Why SOE and PSU need to send out mass emails about the free time.

[MasterChief096]

I started a petition some time ago in order to collect signatures in support of making PlanetSide 1 free-to-play. There are a total of 339 signatures at this moment. The website I used (change.org) allows me to email everyone who signed the petition.

So far I have spoken with 10 people in-game and in PM that have thanked me for emailing them the news of the free time, as they would have otherwise not found out.

Those 10 people are just who I've spoken too that found out through my email. I don't know how many actually returned due to it, the number could be higher. I also blast emailed everyone on my outfit website, to which another five, possibly more, are returning.

10 people out of 339 is 3% (rounded up from 2.95%).

PSU and SOE have access to hundreds of thousands of accounts. Even if my very modest estimate of 3% people returning to try the game proves to be the case, that is still thousands of people that would return, enough to fill Gemini for sure, perhaps enough to warrant another server.

The only advertisement that this event got is what the community gave it plus the RadarX post on the PS2 boards which most people over there don't care about PS1 anyways. Then Hamma put up a news update.

There are thousands of people who don't check PSU or PS2 news anymore because they gave up on SOE. How are they to be contacted?

I'm urging everyone that's playing right now to email or contact everyone you possible can to get them back, but the best way to do it would be an email from SOE and PSU to former players.

Why would this be so hard to do?

[KarrdeBRBU]

I'm not sure if SOE would go for it, but it would be simple for PSU to do it. vBulletin makes this very easy. You can send a simple mass email to all registered users. The question is if Hamma is ok doing that. Personally, it's related and it's pretty big news. Unless something big changes, I'm betting the next 6 months will probably be PS1's last big hurrah. So how about is Hamma?

*edit*

I for one would enjoy killing all the gens once again XD

[Wahooo]

It has been done before from SOE.


It's time to PARTY with NEW Player Progression, battles, merits and MORE!

Greetings Soldier of Auraxis!
You're cordially invited to celebrate six years of battles and non-stop shooting fun in PlanetSide®. We've updated the game with great new content to enhance your gameplay experience. Jump into the game now to check out everything that's been added!
Battle Rank has been increased from 25 to 40! All characters that achieve Battle Rank 40 will receive a special reward!
Six year merits will be awarded to characters that are at least 72 months old! This is based on the character creation date, not the account date.
Battle Frame Robotics (BFR) imprint will now be given to all characters created before June 18, 2009! Everybody with a character created before that date will not have to go through the imprint process in the Caverns. Players will still need to purchase the BFR certification from one of the certification terminals in order to gain access to pilot a BFR.
After June 18, 2009, all characters created prior to that date will be granted a certification respec upon logging into the game.

[Liquidnailz]

I never received an email about the free play on either of my accounts. I found out from your email masterchief.

[MasterChief096]

I never received an email about the free play on either of my accounts. I found out from your email masterchief.

Glad to be of help, 11 people :)

[SgtMAD]

holy shit man, you need to calm down before you blow a gasket

I think Hamma knows that you want him to send a friggin email out,the problem being Hamma is trying to have a life and run this site so he might not have the time needed to do your bidding.

calm down and enjoy the next six months because the next big announcement is going to be the shutting down the servers at the end of those six months.

[MasterChief096]

holy shit man, you need to calm down before you blow a gasket

I think Hamma knows that you want him to send a friggin email out,the problem being Hamma is trying to have a life and run this site so he might not have the time needed to do your bidding.

calm down and enjoy the next six months because the next big announcement is going to be the shutting down the servers at the end of those six months.

Took me 5 minutes to blast email everyone.

[CrazEpharmacist]

count me as one person who saw your email and is currently playing ps1:) Wasn't sure if it was a no-reply type thing so i didn't email back.

[Crator]

Seems like most want PS1 to die. That's pretty much the vibe I get from the people who run this site and SOE. Pretty sad actually since there seem to still be fans of the original. Oh well....

[Zeta]

holy shit man, you need to calm down before you blow a gasket

I think Hamma knows that you want him to send a friggin email out,the problem being Hamma is trying to have a life and run this site so he might not have the time needed to do your bidding.

calm down and enjoy the next six months because the next big announcement is going to be the shutting down the servers at the end of those six months.

