Future plans for retention?

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Originally Posted by MagellanD

I just thoroughly enjoyed kicking the snot out of Saints Row IV. Now Im patiently awaiting Sept 17th and Oct 1st respectively.

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Diablo will keep me entertained till there :)
D3 makes me remember the good old days, when i made good friends playind RTA almost during two years.
Good friens that i have on my PS3 friends list presently.

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Originally Posted by drackiller

Diablo will keep me entertained till there :)
D3 makes me remember the good old days, when i made good friends playind RTA almost during two years.
Good friens that i have on my PS3 friends list presently.

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Even though I am a PC player I really want to try the console version.
Things that are stopping me is the fact that new loot system will destroy all my friendships.

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Originally Posted by Billy Guile

LOL. or Assassin's Creed 23: USS Enterprise

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Dude you realize that would be a killer game idea!!!
Assassinate the leader of the klingon world to change the tides of federation diplomacy!!

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Originally Posted by MagellanD

Dude you realize that would be a killer game idea!!!
Assassinate the leader of the klingon world to change the tides of federation diplomacy!!

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you know, i didn't think much in to it when i said, but now... HECK YEAH!!!!!!

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Originally Posted by Billy Guile

you know, i didn't think much in to it when i said, but now... HECK YEAH!!!!!!

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Wouldn't it be AWESOME to assassinate or fight a group of romulans somebody with a Blat'lith.

Jxsin - totally agree. I was the one who convinced a few friends to start this game with me. None of them play anymore. The few people I did play with also no longer play anymore. Whether it's the broken social aspect, or the lack of content - it just feels like more people are heading out the door. My own play time on Defiance has dramatically reduced as well. There's just so many times you can do the same thing before you do them all. Once the pursuits are finished, after you go through the story several times, and camp ark falls for 300 + times, you start asking yourself "why?" I enjoyed this game quite a bit and would love to play it for several years if there were more content. As you said, at the rate it's going I also feel like I will be the only one around. Hell, that becomes even more apparent when you hit an arkfall and have only 3 people show up during peak hours. I will continue to hope for the best though.

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Originally Posted by MagellanD

I agree with you here 100% But the concept looked SO cool! MMO Type shooter, Mad Guns, The promise in video and interviews was borderlands to the infinite power...And I got sucked in.

Breakdown of the history of the game for me.
Wow this show looks awesome. It has Battlestar Galactica staff. Oh wait there's a game?
Watch hour long preview of defiance on IGN. WOW the game looks better than the show.
Pre order ultimate edition.

Beta: Meh it's a beta it's supposed to have problems and they address them at launch.
Launch: It's an MMO they'll get through it, they always do
First cross content. Lanterns and data recorder hunts
Early Patches: It's okay breath, they'll get it sorted out. Twitter says soooooon!
Rynn Cross Over: Look More Data recorder hunts and a forced single player mission.
Mid Patches: Please please trion get this one right....FAIL
Infected Volge: WIN! They're doing something right....oh wait where did they go...WTF...that was fun
Recruit a friend introduced: Uh oh the writings on the wall.
Later Patches:Upon announcement the fear of downtime and more bugs sets in. They haven't gotten one right yet...Why did I spend $150 on this again?
Price Change: WTF! Seriously..man what a waste of money!!!
DLC: What did I pay for? Loves me some new vehic....what is this shtako the quad is better than this...Look more Data recorders...is this what passes off as content?

Contemplate Simo Hayha's in game life and giving away orange shtako to random newbies but will give DLC 2 a chance first.

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Well said, good sir or madam!

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Originally Posted by JimmyRustler

Late to this party, but JxSin... very well put and thought out my friend. +1

This game is dead on the day of DLC2 release...... here is why.

They are going to F it up again. Every previous release tells me this. The DLC will be a flawed, weak, rehash of existing resources and mechanics. It will be cobbed together because the actual Dev staff numbers working on the project are how many? 5 tops? The server will have issues, there will be issues with implementation, yada yada yada.

Every day veteran hard core fans of this game are leaving - and not just putting the game down.... that happens all the time. They are leaving and handing out their inventory. That is a perma-leave. Other, better games are drawing people away, never to return. New players are coming in, but they quickly get the picture and bail on their $5-$7 investment.

Since Tuesday it's become a lot more barren in the landscape of Paradise.... 5 people at a Siege in the evening?

Could Trion pull this game back from the coffin? Hell Yes.

Will they? Hell No.

They are spending time re-writing the forum rules instead of actual communication with us.

If this were my mess, I would be in here talking with fans directly and trying to win some of them back, but Trion just doesn't seem to give a crap. The ship has sunk, the captain who sunk it has paddled off in a dingie, and the new captain is standing on the sinking ship pissing himself with a handful of dolts who are setting the remains of the ship on fire.

