Can I rant here?

So, I read that the US servers are coming down for 5 hours today in preparation for the launch (9pm GMT).

Alright, not that it is a great big deal but I have to say something about this...seriously.

When I joined tens of thousands of other folks that pre-ordered the game (although I pre-ordered back in Feb...I have the receipt and joined the official forums back in 2005) to get my "special gift" and the early access, I agreed to pay an additional $5 for 3 (THREE) days of play. Not only did the game not launch at the initially scheduled time, it took 3 hours to come online.
Game ran great for the most part, for most people.
Then the servers came down for another 2-3 hours yesterday for a patch/maintenance whatever.
Now the servers are coming down today at 4pm cdt....
I count two days of access.

Anyway, it wouldn't really bother me that much if:

1. I wasn't going out of town on Weds or
2. They didn't charge me REAL money to play in advance.

Now before you guys jump all over me for being a whiner....it's not the money, it's the principle of the thing. I paid for a service, for me, they kind of dropped the ball. I didn't pay to beta test their server infrastructure, or their billing system...I paid to play the game for 3 days.

Believe me, I know all about failed launches, I know what it means to launch an MMO, I am on the other end as well, and when shit goes bad, it GOES BAD. The game I work on got the worst launch of an MMO title back in 2001. So, AoC's actual EA launch was pretty damn good, technically. I'm not bashing the game or Funcom, I love the game, I love you guys, and I will probably be playing as long as I am able, I am just a bit miffed because of the EA thing.

Ok so I ranted and I feel better. Thanks for reading...or not.

Yeah, I can hear what you are saying....

And it sounds like, WAH, WAH, WAH, WAH

lol, j/k bro


Yeah, I kinda felt robbed when they stopped open beta on sunday morning, instead of ending it that evening. I think it is because the game is so damn good and addicting that it makes those 5 hours seem like a lifetime.

Shadow wrote:Yeah, I can hear what you are saying....

And it sounds like, WAH, WAH, WAH, WAH

lol, j/k bro


Yeah, I kinda felt robbed when they stopped open beta on sunday morning, instead of ending it that evening. I think it is because the game is so damn good and addicting that it makes those 5 hours seem like a lifetime.

Yeah I agree with you to a certain extent. I just wanted to go on a play binge for about a week...but my wife put the breaks on that...man! Family obligations are something else.

Roca wrote: I agreed to pay an additional $5 for 3 (THREE) days of play. Not only did the game not launch at the initially scheduled time, it took 3 hours to come online.

No. If you notice, and recall if you read all the print that went with the $5, it included an additional 10 days of play time (30 days = $15, 10 = $5.) So, if you want to get technical, you paid for ten days of time, and got a chance to play three days early. It was an early access pass. Did you access it earlier than everyone else? Yes. Did you access it three days earlier than others? Again, yes. Do you now have an additional 10 days of playtime added to the 30 days that comes with your retail key? Yep.

Now, if you don't want to get technical, then you paid $5 for the right to play three days before everyone else. Did you get to access the game three days prior to retail launch? Oddly, yes. Did you get play time on all three of those days? Again, yes. And look! An added bonus, you have 10 days of play time added to the 30 that comes with your retail key! WOW!

Ok, now, all sarcasm aside. You got exactly what you paid for. There is never any guarantee of "You can play three days before everyone else for NINETY-SIX HOURS UNINTERRUPTED!!!one one!!eleventy!!one!" Any way you split the hair, you got what you paid for and then some. Either, you paid for early access and got a bonus of 10 more days of playtime, or you paid for 10 days of playtime and got an added bonus of being able to access the game three days prior to anyone else.

Roca wrote: Anyway, it wouldn't really bother me that much if:

1. I wasn't going out of town on Weds or

Sounds more like you are upset that you have to go out of town for a day. It's ok...your toon will still be here when you get back.

Shit...I can't log in!!!

Nerd Rage

They did not really charge you any money to play in advance. You get 10 more days added to your account, which is par to the 14.99 monthly fee. Depending where value is placed this was a free weekend. Their revenue comes from online subscriptions. That is what they sold you 10 days of online service. This weekend was just a promotion that came when you bought 10 days of service during the date it went on sale and offered for a limited time till quantities sold out.

I love you too Roca.

Collosia wrote:

Roca wrote: I agreed to pay an additional $5 for 3 (THREE) days of play. Not only did the game not launch at the initially scheduled time, it took 3 hours to come online.

No. If you notice, and recall if you read all the print that went with the $5, it included an additional 10 days of play time (30 days = $15, 10 = $5.) So, if you want to get technical, you paid for ten days of time, and got a chance to play three days early. It was an early access pass. Did you access it earlier than everyone else? Yes. Did you access it three days earlier than others? Again, yes. Do you now have an additional 10 days of playtime added to the 30 days that comes with your retail key? Yep.

