PCGamer CoH article


Aliana Blue

 

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Originally Posted by Kelenar View Post
Because the 8-man PUGs I've been playing on within 15 minutes of logging in every day this week are made of ghoooooooooosts. WooooOOOOooooOOOO.
I know how you feel.

Four Tasksforce this week (Mon-Thursday), all 8 man teams, all PuGers...this game is dead. Virtue must be dying!


BrandX Future Staff Fighter
The BrandX Collection

 

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If you're playing Stateside and the person you're rebutting is speaking about spending British Pounds and listing European servers, it's likely that his frame of reference is different from yours.


 

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The game dosen't even start till 20.


 

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Originally Posted by Memphis_Bill View Post
Unsurprisingly, you ignore what you've been told. If I could red-rep you again, I would.

I've been hopping between Aion and here for the last week. For someone coming from another MMO, yes, COH *Looks* more sparsely populated. Why?

Because everyone's running around outside in other games. You're competing for kills with them for that "Get X Enemy-item" and "Defeat X Bad Guy," while another's going for the "Take the soup to Jim" mission.

COH? People are *inside* instanced missions. Yes, there's some travel. No, you don't have to compete to "Defeat 10 Hellions" - because there's around 300 in a 1000 yard radius, if not more. You see me going to a contact, then a door - *and my team vanishes from the map as we all go inside.*

Gee, why does someone who doesnt' spend half a second to think about it think "the servers are empty?"

As has been pointed out, AGAIN, even those of us on "small" servers have no problems getting teams with a *bare minimum* of effort (IE, not just standing there going "vlv 10 nincompoop lft!" in local or broadcast.) Oh, and not every team has to be 8-person, one-of-each-AT minimum, etc.

You also, AGAIN, ignore all the problems with a server merge - including a *very* solid impression that the game's about to die that such a thing sends.

Go learn something before spouting off instead of ignoring what's been told to you.
Repping guys poorly while your own is off eh? Nice. Give the guy a break. Servers have needed a merge for quite some time now. Only server transfers have lessened the amount of post regarding a merge.

Point it out all you want AGAIN, server populations have gone down. It doesn't take a jeenyus to see that, and only the very obtuse or naive would think levels are the same over the long haul. Sure the game is instanced based- it always has been- but crowds under Atlas have always been there, but smaller now. Crowds in the average WW were always there, but smaller now. Chatter in broadcast used to be very annoying, and constant, and it still is, but....it's smaller now. Is the game dying? Of course it is, it's what, 5 years old now? Is it dead? Not until NC says so, and obviously they sit fit to release another expansion.

It's great that some old timers have a tight circle that they can count on for good times. That doesn't help the new guy. Neither do posts like this. Some people have been here so long the sense of entitlement is overwhelming, and apparently the entitlement covers opinions over others' as well.


 

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Originally Posted by BrandX View Post
I know how you feel.

Four Tasksforce this week (Mon-Thursday), all 8 man teams, all PuGers...this game is dead. Virtue must be dying!
Right. There are at least 8 people on your server, case closed.


 

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Once again, it seems to be another uninformed article about CoH.

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Originally Posted by Evangel View Post
...it says that the game is great but after level 20 there's nothing to keep the interest going...
I guess it was a good thing that the DEVs increased the leveling speed through level 25! hah!

Some players think that the game doesn't even start until you get Stamina. Of course, there are others that think that the game doesn't start until you are level 50.
I seem to have fun and find plenty to do at any level.

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It says the micro-transactions are good but the jet pack is a dissapointing rip off
As far as I'm concerned that's the 30-day jet pack is the only micro-transaction that CoH offers. It is a micro-transaction - purchasing a single power that works for a limited time.

The superboosters, character slots, and MA slots do not add any significant power changes to the game and the game can be played perfectly well with out them. They also are continual and on-going once you purchase them.

