exacly how many times has this game significantly invested in? the "major additions I recall are vibora bay, free to play which reshuffled existing missions, added some good costumes for paying players and smoothed out some content but did not add a significant amount, the comics series which, while good were pretty far between, and on alert, which(i think) changed the loot to be more standard clothing gear rather than more random, though arguably more comic booky devices and magic implements, and it took one secondary equip from us but made the gear stronger, and they added the traits. there has been no "issue 10" and sure as hell no issue 16.
so yeah, drain enthusiasm from the fanbase with scant updates, over emphasise lockboxes and vehicles, and then throw your hands up ans say "we tried" when the reality is that compared to every competitor in the field, you didnt, you phoned it in to get sto out the door , and then after a a short run of adding content with limited new art assetts, you vanished for almost a year to push nwo while giving one off missions with cut and paste big enemies. yeah, maybe my expectations are out of whack because i played coh and we actually got content on a regular basis, but the landscape of the mmo world has changed, there are a lot of players who got displaced and there was initial good will because co did seem to be initially welcoming...but then deafening silence.
things seem to be a little better with error keeping the door content as permanent, but have you ever wondered why investing money here never got results? Are we just writing this off as something out of the devs hands, or is it because the tiems they tried simply were too half hearted.
All I am saying is that, from the standpoint of those who control the purse strings, money was thrown at CO seemingly without lasting benefit.
As to the half-hearted aspect ? I tend to agree. The problem is that the money men don't look at it that way. They see numbers invested and numbers returned.
I am not sure what an issue 10 or 16 is. Is this an internet meme ?
Sooo now that the emote think is cleaned up, about that nemesis system?
Sure it might take some work, and little more than pressing a button to fix, but it seems more like there is an allergy against work and less of cost.
Over the years, I think the high cost of not fixing much, is great, when they could have fixed it if they did so when they crop up, could have been low. Instead they decide to sit on it which may have increased to cost to fix through their inaction, and due to their inaction, there was loss, but now due to that loss, seems they are saying it isnt worth fixing.
A couple things ...
A hallmark of Cryptic's development was, supposedly until NW when the devs were told to focus on quality, "git'r done". If we look at CoH, bases were supposed to be HUGE -- as an outlet for creativity, a goal for SGs to work toward, and for a revitalised PvP experience. If anything, bases were more integral to I6 / CoV than the Nemesis system was for CO. But bases were so poorly implemented that attempts to fix supposedly simple bugs had ripple effects that would often cause the entire system to collapse.
Eventually, the devs owned up to the fact that bases would need a complete re-write in order to work as intended, and that there were simply no resources available for a project without guaranteed return. And Paragon's management, presumably, knew how many resources (time and money) had been spent on a crappy implementation -- a proper implementation would probably cost even more.
The Nemesis system seems to be suffering from similar problems as CoH bases -- poor implementation at the outset has led to an inability to make the system work without a rewrite.
Bases and nemeses were made with full dev teams -- it's na?ve to expect that CO's current skeleton team of people unfamiliar with the low-level workings of the engine could pull off the Nemesis system for a very long time if a full dev team with a pre-release budget couldn't do it.
One other thing to chew on is that Cryptic tends to re-use aspects of one title in its other titles (Foundry, queuing, etc.). The Nemesis system has not been re-used in STO or NW -- despite the fact that it would work conceptually in those games. To me, that's highly suggestive that the system is borked pretty fundamentally.
I am, however, not saying that the devs are lazy -- pretty sure they aren't. But I do think that Cryptic has more or less written off this game and doesn't think communicating with us is worth the time of anyone except a shared community rep.
One other thing to chew on is that Cryptic tends to re-use aspects of one title in its other titles (Foundry, queuing, etc.). The Nemesis system has not been re-used in STO or NW -- despite the fact that it would work conceptually in those games. To me, that's highly suggestive that the system is borked pretty fundamentally.
I have no doubt that the Nemesis system is, in its current state, b0rked beyond repair. However, I think Foundry better serves that goal in STO and NW than our Nemesis system would. There's too many canned missions and too few dialogue choices in CO. Random encounters work better in superhero scenarios, too.
If anything, Cryptic can revitalize the Nemesis system by rebuilding it on top of Foundry. Ambushes and filler missions can still come from the old pool, but players can build their own major confrontations instead of repeating Bunker Buster and Deathray Demolition over and over. (Never mind that my current nemesis is a hockey goon banned for life by the NHL after testing positive for Draysha. What about that premise says "Smart enough to build a death ray"? I mean COME ON!)
