Now we know how SOE will screw up Planetside 2

[JonJonPoPong]

Theres a interview with a dev over at INCgamers.com in which the dev says "with vehicles there are engines and weapons to unlock" meaning SOE will be starting players off with gimped tanks but selling power ups.



Now we know what SOE plans to sell to support a free planetside 2.

I dont want to be driving around in a gimped/slow vanguard, nor will I find any joy in killing someone who is in a gimped tank while I have grinded myself a normal, or maybe SUPER tank. I want my kills to be earned by skill or superior tactics, not grinding/CASH. I also dont want to have to face the issue of no one wanting to gun for my tank because maybe if they wait another 20 seconds someone with a "unlocked" tank will come by looking for a gunner.



What incentive is there for a player to pay for a better engine for their vehicles unless what they start with is garbage?

I dont play world of tanks as I hated driving their gimped tanks and fighting against people with far better tanks: be they earned from grinding or working for cash in the real world and spending it in game. When I jump into metal I expect it to operate at its full capacity, not to be at 20% waiting for me to slog through days of grinding or fork over $20 to get it to maximum capacity.

I want to die because I was less skilled or employed worse tactics than the other player.



What made planetsides combat system work was that a level 5 can kill a level 25 since all the level 25 had access to was MORE options, not SUPERIOR options.

[FastAndFree]

Theres a interview with a dev over at INCgamers.com in which the dev says "with vehicles there are engines and weapons to unlock" meaning SOE will be starting players off with gimped tanks but selling power ups.

Customization has been a fact of PS2 since the beginning. Obviously this applies to vehicles too.

We were promised sidegrades not upgrades. So maybe a new engine with better acceleration but less top speed etc etc.
gimped tanks and selling power is just your imagination at this point

Also, brace for impact.

[Majikk]

You sound pretty determined to hate this thing. What they've also said is that they are not selling power. They're selling options. If a gun has stats a, b, and c, where a + b + c = d... then ALL the gun variants they sell will add up to d. In the case of an engine, I'd expect you might be able to get a faster engine that accelerates poorly, or an engine that allows the tank to turn faster, at the expense of speed, and so on.

[TacosWLove]

Just cuz they start that way, doesnt mean the you have to use the cash shop to upgrade them. They've already said over and over about the %20 thing and how you can upgrade anything you have the skillz for. I mean shouldnt you be rewarded by skilling the the tank tree and getting better engines etc?

Please link the interview

[nomotog]

Why did you get the idea that these upgrades would cost money. It's not unbelievable, but you know you can unlock things from just playing right.

[Goku]

You are looking too much into the engine issue. There is not going to be a level 1 engine then a level 10 engine that is better in every way like speed, handling, and so on. Each engine is likely to have advantages and disadvantages. For instance a engine that allows for a faster tank will not have as good handling as one the other tank that has the slower speed engine.

I am still unsure about the tank turrets. If I had to speculate there will likely be guns suited to special needs. There can be a main gun better for say being a tank destroyer, but cannot kill infantry that well. Then there could be a main gun that is like a huge shotgun for taking out infantry, but sucks at killing vehicles. You get the general idea here. I wouldn't be shocked as you went up the ranks being a tank specialist you will get a small bump in damage for all your guns, but it probably will not be anything major. That right there is not something you can buy though as of right now.

[FIREk]

Theres a interview with a dev over at INCgamers.com in which the dev says "with vehicles there are engines and weapons to unlock" meaning SOE will be starting players off with gimped tanks but selling power ups.

...

Higby said, at least on one occasion, that you will be ale to do something like replacing your tank's gearbox with a beefier one with longer ratios, reducing your maximum speed, but letting you go up steeper slopes. So it's a sidegrade, not an upgrade.
In this interview, the gearbox may have been simplified to "engine", to make it less confusing.

Don't start shitting bricks before you know what you're trying to shit bricks over. Or just read up on what information has been revealed or hinted at.

[NapalmEnima]

The planet is falling, the planet is falling. Ohs nos!

Why do so many people on the intarwebs get all their exercise from jumping to conclusions?

[Bags]

You know the game is going to be ruined and we haven't even seen gameplay yet? Amazing insight you have, friend.

[Mirror]

This thread should be stickied and everyone should be made to read it when they come to PSU and it should not let them move on till they answer questions to confirm they have read it.

[Draep]

This OP right here needs to have an example made of him. Ban/kill him please.

