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f13.net  |  f13.net General Forums  |  The Gaming Graveyard  |  The Secret World  |  Topic: Investor Press Release 0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.
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Author Topic: Investor Press Release  (Read 115636 times)
DraconianOne
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Reply #140 on: August 23, 2012, 02:19:37 AM


A point can be MOOT. MUTE is more along the lines of what you should be. - WayAbvPar
Rokal
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Reply #141 on: August 28, 2012, 04:51:21 PM

I didn't see this linked anywhere on here yet, but apparently Secret World sold over 200k copies which was "below expectations".

Given all the activity here and on other forums, it also strikes me as being significantly lower than I'd have guessed.
Segoris
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Reply #142 on: August 28, 2012, 05:14:39 PM

Wow :(

I figured they would have been at 400k+
Ingmar
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Reply #143 on: August 28, 2012, 05:19:56 PM

I'm not too super surprised - I suspect a lot of people who might otherwise have bought a game like this day 1 were in wait-a-few-months mode because the Funcom brand was already so damaged in terms of their reputation for being able to launch games in a playable state.

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Ghambit
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Reply #144 on: August 28, 2012, 11:51:03 PM

I just attribute it to shitty marketing and pisspoor rapport with reviewers.  Also, I would've made Kingsmouth totally free to play and then only require a sub. to continue.  Or at the very least a meaningful (not just 24hrs) free trial at release time.

"See, the beauty of webgames is that I can play them on my phone while I'm plowing your mom."  -Samwise
Lantyssa
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Reply #145 on: August 29, 2012, 07:43:23 AM

That number is a lot lower than I expected.

Poor marketing, "lol Funcom" effect, and releasing right before GW2 and Pandas were probably all negative factors.  Mostly marketing though.

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tmp
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Reply #146 on: August 29, 2012, 09:38:55 AM


Mostly marketing though.
Also the double-dipping with subscription fee and the cash shop (together with aggressive nickel-and-diming even before the launch). Very effective at creating a "fuck you" reaction even if one might've been mildly interested in the game otherwise.
Rasix
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Reply #147 on: August 29, 2012, 09:56:46 AM

Sad to hear the numbers, but as I said earlier in the thread:

Quote
Game is niche of niche and from Funcom.  I'm not sure it ever had a fighting chance just based on that.

I expected something closer to 350k just based on the word of mouth, but having a sub fee nowadays puts you at a disadvantage.  Ohh well, I'm probably done with the game anyhow.  I didn't care much for the first content pack they released, as it had a shit ton of investigation missions.  I really dislike these missions.  If they were a bit more active puzzle solving and a bit less dictation, google, and extra-sensory perception I might like them a bit more.  They tell a good story, but they involve a level of effort I don't care to put forth in my leisure time. 

-Rasix
Ghambit
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Reply #148 on: August 29, 2012, 06:14:31 PM

I wouldn't call the game niche because everything they've put in the game is apparent in other games (the skill/deck system, combat, puzzles, etc.).  It's just not your typical MMO, which given the space currently is probably a good thing.  Lovecraftian-Crowlian horror isnt niche either; it's popularized.  FC just failed to capitalize on it.

I'm a bit like Rasix in that the game does indeed require a lot of effort to fully appreciate, and that bothers me at times.  Because of this my sessions aren't marathons, but more like sitting down to read a good book before bed. 

"See, the beauty of webgames is that I can play them on my phone while I'm plowing your mom."  -Samwise
UnSub
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WWW
Reply #149 on: August 29, 2012, 07:49:34 PM

I agree that TSW launched at an odd point. After-ish Diablo III, before WoW: Panda Edition and GW2. Funcom must have had some concept that such things would impact their game, but thought they'd stand out by going the different path with TSW. That didn't work.

Also interesting that they said over 1m people signed up for beta, 500k were in beta and only 200k or so bought the box. I wonder if more people in beta would have lead to more TSW sales if it is true that playing the game made you more interested in it.

Another thing I see behind Funcom's problems is that SWOR's launch looks to have basically halved their revenue and those players haven't come back. I'm guessing they are waiting in SWOR / without a game until GW2 launches.

Plus Funcom hasn't had a profitable quarter since Q4 2010 (by EBITDA) if my scan of their financial reports is correct.

Not sure if LEGO Minifigures is going to save them. If they make it a prettier Minecraft clone that might help.

Furiously
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WWW
Reply #150 on: August 30, 2012, 08:04:44 AM

Game deserved more than 200,000 sales. They should just turn it into a single player game and rerelease it.

Nebu
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Reply #151 on: August 30, 2012, 08:28:21 AM

Game deserved more than 200,000 sales. They should just turn it into a single player game and rerelease it.

I agree with this 100%.  The single player play was wonderful.  As a group game, I wasn't impressed... and the pvp was horribad. 

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Tmon
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Reply #152 on: August 30, 2012, 10:03:50 AM

I expected something closer to 350k just based on the word of mouth, but having a sub fee nowadays puts you at a disadvantage...

The sub is what kept me from buying this and TOR.  I've become spoiled by being able to come and go as I please and target my $15 a month in manner that suits my play style and available time.
Threash
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Reply #153 on: August 30, 2012, 10:09:34 AM

Hopefully they'll have good retention rates at least, i know i'll stay subbed for a while because i'm working through the story at a snails pace.

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WWW
Reply #154 on: August 30, 2012, 07:01:26 PM

TSW is going to run right into GW2 and WoW: Panda though. That's going to hurt retention a lot.

Surlyboi
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Reply #155 on: August 31, 2012, 04:56:13 AM

Not for me.

Tuned in, immediately get to watch cringey Ubisoft talking head offering her deepest sympathies to the families impacted by the Orlando shooting while flanked by a man in a giraffe suit and some sort of "horrifically garish neon costumes through the ages" exhibit or something.  We need to stop this fucking planet right now and sort some shit out. -Kail
Lantyssa
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Reply #156 on: August 31, 2012, 06:42:38 AM

I'm staying subbed for now even with GW2 and MWO occupying most of my time.  It's one of those "I want to support the effort" type subs, since I do appreciate the game.

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Miasma
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Reply #157 on: August 31, 2012, 07:27:47 AM

I bought a lifetime sub a couple weeks ago for the same reason.  If history repeats itself it means that Funcom will go bankrupt and shut the servers down in a few months like the only other time I ever bought a lifetims sub, Hellgate London...
Wasted
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Reply #158 on: August 31, 2012, 08:22:46 AM

Yeah I went the lifetime sub as well.  I felt a bit weird after, like I was just daring them to go free to play in a month.
Surlyboi
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eat a bag of dicks


Reply #159 on: August 31, 2012, 08:57:17 AM

I also got a lifetime. The game deserves it, as far as I'm concerned.

Tuned in, immediately get to watch cringey Ubisoft talking head offering her deepest sympathies to the families impacted by the Orlando shooting while flanked by a man in a giraffe suit and some sort of "horrifically garish neon costumes through the ages" exhibit or something.  We need to stop this fucking planet right now and sort some shit out. -Kail
Genev
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Reply #160 on: August 31, 2012, 09:37:16 AM

Lifetime, i'm hoping i'll keep playing long enough to make it worth it. Currently i'm all about GW2, but eventually i'll do that lesser as well and go back to TSW and D3 :)
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