Expectation vs. Reality

prologue: I apologise in advance if this is seen as a somewhat negative post. its not meant to be.

OK, every time we hear about an upcoming issue/expansion the Co€ community drops the speculation into overdrive. every time we come up with "hell yeah" and "this is going to be sooooo cool" followed by wild fligths of fancy about what it could possibly include and how its going to be the greatest thing since sliced onions...

And then we have release day... and a lot of people seem to be very let down... so, I'd like to conduct a little experiment:

given what you know and suspect about the upcoming releases , rate it out of 100.

once a release has been made, I'll ask people to rate it again.

no particular reason for this. I'm just curious to see how much effect speculation and anticipation have on the overall mood of the community:

for me:

I15 : havent played on test but I'm liking what I hear about the MA change. My pre-release rating would be about 55/100 (not much content but improvements to existing items, new TFs)

GR: really liking the look and sound of this. no idea how its going to tie in with what we have already but definitely excited: 85/100

I16: power customisation! Not sure if we'll also get to select sound effects for our powers or just how customisable it will be, or if there will be anythign else included. Would be a shame if there is no more content update to bring the story closer to the coming storm: 65/100

as I said, no real point to this, just curiosity.

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I15: 30/100 Apart from the TFs theres nothing else to forward to in this for me.

GR: 90/100 Switch sides, new zones, new story, new sets?

I16: 60/100 Power customisaation yay for shocking pink Imps! If it offers full MM pet customisation then i'll get excited.

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@MrMac & @MrMac2

http://faces.cohtitan.com/profile/MrMac/

I15 : 15/100. The +15 is for the TFs. The -75 is for removing all the badges, new faces that aren't much different to what we have, and so little content i could download it faster than fat people can eat MacDonalds

I16: 70/100.

GR: 65/100

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It's now Issue 21 and I am back!
My new Global is @Zyhar
Currently enjoying the Exalted Server!

i15: 35/100 = new taskforce which is good for people that get to do them but as a non taskforcer i'll probs play this once or twice max. MA and other tweaks are the only things imo keeping it at an almost respectable score.

i16: 80/100 = While it might just wear off quickly the initial excitement and new characters that'll be made from the ability just to recolour powers is good enough to give this a high enough score. If only a few select powers are re-colourable then the score will shoot down, however if they throw in something different/unexpected then the score will go up. Hopefully more will be in issue 16 to keep majority of people happy.

GR: 99/100 = why such a high score? Because we have been asking for a box on the shelves for ages now and this seems like it has the potential to wipe the floor of all the competition if its done correctly. The trailer was awesome [their best one yet], already confirmed new powers [often requested], new zones, morality and so much more. It'll be hard for this NOT to be a success. I for one am very excited about this expansion. Will defo buy it on day release. Only question is do i want to buy the boxed version to so i got an updated cd?

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@Damz Find me on the global channel Union Chat. One of the best "chat channels" ingame!

I15: 60/100 Most of this mark comes from the changes to dominator's with a small fraction from the new costume pieces. The TFs however hold very little interest for me.

I16: 80/100 Just being able to change the colour of a power set is huge for me and opens up loads more character concepts that I've not explored yet purely because of the colour of powers If it turns out to be more than just change on a set wide basis then all the better.

GR: 90/100 so far i Know GR has new power sets and new content and I'm Guessing its gona have at least a few more costume options these are all things that make me a happy so i have high Expectations for GR

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I15: 40/100 - I like new costumes, emotes and faces, TF's I don't know...I'll have to find friends to play them I guess.

I16: 85/100 - Changing colours, and maybe more, but changing colours is already a big deal for me.

GR: 90/100 - Mostly because of the rumoured Dual Pistol set which I really want and hopefully Hero Masterminds. As said before, MM are one of my favourite AT's in the game but I just hate it that they are a villain one.

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The M.A.D. Files - Me talking about games, films, games, life, games, internet and games

I'm not good at giving advice, can I interest you in a sarcastic comment?

@Lyrik

I15, probably 75/100. Dominator changes might actually make me finally roll a dominator and get it higher than level 7. Also I'm looking forward to trying out the new TFs. Havent been to test server to try anything out yet so score will probably drop if the TFs are a letdown.

I16, 70/100. Power recolouring really adds life into repeating sets IMO. Usually I avoid playing the same powerset twice, but might change my opinion with this. Although if power recolouring is the only thing coming with this I can't expect to be immersed in it for too long.

GR, no idea of score yet. It really depends on the penalties of sideswitching. If the penalties are very harsh I won't probably try it with any of my existing characters. We'll see.

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- @DSorrow - alts on Union and Freedom mostly -
Currently playing as Castigation on Freedom

My Katana/Inv Guide

Anyone who doesn't take truth seriously in small matters cannot be trusted in large ones either. -Einstein

Issue 15, I think 50/100, it's nice having new content, although it's a bit meh. Surely I will fed up soon with the new tf and sf as I'll play them with all my 50s. Dominator changes seem interesting, as I'm actually playing a mind/energy one.

Issue 16, 40/100. Quite "meh", in case colour proliferated is the only main thing on it (hope not!).

