Will anything actually retain customers?

Problem with swgemu and similar projects is that if they ever reach the point of significance, certain big company/companies are going to stomp them so hard with their armies of lawyers the project leaders are going to wish they took flower arranging as a hobby instead. Specially if they start collecting any amount of cash to support the project.

Not sure how true it is but in the case of SWG EMU specifically I read that SOE had issued some sort of legal statement officially claiming that all of the SWG Pre CU code and its component parts had been "lost". The ramifications in the legal sense are apparently that SOE cannot magically "find" the code again should the EMU become popular.

Similarly and again, allegedly this means that SOE can never open SWG classic servers and/or stomp the EMU team.

Here's hoping

Driz

QFT...

Ref the SWG EMU - I dipped in to it a couple of weeks ago, it is still an alpha so only has one server atm and there is obviously some stuff missing in terms of content and not all classes are present / viable yet however.......

During the few days I was playing I took part in and witnessed more constructive, positive and friendly conversations than I have seen or witnessed in 9 months playing SWTOR. The community feeling is already there and as the project develops I would not be surprised to see it become very, very popular. And it's free!!

Considering its a dead game running on a single emulated alpha server, the player cap of 3,000 is reached every single evening. If SWTOR was canned tomorrow do you think fans would invest the time and donations to re-engineer a fully working emulator of this game? SWG had problems of course but the fact that its still around and being played by 3000 people every day plus the hard work and dedication shown by the EMU team and contributors / donators speaks volumes imo.

I literally had to remind myself I was actually paying for SWTOR and drag myself back after 3 days....forget GW2 for casual / second MMORPG.....I will be heading straight back to the SWG EMU whenever I need a break from SWTOR. It may lack the polish and graphics of SWTOR however it is light years ahead in scope, depth, complexity and the sheer amount of things to do with your time ingame.

Driz

1. Makeb was supposed to be FREE, they've changed their mind, but that doens't mean everyone should therefore be happy.

Sunk costs are indeed sunk and EA/BW have already written them off, but further development costs are higher, not "because" SWTOR cost more to develop (a linkage I did not make), but because the systems they put in place make them higher. There is a reason you are not seeing rapid patches. This is an expensive game in every way, and it has a core audience of about 350k players on a good day. Believe me, EA is embarrassed. But they don't stay embarrassed for long - they reach into the fridge and pull out a crisp, cool can of WHUPA**. Don't be surprised if you hear the Whoosh! sound of a few cans opening.

G-

You keep posting that EA/BW have in no uncertain terms changed their mind on Makeb. Do you have a link to anything that shows this. I have only seen "discussions" on the matter but no final word. Do you have anything with a final word on this matter. If ya don't, please don't spread a rumours. As of now, it's still being desided and they "could" stay the course and offer it for free.

Well, it seems to be its a simple formula. Stop adding end game content as that has had probable zero effect. End game content simply burns up too quickly to justify the amount of dev time involved.

Repeatable "sandboxy" content is what's needed. More minigame and achievement type activities like I mentioned, more customization. Give players things to do, reasons to stay.

Achievements are for long time players and not much fun.
Sand box is good, but wears thing over time.
Mini games never interest me as I can find online better and more that are bug free.

End game content is challenging and keeps my interest, but to high of gradient in skill means it is pointless to try.