Agreed about the OP calming down, but I've also heard that Hamma downright HATES anything PS1 these days too, so I doubt anything will happen anyways

[bpostal]

Agreed about the OP calming down, but I've also heard that Hamma downright HATES anything PS1 these days too, so I doubt anything will happen anyways

I dunno about that, it seems that most of us agree that this is either the last gasp of the game or it's the resurgence that some of us have been hoping for. We'll know in six months time. Either way, it's worth a shot to get the word out and at least try to give it a go.

[OpolE]

I think they will announce it once they sort the core combat expansion bug. Once they see a rise in people playing just from word of mouth.

They might be testing out a few statistics with the only 1 remaining server and don't want to overload it or they want to see how many dedicated players are using the game

[Baneblade]

SOE gave us the free time to shut us up. The new bugs that currently affect PS1 popped up just in time. There is only one conclusion to make really.

[Assist]

Seems like most want PS1 to die. That's pretty much the vibe I get from the people who run this site and SOE. Pretty sad actually since there seem to still be fans of the original. Oh well....

Or it could be that he's not around this week, possibly he has something to do other than PSU. Guy has run this site for so long that I think far too many of you take him, his work, his dedication, and his time for granted. I know if it were me I'd be ripping many of you a new one for continuing your tirade of portraying him against PS1 when he's stated so many times that he's not, he just feels it's time to move on and any posts comparing PS1 to PS2 should be constructive and not destructive.

I saw posts on three different gaming websites about the free 6 months for PS1, yet no more than 5 replies from users were on each site. It looks as if one person in this thread has taken it upon themselves to put the word out, perhaps some of you should make an effort to get the word out to the masses rather than demanding that someone else do it.

[Crator]

I don't have email addresses of everyone though and I'm pretty sure most others here don't as well, including the person you said took initiative. Posts on Internet sites only get to so many folks. And that's been done as you said. Word of mouth will happen and will garner more players eventually. I just read another thread that Hamma posted in today, so yeah, he's around. I'm not trying to take him for granted, I'm just upset that the game which started this site in the first place and has some loyal fans still is being swept under the rug so easily. It's crazy imo how much disdain has been built for PS1 by a lot of folks. I personally played PS1 for a very long time and was not put off by Core Combat and BFRs but I know there's many folks out there that build a great hate for the game due to it.

Most of the time PS1 vets do post constructively when comparing PS1 to PS2 but they are beaten down by destructive comments, a lot of times by other PS1 vets who want to stick fingers in their ears and sing LALALALA because they harness so much hate for PS1 for some reason. Then the PS1 vets who are constructively comparing to PS2 get enrage and become non-constructive. Vicious cycle...

EDIT: All PS1 vets who have differing opinions towards PS1 should be working together to come up with what should be best for PS2. Not fighting each other. And saying nothing in PS1 worked and should never exist in PS2 is just silly. There's a reason why people played PS1 in the first place and liked it. If not, why would you even be here?

[Logit]

I think it's only logical that the main focus for this site and SOE is Planetside 2.

I would love as much as anyone for there to be a resurgence into the original, but I'm not holding my breathe. There are currently game breaking bugs that would easily ward off a large population if they were to come back.

Just imagine how bad the wasp problem would be with more people. It's not as simple as just sending e-mals. They would need to take time out of PS2 development and resources to fix a game that is making them zero dollars.

SOE is a business. PSU is a business. I'm sure you can see why both parties would be less inclined to sink time into a game that will almost assuredly die off without any consistent support(which we are most definitely not getting.)

My advice is to enjoy it for what it is. If we get any help a long the way it's an added bonus. I think this weekend we will see some nice populations, enough to make it at least feel like the old days.

To ask why SOE and Hamma aren't doing anything to support us is a little unfair, as the answer is quite obvious.

[MasterChief096]

I think it's only logical that the main focus for this site and SOE is Planetside 2.

I would love as much as anyone for there to be a resurgence into the original, but I'm not holding my breathe. There are currently game breaking bugs that would easily ward off a large population if they were to come back.

Just imagine how bad the wasp problem would be with more people. It's not as simple as just sending e-mals. They would need to take time out of PS2 development and resources to fix a game that is making them zero dollars.

SOE is a business. PSU is a business. I'm sure you can see why both parties would be less inclined to sink time into a game that will almost assuredly die off without any consistent support(which we are most definitely not getting.)

