Massive layoffs at SOE?

[Margalis]

Worked for Sims Onl-

OH WAIT

[Sheepherder]

Yes, because that same audience shows a marked preference for sub fee games.

[Margalis]

You just said that Sims players were the same group as Ville players and that they would play UO as well.

[Sheepherder]

I forgot when they hardcoded the payment option for UO into the server software.  When was that again?

[Margalis]

Fuck it, I don't even know what Sheepherder is talking about any more.

Even if UO were FTP I highly doubt that Sims/Ville players would play it. Sims/Ville games are basically single player, which is one reason that TSO failed.

[Sand]

Fuck it, I don't even know what Sheepherder is talking about any more.

I gave up when I read Farmville players would bake bread in UO and like it.

[UnSub]

I think a big reason that TSO / EAland failed was that it really didn't offer that much on the original game that didn't cost a subscription.

The person who plays Farmville today isn't going to leap into GTA tomorrow, but an evolution can occur. UO's a bad example since it is unfriendly to all but those who grew up with it but it isn't such a stretch for someone to go from FB games to some F2P browser titles and perhaps further than that if they get into gaming.

[Sheepherder]

Even if UO were FTP I highly doubt that Sims/Ville players would play it. Sims/Ville games are basically single player, which is one reason that TSO failed.

We've established that those players are ambivalent to non-browser online games when the alternative is massively superior offline games (no sub fee, more expansions/sequel).  That doesn't prove they have no interest in online games.

UO's a bad example since it is unfriendly to all but those who grew up with it but it isn't such a stretch for someone to go from FB games to some F2P browser titles and perhaps further than that if they get into gaming.

I just used it as an example because it had the basics of a building / crafting game hidden amidst the skull thrones and terrible UI.  UO in a browser without PK's and carpal tunnel wouldn't really be UO.  But you could probably find a sizable audience.

[Mrbloodworth]

Cushing, unprecedented grind also had something to do with TSO's downfall.

[Numtini]

I think a big reason that TSO / EAland failed was that it really didn't offer that much on the original game that didn't cost a subscription

I'd say it actually offered less than the original game. It was essentially a very poor dumbed down Sims with a very limited multiplayer (20 people?)

[HaemishM]

^ That. ^

Sims Online failed because it took what should have been an obvious fucking design decision (make my Sims be able to interact with other people's Sims Online) added a sub fee, a grind and removed all semblance of the original game, then pissed on it from a very great height.

[Ingmar]

I seem to recall reading it was somewhat successful in a certain niche, at least until Second Life came along. 

[Amaron]

I seem to recall reading it was somewhat successful in a certain niche, at least until Second Life came along. 

The cyber whores locking newbies in refrigerators niche?

[DayDream]

I just remembered a wierd anecdote about sims online i heard a looong time ago?

Apparently cyber sex was a big deal there?  Something along the lines of it was the only meaningful thing to trade or something?  Fuck if I know, i never played the sims at all.


Anyone know anything about that, or the sims online economy?

[TripleDES]

If it were up to me, SOE could tank entirely. Hopefully sending out a message to other developers, to make them stop churning out so much shitty MMOs.

[Fordel]

The Sims Online had some kind of player voting system, where in theory if you were being an asshole, everyone could vote you off the island or whatever.


What ended up happening is players organized into crime family's and extorted anyone else outside the group into whatever deviant thing they could think of on the threat of "do this or we'll all vote ban your account away!" 

[Kail]

I just remembered a wierd anecdote about sims online i heard a looong time ago?

Apparently cyber sex was a big deal there?  Something along the lines of it was the only meaningful thing to trade or something?  Fuck if I know, i never played the sims at all.

Yeah, having trouble finding links that work, but I think Ingmar was referring to the old "underage prostitute" story that was dogging the Sims Online for a while.  Players (including kids, was the implication) were trading "services" for in-game currency.

[TripleDES]

What ended up happening is players organized into crime family's and extorted anyone else outside the group into whatever deviant thing they could think of on the threat of "do this or we'll all vote ban your account away!" 

Doesn't even need game mechanics to achieve that. Playstation Home has gangs and gang wars.

Of course, said gang wars involve standing around like a sack of potatoes and typing badly spelled insults into chat.

[Margalis]

The Sims Online had some kind of player voting system, where in theory if you were being an asshole, everyone could vote you off the island or whatever.


What ended up happening is players organized into crime family's and extorted anyone else outside the group into whatever deviant thing they could think of on the threat of "do this or we'll all vote ban your account away!" 

Player justice!

[Fordel]

The Sims Online had some kind of player voting system, where in theory if you were being an asshole, everyone could vote you off the island or whatever.


What ended up happening is players organized into crime family's and extorted anyone else outside the group into whatever deviant thing they could think of on the threat of "do this or we'll all vote ban your account away!" 

Player justice!

Pretty much yea 

[Numtini]

I don't think the mafia had any particular teeth. It was all RP as far as I know. I don't remember any way to ban you from the world primarily because there was no world in TSO, just individual houses. Obviously the owner could ban people, but not quite the same.

[Mavor]

@Haemish (because there is no such thing as threading on forums)

In reply to your post about social media being important... I agree 100%. I think if a company set themselves up similar to a democracy, with levels of communication passing messages up and down the ladder, companies could almost get a 1:1 conversation going with many of their users.

Perhaps set up an official forum... promote community members who are active... then those promoted members would be able to talk directly with customer service/community managers who in turn could talk directly with management, etc..

Also, you are right about companies not being prepared for social media... It's not a good sight when people run into the brick wall of customer service in a public social media format.

[SnakeCharmer]

@Haemish (because there is no such thing as threading on forums)

But there is a quote button.

Do you see anyone else here doing that?
No?
That should be a clue.

[Mavor]

  Why so serious?

[Merusk]

Because while we are lax on many things, posting etiquette and grammar are hot buttons.

[Lantyssa]

Mavor, Trippy will nuke your arse from orbit if he sees that symbol... all we can do is mock you.

(See, you can address people by using their name and a comma.  It's worked for centuries. )

[NiX]

Mavor, Trippy will nuke your arse from orbit if he sees that symbol... all we can do is mock you.

(See, you can address people by using their name and a comma.  It's worked for centuries. )

I'm almost tempted to hint to Trippy that "@(name)" was used somewhere.

[Sky]

Lantyssa, thy biting wit and scandalous tongue doth make a most enjoyable morn.

[Trippy]

Why so serious?

This is not Twitter. Leave that shit over there where it belongs.

[Strazos]

This is not Twitter. Leave that shit over there where it belongs.