smedley
Latest
Smedley wants to talk more about monetization
John Smedley's not done talking about monetization. The SOE CEO posted on Reddit a bit ago and added to the recent discussion surrounding PlanetSide 2 drop rates, the cert economy, and F2P in general. "PlanetSide 2 only recently has turned profitable on an operating basis," Smedley wrote. He also says that the majority of players have a ton of certs because SOE didn't balance properly and "erred on the side of giving away too many or making things cost too little so we don't make you grind too hard." Smedley takes issue with the rhetoric painting SOE as "money grubbing a-holes," but he does own up to the company's lack of clear communication on this particular issue.
SOE revealing H1Z1 tonight, teaser site live
Is SOE's new game a zombie MMO? Does it feature Star Wars: Galaxies' mechanics? Are players going to complain about zombies being cliche and overused before logging in to their cliche and overused fantasy MMO of choice? These questions and more will hopefully be answered tonight at 8:00 p.m. EDT when the firm unveils H1Z1 on Game Talk Live. CEO John Smedley teased the announcement on his Twitter feed last night, saying that the game is pretty far along. "You can play it yourself soon," he tweeted. "And by play I mean fully." The game's website has also gone live, though it's currently a single image. [Smedley has since confirmed that the game is indeed zombies. "H1Z1 is an MMO that allows players to take on the role of an apocalypse survivor who is in a world that is filled with zombies [... ] A world! Not just a little tiny server."] [Thanks Dean!]
SOE's Smedley: Sandbox gaming is 'at the core of everything we're doing'
John Smedley's got a new blog, and he's kicked it off with an explanation of SOE's decision to make sandbox MMOs going forward. If you're already a sandbox fan, much of what he says is restating the obvious, from the belief that content-driven themepark models are unsustainable to the notion that MMOs should be showcasing player-generated content tools like Star Wars Galaxies' storytelling suite or Lord of the Rings Online's music system. Even if you're not a sandbox fan, it's still worth a read if only to understand why the company that created the ultimate grindpark is turning its back on content treadmills in favor of emergent, player-driven worlds. "We're going to take the idea of sandbox gaming and we're putting it at the core of everything we're doing," Smedley says. "We'll obviously still be making awesome stuff for players to do, but we're going to aim very high in terms of letting players be a part of the game systems. The more emergent sandbox style content we can make the less predictable the experience will be."
SOE teases picture of mystery sandbox MMO
Behold, ex-Star Wars Galaxies players: This is the first glimpse of the home that SOE is building for you. SOE President John Smedley sent out a pair of pictures on Twitter on January 29th showing screenshots from the unannounced MMO that the studio is creating. The pictures are both of the back of a church or chapel with a fenced-in graveyard next to it. In the second picture, snow is falling. The pictures seem to suggest that the game will take place in a contemporary setting. One of SOE's CMs indicated that these tweets were of the new sandbox MMO described as "dedicated" to SWG players.
Smedley: SOE's new unannounced MMO is dedicated to SWG players
It's been a roller coaster day for fans of SOE and the firm's MMO catalog. Earlier we learned that four of the company's titles, including the flawed but much-loved fantasy title Vanguard -- will be shutting down later this year. CEO John Smedley took to Reddit to answer questions following the announcement, and while it makes for a sobering read if you're a Vanguard, Wizardry Online, Free Realms, or Clone Wars Adventures fan, there was a hopeful nugget buried in there for sandbox lovers and more specifically, fans of Star Wars: Galaxies. "SWG players, our next game (not announced yet) is dedicated to you," Smedley wrote. "Once we launch it... you can come home now."
Smedley is on a 'personal mission' to explain SOE's business decisions
John Smedley's been in the headlines a lot this week thanks to SOE's all-access plans and its subscription-benefits switcheroo. Now, the SOE CEO has taken to Reddit to explain the company's philosophy when it comes to monetization and game-making in general. Smedley says that in the wake of this week's PR firestorm, he's "going to make it one of [his] personal missions to explain the thought process behind [SOE's] business decisions." He wrote, "I want to be able to have an honest enough dialog that I can actually tell you 'yeah this is important to our bottom line... that's why we did it'... and have you at least not question whether that's the real reason. [...] You may disagree with it, but at least you'll be able to make a reasonably informed judgment as to whether or not we're the greedy company some of you seem to think that we are, but at least you'll hear the why." He says that while SOE is clearly a for-profit business, the firm's ultimate goal is to make good games first. He cites EverQuest Next Landmark as an example, saying that SOE rebooted the title three times, which led to a "massive delay [that] hurt [the studio] financially," even though it "was the right thing to do for [SOE] and for the industry."
SOE cancels previous subscription changes, rolls out a bigger all-access pass
When Sony Online Entertainment first announced its changes to the way subscription benefits would work from February on, players weren't happy. One of our columnists explained the reasons why the changes were a bad idea in great detail. SOE listened, stepped back, and according to a post on Reddit by John Smedley, is revising the plans again to better fit player needs. The subscription reward will still be in the form of Station Cash on a monthly basis rather than a single free item worth up to 2000 SC. Under the new system, subscribing to the company's all-access pass will be priced at $14.99 a month, and subscribing to any PC title makes you an all-access member automatically. You still get 500 SC every month, and you can still stockpile it as before, but you will need to claim that benefit on a monthly basis rather than see it automatically dropped into your account. For more of the fine details on children's games with subscriptions and console games, take a look at Smedley's full post.
