Comments on: BC Release Date (Mostly) Set - Jan 07 http://www.killtenrats.com/2006/10/24/bc-release-date-mostly-set-jan-07/ a group of adventurers on an epic quest Sun, 23 Nov 2008 10:15:49 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Dave http://www.killtenrats.com/2006/10/24/bc-release-date-mostly-set-jan-07/#comment-11576 Dave Tue, 31 Oct 2006 15:32:51 +0000 http://www.killtenrats.com/?p=822#comment-11576 Shit happens. Shit happens.

]]> By: lufia22 http://www.killtenrats.com/2006/10/24/bc-release-date-mostly-set-jan-07/#comment-11553 lufia22 Fri, 27 Oct 2006 19:44:43 +0000 http://www.killtenrats.com/?p=822#comment-11553 I'm glad I didn't pre-order yet. My friend pre-ordered it here (here being college) because he thought the release date was going to be November (it was the date given out...GameStop was, as usual, spewing out its questionable facts as if they were hard facts). I had remarked to him before he let me know the release date is November that I'm waiting for a release date before I pre-order because I don't want to be on Christmas break and pre-order it here at college, which is 2 hours away from home (3 for him), and be screwed. I'm glad I waited. He might be screwed for a couple of weeks if it's released in early/mid January. I’m glad I didn’t pre-order yet. My friend pre-ordered it here (here being college) because he thought the release date was going to be November (it was the date given out…GameStop was, as usual, spewing out its questionable facts as if they were hard facts). I had remarked to him before he let me know the release date is November that I’m waiting for a release date before I pre-order because I don’t want to be on Christmas break and pre-order it here at college, which is 2 hours away from home (3 for him), and be screwed.

I’m glad I waited. He might be screwed for a couple of weeks if it’s released in early/mid January.

]]> By: Cyndre http://www.killtenrats.com/2006/10/24/bc-release-date-mostly-set-jan-07/#comment-11540 Cyndre Wed, 25 Oct 2006 17:37:45 +0000 http://www.killtenrats.com/?p=822#comment-11540 World of Warcraft is the number one retail MMO in history for one reason... Development commitment. They tested way too long before retail launch, according to most enthusists and review sites, but those of us who were testing it saw the writing on the wall... The game was not finished It was laggy, buggy as hell, lacked any sigificant content path and many of the fundamental mechanics were very, very flawed. They listened, tested, rewrote, repatched, listened some more, tested more and the pace was relaxed, the atmosphere was fun, and by open beta, there were so many people in the Beta, it was as if we were retailing anyway. They had slowly built their release game and developed the community internally before they made their formal launch. I alone convinced about 20 friends from my former EQ guild to buy it on 11/23/04 because I told them it was an amazing game during Beta. Multiply that times the 250K people they let be a part of that testing process throughout the WAY overextended alpha and beta phases, and you have you reason why WoW exploded like it did. They know how to make a game. They know that if you launch BC and it doesn't live up to 24 months of hype, they will lose 20% of their player base and not make significant gains from new subscriptions. They also know that if they release a superior expansion, they will make massive gains in subscription numbers and other titles like LoTRO, Vanguard et al will not have nearly the subscription draining effect that they might otherwise have. World of Warcraft is the number one retail MMO in history for one reason…

Development commitment. They tested way too long before retail launch, according to most enthusists and review sites, but those of us who were testing it saw the writing on the wall… The game was not finished It was laggy, buggy as hell, lacked any sigificant content path and many of the fundamental mechanics were very, very flawed. They listened, tested, rewrote, repatched, listened some more, tested more and the pace was relaxed, the atmosphere was fun, and by open beta, there were so many people in the Beta, it was as if we were retailing anyway. They had slowly built their release game and developed the community internally before they made their formal launch.

I alone convinced about 20 friends from my former EQ guild to buy it on 11/23/04 because I told them it was an amazing game during Beta. Multiply that times the 250K people they let be a part of that testing process throughout the WAY overextended alpha and beta phases, and you have you reason why WoW exploded like it did.

