOTLK will do a good sale cause there is a bunch of people already tangled into that gamestyle. Do however not try to convince me that this WOW based product's going to blow anyone away. It will simply keep the machinery ticking, more dollars in the bank, till the day it brakes...

Last thing have you tried to game your AoC character up to level 50 i.e. If you do, you can not put that game down.

Uh....wrong. Read the official forums. Even DIEHARD AoC fanbois are bailing out in droves.

Yeah it's pretty bad, but i don't trust WoW Riot, the guy there changes his mind constant. But AoC was a total fail.

Agree, out of the 5 friends i started playing AOC with , 1 is still playing because as he said "its a shame of his lvl 80"
\

Looking at these numbers objectively, I cannot expect AoC, or any other upcoming MMO to capture a massive audience immediately within its first month. Considering all the factors, including the higher hardware specs and future patches, I believe that AoC will grow over time as it continues to polish its PvP and large scale battle systems and as players upgrade their systems. Also, lets not forget the Mature rating, which reduces the available player pool drastically.

On the other hand, competing with WoW is a tall order, and constantly comparing it with new games is unfair considering how long WoW has existed and its strong rooted player base. Even WOW had a rough start over its first year or so.

Aspiring MMO developers would benefit from not trying to set too high a goal. There are plenty of subscription based MMOs on the market right now that have the same, if not less, amount of active players and yet one in particular has been around for nigh on five years. Sure this particular case is a bit more... known and overblown due to the fact that it was largely advertised and highly anticipated, but the lack of record-breaking sales does not result in the game "failing". In fact, I do not know of any major released MMOs that have ever failed, per se.

It seems that some have a notion that if a game does not hit big numbers that WoW had at one time, then the game is somehow inadequate. That is untrue, for these people do not realize that MMORPGs are, at base, quite a niche market. It takes a certain type to enjoy these games. The reason why WoW has been able to break this, is because it is far different from any conventional MMORPG in that it appeals to just about everyone, regardless of age and gaming background. Simply because that game has attracted a large mass of people for its simplicity and ease of play does not mean that now there is suddenly a large demand on the market for MMORPGs. Well, I am sure there is, but these players are looking for the same thing that WoW was, and most MMORPGS are not like it.

WoW was frankly an anomaly. I remember the devs saying something along the lines that they would have been ecstatic with half a million subscribers - remember, this was in the days of EQ, where a million subscribers was unthinkable.

Nobody was prepared for what happened, least of all them (if you remember the issues with servers for a good half a year after launch). I don't think it's possible to intentionally "create the next WoW," and trying to go head-to-head with Blizzard's 600-lb gorilla of MMOGs is something that - for now, at least - will almost inevitably end in failure.

Which is why I really respect what some of the folks at Mythic have said re: WAR. They aren't trying to make the next WoW, they aren't trying to make a game that will grab those sorts of numbers. One of the biggest draws of WoW was its mass appeal ... in many ways, this is also its Achilles' Heel. Because it has so many people who play it, who enjoy different things, it's almost bound from doing anything really dramatic. Not everybody who plays WoW loves PvP, for many it's a nuisance. So they couldn't really implement something like in WAR where the objective is to sack the enemy capital.

In comparison, the developers of WAR *know* their game won't have the mass appeal WoW does. They won't pull *nearly* the numbers that Blizzard is. But that's not what they're trying to do. They're going for their market, their niche, and by all counts are going to be superbly successful in it.

If you can't beat them head-to-head, just do something different.

I'll say it AGAIN. WoW owes the majority of its popularity to the fact that it can be played on mommy's Dell. This made it accessable to the "masses". Most MMO's at the time and at the present require an above average system to play(which most do not have).

WoW, with its laughable system requirements let all the XBox kiddies play it on the family PC. There are numerous PC titles that I am sure many would love to play but do not have the money to invest in a computer that will allow it.

Can you imagine how many copies of Crysis would have sold if it's graphic quality was doable on a $499.00 PC? If WoW needed a high end PC to play it would have been just "another MMO", because it is'nt doing anything, gameplay wise, that games before it had not done.

