Information please

[Berinda]

So like, how about a letter/forum post from Sil talking about how 17.10 is shaping up? Last news update on the main page is a month old, and that didn't have any new information in it when it was posted.

[Rewo]

Wtb!

[Autohead]

It's been almost a month since his last post, if that's any indication of how it's 'shaping up'...

FC doesn't care about AO any more. We're living on borrowed time.

[Rewo]

FC doesn't care about AO any more. We're living on borrowed time.

lol, we've been hearing that for how many years now?

With the current state of AoC, AO is likely much more important to Funcom than you might think.

[shadowgod]

we'll be lucky to hear anything from any of them this week. next week would be more likely.

SIl and a bunch other FC people were over here for dragoncon.. so i'm sure they want a few days rest from the craze of fans swarming them.

[Berinda]

It's been almost a month since his last post, if that's any indication of how it's 'shaping up'...

FC doesn't care about AO any more. We're living on borrowed time.

So do you like, spend your time searching for threads so you can post "ao is done lol" at every opportunity?

[Autohead]

Pretty much, yeah.

[Sephiroth56]

You haven't considered gettig out more?

[Autohead]

I only troll forums when I'm at work, because my job is boring.

[-Bugsplat]

Huh...

I think you work for me.

[Troxxor]

Trolls & trolling aside, I think the community would very much appreciate some official news.

Cheers

P.S. Hope everyone enjoyed Dragoncon
(Lol was on the wrong continent for me, like d'oh! )

[Mekh]

A new "Letter from the Game Director" would be very nice...

Both with regard to how the new patch is shaping up, but also how the various tasks they are working on is doing... Instancing of APF/Pande and last but not least... The new Graphics Engine!

[raw_fox]

want majorly to know about

- 17.10 eta
- 17.11 preview
- new areas
- engine state
- char transfer

Every time if they are quiet to the com, they are working pretty hard.

Buff me with Knowledge of the future please ^^

[Taranide]

Buff me with Knowledge of the future please ^^

World will come to its end in 4 years.

[Guard]

Well over the years now Sil has always let us know what was up unless he goes on vacation
that month is a long one :/ but you know he needs a break from us sometimes too
I'm sure Sil has a family and loved ones that he likes to visit on RK4
I'm quite certain we have not been forgotten or forsaken

[Warhead]

lol, we've been hearing that for how many years now?

With the current state of AoC, AO is likely much more important to Funcom than you might think.

Had you been looking at their financial report for 2Q08, you wouldnt say that. Regardless of how bug ridden AoC is, it provided the biggest junk of the 2.6 times higher revenue in Q2 compared to the whole year 2007. Obviously, they also had much higher operating expenses due to AoC but 694% sales growth quarter over quarter for Q2 is nothing to sneeze at, especially after a sales slump in 3 out of 4 previous quarters.

If the cost/benefit ratio of AO falls below a certain point, no "we have huuuuge plans for AO for the next 3 decades!" phrases from whoever is gamedirector at the moment is going to stop the beancounters to flush the toilet in which the USS Anarchy Online is swimming right now.

I'm no doomsayer, not at all. Just being realistic. In fact, what you said used to be my words for many years, but things changed alot recently...

I'm hoping for the best but expecting the worst.

[Mastablasta]

The patch is undergoing lots of changes all the time. It's been through lots of itterations on test. Lots of things are being changed and fixed in this patch that have been considered "core" mechanics for the last 7 years. And apparently there's lots more content in this patch than originally alluded. Included in the development for this patch has been summer vacation for several of the devs, as well as the education of a new dev when another moved on to other projects.... so there's a lot going on behind the curtains. It's not been 2 days since a new patch was out for test server.

[Rewo]

things changed alot recently...

They most definitely have. And I have seen their financial reports. AoC box sales out performed expectations by a very large margin. Box sales are responsible for the spike in sales numbers (800k box sales will do that). Retention has been a VERY significant issue though and with 2 major releases coming up soon it will probably take a bigger hit. It isn't going to go under or anything but the initial rosy numbers they enjoyed from it are a shadow of what they were already. Almost everyone I know that left AO for AoC has returned. A couple of weeks ago they stated that they are at about 400k or half of what they had, in game numbers are much less than that though. If I had to guess, retention rate for AoC is probably in the range of 20% right now. At best.

Things are a lot different for AoC today than they were back in Q2, pre launch and during the launch period. AO is established and has low operating costs. Even with low population it remains profitable, AO isn't going anywhere.

[Armus]

lol, we've been hearing that for how many years now?

And how exactly do u know it's not true this time?

The free month is over now and rk1 at least is back to being desolate. Numbers dropped 30-40% compared to just a few weeks ago.

Then there is ofc the slumping economy. With prices going down steadily. Not good signs.

[Orginaltepi]

And how exactly do u know it's not true this time?

The free month is over now and rk1 at least is back to being desolate. Numbers dropped 30-40% compared to just a few weeks ago.

Then there is ofc the slumping economy. With prices going down steadily. Not good signs.

or maybe it has something to do with the downhill of economy worldwide at rk4 .. like people need to go to work / work harder instead of grinding @ ao/aoc/wow etc.