[Malorn]

I don't disagree that SOE will undoubtably screw up PS2 in some way, but the F2P model isn't it. That's the right direction, and many players share your fears where things start out cosmetic and then inevitably get turned into power, or their definition of "power" allows some forms of power to get into the store. The latter is the most likely case, IMO.

Smed has gone out of his way to reiterate several times to us that Power is not being sold. Its in several interviews, and he's even posted it here multiple times. Go to VIP tracker and read what Smed wrote. He's like a broken record now - we will not sell power, we will not sell power...but it doesn't matter how many times he says it becuase some poeple simply won't believe him because their impression of SOE is dubious at best.

[Raymac]

Well, now that Jonjonpopong has decided PS2 will be a failure, I don't have to worry about playing it. Whew, what a relief.

And here I was thinking that since the devs all the way up to the CEO were passionate about making a fun, successful game that it might actually be cool. But nope. Appearantly, Jonjonpopong has figured out that the devs never heard of the original APB and are about to repeat its mistakes exactly. Genius.

[Atuday]

They said they would not sell power. If they are going to sell power then show me proof. Video of an interview where they said they would sell power, or an official article stating the selling of power.

[Atuday]

Also I think it is funny that we all think SOE will screw up PS2 but the only thing we can't agree on is how.

[Malorn]

Hopefully it won't be in one of the ways they messed up PS1 or in the F2P model, that would just be double-facepalm epic.

[Draep]

Stop replying to this thread and any others like it. I can't believe you are devoting paragraph long posts to this inane faggotry.

[Crator]

Please read the PS2 Information thread before posting about something you think you know about. If it isn't there then we most likely have no info on it. Would be best to post a question to the community before ranting/raving about something unknown first though.

[XPquant]

Can't we all just wait to play it before we hate it, have some faith.

[2coolforu]

1) World of Tanks was an unbalanced piece of crap, they never promised to retain balance nor did they promise to keep it competitive. This is a game in which you can Use a T-54 on the same battlefield as a Panzer III, a game in which until you get into tier 6-7 you have zero chance of damaging the enemy.

SOE, Higby, Smedley, T-Ray and the whole PS2 staff have said that NO upgrade will make you immune to weaponry and at most, with every upgrade you will have a maximum of 20% advantage over your enemy which is piddles, that's less advantage than an enemy has over you using stopping power in CoD yet I do fine with UAV Jammer, good tactics will always defeat a more upgraded enemy as 20% is effectively a 9 shot kill instead of a 10 shot kill from a weapon.

2) We do not know anything about the subscription model other than it 'Has some F2P elements', we know that they 'Do not intend to sell power, only cosmetics' IF they do. Higby also said the model wasn't pinned down yet and they are still considering a sub-based model among other types.


Jeez every 2 days we have someone claiming the sky is going to fall down. Can we wait to the Beta AT LEAST before we declare the game 'screwed up', we have a 50 second video clip and about 6 up-to-date screenshots.

[Graywolves]

I only read the first few lines or so.


I've seriously been reading less and less recently because everyone's jumping to crazy assumptions. I've followed every bit of information from anouncement and with half the things I've read in the last week it just feels like either the lot of recent OP's have very poor memory or are not doing any research.


Don't jump to conclusions just because you hear a couple things. Try to discover the intent instead of assuming it. You're afraid of them selling power, I can understand that. But they've been emphasizing they're strong desire to avoid selling power.

We're beyond the point of mindless speculation. Just wait for beta.

[BuzzCutPsycho]

PS2 will go strong for about six months than take a massive dump like every other SoE game before it.

You can't argue with history. I'm just hoping to enjoy the game before they inevitably ruin it. Boy, sure says a lot about the MMO industry nowadays huh?

[Crator]

Ya, did ya hear the world was going to end in 2012 too?

[HawkEye]

A sign or something in giant text needs to be put up on PSU saying that SOE has said they are not selling power-ups.

[Raymac]

PS2 will go strong for about six months than take a massive dump like every other SoE game before it.

You can't argue with history. I'm just hoping to enjoy the game before they inevitably ruin it. Boy, sure says a lot about the MMO industry nowadays huh?

After another great weekend of football betting action, I'll repeat a gambler's mantra: "Past performance is no guarantee of future results." You'll see something along those lines if you ever buy a mutual fund too.

[BorisBlade]

dont care too much, tanks are all lightnings now and i have no interest in being both the driver and main gunner at the same time. So unless they do planetside style vehicles and not battlefield style, i wont drive em anyway.

[BuzzCutPsycho]

After another great weekend of football betting action, I'll repeat a gambler's mantra: "Past performance is no guarantee of future results." You'll see something along those lines if you ever buy a mutual fund too.

