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Why does TSW get such slow content updates?
Razeekster
Member UncommonPosts: 2,591
I've been wanting to buy the game because I did have a blast with it in beta, but I can't get myself to buy a game that doesn't really get any updates. The updates that I have seen for TSW have been quite small and I heard they charge for some updates referring to them as "DLCs" as if TSW was just a normal RPG PC game and not an MMO. I'm not sure if this is true or not, but it is I guess that would even be alright if I also hadn't heard that these $10 DLCs only contain a few quests in them.
So yeah, not really sure if I want to buy this game because I don't seem to see it expanding at a very fast rate at all.
Smile
Comments
True, the plan was a bi-monthly schedule, and it's more like a 3 - 3.5 months in reality. Maybe because the size. You see, they're not small updates, actually they're pretty much qualified to call themselves as DLC - with new mechanics, aux. weapons, etc.
The "only contains a few quests" usually means +5-6 hours of new story, and a greatly written one, might I add, with external backups and stuff, just check Tyler Freeborn's blog if you don't believe me
( I admit, #3 was a short one indeed, but it doesn't matter anyways, since you got Issue #1 - #4 for free with the box. )
Since the majority is playing TSW for the story and the missions, the 3 Issues that came after the b2p switch are well worthed the price. Which is leading to the $10 part. TSW is b2p with a sub option, and members (subscribers) get those updates for free, with the monthly stipend. Free players can skip them, or buy them for less than a usual monthly fee
That above is just for the middle section of your post. As I started, you're right, TSW "don't seem to expanding at a very fast rate at all". I think this present pace of 5 Issues in a year (#5 - #9 in 2013, hopefully
) will stay as the standard for TSW.... and I don't think it would be a problem. Good story writing takes time.
It is like writing a book not fed ex fetch quests and not enough supported the game so it is not doing so great. Perhaps if people valued ideas and stories and a game that tries to do something different it might get more people to work on it.
Games need people to support it. Unfortunately no matter how good a game is if not enough people spend money on it it will die eventually. Learn to support the things you value.
When I played on release after playing the beta it took me a little over a month of daily play to complete the large majority of the story missions (mostly solo play, about 1/2 way through Transylvania).
To answer your question I think Funcom just sucks at supporting their product.
On the other hand, if most players actually took the time to figure out quests themselves rather than googling answers or asking in chat the content would last far longer.
Smile
Actually, Funcom has not yet closed down any game.
They have kept supporting, developing and giving out patches to their games day in and day out.
They know how to survive in a cold winters day, and I think we players should also support them and give them credits for their hard work.
They are what I would call an alternative developer - they are willing to try new things, giving content that is special and unique.
We players keep asking for it, and Funcom is one of very few that try to deliver this
Then years must 've been passing veery cold for them
beLIEve
Life support? Hardly.
I just came back to the game myself and was concerned I might find it to be the same. Within the first 30 minutes, my concerns were allayed.
The game is quite active. Always people in Agartha. Always people in the different cities. I'm always coming across people out it the different areas, questing, fighting. The Cabal I'm in has about 20-30 people on a night between all factions, from what I've seen.
The reason it's getting updates more slowly is because Funcom had laid off people and, I believe, shut down one of their offices. As a result, there are fewer people to work on it. But they still are working on it. In fact, they're still working on story content that was mapped out in advance of the game's release (it's something they did to ensure there would be new content coming out well into the future... a smart move).
Update 7 has been getting rave reviews from what I've seen/heard (I haven't done it yet, myself), and each update seems to be getting better than the last.
They've been working on Tokyo, which will be an entirely new area, or group of areas when it's released, with a variety of new missions, characters, story-arcs, etc.
So, no... TSW is not on life support. Not at all.
OK nobody said it yet ...
but it's quite comical how someone who contributed a grand total of $0 is complaining that there is no funding for new content being released...
I mean if you bought the game, gripe away ... but you played beta and are still thinking about a purchase, then complain that there isn't adequate patches?
Thanks for making my day.
Want a nice understanding of life? Try Spirit Science: "The Human History"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8NNHmV3QPw&feature=plcp
Recognize the voice? Yep sounds like Penny Arcade's Extra Credits.
And they've weathered them.
Anarchy Online is still going what... Thirteen years into its life? Is huge and overflowing with people? No. Is it serving a portion of the MMO playerbase for whom that kind of game and experience is actually what they're seeking? Yes. Is it enough to keep the game going and new stuff being developed? Absolutely.
At the end of the day, that's all that matters.
It's a sad sight when people will pass up on a game they feel they could enjoy because it isn't "more popular". That attitude is actually a part of what keeps them not popular... The fewer people playing because "not popular enough", the fewer people to "make it more popular". It's completely self-perpetuating.
All FC's MMOs are F2P/Hybrid. Though TSW does require an initial purchase.. so it's "B2P", similar to GW2. So why not give it a shot? Even if they went belly up next year... if you enjoyed your time and spent no more than you wanted to... what's the problem?
the B2P killed any hope we had at having regular updates. which sucks cause those "5 or 6 quests per DLC" is usually a large story arc with its own cutscenes and story progression that have all been badass. If anything stopped the regular updates its people being too cheap or being afraid of funcom.
Its sad to because TSW is still one of the best MMO's on the market. if you want proof look at the released popularity on this site. its been either barely behind barely ahead or tied with GW2 for first place. that fact only recently changed with Realm Reborn being released, and that probubly will last until the buzz is gone.
