[VG] Producer's Letter

[Jordan Jax]

Originally Posted by Kreugen

Correct. Because when something is done one way, and succeeds, it breeds more like it. This can be good and bad. You know, like evolution. Some things I hope succeed, others I don't. I want the genre to evolve in a way I like.

I did try to like Vanguard - hell I even bought it, because curiosity will get me to play just about anything - but it actually failed for many more reasons than the ones I primarily disagreed with. Just because I wanted it to fail does not mean I still did not hope it would surprise me, because I sure as hell would be happy to have another quality MMO instead of another failed disaster. Its not as contradictory as it sounds. I mean, I'd be happy if Brittney Spears put out a rockin ass metal album, but I believe the odds of that are so low that I'm better off hoping she drowns herself.

I don't want Uwe Boll movies to make billions, because they are terrible. But if one turns out awesome, I can still enjoy it.

I don't want Virginia's new $3000 speeding ticket law to work out, because I want it to go away. (ironically, the lawmakers are complaining that its not making them enough money) However, I've never had a ticket, so does it really affect me?

I don't want Hummer Super Sized Penis edition to sell well, because I think 8mph behemoths are fucking despicable. Easy solution: I don't buy one.

I don't want athletes who shoot up illegal drugs to become superstars with no repercussions, because then everyone else will say hey, so and so does it and he gets away with it, so can I. At the same time, I don't want anyone on my team to get caught.

There are a billion parallels that make just as much sense.

Maybe you're just attacking me because you're a fucking fanboy, or maybe you just like to argue, but there's not a god damn thing stupid or unnatural about hoping something you don't like fails so that others don't go and repeat the same damn mistakes. Its perfectly fucking human. Don't mistake me for one of these raving idiots that actually *hates* Vanguard, or SoE, or Brad, or any other such stupid bullshit. The only thing I hate is standing in a fucking line for my turn to have fun in a MMO, and I'm quite happy that a game that was built from the ground up around the entire premise of "sharing dungeons with 800 other people is the best" failed.

Any other stupid questions?

Sure.

Why can't the genre evolve in a way everybody likes, instead of just the way you like?

[FoghornDeadhorn]

Lots of people wish that WoW would have failed for the same reasons. Things that make WoW popular are ways in which they don't want MMOs to evolve. This has been posted thousands of times on these boards, but no one blinks at it because WoW is a smashing success. It's ok to say you had those feelings about Vanguard -- really. Even though I didn't, because I knew that the Vanguard formula would never 'catch on.'

[Edit] ^ Didn't know Kreugen controlled the industry. I guess if you want one candidate to win this year you want to take the rights away from all your fellow voters.

[Hateyou]

Originally Posted by Jordan Jax

Sure.

Why can't the genre evolve in a way everybody likes, instead of just the way you like?

What do you not get here idiot? There is no way "everybody" likes because it's fucking opinion, and every opinion is different. Just like you and many others were hoping VG succeeded, there were many that wanted to see it fail so it didn't influence the genre in the direction they don't like.

You look like a fucking retard/fanboy. All 7 of your posts have been slobbing Brads dick/defending Vanguard. Get over it man, the game was trash from the beginning.

If it turns out you are actually a Brad McQuaid sock puppet account I wouldn't be suprised. It would be fucking hilarious though.

[Snugglebear]

Originally Posted by Lhon

The funny part is that almost everyone on the betaboards complained about those caves, then Brad posted that he spent the whole night in generic_cave_121 and "had a blast". Then beta testers responded with comments like "were you high?", and "give me some of what you're smoking". I'm sure they were meant jokingly, but those comments were closer to the mark than everyone knew. Wow.

ROFL. I wish we could split off a thread with just quotes of Brad on the beta boards, and attempt to analyze whether he was high or not.

[Rayne]

Originally Posted by Snugglebear

ROFL. I wish we could split off a thread with just quotes of Brad on the beta boards, and attempt to analyze whether he was high or not.

Thats pretty easy even from the posts he made here on this board:

Anything starting with:

We will....
We are....
We do....

Hes out of his mind.

Anything starting with:

We hope....
We might....
We'll try....

