News: New Blog via Smed talks ESports, Outfit Bases and More. (Overall Discussion)

[Malorn]

I'm normally not brief, but I'll try to cut to the chase.

The first part about what makes PlanetSide 2 different is dead-on. He nails all the important stuff about PS2. I enjoyed reading that.

The second part about the business model is very solid. Its reassuring to me that he is committed to not make the game Pay-to-Win and understands that non-paying customers are providing content for paying customers. This is just plain awesome and exactly how I think it should be. It's Not Pay to Win. It's not eye gouging the customers with ridiculous in-game-currency prices. It's paying for convenience and understanding that games without players aren't fun for paying customers. People like me will definitely pay for convenience. Hell I've already maxed out my Smedbux at 50,000. I'll probably buy more if they have enough worthwhile stuff there. Whales like me with disposable income will more than cover the free players, and those players will keep the game alive and fun for me so I spend more. Great model! This was my favorite part of the blog to read, nice job there Smed I hope you stick to those principles. And shut up and take my money!

Now for my visceral reactions to the future plans (I commented in more detail on some of these in individual threads).

1) Player Owned bases - I like! Looks promising and I like the idea of a sandbox continent where we can make our own facilities to fight over the resources.

2) Harvestable resources - Meh. As long as it's automated harvesting (think moon mining or planetary stuff from EVE). Has potential if it's automated. If it's manual I will want to gouge someone's eyes out.

3) Water between continents - seamlessly - Meh. Don't see the value.

4) Lots more vehicles and weapons - I expect this, and generally it's good. However...there will be rioting if giant robots are involved. You know what I'm talking about. Don't even think about going there.

5) NPC enemies - Fail. Not what PlanetSide is about. Players are the content, you don't need to provide it.

6) NPC armies - Fail. See above. Non-human armies are boring and not interesting.

7) Esports support - Epic fail. Wrong direction. Not what PlanetSide is about. See topical thread for more details.

8) Weather - I truly hope this is one of the first things you add into the game post-launch. Weather adds variety and strategic goodness to the game. It's a great thing to add in sooner rather than later. I really want this!

9) Mac version (soon after launch) - Erm, sure. Gamers don't buy macs but I got no problem shooting mac fanbois. It's therapeutic.



Now for the things I think he should add to the discussion.

* More continents. I'd like to see at least 6 by Launch + 1 year. 10+ by +2 years.
* Global conquest. With more land comes more satisfying conquest. PS1 was unique in that it allowed you to conquer something that stayed yours for sometimes days at a time until someone forcibly took it back. That needs to live on in PS2 as well and 3 continents with footholds doesn't even scratch the surface of your possibilities here.

Generally Smed - don't stop at massive & epic. Keep going. Feeling of accomplishment and conquest was one of the best parts of PlanetSide. Feed into that. The bigger the persistent world and the more cool environments we have to fight over the more fun the game will be. And when you have more territory you can afford to lock some of it away to further add to the persistence. 3 continents is a great start, but you need more.

Persistent world, and more importantly the conquest of that persistent world is something no other game can offer. Keep innovating there. Don't leave any room for competitors. Take it to the next level. Don't try to make PlanetSide something it's not. You have something great here. Keep going, don't get sidetracked.

Overall a good blog, some of those things, namely PvE and ESports have me concerned. Rest of it looks good/great.