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What does Square-Enix need to do to ensure launch is successful?
legacyhax
Member UncommonPosts: 31
Ok. So, where do I begin? I have been playing open beta and I am loving it. There are some bugs, however, they are rapidly being resolved. I have no doubt that by launch the game will be fully functional as intended. So, isn't that what it takes to make a great launch?
No.
Too many times have I seen games come and go because of Open Beta. Open Beta does a few things... it gives the people who are willing to try the game a run before it is released and purchasing the game is decided on this experience in a bug infested world.
Lets face it though, betas have changed drastically. Companies invest a lot more money into production and want to make sure it works a larger scale then expected which is awesome. What needs to happen is changing the business model for when these games are launched.
Here is a list of what needs to happen to ensure there is a successful launch so that people who feel like they don't want to start over still get it, people who tried it when it was too buggy and gave up will get it, etc.
1) This must be done and ready for release on the 35th day after launch!
2) Have a new starting zone ready. Why? Because this way people have new scenery to explore and new things to fight. This will get those who saw all the starting city's already a chance to check out a new one.
3) This is an absolute must. Add 2 additional classes, I mean, lets face it.... the magic arms category could use a lot of improvements and this would get people to come back because they can try a few different classes.
4) Add additional quests in the beginning areas.
5) Add one or two low level abilities/spells per class (Polish it based on other spells/abilities and repair as needed after its added and fully tested)
6) Provide a free "cosmetic makeover" to each player since within about 30 days you would start wishing you looked different cause you see what everyone else looks like.
7) Announce that so many "%" will be chosen from launch accounts to join the testing zones and they can be flagged to enter the new area and test out the new characters/spells/abilities to ensure that they are on the same server the character will live on (this is only a starting zone so all it will really do if people use it is reduce some of the congestion in the starting new areas. Also, seeing others play the new class and will drive a desire by others to play it and I could gurantee that you will have a lot less percentage cancel before you get the first months subscription out of everyone since it won't launch until after accounts would have paid to renew and they really want to be "x" class.). To put it plainly as well, do not create a separate test server!! You need others to see what these select few can do and have!
8) Make this expansion FREE! If you charge for it, people will be much less interested, you want long term subscriptions not short term payouts. Lets them have this one, you will be able to get them with the next expansion... ;-p
I really am enjoying this game. I have been searching since UO to find a game that would captivate me and I think I finally have. I really want to see this game be successful so that in 5 months I am not the last person on my server waiting 6 months to get a server merge and be around other people again.... I didn't see Wilson anywhere in the game to show me thats what they want either (you know, Tom Hanks in Castaway... the vollley ball.... jeez, do you still not know what I am talking about?!).
Time to work hard on this..... your shareholders might read this and wonder what your doing and you don't have much time left... at all.
LegacyHax
PS. Worked a long day so I apologize if some of the order seems dyslexic...
Comments
#8 is wrong,
Long term subs, not short term payouts?
MMO dev's are going for box sales only. They want and need fast return on their investments. Personally I think they are getting wayyyy more profit to the point that they don't even care about long term subs at all. In fact with server cost and keeping a maintenance crew they find its better to go bankrupt after they embezzle everyones money.
By the way FF14 is failing bad. 90% of the post are negative in the forums. HOWEVER much to everyones surprise almost all video game players don't read forums. So Devs win anyway on box sales.
What does Square-Enix need to do to ensure launch is successful?
start from scratch, release in 5 years
Erm they need to push back the release date. For a next gen mmo, they beta the game including closed for 3 to 4 months when they said they would beta it for 7.
They need to add content, how can you love grinding solo in this game? there is nothing to do but grind mobs solo. Being in a party is still broken.
Although the game is fun, given how the combat system works and the limited skills you get per class. Compared to other MMO's. It is extremely boring to grind mobs on your own. For example, you just spam one skill, then use your TP skill for higher damage.
Sure the crafting is good in this game, but it is painful to do, why? because they fuck PC gamers over again with shitty UI and menus that make crafting so boring and painful.
I do agree with more development time. That is always needed though. If a company only focused on that though games would take 20 years to complete and be outdated at launch.
I guess my point is this is not JUST for Square-Enix but should be a guideline for ANY new MMORPG developed. The open beta is a MUST to discover as many potential bugs as possible. And the people who are going to buy the game will buy the box obviously.... after they buy the box though the whole point is to keep subscribers.
So.... yea, they want box sales, they couldnt be subscribers unless they bought the game first.
LegacyHax