It's brilliant marketing :
Buy a 1/3rd of a ship for full price . Collect them all !!!
Altho I am concerned if these ships will offer different BOFF layouts , as that could cause havoc in PVP (especially if the choose not to activate their special ability) .
How will you know what you're fighting then (especially if there's more than one Oddy) ?
I recall that the reason they gave for not allowing us to set our weapon colors was that they wanted us to know what we were up against .
I'm not sure that this will be the case if there are different BOFF layouts .
But the current oddy along with other ships have different BOFF layouts. Why would the new ships be a problem if the old ships is not? When you come across the basic oddy you never know what BOFF layout it has. I change my BOFF layout between and somtimes dueing PvP match's. Never had anyone complain.
Unfortunately, I'm thinking it will only detail what we already know from seeing how the cruisers CURRENTLY stack up.
The FREE Odyssey and the other space whale Star Cruisers ... Not all that popular. The science focus doesn't play out as well in a cruiser setup.
The ENG focused, tanky tank cruisers that are all essentially Galaxy classes of one form or another. They don't do enough sustained DPS and their tanky skills don't make up for their terrible turn rate and saucer sep from day 1 is a pretty gimmick without a lot of real in-combat value. So they show up a bit more than the space whales, but are actually less effective.
AND THEN you get the tactical cruisers. The Assault cruiser for the unwashed masses like me, and the Excelsior for everyone else. The most popular, most effective cruisers out there.
THREE variants of the Odyssey? Hah. In four months, we'll see that the Tactical variant (as long as it adds that third tactical console in its layout) will be the most popular "variant" and the most oft-used for end-game content.
It's brilliant marketing :
Buy a 1/3rd of a ship for full price . Collect them all !!!
As I point out above, players will find the min-max sweet spot and only one variant will really sell like hot cakes. The rest will be tucked in there like a lot of the others. Especially now that players at that level already have a ton of other storebought ships taking up docking space and would have to buy MORE ship slots for MORE ships they won't fly since they already only prefer to fly ONE of the three variants.
As someone who isn't a fan of saucer sep or aux craft I actually like this approach. I have no interest in the Oddy but if I can get a tac bortas without paying extra for bits I don't want that's just fine with me.
Dunno ... , we called the Rhode Island an experiment too ... , and now look how many "+1" ships we have .
THREE variants of the Odyssey? Hah. In four months, we'll see that the Tactical variant (as long as it adds that third tactical console in its layout) will be the most popular "variant" and the most oft-used for end-game content.
It could be the most "popular" (as most players roll a Tac as their first toon) , but the Sci could be the most deadly . The only thing current Sci ships lack is a strong body . Fix that , and it'll be hell in PVP .
It could be the most "popular" (as most players roll a Tac as their first toon) , but the Sci could be the most deadly . The only thing current Sci ships lack is a strong body . Fix that , and it'll be hell in PVP .
The way cruisers work (especially hard to turn cruisers like the Odyssey), the extra tactical slots will be fare more useful. It creates an effective beam boat with damage buffs. It's the +1 Sovereign.
The science version is just going to be the +1 Space Whale. More useful than the +1 Galaxy-R, but still, you'll see everyone settle in to the +1 Sovvy, because of how cruisers work.
When I first read what the OP said, I was furious. But then after thinking about it and reminding myself that under the new business model, Cryptic/PWI cannot rely on Subscriptions to carry them forward, and they cannot rely on individual one-off sales of C-store items either.
This is why we have the lottery boxes and the need to buy keys on the C-store to unlock them. This is why there are 3 versions of the same ship, each suited to a specific division. We don't have to buy a single one. But if we choose to buy one, it will likely be for our perferred class. If we have an alt that we prefer a different class for, and if we want one of these ships, we have the OPTION to buy the version that suits that alt best.
So I see the reason from a business standpoint. And STO is a business venture. By definition, they must do what they can to maximize their profits.
The problem is that they are NOT doing everything they can. I don't mind lottery boxes or C-store fluff. What I mind is these things taking the centerpoint of their efforts. What need do we have for the Oddessey or the Bortas? What need to we have for the Galor or the Dominion "bug"? None. Missions really play out no different with them than they do with any of the vanilla classes we have access to without spending a dime...
Now give us a special mission behind enemy lines of renegade Jem'hadar which requires us to fly a bug (we'd be given one anyway, but its stats would be something like 75% of what the one players might have unlocked durring the promotion.
