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PotBS, the reasons why I feel its too late...
chryses
Member UncommonPosts: 1,453
I played PotBS up to level 43 and I decided not to continue the game, take the ganking out of the equation I have listed why I think its too late for PotBS:
* Lack of variety or anything else to do but sail ships and shoot cannons at other ships. I love the combat but every MMO needs variety and even a buggy game like Vanguard kept me going for 6 months because I could explore, quest, craft and even get into diplomacy. Crafting in PotBS is instant and takes no skill. Avatar movement is pointless and limited to instances and city streets.
* I can accept the game is PvP centric but lets put the game into perspective. EVE online is also PvP centric but the entire world in PotBS pretty much fits into one solar system in EVE. So its like living in a fish bowl with all the while fighting off a 100 sharks.
* Exploration....NOT! I bought PotBS for PvP and I thought since its a new world game with a frontier setting there would certainly be exploration, find a hidden cove, secret base or whatever. No nothing even close and you get to look at distant pyramids as you sail by. I was really pissed about this.
* Population. I logged on yesterday and out of 10 or so servers I saw nothing but light across the board with just 3 on medium, all English. They need to have one EU server and have different language channels so that there is a real opposition to the English.
* The final straw. DAFT decisions on what improvements they brought in. They went on about the French capital being overhauled and I was quite excited about visiting it. Instead of designing a great city that made sense they went and built a fking maze with multiple levels and then added courier missions that took you from corner to corner. Who in their right mind approved this? Did they not test the gameplay and puke in disgust at the stupidity of making a city so hard to navigate it had players screaming at the screen. Still shaking my head at this one.
* Finally competition. PotBS was lucky enough to launch in between big releases. AoC is out, WAR is around the corner and players like me that gave it a chance will never look back as there is no point since I am already playing EVE (still), TR and AoC.
Its a shame as I do feel the ship combat is really special and the animations were great but its a lesson to all MMO's, don't forget variety and having just one great feature just isn't good enough in this day and age.
Comments
it will never be too late for anything, there is always marketing. If this game ever does get to a killer build than i'm sure fls will turn on the marketing switch and create some buzz. Especially in these days with the internet world it's very easy to get the word out. If you look at these other mmo's none of them do marketing on release because they know problems WILL be there, take a look at WoW, SWG, EQ2, Matrix Online etc..... None of these games did a full marketing campaign until well after release. WoW didn't really start till about a year ago with the celebrity commercials.
I find this incredibly dubious. You mean to tell me that WoW was a commercial failure until a year ago?
Look around you. PotBS is not even six months old, and not only have they shuttered 7 of their 11 servers, including those for non-English markets, but the situation on the four remaining servers is basically going back to what it was before the mergers.
Buzz? What buzz? "Gankers' paradise" and "no crying in the red circle"? Those have already dealt a major blow to the perception of the game, and the countless comments of "I'm bored" and "one-trick pony" are doing the rest. At this stage, Isildur's devlog on ganking may cause more harm than good, because it's pretty much impossible to get rid of gankers without altering current mechanics beyond recognition -- if FLS ever comes to that before the money runs out.
This game was nowhere near finished enough to warrant a release, and FLS's priorities since then have been dubious at best -- oh right, a new French capital universally despised, new ships, and yet another skill rejig. Time wasted, procrastination on major issues, and (I'm guessing, since nobody knows for sure) a decline in player subscriptions to such a low point that an advertising campaign would be money flushed down the toilet.
I find this incredibly dubious. You mean to tell me that WoW was a commercial failure until a year ago?
Look around you. PotBS is not even six months old, and not only have they shuttered 7 of their 11 servers, including those for non-English markets, but the situation on the four remaining servers is basically going back to what it was before the mergers.
Buzz? What buzz? "Gankers' paradise" and "no crying in the red circle"? Those have already dealt a major blow to the perception of the game, and the countless comments of "I'm bored" and "one-trick pony" are doing the rest. At this stage, Isildur's devlog on ganking may cause more harm than good, because it's pretty much impossible to get rid of gankers without altering current mechanics beyond recognition -- if FLS ever comes to that before the money runs out.