I might have to buy a copy of the magazine and then write them a letter directly. This kind of mis-characterization of the game seems to happen with nearly every article.

As to the current population level, yes - it is down. But did the reviewer know which servers were the most populated or least populated? Did they even list what server they were on?


 

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Originally Posted by Qurios View Post
Repping guys poorly while your own is off eh? Nice. Give the guy a break. Servers have needed a merge for quite some time now. Only server transfers have lessened the amount of post regarding a merge.

Point it out all you want AGAIN, server populations have gone down. It doesn't take a jeenyus to see that, and only the very obtuse or naive would think levels are the same over the long haul. Sure the game is instanced based- it always has been- but crowds under Atlas have always been there, but smaller now. Crowds in the average WW were always there, but smaller now. Chatter in broadcast used to be very annoying, and constant, and it still is, but....it's smaller now. Is the game dying? Of course it is, it's what, 5 years old now? Is it dead? Not until NC says so, and obviously they sit fit to release another expansion.

It's great that some old timers have a tight circle that they can count on for good times. That doesn't help the new guy. Neither do posts like this. Some people have been here so long the sense of entitlement is overwhelming, and apparently the entitlement covers opinions over others' as well.

I'm not sure about the entitlement comments, but I tend to think that diminishing numbers are more a product of marketing than anything else. I opened up this week's comics to see a full page ad for Champions.


I've been here since '04, and I'm still having a blast. But I think that a few ads here and there would do wonders to bolster both the population and the game's appeal. I've long dreamed of a tv ad during Heroes...heck any sci-fi series.

This game has a committed, creative fan-base...outstanding dev's who interact often with us...and a constantly updated mythology. I think the game's age is an advantage in that sense. Now, if marketing could be amped up...well...I can't think of any reason it couldn't last at least another five. Certainly an upgrade to the game-engine would be a massive bonus, but really there is so much room for growth. Why not toss some bucks towards ads in comics, maybe television, and certainly a broad-spectrum blast to gaming mags when GR gets closer?


-------------
@Portland Underground

 

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Originally Posted by Qurios View Post
....server populations have gone down.....crowds under Atlas have always been there, but smaller now. Crowds in the average WW were always there, but smaller now. Chatter in broadcast used to be very annoying, and constant, and it still is, but....it's smaller now....
Server populations do seem to be down to me, but the crowds under Atlas, the broadcast chat there, or crowds in the Atlas Wentworths are not good indicators.

We know that there was a massive increase in the population in Atlas due to the exploitable AE. Now that the AE has been somewhat fixed and SSK'ing is in effect, the crowds that were once all huddled in Atlas have once again spread out across the zones.

I, for one, am very glad to see this revision back to the way things were pre-AE. I am not an AE hater. I did, however, become very anti-farmer/pl'er due to the rampant AE exploitation. The AE is a great tool for what it was intended to be, but probably 90%+ players weren't using it as intended.

It is going to take some time before the damage that the months of the AE the way it was caused to the new and existing subscriber base begin to be repaired.
Of course, to get new players, they have to be exposed to the game. When CoH:GR comes out, at least there will be a new box on the shelves again. I think that will be better exposure for the game than MA was.

I'd really like to see some advertising go on at least once a year and seeing the free-trail listed in every ad is an essential.

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t's great that some old timers have a tight circle that they can count on for good times. That doesn't help the new guy.
I'm an old timer.
I don't have a tight circle of friends that won't play with anyone else. My sg/vgs tend to be just myself and a couple of RL friends - but that doesn't mean that we won't team with other players.
I run a lot of PuGs and join PuGs. I also play a wide range of characters in regards to AT, level, side, and server. With the SSK system, I'll pretty much invite anyone that is at my level or below to a team (well, honestly, I tend not to invite tankers or scrappers when I run a team - I get enough of that dynamic when I'm invited to a team).
The SSK'ing system makes it a lot easier to recruit and lead teams.
It seems much easier to get a team going quickly now.


