Game population by the numbers.

[wingiehai]

Actually it was an extremely limited alpha that shown almost nothing.



If you think they don't have a sizable influence on them (between other things they make ALL the marketing decisions, and marketing influences content and more), then, as I said, you don't know how game development works.

Unfortunately, proving you wrong doesn't involbe any "vitriol" or "rudeness" or "acting like a child". It just involves trying to help you understand why you should be a little less prone to PR-inducted hype, for your own good. And while it may be unpleasant for you, it doesn't involve any misconduct on my part.




FFXIV's demos at several gaming events met similar reception, and the same can be said about demos of Warhammer Online, Age of COnan, and many others.
Demos are *nothing* else than PR tools. They aren't made and shown to make us a favor so that we can gauge the state of the game and make an informed choice on what to believe. They are purposedly made to make us believe what the developer/publisher wants.

Dude if people want to hype something, they can all they want. The point is that you can't let them? Why can't you let them? I don't think anyone will be as disappointed as they were when FFXIV was released so don't worry we wont be too upset.

[Shelia]

Did you actually see the Paxeast footage today? I mean if they can pull off a smooth launch, this could be exciting! This is what I wanted for FFXIV

I saw a stream of a developer playing the demo and showing off some of the highlights of the game yesterday... it was amazing. It was really nice seeing a developer play the game for once, because he knew what he was doing and what to show the audience. I'm truly hoping ArenaNet can pull this off. I have high hopes for them, and I feel like they're doing a good job by pacing themselves with development. I can wait, as long as it doesn't take until next winter. ><

I haven't felt this much hype for an MMO since FFXI... yes, not even FFXIV had me this excited. Somewhere, deep down in my rocky little heart, I knew SE was going to mess it up somehow.... hahaha

[Arcell]

As much as I liked Guild Wars 1, I don't think Guild Wars 2 will beat FFXIV for me. It sounds like it potentially has some amazing ideas but it really depends on if they pull it off or not. If they do, by all means it'll revolutionize MMOs forever. If they don't it'll be just another kind of disappointing MMO release.

As for Star Wars, from what I've seen it doesn't look like anything special at all. Oh fully voice acted quests, big whoop. Gameplay looks kind of generic, everyone's going to be running around with lightsabers. Then again Star Wars games never really interested me, their brand of sci-fi doesn't do it for me. Not really afraid of guys in white armor going pew pew with their laser guns.

I like the systems of FFXIV, I like the world, I like the current dev team. A lot of these things give me hope that this game will be a major contender come PS3 launch. I'm going to stick around regardless, though I'll try other MMOs if they seem worth even trying. For the time, none come to mind for me.

[NefarioCall]

1 billion? I hope that's a typo lol.

Yes. Yes it is. Make that 1 million. ¬_¬ ♫♪♪♫

I, and I'm sure, quite a few others, am quite happy that there is ONE MMO in the market that actually uses the power of the gaming PC I invested with

I think it's great too, but i point out that a large number of PC based players who cannot play it now, will be able to in the future. They will eventually make up some kind of statistically significant portion of the player base. They also need to decide to play the game though. xD

but not even XI was this bad at release.

Just a reminder that English speaking players got FFXI at the first expansion. FFXIV is still 6 months or more behind that time line.

I think the game will survive fine, but I would predict it capping at around 400-600k subs with a flawless PS3 launch.

If this game were released by a small company, it would already be dead. I don't write that in trolling though. I think it is a bit of a blessing to know SE has the resources to see this through. It also has the FF name.

GW2 biggest issue I have right now is it sounds like a 100% solo game with some form of Semi-auto group feature which is really just a bunch of people soloing on 1 mob which scales up depending on how many ppl are beating on it.

I think a lot of people like a Solo MMO, which was probably the intent of SE with this game to begin with. There is no doubt that this game is more solo friendly than FFXI, and that will attract some players. However, i also feel that party based play is one of FFXI's biggest assets which has not been utilized properly here yet. When party content becomes more abundant, the user base will grow. it is nice to solo, but it can make the world feel really empty at times...

Customers shouldn't have to wait for it to be good.

I agree. Though personally, i am happy that i can play it now rather than wait for it to reach the 'polished' level. To each their own. And it's kind of like crapping about a bad sports trade several years later. It's well.. already happened.

I've never seen an MMO released in really bad shape turn it around and be as big a success as that. Usually they kind of just dwindle with a small player base with slow updates and patches because dev resources get limited.

Well, that's ... quite clear. A very good point.

I personally don't care how high the subs go, as long as ppl play for 10+ years i'm good

Agreed, and i think it will, though i nervously look at the last bit i quoted.

But at least we know Guildwars 2 will have content

Just in case this was missed by anyone, the current lead battle programmer is the guy who designed FFXI's later battle content. That won't make everyone happy to hear of course, but for me personally, i am very excited to see what the content will be. if it's good, i'll play it.

the great thing is, when you see that a game is not what you thought, you can go back to your previous MMO or find a band new one all together. that's the beauty of MMOs, there is never a shortage of options

And SE's devotion to this game will ensure that plenty of people see FFXIV as an option in the future on those very grounds.

[Abriael]

Dude if people want to hype something, they can all they want. The point is that you can't let them? Why can't you let them? I don't think anyone will be as disappointed as they were when FFXIV was released so don't worry we wont be too upset.

