Do you think the Square-Enix label will help EQ2 sell?

[Zefah]

I truely hate this western view of being "male". Just because the models don't look like overly muscular hairy white guys with receding hairlines and tattooed covered bodies doesn't mean they have to be effeminate.

[Moontayle]

Originally Posted by Taggle

I disagree. EQ and WoW are not a good comparison. EQII and WoW are both built for the same type of gamer. EQII just decided to "go casual" a little later than WoW, and didnt do it quite as effectively. EQII is a decent enough game, but it seemed to lack a focus.

I think what we can learn from the current MMOGs is that you have to have focus. The "second gen" games taught us you cant be all things to all people..which means there is room for more than a couple titles on the market.

No, EQ2 and WoW cannot be compared even on a remote level. For all their similarities, WoW is more successful on the name brand of Blizzard than anything else. Try and tell me that if the same game canceptually, albeit without the warcraft lore, had come out under SOE that it would have been just as successful and I'll call you a friggin' liar.

But name brand can only go so far I think. I mean, how many complaints do we see these days about Blizzard and WoW? It's almost like a rehash of the early days of EQ1.

[Sylas]

And 200k+ users is laughably low? Thats a good 3 million a month, 36 million a year...

Just because it wasn't as successful as EQ/WOW doesn't mean it was a failure, its doing a LOT better than the vast majority of games according to MMOGCHART.com, In fact there is only 6 other games that are higher than it and a LOT that suffer far worse. (And several of those are artificially high due to internet cafe licences messing with the figures.) Hell, if my company had a product like that we would be dancing in the streets.

Laughably low compared to the their internal forecasts, marketing budget, and development costs, yes. Laughably low compared to MMO marketspace? Nah, they're doing fine. One thing is for certain tho, they have the most expensive 200k+ subscriber base of any MMO made to date (in both investment costs and subscriber losses)

Originally Posted by Moontayle

No, EQ2 and WoW cannot be compared even on a remote level. For all their similarities, WoW is more successful on the name brand of Blizzard than anything else. Try and tell me that if the same game canceptually, albeit without the warcraft lore, had come out under SOE that it would have been just as successful and I'll call you a friggin' liar.

But name brand can only go so far I think. I mean, how many complaints do we see these days about Blizzard and WoW? It's almost like a rehash of the early days of EQ1.

Just as successful? Yes. As quickly? probably not. This "brand name" argument lost its validity about 6 months ago, you can jump off that bandwagon and find something else to justify you misguided views.

[Jait]

Originally Posted by Moontayle

No, EQ2 and WoW cannot be compared even on a remote level. For all their similarities.....

And your premise came to a screeching halt.


In any event kiddies, just cause you're pissed at WoW today, don't come take it out on these EQ2 players. They're discussing their game, you go discuss yours.

[Mkopec1]

Originally Posted by Sylas

Just as successful? Yes. As quickly? probably not. This "brand name" argument lost its validity about 6 months ago, you can jump off that bandwagon and find something else to justify you misguided views.

Come on dude, you dont think having the big old BLIZZARD and WARCRAFT on the front of the box helped them sell their shit by the truckloads?

Add to this that you can basically get a WoW box in any Wallmart or K-mart or any of the other huge mega stores and you see why WoW is doing so good. Plus the game from 1-60 is pretty fucking decent. Last time I was in Wallmart I didnt notice a EQ2 or EQ game there, but guess what, there was a shitload of WoW boxes sitting there.

But to say that the "brand name" has lost its validity six months ago is quite foolish. Its all about brand name and name recognition.

Basically anyone which played any of the other Blizz games is gonna buy WoW. Or really wants to, but mommy aint dishing out $15 a month.

[masteen]

Given how nuts the JPN seemed to be for FFXI, I'm going to guess that EQ2 won't have nearly enough pain to satisfy them.

[Moontayle]

Originally Posted by Jait

And your premise came to a screeching halt.


In any event kiddies, just cause you're pissed at WoW today, don't come take it out on these EQ2 players. They're discussing their game, you go discuss yours.