I really want to see things turn around...... but I am not holding my breath.

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Also well said. I could not have summed it up better myself.

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Originally Posted by JimmyRustler

...The ship has sunk, the captain who sunk it has paddled off in a dingie, and the new captain is standing on the sinking ship pissing himself with a handful of dolts who are setting the remains of the ship on fire...

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Yep that about sums it up.

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Originally Posted by MagellanD

Even though I am a PC player I really want to try the console version.
Things that are stopping me is the fact that new loot system will destroy all my friendships.

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Don`t really know what were the problems on the D3 PC version, what i can say is that the game is quite smooth on the PS3.
But hey, i`m only lvl 14 yet, so i may not have played enough to make a clear judgement.

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Originally Posted by drackiller

Don`t really know what were the problems on the D3 PC version, what i can say is that the game is quite smooth on the PS3.
But hey, i`m only lvl 14 yet, so i may not have played enough to make a clear judgement.

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I enjoyed the PC version at launch, still enjoy it, and am awaiting the Expansion they've announced.

I honestly didn't have issues, but I also didn't try to bum-rush through the game, either.

I'm not a fanboy, but I've been a Blizzard customer for 19 years: through all 3 Warcrafts, both Starcrafts (and all related expansion for both lines), all 3 Diablo games, and World of Warcraft. I might not always agree with their changes in WoW, but since I started with them as a customer in 1994, Blizzard has never made me question my confidence in them as a developer.

In the end, it's easier to convince a new player to spend $5-$20 to play Defiance instead of convincing a player that has already invested $60-$150 to spend more. Retention is simply not profitable, especially against the AAA lineup, not a "B-movie" one, that has begun to release.

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Originally Posted by Hiero Glyph

Retention is simply not profitable, especially against the AAA lineup, not a "B-movie" one, that has begun to release.

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I think you're being too generous with the grade of B to be honest. :P

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Originally Posted by Rasczak

I enjoyed the PC version at launch, still enjoy it, and am awaiting the Expansion they've announced.

I honestly didn't have issues, but I also didn't try to bum-rush through the game, either.

I'm not a fanboy, but I've been a Blizzard customer for 19 years: through all 3 Warcrafts, both Starcrafts (and all related expansion for both lines), all 3 Diablo games, and World of Warcraft. I might not always agree with their changes in WoW, but since I started with them as a customer in 1994, Blizzard has never made me question my confidence in them as a developer.

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Same here. Even living through the launch hitches Diablo III was played to death by me and the wife together. I'm still not regretting that purchase.

I wonder if I can rent from gamefly just to try the console out.

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Originally Posted by MagellanD

Same here. Even living through the launch hitches Diablo III was played to death by me and the wife together. I'm still not regretting that purchase.

I wonder if I can rent from gamefly just to try the console out.

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Probably. Redbox has Diablo 3 for rent for Xbox 360, at least. So, Gamefly should offer it for both.

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Originally Posted by Sanguinesun

I think you're being too generous with the grade of B to be honest. :P

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It's actually a quoted reference from the Trion community blog entitled: "You just keep coming back for more! But now what? Let’s talk potential." posted by Nathan Richardsson.

EDIT: And yes, these informative posts providing insight and direct communication with the community have since stopped.

EDIT_2: It is worth noting that the only other communication we have had since the ones by Nathan Richardsson is a single 'state of affairs' introduction post by Chris "RedAvocado" Lena.

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Originally Posted by MagellanD

Same here. Even living through the launch hitches Diablo III was played to death by me and the wife together. I'm still not regretting that purchase.

I wonder if I can rent from gamefly just to try the console out.

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Grit is playing it. I talked to him last night and asked about the controls, gameplay, grouping aspecs. He gave it a thumbs up, so I may pick it up this Friday.

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Originally Posted by Zugo

Grit is playing it. I talked to him last night and asked about the controls, gameplay, grouping aspecs. He gave it a thumbs up, so I may pick it up this Friday.

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Hmmm I'll hit him up tonight then.

Most positive thing about defiance? Meeting you guys!!!

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Originally Posted by Hiero Glyph

EDIT: And yes, these informative posts providing insight and direct communication with the community have since stopped.

EDIT_2: It is worth noting that the only other communication we have had since the ones by Nathan Richardsson is a single 'state of affairs' introduction post by Chris "RedAvocado" Lena.

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You've got to be joking if you feel that malarky was actually good by Richardsson. That's coolaid drinking level tbh. It amounted to just glib lipservice that even Dahanese threw under the bus not too long back.(ironic isnt it)

You couldnt trust what he said anymore than what can be trusted now to be perfectly honest. A state of the game address just amounts to nothing more with this company than a kiting the issues tool. That's it.