Give us an on-going series of missions posing as loyalists of the True Way that require us to fly a Galor-class. Agiain the mission would supply us with one that again would only have 75% of the stats of one we unlock.
At least then, there would be some tangible incentive to pursue those special unlocks.
And as to the Oddessey or Bortas... They're just new 25th century era ships for us with hopefully all new content to experience with them.
STO is beginning to become plagued with the same issue that Star Wars Galaxies was facing before they turned it into a WoW clone: Plenty of different ways to do stuff, things to do stuff with, but not enough stuff to do. Where is the effort to give us stuff to do. The KDF has started into its third year of waiting to be a viable faction. UFP players who have exhausted all the pre-existing content are left with nothing but STFs to do over and over and over again until they are sick. That and PvP.
So Cryptic. If you cannot be bothered to actually produce new mission content other than the featured episodes that take you guys months to work up, then please. Focus on developing endgame systems that generate content for us.
Look at how successful the DOFF system is. Great. Now how bout creating a mechanic that gives US a pool of objectives we can PLAY through. How might the DOFF assignments actually take on playable form? Maybe I want to lead the team that deals with those assignments.
Where is the fleet starbase mechanic?
Where is territorial control
Where is competitive PvE?
Where is the interstellar trade?
Where is the meaningful exploration?
How long must we wait for the flesh to be put on the bones?
For all the above elements, let the introduction layer be free so we can decide if it is gameplay we like. Then add deeper layers with an increasing and recurring Refined Dilithium prerequisite to obtain and maintain access to, with each layer having a greater impact on the political, economic and social landscape of the galaxy. Individuals focused on a single element could, with sustained maximum Dilithium refinement efforts, achieve and remain active in the deepest layer of involvement. But those who wish to take on multiple elements and pursue them to their deepest layers would need to make use of the Dilithium exchange, purchasing C-points to trade for Refined Dilithium. But even multiple elements of endgame need not require a single CP, with the understanding that involvement with each may not be possible beyond a certain layer.
Dunno ... , we called the Rhode Island an experiment too ... , and now look how many "+1" ships we have .
To be fair, they did change strategies with the later +1 ships (adding an ensign station rather then bumping the second highest station up a rank)
There's a notably smaller gap in power between the 2.5-4.5 ships than there is between the Rhode Island and it's tier 1.5 cronies (which all had to be balanced against the RI).
Looking forward to the one carrying the little escort. Now, we have a sort of redneck engineered strike carrier!
3 versions for 1600c? That's a bargain - normally that entitles me to a single Tier IV ship like the Excelsior refit. Being able to pick the right BortaS for the job is epic! That's right, I'm much more smitten on the KDF design this time.
The little pet thing is cute but... Take it from the pilot of a MVAE and a D'kyr... Those little pets die in the blink of an eye when they grab agro. It is great for a Carrier who can put out more of them but here is what you can expect from this pet.
You launch the pet... It finds an enemy and shoots at it. It deals a tiny bit of damage to the enemy's shields... The enemy one-shots the pet. You have to recall it and wait 3-5 Minutes to launch it again...
Ooooor... The little ship avoids taking aggro. It deals an insignificant amount of damage. The enemy ship begins to blow up. The little ship rushes in to give it a big hug and dies in the warp core breech. You have to recall it and wait 3-5 minutes to launch it again...
Just saying... At least Saucer Separation actually gives your SHIP some benefits.
I'm more bothered by the fact that the ship only has one style. The customization sucks. Pretty disappointed how ship styles are basically not an issue any more. I don't want to have my ship look exactly the same at everyone else. totally boring.
Cryptic's undisputed claim to fame is customization & they have basically tossed it. sucks.
Well the Odyssey can't really be customized due to what it represents (blame CBS really) and the Bortas is a Klingon ship, therefore it wouldn't be given any alternate parts for a year at least... and it would be a c-store variant if it were.
What I want to know is how the Eng Bortas will stack up against my Negh'Var.
I'm more bothered by the fact that the ship only has one style. The customization sucks. Pretty disappointed how ship styles are basically not an issue any more. I don't want to have my ship look exactly the same at everyone else. totally boring.
Cryptic's undisputed claim to fame is customization & they have basically tossed it. sucks.
Indeed. Selling the same skin in 3 ship variants isn't making it better.
Let's see how this will turn out, I am afraid not good.