Except that SoE has consecutively released poor MMOs since (and including) EQ2.

[Raymac]

Except that SoE has consecutively released poor MMOs since (and including) EQ2.

And the Buffalo Bills havn't made the playoffs since the Clinton Administration, yet they are 2-0 right now and have scored a total of 79 points over those 2 games.

Just because somebody sucked before doesn't mean they will suck next time.

[Malorn]

Such a mantra leads many into life-shattering debt.

Edit: Also, the Lions would be a better example. The Bills at least went 4 times and showed some degree of competence and consistency. Lions are the only non-expansion team to never to make a super bowl appearance.

[Brusi]

what a dickhead

[CaptainMaverik]

ass

[BuzzCutPsycho]

And the Buffalo Bills havn't made the playoffs since the Clinton Administration, yet they are 2-0 right now and have scored a total of 79 points over those 2 games.

Make all of the asinine analogies you want because history is on my side in on this subject.

Do I want PS2 to succeed? You bet. More than anything actually. With that being said however I refuse to get hyped because I'm a realist and I know that this company, the very same one responsible for the mismanagement and death of PS1 and various other SoE games is behind PS2.

I guess we've all forgotten core combat, BFRs, and Fanta ads, right?

Just because somebody sucked before doesn't mean they will suck next time.

No - It just means they're much more likely to suck again. Or, in the case of your analogy suck for over a decade and then start off with a bit of promise and then (eventually) fall flat on it's face.

[Bags]

The Fanta ads were probably the best thing that ever happened to Planetside.

[Fuel Truck]

My veteran buddy and I tell our newly recruited PS2 friends that we have about a 1 year window of awesomeness before it becomes the lamest shit ever.

I've played multiple SOE games that start well and end in disaster.

[Dreamcast]

Is gonna be the LoL model....Which is smart.


In case you never played League of Legends...You can't buy power....You just can't.


They make most of their money of selling custom skins.....Im sure Planetside is gonna do the same, sells custom skins or let players create skins by charging money.

Believe it or not this makes lots of money....League of Legends has $5 million tournaments.


Also LoL sells double xp.....but this means you have to do good to make it worth it...and once u cap at level 30...you cap....basically it just makes it faster to level, it doesn't make you up or anything. Planetside Might copy in this aswell, I have no problem with that.

Eventually playing enough will get you all the same xp

[Noyjitatps]

They already fucked up this game by making it completely different than the original. Now its just going to be like all the other shooters out there with the planetside name attached to it.

A planetside pre corecombat with additional zones, no bfrs, better clientside hit detection, optimized game client and server and no warping, would of been more favorable than completely changing how the combat and experience system works and copying basically everything found in all the existing shooters.

[CutterJohn]

They already fucked up this game by making it completely different than the original. Now its just going to be like all the other shooters out there with the planetside name attached to it.

The only important facet of PS was combined arms on a massive scale. In most other ways it was a subpar game.

The only way they can fuck the game up is making it an arena shooter like GA.

[NCLynx]

Hey look, a thread based on no facts at all. I've never seen one of these. Please read Bags signature or any of the other information ridden threads out there :(

[Minigun]

I know we all know basically nothing about the game but i can't help myself from losing interest in this game fast, 3 months ago I checked this site basically every 4 hours hoping for new information because ps2 sounded awesome, but now that we all of a sudden have this influx of information instead of poping in all the time Im finding myself not really caring anymore because most of the information I've heard I don't really care for. I guess I set my expectations to high , I know blasphemy but I know others are having the same feelings.

I hope SOE proves me wrong for all our sake

[Graywolves]

Focusing on a single negative factor and letting it consume you is not realism.

[Heaven]

Don't really understand how you can bitch about the game before its even released... As far as I understand SOE are doing what they can to make this game good, they are listening to the fans and putting stuff in the game that may or may not work but they are willing to change it as they have said, end of the day even though they are tacking some mechanics from others games to make ps2, the games they come from are very successful etc bf3... I have faith this time with PS2 but you seriously cant bitch about the game untill you have given it a chance!

As long as they can provide players with regular updates and content every so often then im happy, obv not the fucking BFR's ha.

[PrISM]

...
You sound like you're a ********.

[kidwithstick]

The idea of f2p always sounds nice... but to be honost it always sucks.

Id rather be on a level playing field where everyone pays the same ammount per month and everyone gets the same benefits... I hate the idea that someone whos going to spend 50-100 a month is going to be much more advanced in the game than I will by spending nothing.