 

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PCGamer ceased being relevant a long, long time ago.

IGN or Gamespot does everything they do better, and you don't have to pay to take them home.


Dawnslayer on Virtue.

 

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Originally Posted by Westley View Post
PC Gamer still exists?

I'm shocked.
In the UK it's the best selling game's mag.

I really really enjoy PCGamer, it was a shame to see such a negative article of CoH...


 

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Originally Posted by Techbot Alpha View Post
Seriousness: Paragon Studios need to invest in advertising
Have seen: Most other MMOs: In somr form of advert
Net based: Or otherwise
CoX: Lacks ANY advertisement
Unless: Radical difference in the US?
Pretty much the same here in the US, Techbot Alpha.
I've been pointing that same thing out for quite a while now.

This is one reason that I think that some COH presence should hit Cons on the East Coast of the US and over in Europe. Even if DEVs don't show, a both with some REPs could go a long way to help the population in this game.

I also don't understand how hard it is to send out a small mail packet of CoH free-trial fliers or cards to Comic book/specialty stories. I'm not talking about all the time or dozens to one location, but even 10 or 25 cards to a bunch of comic book stores as giveaways could go a long way.
I don't know about the rest of the people that play CoH, but I have had a standing comic book subscription with a local comic book store for years. I have my own "box" where they put my comics until I come to pick them up. I know at least 5-8 other stores that use this same procedure.
Sticking a free-trail flier or card with game specs and the web address in each box could go a long way in getting new subscribers or at least getting new players to check out the game.

Right now while Champions Online is "new" and through to when DCU Online release is a critical marketing period.

Something really needs to happen soon.


 

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and the jetpack is a rip off of?

(on a side note, lol @ alpha still talking like a rikti)


 

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Originally Posted by Schismatrix View Post
i've heard rumors that during the i16 release Freedom received a hardware upgrade, but i haven't found any official statements that confirm it. The last couple of weeks Freedom has shown a lower load than Virtue, which seems a bit odd since in the past it's almost always been a fair bit higher.
During the whole AE exploit period, there were players that were moving their characters off Freedom and/or starting new characters on other servers due to the rampant farming and pl'ing on Freedom.
Of course, how that the rampant farming/pl'ing or gone - they players that only wanted to do that are gone as well.

Since Virtue has always been the RPG community, it probably held that community through the whole AE debacle so I wouldn't be surprised if the population really is higher than on Freedom now, but I cant' say that I've gone back to Freedom or Virtue since i16 dropped. (was talked into joining a team on Freedom, but the server was so glitchy that my character kept getting tp'd under a mountain in Talos.)


 

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Originally Posted by Zikar View Post
In the UK it's the best selling game's mag.

I really really enjoy PCGamer, it was a shame to see such a negative article of CoH...
I used to read it every month. I found the UK version to be better all around but I agreed more with the US versions ratings.


Sure today is the first day of the rest of your life. But so was yesterday. And look how that turned out.


 

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Originally Posted by Qurios View Post
Repping guys poorly while your own is off eh? Nice. Give the guy a break. Servers have needed a merge for quite some time now. Only server transfers have lessened the amount of post regarding a merge.

Point it out all you want AGAIN, server populations have gone down. It doesn't take a jeenyus to see that, and only the very obtuse or naive would think levels are the same over the long haul. Sure the game is instanced based- it always has been- but crowds under Atlas have always been there, but smaller now. Crowds in the average WW were always there, but smaller now. Chatter in broadcast used to be very annoying, and constant, and it still is, but....it's smaller now. Is the game dying? Of course it is, it's what, 5 years old now? Is it dead? Not until NC says so, and obviously they sit fit to release another expansion.