Damn... can't they make slightly different Odyssey parts for customisation purposes between each variant?
Just make one slightly more hi tech, one slightly more armored, and one standard look. Can't be hard right? These are field modifications to suit specific operational needs (the entire purpose of having variants)
Indeed. Selling the same skin in 3 ship variants isn't making it better.
Let's see how this will turn out, I am afraid not good.
And why, pray tell, is it necessary to have three different styles for these ships? The differences between them are likely related to how the BOFF seat and console type distributions are.
If I took out a tactical console on a constitution class, replaced it with a science console, decided to add an extra science station on the bridge in place of a tactical station, does the outside appearance of the constitution somehow miraculously change?
Should we be able to customize these new ships like we can many of the old ones? Of course. I hope they add additional styles to purchase on the C-store.
Remember we don't NEED the Oddessey or the Bortas any more than we need any other C-store ship. If we buy them it is because we want them, pur and simple. So if a varraint skin of either comes available, if we want them we will buy them.
Don't expect ANYTHING free anymore guys. Now that they no longer require a subscription, they are going to assume that subscription revenue will at a minimum, and the money will be on selling us things in the C-store that we want bad enough to buy the CPs for. So that is where their aim is.
If we don't like it, so what? Rage quitting won't get us anywhere, as they won't be out any money on the deal. If we want what they are selling, we'll buy it. If we don't then we won't. It's as simple as that.
They'd probably make more sales if they were just direct & honest: Forget the ships and simply sell their special, for-cash "I Win" button consoles for C-Points instead. After all, isn't that what you really buy them for?
They'd probably make more sales if they were just direct & honest: Forget the ships and simply sell their special, for-cash "I Win" button consoles for C-Points instead. After all, isn't that what you really buy them for?
But then how will they be able to get people to buy the extra ship slots?
On a different note, I'm not seeing many science captains use the Odyssey. Anyone remember the Varanus and it's problematic turn rate before they changed it?
Priority 1's interview with Bran_Flakes. He let loose with the info towards the end of the show. 3 Different versions of the Odyssey. A different console for each. One is saucer separation. One will launch Work Bees. One will launch the tactical escort. The variants have a new skin which is very similar to the free Odyssey.
BortasQ will have a console that will launch a BoP escort ship, a disuprtor barrage, and X which brandon didn't say. I assume the KDF equivalent of Work Bees.
And the different consoles can all be placed on one ship. Brandon didn't now how they will interact (i.e. global cooldowns, etc). And the Odyssey doesn't have MVAM. you don't get to control any entity you want. The Saucer and Escort acts as pets like the Galaxy-R does.
I'm not bothering to read more of a lame thread about a lame idea. Simply put, too much P2W = nerfing your build. This said, I won't be buying any of the new ship variants unless someone makes a build that I just can't beat. Then I'll explore options....maybe
But then how will they be able to get people to buy the extra ship slots?
On a different note, I'm not seeing many science captains use the Odyssey. Anyone remember the Varanus and it's problematic turn rate before they changed it?
I think what's needed is some degree of firing arc/turnrate trade off.
Science abilities need a better firing arc if they don't have the turnrate.
To make it viable, I think it needs a passive boost to firing arc in its science flavor.
Some folks think that important information, should also be released on places that are integral to the game, IE the Game website, I really dislike this new trend of putting out information anywhere else but here, it gives them way to many ways to backtrack on any and all promises. it gives them the "its not an official release because its not on the site" fall back.
Captain Logan leaving, 3 ship variants, looks like monetize as much as possible to grab as much cash as you can before you shut the servers down.
Oh give me a break one guy going from the team doesnt mean the game is coming to an end. STO isnt anywhere close to death so stop spreading your false pessimism to others I get it you hope STO fails those of us who enjoy it dont.
I for one hope this new trend in making 3 variants of the same ship (or via consoles as it is done in this case) continues. I am happy to have the choices as I always approve of more choices for the players. Naturally I will be purchasing all 3.
I for one hope this new trend in making 3 variants of the same ship (or via consoles as it is done in this case) continues. I am happy to have the choices as I always approve of more choices for the players. Naturally I will be purchasing all 3.
Oh give me a break one guy going from the team doesnt mean the game is coming to an end. STO isnt anywhere close to death so stop spreading your false pessimism to others I get it you hope STO fails those of us who enjoy it dont.