IF they kept it to cosmetic purchases only then I will be a happy camper... if someone wants to buy diff skins and decals thats perfectly fine with me... but as soon as you start selling XP boosters and time savers and all that bullshit it kills the game for me. Im pretty sure im not alone either...

[Crator]

^^^ You know what. I'm done replying to/or even reading posts like the one above anymore. Apparently they did not read any of the other comments on the subject since they seem to completely ignore it in the context of what they are saying.

[Graywolves]

^^^ You know what. I'm done replying to/or even reading posts like the one above anymore. Apparently they did not read any of the other comments on the subject since they seem to completely ignore it in the context of what they are saying.

+1

[Raymac]

The idea of f2p always sounds nice... but to be honost it always sucks.

Id rather be on a level playing field where everyone pays the same ammount per month and everyone gets the same benefits... I hate the idea that someone whos going to spend 50-100 a month is going to be much more advanced in the game than I will by spending nothing.

IF they kept it to cosmetic purchases only then I will be a happy camper... if someone wants to buy diff skins and decals thats perfectly fine with me... but as soon as you start selling XP boosters and time savers and all that bullshit it kills the game for me. Im pretty sure im not alone either...

It's an uphill battle you are trying to fight there. The following link will explain why. It's not an editorial or a commentary, it's just stating data. F2P is the future and subscription is going the way of the dodo.

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2011-09-15-money-from-mmo-subs-begins-to-decline

We just need to accept it because it's happening whether you like it or not.

[Blue]

I didn't read the replies to this thread....one because it's late and I've had a few beers and two because I think it's irrelevant what the responses were.

I used to play COD a lot when I had my 360. One of my favorite reasons for playing was reaching prestige. I thought it was awesome to all of a sudden start with the "worse" guns in the game with little to no attachments. I can't wait to focus all my skills on cloaking and when i need to drive a buggy or snipe or heal or use some HA to know that i've fragging people using no attachments or added abilities what so ever.

In my experience, the people who complain the most, will complain about anything. If you're the player that cusses and screams EVERY single time you die, then yes it's going to be hell for you to play PS2 when you can easily make the argument that "his tank has a higher max speed on hills than mine".

They have already said that speed will take away armor, that power will take away both...etc.

There is not going to be two vannys of equal fire power and armor and one goes faster than the other. It's not even confirmed of what is going to be in the store exactly.

So cool your jets;)

[Dreamcast]

Whats so wrong with XP boosters?....Most people getting are gonna be people who have jobs and/or are too lazy to play, doubt they will be OP.

Even if somebody got xp boosters and played 24/7......He will only get his skills up faster....Once he reached his cap, he is done.


What's the problem, this game is designed to keep people hook for like months/years...You eventually are going to cap on certain skill points.



If they follow the League of Legend system.....Their is nothing to worry about IMO.

[TheGoatFather]

+1 for all the replies that I read that said "sidegrades". SOE aren't stupid enough to gimp things out. I'd relish the choice to make my tank a slow S.O.B., but a strong one. Customisation is what sold PS1 for me, and it'll continue to sell PS2 to me too.

[atone]

PS2 is going F2P. Accept it. But don't accept it blindly. Be cautious. SOE does have a reputation of changing its product at the drop of a hat. They are known for this. It's repeated over and over and even if we take their message of "will not sell power" as pure fact, they will still have a hell of a climb to win back trust. So why be surprised at threads like this? This skepticism is a product of their own doing, and even though this thread started with half informed opinion, I still consider it healthy. So yes by all means doubt them. Because selling XP/weapons/veh, even "side-graded" ones, that is a slippery slope. And most opponents of the F2P are aware of this and see it as a loaded...well weapon, and guess who is holding it. Our hearts have been broken before. We forgive but never forget.

[Senyu]

I seem to recall something about 20% power difference or something? I thought a dev had come in and explained with a math equation or example that even with it, it still wouldnt be op. Call me crazy but does anyone else remember this? Even seem to recall it as a sig for people. No? OP, have you seen it anywhere?

[Goku]

I seem to recall something about 20% power difference or something? I thought a dev had come in and explained with a math equation or example that even with it, it still wouldnt be op. Call me crazy but does anyone else remember this? Even seem to recall it as a sig for people. No? OP, have you seen it anywhere?

Yes you are correct. I think Higby actually replied to one of my posts about that. What he was making clear was it wasn't 20% on weapons but within all fields it would come to 20%. Not like 20% extra damage on weapons and healing, but 5% here 2% there and so on. He showed for say a MCG taking 10 shots to kill a person and with 20% it came down to 9. What I was really worried about where stronger weapons like the JH. Depending on how a weapon is setup it could alter the TTK even more then compared to other weapons. That is not a issue anymore so no need to worry about it.

