Can we get their stuff?

This is the old user vs company generated content argument, however. Just remember user content isn’t just new shield textures with phallic symbols on them. User content is also things like guilds, friends, and auction houses.

First, I don’t think ISP, TelCos and cable companies work for an analogy. I do not expect content from these providers. I only expect a service. For example, I do expect to receive daily phone calls from my TelCo. I want phone service but I do not want phone content supplied by the TelCo. I include cable companies in this group because I do not believe every cable company is owned by a media conglomerate that can create content as well as supply cable service. ISPs are the same way. They allow you to connect to the internet but they do not create nor control the content on the internet.

Secondly, I feel newspapers and magazines, which you brought up, work as analogies completely opposite how you used them. Do you get the same news everyday from your paper? Are your magazines carrying the same articles they did last month? I bet they aren’t! Readers expect new content every issue and to stay in business, these companies must actively generate content. Game companies supply content as part of their product. When that content begins running out for subscribers the company has the choice of generating more content or losing their customers.

Why should this be different for MMO’s from any other subscription product? Like, say, cable TV, internet access, a newspaper or magazine, telephone, etc? None of these give you anything much different from one month to the next (and it they do, they almost always raise the subscription price!), yet I’ve never heard of anyone dropping those subscriptions in a funk because they didn’t get anything new this month.

I was about to argue against one of my own examples (cable TV) on the basis of needing to see new content to keep subscribed, but aside from The Daily Show, I haven’t seen any really new content on TV in ages. That would be a bit less true if we got HBO, but then it would also be a good deal more expensive. :/

One big question that most people would ask were this any other type of product is: “What am I getting with this version of your product?” or “Why should I re-sub for another month/3mo./6mo.?”. Sadly however I’ve seen MMOs trend away from answering these questions in favor of a few other combined factors that are substantially easier and require less time/energy (but aren’t as good for the game overall).

1. Anticipation: While this is ALWAYS a good selling point, it loses its value if the target audience doesn’t have something specific to anticipate. (using WoW as an example) Praying and hoping that is getting a major buff / fix with the next patch is nowhere near as benificial as when there is offical notes saying “class “X” is getting improvements in this up and coming patch”.

2. Addiction: lets face it, MMOs can be quite addicting. Add in the relative inexpensive cost to play (one night out at the movies w/ my girlfriend + dinner costs me about the same as 4 months of an MMO) and you have an easily self-justifiable reason to spend plenty of time playing said game.

3. Ignoring the customer base: A PERFECT example of this is Blizzard and World of Warcraft. Their forums are a complete cesspit, due both to shoddy moderation and uncaring higher-ups, yet some people still come there with good suggestions and very workable ideas, yet the general feel amongst the playerbase is that they (Blizzard) doesn’t care and that their opinions or ideas don’t matter.

I had heard some pretty good things about HG:L but FPS games aren’t really up my alley. Mythos on the other hand …

While the announcements from HanabitSoft, couple days ago, flat out says, they’re going to be making their own content for Hellgate / own the IP. Which may or may not have something directly due to all the layoffs at FSS. What would be really nice, and possibly even win/win for anyone, is if FSS and HanabitSoft both retained (or gained) rights to the point of each being able to take the game in different directions and actually so. Could only be a lesser chance of if two very different flavors of HGL came out. Hellgate: London Asia and Hellgate: London (FSS). Would be fitting what with HGL being the bastard son of a Roguelike.

http://wwww.flagshipped.com

Moral imperative, had to be done.