This game was nowhere near finished enough to warrant a release, and FLS's priorities since then have been dubious at best -- oh right, a new French capital universally despised, new ships, and yet another skill rejig. Time wasted, procrastination on major issues, and (I'm guessing, since nobody knows for sure) a decline in player subscriptions to such a low point that an advertising campaign would be money flushed down the toilet.
I never said or implied anything your ranting about. The point was that you don't wan't to promote something until you feel that the max quality is there. Not to mention barely anyone has ever heard of potbs, it had zero marketing other than being on the shelf for a month. The game basically doesn't even exist publicly yet. The only people that have heard about it are the ones that are in the know on mmos. None of the things you rant about even matter at this stage.
Maybe SOE can include PotBS in their new "item mall" scam they are going to start running soon and they could make Pirates free to play.
Maybe SOE can include PotBS in their new "item mall" scam they are going to start running soon and they could make Pirates free to play.
You obviously fail to understand the point. This game has no name. Go out on the street and ask the first 50 people you see if they heard of potbs i bet you none of them have. So how could it have a bad name for itself if it doesn't have a name yet?
It was too late for this game last July.
I took one look at the demo at Comic Con, and there was no doubt in my mind that it would flop HARD.
Further research into the history of its development confirmed my suspicions several times over. These guys never had any idea what they were doing.
It actually had a name while it was being developed. The screenshots and layouts caused many people I knew to follow it with interest. It was around the beta time that the hurt started.
And then, of course - the best form of advertisement is word of mouth. Rule of 7 and the Forum effect. PotBS has no positive publicity due to complaints like the OP's. True there are some players that enjoy it still but it can be argued that there are many more than that number that dislike it especially after having tried it.
I do not think it is too late, there are methods to change things around and bring people back. Albeit slowly.
Some of those methods would be:
- Make the client free, go with digital distribution.
- Reduce the monthly payments, $15/mo is too high for what is provided. $10/mo may be right, though $5/mo may be too low. But I think F2P should be avoided... then again Pirates of the Caribbean looks like it is doing well.
- Engage the user community as was being done before. Player created model ships for example. Get the users to have ownership.
- Provide an effective change management program in which the users have a say in the manner of the proposed changes. Let the customer be part of the team.
- Rename PotBS to PotBS: Something Epic or Catchy subtitle
- Conduct a marketing campaign.
- Provide incentives for new and current users.
And that is why...
Conservatives' pessimism is conducive to their happiness in three ways. First, they are rarely surprised -- they are right more often than not about the course of events. Second, when they are wrong they are happy to be so. Third, because pessimistic conservatives put not their faith in princes -- government -- they accept that happiness is a function of fending for oneself. They believe that happiness is an activity -- it is inseparable from the pursuit of happiness.
Never say never I guess...
When I think about what would make me go back to the game I have to say it would have to be a lot of content based on land and not sea. There are so many things they can do such as:
* NPC's drop pieces of a map that once completed give you the location of a hidden cave, treasure cove, special NPC warship...whatever
* The ability to land and explore land and find resources, treasure...hell have players fighting over hidden caves which your guild could control. Even player housing, this game desperately needs more RP elements.
* much larger map
* too many changes TBH but it would make me consider it again.
I did enjoy a few of the storylines but it is a one trick pony.
I can see all the valid points people are making about this game but out of all the other games that have this type of gameplay (Voyage and PotCO) I think PotBS has more to offer to people that are looking for something more serious and easy to play ( I got very annoyed with Voyage movement). Side note all games have there ups and downs some bigger than others but after playing SWG since it launched I don't really think FLS has done what SoE did to SWG. I think some of the faults you suggested should be fixed (like the exploration would be a very nice add on). As for the ganking I have yet to come by that as to I just managed to have some spare cash to finally by this game after playing the open beta in december, and well ganking is part of all games or maybe i'm just used to it from my days of playing EQ and running around overt in SWG to much.
