01101010
Terracotta Army
Posts: 12007
You call it an accident. I call it justice.
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Single player, or limited multiplayer, most likely. Sounds like there was a significant amount of drift in the design scope of this product, and this was the most effective way to deal with that.
My personal gut feeling is that nobody anywhere is excited about this game, and this release strategy is something of a "get out of jail free*" card for SOE. They can at least put SOMETHING out on the market, so they can have something to show for their hard work. If that something attracts very little attention, they can safely jettison the MMO plans, and move on to the next project.
Personally, I didn't think this game would make it even this far, (Soveriegn II anyone?) but I guess all that Free Realms money coming in has changed the landscape a little.
Now another PlanetSide - that's a prospect I'm actually very excited about.
So this is the next peg on how to fuck up a "MMO" game? Start it off as a single player and then move to a multiplayer? And I thought paid open betas were too much too soon.
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Does any one know where the love of God goes...When the waves turn the minutes to hours? -G. Lightfoot
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Ard
Terracotta Army
Posts: 1887
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So this is the next peg on how to fuck up a "MMO" game? Start it off as a single player and then move to a multiplayer? And I thought paid open betas were too much too soon.
And here I thought I was back in the Green Monster Games thread again for a minute.
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SnakeCharmer
Terracotta Army
Posts: 3807
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My personal gut feeling is that nobody anywhere is excited about this game Eh, I'm really looking forward to it. Have been for a while. Was going over a list of MMOs (pseudo or otherwise) with a buddy that we were looking forward to (it was a short list :( ), and it's on it. I'll admit, my anticipation for it *may* rose colored by the otherwise shittastic lineup coming soon (within 1.5 years). Pretty much everything else on the radar is derivative shit that I played back in 2000. Or when I was a nerd in 5th grade playing D&D.
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Lantyssa
Terracotta Army
Posts: 20848
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It interests me, too, though I'll have to get my hands on it to know if I'll actually enjoy it. I like the concept though.
I wonder if the dramatic close up has been in the game for a while or if they were influenced by Borderlands. I thought we had switched games for a moment.
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Hahahaha! I'm really good at this!
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Kageru
Terracotta Army
Posts: 4549
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This thing has been on "coming soon" for years... about time they either release or give up with it. In fact where are their next MMO's? Having EQ2 as your star performer is nothing to be too proud of, it's old now.
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Is a man not entitled to the hurf of his durf? - Simond
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Grimwell
Developers
Posts: 752
[Redacted]
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FYI, you guys are very far from the mark here.
That's about all I can say for the moment.
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Grimwell
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01101010
Terracotta Army
Posts: 12007
You call it an accident. I call it justice.
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FYI, you guys are very far from the mark here.
That's about all I can say for the moment.
Tease.
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Does any one know where the love of God goes...When the waves turn the minutes to hours? -G. Lightfoot
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Nebu
Terracotta Army
Posts: 17613
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FYI, you guys are very far from the mark here.
That's about all I can say for the moment.
Better to say nothing. Let the product do the talking when the time comes.
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"Always do what is right. It will gratify half of mankind and astound the other."
- Mark Twain
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Dtrain
Terracotta Army
Posts: 607
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FYI, you guys are very far from the mark here.
That's about all I can say for the moment.
Well, I am no enemy of fun. So, please prove me wrong.
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UnSub
Contributor
Posts: 8064
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FYI, you guys are very far from the mark here.
That's about all I can say for the moment.
It's even worse than we thought? 
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schild
Administrator
Posts: 60350
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I could say more.
But I won't.
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Ollie
Terracotta Army
Posts: 202
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So, we have a bunch of people in the dark, a guy who knows but can't say a thing, and a guy who could talk but won't – the latter only chiming in to remind others in the know to toe the party line. With all this intrigue, who needs the actual game? 
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Hug me, I'm Finnish!
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Lantyssa
Terracotta Army
Posts: 20848
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Is our first mission finding ways to learn what they know? Is it a new ARG?
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Hahahaha! I'm really good at this!
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Goreschach
Terracotta Army
Posts: 1546
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What evidence do we have to suggest that a console MMO is going to be anything other than complete crap?
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01101010
Terracotta Army
Posts: 12007
You call it an accident. I call it justice.
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What evidence do we have to suggest that a console MMO is going to be anything other than complete crap?
None, I'd say.
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Does any one know where the love of God goes...When the waves turn the minutes to hours? -G. Lightfoot
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UnSub
Contributor
Posts: 8064
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All videos to date have made it look like a multiplayer title set on maps that contain specific locations at which you can do cinematic 'cool' stuff. With a mix of PvE and PvP. To meet basic MMO criteria, it allows for some coop play and longer-term character progression.
However, The Agency has been in development long enough that these initial impressions may no longer be valid.
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NiX
Wiki Admin
Posts: 7770
Locomotive Pandamonium
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With the silence, I imagine it's getting a revamp which will be announced at E3.
No one will care.
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LK
Terracotta Army
Posts: 4268
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I'm sure people who aren't as desensitized to hype will be all aflutter by the game.
I won't care. I'm getting increasingly jaded. The latest evidence to support remaining cynical until I see something in action is where Splinter Cell: Conviction fails to live up to its pedigree. Decent game, but man.