It's great that some old timers have a tight circle that they can count on for good times. That doesn't help the new guy. Neither do posts like this. Some people have been here so long the sense of entitlement is overwhelming, and apparently the entitlement covers opinions over others' as well.
Problem: Realised
Severe case: Cranial Rectal Reversal Syndrome
Observations: Lack any evidence
Real Evidence: To the contrary
New Players: Coming in all the time
Recent Teams and PuGs: Have contained many
Expansion: Can only help

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Some people have been here so long the sense of entitlement is overwhelming, and apparently the entitlement covers opinions over others' as well.
Hyprocrisy Levels: High


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Originally Posted by Zwillinger View Post
GG, I would tell you that "I am killing you with my mind", but I couldn't find an emoticon to properly express my sentiment.
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Originally Posted by Captain_Photon View Post
NOTE: The Incarnate System is basically farming for IOs on a larger scale, and with more obtrusive lore.

 

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Originally Posted by beyeajus74018 View Post
and the jetpack is a rip off of?

(on a side note, lol @ alpha still talking like a rikti)
Providing Amusement: All part and parcel
Results: Lots of smiles so far =P


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Originally Posted by Zwillinger View Post
GG, I would tell you that "I am killing you with my mind", but I couldn't find an emoticon to properly express my sentiment.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Captain_Photon View Post
NOTE: The Incarnate System is basically farming for IOs on a larger scale, and with more obtrusive lore.

 

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Originally Posted by beyeajus74018 View Post
and the jetpack is a rip off of?

(on a side note, lol @ alpha still talking like a rikti)
I dont think the article meant that it is a rip off of another idea. Not sure if th esame expression is used in the states but rip off in the UK and ireland (apart from a form of tracksuit (sweatsuit) bottom held together with fasteners so you can take them off without having to fiddle with shoes) means a con or a waste of money, overcharging for a good or service.


 

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Wait now I wanna read this article - Imma need to buy the mag or is it up online somewhere pls?


 

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Originally Posted by Evangel View Post
nope, what you've quoted wouldnt be awesome if triggered by a mission. thats an invasion triggered by completing a task force.
You asked for a "zone event triggered by a mission". I linked you to a mission ("Stop the Rikti") which triggers a zone event (Rikti World Invasion, specifically classified as a "zone event" in this game).

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Originally Posted by Evangel View Post
Point is, your mission triggers an open world event, not an instanced mission that others can join in on if they want or ignore and continue about their business. I love the invasions but I can see why players would feel forced into participation or resent the interruption to their playing time.
You asked for a zone event. I showed you a zone event. If you want instanced missions that anyone can join (which... um... kinda defeats the purpose of being instanced... That's kinda like having multiple copies of a Singleton class...) you should say what you mean.


http://www.fimfiction.net/story/36641/My-Little-Exalt

 

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Originally Posted by Qurios View Post
Repping guys poorly while your own is off eh? Nice. Give the guy a break. Servers have needed a merge for quite some time now.
If he irritates me enough to downrep him in a system I don't like to begin with, no, he doesnt' deserve a break. He hasn't bothered to try to see why it is not only unneeded, but a bad idea.

And no, the servers do not, and have not, needed a merge, ever. The reasons have been pointed out multiple times. If you care to learn anything and actually *think* about it. And if you don't want to actually think, the reasons have been spelled out numerous times.
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Point it out all you want AGAIN, server populations have gone down
... while we're told subscriptions have gone up. Care to point out how that works, "jeenyus?"

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It's great that some old timers have a tight circle that they can count on for good times. That doesn't help the new guy. Neither do posts like this. Some people have been here so long the sense of entitlement is overwhelming, and apparently the entitlement covers opinions over others' as well.
Know what happens when you "assume?" Yes, I'm in SGs. No, that is not the only thing I do to group. I pick up PUGs just fine. No, it's not name recognition by a long shot. Hell, I pick up people on *trial* accounts and run them through missions if they're interested.

I know it's difficult, but try actually finding out what you're talking about before doing your "broken sewer line" impersonation.