My advice is to enjoy it for what it is. If we get any help a long the way it's an added bonus. I think this weekend we will see some nice populations, enough to make it at least feel like the old days.

To ask why SOE and Hamma aren't doing anything to support us is a little unfair, as the answer is quite obvious.

I don't buy it.

Most PS1 vets, especially vets who quit a long time ago, aren't playing PS2 either. Asking them to come back for this six months via email would not only build interest in PS1 again, but also PS2, especially if PS1 becomes a part of the PS2 payment plan.

[Logit]

I don't buy it.

Most PS1 vets, especially vets who quit a long time ago, aren't playing PS2 either. Asking them to come back for this six months via email would not only build interest in PS1 again, but also PS2, especially if PS1 becomes a part of the PS2 payment plan.

Why would people being invited back to PS1 create any interest in PS2? Clearly people know the sequel is out, and are just choosing not to play it.

I'm just playing devils advocate here man, but you need to look at it black and white.

How much money will PS1 bring SOE? I can't imagine they aren't currently losing money on it.

Let's say 5000 people came back, and lets say they all paid a 5$ fee from a PS2 joint subscription. That's not even enough to pay a single dev to oversee the game. I think 5000 is a VERY generous number, as the actual number is currently a few hundred at best.

I love this game, I certainly do, but I'm also being realistic.

[MasterChief096]

Why would people being invited back to PS1 create any interest in PS2? Clearly people know the sequel is out, and are just choosing not to play it.

I'm just playing devils advocate here man, but you need to look at it black and white.

How much money will PS1 bring SOE? I can't imagine they aren't currently losing money on it.

Let's say 5000 people came back, and lets say they all paid a 5$ fee from a PS2 joint subscription. That's not even enough to pay a single dev to oversee the game. I think 5000 is a VERY generous number, as the actual number is currently a few hundred at best.

I love this game, I certainly do, but I'm also being realistic.

Because if PS1 was part of the PS2 payment plan, then more people would be coerced into playing PS2 as well.

How many players still play Everquest? SOE made it free-to-play and tons of people still play it. Is SOE going to give Everquest the same treatment when EQ3 comes out?

[Logit]

Because if PS1 was part of the PS2 payment plan, then more people would be coerced into playing PS2 as well.

How many players still play Everquest? SOE made it free-to-play and tons of people still play it. Is SOE going to give Everquest the same treatment when EQ3 comes out?

Everquest had 19 expansions, and 30x the following

And PS1 won't be part of the pricing plan. Smed already said F2P, which will make the game unplayable without any outside support for hacking.

[Ghodere]

I suspect an announcement may be made when it goes F2P, and the 6 months are just a quick fix to let people get into PS1 somewhat in the meantime.

[Hamma]

I'm out of town visiting family for a week or so. Ill talk to some folks and see if SOE is doing some kind of notification and put something together for psu as well. Ill try to get to it while I'm away.

Also some brought up some good points. I don't want to spend a ton of time on PS1 myself because I feel it's a game that's done. Those who don't like ps2 won't start playing it due to PS1 :P

[MasterChief096]

I'm out of town visiting family for a week or so. Ill talk to some folks and see if SOE is doing some kind of notification and put something together for psu as well. Ill try to get to it while I'm away.

Also some brought up some good points. I don't want to spend a ton of time on PS1 myself because I feel it's a game that's done. Those who don't like ps2 won't start playing it due to PS1 :P

1) Thanks

2) I have outfit members who play both, some like PS2 better, others like PS1 better, but they play both, so I do think it would generate interest for each.

I think there is room for both games. People like to argue that there isn't, but the difference between PS1 and PS2 is like night and day. One is more inclusive, less hardcore, appeals to wider casuals who game for an hour or two, then log off. PS1 is a more hardcore game, has nothing in common with the tactics of PS2, is a bit more on the strategic end, and, ultimately, requires far fewer players than PS2, especially since there is only Gemini.

I'd play both too, provided PS1 a little bit more, but that would be more incentive for me to spend in PS2 since I wouldn't be putting as much time into it.

3) Even if you think the game is done, there are hundreds right now who don't think it is, and who don't want it to be either. There is still a community of PS1 players to support, and one of their last refuges is this website.

From a business perspective I don't think anyone expects you to market PS1 like its better than PS2 or something, just not ignore it, if you catch my drift.

