Age of Conan

AoC, IMO, needed more testing before release.

Some say because Funcom is evil. Others say it was over hyped.

I have an idea why it was released in the stae it was.

First lets think about something besides the game itself  and look at what might be the real reason for it's too early release.

Investors.

It has been my experiance that investors tend to be people with money and little exposure to video games.

Video games are for kids. I've seen this opinion stated from investor types before. Goth chick, a friend of mine(close friend), brings her DS to work. Well, all of us in the "pool"(techs and hardware folks) usually have some sort of device with us for games. The business types we deal with have refered to her DS as a child's toy. A plaything.

I feel this may be an issue when your plugging a online "toy" like AoC. Investors hear game and think children playing a video game online. They may not be able to wrap thier heads around the concept that MMO games aren't just a video game for children. Yes, AoC has an M rating, but investors may not take notice of this.

So, what happens? Investors get on board and wait for thier investment to pay off. Maybe not understanding that an MMO is no light undetaking and may not be expecting a long wait for a pay off.

A few years later, thier money is still going in for development with nothing to show for it in thier eyes.

Now investors begin to wonder why this children's game is taking so long and so much of thier money. Funcom explains that MMO games take alot of time to develope and get going but be worth the wait.

Inverstors are tired of waiting and threaten to pull funding because they are tired of dumping money into this children's game with no return.

Funcom decides to release it. The game isn't done. Things are mssing, but investors are gonna pull funding. They need to do something.

Now we have AoC in it present state. It is making money. Investors are begining to see a return. Some players are disappointed in AoC and quit the game. some don't, and relize that the game can only get better and cotinue to play in hopes of a better game down the road. Some people are so fanatical about the game it scares some folks(lol).

That's my guess as to why AoC was released the way it was. I could be wrong.

I do know that some investors understand that an MMO isn't jut a kid's online toy, but I feel alot don't understand that.

Anyway, I had nothinjg better to do at work and wrote this =)

You don't need a theory to realize investors are the scum of the industry.

Originally posted by HashBrick

You don't need a theory to realize investors are the scum of the industry.

Without investors, you'd have no games.

DURRRR

What hurts is prodcution executives making wild, crazy stories to lure investors, who then epxect to get teh $$ in return.   Most investors only care about the $$, which is FINE.  That's what they do.  The problem is when people sell them a song, get the funding, and then cannot produce, and are forced to release crapware on the gamers.  And the gamers are who sop up this garbage help feed the investors.

Blame the Gamers for buying crap products, blame the producers for sellign unrealistic ideas... don't blame the investors for wanting their $$.

Originally posted by MrVicchio

Originally posted by HashBrick

You don't need a theory to realize investors are the scum of the industry.

 

Without investors, you'd have no games.

 

DURRRR

 

What hurts is prodcution executives making wild, crazy stories to lure investors, who then epxect to get teh $$ in return.   Most investors only care about the $$, which is FINE.  That's what they do.  The problem is when people sell them a song, get the funding, and then cannot produce, and are forced to release crapware on the gamers.  And the gamers are who sop up this garbage help feed the investors.

 

Blame the Gamers for buying crap products, blame the producers for sellign unrealistic ideas... don't blame the investors for wanting their $$.

 

 

Well no, he is kinda right.

Investors always try to have a say in what goes on. Look at movies. When a movie is being made Producers (investors) will try to have thier say in the script, story, etc. They will try to force a change that they feel will cause the movie to appeal to more people and rake in more money.

You are correct as well.

The gamers are way too willing to be accepting of something on the hopes it will get better with time.

Funcom has 53m in reserves, they released early so they can beat War and plant there roots in the MMO scene. They know they can patch content in, by the time War comes out AoC will be a big player.

If it's true Funcom was developing this game for 5 years as they stated, there is no way they would push it back more. They are still working on fixing things (specially the female combat issue) and they stated that it will take a couple of weeks to fix that.

This game should be called The Pirates of Tortage. I bet the game will sell well for Xbox  though.

Originally posted by BogSvarog

Funcom has 53m in reserves, they released early so they can beat War and plant there roots in the MMO scene. They know they can patch content in, by the time War comes out AoC will be a big player.

Yes they wanted to beat WAR out of the gate. But once people play a MMO and quit cause of bugs,lack of content. etc its hard get customers back. People will go back to older MMOs they quit until the next big game comes out which is WAR anyways.

So basicly you concept AOC will be a big player by time WAR comes out is wrong plain and simple. Initial launch is what makes or breaks a MMO and AOC screwed themselves. Hoping to keep people playing and getting players back just doesn't work much at all when it comes to MMOs. Vangaurd is much better game now and they can't get players to go back and SOE is even giving away a free month to people who bought the game. SOE gave away 2 months free to EQ 1 and EQ 2 and though they may get some customers from it still people will go to the next big game when it launches. AOC just pushed alot players to WAR who were disapointed with AOC.

I would think they also wanted to be the only new game out for the summer.

Or they wanted to get a jump on blizzard and warhammer that ship this fall...

If it had released as a 100% finished game it would only have increased its self life until the end of the year. Because at its very core AoC is extremely flawed and limited and was doomed to die out anyway. Perhaps that is what funcom realized and decided to get the money from retail sales and not waste more time in development.

Originally posted by BogSvarog

Funcom has 53m in reserves, they released early so they can beat War and plant there roots in the MMO scene. They know they can patch content in, by the time War comes out AoC will be a big player.

Do you really think that releasing too early an unfinished(very unfinished)product to "beat" another product, which has been pushed back on release date but it's keep getting better and better,is a good strategy? .IMHO I think not.