GR, 99/100. New maps, missions, task forces or whatever they can be called, archetypes... WooT!

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Proud Coleader of: Fuerza Letal (H), Liga de las Sombras (V), Legion del Fenix (H), Infernal Justice (H), and a happy member of GammaForce (H) and D.O.A. (V).

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Issue 15 = 50/100 We were told in advance this wasnt going to be a big, weighty issue. It does contain some very nice fixes for MA, we can finally have line breaks in character IDs again, and, hey, it has the 5th in it. 5th beat Council every single day

Issue 16 = 70+/100 Simply having power customisation of a sort is good. We don't know much else about it, other than it could be the next 'Big One'. So, somewhat reserved judgement, but it looks good so far.

GR = 90/100 at least. New box set, whole new lease of life to the game. Dual, freaking, pistols! Demons could be pretty nice too (nasty, for the villainous) and, well...roll it on ^^

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I15: 50/100? I believe the level range on the new TFs is 45-50 and that's too narrow IMO, if it was 35-50 it would have appealed to me more. My score goes down each day when it becomes obvious I15 isn't being released to live and it seems to drag on and on, justified or not. I'd be more generous, otherwise.

GR/I16: 90/100 but IMO fiction-ware until much closer to the dates when they might be released. Things about both I like, in principle. I'd rather stop paying until they appear, then return and pay afterward without the long drawn out processes of testing cycles without firm dates for release.

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@Aubrey

i15 = 40/100
While the minor change to doms is nice, it overall imo isn't a massive thing to ride-home about, especially as it wasn't even on the list of features until very recently. This so called 'big issue' (which imo has as much value as the homeless rag with the same name) has... lets see: a pair of TFs that don't really have much to do with anything, a few random (and ugly) costume pieces, and some changes to the MA that really should've been in from the start.

Given the magic pack had better costume pieces and still no real content of any substance that I won't totally run out of in an evening, i15 ftl. Dom changes are ace but imo aren't that majorly needed and still doesn't give me anything new to do.

i16 = 50/100
Well given that we've had power customisation announced theres not much to go on atm. I would like to think that i16 will be the big content heavy and story filled issue that we haven't had since the RWZ. Lets pray 'the coming storm' isn't just references to some badly coloured corrs and fenders!

Score low atm due to lack of info and frankly no faith we'll get anything good. My money is on it being an all flash with no substance issue. (Prove me wrong NC!!)

GR = 60/100
Currently I love the idea, and am eager for new powers/concepts/content. But, as it stands this will be the only content heavy release thats been done since approx i9 or so when RWZ was added and given I've had 5 or 6 issues of nothing much to do (bar the VEAT arcs and an evenings worth of Cim content) I'm a little skeptical.

Also, why should we pay for content that we haven't had for over a year! Its like the free costumes compared with the booster packs. They make far better ones in the paid add-ons than the free ones in issues (i15 and the magic pack are prime proof enough) and it feels like a bit of a slap across the face that I now have to pay for an add-on that has all this lovely content that is '100% optional' naturally. But, still if you actually want to experience anything vaguely new you still have to pay - hmmm. Thats a worry for me as I like most are running out of things to do now ingame. I pray this is as amazing as everyones hyping it to be as if it isn't I fear 'the bell may toll'....

This rant isn't me going nuts (well much more than usual anyway) but more expressing that customers are slowly becoming dissatisfied and bored with nothing new to sink our teeth into.

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[ QUOTE ]
OK, every time we hear about an upcoming issue/expansion the Co€ community drops the speculation into overdrive. every time we come up with "hell yeah" and "this is going to be sooooo cool" followed by wild fligths of fancy about what it could possibly include and how its going to be the greatest thing since sliced onions.

[/ QUOTE ]

Eh? Generally the usual forum suspects immediately proclaim how it has less content than a Jeffrey Archer novel, how the game will surely collapse as everyone goes to play Champions Online, and how they are definitely leaving forever just like they did after every issue since ED.

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I15 15% (seems fitting and I was thinking 10-20/100) Nothing much there to comment on

I16 30% Customisation would be nice, until I hear more though I don't think its a packed issue. I will not assume we will get more just because at the moment it looks thin, because at present it looks more inspiring than I13+I14+I15 to me. And yes thats with the two TFs and some faces making up 15%

GR 90% This is what its all about, new content, trying other content on existing toons, a reason to make new toons. Unless its seriously mucked up GR should be the big boost the game needs

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"Well, they found my diary today.
They were appropriately appalled
at the discovery of the eight victims
They're now putting it all together.
Women wrapped in silk
with one leg missing
Eight legs, one body, silk,
spider, brilliant!"

I'm happy with all of them

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@Golden Girl

City of Heroes comics and artwork

I15: TF's, new costume pieces and new faces are always welcome. I also LOVE the new sound effects you hear when you're walking on different materials, eg: wood and metal. 75%

It's slightly lacking compared to the usual amount we receive in a issue, but that's probably down to the dev's working hard on GR and i16.