Logan is the only decent Dev so far that I know. He's also seems to be the best at his job. The rest just continue to **** us off. No body complains about Logan's work though.
Oh give me a break one guy going from the team doesnt mean the game is coming to an end. STO isnt anywhere close to death so stop spreading your false pessimism to others I get it you hope STO fails those of us who enjoy it dont.
Normally you might have a point. But in this case, I think the person you are responding to has the better point. Because that one guy that is going has been the most consistent creator of content in this game's 2 year lifespan.
The rest of the team has failed to match that level of output, combined.
Logan is the only decent Dev so far that I know. He's also seems to be the best at his job. The rest just continue to **** us off. No body complains about Logan's work though.
Logan is the only decent Dev so far that I know. He's also seems to be the best at his job. The rest just continue to **** us off. No body complains about Logan's work though.
They don't intentionally try to **** us off. They have bosses that tell them what to do, and if they don't do it, then they won't be working there anymore. You may say, "well if that's the case, let them tell the bosses what we think of things." If you went up to your boss and told him that you think the way he runs things is stupid, you think he's going to go care. More likely than not, he will fire you, hire some bottom-feeder off the street and put him to work in your former position and pay him more money.
We play a game.
They do a job.
The decisions that come down the line which they have no choice but to comply with come from people higher up on the corporate food chain.
It goes like this:
Owners
Management
Marketing
Development
Community Relations / Customer Support
Us.
The owners have the money and tell management what kind of gains they expect
Management tells marketing what the expectation is and
Marketing comes up with the stupid TRIBBLE that we cannot stand and tells development to find a way to work it into the system.
Development devises the systems that give the marketing boys what they want even though their time would have been better spent working on things the consumers who will be spending money want.
Community ralations and CS take the heat from an angry community after once again getting more junk. Some of the Developers also expose themselves to this heat.
Even though the devs may want to go into work with a "let's see what we can accomplish today" attitude, when they get in, they go into a meeting where they are told what they are going to do.
What you have to remember is that owners and management can do no wrong. Even if we all canceled our subscriptions and refused to buy a single C-Store item ever again, To those two groups, it won't be their decisions or directives that are flawed. If it really does hurts their bottom line, they won't change their focus. They'll pull the plug, redistribute or fire the developers, and go on to run some other game that otherwise has a lot of potential into the ground.
No my friends. As much as it angers me to say so, we really have no other recource but to either accept things as they are and play, or else just walk away.
Comments
But the current oddy along with other ships have different BOFF layouts. Why would the new ships be a problem if the old ships is not? When you come across the basic oddy you never know what BOFF layout it has. I change my BOFF layout between and somtimes dueing PvP match's. Never had anyone complain.
Unfortunately, I'm thinking it will only detail what we already know from seeing how the cruisers CURRENTLY stack up.
The FREE Odyssey and the other space whale Star Cruisers ... Not all that popular. The science focus doesn't play out as well in a cruiser setup.
The ENG focused, tanky tank cruisers that are all essentially Galaxy classes of one form or another. They don't do enough sustained DPS and their tanky skills don't make up for their terrible turn rate and saucer sep from day 1 is a pretty gimmick without a lot of real in-combat value. So they show up a bit more than the space whales, but are actually less effective.
AND THEN you get the tactical cruisers. The Assault cruiser for the unwashed masses like me, and the Excelsior for everyone else. The most popular, most effective cruisers out there.
THREE variants of the Odyssey? Hah. In four months, we'll see that the Tactical variant (as long as it adds that third tactical console in its layout) will be the most popular "variant" and the most oft-used for end-game content.
As I point out above, players will find the min-max sweet spot and only one variant will really sell like hot cakes. The rest will be tucked in there like a lot of the others. Especially now that players at that level already have a ton of other storebought ships taking up docking space and would have to buy MORE ship slots for MORE ships they won't fly since they already only prefer to fly ONE of the three variants.
Not convinced this is a good marketing idea.
Dunno ... , we called the Rhode Island an experiment too ... , and now look how many "+1" ships we have .
It could be the most "popular" (as most players roll a Tac as their first toon) , but the Sci could be the most deadly . The only thing current Sci ships lack is a strong body . Fix that , and it'll be hell in PVP .
The way cruisers work (especially hard to turn cruisers like the Odyssey), the extra tactical slots will be fare more useful. It creates an effective beam boat with damage buffs. It's the +1 Sovereign.
