AOC - General Discussion II

[PosterOfStuff]

Originally Posted by spronk

http://www.funcom.com/funcom/fronten...ual_Report.pdf is an interesting read, gives breakdowns of how much AoC has cost (around $40m in 2006 & 2007, probably $70m total?). They got a 10 year Conan license in 2003, and updated it to be active till 2023 last year - they are the only ones who can make Conan games. Some interesting tidbits:

page 11: their next MMO, Secret World, is already playable (dec 2007) and after AoC launches they will be transferring devs from AoC to Secret World

page 12: Secret World will also be targeting the Asian market, and their Beijing office is playing a big role in asset and art production

page 14: the casual gaming segment is one of the fastest growing areas of online gaming and Funcom has R&D ongoing on two new casual MMOs. Funcom intends to become a leading independent developer of casual MMO offerings.

I wonder how the licence works (or what it covers). I thought Robert E. Howards work was public domain, or is the game drawing from the movies and works released by other authors. (I would of just based the game on the stories so no licence would of been needed then)

[Linus]

Originally Posted by Twobit Whore

You have something to confirm that? Or is that just your opinion?
Is Xfire the Next MySpace? - Feb. 17, 2006

A over-two-year-old CNN article? Really?

The graphs were somewhat impressive but this is just grasping at straws.

[Twobit Whore]

Originally Posted by Linus

A over-two-year-old CNN article? Really?

The graphs were somewhat impressive but this is just grasping at straws.

Was just reference saying that xfire is not some obscure program that only the most hardcore people use.

It's pretty damn popular across all spectrums. 3 million in 2006 which is probably double that now.

Maybe there is 5 million hardcore gamers using it only, if you have anything that suggests that I would be glad to see it.

Oops, over 8 million as of last year: Xfire hits 8 million users // News // GamesIndustry.biz

With a lot in Europe.

Ah, over 10 million now: Xfire reaches 10 million registered users // GamesIndustry.biz

"Our ten million users make up an incredibly active and dedicated community logged over 16,000 years on Xfire in the month of April alone," said Xfire General Manager Adam Boyden.

All hardcore, /nod.

Here is a rather interesting tidbit: Xfire: World of Warcraft hours drop // News // GamesIndustry.biz

Average hours spent by Xfire users daily playing World of Warcraft have dropped by nearly 18 per cent from August numbers, according to data from the community and data application for the month of September.

It sets a pattern which is mirrored across many of the other top ten MMOs, with second-placed Guild Wars showing a 13 per cent drop and third-placed Silkroad Online falling over 27 per cent.

One of the likely main reasons for the drop is the end of the summer holidays for schools and colleges across Europe and the US.

But but but I thought summertimes wuz teh low period!?

Oh wait, AoC is unique.

[Lonin]

Anyone know why, after making three gems for the first gemcrafting quest, it doesn't update? Is it broken, or am I doing something wrong? The quest text is a little sparse as to what exactly you are supposed to do.

Edit - Oh shit, sorry this is off-topic from the bullshit back and forth from the last 5 pages.

Double edit -

You need to make 3 random gems.

You can get one update every time you load into a new zone, either logging in or out or changing zones will allow you to get an update. YOU NEED TO MAKE THE CUT ASAP AFTER YOU ENTER A NEW ZONE IN ORDER FOR THE CUT TO COUNT.

GG Funcom.

[Pyros]

Yeah they haven't bothered to fix it. On the bright side, you don't need a T3 town to level gem cutting to max. It took me about 50mins to level it to max, most of the time was spent zoning between purple lotus and khopsef, or waiting for the npc to give me next quest.

[Cybsled]

Btw, to do the weapon progression quest after you do the regular bloodsilver stuff, do you seriously need to make all those blue items? Thats a fucking shitload of tin. I still can't gather iron cause I have yet to get tin out of probably 130+ copper harvests.

[Jehryn]

Damn Twobit, ever consider ya might need some professional help? I don't mind your baseless ranting and hating but aren't ya taking it a bit to far for a piece of software so supposedly don't even play?

[Twobit Whore]

Originally Posted by Jehryn

Damn Twobit, ever consider ya might need some professional help? I don't mind your baseless ranting and hating but aren't ya taking it a bit to far for a piece of software so supposedly don't even play?

Help for what? Discussing MMOs on an MMO forum?

Sorry, but I didn't instigate this. I got called out for making a normal post and people continued to want to look stupid so I happily helped them on their way.