Choose your enemies carefully, because they will define you / Make them interesting, because in some ways they will mind you
They're not there in the beginning, but when your story ends / Gonna last with you longer than your friends
I was on the other night and was chatting with Trail Turtle. The net of it is that, to no surprise, Foundry in CO seems to be an expensive undertaking so doubtful it will ever happen (no surprise there).
To me, the "polishing" referred to by Cryptic North will be just to fix a few bugs and keep the alerts going, don't really see this game moving forward beyond these minor updates.
I'm going to start to look at NWO or STO (though I really want to play a superhero!), and will still keep my CO account (love power armor and freeform).. but.. yeah, just don't see a lot happening here
(Never mind that my current nemesis is a hockey goon banned for life by the NHL after testing positive for Draysha. What about that premise says "Smart enough to build a death ray"? I mean COME ON!)
This made me laugh harder than it should have, but yeah this needs to be addressed. 18 nems or so sounded awesome at first, but it's a real downer when they all have plans to build death rays. I imagine the PC is as bored of the same scheme as the player....
Think it's about time for our version of Paragon...
I was on the other night and was chatting with Trail Turtle. The net of it is that, to no surprise, Foundry in CO seems to be an expensive undertaking so doubtful it will ever happen (no surprise there).
To me, the "polishing" referred to by Cryptic North will be just to fix a few bugs and keep the alerts going, don't really see this game moving forward beyond these minor updates.
I'm going to start to look at NWO or STO (though I really want to play a superhero!), and will still keep my CO account (love power armor and freeform).. but.. yeah, just don't see a lot happening here
So pretty much... the game is dead. It figures, Cryptic certainly did its best to kill it.
I have had people complain at me for not being positive about the future of this game. I musk ask, How is one supposed to have a positive outlook for this game when you look back at the history of Cryptic?
This made me laugh harder than it should have, but yeah this needs to be addressed. 18 nems or so sounded awesome at first, but it's a real downer when they all have plans to build death rays. I imagine the PC is as bored of the same scheme as the player....
Think it's about time for our version of Paragon...
Does anything about this knucklehead say "Evil Genius" to you?
Seriously, Cryptic, I have a no-talent Canadian facepuncher named The Broad Street Bully attempting to build weapons of mass destruction! WE HAVE TO FIX THIS!
Choose your enemies carefully, because they will define you / Make them interesting, because in some ways they will mind you
They're not there in the beginning, but when your story ends / Gonna last with you longer than your friends
Does anything about this knucklehead say "Evil Genius" to you?
Seriously, Cryptic, I have a no-talent Canadian facepuncher named The Broad Street Bully attempting to build weapons of mass destruction! WE HAVE TO FIX THIS!
Does anything about this knucklehead say "Evil Genius" to you?
Seriously, Cryptic, I have a no-talent Canadian facepuncher named The Broad Street Bully attempting to build weapons of mass destruction! WE HAVE TO FIX THIS!
He totally looks the type. Right next to quoting Shakespeare and owning a Pomeranian adorned with diamond encrusted collar. :biggrin:
I say stuff and I say things, sometimes together but only when I'm feeling adventurous.
This looks like the dude who used to live in the dirty house near my apartment complex. You could see his place from the balcony. Dude would back his truck up, through the woods, into the apartment's parking lot, and sit there. Drop the tailgate, blast the G&R, and drink beer out of a styrofoam cooler with no shirt on.
"Y'all got a nice pool here." That's all he ever said to me. Ever.
Does anything about this knucklehead say "Evil Genius" to you?
Seriously, Cryptic, I have a no-talent Canadian facepuncher named The Broad Street Bully attempting to build weapons of mass destruction! WE HAVE TO FIX THIS!
The power gloves are a dead giveaway of superior technical genius.
Experienced do-gooders would spot this immediately!
Ya' should have used duct tape.
CellarRat33 :: formerly Bsquared
***
"The great thing about glory unending is that it's dirt cheap!" - Tateklys From the Adventures of Thundrax (canadascott)
***
Comments
All I am saying is that, from the standpoint of those who control the purse strings, money was thrown at CO seemingly without lasting benefit.
As to the half-hearted aspect ? I tend to agree. The problem is that the money men don't look at it that way. They see numbers invested and numbers returned.
I am not sure what an issue 10 or 16 is. Is this an internet meme ?
'Caine, miss you bud. Fly high.
Being a Ling of the webs I have not heard of said term in use, aside from referencing CoX issues.
I think they called the updates 'issues' or something, like comic book issues.
Deliciously nutritious!
A hallmark of Cryptic's development was, supposedly until NW when the devs were told to focus on quality, "git'r done". If we look at CoH, bases were supposed to be HUGE -- as an outlet for creativity, a goal for SGs to work toward, and for a revitalised PvP experience. If anything, bases were more integral to I6 / CoV than the Nemesis system was for CO. But bases were so poorly implemented that attempts to fix supposedly simple bugs had ripple effects that would often cause the entire system to collapse.
