Curse

misthero · Oct 31, 2005, 08:53 AM // 08:53

I think really doesn't matter how many ppl can get tired of GW because you know, has no montly fee. If you get tired of any other morpg you stop play and pay, unistall, and is the end. GW will always stay there. At any moment you can enter again an say OH!, how it changend! let me giva a look at it! Updates and expansions can bring new life and ppl can come back at any moment.

I know 2 or 3 ppl who get tired, and i know much more who is starting now to play, but I know none who unistalled GW yet.

asdar · Oct 31, 2005, 02:37 PM // 14:37

I won't keep arguing after this, but the question is who will buy the next chapter.

A-Net is wonderful but if they don't get any money they're not going to keep running servers indefinitely. I don't have a clue where the cut off point is for the game but I am sure that there is one.

At every new chapter the accountants will look at profits vs costs and see if creating a new chapter is worth the returns it'll net.

Sanji · Oct 31, 2005, 03:10 PM // 15:10

The problem with speculating on when the servers are going to shut down is that you have to factor in things such as how much it costs them to run the servers, how much the expansions will sell for not to mention how well Guild Wars products will continue to sell, and finally how long NCsoft will be willing to support the servers before pulling them.

Sure, it's possible that the expansions won't sell and NCsoft won't be willing to support their servers if the game does "die", but it's not something I think should be worried about right now.

Don't get me wrong, I don't think Guild Wars is perfect, far from it. However, I still see a lot of potential in Guild Wars. Anet has a lot to do before Guild Wars reaches it, but hey, it doesn't have a monthly fee and I got my 50 bucks worth, so I won't hold it against them.

asdar · Oct 31, 2005, 04:22 PM // 16:22

I think the dev's were very good at what they did and I easily got my money's worth as well.

No complaints from me at all for what they did.

Any comments I made, I intended to be in the form of "I wish they had..." as opposed to a complaint. I think they did a great job.

BellyFlop · Oct 31, 2005, 09:26 PM // 21:26

All I got to say following my other comments is, I will not be rushing to get chapter 2.

I will read the forums before. and I will NOT rush into the shops.

This is not been narrow minded, its just it would surprise me if they chance much for better.

Coz last Update SF was not even all that. Maybe funny for the first days or so.

Now I could not even bother going near.

Its was like saying, lets give them something to keep them amuses, so we can sell the game and advert as a new massive update included.

I agree and it true that they don’t make money if you play online, but they dint spend enough on publicity and they were counting in more mouth to mouth type.

How many of us had told our friends how Good Guild Wars Was? That’s the way they made there money, will they trust you again for chapter 2 or tell there friends, I dough it.

Again they have this thing about keeping things secret, coz they haven’t said anything about chapter 2.

I know this is not a Guild Wars Versus WoW but when WoW already released news about there Expansion. And that keeps people happy and they can’t wait for it.

Yes WoW needs to sell for people buy and pay the fees but looks like they Spend money to make money.

Could this be marketing again?

Do you guys remeber how long it took for them to make this game? now i wonder what were they thinking all this time?

I already read In magazines talking about WoW expansion, and nothing about Guild Wars and I am sure they will be released around the same time.

Not a bigger issue but what’s up with this Gwen? Is she the cause of the world going bananas? Is she the Queen on the Underworld, it can’t just be a broken quest.

as well lets give them 4 slots (beta 6 if i am not wrong) so they run out and they will buy a new game again. now thats another dull thing.

Fine stick with 4 slots but if people but another key lets them merge the accounts.

and when ever the chapter come make a them use one key per account.

all this 2 accounts 2 diff logins its crap.

i never undertood why 4 slots only.

You have Ranger->Warrior->Necro-Ele-Monk-Mesmer, i count 6

Or Monk/Warrior and Warrior/Monk Its the same thing? and should count as 1 and not 2?

I agree 1000 exp to do a mission or bonus it’s a bit lame, maybe good at the start but not the later stages.

I know it’s not the same type of game but Diablo 2 even LOD keep me busy for ages and not just 6 months.

For me its like this if you going to make a PvE and PvP in one package, make sure you really work and the PvE aspect and don’t try to get the PvE type to suit a PvP.

I have done this but why do we go and spend some much gold or farm in the uw/fow to get Armour that the only bonus it’s the looks? For a real PvE there is not enough armour or even weapons.

I like the idea that you have to find your own weapons but as well I am tired of WTS all over the local window.

Why not make a real armour and forget the looks, do you really want to look good when u PvP?

I don’t have that problems my self, the reason is I have played this game and never got rushed (ok to get infused I was rushed) so I know areas of the game that you can farm, but every time some posts on in the forums a build or a spot to farm they go and ruin it.

What are they really trying to do? Fix a mistake that they make and players were cleaver enough for find the gap and take advantage or they just like for you to play what ever they what and whatever way they want.