Now, if you don't want to get technical, then you paid $5 for the right to play three days before everyone else. Did you get to access the game three days prior to retail launch? Oddly, yes. Did you get play time on all three of those days? Again, yes. And look! An added bonus, you have 10 days of play time added to the 30 that comes with your retail key! WOW!

Ok, now, all sarcasm aside. You got exactly what you paid for. There is never any guarantee of "You can play three days before everyone else for NINETY-SIX HOURS UNINTERRUPTED!!!one one!!eleventy!!one!" Any way you split the hair, you got what you paid for and then some. Either, you paid for early access and got a bonus of 10 more days of playtime, or you paid for 10 days of playtime and got an added bonus of being able to access the game three days prior to anyone else.

Roca wrote: Anyway, it wouldn't really bother me that much if:

1. I wasn't going out of town on Weds or

Sounds more like you are upset that you have to go out of town for a day. It's ok...your toon will still be here when you get back.

I'm at a loss. Yes..I already stated that, but your "technically" argument holds no water with me. $5 is not a big deal, "technically", it's the priniciple of the matter.
I'll drop it before I say something I don't mean.

At least you got a head start on 90% of the games players. Also, remember the servers never really crashed, all the downtime was announced. I am just greatful to be out of Tortage before the game even launches.

Yeah yeah...I am lucky...we all are. I'm on the phone now sending Funcom some pizzas and beer.

Roca... I have to admit this thread made me smile today... THANKS!

I'm feeling a bit ripped off too...

<3 the Roc!

Bullarky wrote:Roca... I have to admit this thread made me smile today... THANKS!

I'm feeling a bit ripped off too...

<3 the Roc!

I lub joo! Life is good once again.

Roca wrote:I'm at a loss. Yes..I already stated that, but your "technically" argument holds no water with me. $5 is not a big deal, "technically", it's the priniciple of the matter.

I guess I don't understand something then. Because, what you stated was that you paid for "3(THREE)" days. Which was the point in your arguement that I was refuting. You, in fact, paid for ten days, not three.

And I'm also confused as to what the "principle of the matter" to which you are referring. Yes, the game was three hours later than they stated it would roll out and open for early access, but it was available to play on that Saturday, and Sunday, and today. I count that as three. So I guess I'm not seeing to what you are taking umbrage.

If you want to take the ten days out of the equation because it "doesn't hold water with you," ok, that's fine. But then you still had the game available on Saturday, Sunday and Monday to play. So what is it, using your original points that had you so upset?

Just to ease your mind..because I know you really care if I am or not; I am not upset..I was just pointing out a small irritation with the way EA was handled...like a fly buzzing by my ear, not like someone smashing my face in.

Let me put it this way: If there was no early access title attached to it, and the game launched Saturday. Same set of circumstances occurs. To me, it's the same thing. I am going to assume that some folks are not going to care because that's the way MMO's are expected to be. Me? I am the guy that calls my cable company and demands they prorate my next bill for internet service that has been down for 2 days. Pennies? Sure...but I don't care it's the "principle of the thing".
Whatever you want to call the first three days that we paid to play is fine with me...all I know is that my card got charged.

I really didn't want to get into a big lengthy discussion about it, and I can tell what you think of my opinion....so I will be the whiny bitch and you can be the level headed counterpoint.

Heh. Well, as far as opinions go, I value them all. Even if I don't agree with them. Had you come on completely emotional with a "This SUCKS! I can't play and it blows!" post, I would have completely understood. But when you brought points to support your feelings that were presented (imo) as facts, I felt the need to poke holes in them. You'll have to forgive me on that. The world takes all kinds to turn...and if everyone thought like I did, then there wouldn't be any challenge in life. LOL

But yeah, don't ever think that I don't appreciate counter-opinionated people.

I'm a little pissed about it too. I wasn't pissed until today, though. 7 hours downtime right at peak hours is pretty annoying. I don't see why they couldn't do it 9-5, while people are at work? Why take down the servers right as people are gearing up for a good evening of AoC? Especially considering that it's just the US servers - why they had to use THE most inconvenient hours for most US customers is beyond me.

Collosia wrote:Heh. Well, as far as opinions go, I value them all. Even if I don't agree with them. Had you come on completely emotional with a "This SUCKS! I can't play and it blows!" post, I would have completely understood. But when you brought points to support your feelings that were presented (imo) as facts, I felt the need to poke holes in them. You'll have to forgive me on that. The world takes all kinds to turn...and if everyone thought like I did, then there wouldn't be any challenge in life. LOL

But yeah, don't ever think that I don't appreciate counter-opinionated people.

I'm glad you are not taking it poorly....I tried to be non-combative in my posts, but you know how that goes when you are using the written word.

Nah...as long as people keep a debate out of the personal, I rather enjoy them. Leftovers from years of debate team I think. LOL But yeah, I'm all about the whole "agree to disagree."