Congrats, and Thank you for Six Great Years
I’m not entirely sure what to say about all of this. To begin let me thank you for making such a great game, and congratulate you on six great years of game play. Though I only started to play Anarchy Online in the past 3 years, and have just upgraded this year, I can honestly say that you have one of the best MMO games out there.
I do though have concerns, though you have mostly covered these.
I run a piece of ... well a crappy computer. I have an old NVidia GeForce FX5500 in it and I am very impressed at how you manage to take the maximum ability of it and still make it run smooth. My first concern is as to how high you are saying the graphics might go. I understand that you want to make an engine that will last you another 6 years, but are we talking Next-Gen HD Quality. Or will you keep it reasonable?
Second, I must thank you for the part about the pre order items. I missed out on all of the preorder items, and I will be extremely happy to get them, even if I must pay for them. But this also brings the concern of the rich beating the poor. You say now that all of the items will be non-game play, but will it always be like that? I mean, putting a pre-order Mech is one thing, but how long until you make it so that Funcom becomes their own Power Levelers and Gold Farmers? Personally I do trust that you will do your best to make sure this cannot happen. Best of luck with that part of the new system, I can’t wait for 17.5!!!
Also, I must also thank you for keeping AO spam free. This is the ONLY MMO I've ever player where I don’t get tells or see "BUY GOLD CHEAP *******.com/" so for that I must thank you. Also the in game advertisements to keep the Regular version free were pure genius. And the ability to replace them with in game ads for stores and items, ect; that was also genius and it adds to realism. Probably the best part of the game is the realism that is mixed with the Sci-Fi. This game feels like it could actually happen, and it make it a very enjoyable game to play. You have taken a game that at launch was known for massive bugs, and changed it into the#1 Sci-Fi MMO in the World. You have succeeded where other Sci-Fi games (not to name any) have failed.
I can’t wait for more expansion/Booster Packs; you have a very creative writing staff. Every time you put something out, you have a long back story and lots of quests to go with it. Though sometimes you have had some problems, like the battle stations, you seem to always find a way to fix it as best as you can. And with Player run things like GSP, and the helpful ARK, this world of Rubi-Ka will not end. Though there are a few things that could be added to have AO kill the Sci-Fi Competition, you never seem to try. It never looks like you want total control, just to better your game with every release. The Ability to change your name and or server has been done in other MMO Games and it nothing new. But it is good to see it finally come to Anarchy Online. But how far will this go? Will it extend to other parts of the character, such as the face, height, and weight?
You have also many other points which you have done very well, and I would like to thank you for. The amount of balance that the different classes have, basically the difference between a doctor and enforcer; or even the difference from the ranged Agent to the Melee Shade. Next, the amount of creativity you have is amazing, you didn’t just take the basics of sci-fi and make a game, you’ve made a whole new world. The ability of the RP events is almost limitless. I can make an RP event where I have to search a building for a “Dangerous Device”, but really just have that device just being a lamp or something. The different types of apartments are also a very great idea. The Clan apartments differ slightly from the Omni, and the Jobe are much different that all others.
I know this thank you post is getting a little too long for me to write, or for you to read. So to conclude, Thank you for making the best damn MMO out there and for six great years. I look forward to the future or Rubi-Ka, and the adventure that follow.
Galactic1337
Edit: I also almost forgot, about these server are you talking about how other MMO games do with 50,000 different servers. Or do you just mean something liek adding 3 more servers to the list and then adding other language servers. Personaly i belive AO could get away with only one or two english, and other language, servers. They servers are set up well, with buildings and dungens only are instanced when they get full. That helps to limit any lag, and was annother genius funcom idea.
Also, as other posters have stated, thank you for killing the rumors of Funcom dropping AO to put full force into Age of Conan. I am releaved, but not surprised, that you chose to do this.