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"Then there's the double-barreled shotgun from Doom 2 - no-one within your entire household could be of any doubt that it's been fired because it sounds like God slamming a door on his fingers." - Yahtzee Croshaw
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SnakeCharmer
Terracotta Army
Posts: 3807
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All videos to date have made it look like a multiplayer title set on maps that contain specific locations at which you can do cinematic 'cool' stuff. With a mix of PvE and PvP. To meet basic MMO criteria, it allows for some coop play and longer-term character progression.
If it's got a hint of persistence, some cool loot, and fun gameplay, that's enough for me for a box buy.
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Draegan
Terracotta Army
Posts: 10043
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Awesome. Killer mini-games.
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LK
Terracotta Army
Posts: 4268
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It's Mafia Wars but with some actual gameplay content.
Wow, actually way more than that. It's got touches of most major Facebook game types. The mini-games of the Seek and Find variety are nice.
Kinda makes me want to play the actual Agency game.
Some of the achievements are nuts. "Complete a mission every day for a year."
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« Last Edit: May 05, 2010, 02:29:19 PM by Lorekeep »
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"Then there's the double-barreled shotgun from Doom 2 - no-one within your entire household could be of any doubt that it's been fired because it sounds like God slamming a door on his fingers." - Yahtzee Croshaw
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Mrbloodworth
Terracotta Army
Posts: 15148
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Good for them, but I will not join face book to play this. I am sure they won't miss me. Its a shame too I wanted to play it.
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« Last Edit: May 05, 2010, 02:33:16 PM by Mrbloodworth »
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LK
Terracotta Army
Posts: 4268
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Someone had a lot of fun doing the art for this game.
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"Then there's the double-barreled shotgun from Doom 2 - no-one within your entire household could be of any doubt that it's been fired because it sounds like God slamming a door on his fingers." - Yahtzee Croshaw
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AutomaticZen
Terracotta Army
Posts: 768
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Good for them, but I will not join face book to play this. I am sure they won't miss me. Its a shame too I wanted to play it.
The real game is still coming out you know.
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Mrbloodworth
Terracotta Army
Posts: 15148
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Good for them, but I will not join face book to play this. I am sure they won't miss me. Its a shame too I wanted to play it.
The real game is still coming out you know. Yes, just stating I won't become a profile for this.
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kaid
Terracotta Army
Posts: 3113
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Okay I am very amused by the facebook game. Kinda mafia warsish with some actual game play. I really enjoy the search mini game and the word decrypt mini game.
I am really curious about the mmo here is hoping it is in good condition when it releases as it could be pretty amusing.
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LK
Terracotta Army
Posts: 4268
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It was pretty good but eventually the game devolved into more-of-the-same. The mini-games were a nice touch, but there was little to drive me to keep playing the game. It felt almost an insult that they included RMT aspects. "Hey! Pay $5 and level 5% faster!"
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"Then there's the double-barreled shotgun from Doom 2 - no-one within your entire household could be of any doubt that it's been fired because it sounds like God slamming a door on his fingers." - Yahtzee Croshaw
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Kageru
Terracotta Army
Posts: 4549
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Looks like things are going swimmingly (5% reduction in SOE staff).
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Is a man not entitled to the hurf of his durf? - Simond
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NiX
Wiki Admin
Posts: 7770
Locomotive Pandamonium
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41 people? I figured it would be a lot more with all the games they have under their banner. I guess PS and VG are on skeleton crews then.
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Hoth
Terracotta Army
Posts: 66
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Those 41 people are the 5% of their workforce. Sony Online Entertainment has eliminated 5% of its full-time workforce, equaling 41 people
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eldaec
Terracotta Army
Posts: 11844
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Pretty sure that was Nix's point.
Suggests a total workforce of just 800.
They must use a lot of contractors I guess.
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"People will not assume that what they read on the internet is trustworthy or that it carries any particular assurance or accuracy" - Lord Leveson "Hyperbole is a cancer" - Lakov Sanite
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Cadaverine
Terracotta Army
Posts: 1655
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Vanguard has 15 odd people on the live team? I doubt PS, EQ, or PotBS have much more than that. SWG might be a bit bigger. Free Realms, and EQ2 are the only games they have that resemble being alive and kicking. Their Clone Wars game is just reskinning Free Realms, as far as I can tell. Unless they're working on something they're keeping a real tight lid on, I would imagine 750 odd people is plenty for what they've got going on currently.
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Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin to slit throats.
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NiX
Wiki Admin
Posts: 7770
Locomotive Pandamonium
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Pretty sure that was Nix's point.
Yeah, that's what I was going for. Vanguard has 15 odd people on the live team? I doubt PS, EQ, or PotBS have much more than that. SWG might be a bit bigger. Free Realms, and EQ2 are the only games they have that resemble being alive and kicking. Their Clone Wars game is just reskinning Free Realms, as far as I can tell. Unless they're working on something they're keeping a real tight lid on, I would imagine 750 odd people is plenty for what they've got going on currently.
Good point, most of their games wouldn't require a huge staff to work on, unless they are working on something they aren't talking about.
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Kageru
Terracotta Army
Posts: 4549
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DC Universe Online is there's as well. I wonder if Vanguard even has that many.
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Is a man not entitled to the hurf of his durf? - Simond
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