As the thread about AoC's Xfire numbers decreasing has been quite popular, I figured I'd start a small poll where people can guess and discuss where the game will eventually level out on the Xfire graphs.

Just for reference, here are some other current MMOG numbers from Xfire:

WoW: ~400k
Guild Wars: ~35k
Silkroad: ~27k
Cabal: ~16k two weeks ago, jumped to ~45k after that (putting them in the 15-20k bracket below)
Flyff: ~15k
Eve: ~12.5k
LotRO: ~9k
Lineage II: ~6.5k
SWG: ~4.5k
EQII and Runescape: ~3k
CoH: ~2.5k, with a sudden jump these last few days
EQ and PotBS: ~1.25k
AO: ~1k
UO: ~750

Please note that the numbers are not a true representation of each MMOG's popularity, subscriptions and/or regular players, only how many hours have been put into the game by Xfire users (predominantly having an FPS gamer core, I believe) who had Xfire running while playing.

I couldn't care less.

AoC is meant to be 18+ & 43% of Xfire users are aged 12-17, so why is it supposed to be relevant?

Originally posted by LondonMagus

I couldn't care less.

AoC is meant to be 18+ & 43% of Xfire users are aged 12-17, so why is it supposed to be relevant?

Keyword : "meant"  --- That means "supposed to be". I suspect that the 12 to 17 (and below) play this game because lets face it... just like most rated games.

Where AoC will level out or end up ? I would not like to guess. IMHO, hopefully enough people will leave for funcom to think long and hard about their next big MMO release. Various issues  people have experienced on this board make me steer clear untill a free trial / better feedback from peoples. But .. meh.. after VG I am jaded.

Originally posted by tombear81

Originally posted by LondonMagus

I couldn't care less.

AoC is meant to be 18+ & 43% of Xfire users are aged 12-17, so why is it supposed to be relevant?

Keyword : "meant"  --- That means "supposed to be". I suspect that the 12 to 17 (and below) play this game because lets face it... just like most rated games.

Where AoC will level out or end up ? I would not like to guess. IMHO, hopefully enough people will leave for funcom to think long and hard about their next big MMO release. Various issues  people have experienced on this board make me steer clear untill a free trial / better feedback from peoples. But .. meh.. after VG I am jaded.

I agree with you completely which is why I used the word 'meant', but it still indicates that Xfire are heavily skewed toward the younger age bands & therefore not representative of the general player base.

I can understand why people are annoyed, but not why others are obsessed with wanting to see it fail.

If Funcom do manage to fix things in time & enough people are left that still enjoy playing it to survive the bumpy launch & start building a stable commmunity, what is wrong with that?

I played Vanguard at launch as well, or rather I tried but could barely move at all due to the chronic performance issues. Vanguard seems to have a loyal following now & whilst I am not tempted to try it again, I don't begrudge the people that currently enjoy it because it was such a disaster for me.

Originally posted by LondonMagus

I couldn't care less.

AoC is meant to be 18+ & 43% of Xfire users are aged 12-17, so why is it supposed to be relevant?

not sure where you get the age data for Xfire, but that would explain why AoC's Xfire data numbers are so high. This game seems to be marketed at a younger crowd with it's pixilated semi - nudity and claims of being for a " mature" audience LOL

Originally posted by LondonMagus

I couldn't care less.

AoC is meant to be 18+ & 43% of Xfire users are aged 12-17, so why is it supposed to be relevant?

I already pointed out in the first post that the numbers are not a true representation, as it's based purely on the Xfire community's time in the games. That's interesting numbers about Xfire though. Do you have a source/link for more of those? I'm a sucker for (reliable) numbers. :-)

I think it'll be interesting to see whether the guesses of this forum community turn out to be too optimistic, too pessimistic or pretty much dead on a month or two down the road. So the poll is maybe more about this forum community than about AoC itself.

Originally posted by LondonMagus

I can understand why people are annoyed, but not why others are obsessed with wanting to see it fail.

If Funcom do manage to fix things in time & enough people are left that still enjoy playing it to survive the bumpy launch & start building a stable commmunity, what is wrong with that?

Fully agree with this. I hope people "vote" what they think will happen, not what they want. And wanting any game to fail is in my opinion a petty thing.

Originally posted by LondonMagus

I couldn't care less.

AoC is meant to be 18+ & 43% of Xfire users are aged 12-17, so why is it supposed to be relevant?

wheres your proof of xfires user ages?

why is it relevant? cause nothing that conducts "studies" is ever applied to every user/consumer of that product. Testing of new medicines is given to a general number of people who could benefit from it's intended use. if the numbers show promise (XX%+ approval rating) then it is assumed it would work with a larger number of people of a larger scale. Basic percentages of math, but you do win the argument of not all gamers use xfire.

AoC is ment to be 18+ (oh wait blood and boobies got nerfed)

I imagine AoC will eventually settle to around LotRO numbers.

Which isn't a bad thing, LotRO numbers are enough to survive, thrive and profit .

Originally posted by LondonMagus

I couldn't care less.

AoC is meant to be 18+ & 43% of Xfire users are aged 12-17, so why is it supposed to be relevant?

This is funny. You have hopped into the Xfire thread many a time and noted how we have been making broad generalizations about the validity of the Xfire numbers.

Then you go an make a comment with ZERO data to back it up..i.e: Generalizations.

You sire are quite foolish.

PS: I use Xfire and I am 45. I know at least 3 others using Xfire who are between 30-40.

Epic Fail for you.

53% of the people that use Xfire are over 18, that is more then those that are under last time I checked.

Originally posted by LondonMagus

I couldn't care less.

AoC is meant to be 18+ & 43% of Xfire users are aged 12-17, so why is it supposed to be relevant?

Just like every single GTA game was meant to be 18+...

Originally posted by Dreamagram

Originally posted by LondonMagus

I couldn't care less.

AoC is meant to be 18+ & 43% of Xfire users are aged 12-17, so why is it supposed to be relevant?

I already pointed out in the first post that the numbers are not a true representation, as it's based purely on the Xfire community's time in the games. That's interesting numbers about Xfire though. Do you have a source/link for more of those? I'm a sucker for (reliable) numbers. :-)

I think it'll be interesting to see whether the guesses of this forum community turn out to be too optimistic, too pessimistic or pretty much dead on a month or two down the road. So the poll is maybe more about this forum community than about AoC itself.

Originally posted by LondonMagus

I can understand why people are annoyed, but not why others are obsessed with wanting to see it fail.

If Funcom do manage to fix things in time & enough people are left that still enjoy playing it to survive the bumpy launch & start building a stable commmunity, what is wrong with that?

Fully agree with this. I hope people "vote" what they think will happen, not what they want. And wanting any game to fail is in my opinion a petty thing.

Not so petty actually.  AoC was meant to be a tripple A rated game and was one of the most eagerly awaited titles in the MMO genre.  What FC delivered was a half finished mess and the game going down in flames would be the best thing to happen to the MMO industry in years.  The spectacular failure of a game like AoC would send a clear message to other developers that the paying public will no longer accept broken promises, lies and half arsed cash cows.  This may seem harsh for those that play the game but the industry would be better for it in the long term and that means that it's the players who would eventually benefit from higher quality titles.