I think that's certainly part of it, Hemi. God knows I started playing it on my laptop (which was very, very not meant for playing games) and if that hadn't been the case I'd have never started. It's a very shrewd decision on Blizzard's part, because the percent of the market who owns a PC that can run a game like ... well, Bioshock, let alone Crysis, is a VERY small portion. You're limiting your potential market automatically by doing that.

In comparison, Blizzard games can run on almost any modern machine, and D3/SC2 will probably follow suit. Which is why the cartoony style worked perfectly for WoW - not only was it a throwback to the past WC games, but it let them cut back on poly-count while still having the game look *good* ... just stylized. And they compensate with brilliant art direction.

I don't entirely agree with the last part of what you said, though. You're certainly right in that very little of WoW is innovative; a lot of it had been done before in other games. What Blizzard did that worked well was putting it all together in one game - which WAS unique - making it accessible both technically and from a gameplay perspective, and giving it tons and tons of polish.

It's the same formula that made StarCraft brilliant.

True, true. Totally agree.

???? Confused... AoC did not have any record breaking sales. What the hell are you talking about. AoC was the fastest selling PC game in history when it had sold 700000 by 30th of June. What the numbers are now, we just do not know, but for your information AoC is still no 1 on sales ranking lists in Sweden, Australia, Denmark, UK and more. Guy's you have very short memory. Also it is much better to add some facts when you blogg instead of just copy and paste the note above. Another thing I do not think WOW appeals very easily to most people (even though there is 4 mill customers in the western world). Let's face it WOW graphics and engine is crap... You are running around in this landscape that looks like something out of Nintendo 10 years back and do not get me started on your toon character.. Guy's wake up, get off the drug... Have you played Lost Planet, what about Crysis (great post on that above) and or AoC. This is the new baselevel games setting the standard for the future. If AoC at this point has featuires you are not all happy with.. All you need to do is log out for a few months and then come back. This is the beuty of MMO. Another thing when people bitch about bugs I am every time quite confused on the focus this has gotten because the game does run supersmoothly on mine. I think I have bumped into one bugged quest by now (if that was not just me being a bitt off), but hey I managed to do that just a year back when I was playing WOW (which you probably understand I am not doing anymore). According to history WOW was really FCK up when launched 4 years back and I can not say that about AoC. And if you all think on this for a moment. Are you happy about the fundamental system in Aoc??? I think a supprising numberr of people would have to say yes... 1. Graphics and the whole worlds is just frecking awesome 2. The combat system is just completely wiping anything else in the MMO world off the chart (At least I do love it.. tonns of actionfull animations, where I can choose to chop a guy in the left foot above his right shoulder as well as I can combo and shield in different directions... It's complex but that's a good thing. It requires more skill and is challenging in stead of autoattackmindnumbing).

Finally. I do realize that a lot of the flaming is about the PvP upgrade people are waiting on as well as sieges and DirectX10. I do understand the criticism on Sieges, but only for one reason.. Which is that it was advertised to be in the package and it is not fully implemented yet. For Direct X I would say get over it.. You are in the first place playing WOW which is BS graphicswise so I think you can bear with this game which already has graphics as one of it's strongest points. Finally, recognize that FC is changing the PvP system.. It was not missing, but it is getting changed on customer recomondation. Now, if this is not customersupport I do not know... I am probably more optimistic that many others but these forums turns a lot of the time into this really idiotic premature pissingcontest which lives in a totally alternative reality. Take a deep breath, chill out and be happy that theer is a gameproducer out there that is willing to stick their neck out for the gamers to get something better in place. Take this WARhammer stuff coming up... Most testers say it is a copy of WOW and there is little new if any in that game. Is that what you want, play autoattack through another cartoonhell?? Think about it FC is really your ally in this.

Finall finally I also look very much forward to the infamous PvP patch as well as the Ymir's pass region which should be out very very very soon. Initially I started posting in Warcry because I want warcry to call up FunCom to get some more news on this. WarCry where is the journallism????

the combat system is completly wiping everything else in the mmo world of the chart????