Are most likely brief moments of lucidity

[Hateyou]

Wish I still had the beta post from him when he flipped out and yelled at every one. He was telling people to shut up and stop whining and Sigil is going to make the game the way they wanted to, so tough shit. It was hilarious.

[Ravensign]

Originally Posted by Jordan Jax

Sure.

Why can't the genre evolve in a way everybody likes, instead of just the way you like?

Do you think this statement makes sense?

[Jordan Jax]

Originally Posted by Hateyou

What do you not get here idiot? There is no way "everybody" likes because it's fucking opinion, and every opinion is different. Just like you and many others were hoping VG succeeded, there were many that wanted to see it fail so it didn't influence the genre in the direction they don't like.

You look like a fucking retard/fanboy. All 7 of your posts have been slobbing Brads dick/defending Vanguard. Get over it man, the game was trash from the beginning.

If it turns out you are actually a Brad McQuaid sock puppet account I wouldn't be suprised. It would be fucking hilarious though.

Jesus Christ.

Ok, let me slow it down there for ya Sparky:

I'm not asking why the mmorpg genre can't evolve one single "way" that everybody likes, as you are intimating above. I'm asking why it can't evolve in many different ways that will satisfy the taste/preferences of all the fans of the genre. Why can't we have a successful game with instances and another successful game w/out instances? Why can't we have a successful game focusing on solo content and fast leveling and another successful game focusing on group content and slow leveling? Why do all mmorpgs need to follow the same basic tenets, and how can you or anyone possibly think that would be a good thing for the long-term health of the genre?

Put another way so you don't look as stupid this time, why must mmorpgs only go in 1 direction, instead of 2 or 3 or 10 directions?

If i were you, i'd be a little more frugal with throwing "idiot" and "retard" out there.

[Jordan Jax]

Originally Posted by Ravensign

Do you think this statement makes sense?

Yes. What do i win?

[Hateyou]

Originally Posted by Jordan Jax

Put another way so you don't look as stupid this time, why must mmorpgs only go in 1 direction, instead of 2 or 3 or 10 directions?

No one has said it must only go in one direction except for you implying that Kreugen said that. I'm not the one looking stupid, you retarded idiot.

Edit : redundant!

[Jordan Jax]

Originally Posted by Hateyou

No one but you has said it must only go in one direction except for you implying that Kreugen said that. I'm not the one looking stupid, you retarded idiot.

You really should have taken my advice.

[Gryeyes]

Originally Posted by Jordan Jax

Sure.

Why can't the genre evolve in a way everybody likes, instead of just the way you like?

Why cant it? It fucking is evolving in multiple ways catering to specific peoples tastes. Sadly for VG the market for an MMO that is 10% finished and an utter train wreck is very small and fairly stupid.

[Itzena]

Originally Posted by Jordan Jax

Sure.

Why can't the genre evolve in a way everybody likes, instead of just the way you like?

Ignoring that aforementioned "Not everybody likes the same thing", let's make an assumption. Let's assume that you actually meant "Why can't the genre evolve in the way that the majority likes?"

Have you looked at the various subscription numbers recently?

[Vatoreus]

This board is filled with righteous cunts. I fucking love that about it here.

[tad10]

Originally Posted by Wolfen

I agree with some of Brad's philosophies. I believe that an EQ-type death penalty is the best way to do it. The feeling of danger draws people together into groups and the feeling of accomplishment in the face of death is very rewarding. I also prefer very limited instancing over mostly instanced.

The above is just my opinion, so don't shout me down because you think the opposite. My point is there are people out there that like EQ-style games over WoW style games. Neither style is wrong, it's just different strokes for different folks.

Pretty much agree with this. I don't like WoW for some of these reasons (over-instancing in particular) but recognize that that is what a lot of folks want -- so more power to them.

On the other side, say what you will about VG as she was released (uber buggy; missing content; etc) -- but anyone using VG as 'proof' that EQ-style (death penalty, low-to-no instancing) can't succeed is a moron. Had VG been released where it is today (even including the BOE bullshit) it would have been able to sustain 200-250k subs. Which is succesful by any non-Blizzard standard.