[Schatze]

I'm arguing the graph because Twobit is claiming he is measuring peak populations of sub 300 at peak play time. Key word: peak play time. I pointed out that the analysis posted was an examination of deviation and that the probe was not fine enough/wrong type of probe.

However, unless there is a specific reason to, and unless it is specifically declared, AFAIK the convention is to use times in GMT yes? The game used was Eve, while we don't know whether any information gathered on Eve is applicable to AOC (and I would say not), a discussion of representativeness and samples and parent populations probably is probably not of interest.

The reason why I shifted the graph to the left is to make up for the GMT-North American play time discrepancy. I used EST since it is roughly the mean difference between PST-EST-GMT. I believe I erred on the side of caution because the fact that Eve is on one server while AOC is segregated into geographical units would actually probably pull where the peak amplitude fell further to the left; fewer Russian outliers etc. Which would put peak time at about noon, +-1-2 hours. Which would mean that the time measured was certainly not peak. You're right, if you randomly selected a certain time there would be no reason to assume it's not representative wherever it fell; however, the argument is in regards to peak play times, not population in general.

Anyways I'm putting up with my end; counting. Will post a name list. Which is easily verifiable by anyone curious.

Will edit in results. Will stop at 300 names.

[Lonin]

Originally Posted by Pyros

Yeah they haven't bothered to fix it. On the bright side, you don't need a T3 town to level gem cutting to max. It took me about 50mins to level it to max, most of the time was spent zoning between purple lotus and khopsef, or waiting for the npc to give me next quest.

Ya, since I posted I'm almost finished, just have to get two more 80 gems. I almost wish you had to have T3 city/Battlekeep to do the master level for the tradeskills to make it a bit more rarefied. Then again, I'm in a guild with that stuff.

[Twobit Whore]

Originally Posted by Schatze

I'm arguing the graph because Twobit is claiming he is measuring peak populations of sub 300 at peak play time.

It's funny how that number keeps going lower. I don't think I ever said sub-300. I thought I said 400-500, maybe I said 300+ range. Not sure, 300 isn't a valid search term with the forum tools.

Someone linked me this little study though: Some data on AOC's server population - Age of Conan Europe Forums

Granted that's not a weekend survey, but I don't know if it would be that much different. I guess even allowing 50% variance a couple of those servers would be lucky to crack 300.

Anyway, I dunno what the big deal is. I don't know know why people have to try to defend a game. I understand that people may feel I am 'attacking' it but in reality I am just discussing, well... reality.

Do I think Funcom sucks? Yeah.. they promised a lot, hid the fact it wasn't there and released a shitty game banking on people funding the development post-release. It's not the first time it's happened and unfortunately I don't think it will be the last. We can hope though.

[Gecko]

I don't use Xfire. I don't know anyone short of a few FPS players who do.

Using a third party program that could have 1% or 5% of AOC subscribers is hardly a valid statistical measure, regardless of what PR crap you are regurgitating. Then again, it's par for the course in this thread.

I eagerly await your next bizarre statistics thread or slams against AOC even though you don't play it, but strangely can't stop discussing it.

Yes, you still are a deceptive little hater hypocritical dude who needs help. Anyone can see you have an axe to grind for some reason, or are just an OCD anti Funcom person for whatever reason.

Keep obsessing with AOC. I'm sure you'll be resubscribed soon just for scientific analysis reasons..

[CalhoonJugganaut]

Just started playing yesterday and its pretty fun so far...I'm gonna need to upgrade my computer though sooner or later. Feels like EverQuest the first time i went on a raid when I go into the cities.

[Twobit Whore]

Originally Posted by Gecko

Keep obsessing with AOC. I'm sure you'll be resubscribed soon just for scientific analysis reasons..

Do you work for Funcom? You seem to have a response for everything. Keep telling yourself everything is gravy and maybe it will be!

No chance on me resubbing, sold my account already.

Doesn't mean I have to forget the game exists though. I find the MMO industry to be pretty fascinating and since it ties in to what I do it affords me the luxury of keeping up with it.

Fastest way to get me to stop responding is to keep your snide jackassery to yourself. Stop trolling and maybe I won't have need to put you back in your place.

[Darvain]

This thread is approaching Rickshaw potential.

I don't know if the subs are declining or raising, although I suspect the former. Almost everyone agrees though that the game is unfinished and buggy. Pretty sure almost everyone agrees Funcom decision makers use poor judgment. These few facts don't portend well for AoC.

I predict that by this Fall, 2008, nobody will dispute that subs have declined severely... Does anyone really think this is a good game in it's current state?

With WotLK and WAR coming, AoC is fucked IMO.