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Raph Koster on Fire
This week's Escapist has a in-depth article talking with Raph Koster. Author Allen Varney and Mr. Koster go over his best-selling book, the Ultima Online days, the debacle that is Star Wars Galaxies, and what he's planning to do next. From the article: "I'll make an exception for the NGE. I don't think you can or should change a game that radically out from under a user base. You dance with the ones that brung ya, whether they are the market of your dreams or not. They have invested their passion and built expectations about where they want the game to go. Changing things out from under them isn't fair in my mind, especially given how they have been loyal to you in times of trouble. It's like dumping the girlfriend who has always been patient and loving to chase after the supermodel who probably won't love you back."
What the grandparent _should_ have said is 'What _MOST_ people want is world of warcraft from levels 1-59 and early WoW/UO PKing.'
You, my friend. are in the minority. Koster's changes KILLED UO. Then he ruined SWG. I'm not saying he isn't smart or he doesn't know online gaming. He just doesn't have a good marketing sense. Don't take my word for it, though. Just look at the number of subcribers to those games before and after his 'direction.'