Not I thinks that’s a good way to stop bots or whatever but how about the small guy?

Or does Anet wants people to Buy Gold of Ebay or what ever.

First of all I dint even knew that selling virtual items was legal, but not my problem.

I just hope this game doest die and I am sure chapter 2 will be released, but I don’t only my breath for chapter 3.

Maybe they have a crazy story line for chapter 2 like what your just played it was a dream or even thanks for playing the tutorial now this is were the fun really begging.

Whatever they Do i just Hope its BETTER.

Lets see what Non Humans characters they going to add.

Roza · Oct 31, 2005, 11:49 PM // 23:49

Is Anet making a huge loss? Has the game sold badly? Do people people who talk about servers being shut down actual base themselves on any kind of factual information? I wonder. I had heard that the game sold well and continues to sell well.

If the game is NCsoft losing money, then sooner rather then later (after all has been done to get a max return on earlier investments, if the company is smart) it will stop investing, and then the game will wither and die eventually (though it may have long live even then). If the company is not, or is expecting to make profits with it in the future, it will continue to expand and evolve. I hope this will be the case. And with such a good group of developers, I think this more likely. Of course, WoW may have a larger advertising budget (presumably, that is where a big chuck of your monthly subscription goes) and thus be able to hype (and get others to hype) that game, but in terms of getting your money's worth, GW is virtually a wonder.

I will by expansion 1, 2, 3 and GW 2, 3, 4 and 5, as long as the team responsible keep up this level of excellence when it comes to design, gameplay and care for their product and players.

IPlayGuildWars · Oct 31, 2005, 11:51 PM // 23:51

I hope the expansion makes the game like the PvE aspect of World of Warcraft. I don't mean all the grinding, but just more fun, with realistic AI. I really don't find PvE fun at all in GW, the beginning quests are ALRIGHT, but....yeah that's about it.

Actually, the PvE aspect doesn't even have to be implemented, just an auction house.

Regarding the way Guild Wars is set up, I don't think farming can be stopped nor do I suggest the devs try to stop it.

Yeah.

Numa Pompilius · Nov 01, 2005, 12:17 AM // 00:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roza

Is Anet making a huge loss? Has the game sold badly? Do people people who talk about servers being shut down actual base themselves on any kind of factual information? I wonder. I had heard that the game sold well and continues to sell well.

Guild Wars has sold in excess of 1 million copies. That means that it is officially a success, financially, with a profit in the tens of millions of dollars range.
The game is also being released in China and Japan, so expect that sales figure to rise quite a lot.
Furthermore, Guild Wars is modular. Should fewer people log in, then ANet can simply hire fewer servers in whichever server park they're using. That means that it's pretty cheap to keep running, as cost is easy to balance to the load.
There is exactly zero chance of the servers being shut down in the next several *years*.

Xonic · Nov 01, 2005, 12:20 AM // 00:20

There is no monthly fee for Diablo 2, and it's servers are still up and running after, what, 5 years?

Dax · Nov 01, 2005, 12:45 AM // 00:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xonic

There is no monthly fee for Diablo 2, and it's servers are still up and running after, what, 5 years?

That is true I would guess they don't have to budget development costs. How many servers do they need? I don't play myself but it's probably not a big burn rate.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Numa Pompilius

Guild Wars has sold in excess of 1 million copies. That means that it is officially a success, financially, with a profit in the tens of millions of dollars range.
The game is also being released in China and Japan, so expect that sales figure to rise quite a lot.
Furthermore, Guild Wars is modular. Should fewer people log in, then ANet can simply hire fewer servers in whichever server park they're using. That means that it's pretty cheap to keep running, as cost is easy to balance to the load.
There is exactly zero chance of the servers being shut down in the next several *years*.

I hate to be argumentative, but one could also say that this is as speculative as people saying the servers are going to be shut down.

Did they really make tens of millions of dollars of profit? Do we know how long the game was in development (before beta), where the server farm is and how much overhead? Can anyone really guarantee there is really zero chance of them closing the servers down in a few years? I don't think so.

I don't think they are shutting down the servers myself, but GW is not NCsofts main title and with no monthly charge gotta be a bit of a gamble.

Loviatar · Nov 01, 2005, 01:06 AM // 01:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xonic

There is no monthly fee for Diablo 2, and it's servers are still up and running after, what, 5 years?

also has anybody noticed that the equipment NCsoft is using (and will purchase) is dropping in price while going up in performance?

also that the bandwidth cost is still dropping fast?

each year it will cost them LESS to serve MORE customers.