John Smedley takes to Reddit to answer SOE layoff questions [Updated]
In response to the question about how the recent SOE layoffs will affect PlanetSide 2, CEO John Smedley took to Reddit with a few answers. He specifically stated that layoffs will not impact the development of the MMOFPS and that there is still a large team working on it, even though some from that team were let go. "It won't impact the game because we have other people who are going to take the load over. Simple as that... We carefully planned and are distributing tasks appropriately to other people on the team." Smedley also dismissed the idea that devs were let go because of the integration of Player Studio as absurd. What about the other games in SOE's portfolio? Smedley announced that a full status report on all games is planned for next week. [Update: Polygon has posted excerpts from an SOE email, quoting Smedley calling the layoffs a "horrible, sickening experience" and explaining that personnel shifts were a result of budgetary necessity not poor game sales. In fact, he hopes to rehire laid-off employees. He also promises that work on EQ Next will not slow down: "In fact you can fully expect it to ramp up and a lot of people will end up helping to make the most amazing thing we've ever done as a company."]
The Tattered Notebook: EQ Next scoops up Emily 'Domino' Taylor
A curious thing happened as I was strolling through EverQuest II this past week. It seems there was a bit of commotion in the Norrathian community, with races good and evil cheering and dancing in the streets. Personally, I didn't even know Sarnak could move like that! What was the catalyst of this celebration? Why, didn't you hear -- there was news about EverQuest Next! And with the scarcity of that kind of treasure, it's understandable that folks went a'frolicking. But this wasn't just any old news, either. This week, fans learned that Emily "Domino" Taylor, also known as Pentapod, was returning to the EverQuest franchise as the producer for EQ Next. Can the presence of just one person really send prospective players into a tizzy of anticipation? Yes, it can. I watched as a number of EQII players, once ambivalent or on the fence about EQN, not only look twice at the upcoming sandbox but hop right on over into the newest Norrath's camp. More eyes than ever are watching the development of this game (even though there is scant little to watch at the moment). And this is why.
SOE lawyering up in its fight against PlanetSide 2 cheaters
SOE prez John Smedley took to the Reddits yesterday to elaborate on the firm's banning policy as it relates to PlanetSide 2. Smedley dispelled the myth of the 7-day ban, saying that there are week-long suspensions for rule-breaking, after which SOE GMs more closely monitor the miscreant to "make sure we're satisfied they are cheating." Smedley also says that the cat-and-mouse routine is here to stay. "The fight against cheaters is not a war we will ever be finished with," he said, before explaining that the reason it takes longer to ban cheaters than some honest players might like is because the devs "don't want to falsely accuse people without solid proof." Finally, Smedley hints that SOE is lawyering up against the major cheat-producing sites. "We have the resources to fight this fight and we will keep doing it," he wrote.
Smedley announces PlanetSide 2 server merges
PlanetSide 2's servers are going to get a bit cozier in the not-too-distant future. SOE CEO John Smedley announced upcoming server merges on Twitter today. "Server merges soon. Info coming by Monday. No server transfers coming till after that's done. Wouldn't be right doing it the other way around." While we'll have to wait for more information, Smedley did say that "too many people went to some servers and not as many went to others" and that this should in not be seen as a sign that the game hasn't been as successful as might have been hoped.
Smedley: MMOs are stuck in an EQ-inspired rut, 'nothing more than a movie set'
John Smedley's MMO revival tour continues, with the latest stop being an interview at Polygon. The SOE CEO lends some context to impressive numbers recently released by the firm touting the success of its new business model intiative, and he also evangelized about the future of the company and EverQuest Next. Since switching to F2P across its extensive MMO portfolio, SOE has seen DC Universe's daily revenue increase by 700%, EverQuest II's registration numbers triple, and EverQuest's registration numbers tick up by 350%. Oh, and PlanetSide 2? It's seen 1.6 million players registered thus far, 250,000 of whom log in daily. "Free-to-play is just too good of an idea," Smedley says. "The idea is just so simple. It democratizes and capitalizes, makes true capitalism out of the MMO gaming space." He goes on to say that the MMO industry is stuck in a rut that SOE helped create via design choices made in the original EQ. "We need to change the way we do this," Smedley says. "We're building a sandbox and giving players the tools to help shape the world that they're in. That's the direction we're going in with EverQuest Next; trying to make a world that players create while being in a living, breathing world around them. It's not just a prop for them to walk around in, which is really what all of today's MMOs are. Their worlds are nothing more than a movie set."
