ToxicFire
Phoenix Knights
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Posted - 2009.01.09 09:30:00 -
[1]
Tbh let be realistic consider EVE online marketing campaign over the past couple of years has probably tapped the majority of those that will be interested. I seriously doubt a boxed version will tap a new source of customers especially with a downturn in the overall market (don't quote Christmas sales figures at me their always high at Christmas its the post Christmas sales that will really show how ppl are behaving under normal circumstances as the majority of ppl that were getting cut from jobs got cut at Christmas not before).
Tbh a number of moves from CCP in recent months have seemed far more marketing orientated rather than sticking true to the original principles of eve. Wrangler nicely provides some growth figures in another post if you wanna go find it but overall since apirl 2008 eve's only gained about 10k new subscriptions (not necessarily players), with ppl cutting alts away recently (yes it is happening) to save money I doubt we're going to see a lorn term significant raise in the subscriber base.
Theres also a couple of other factors that work against eve (or for eve if you look at it in the respect of keeping the average IQ level high) one is the extremely steep learning curve, everyone's done this I don't need to explain why so many ppl just hit this and see it as a wall, the majority of ppl buying the box (that are new to the game) won't be those that can cope with the wall, Another is the simple fact eve is a niche game, you can't expand into what doesn't exist. Frankly I think we've already seen the biggest single increase in eve players come and that was the goons. I've played plenty of other niche games some mmo's included even ones that have had a retail box, it never really increased the population by any appreciable amount.
Tbh a rapid expansion of a rabble ppl buying the box would do more harm than good, would certainly destroy the reputation and respect eve has worked up over the years. If they ever sharded, poof that would be is one of eve's biggest claims to fame disappears overnight. EVE's success really tbh relies in the loyalty of its players and as any sensible businessman will you its incredibly hard to earn loyalty but very easy to destroy it, so even though it may be a little harsh I sorta hope that the boxed launch kinda falls on its face and we keep the status quo regarding growth in eve, which is at a reasonable pace the dev's can cope with. |