Eventually, the devs owned up to the fact that bases would need a complete re-write in order to work as intended, and that there were simply no resources available for a project without guaranteed return. And Paragon's management, presumably, knew how many resources (time and money) had been spent on a crappy implementation -- a proper implementation would probably cost even more.
The Nemesis system seems to be suffering from similar problems as CoH bases -- poor implementation at the outset has led to an inability to make the system work without a rewrite.
Bases and nemeses were made with full dev teams -- it's na?ve to expect that CO's current skeleton team of people unfamiliar with the low-level workings of the engine could pull off the Nemesis system for a very long time if a full dev team with a pre-release budget couldn't do it.
One other thing to chew on is that Cryptic tends to re-use aspects of one title in its other titles (Foundry, queuing, etc.). The Nemesis system has not been re-used in STO or NW -- despite the fact that it would work conceptually in those games. To me, that's highly suggestive that the system is borked pretty fundamentally.
I am, however, not saying that the devs are lazy -- pretty sure they aren't. But I do think that Cryptic has more or less written off this game and doesn't think communicating with us is worth the time of anyone except a shared community rep.
I have no doubt that the Nemesis system is, in its current state, b0rked beyond repair. However, I think Foundry better serves that goal in STO and NW than our Nemesis system would. There's too many canned missions and too few dialogue choices in CO. Random encounters work better in superhero scenarios, too.
If anything, Cryptic can revitalize the Nemesis system by rebuilding it on top of Foundry. Ambushes and filler missions can still come from the old pool, but players can build their own major confrontations instead of repeating Bunker Buster and Deathray Demolition over and over. (Never mind that my current nemesis is a hockey goon banned for life by the NHL after testing positive for Draysha. What about that premise says "Smart enough to build a death ray"? I mean COME ON!)
They're not there in the beginning, but when your story ends / Gonna last with you longer than your friends
To me, the "polishing" referred to by Cryptic North will be just to fix a few bugs and keep the alerts going, don't really see this game moving forward beyond these minor updates.
I'm going to start to look at NWO or STO (though I really want to play a superhero!), and will still keep my CO account (love power armor and freeform).. but.. yeah, just don't see a lot happening here
This made me laugh harder than it should have, but yeah this needs to be addressed. 18 nems or so sounded awesome at first, but it's a real downer when they all have plans to build death rays. I imagine the PC is as bored of the same scheme as the player....
Think it's about time for our version of Paragon...
So pretty much... the game is dead. It figures, Cryptic certainly did its best to kill it.
I say stuff and I say things, sometimes together but only when I'm feeling adventurous.
I'm @blu8 in game!
Does anything about this knucklehead say "Evil Genius" to you?
Seriously, Cryptic, I have a no-talent Canadian facepuncher named The Broad Street Bully attempting to build weapons of mass destruction! WE HAVE TO FIX THIS!
They're not there in the beginning, but when your story ends / Gonna last with you longer than your friends
Really?
Sigh.
Wicks and Things: NW-DI4FMZRR4 : The Fenwick merchant family has lost a caravan! Can you help?
Beggar's Hollow: NW-DR6YG4J2L : Someone, or something, has stolen away many of the Fenwicks' children! Can you find out what happened to them?
Into the Fen Wood: NW-DL89DRG7B : Enter the heart of the forest. Can you discover the secret of the Fen Wood?
Well appearances can be very deceiving.
Should have stayed in the ring.
And playing by myself since Aug 2009
Godtier: Lifetime Subscriber
Nepht and Dr Deflecto on primus
They all thought I was out of the game....But I'm holding all the lockboxes now..
I'll......FOAM FINGER YOUR BACK!
He totally looks the type. Right next to quoting Shakespeare and owning a Pomeranian adorned with diamond encrusted collar. :biggrin:
I say stuff and I say things, sometimes together but only when I'm feeling adventurous.
I'm @blu8 in game!
This looks like the dude who used to live in the dirty house near my apartment complex. You could see his place from the balcony. Dude would back his truck up, through the woods, into the apartment's parking lot, and sit there. Drop the tailgate, blast the G&R, and drink beer out of a styrofoam cooler with no shirt on.
"Y'all got a nice pool here." That's all he ever said to me. Ever.
I never got in the pool afterward.
The power gloves are a dead giveaway of superior technical genius.
Experienced do-gooders would spot this immediately!
Ya' should have used duct tape.
CellarRat33 :: formerly Bsquared
***
"The great thing about glory unending is that it's dirt cheap!" - Tateklys
From the Adventures of Thundrax (canadascott)
***