Smedley on EverQuest Next and defining the next generation of MMOs
The new design for EverQuest Next has recently been shared internally with SOE staff, bringing the game closer than ever before to being A Thing. SOE President John Smedley talked with PC Gamer about his hopes for the game. Two previous designs for EQ Next have been scrapped because they were too close to the source. Smedley said that "the previous designs [SOE] had for the next EverQuest were cookie-cutter, they were 'me too.'" He admitted to being nervous before showing off the newest designs to the staff but that in the end, he felt "vindicated" by SOE's warm reception. "We're not trying to make [World of Warcraft] 2 or EverQuest 2.5 -- we're making something that we think will define the next generation of MMOs."
Smedley: Social network games not in SOE's future, PlanetSide 2 doing 'very well'
How successful is PlanetSide 2? "I can't give away revenue numbers, but it is doing an order of magnitude greater revenue daily than any of our other titles," SOE president John Smedley tells GamesIndustry.biz. "It is really doing very well." He also hints at SOE's future, which is not likely to include social games or Facebook titles. "I gotta tell you, I'm not a fan of the Facebook game. To me, they're monetization vehicles and not the kind of games I want to play or make. That's just me personally. So we'll stick to what we do best," he says.
The Firing Line: Banning aimbotters in the age of F2P
Sony Online Entertainment president John Smedley made headlines this week when he smacked down hackers, aimbotters, and various PlanetSide 2 ne'er-do-wells via his Twitter feed. Aside from the comedy value inherent in the CEO of a major corporation engaging in a public joust with employment-challenged neckbeards, the incident resonates because it shines a spotlight on the herculean task facing SOE and any other developer that decides to enter the skill-based competitive gaming realm.
Smedley clarifies PlanetSide 2's long-term plans: 'NPCs aren't on the table'
Yesterday a bunch of game news sites reported on PlanetSide 2's ambitious long-term plans as quoted from a lengthy post by SOE CEO John Smedley. It was pretty exciting stuff even though the information has been live on Smedley's blog since August of 2012. His treatise mentioned player-owned bases, harvestables, seamless bodies of water between continents (and water-based vehicles), dynamic weather, e-sports support, and NPCs. This last bit led to some hand-wringing by PS2's hardcore PvP faithful, so we reached out to Smedley in order to set the record straight and determine whether or not the features mentioned five months ago are still in the works. "A lot of it is still being considered," he said. "We are going to tell the community about our longer term plan and let them have a very big say in where we go." What about NPCs and PvE, though? "NPCs aren't on the table for a long time, if ever," Smedley told us.
The Daily Grind: Is EverQuest a sandbox?
Our coverage of John Smedley's SOE Live keynote elicited some curious comments, chief among them the notion that EverQuest is a sandbox title. This sentiment followed on from Smed's announcement that EQNext has been remodeled from an EQIII evolution to a sandbox revolution, as some of our readers said that that's a return to the franchise's roots. While it's true that the definition of sandbox is somewhat malleable and subjective, we're curious to know how you can stretch it to include a level-based title with class-based gameplay that largely revolves around killing and looting. Sure it was less directed than modern themeparks, and there was a lack of documentation/communal knowledge that made early gameplay challenging, but a sandbox? Really? What do you think, Massively readers? Is EQ a sandbox, and if so, what makes it one? Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!
SOE Live 2012: Smedley assuages ProSiebenSat.1 concerns
When announcing that European players can keep their accounts with Sony Online Entertainment during the move to ProSiebenSat.1, SOE President John Smedley specifically mentioned three games, concerning the players of other SOE titles. However, during an exclusive interview with Massively today, Smedley clarified that those three are not the only games involved. As he explained, those games were just the most topical, not the sole selections on an exclusive list. Players of other SOE games such as Vanguard can rest assured that they have the same opportunity to choose to stay with SOE. That answer covers all current titles that are already published, but what about future SOE titles? And how does the ProSieben partnership affect Station Access? And when will these changes be taking place for the different games? Continue reading for Smedley's insights on these matters.
SOE's Smedley responds to ProSiebenSat.1 concerns
Earlier in the year when Sony Online Entertainment announced the move of European EverQuest II player accounts to ProSiebenSat.1, many players voiced concerns. Since then, the deal changed to include more games and then was delayed for EverQuest II. Today, SOE President John Smedley took to Twitter to explain that the company was listening to and addressing fans' concerns. He stated: "We've found a way to let existing players of our current games that are migrating over to Prosieben (EQ, EQ II, Planetside 2) keep their SOE accounts and stay with SOE. Down the road we may offer an option to move over to Prosieben. Just to be clear after these games launch on Prosieben's service new accounts will be created on their sites. However all US and EU players can still play together no matter which service they are on." He continued by emphasizing that the partnership with ProSiebenSat.1 is still on, and that he feels that the company will provide better customer service and payment options to the EU community.
GDC Online 2012: John Smedley's keynote on MMO trends and the future of gaming
At GDC Online this week, SOE President John Smedley gave a keynote address titled Free-to-play: Driving the Future of MMOs. In it, he explains SOE's (and other studios') shift toward a free-to-play model lets MMOs keep up with an ever-changing industry. But the talk actually went beyond the notion of free-to-play and into the larger picture of how SOE is reinventing its games to include more emergent gameplay and take advantage of new trends in media. Read on for a broad look at the past decade of trends in the industry and a glimpse of what the future holds for SOE titles.
