Quote Originally Posted by Mawlzy View Post
I think CAR is almost a special case, in that it's basically standalone content that nobody asked for that has even produced divisions within the raiding community. Plus its release timing was unfortunate given the reception to DT and other factors.

Any game can successfully include niche content. The issue is whether those who dislike it find enough to do in other areas of the game.

I'd agree SE has no reason to change if players remain subscribed. I'd suggest players do so for a host of reasons, mostly involving their friends. So let's see what happens to the subscriber count. I'm not one of the doomsayers who looks at one datapoint and announces 14 is in a death spiral.

I think there's actually a shortage of better alternatives, but if SE relies on that to maintain the subscription numbers, it may end poorly. I realize when Yoshi-P stated the game needed more stress he had many cheerleaders supporting the position, but with so many people playing 14 to relax and socialize, this strikes me as a dangerous decision.

Only time will tell.
I think this is where there is difference of opinion. People asked for harder 4 man content, and we got Criterion and Criterion Savage. People have asked for harder 24 man, and we got Chaotic. The problem is "harder" is always going to be a subjective thing. For some, EX is already too hard. For others, EX is not hard at all.