Chuui wrote:
I think Chuui is probably right here. While new blood might be good for the game, it's just as likely to screw things up. If both Rarebit and Walrus move on, then I think that's a clue SOE is looking to close shop. A more likely scenario is that Walrus will get promoted and Rarebit will take his place, but who knows.
As far as resources, it is what it is. SOE isn't going to invest more in the game, and subscribers aren't going to pick up dramatically. My hope is that the few resources will be focused toward end-game/replayable content and stories that interest dedicated players.
The thing is, I am and have been part of other communities outside the "mainstream". We just don't let go. Sure, we hope for more, share our frustrations, fight & argue, kick & scream, but most importantly -- we pay. Those are all signs of a community that is alive and that cares about the product. The real danger came when WB sold the game. If SOE didn't buy it, WB probably would have shut it down, but now we are past that. Now the game just has to pay the bills. Based on the resources SOE puts into it, I'd guess that is somewhere around the 5,000 subscriber ($900K/year) mark, but that's just a guess. In any case, the game doesn't need 7 million to stay alive, and it could sustain itself for a long time.
Unless the subscriber base really picks up, I don't expect this game to last much longer than the day that either Rarebit or Walrus move on to other things. I don't see SOE being bothered to hire new staff to replace any old ones that leave. And I expect that to be even more so once the DC games reaches a playable beta phase.
I think Chuui is probably right here. While new blood might be good for the game, it's just as likely to screw things up. If both Rarebit and Walrus move on, then I think that's a clue SOE is looking to close shop. A more likely scenario is that Walrus will get promoted and Rarebit will take his place, but who knows.
As far as resources, it is what it is. SOE isn't going to invest more in the game, and subscribers aren't going to pick up dramatically. My hope is that the few resources will be focused toward end-game/replayable content and stories that interest dedicated players.
The thing is, I am and have been part of other communities outside the "mainstream". We just don't let go. Sure, we hope for more, share our frustrations, fight & argue, kick & scream, but most importantly -- we pay. Those are all signs of a community that is alive and that cares about the product. The real danger came when WB sold the game. If SOE didn't buy it, WB probably would have shut it down, but now we are past that. Now the game just has to pay the bills. Based on the resources SOE puts into it, I'd guess that is somewhere around the 5,000 subscriber ($900K/year) mark, but that's just a guess. In any case, the game doesn't need 7 million to stay alive, and it could sustain itself for a long time.
