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Scorpious2k · #1 11-08-2005, 06:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sakrateri

How do you sell an existing player base to different people? are all of those players going to guarantee to be on each server bought? sorry just curious how that works.

There is no guarantee.

The idea is that if someone has put time into creating and leveling a character (or several) it would be more appealing to go back to that character and continue on a familiar server than to start another one at level one on a strange server. It was our expirience to have players come back and do this with characters they had made a year or even two years before.

In my opinion this is an advantage over starting from scratch with a server and hoping someone discovers it and plays on it.

Killawen · #2 11-08-2005, 07:33 AM

So selling it for 200 dollars helps all that? Lol.

Scorpious2k · #3 11-09-2005, 12:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Killawen

So selling it for 200 dollars helps all that? Lol.

No, we were going to give it away for free ay first, Then we thought about dozens of poor quality clones running and decided we needed a better idea. By charging for it we can control the number of copies that get out there and ensure that the people running it are serious about it and willing to not only invest a little money in it, but also some time.

Our dream was that each would take the S2K server as a BASE and change it according to their own vision. Making alternatives to the current single option of the PEQ/EQ Live versions that are out there now. Changing the original S2K and making 5-6 different servers with their own ideas and style.

With only one database currently available for EQEmu, most servers look the same. The amount of effort to change it and make something unique and different is overwhelming. Starting with a DB that has over 200 zones, including 10 custom ones that aren't on live, gives them a big start. Custom quests is another boost since anyone who has worked with quests knows the amount of work that is required to write and test these.

Give the players something unique, fun, and stable and they will come. I think S2K, WR, and Guildwars have proven this. How many of the other servers out there have approached or passed the 100+ players online mark?

The S2K server represents about 30 months of development, with custom code, zones, quests, items, and more. It contains creative ideas of players as well as our staff, Myra, Dindoleki, and myself. Any server op can do the same if he is willing to put in the time. When he does, assuming it takes the same time that it took us, he will be at this level by the year 2008. For a very few, we have offered the chance to skip this and jump in with a head start. A two and a half year lead over the competition with a proven server and the chance to make it something of their own; something better.

image · #4 11-09-2005, 03:22 AM

GuildWars is now on sale for... 2 billion dollars!!!

Scorpious2k · #5 11-09-2005, 09:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by image

GuildWars is now on sale for... 2 billion dollars!!!

Maybe if you throw in Devn00b....

Cisyouc · #6 11-09-2005, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scorpious2k

Maybe if you throw in Devn00b....

Yeah, I know. Take out devn00b and its 3 billion. >.>

image · #7 11-09-2005, 12:30 PM

Hahahah... wait, that wasn't funny.

cronikus · #8 11-09-2005, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cisyouc

Yeah, I know. Take out devn00b and its 3 billion. >.>

I think you need to go back to 3rd grade buddy...they have a class they teach there...called Reading Comprehension.

Try again!

RangerDown · #9 11-09-2005, 01:44 PM

Quote:

No, we were going to give it away for free ay first, Then we thought about dozens of poor quality clones running and decided we needed a better idea. By charging for it we can control the number of copies that get out there and ensure that the people running it are serious about it and willing to not only invest a little money in it, but also some time.

A couple of points. The first being that you can't really "control" the number of copies. I'd wager we'll be seeing the S2K server code out in public places pretty soon, possibly by the end of the year.

That said, even those who paid for it are sitting on garbage unless they're willing to put their hands where their money is. With that strong statement, I am *NOT* trying to put down S2K's work in any way!!! What I'm saying is that what made S2K as successful as it is was not just the development work, but the constant attention and time investment to the server by a motivated group of GM's and designers. Buyers, take heed: the $200 you just invested is JUST THE BEGINNING of your investment.

Unfortunately, we've had many people come along here in the past with a decent amount of disposable income, setting up a dedicated server (sometimes a much more powerful one than what would be needed to run this), only to have the server never take off because they expected to just turn it on, do nothing else with it, and see the playerbase grow. I'm going to bet that most of S2K's buyers fall under this category, so really all selling it accomplished was keeping it out of the hands of those who DID have time just not money. That's not to say he was wrong in charging for it, since you can't exactly charge "time". O well...

Scorpious2k · #10 11-13-2005, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RangerDown

What I'm saying is that what made S2K as successful as it is was not just the development work, but the constant attention and time investment to the server by a motivated group of GM's and designers. Buyers, take heed: the $200 you just invested is JUST THE BEGINNING of your investment.

I can't argue the point. But I will add that the rewards from the investment of time and effort, as well as the chance to see your creative ideas become reality, are incredible. There is nothing else like it.