Quote Originally Posted by Alcyon_Densetsu View Post
No real competitor as we speak, but there have been some in the sandbox genre, and some quite big (such as SWG for instance). No competition is a factor, indeed, but certainly the quality of the game itself should not be dismissed, nor the stance with which CCCP approach its player base. By all means they've done it right.
SWG was a sandbox game turned themepark which alienated it's own subscriber base. The problem with most sandbox games is that they take an attitude of "Wow! People really like my sandbox game let's include other mmorpg elements and.. well, we lost our devoted following." CCP has done right by keeping the game what it is and not deviating from their vision. EvE is a great game but the problem is this isn't a sandbox game and the market is saturated with similar titles all competing for the limelight. Nowadays you have two choices. Make the game hardcore to please the hard core gamers creating a small circle of devoted followers or appease the casuals. Most businesses opt for the latter because there simply is more casuals. You just try to make challenging content that also keeps as much of the hard core crowd as you can but asking for the company to appeal to the hardcore and only the hardcore is asking it to commit financial suicide.