I find this incredibly dubious. You mean to tell me that WoW was a commercial failure until a year ago?
Look around you. PotBS is not even six months old, and not only have they shuttered 7 of their 11 servers, including those for non-English markets, but the situation on the four remaining servers is basically going back to what it was before the mergers.
Buzz? What buzz? "Gankers' paradise" and "no crying in the red circle"? Those have already dealt a major blow to the perception of the game, and the countless comments of "I'm bored" and "one-trick pony" are doing the rest. At this stage, Isildur's devlog on ganking may cause more harm than good, because it's pretty much impossible to get rid of gankers without altering current mechanics beyond recognition -- if FLS ever comes to that before the money runs out.
This game was nowhere near finished enough to warrant a release, and FLS's priorities since then have been dubious at best -- oh right, a new French capital universally despised, new ships, and yet another skill rejig. Time wasted, procrastination on major issues, and (I'm guessing, since nobody knows for sure) a decline in player subscriptions to such a low point that an advertising campaign would be money flushed down the toilet.
I never said or implied anything your ranting about. The point was that you don't wan't to promote something until you feel that the max quality is there. Not to mention barely anyone has ever heard of potbs, it had zero marketing other than being on the shelf for a month. The game basically doesn't even exist publicly yet. The only people that have heard about it are the ones that are in the know on mmos. None of the things you rant about even matter at this stage.
Sory m8, I am with Vartanias, nuke France...
Played (more than a month): SWG, Second Life, Tabula Rasa, Lineage 2, Everquest 2, EvE, MxO, Ryzom.
Tried: WoW, Shadowbane, Anarchy Online, Everquest, WWII Online, Planetside
Beta: Lotro, Tabula Rasa, WAR.
Hmmm...and who was responsible for marketing and distribution of PotBS?
The best thing they can do is that when FLS has decided that the key issues have been dealt with is to offer a 14 day free trial.
Indeed i think they are planning to do it.
Even this morning I woke up and still checked the PotBS website to see what the next patch will bring. Some tiny part of me is still hoping they can turn this around into a stable and worthwhile game (long term as its fun in the short term). The patch coming out which they are all cheering about is improving interface, interface and more interface. On one hand I agree that they are nice improvements and thanks etc. However in the past 4 or so months almost all of the patches have been pointless in the grand scheme of things. I always judge a game on the first 6 months and the support it gets. I stuck with EVE because the added real content, even Tabula Rasa is still on my pc because I am happy enough with the updates. Just tweaking the interface is not good enough.
PotBS seriously needs open land to run around on outside of town. Might be a crazy idea but what if they kept resource gathering the same but then you had to actually craft the items in a workshop that you built outside of town?
Hmmm...and who was responsible for marketing and distribution of PotBS?
So you are saying that if SOE had marketed the game harder it would have been a success? I say it is this games small luck that their was no big marketing campaign because then it would have NO chance of a comeback. Now at least it has the opportunity to rebuild and then come back and market it with the changes.
On the other hand, all the major gaming sites and magazines have already reviewed it and they probably won't do that yet again.
Hmmm...and who was responsible for marketing and distribution of PotBS?
So you are saying that if SOE had marketed the game harder it would have been a success? I say it is this games small luck that their was no big marketing campaign because then it would have NO chance of a comeback. Now at least it has the opportunity to rebuild and then come back and market it with the changes.
On the other hand, all the major gaming sites and magazines have already reviewed it and they probably won't do that yet again.