[Crator]

PS2 is going F2P. Accept it. But don't accept it blindly. Be cautious. SOE does have a reputation of changing its product at the drop of a hat. They are known for this. It's repeated over and over and even if we take their message of "will not sell power" as pure fact, they will still have a hell of a climb to win back trust. So why be surprised at threads like this? This skepticism is a product of their own doing, and even though this thread started with half informed opinion, I still consider it healthy. So yes by all means doubt them. Because selling XP/weapons/veh, even "side-graded" ones, that is a slippery slope. And most opponents of the F2P are aware of this and see it as a loaded...well weapon, and guess who is holding it. Our hearts have been broken before. We forgive but never forget.

+1

[Senyu]

Yes you are correct. I think Higby actually replied to one of my posts about that. What he was making clear was it wasn't 20% on weapons but within all fields it would come to 20%. Not like 20% extra damage on weapons and healing, but 5% here 2% there and so on. He showed for say a MCG taking 10 shots to kill a person and with 20% it came down to 9. What I was really worried about where stronger weapons like the JH. Depending on how a weapon is setup it could alter the TTK even more then compared to other weapons. That is not a issue anymore so no need to worry about it.

Being sarcastic towards OP. The fact hes freaking out about gimped tanks when they wont be terrible different from specced tanks (20% not even pure difference) I find funny

[Marinealver]

Also I think it is funny that we all think SOE will screw up PS2 but the only thing we can't agree on is how.

lol they just will...

[Buggsy]

A true sidegrade system for tanks:

-Added weight to hull decreases top speed, decreases hull rotate speed, decreases acceleration, decreases hill climbing angle.

-Added weight to turret decreases top speed, decreases hull rotation speed, decreases acceleration, decreases hill climbing angle, decreases turret rotation.

Machine guns carry lots of ammo and add less weight than light guns in weight.

Light guns carry most ammunition and add the lightest weight.

Medium guns carry medium ammunition and add average weight.

Heavy guns carry least amount of ammo and add most weight.

1) Driver/Hull Gunner. Hull gun default is Machine Gun. Hull gun traverses about +/- 60 degrees. Hull gun can be removed completely to save more weight, leaving just the driver. Sidegraded to to light/medium/heavy cannon of either HE or AP type. Adds weight to hull.

2) Turret gunner. Default gun is Machine Gun. Turret can be removed completely to save weight, turning tank into a WW2 type tank destroyer if you have a hull gun. Sidegraded to to light/medium/heavy cannon of either HE or AP type. Adds weight to turret.

3) Cupolla gunner. Can only be a machine gun. Cupolla gun can be removed completely to save weight. Adds weight to turret.

-Additional ammunition sidegrades adds weight and increases threshold in which tank starts smoking and lights on fire.

-More powerful engine sidegrades increases threshold in which tank starts smoking and lights on fire. Takes even more damage in rear.

1) Light armor sidegrade Least weight added, can add to all sides in any combination of other armor.

2) Medium armor sidegrade Average weight added, can add to all sides in any combination of other armor.

3) Heavy armor sidegrade Most weight added, can add to all sides in any combination of other armor.

_________________________


So a typical MBT setup would be:

-Heavy front armor, medium side armor, light rear armor. MG Hull gun, Medium turret gun, MG cupolla gun. (3 player tank). Won't be able to climb those steep hills, not the best top speed and acceleration.

A Heavy tank setup designed by a lonewolf would be:

-Heavy front armor, Medium side armor, medium rear armor, big engine. Heavy HE Hull gun, light HE turret gun, MG cupolla gun. Won't be able to climb grades higher than 40%, top speed about half of a MBT now, flames/smokes real easy.

A Heavy super tank designed for squad use would be:

-Heavy front armor, Heavy side armor, medium rear armor, big engine. Medium HE Hull gun, Heavy AP turret gun, MG cupolla gun. Extra ammo everywhere. Won't be able to climb grades higher than 30%. Top speed 1/4th of that of a MBT now, crawls, flames/smokes real easy.

A tank destroyer designed by a lonewolf player:

-Heavy front armor, light side armor, light rear armor, light engine. Heavy AP Hull gun, turret gunner position removed, a decent MG cupolla gunner. Extra Hull gun ammo. Would be a little faster than MBT today, would be able to climb most hills alright, dies to one hit in the rear and 2 hits to the sides, but can take massive damage in front.