This folder seemed appropriate.

[TheTrackerChick]

Sure I have good memories of DR and GS, but my first was HX, 6 years ago. I don't think DR or GS will not make money, but Modus and HX, yeah, this might be the end for us.

To feel that the games we loved might be obsolete because of this, isn't a real thrill. You all know DR and GS will be okay, but you're talking my game, gone forever. Along with a lot of people that play HR, that I asked to come play here. It makes me a little discouraged that people don't give a shit about the smaller player games, all I hear is DR, GS. At this point, I hope they fall totally, and HR becomes what DR and GS was once. But god, don't let us fall into their trap, Trevor, we rely on you, to talk to us. We support you, and HR, please don't let greed destroy what you and we all believe in. Or a gold toilet seat. lol
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All explorers are seeking something they have lost. It is seldom they find it, and more seldom still that the attainment brings them greater happiness than the quest.

[HR-Trevor]

I can tell you how this all works, because, well as you all know, I've been there.

The folks (staff) in these smaller games had no idea this was coming down the pike until it suddenly hit, just like the players. They're in crisis control. There is no magic benefit that will come into play for these games. And, the money won't be to get more staff.

Fact is, in a small game, you have limited people you can hire because a) you need to keep some as customers and b) only so many people in your pool can be considered qualified for the jobs you need filled. Because of point "a" you'd think maybe this would allow more hiring from the pool, but it won't because there will be less players, and, Simutronics is not hiking up rates to make ALL the games better. Are they hiking them up with the intent of throwing a good chunk of money into the games? Sure. But not ALL the games.

And for the big games. Folks, how much money the games pull in has jack diddly to do with how much dev gets done. These people get a little slice of the pie, but it's just that -- a little slice. They don't do it for the money. The above mentioned issues with hiring more people mean the same problems for large games too.

The bottom line here, really, is that Simutronics is in financial crisis. Two years ago a bandaid was applied. This time it's a tourniquet. That money is gushing at maddening rates and it's running out.

Let's not ignore the symbolism of the fact that the rate increase is not only the second in two years, it's also larger.

I don't say this to incite anyone -- note I'm not telling anyone to do anything with regard to Simutronics accounts you may have. But I *am* telling you this -- the games won't get better, communities will shrink and any of the smaller three games *might* close at some point soon.

Finally, I'd like to point out one final thing because really, this backs up everything I have said. Last report, there are 1019 posts on this pricing issue starting .. yesterday (including staff posts, and a handful of positive posts mainly from one poster).

How many posts are from David Whatley? There you go. He doesn't have time to talk to his contract staff, he doesn't have time to even remember some of his product managers, he sure as hell doesn't have time to deal with players.

But hey, at least he posted a lot when he was trying to cram eScape down everyone's throat a few years ago, right? WTG, Dave!
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"Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools, because they have to say something." -- Plato

-- Trevor Rage / Rich Mondy

[Dzynna]

[HR-Trevor]

[Dzynna]

I would like to add that at least 2 GMs have resigned since the price increase announcement. Does anyone know if this is happening in other Simu games or if it is limited to DR?
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Dzynna Zol
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The Retreat
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[HR-Trevor]

Probably not in the smaller games -- like me, they know quitting would just screw over the players in such a small environment. To be honest, every time I got frustrated with something, even when it was the players themselves... I always felt guilty with the idea of bailing on them for any reason.
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"Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools, because they have to say something." -- Plato

-- Trevor Rage / Rich Mondy

[Deblaeju]

I quit dr month after started playing hr, no regrets. an much happier

[Graypaws]

Back when I was an AGM for GS, I didnt get paid neither did the majority of others I knew. In fact unless you were a senior member of the staff you were paid in game. Work so many hours and get an alteration or item. I started off of course a game host (which is a mentor that can actually go to the people needing help instead of making them come to you, heh) Moved into AGD , which was basically a large idea pool (my only crowning achievments being the initial concept of fire island in GS3 and merchant tables in DR (which I intended for GS at the time, heh). The other GMs and hosts I worked with along with the players themselves always made it worth it. But, after a while it got to feel like a JOB that didnt pay. It seemed that both the players and the people above you didnt appreciate the fact that you were putting in anywhere from 20 to 40 hours a week for zero pay. Generally I agree with all thats been said. Even the majority of GMs have no idea when things like price hikes and major system changes are coming down the pike. That and simutronics has to know they are steadily loosing customers to other games, so they raise the prices, make HUGE grandiose promises and hope to squeeze as much as possible out of it all on the way down.

[mellie]

Again, I'm soooooo glad Haelrahv is my first rpg experience

[the blue fairy]

Im curious what simucon takes in every year. Gods knows if they had thier own liquor supplier they would rake in the cash <G>

TBF

hmmmm anheiser is located in st louis
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Mellie Amresh says, "Send someone with a bigger dick."

A set of breast implants fall from the sky with a soft plop.

Caretaker Jornnoj Vunn looks up at the sky.

A passing guard suddenly shits himself.

[HR-Trevor]

They've claimed they ran it at a loss last time, mainly due to the prizes. Seems far fetched to me, but what do I know?
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"Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools, because they have to say something." -- Plato

-- Trevor Rage / Rich Mondy

[SoulTorn]

I could see SimuCon running at a loss, last time.

Their bill from the audio and video streaming could have been quite ugly. <g>

-Chris

[HR-Trevor]

Supposedly it was due to the prizes. I don't know what/how many prizes they gave out, but when you consider the average cost of registration to the con times maybe 400-500 people, they should have about a $100,000 or more in budget to work with. That's quite a bit!

* Note I don't know how many people actually attended the last con, the only one I personally went to was Simucon 2000.
_________________
"Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools, because they have to say something." -- Plato

-- Trevor Rage / Rich Mondy

[Mischeif]

yes i too am a reformed simu junkie/flunkie.

ever notices they call it simucon,,,well just two words missing simuISAcon.
i started that game in the fall of 95, put my account on voluntary lockout in 01. only reason i havent sold it out, despite the fact it would tick off the game staff to see my old name *before the filters* back, since its not "game worthy", is thats where i met my irl wife, and she still has strings of sentiment tied to that game.

but on the name, this i found amusing, especially since she tried to ban me. my dr character name is mischeif. someone basicaly bad name'd me. so a gh responds to my refusal through an assist to reroll. i was already 34th level. then she asked me who would realisticly name their kid mischeif. i responded the same people that would name their kid after a lie, we must be related.....did i forget to mention her name was rumour?

and i never went to simucon, (even though i never really had a problem with eric latham, infact he did a very kind thing for us. when he found out a couple that had met in dr, married, and had a child, for pictures he gave us both a free year and we both played premium accts. not all the staff was bad, but when there is only a few diamonds in that much rough..its not worth putting up with it) i only went to vegascon. atleast there you KNEW you would be gambling

you that say hr is your first exp in mmorpg, congrats. you didnt have to endure the "check the news/boards" trained response by the staff. then only to post and have it either removed because you arent worshiping simu, or its ignored.

even IF hr went higher than simu, id pay it. the difference in staff, support, and the general community is worth it. yes barney, i even included you in that *grins*

anyway, stay here, keep it fun.



You manage to tackle Mellie Knight, the two of you landing in a heap!
Roundtime: 6 sec.
Mellie Knight exclaims, "Ack!"
Mellie Knight says, "Holy shit, Taz brought me down."
Mellie Knight says, "Damn, I'm begining to feel tiny."

(first try by the way)

[HR-Trevor]