The fact that I'm discussing about it (in a discussion forum) doesn't mean that I'm suddely removing your right to be hyped.

Wanna be hyped? do so. At your own risk. But this is a discussion forum, and people will discuss.

[Forlorn]

In December 2003, Square Enix president Yoichi Wada announced that there were over 200,000 subscribers to Final Fantasy XI, allowing the company to break even and start making a profit. Back in April 2009 FFXI hit 2,000,000 active characters. No idea if this considers mules or not. There were between 200,000 and 300,000 active players daily in 2006.As of August 14, 2006 the Xbox 360 version was the sixth most played game on Xbox Live.

Seems FFXI had a slow start but held steady. No idea what the numbers are like now. Still no where near other games which is the saddening part. FFXIV should have been better, damn Square =(

[wingiehai]

I saw a stream of a developer playing the demo and showing off some of the highlights of the game yesterday... it was amazing. It was really nice seeing a developer play the game for once, because he knew what he was doing and what to show the audience. I'm truly hoping ArenaNet can pull this off. I have high hopes for them, and I feel like they're doing a good job by pacing themselves with development. I can wait, as long as it doesn't take until next winter. ><

I haven't felt this much hype for an MMO since FFXI... yes, not even FFXIV had me this excited. Somewhere, deep down in my rocky little heart, I knew SE was going to mess it up somehow.... hahaha

I have to agree this was the first MMO I told my friends, dudes wait awhile for this one! But with the clip today the dynamic events were very very cool and if they reckon they have the scaling right for however many players join! They also said regardless of levels your friend and bump you up levels to suit the situation or you can be leveled down too! The combat looks pretty insane, lets just wait and see !

[Shelia]

The problem isn't that Abrieal is a fanboi defending his beloved FF serious against you 2 vicious clowns. It's that you are basing everything off of what you are being force feed on the internet. So basically if everyone used your logic, Warhammer Online would be the greatest MMO ever and it would be the only MMO on the market right now with 80 million subscribers, because that game was hyped that much. Guild Wars will be popular, for a few months, and fade. From what I have seen, it's not as impressive as you 2 make it out to be. There are lots of MMO, you 2 can play which ever you like, and the great thing is, when you see that a game is not what you thought, you can go back to your previous MMO or find a band new one all together. that's the beauty of MMOs, there is never a shortage of options

Um... we never said he was a fanboy. I think all of us here are "fans" of FFXIV.
What else do we have to base GW2 off of...? It's not like the game is out yet. He said "Oh there's no new info and its all hype" and I simply responded by saying "No, there is info and these articles/videos back the hype up". I'm not attacking anybody here. That isn't my intent. =)

The reason Warhammer failed is because the game itself failed to live up to what the devs said it would be upon release. ArenaNet is genuinely trying to pace themselves and live up to their claims before they release a product halfassedly like with Warhammer and Age of Conan... and FFXIV.

Even if you don't think GW2 is impressive, that's fine. Everybody's entitled to their own opinions, so please don't attack me for enjoying GW2 and what I've read so far. :3

[wingiehai]

The fact that I'm discussing about it (in a discussion forum) doesn't mean that I'm suddely removing your right to be hyped.

Wanna be hyped? do so. At your own risk. But this is a discussion forum, and people will discuss.

This is also true and I probably seemed a bit rude earlier. But you have to realize when you discuss something read peoples post and read what they say, we are hyped for the information that we have seen, i'm 25 years old I know the world of MMOS very very well. We are fully aware of how bad a launch can go, I have played them all. Guildwars with a bit of luck will do very well, and there is no subscription. I would never mind paying for a game but if this game can do all it says and be free, then let the good times role.

[Abriael]

Um... we never said he was a fanboy. I think all of us here are "fans" of FFXIV.
What else do we have to base GW2 off of...? It's not like the game is out yet. He said "Oh there's no new info and its all hype" and I simply responded by saying "No, there is info and these articles/videos back the hype up". I'm not attacking anybody here. That isn't my intent. =)

Maybe wait until you can play the beta before deciding it's gonna be all end all just a piece of advice.

The reason Warhammer failed is because the game itself failed to live up to what the devs said it would be upon release. ArenaNet is genuinely trying to pace themselves and live up to their claims before they release a product halfassedly like with Warhammer and Age of Conan... and FFXIV.

Are you perchance saying that the warhammer online and age of conan devs didn't do whatever they could to pull off the best product they could?
You couldn't be more wrong.
Both developers delayed the released of their games multiple times (two for WAR, Three for AoC), and put all their resources into both games.
Both development teams were composed by extremely passionate individuals and very talented artist/programmers/directors and all. There's no reason to believe that they are in any way inferior to ArenaNet.

Mythic, just to bring an example, made DAOC, which is considered one of the best MMORPGs ever released by many, many people (and made it with very limited resources).
Past games, dedication and talent isn't all that's necessary to release a successful game, the factors that come into play are extremely complex, and publishers ARE a factor (EA influenced the release of warhammer online quite badly). One of the most devastating factors, for instance, is biting more than you can chew (Warhammer Online, Final Fantasy XIV and Age of Conan all suffered from that). And that seems a danger that GW2 might suffer from.