Because i can.
I'm Hopeful For Every Game, Until the Fan Boys Attack My Games. Then the Knives Come Out.
Logic every gamers worst enemy.
Funny how many people always write stuff without knowing barily anything, yes TSW do not bring out monthly DLC's like they wanted. But what do you suppose with a small amount of players. Even though If i am not misstaken they won a price called "most fastly updating content" last year, yes its only for the first 4 months or something:D.
And to all the guys talking bout life support and they are having bad times since anarchy online, maybe read the latest annual report. Why should they get conatracts with hollywood firms and LEGO, since this firms want to know how the financial future of their partner company could be...
This game is worth playing all the quests and at least all the normal mode dungeons (if you don't want to gear up for endgame content).
I jump in after every issue or event release to check out the new story lines. That Tyler one was amazing.
Events are pretty good too. I really liked the End of Days Event.
The game's retention looks really good, but sales were probably a fifth of what they were projecting. They had to lay off a large number of staff to make the game and the company profitable. That had a dramatic impact on their ability to create updates for the game.
I think it's a good game. The story lines are pretty good and the game systems work. It's worth the box price (imo). It's just not a game with mass, or even very wide appeal. It is pretty accessible, but requires some reading, some minimal internet research and more effort than what people may expect.
I can not remember winning or losing a single debate on the internet.
Yeah you should never question a product or service before buying into it!!!
Smart Consumerism is what is killing the economy!!!
+1
QFT
because the game flopped and is basically on life support. they weren't able to keep up content delivery schedule past 2 months, and laid off 75% of the staff so far. now everything is late and further in between. the content that players are waiting for now were supposed to be out in october-december last year.
it also suffers from being very buggy, they had one update that had some invasion type event but after it faded all the world NPC's were stuck in combat and thus unusable and broke many quests/vendors.
There is more than ample information, articles, trailer and gameplay videos, reviews, discussions, let's plays, etc.. about the game to get an informed opinion of what the game is about. The only way you could possibly call it an "uninformed purchase" is if you don't even bother trying. And, as the saying goes, "in the age of information, ignorance is a choice".
And since you're mocking the idea of buying something without questioning it first...
How many games have you bought without any guarantee you'd enjoy them?
How many movies have you gone to see without any guarantee you'd enjoy them?
How many services have you purchased or subscribed to with no guarantee that you'd be satisfied with them?
... even when returns or refunds aren't an option...?
People make "blind faith" purchases all the time, with all kinds of things; you, me, everyone. It's nothing new. So, it seems a bit disingenuous and self-serving to so selectively cherry-pick MMOs as one time where it's suddenly "unreasonable".
Anarchy Online was the 1st MMO I ever played
I compare all other MMO's to it, and find them woefully inadequate
I play TSW as well, as a friend gifted me a copy over steam.
There are times when the ingame lighting, audio and generic content seriously creep me out
particularly the 'black house' with the quest objective 'investigate the cellar'
that left me sat in my chair thinking, but I don't want to go into the cellar
bad stuff ALWAYS happens in the cellars
the character animation might be a bit shit, but by god they got the atmosphere nailed, and nailed hard.
Again... no, it is not on life support.
I've seen games on life support. Vanguard was in that camp for years, until SOE decided to pull it out of death row. Matrix Online was in that camp for years 'til SOE decided to pull the plug.
To say TSW is on "life support" is to be using the term in the loosest possible way.
TSW is an active game, with a noticeable population everywhere you go, chat is active in the different areas, etc. Development is continuing on it. "Slowed" =/= "Stopped".
People need to stop thinking in terms of this dichotomy where a MMO is either a "raving success" or it's on "life support". There's a vast gray area in-between, and that's where TSW finds itself.
Even reading your post made me shiver about that house. The atmosphere in TSW is amazing.
OP, the content updates might not be rapid-fire, but they are quality from what I've experienced so far. Anyone not giving this game a try is only cheating themselves.
100% personal opinion. Also, can we please stop with these "in 2012", "in 2013" comments? They're absolutely pointless. There is no "All Encompassing Annual Guide" that defines "what 'X' should be like in 2012", or "2013", or so on... It's just people attempting to give more "legitimacy" to their opinions by attaching some arbitrary, fictitious "universal standard" to it.
If I was to ask you "What should combat be like in 2012?", you could not ever give me an objective answer that's "universally true" for everyone. The best you could do is describe what you personally think it should be.
Ask 10 different people that same question, you'll get 10 different opinions; perhaps with similarities... but not the same.
If it's a typical thread around mmorpg.com, it's possible (even probable) that every one of them will insist their answer is somehow "The One True And Correct Response".
No I'm mocking someone mocking someone for wanting more information before buying.
If people choose to buy blind then it's their choice and they pay the consequences.Caveat Emptor.
Since you ask I research any purchase I'm making or service I intend to use and compare them to other products and services before committing to a purchase.That's just being smart.I do that for all areas of my consumerism and don't single out just MMORPGs for special treatment though it seems you do.
I don't condone Blind Faith in anything because questioning is always healthy.But if people choose to not question that is their right.
Once more,because it bears repeating so you get it, I was making fun of someone making fun of someone wanting more information and opinions on an issue on a product they were thinking of purchasing.
None of this was a knock on TSW which you seem out to defend from any imagined slight.