Curse

Shadowfrost · Aug 29, 2006, 06:24 AM // 06:24

To all those people who want to play through every campaign with every profession, Anet has relatively recently added on a feature that allows you to do so:

Yep, you guessed it, Buyable Character Slots!!!!

Therefore, if you want one character of each profession, all you need to do is buy a character slot if you need to. You don't need to complain on the forum.

Tetris L · Aug 29, 2006, 06:57 AM // 06:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dougal Kronik

2 million copies of Factions at $50 is $100 million. I have no idea what servers cost to run for one year, or what the annual salary of all Anet's employees, but I think $100 million would cover it.

I asked my crystal ball about the Guild Wars business plan, and this what it came up with:
1) First of all, 50$ is a little optimistic. Let's assume an average of 40, which is still optimistic, but more realistic. That's 80 million total.
2) Games retailer takes 5$ per sold game. Leaves us with 70 mio$.
3) NCsoft marketing and sales expenses 5$ per sold game. Leaves us with 60 mio$.
4) ANet has more than 100 employees meanwhile, with many of them well paid specialists. Let's assume roughly 10 mio$ for salaries, plus another 5 mio for taxes, insurances, facilities, etc. Leaves us with 45 mio$.
5) Server farm installation and maintainance, in 5 data centers worldwide, with roughly 100 individual server machines each, with backbone internet connection capable to handle a few terabytes of data per months = at least 10 mio$. Leaves us with 35 mio$.
6) Taxes take at least 30% total. Leaves us with about 10 mio$.
7) Those remaining 10 mio$ goes to NCsoft. You know, ANet is a wholly owned subsidiary of NCsoft, so at the end of the day any profit is for them.

bart · Aug 29, 2006, 07:04 AM // 07:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Knightsaber Sith

Frankly; I don't feel like combing through some 50+ interviews nor some 3 years of news archives to sate your curiosity. But I remember it quite explicitly as it was one of the reasons I bought prophecies the day it went live. I'm sure atleast some people that have been following GW since the beginning will remember it as well, but I have better things to do than dig around.

Edit*: Alright, I got bored and did end up looking for a press release lol. Here ya go:

That's right, from E3 2003! Says it wasn't announced til after Factions went live....pfft!

http://e3.wargamer.com/articles.asp?ID=050272003-4

ARGHHH... you have confirmed my worst fear! That i did not do enough research before forking out AUD 89.99! but whatshisname described it as an expansion though not a stand alone game. hmmm...

ITRDemon · Aug 29, 2006, 07:21 AM // 07:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tetris L

I asked my crystal ball about the Guild Wars business plan, and this what it came up with:
1) First of all, 50$ is a little optimistic. Let's assume an average of 40, which is still optimistic, but more realistic. That's 80 million total.
2) Games retailer takes 5$ per sold game. Leaves us with 70 mio$.

Actually, the way it goes in the market is most retailers mark up the wholesale price nearly double. So of the $50 someone pays for a copy, Anet actually only sees about $30 of it, if that.

Tonev · Aug 29, 2006, 07:27 AM // 07:27

Well , What I did is find a class that I actually loved playing and was enjoyeable and played the one character through their add on parts, I have one Necro/Mesmer and 1 Ritualist ,I am still experimenting with in "Factions" eventhough I hated buying the factions beleiving the story/PvE content would be great (reason I am skeptic about "NF") I got it for the sole purpose of making a RT (only thing in GW that has my body style besides Dervish and Paragon/shrugs).

I just hope the 6 mos in developing "NF" was concentrated on the avatars and storyline/PvE stuff this time (there is only soo many ways you can PvP, beleive it or not).

Ninna · Aug 29, 2006, 08:05 AM // 08:05

6month chapters has been the business model before Prophecies went to retail

Chapters are optional

you dont have to play them all

e3 preview
http://www.mmorpg.com/gamelist.cfm?s... ID=82&bhcp=1

Quote:

Due to their rapid release schedule, there are two teams working at Arena.net on the next two Campaigns so that new Campaigns can be released as quickly as possible while still maintaining a high level of content

(i.e. one team has been working on Campaign 3 for the last 3 or 4 months, and the other team just started on Campaign 4, so that each Campaign has about a year of development.).

/not signed

Ezekial Bain · Aug 29, 2006, 08:13 AM // 08:13

Better to have too much PvE content than not enough.

Also, nobody is forceing you to play through every game with every character you make.