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Originally Posted by Sanguinesun

You've got to be joking if you feel that malarky was actually good by Richardsson. That's coolaid drinking level tbh. It amounted to just glib lipservice that even Dahanese threw under the bus not too long back.(ironic isnt it)

You couldnt trust what he said anymore than what can be trusted now to be perfectly honest. A state of the game address just amounts to nothing more with this company than a kiting the issues tool. That's it.

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At least Richardsson's comments did not result in the community feeling abused. At the time, they were also the best effort by Trion to provide any communication whatsoever. Dahanese's comments are irrelevant as hindsight and scapegoating are 20/20.

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Originally Posted by Hiero Glyph

At least Richardsson's comments did not result in the community feeling abused. At the time, they were also the best effort by Trion to provide any communication whatsoever. Dahanese's comments are irrelevant as hindsight and scapegoating are 20/20.

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Oh it was beginning by then to already be seen too. Just take this comment on that very blog post that received the most likes of any there:

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Originally Posted by Actright

Actright
• 4 months ago

You're doing nothing new, this type of game is a old concept and your failing Hard at it. The amount of Content is pathetic and extremely repetitive. 90% of the missions is turning off Generators, other 10% is protecting some NPC for X amount of time. Your handling of Freight Yard will be the Punch Line of many jokes to come for many years. You and your Dev team should be Fired, and a senior member from RiFTs team should take over before its to late.
63(likes) 12(dislikes)

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Somewhat prophetic really. :P

Why is it - that even at these pathetic player-count levels - that the game still runs like a morbidly obese gerbil?

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Originally Posted by Sanguinesun

I think you're being too generous with the grade of B to be honest. :P

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We need the weather effect "Sharknado" to increase it to B movie status.

I'm giving them a little time because I really am hoping they have something up their sleeves. With all the negative things coming down the pipe, I think retention should be high on their plate?

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Originally Posted by Sanguinesun

Somewhat prophetic really. :P

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Oh, I completely agree. To be fair, the tone of the communication from Trion may have changed but the message is still the same.

How are they suppose to retain players when, time after time, they keep shafting them? I mean the most recent shaft is from the charge blade prices being changed to much much lower. Then you got the grenade changes coming, the Volge loot drops disappearing, ect. ect. ect.

They also need to hire a NO man. Someone who is there on all the meetings when a new idea comes up to say NO to it if it sounds stupid.

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Originally Posted by JxSiN

I'm giving them a little time because I really am hoping they have something up their sleeves. With all the negative things coming down the pipe, I think retention should be high on their plate?

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You would think that, but you'd also think a company would have some type of end game content in a mmo.

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Originally Posted by 0_d4RK_FaLLen

You would think that, but you'd also think a company would have some type of end game content in a mmo.

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Correction. Content. Period.

http://25.media.tumblr.com/747a26b19...ni1vo1_250.gif

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Originally Posted by Billy Guile

by the time DLC5 comes out, I hope to be playing Titanfall.

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I'll be playing Destiny.

To respond to the thread title, the only thing I can figure out, reinforced by the past 24 hours from them, is that they don't have any.

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Originally Posted by Iceberg

How are they suppose to retain players when, time after time, they keep shafting them? I mean the most recent shaft is from the charge blade prices being changed to much much lower. Then you got the grenade changes coming, the Volge loot drops disappearing, ect. ect. ect.

They also need to hire a NO man. Someone who is there on all the meetings when a new idea comes up to say NO to it if it sounds stupid.

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Where do I sign? I LOVE saying.....

http://www.comicbookmovie.com/images...lee[1].jpg

IT's one of my favorite words to say!

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Originally Posted by Overtkill21

Why is it - that even at these pathetic player-count levels - that the game still runs like a morbidly obese gerbil?

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Because the predominance of issues in regard to that dont stem from server/shard stress.

I can sum up the way Defiance is treating it's players in regards to it's future plans for retention: they have NO PLANS. They want you to come in the door all happy with the shiny-shiny, then spend your money in the bit store.. play for a couple of months.. get mad that there's nothing new, come on these forums and whine/cry/complain like a pontificating cornholio.. then leave and free up some server space for the next newbie coming down the pipe... rinse, wash, repeat ad infintum.

Frankly, I paid for 5 DLC's, and I'd damn sure better get 5 DLC's or a friggin refund if they go belly up. But.. I'm also like a couple other people, I was a MWO player, so Titanfall to me looks like a good next title. Unless of course if I hit the powerball before then and buy up City of Heroes from NCSuck and relaunch it (pipe dreams obviously!).

