Fresh retail start

[captainpicard]

I think they really are focused on new console sales and untapped markets (i.e. china)

That is where they will break even on this game. I wouldn't be surprised if they did a character wipe after stating they wouldn't, after all, calming free2play community is quite a bit different that doing what is ultimately best for your share holders.

If they perceived some reason why it was desirable financially, or just in the best interest of the game when they "re-release" it, then they will, and that will be that. There may be some excuse produced such as "we had no choice because of fundamental game design changes" or "unrecoverable database corruption" or who knows, but they would do it.

The community for this game is quite small, and they probably think of it as damaged goods anyway, so outraging this audience is negligible in the grand scheme of things, when you look at the big picture. In other words, I don't think retaining the current audience is a core goal or strategy.

[Aenarion]

I think they really are focused on new console sales and untapped markets (i.e. china)

That is where they will break even on this game. I wouldn't be surprised if they did a character wipe after stating they wouldn't, after all, calming free2play community is quite a bit different that doing what is ultimately best for your share holders.

If they perceived some reason why it was desirable financially, or just in the best interest of the game when they "re-release" it, then they will, and that will be that. There may be some excuse produced such as "we had no choice because of fundamental game design changes" or "unrecoverable database corruption" or who knows, but they would do it.

The community for this game is quite small, and they probably think of it as damaged goods anyway, so outraging this audience is negligible in the grand scheme of things, when you look at the big picture. In other words, I don't think retaining the current audience is a core goal or strategy.

I can definitely see that for a no-name small time dev., but personally I think SE still has a brand name to protect, and that more than anything else is the reason they won't go for a wipe.

also, I don't know where you pulled F2P out of, but I certainly haven't heard anything about the game going perma F2P