The science version is just going to be the +1 Space Whale. More useful than the +1 Galaxy-R, but still, you'll see everyone settle in to the +1 Sovvy, because of how cruisers work.
This is why we have the lottery boxes and the need to buy keys on the C-store to unlock them. This is why there are 3 versions of the same ship, each suited to a specific division. We don't have to buy a single one. But if we choose to buy one, it will likely be for our perferred class. If we have an alt that we prefer a different class for, and if we want one of these ships, we have the OPTION to buy the version that suits that alt best.
So I see the reason from a business standpoint. And STO is a business venture. By definition, they must do what they can to maximize their profits.
The problem is that they are NOT doing everything they can. I don't mind lottery boxes or C-store fluff. What I mind is these things taking the centerpoint of their efforts. What need do we have for the Oddessey or the Bortas? What need to we have for the Galor or the Dominion "bug"? None. Missions really play out no different with them than they do with any of the vanilla classes we have access to without spending a dime...
Now give us a special mission behind enemy lines of renegade Jem'hadar which requires us to fly a bug (we'd be given one anyway, but its stats would be something like 75% of what the one players might have unlocked durring the promotion.
Give us an on-going series of missions posing as loyalists of the True Way that require us to fly a Galor-class. Agiain the mission would supply us with one that again would only have 75% of the stats of one we unlock.
At least then, there would be some tangible incentive to pursue those special unlocks.
And as to the Oddessey or Bortas... They're just new 25th century era ships for us with hopefully all new content to experience with them.
STO is beginning to become plagued with the same issue that Star Wars Galaxies was facing before they turned it into a WoW clone: Plenty of different ways to do stuff, things to do stuff with, but not enough stuff to do. Where is the effort to give us stuff to do. The KDF has started into its third year of waiting to be a viable faction. UFP players who have exhausted all the pre-existing content are left with nothing but STFs to do over and over and over again until they are sick. That and PvP.
So Cryptic. If you cannot be bothered to actually produce new mission content other than the featured episodes that take you guys months to work up, then please. Focus on developing endgame systems that generate content for us.
Look at how successful the DOFF system is. Great. Now how bout creating a mechanic that gives US a pool of objectives we can PLAY through. How might the DOFF assignments actually take on playable form? Maybe I want to lead the team that deals with those assignments.
Where is the fleet starbase mechanic?
Where is territorial control
Where is competitive PvE?
Where is the interstellar trade?
Where is the meaningful exploration?
How long must we wait for the flesh to be put on the bones?
For all the above elements, let the introduction layer be free so we can decide if it is gameplay we like. Then add deeper layers with an increasing and recurring Refined Dilithium prerequisite to obtain and maintain access to, with each layer having a greater impact on the political, economic and social landscape of the galaxy. Individuals focused on a single element could, with sustained maximum Dilithium refinement efforts, achieve and remain active in the deepest layer of involvement. But those who wish to take on multiple elements and pursue them to their deepest layers would need to make use of the Dilithium exchange, purchasing C-points to trade for Refined Dilithium. But even multiple elements of endgame need not require a single CP, with the understanding that involvement with each may not be possible beyond a certain layer.
To be fair, they did change strategies with the later +1 ships (adding an ensign station rather then bumping the second highest station up a rank)
There's a notably smaller gap in power between the 2.5-4.5 ships than there is between the Rhode Island and it's tier 1.5 cronies (which all had to be balanced against the RI).
The little pet thing is cute but... Take it from the pilot of a MVAE and a D'kyr... Those little pets die in the blink of an eye when they grab agro. It is great for a Carrier who can put out more of them but here is what you can expect from this pet.
You launch the pet... It finds an enemy and shoots at it. It deals a tiny bit of damage to the enemy's shields... The enemy one-shots the pet. You have to recall it and wait 3-5 Minutes to launch it again...
Ooooor... The little ship avoids taking aggro. It deals an insignificant amount of damage. The enemy ship begins to blow up. The little ship rushes in to give it a big hug and dies in the warp core breech. You have to recall it and wait 3-5 minutes to launch it again...
Just saying... At least Saucer Separation actually gives your SHIP some benefits.
Cryptic's undisputed claim to fame is customization & they have basically tossed it. sucks.
What I want to know is how the Eng Bortas will stack up against my Negh'Var.
Indeed. Selling the same skin in 3 ship variants isn't making it better.