 

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Originally Posted by Evangel View Post
Just got this months PCGamer delivered and there a full page article on city of heroes at the very back (there's also a 3 page CO review earlier on).

The article is a bit strange, it says that the game is great but after level 20 there's nothing to keep the interest going.
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Originally Posted by Aliana Blue View Post
Wait... what?

...

...

What??
That's not strange. We all find different things interesting. Millions of people think WoW is superduperawesomesauce; I didn't think it was all that great. The author didn't find CoH interesting after level 20. We can all think the game is great after 20, but it doesn't matter. We all have our own opinions and the right to them - this person just happens to work for a magazine and gets his opinions published.

Write a letter to the editor and see if you can get your opinion published, too.


~Missi

http://tinyurl.com/yhy333s

Miss Informed in 2016! She can't be worse than all those other guys!

 

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Originally Posted by Techbot Alpha View Post
Seriousness: Paragon Studios need to invest in advertising
Have seen: Most other MMOs: In somr form of advert
Net based: Or otherwise
CoX: Lacks ANY advertisement
Unless: Radical difference in the US?
NCSoft has advertised for CoH in the past, usually online.


 

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Originally Posted by MissInformed View Post
That's not strange. We all find different things interesting. Millions of people think WoW is superduperawesomesauce; I didn't think it was all that great. The author didn't find CoH interesting after level 20. We can all think the game is great after 20, but it doesn't matter. We all have our own opinions and the right to them - this person just happens to work for a magazine and gets his opinions published.
MI, there's a difference between "I didn't think it interesting" and "there's nothing to keep the interest going." Level 20 is the start of one of the level ranges where you see a lot of changes to characters. It's the opening of the final tier of power pools. Level 22 introduces Single Origin enhancements. If you look at primaries, you're starting to get deep in the powers climb, many of these powers are in fact quite definitely "signature" powers. This is not even considering the opening of a new tier of content, zones, and new villain groups, I'm talking exclusively character development.

All these are changes that clearly change the way the game is played. They may incite a sound 'meh' reaction from someone who's not all that excited about the game, but their existence is undeniable. The article did indeed deny it.

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Write a letter to the editor and see if you can get your opinion published, too.
I can't tell if you're being facetious or not. This is a review from someone that presumably got paid for it, not a letter from the readership. To use your wowesque analogy, it'd be like saying there's nothing to keep the interest going in WoW once one hits the level cap. One may not like raiding, but not saying anything about the existence of endgame raids would be sloppy and unprofessional. Pretending there's nothing new past level 20-ish in CoH is a blunder of similar proportions. It's a game changing level range.


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Originally Posted by Jophiel View Post
I realize this is treading ancient ground but a friend of mine recently started the game and spent the first 10 levels complaining about endurance (on a tank). Then I told him the path to Stamina and the next 10 levels were largely spent on getting the required powers to get (A) a travel power and (B) Stamina at 20. Which meant anywhere from 6-10 levels of not getting any sexy new attacks or nifty things (I say 6-10 because he probably did think the travel powers were cool).
Just for future reference?

The dual build feature is a really great way to have a power-packed time in the early levels and get Stamina at 20 or thereabouts anyway. I heartily endorse this product and/or service.


Up with the overworld! Up with exploration! | Want a review of your arc?

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Well to all you folks demanding server consolidations, here's food for thought:
I just checked every single US server. My main hero's name is already taken on ALL of them. That means there are 11 people counting myself with characters that all have the exact same name as my hero's. Which one of us gets to keep it? And that's only one character. Think about all the people that have alts spread across multiple servers. And SG's with duplicate names.

A server consolidation would be a nightmare of forced character/SG renaming. No thank you. Some people have characters that are several years old. Even those people would stand a chance to lose their character names, depending on the criteria used by the Devs for resolving conflicts in a server consolidation.

I've said it before and I'll say it again: in my opinion a forced server merge would do more harm than good to the community of this game.