With Prophecies I only ever used my Elementalist, and in Factions I've only made 2 new characters (Warrior and Ritualist). These keep me perfectly entertained.

Ultimately I'd rather have a bunch of new content to play through than making myself play the same missions with new characters anyway. But each to their own.

Hockster · Aug 29, 2006, 08:29 AM // 08:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dougal Kronik

Can you justify that statement?

2 million copies of Factions at $50 is $100 million. I have no idea what servers cost to run for one year, or what the annual salary of all Anet's employees, but I think $100 million would cover it.

Economics obviously elude you. Do you thing that every penny goes into the Anet coffers? The retailers take a share, the shippers take a share, the cost of manufacturing takes some. I'd be very suprised if the net is $10 per copy sold. Then you still have to pay staff and for the servers.

Oh, and that two million number is for both releases combined, not just for Factions.

Ashantara · Aug 29, 2006, 09:33 AM // 09:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by Knightsaber Sith

Releasing a new campaign every 6 months is the only way for them to make a profit without monthly subscriptions.

Not true. They could release smaller add-ons for money (like expanding one campaign's terretory, etc.).

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kool Pajamas

I may play more than most casual players but its not that hard to play 4 charactres through every chapter.

Not if you don't add any new ones, yes.

But if you read my post thoroughly, you might have noticed what I was trying to say: That it will get harder with every add-on because of the new professions.

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Great Al

you arent forced to get the chapters, and you certainly arent forced to delete any of your old characters for new ones!

First of all, your statement is beside the point. I already said that not buying add-ons would become one of the unpleasant options to avoid the stress caused by so many releases in such a short time.

Furthermore, I didn't say I deleted any characters, I said that neglecting old ones would become necessary in the long run if you want to keep up with the 6 months-release cycle.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Knightsaber Sith

The point is, before Prophecies even went live Anet announced that releasing a new campaign every 6 months was their business plan.

Wrong. As far as I recall, they said that releasing an add-on every 6 months would be the case.

I don't know about you, but as far as I am concerned, a whole, complex and time-consuming "campaign" does not equal what you generally label an "add-on".

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wrath Of Dragons

That kept me busy since GW release, and i am very much looking forward to buying nightfall on its release

So am I, but you don't seem to think ahead. Because if you did, you would see the long-term dilemma.

So far, we only have one "six month after the last one" release to worry about: Nightfall. Now think a year ahead, with probably 3 more chapters (Nightfall, plus Ch.4+5) to handle . . .

Now, that's a total different story, isn't it?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Poison Ivy

Don't create too many PvE characters, 3 is enough.

I don't plan to.

But at least one new per add-on is sort of a must have... or has been, because I will change my mind soon enough due to an impossible time management needed for a 6 months release cycle.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Poison Ivy

we spent 49.99 to have fun, not to grind our bums off. It's just a game, take it easy.

True enough. But a game is still part of one's hobby. A hobby is a sparetime activity. And sparetime is precious.

So... it does affect RL, too, if you want it or not.

Edit:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shadowfrost

To all those people who want to play through every campaign with every profession, Anet has relatively recently added on a feature that allows you to do so:

Yep, you guessed it, Buyable Character Slots!!!!

...which has what do with this topic?

Exactly: nothing at all.

Knightsaber Sith · Aug 29, 2006, 10:02 AM // 10:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ashantara

Not true. They could release smaller add-ons for money (like expanding one campaign's terretory, etc.)

If they did that everyone would complain that they want actual content and not just five more outposts. That idea is rediculous.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ashantara

Wrong. As far as I recall, they said that releasing an add-on every 6 months would be the case.

I don't know about you, but as far as I am concerned, a whole, complex and time-consuming "campaign" does not equal what you generally label an "add-on".

First of all, you're wrong not me. Second of all, they never said they'd be releasing "add-ons" ever and frankly I think you're the only person I've seen use the phrase add-on. Third, I posted this in response to someone else earlier: http://e3.wargamer.com/articles.asp?ID=050272003-4
which does indeed say expansions (ie campaigns) every 6 months. And yes an expansion does equal a whole campaign, not sure about whatever you want to believe these make-believe "add ons" are. You should actually do a little research before you post rather than just making things up.

Bottom line is; you want tiny piece-meal updates and no one else wants that. Anet would probably go bankrupt if they tried that cause everyone would get bored and leave. If you think the campaigns are rolling off the line too fast, buy them when you're ready and not right when they go live. But you definitely do not speak for the majority of the GW community and the train's not stopping just for you.