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Originally Posted by PseudoCool

I can sum up the way Defiance is treating it's players in regards to it's future plans for retention: they have NO PLANS. They want you to come in the door all happy with the shiny-shiny, then spend your money in the bit store.. play for a couple of months.. get mad that there's nothing new, come on these forums and whine/cry/complain like a pontificating cornholio.. then leave and free up some server space for the next newbie coming down the pipe... rinse, wash, repeat ad infintum.

Frankly, I paid for 5 DLC's, and I'd damn sure better get 5 DLC's or a friggin refund if they go belly up. But.. I'm also like a couple other people, I was a MWO player, so Titanfall to me looks like a good next title. Unless of course if I hit the powerball before then and buy up City of Heroes from NCSuck and relaunch it (pipe dreams obviously!).

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The current running speculation is that they will meet their 5 dlc contractual obligation. However the quality and quantity and enjoyment factors will most likely not live up to the expectations of folks. After that, not a small (and growing) number of people seem to think the game will be scuttled. Again though its just speculation based on the pattern of what they're doing.

That all said, CoH has two competing projects that are trying to get a successor moving forward with one of them in the final stages of starting a kickstarter for it. Honestly, though I think while a noble effort, it wont be able to as well live up to the expectations of folks.

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Originally Posted by PseudoCool

Frankly, I paid for 5 DLC's, and I'd damn sure better get 5 DLC's or a friggin refund if they go belly up.

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Same thing I've been thinking the past few days. But in the meantime, people can find me in the Gotham Wastelands in DCUO... a game DLC that has more than an over glorified data recorder fetch quest.

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Originally Posted by Sanguinesun;1253147}

That all said, CoH has two competing projects that are trying to get a successor moving forward with one of them in the final stages of starting a kickstarter for it. Honestly, though I think while a noble effort, it wont be able to as well live up to the expectations of folks.

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I think if they pull the story lines right, it should be ok. But the problem therein lies in that even with the Kickstarter for any of the THREE projects, your still looking at 3 or more years down the road before launch, and even then they'll have to find someone to promote it and market it. All 3 of the titles look good, but without keeping the effort combined like it was in the beginning, I don't think any of them will ultimately succeed. Which is sad, since NCSuck isnt' about to let go of something that it didn't even create, and surely didn't manage very well after purchase.

As for the current runnign speculation about Defiance, I'd be in that crowd. As sad as I am to say it because I see the raw and untapped potential this game has, I just don't see how if DLC1 is the "standard" this game is ever going to make it into the 2nd season, let alone beyond the 2nd season that's already been greenlighted. Sad sad day really.. when I video game can't outlive a SyFy series... SMH

this is the first time i have ever let this come from my lips. i sadly agree with you all now. i have fought for defiance and for my clan just to see my dreams fall way short.

I know some of the folks running Trion and they are NOT incompetent, far from it. They are very good at producing and marketing online games. This leads me to believe that there is a business reason that they have no player retention plan for Defiance. If their analysis shows that they make more money from new players than from veteran players, it makes sense to cater to new players and ignore the need/wants of the veterans. I'm not implying that they are trying to drive vets away, I just think they don't care. We can stay or we can go, it's up to us. Trion won't make any efforts to retain us.

About the first "complaint" thread that is actually thought out. I applaud you sir. Also, I agree 100%. Even though I think this game is fun for what it's worth, slowly but surely I am thinking of getting into another game.

So........ i just logged in for the 1st time in weeks. I was so underwhelmed by the last update and DLC that some time away from this game was needed. Since the last time i logged in i have upgraded to a T3 connection at my house due to working from home. I was lagged out and disconnected from server within 15mins. This game had tons of potential yet after all this time it still feels like a beta test. So i guess thats it for me as far as "retention" goes.

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Originally Posted by PseudoCool

I can sum up the way Defiance is treating it's players in regards to it's future plans for retention: they have NO PLANS. They want you to come in the door all happy with the shiny-shiny, then spend your money in the bit store.. play for a couple of months.. get mad that there's nothing new, come on these forums and whine/cry/complain like a pontificating cornholio.. then leave and free up some server space for the next newbie coming down the pipe... rinse, wash, repeat ad infintum.

Frankly, I paid for 5 DLC's, and I'd damn sure better get 5 DLC's or a friggin refund if they go belly up. But.. I'm also like a couple other people, I was a MWO player, so Titanfall to me looks like a good next title. Unless of course if I hit the powerball before then and buy up City of Heroes from NCSuck and relaunch it (pipe dreams obviously!).

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Hey drop me a line if you hit that powerball. I spent years playing CoH from its beta test till shortly after it went free 2 play. Damn i miss that game.