Considering I play EQ2 (am playing right now in fact), and have since launch, I think I have the right to sit here and state my opinions about the game.

The comparison between the games begins and ends at the Blizzard name brand vs. the SOE name brand. One is more powerful than the other. End of story.

But to say that the "brand name" has lost its validity six months ago is quite foolish. Its all about brand name and name recognition.

Basically anyone which played any of the other Blizz games is gonna buy WoW. Or really wants to, but mommy aint dishing out $15 a month.

A-fucking-men.

[Fammaden]

Originally Posted by Mkopec1

Come on dude, you dont think having the big old BLIZZARD and WARCRAFT on the front of the box helped them sell their shit by the truckloads?

Add to this that you can basically get a WoW box in any Wallmart or K-mart or any of the other huge mega stores and you see why WoW is doing so good. Plus the game from 1-60 is pretty fucking decent. Last time I was in Wallmart I didnt notice a EQ2 or EQ game there, but guess what, there was a shitload of WoW boxes sitting there.

The PC games shelves at my local Wal Mart has every EQ title in existence. Plus WoW, SWG, GW, UO, AO, probably more. The worst thing about getting a game there to me is that they never have a new title until it has been out for a week or more.

[Dantre]

Loyalty to Blizzard's name brought in my friends to WoW - who laughed and gave me shit for playing 'nerd fests' like EQ. To this day they don't believe WoW is anything like EQ heh

If EQ had been released under blizzard, they'd have bought it.

I doubt SoE carries that kind of weight in Asia... Maybe we'll see another 200,000 users - who knows. But if it's anything like the deal EQ worked out with for their european servers, it won't be nearly as much income as gaining half that in US subscribers.

[Iannis]

Last time I was in a Wal-Mart the only games I saw on their lackluster PC shelf were MMO boxes. One or two Camelots, and shitton of EQ Platinums, and Sims "Hawt Sexx0rs" expansion packs. Oh, and some dusty Dual Jewels. That's how I got/replaced my copies of Planescape and Fallout.

Blizzard games were probably stolen from the shelves. Wal-Mart security isn't the l33test in the world.

I think "overly muscular and hairy white guy" just summed up SoT men quite well. Perhaps you should ghost write for Terry Goodkind... he obviously isn't up to the job of it anymore :grimace: rethinking my "gonna read books instead of MMO until Vanguard" idea
no grimace emoticon blows.

[Mkopec1]

At my local wal-mart last time I checked I saw Like 30 WoW boxes, 10 boxes of FFXI, no EQ and some run in the mill 1 player games.

Maybe the EQ boxes sold out? <-------- Hahahhaahaa! Joke

[leane]

Originally Posted by Jait

Their models are a lot better, albeit very 'Final Fantasy on Norrath'.

To answer your question: No.

I really don't think there's anyone that can truly complain about EQ2s graphics, imho they're without a doubt the best out there. It's the gameplay that drives everyone up a wall, not the graphics. So I don't really see how it would help it sell, at least not in NA.

It might help it indirectly since I doubt that only the character models would cross back over. Might get some other benefits here too such as additional content and stuff.

The comparison between the games begins and ends at the Blizzard name brand vs. the SOE name brand. One is more powerful than the other. End of story.

Exactly...
Just look at MMOGCHART.com at the total subscribers... July 04 is 2.5 million and july 05 is 5 million

Blizzard didn't steal 2 million subscribers from all the other games... it brought in 2 million NEW players who previously were not subscribing, mainly blizzard fans.

Blizzard targeted the correct audiance, the more casual players who play thousands of games of Diablo, diablo 2, starcraft and warcraft. These players are gonna be totally happy with what they have

EQ2 didn't have the brand name except for with current MMPOG players, many of who weren't as willing to leave their familiar abodes. EQ2 is lightening itself up and adjusting a bit to provide a broader appeal, kinda like EQ did over a period of years (the so called dumbing down of the game), But I don't see it as ever having a chance to come near WoW fandom, really doubt we'll see almost any other game come near blizzards brand name, Only Squaresoft can come close I think.