Seissor · Aug 29, 2006, 10:25 AM // 10:25

0.o new chapters make me neglect old chars? Not me, I made two new chars with factions and none of them finished factions, it was my old school crew that saved the day.

I dont have an issue right now with additional chapters. But im sure if you didnt have much time, you may.

ParanoidDenny · Aug 29, 2006, 10:30 AM // 10:30

I have one of each characters and i do worry that i'm never gonna get the time to take them through all the addon's and GW.

I would much prefer a yearly cycle to the addon releases,with chapters 3 and 4 there will be 12 characters to get through all the games,and yes i want to do each character,god knows how i'll do that with only six months between releases!

Rathcail · Aug 29, 2006, 10:30 AM // 10:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ashantara

I already said that not buying add-ons would become one of the unpleasant options to avoid the stress caused by so many releases in such a short time.

Haha, what? So it's unpleasant to not buy, and you'd be stressed out if you do buy?
You sure are having fun with Guild Wars.

Anyway throwing my opinion of new chapters coming every six months: I love it.

SilentAssassin · Aug 29, 2006, 10:37 AM // 10:37

1) you don't have to buy these ad-ons
2) I got 6 PvE slots, 1 PvP slot ALL 6 have beaten prophecies and factions, and I only got like 1500 hours play time (in these 16 months or something) where alot of that time was in PvP... so it isn't that hard

3) some ppl like me, enjoy to have many novelties and new area to discover every 6 months, after the first 6 months of prophecies I got abit bored

so:

every 6 months new campain >>>> every year 1

again, you don't have to buy it, you can wait see if revieuws are good or maybe buy chapter 4 when you are rdy for it.

Knightsaber Sith · Aug 29, 2006, 10:37 AM // 10:37

If you guys feel that you can't get through a campaign to a satisfactory extent in the six months between campaigns, then buy it six months later and give yourself a whole year. The majority of the community can get through in six months just fine and there's no reason to make everyone wait just for a handfull of people. I got all four of my characters completely through Factions in less than a month.

Sagius Truthbarron · Aug 29, 2006, 10:49 AM // 10:49

Nobody is forcing you to complete each game over and over again with every character slot you have. Frankly, I beat Factions once and had no desire to ever play it again due to shear boredom.

I'm sure most of us want more things to do in the game. Right now there hasn't been a single area of either chapter - pve or pvp - that I haven't seen or been to several times on several classes, and I haven't even played the game in 3 months.

The places I would like to go to you can't becuase these idiots playing the game just want to do SS/55 runs of UW for the 50,000th time, or some other idiotically pointless task commited to gain money that can't even be used for anything.

Shadowfrost · Aug 29, 2006, 10:57 AM // 10:57

I for one have only gotten one character right through Factions, and none through Prophecies. However, I'm already bored of both and can't wait for Nightfall to come out. In fact, I'm estatic. I generally choose one character and when it doesn't stand up to my high expectations it gets deleted. The only one I've really enjoyed is my monk.

I know that sounds stupid, it's just the way I play.

LiamR · Aug 29, 2006, 10:59 AM // 10:59

I have had a warrior, an assassin, and a ranger. Thats 3. Out of 8. Other slots are there if i need new ones, or if i want pvp chars. Im thinking after 20 extensions [GW VS FF] what the char select screen would be like.. =s

Ashantara · Aug 29, 2006, 11:52 AM // 11:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by Knightsaber Sith

Second of all, they never said they'd be releasing "add-ons" ever and frankly I think you're the only person I've seen use the phrase add-on.

As you can see (just look right below my avatar), I am no native speaker. "Add-On" is what it's called where I live, so excuse me if this is incorrect. Call it "expansion" then, I don't care -- just stop being so arrogant, thx.

Besides, all I did was posting my opinion which you don't have to share. But just because (apparently) you don't doesn't mean yours is the only valid one. I know of many people who share it, so I guess you'll have to live with it.

Cheers.

Ashantara · Aug 29, 2006, 12:11 PM // 12:11

In case anyone wondered: I am very much looking forward to "Nightfall" -- it sounds thrillingly great!!

I am simply afraid that future standalone add-ons might lead to the scenario discribed in my initial post. And all I wanted is to get that fear out of my system.

For I know that one way or the other, if ArenaNet keep their 6 months-cycle, one of my previously mentioned solutions will come true for me.