I doubt anyone really thinks you should be posting PS1 news updates and what not, but this is a different deal, 10 year anniversary, six months free (maybe, I'm hearing rumors that not all accounts actually got flagged, but idk), yatta yatta.

Anyways, even if bring players back to PS1 won't generate interest in PS2, it will still mean more revenue for SOE if they do decide to make it F2P with some sort of payment options. Something is better than nothing, and since they already said that the server costs next to nothing, it would be, for the most part, spare change in the pocket.

What this whole issue really comes down to is whether or not the folks here and at SOE think that a couple thousand people who really want PlanetSide 1 to retain an active player-base for its last server are worth the effort.

If we aren't worth the effort, then I would rather just hear the news from SOE themselves instead of having a carrot in front of us all this time with promises of F2P.

We aren't fighting tooth and nail for PlanetSide 1 because we want PS2 to lose all its players and get shut down.

*Note: I think people also tend to read my posts quickly and have this sort of "pissed off guy" voice in their head. I really hope that isn't the tone that's coming across in my words. Its hard to decide what mood someone is in on an internet forum based off of text alone sometimes.

So if I've offended you Hamma I apologize. I'm just a proponent of keeping PlanetSide 1 around, nothing more, nothing less.

My ideal vision for the game is simple: I hope that the game remains at a stable population hovering at about 200 people per empire online during weekday prime times with around 300 on the weekends. That's a poplock and a half per empire, which provides ample room for great 2-way fights and good enough room for all sorts of outfits to do their thing, and it provides an experience quite different from PS2 and anything else out there.

[Logit]

I'm out of town visiting family for a week or so. Ill talk to some folks and see if SOE is doing some kind of notification and put something together for psu as well. Ill try to get to it while I'm away.

Also some brought up some good points. I don't want to spend a ton of time on PS1 myself because I feel it's a game that's done. Those who don't like ps2 won't start playing it due to PS1 :P

Thank you hamma.

I think if nothing else. With enough community intervention, at least in the next 6 months. The word could be spread on a completely free event for everyone to come back. It's a like a HS reunion. No one really WANTS to go..they just do and end up hacking some bases and takin some land.

Appreciate any help we can get!

[capiqu]

I hope you do and thank you Hamma.
There are a lot of old players that have not kept in touch with Planetside. I think of the 200 most active players of HMX-1 just about 10 have played PS2. Planetside being 10 years old it's quite possible that a good one third of ex PS players are in their late twenties to late thirties and most of these probably aren't into gaming anymore.
Hopefully a mass email may bring some back. Sure know of a lot of good people I would like to see back.

[Furber]

Hamma that would be very generous of you, you would have my gratitude. Planetside 1's Vet population is still pretty low, a lot of old players (I would say the vast majority) are still unaware of any of this free stuff. The new players (mostly PS2 players come to try out PS1) have been needing guidance, the lack of Vets and generally organized players is hurting the game, particularly the TR.

[OpolE]

I definitely think there's enough people out there who would gladly become honourable players in PS1 again. To make a regualar fight!

[AdvancedDarknes]

I'm all for it too. My bro in law and a buddy of his who've played longer than i have had no idea. Only because they gave up on PS2 and i just happened to log in to see what was new and saw the happy anniversary PS1 link.

I only just barely decided to click it.
Right now i'm trying to find the emails of all my outfit members so i can spam them personally.

[Crator]

Also, it seems like not many PS2 players know they actually have free time. That's because the forum post on official forums says that only PS1 accounts got free time as well as there being no e-mail telling people they have it too. Not everyone reads forums...

The latest lattice additions to PS2 are very good as well so many might be having fun just playing PS2 to take the time to go check out PS1 also....

[ChipMHazard]

Still a bit fuzzy on who got the 6 months. PS2 members and those who had/have a PS1 subscription, correct?

[ringring]

Still a bit fuzzy on who got the 6 months. PS2 members and those who had/have a PS1 subscription, correct?

Yes, but I doubt that Pro7 people did, unless they had a separate station account and a previous PS1 sub, but if they did why go to Pro7 for ps2.

[ringring]

oops dubble poast

[Baneblade]

Still a bit fuzzy on who got the 6 months. PS2 members and those who had/have a PS1 subscription, correct?

It is my understanding that everyone who ever played PS1 or PS2 got the 6 months.

[lazer1982]

Yea it is