AoC vs. LoTRO

I apologize in advance for the misleading topic.  Having said that I think it's important to note that I haven't played AoC but I have played LoTRO.

This is more about a different perspective and about the LoTRO fans coming over bashing AoC and why I think they really have no room to bash at all or compare.  Yes, LoTRO had a very smooth launch however LoTRO has never released any new servers, had to use a massive amount of gimmick/hype and advertisement and has yet to release any sales milestones like 500k or one million sales.

In fact Turbine seems almost desperate in their attempts to get new subscriptions with their constant $9.95 a month offers if you join up now and so forth.  Furthermore, you seen and still see LoTRO ads plastered everywhere but yet you still haven't seen any new servers.  To me, I think LoTRO was just as hyped, if not more so, with gimmicks everywhere thrown at customers ($200 lifetime subs, $9.95 a month founder stuff) it might have been more hyped and marketed than AoC.

The reason that is is LoTRO is really really 'casual niche'.  For me, it was one of the lamest, shallowest games I've ever played in my life.  Everything about it's whole game rules system, progression, etc was formulaic.   I enjoyed Silkroad much more and in my opinion it had a far better character advancement system than LoTRO.  Though, I will give LoTRO credit for how it did harvesting for Inscription/Scribes.

Turbine paid alot for the polish and smooth launch (probably the smoothest ever) but I think that AoC has already outsold LoTRO despite LoTRO being out for over a year now.  In the end, from the sounds of it though and knowing Funcom's record, LoTRO (which does have a steady retention rate now) will probably end up having more subscriptions than AoC in a few months time.

LoTRO's population is down to the point that people who have stuck around, are content with the bone thrown to them every few months.   This will keep LoTRO healthy for a good number of years from now.  From the sounds of it though AoC may end up being another AO.

To wrap things up I'd like to add that from what I read about AoC, even in highscored reviews, is that it's extremely shallow but offers an excellent starting area.   Nothing about AoC sounds appealing, even the combat system.   Hacking off heads and seeing blood seems like it'd be intriguing for the first couple of hours but after that I wouldn't care.  Boobs and sex? I get that IRL.  100 versus 100 sieges? Concept wise it sounds fun and interesting but in practice it'll never turn out how you imagine it will and I cannot imagine the bugs/lag it causes.  Furthermore, cutscenes for NPCs? In all honesty that sounds almost cheap in a way and ultimately very annoying.  I couldn't stand the similar stuff done in games like 9 Dragons.  Again, very cheap and I think Funcom using it as a gimmick of sorts just makes it worse.