I'm not totally sure if lack of marketting is a good or bad thing at this point. I do know that there are a fair number of people who have stuck with POTBS that have never touched another MMORPG before and picked this up because of its genre. On the other hand I also know that when I invite them to see other games they see the lack of content in comparison and understand why POTBS emptied out so fast. I'm thinking that those that have tried it now and dropped it are mostly the crowd who have played other games and who of course saw little to do as right now POTBS is an extremely linear game moreso then any other out on the market I think with the exception of possibly EVE and WWII online (those are the two i can think of that are quite linear) . Its possible that more boxes on shelves would have drawn in more people who have never played an mmorpg (as they do still exist in large numbers despite what people say) who have computers and like computer gaming as a hobby. If they had drawn in more like this the population might be higher but there still would have been the huge drop due to gamers who have played other games and expect more from a new release. The bar is set pretty high and well one day POTBS will meet the bar for minimum requirments of gamers who play these games with a passion.
Hmmm...and who was responsible for marketing and distribution of PotBS?
So you are saying that if SOE had marketed the game harder it would have been a success? I say it is this games small luck that their was no big marketing campaign because then it would have NO chance of a comeback. Now at least it has the opportunity to rebuild and then come back and market it with the changes.
On the other hand, all the major gaming sites and magazines have already reviewed it and they probably won't do that yet again.
Well I doubt that FLS paid SOE to *not* market the game and *not* put boxes on shelves. It may have worked out better for them that way considering the state of the game at launch but that doesn't mean SOE didn't screw things up.
Do you feel that PIrates of the Caribbean Online is drawing potential players away from this game?
No and that is an honest answer but I do know a marketer when I see one
I sure hope so. Pirates of the Caribbean Online isn't run by SOE.
Just an FYI, POTBS isn't being run by SOE either. They merely handle the frontend and billing. Everything behind the launcher is solely Flying Labs and their cross to bear.
POTBS is not a horrible game, but as a MMO, it simply fails, IMO. Pirates have no real impact in the end-game and honestly, the end-game resets every so often anyway, so what's the point? The ship combat is excellently done, but it doesn't make an MMO. Avatar combat has improved, but still not up to par with games already out and coming out. They weren't trying to take the world by storm, they were simply trying to make a game that they would find fun and share it with others. They perhaps over-reached in scope a little, but that's the way things go. Hopefully they have learned and will learn more along the way.
PotC is aimed at a younger audience, so I fail to see why it would compete in the same niche as PoTBS, nor would they take away each others playerbase.
I am very clear on SOE's relationship wtih the game. It was the first of several big mistakes FLS made.
I think Pirates of the Burning Sea failed in my eyes, when I played it.
-Too Historical... if they had treasure hunts or named npc hunts in the ocean it would have been great
-Sit at the pier and do missions rather than entering the open sea and hunting for the mission
-TOO MANY DAMN LOADING SCREENS.. if my toon had to wipe his ass.. there would probably be a loading screen to move my hand from the toilet paper to you know where.
The Ship COMBAT was excellent with the exception of the small maps that you fought in and the invisible wall tactic that became prevalent with the end game ships. All in all I enjoyed the game til Level 38 then quit when I saw how pathetic the Patch in March was.. We were promised a lot of content ended up with a stupid PVE instance.
I am very clear on SOE's relationship wtih the game. It was the first of several big mistakes FLS made.
The game Coulda been marketed by ANY other company and had the same flop.
SOE helped it as mutch as it Hurt it. All things the same at launch, the game was Still not ready.
Avatar Combat was a joke, 4 Nations as your choice..Wtf? Pirates Shoulda allways been a Secondary Class with 1/4 the Citys but Non capable. They should be Raiders not a faction with Little to no chance of winning.
This games Bad launch was FLS's Fault 100% NOT Soe.. Hell as many people Swore it off, Id wager just as many Station players Tryed it just because.
If ye love wealth greater than liberty, the tranquility of servitude; greater than the animating contest for freedom, go home from us in peace. We seek not your counsel, nor your arms. Crouch down and lick the hand that feeds you; May your chains set lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that ye were our countrymen.
Samuel Adams
I think they can still turn things around.
You can clearly see from posts and devlogs made on the official site that Flying Lab are working to iron out the issues that are currently in place.
I think ship insurance will go a long way towards improving the PVP environment, and having free trials available next month will likely help the population.