They know how to make a game. They know that if you launch BC and it doesn’t live up to 24 months of hype, they will lose 20% of their player base and not make significant gains from new subscriptions. They also know that if they release a superior expansion, they will make massive gains in subscription numbers and other titles like LoTRO, Vanguard et al will not have nearly the subscription draining effect that they might otherwise have.

]]> By: Oz http://www.killtenrats.com/2006/10/24/bc-release-date-mostly-set-jan-07/#comment-11539 Oz Wed, 25 Oct 2006 16:13:18 +0000 http://www.killtenrats.com/?p=822#comment-11539 My friends in the alpha and beta always said that this was a 1Q07 release. The alpha was a relaxed pace - and these are people who have done many alphas and beta with Sony before expansions and understand the process. Last week's comment about the 67-70 game being unlocked in 2-3 weeks sounded either casual or apathetic, depending on your point of view. They'll probably lose some subscribers for it, and they obviously will lose the xmas battle, but I'm sure they will come up smelling like Benjamins, regardless. I'm happy about it, but probably because I've only been playing 8 months. In that time I have, as a casual gamer, leveled 4 chars to 60 and am working on my 5th. I can only imagine that after 2 years it gets old. But more time in development means that constant downtime after release is less likely, usually. My friends in the alpha and beta always said that this was a 1Q07 release. The alpha was a relaxed pace - and these are people who have done many alphas and beta with Sony before expansions and understand the process. Last week’s comment about the 67-70 game being unlocked in 2-3 weeks sounded either casual or apathetic, depending on your point of view.

They’ll probably lose some subscribers for it, and they obviously will lose the xmas battle, but I’m sure they will come up smelling like Benjamins, regardless.

I’m happy about it, but probably because I’ve only been playing 8 months. In that time I have, as a casual gamer, leveled 4 chars to 60 and am working on my 5th. I can only imagine that after 2 years it gets old. But more time in development means that constant downtime after release is less likely, usually.

]]> By: Wolfgangdoom http://www.killtenrats.com/2006/10/24/bc-release-date-mostly-set-jan-07/#comment-11538 Wolfgangdoom Wed, 25 Oct 2006 14:35:33 +0000 http://www.killtenrats.com/?p=822#comment-11538 As if 2 years wasn't enough time. I like finished products too, but if my boss told me about a project last year and then presentation time came with me saying I need more time for polish, I would be fired. Sounds to me like Blizz purposely postponed or just flat out slacked on the development to combat other games that are going to be released 1st Q 07; with players wrapped up in BC through March, less people will pay to play the new games. As if 2 years wasn’t enough time. I like finished products too, but if my boss told me about a project last year and then presentation time came with me saying I need more time for polish, I would be fired.
Sounds to me like Blizz purposely postponed or just flat out slacked on the development to combat other games that are going to be released 1st Q 07; with players wrapped up in BC through March, less people will pay to play the new games.

]]> By: Indy http://www.killtenrats.com/2006/10/24/bc-release-date-mostly-set-jan-07/#comment-11537 Indy Wed, 25 Oct 2006 13:38:12 +0000 http://www.killtenrats.com/?p=822#comment-11537 Better to take time off from playing the game instead.... have a good book you want to (re)read, maybe some movies to watch. Better to take time off from playing the game instead…. have a good book you want to (re)read, maybe some movies to watch.

]]> By: Marc http://www.killtenrats.com/2006/10/24/bc-release-date-mostly-set-jan-07/#comment-11535 Marc Wed, 25 Oct 2006 12:00:43 +0000 http://www.killtenrats.com/?p=822#comment-11535 Doh! Anyone who takes even a day off at patch day (or an estimated release date) is either a silly optimist or just keeps forgetting what it feels like to be poked in the eye with a sharp stick. Is the chance to be bitter because you're wasting your time off trying to get onto burning servers really worth it? Doh!

Anyone who takes even a day off at patch day (or an estimated release date) is either a silly optimist or just keeps forgetting what it feels like to be poked in the eye with a sharp stick.

Is the chance to be bitter because you’re wasting your time off trying to get onto burning servers really worth it?

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