What the hell, simply because you can hit 1 2 and 3 as a direction?
Big fucking woohoo, and its not like combo's havent been implemented in dozens of games before. And complex? It is still button bashing, but where other games might have needed 1 button, in aoc you now use 3 ? wooptidoo.

To me the combat system was where AOC failed the most, because it promised gold and delivered crap. Features not implemented yet, should not be used for advertising at the start.
And for all those glorious graphics they have up on other mmo's you lose a lot in world scenery making it a lineair story where you can walk on paths et by the developers but dont you dare go off them.

@Dirk like I said in my post WoTLK will dwarf everything else BY COMPARISON. It's like comparing a boulder to a pebble. The boulder is bigger by comparison. I'm not saying that AoC will die, I'm just saying if its going to make it in the MMO world it will be a huge struggle because of WoW's reputation.

NightFREAK, you did actually not get it. So I guess you have not played the game. Anyway you point is not taken. But who cares... You might write as much BS you want but it does not change the fact that AoC dwarfs WOW's pathetic combat system. Since you do not understand use of shields, strike directions (5 not 3), combos and fatalities... I suggest you take a quick visit to Youtube and just brush up your knowledge a bit. What I like the most though being an old RP guy is the progerssion system. It is a good old level progression scheme in place.

Dirk:
NightFREAK, you did actually not get it. So I guess you have not played the game. Anyway you point is not taken. But who cares... You might write as much BS you want but it does not change the fact that AoC dwarfs WOW's pathetic combat system. Since you do not understand use of shields, strike directions (5 not 3), combos and fatalities... I suggest you take a quick visit to Youtube and just brush up your knowledge a bit. What I like the most though being an old RP guy is the progerssion system. It is a good old level progression scheme in place.

lol very strong logic, "you did not get it, so you have not played the game" Its a shame you are trying to use insults as a way of discussion rather than sticking to the facts.

Because, of course i have tried playing the game like so many others thats the reason we are fed up with it. Because we wanted something new, we wanted to believe that it would be good and keep us happy and satisfied for months if not years. Dont believe me? Take Hemi for instance, you'll see he's quite the enthusiastic AOC fan before it came out.

So yeh, the only valid point you've made is that you indeed can use 5 directions at a certain point. The use of shields is a choice much like using 1 or 2 handed weapons and therefor can not be included in the equation of the basic combat system. Fatalities are just a pretty result of a proper use of the combat system, they arent actually part of it.

so in the end, sure you have a few more buttons to bash and a few more viable strategies, but at its base it remains no more than pushing the right button at the right time for maximum effect, which is objectively the same system as wow. just a little more expanded.

And level progression would be a lot nicer, if it wasnt actually some damn simple to get to 80 and that it would be more fun to be off a lower level than 50 isntead of just a level gain grindfest race.

Have fun in AOC though, but next time when someone disagrees, try replying with facts rather than insults!

Good day!

Uh Dirk, as far as the "700,000" copies sold is concerned...those were copies sold to RETAILERS. A large portion of those were returned, as they did not sell to CONSUMERS.

Big difference pal.

Play nice guys. Let not start a fight here. Calm down and have a friendly conversation. Don't get me wrong I just saying I can start to see the steam here. OK.

Stotan:
Play nice guys. Let not start a fight here. Calm down and have a friendly conversation. Don't get me wrong I just saying I can start to see the steam here. OK.

its not a Valve product!

(ok ok lame monday morning joke)

I hated age of conan

Unahim:
http://wowriot.gameriot.com/blogs/Epidemic-Obesity/Age-of-Conan-Desperate-for-Subscribers/

Discuss this sad news about the apparent struggles of the next step in MMO's.

Will Funcom manage to bait 430.000 more players to have AoC persevere in the months to come, especially with things like Wrath of the Lich King, WAR and maybe even a surprise encounter with the alleged release of Darkfall on the horizon?

I guess only time will tell...

AoC isnt that bad. It wasnt for me, but I was a little bit angered by the way the development team handled Closed Beta

Shame, the developpers were pretty optimistic about it.

Why not read up about. AoC 2.38 is out as of tomorrow.. The community is in a tissy and players swarming to AoC.

lol....or not.

Well, at least now I have an excuse to look at muscular men all day, hehehe.