NCsoft will go at least 3 chapters to test if this new setup with no monthly pay is a moneymaker.

they will not skimp on the next chapter as that would be the best way to cut future sales.

figure a minimum of 2 more years after the release of chapter 2 as a minimum with more if it is a success.

figuring 6 months between chapters after chapter 2 according to Alex Weekes who said after chapter 2 the schedule planned is twice a year at roughly equal spacing.

that 2 year minimum is 6 months until chapter 2 , chapters 3/4 and a 6 month evaluation at that point after chapter 4

Dax · Nov 01, 2005, 01:17 AM // 01:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by Loviatar

also has anybody noticed that the equipment NCsoft is using (and will purchase) is dropping in price while going up in performance?

also that the bandwidth cost is still dropping fast?

Have you also noticed the price of juice to power the servers is going up?

SPARTACVS · Nov 01, 2005, 01:23 AM // 01:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by dont feel no pain

i been playing this game for 6 onths and still love to play it but i noticed a big drop in players like what is going on my freinds list used to be like 1/2 online most of the time and now about 3 online (out of 32) so thats a sign of the game dying like what about once the chapter 2 comes out what then!!!???

I stoped playing months ago because of the stupid 4 charcters limit. Reinstalled it today just to realise they did nothing about that. I don't think I'm gonna play anymore. At least if we could buy more slots without having to pay for the full price of the game (IMO 8 free slots is a minimum but I can live with 6 coupled with larger storage).

twicky_kid · Nov 01, 2005, 01:39 AM // 01:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by SPARTACVS

I stoped playing months ago because of the stupid 4 charcters limit. Reinstalled it today just to realise they did nothing about that. I don't think I'm gonna play anymore. At least if we could buy more slots without having to pay for the full price of the game (IMO 8 free slots is a minimum but I can live with 6 coupled with larger storage).

4 is enough for storage if you need more then just but another copy. no big deal. its been 4 months then you have had plenty of time to save up for it.

Sagius Truthbarron · Nov 01, 2005, 01:43 AM // 01:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by SPARTACVS

I stoped playing months ago because of the stupid 4 charcters limit. Reinstalled it today just to realise they did nothing about that. I don't think I'm gonna play anymore. At least if we could buy more slots without having to pay for the full price of the game (IMO 8 free slots is a minimum but I can live with 6 coupled with larger storage).

That's why the "Delete Character" button is there. You really only need 3 PvE characters (I only have 2). 7 is almost rediculous.

Loviatar · Nov 01, 2005, 01:47 AM // 01:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dax

Have you also noticed the price of juice to power the servers is going up?

very true and a very good point.

there was a piece on the news recently showing people are staying home and going out less to save gas money.

the prediction was that home entertainment of all types will see a large increase (above initial pre high gas prices) especally the fast growing MMORPG (and now GW PROTOTYPE) field.

t would seem that paying a higher electric bill on your pc equipment is much cheaper than going somewhere.

i dont have the figures to tell which way it tips but it would be of interest.

at least they can write off the electric bill as a business expence

Roza · Nov 01, 2005, 02:19 AM // 02:19

The price of energy is likely to go up. But the energy required (and thus the cost) of powering servers really is nothing at all compared to the energy required to power the PC's all GW players are sitting at, or the energy required to transport copies of the game all around the world and the heat to warm the stores these are sold at. It probably takes more energy to power the cars the Anet dev team is driving in than is required to power the servers. The impact of higher energy costs really won't affect the future of the game directly.

On a more serious note: you can pretty much count on the payment of the Anet team's salaries being the most substantial if it comes to calculating costs.

By what I can tell from reading all these posts, no one has real information regarding the profitability of GW at the moment, the only thing some people see is Anet not overcharging people like WoW and other MMoRPGs do. And as GW is not, so they reason, it must be making huge losses. This really is mere speculation. There really is no reason whatsoever to assume that GW is in danger of being 'scrapped', shut down or anything, appart from the observation that there are somewhat fewer people in the game in American districts (I have not observed this in Europe, so far, but maybe I wasn't paying attention). This is inevitable, as people who do not play pvp will get a little bored whenever there is nothing new for them to do and a lot of people get bored of a game after a while in any case.

Just play the game and have fun, instead of considering it like a share on a stock market, I would suggest.

Hanuman li Tosh · Nov 01, 2005, 03:08 AM // 03:08

gw made plenty of money with its first installment, there is 0% chance of it being dead before chapter 2.

heres the numbers anet released:

gw investment/production 16M
server cost per year 3M/ea

1M+copies @ aprox $50/ea.

as you can see GG haters!

alwo · Nov 01, 2005, 03:15 AM // 03:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hanuman li Tosh

gw made plenty of money with its first installment, there is 0% chance of it being dead before chapter 2.

heres the numbers anet released:

gw investment/production 16M
server cost per year 3M/ea

1M+copies @ aprox $50/ea.

as you can see GG haters!

umm... not that i dont trust you, but where did you get those figures? link please

on the topic of gw being dead, it won't die but active population will be pretty low a couple months before the xpack release

chris_nin00 · Nov 01, 2005, 03:20 AM // 03:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by dont feel no pain

could guild wars be a dead game by the time of chapter 2

....
no
....