Let's see how this will turn out, I am afraid not good.
Just make one slightly more hi tech, one slightly more armored, and one standard look. Can't be hard right? These are field modifications to suit specific operational needs (the entire purpose of having variants)
And why, pray tell, is it necessary to have three different styles for these ships? The differences between them are likely related to how the BOFF seat and console type distributions are.
If I took out a tactical console on a constitution class, replaced it with a science console, decided to add an extra science station on the bridge in place of a tactical station, does the outside appearance of the constitution somehow miraculously change?
Should we be able to customize these new ships like we can many of the old ones? Of course. I hope they add additional styles to purchase on the C-store.
Remember we don't NEED the Oddessey or the Bortas any more than we need any other C-store ship. If we buy them it is because we want them, pur and simple. So if a varraint skin of either comes available, if we want them we will buy them.
Don't expect ANYTHING free anymore guys. Now that they no longer require a subscription, they are going to assume that subscription revenue will at a minimum, and the money will be on selling us things in the C-store that we want bad enough to buy the CPs for. So that is where their aim is.
If we don't like it, so what? Rage quitting won't get us anywhere, as they won't be out any money on the deal. If we want what they are selling, we'll buy it. If we don't then we won't. It's as simple as that.
But then how will they be able to get people to buy the extra ship slots?
On a different note, I'm not seeing many science captains use the Odyssey. Anyone remember the Varanus and it's problematic turn rate before they changed it?
I'm not bothering to read more of a lame thread about a lame idea. Simply put, too much P2W = nerfing your build. This said, I won't be buying any of the new ship variants unless someone makes a build that I just can't beat. Then I'll explore options....maybe
I think what's needed is some degree of firing arc/turnrate trade off.
Science abilities need a better firing arc if they don't have the turnrate.
To make it viable, I think it needs a passive boost to firing arc in its science flavor.
Just because the skin will not be different doesn´t mean the stats couldn´t.... :cool:
Captain Logan leaving, 3 ship variants, looks like monetize as much as possible to grab as much cash as you can before you shut the servers down.
It's not 3 different ships, it's 1 ship with 3 different consoles at the price of different ships.
This.
Very much this.
Oh give me a break one guy going from the team doesnt mean the game is coming to an end. STO isnt anywhere close to death so stop spreading your false pessimism to others I get it you hope STO fails those of us who enjoy it dont.
I will too I collect Starships
Logan is the only decent Dev so far that I know. He's also seems to be the best at his job. The rest just continue to **** us off. No body complains about Logan's work though.
Normally you might have a point. But in this case, I think the person you are responding to has the better point. Because that one guy that is going has been the most consistent creator of content in this game's 2 year lifespan.
The rest of the team has failed to match that level of output, combined.
That Tumerboy guy was one of the best devs in Champions Online history.
:P
They don't intentionally try to **** us off. They have bosses that tell them what to do, and if they don't do it, then they won't be working there anymore. You may say, "well if that's the case, let them tell the bosses what we think of things." If you went up to your boss and told him that you think the way he runs things is stupid, you think he's going to go care. More likely than not, he will fire you, hire some bottom-feeder off the street and put him to work in your former position and pay him more money.
We play a game.
They do a job.
The decisions that come down the line which they have no choice but to comply with come from people higher up on the corporate food chain.
It goes like this:
Owners
Management
Marketing
Development
Community Relations / Customer Support
Us.
The owners have the money and tell management what kind of gains they expect
Management tells marketing what the expectation is and
Marketing comes up with the stupid TRIBBLE that we cannot stand and tells development to find a way to work it into the system.
Development devises the systems that give the marketing boys what they want even though their time would have been better spent working on things the consumers who will be spending money want.
Community ralations and CS take the heat from an angry community after once again getting more junk. Some of the Developers also expose themselves to this heat.
Even though the devs may want to go into work with a "let's see what we can accomplish today" attitude, when they get in, they go into a meeting where they are told what they are going to do.
What you have to remember is that owners and management can do no wrong. Even if we all canceled our subscriptions and refused to buy a single C-Store item ever again, To those two groups, it won't be their decisions or directives that are flawed. If it really does hurts their bottom line, they won't change their focus. They'll pull the plug, redistribute or fire the developers, and go on to run some other game that otherwise has a lot of potential into the ground.
No my friends. As much as it angers me to say so, we really have no other recource but to either accept things as they are and play, or else just walk away.