City of Heroes is the World Wrestling Federation of Superhero MMOs

I almost get what you're saying, the way you're saying it... Possibly, maybe, sort of... Although I am not entirely convinced that the reasons you state for WWF/WWE's success are accurate (they may be, I'm not sure it is just that).

Regardless...
Going along with what you're saying: A huge factor for the WWF's launch into major success was the talent... the very unique and somewhat extraordinary talent that arrived in the 70s and 80s. Physical specimens and/or super charismatic talents such as Hulk Hogan, Andre The Giant, Iron Sheik, Roddy Piper, Randy Savage, John Studd, Bundy, British Bulldogs, George Steele, Brett Hart... The huge, agile, remarkable and charismatic showmanship gave them a roster of characters that you dream of...
Here's a big difference, and one greatly in CoH's favor: They control and create their superstars (game features, additions, stories, anything and everything) into anything they could desire.
They need to take those pillars and make the right moves with them and not give up with them
Easy to say. Mistakes happen.
Mission Architect should be a great pillar in this game. That's a tough situation, as things kind of got twisted and turned with the way some of the playerbase took to it. Maybe some mistakes were made in its delivery. I'm certainly not saying it isn't a great thing, but maybe it should be focused on to be made even greater. If that's the kind of thing you are saying... I hear you. I agree with it.
And I'm not saying that as though I think the Devs are failing nor the game is hurting or anything. Better is better and that's always the best way to go, hehe. Even if better means making sure you stay the same. As staying the same doesn't always happen by staying still.
When they released the Mission Architect, they had the focus of the video game world on them. And rightfully so. It drew a lot of attention, especially from potential subscribers who sought a way to create content for such a game. I'm not sure (honestly "not sure") how many of those people we caught and maintained... and how many left because it didn't match up to their expectations, or the overwhelming farming disappointed them or the lack attention towards improving the creation and story aspects of the MA by the developers and, instead, the focus of curtailing and limiting the quick advancement achievable through the system.
And where is the MA/AE focus these days?
Power Customization? Similar, on a far lesser scale, but perhaps equal or greater popularity (Power Pools, Epic Pools, EATs? Ever? Soon? Some day before Golden Girl goes grey?)?

Anyway, I'm saying this from a point of improving/maintaining a great thing, not from a point of criticizing and calling for improvements if they want to succeed, hehe.

Not sure this reply is worth it, but... what is?

I get what Commander means (I think /disclaimer)

Putting it in game terms;

Recently we've had more and more new tech become less pipe dream and more reality. Varied story arcs, contacts within missions, chained objectives, dialogue and gameplay choices...
All the good stuff since Going Rogue, basically.

However. We also have all the gimmick stuff crammed in, in the form of the Incarnate content. Every new Trial is basically built around gimmicks. Now, yes, there ARE some of them in regular content too.

BUT! And it's a big but(!), they are used in moderation. The fight with Protean has a gimmick, in the form of his uber-drain attack. A lot of enemies are getting 'Red Letter Warning' attacks. Stuff like the Apex and Tin Mage TFs, etc.
These, however, have one or two gimmicks that fit in with the story and/or characters involved. They are what you would call tailored gimmicks, gimmicks that are there for a purpose.

The Trials don't feel that way. They feel like content made solely out of gimmicks, to the point you are drowning in them.
And I know I for one find that a hell of a lot less fun.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zwillinger 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 NOTE: The Incarnate System is basically farming for IOs on a larger scale, and with more obtrusive lore.

Sorry, I lost interest and started counting how many times the word "gimmick" was used. 39.

Ok...Gimmicky? Ok...well yes there are some things. I usually see this when things such as costume boosters come into play or power sets come into play. The amount of Beam Rifle/Time Corrs were the new thing and rightly so. I mean, it's new shiny, and when you combine that with the huge number of Brains in Jars sporting Victorian Steam Punk parts I see the gimmick, or the trend.

However to be fair if content is not added, then people would be less than enthused to play the game and much like the WWF or...what ever that rant was about...which confused me, or bored me...or bored me so that I was confused...you need to keep adding layers upon layers to anything to make it interesting especially when the franchise is outdated.

When something like City of Heroes (Which I love..Love love!) is outdated, which it is, in the aspects of engine, appearence, and mechanics you need to bring new layers, gimmicks and things to boost the desire to play the game, and for the most part City does that very well. In the MMO universe you have the option to choose the gimmicks you generally want to participate in, and we have that option.

Stripping down to the your roots, works well for musicians, TV series, and franchises that lost their way. Lost their grit or what made them special. Alternatively, City of Heroes has not, in my experience, really done that.

However there does get to a point where this story does have to come to an end. The Praets, the world as it is and dimensional folding etc, are all amazing, but sort of does back CoX into a corner of having to END the Story, or push the boundries of the Incarnate Arcs, which would still have to end at some point. It was a gimmick for level 50 end content...but the issue I feel is that the End Content will lead to the End of CoX.

Just my rambling.

If you smmmeellllllllllllll what the noob . . . .. is busting!

If you want this incarnate to go on a solo path, give me a hell yeah!

Incase you've forgotten, let me tell you just who in the hell i am. I am nictus!

Teleport incoming in 1 . . . .2 . . . . it doesnt matter if i teleport you or not!

....when's the Luchador Booster Pack being released?


.....what?



S.

So game features and content releases are nothing more than gimmicks? I don't know where to start.

Needs more Mr. Socko and Pete Rose in a chicken suit.

To be honest, I wouldn't call going F2P a gimmick, I would call it keeping up with the Jones. Even that Azeroth thang is adding a form of F2P, aren't they?

That being said, some of the content is looking mighty long in the tooth, especially the 30-50 blue side arcs.