I16: So far, we've only been informed about the power customisation feature. I can't give this an ideal rating, but being able to change the colours on my /Regen and my Fire/ Troller will be interesting. 50%

GR: I personally won't use this for transferring my toons over to the other faction, but it is about time a new zone or/zones appeared! 55%

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I16 is about 0/100 atm, absolutely nothing in is impresses me so far besides the new sound effects, which makes it 1/100

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[ QUOTE ]
I16 is about 0/100 atm, absolutely nothing in is impresses me so far besides the new sound effects, which makes it 1/100

[/ QUOTE ]

I didn't know I16 was having new sound effects as well?

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@Golden Girl

City of Heroes comics and artwork

i15 30/100: The few PvP changes are nice.... Everything else is a waste to me.


GR 5/100: I've done all the content on both sides... Why would i want to take a blaster over to villains? Pointless.


i16 3/100: Who cares what colour their attacks are? I don't... As long as they hurt the target they can be see through for all i care.

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CoH PvP SG = SuperUnion - Co-Leader - Union/Freedom
CoV PvP VG = Disruption - Co-Leader - Union/Freedom
Global = @Rent & @Rent.

Playgroup are all **** - Global Handle

If you only concentrate on one aspect of the game, it'll leave every Issue looking less interesting to you

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@Golden Girl

City of Heroes comics and artwork

[ QUOTE ]
If you only concentrate on one aspect of the game, it'll leave every Issue looking less interesting to you

[/ QUOTE ]

I left out "and how PVP has been totally ruined and will never be any good ever again", didn't I?

I do wonder why they bother. I don't like broccoli, but you don't find me posting to the forum every day about how I ate some more broccoli and hated it and very soon now I will never eat broccoli again.

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[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
If you only concentrate on one aspect of the game, it'll leave every Issue looking less interesting to you

[/ QUOTE ]

I left out "and how PVP has been totally ruined and will never be any good ever again", didn't I?

I do wonder why they bother. I don't like broccoli, but you don't find me posting to the forum every day about how I ate some more broccoli and hated it and very soon now I will never eat broccoli again.

[/ QUOTE ]

-Dons WW2 G.I helmet and lights a sillily large cigar-
Get to da choppa! The can of worms is open, I repeat, the can of worms is open!

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[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
If you only concentrate on one aspect of the game, it'll leave every Issue looking less interesting to you

[/ QUOTE ]

I left out "and how PVP has been totally ruined and will never be any good ever again", didn't I?

I do wonder why they bother. I don't like broccoli, but you don't find me posting to the forum every day about how I ate some more broccoli and hated it and very soon now I will never eat broccoli again.

[/ QUOTE ]

But what if the broccoli had tasted like ice cream before?

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@Golden Girl

City of Heroes comics and artwork

[ QUOTE ]
If you only concentrate on one aspect of the game, it'll leave every Issue looking less interesting to you

[/ QUOTE ]

How ironic is this when coming from the person who refuses to try out villains or create and play with more than an MA/Regen Scrapper...

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Rabbits & Hares:Blue (Mind/Emp Controller)Maroon (Rad/Thermal Corruptor)and one of each AT all at 50
MA Arcs: Apples of Contention - 3184; Zen & Relaxation - 35392; Tears of Leviathan - 121733 | All posts are rated "R" for "R-r-rrrrr, baby!"|Now, and this is very important... do you want a hug? COH Faces @Blue Rabbit

i15 0/100: Haven’t looked at it on test, but I’ve only played one MA mission a friend did and while it was great fun we are all still playing through villains for the first time so no urge to mess with our own stuff yet. TFs etc. I don’t get chance to play because most of them seem to be longer than the couple of two hour time slots I play for each week. Not sure what else there is in there to mess with.


GR 50/100: The new zone(s) and content might be good fun, but I’ve still got about six months worth of play in Villains and then there’s Cimerora to do and the high level stuff in Heroes I’ve so far missed out.


i16 0/100: Power colouring sounds good and I know friends who are interested in it, but I made the majority of my characters five years ago, they all have one costume which I’m happy with and so far I’ve only got two of them to level fifty. Visits to the tailors have only ever happened to give each of them a Santa look and I’m happy with everything else on them (on only two have I actually started to add IOs). What time I do make available to get online is still being spent playing rather than tweaking, but I’d like to think one day I’ll make use of it.

As the above comments make clear I’m unlike most people on the forums because rather than being a hardcore player I’m very casual. The anticipation levels for me on any issue are always minimal because it takes me months or years to get around to using the content (it was four issues later before I even looked at the invention system). None of this is to say I don’t think the issues will be great as when I’ve finally played most of them I’ve found them really good fun.

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[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
If you only concentrate on one aspect of the game, it'll leave every Issue looking less interesting to you

[/ QUOTE ]

How ironic is this when coming from the person who refuses to try out villains or create and play with more than an MA/Regen Scrapper...

[/ QUOTE ]

But I still cover a wide range of stuff in game
I badge hunt, I PvE, I PvP, I craft, I do TFs and raids, and I use the MA - I have one avatar, but I use all the systems

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@Golden Girl

City of Heroes comics and artwork