What has this game become?

Elome

First of all, I know there have always been advertisements in this game, but mostly for stuff relating to WB (Batman Begins, for example), and there has always been a lack of content.

A year later, I see advertisements EVERYWHERE! Not to mention, the music video thing... Is this how Sony is keeping this game afloat, with in-game advertisements? And still a lack of content...

Someone, please put The Matrix back into The Matrix Online.

With Sony being as big of a corporation as they are, they are most likely dictated by a boardroom full of suits, who only care about making profits, and this game is definitely not something that will make profits for them... So, in come the advertisements!

Then again, I could be wrong, maybe they are relying on the in-game advertisements, so they can get money from these other companies, and use it improve this game, add more content, and attract more players. I hope that's the case, because these in-game advertisements really give me a headache, I thought The Matrix was all about being freed from a world of systematic regulation.

Message Edited by Elome on 05-09-2006 12:44 PM
Message edited by Elome on 05/09/2006 11:44:49.

Spekt

The premesis of a "the Matrix Online" itself is flawed. The only agents would be the devs, and in time people will come to view them as the agents and rebel. The SOE suits you speak of are protecting the greater good, they introduce ads and give out under armour as a party favor, but all it does for the people that realize what the matrix about is make them wonder what is really happening to the game. However most people don't really know, and don't care about the real matrix, including the devs. As I said, they look out for the greater good, money, and the large amounts of unknowledgeable noobs in game that will go along with it. As the architect would say "99 percent of the people will accept the program". The rest are basically screwed.

Sitrom

There's always a form of regulation. Sometimes it is a blatant system
that's put into place in clear view, and other times it's an operation
that is run in the shadows. Granted, if for some reason no system of
regulation existed, everyone would probably be dead.

But, I digress. Yes, it sucks to see adverts in the game. Is it
possible that they're using the cash to improve the game? Yeah, it's
possible... but I don't know if it's actually happening or not.

Everyone had a great time during the beta days (I started in November
'04), mainly due to the fact that everything was fresh, vibrant, and a
new experience. Naturally, people lose interest over time if there
isn't any end-game content. Sure, PvP's fun, but only to a certain
extent. Storylines add to the gameplay, but only during certain periods
of time.

They're doing whatever they believe (keyword) is right for the game. Whether it actually is the best plan is relative to the player. :smileytongue:

Elome

Well, now that I think about it, more players will make them more money, if they keep the advertisements, they probably get enough money to more than considerably maintain the game. So after all, it appears they DO make some money off of this game.

Bottom line is, this just ain't The Matrix.

Message Edited by Elome on 05-09-2006 01:01 PM
Message edited by Elome on 05/09/2006 12:01:12.

**ManicV**

Elome wrote:
Is this how Sony is keeping this game afloat, with in-game advertisements?

At least they are trying to keep it afloat. Now after CU2.0, events seem to be happening more and more. On top of that, old players are starting to renew their subscriptions, and the File Planet trial has recorded over 20,000 downloads.

In a game where the setting is a city that is supposed to represent "the world as it was at the end of the 20th century", I'd think there was something wrong if there weren't advertisements everywhere. Ads in games aren't always a bad thing if you consider the context. But it's a double-edged sword, I guess. I remember getting irritated when the ads consisted entirely of WB media. And if one day I'm running through Union Hill and I see a bunch of redpills standing around a Taco Bell, then I'll join in the fight against in-game advertisement. There is certainly a line that needs to be drawn when it comes to this stuff, but Sony has yet to cross it.

Am I the only one that ignores the ads, though? I mean, I know they're there. But I have yet to actually yvan eht nioj. :smileywink:

As long as Morpheus and The Merv don't jack into Mara C and shout "Omg guys, Powerade is teh pwn! I wash my redpills down with Powerade! Go pick up some Powerade at the Powerade vendor!", then I don't have a problem with it.

Elome

Sorry, but I just can't help it... I just find it really ironic, all these ads popping up everywhere. If more people don't sign up for this game, then it's not a question of if SOE will cross the line with the advertisements, but rather, when.

Spekt

There are more aspects than the advertisements as well.

The matrix online is supposed to be about mystery and wonder to a degree. Now if you explore these aspects rather than useing the given abilities from the given trees you are punished. In the animatrix these aspects were explored, as well as the matrix. Neo sought the white room, and the source. Many places which if tried to reach in game would be considered exploitation. You can only go to these places "legally" if someone takes you there. It seems to be the case now, you have to get in trouble to be taken to the white room. Only to have a wanna be agent interrogate you. Would it then be fitting that players brought there to say "how about I give you the finger, and you give me my phone call?"

**ManicV**

Spekt wrote:

There are more aspects than the advertisements as well.

The matrix online is supposed to be about mystery and wonder to a degree. Now if you explore these aspects rather than useing the given abilities from the given trees you are punished. In the animatrix these aspects were explored, as well as the matrix. Neo sought the white room, and the source. Many places which if tried to reach in game would be considered exploitation. You can only go to these places "legally" if someone takes you there. It seems to be the case now, you have to get in trouble to be taken to the white room. Only to have a wanna be agent interrogate you. Would it then be fitting that players brought there to say "how about I give you the finger, and you give me my phone call?"

I agree entirely. The way the white room is used is completely backwards. The white room is extra content that you can only access if you do something wrong. You shouldn't have to risk getting banned in order to see special content.

If anything, the white room could be used as a reward. But I don't know how the whole white room thing works, so I don't know if that's possible.

I'd love to see MxO encourage exploiting the system as a part of the actual game mechanics. Imagine when hacking a computer, instead of letting an ability do the work for you, you're actually given a command prompt and it's up to you to figure out what kind of data the computer holds and how you can access that data. Much like the way cheat codes are activated in "Enter The Matrix". Very cool, and very matrixy. But I understand that implementing that kind of stuff is just too unreasonable at this stage of the game's development. A guy can dream.

Spekt

So does any dev wanna elaborate on why people are rewarded for exploiting? It would see as if it is encouraged merely by a visit to the white room, and a reinactment of the neo smith interrogation scene. Perhaps, however, you are giving Brewko a job by both role playing an agent, and cleansing the matrix of defiant red pills. Keep in mind, defiant red pills who are doing just as Neo did, exploiting and using his knowledge of the matrix to achieve greater things, and neo, who was sent to the white room after causing trouhle within the matrix.. only to end up being the One, the elite sploiter. Considering this, the devs no doubt compare themselves to agents, and machines, and us to defiant red pills.. seeing this, again! Is it a surprise that people do what they do. More effort should be concentrating not on Bounty Hunters, but on game technicians. Don't consider this a flame, but perhaps see the truth in it instead.

Spekt

Not that people are dogs, but say you reward a dog by giving it a walk in a new area.. where it hasn't been but other dogs have. That dog is pleased to smell everything and happy to be there. It's a reward, and that's what's happening here. People are getting the wrong message, and I hope I'm making it understandable.

Seperioth

OMG!!! Everyone complains when all they see is those stupid advertisement coming soon signs. They put advertisements in there and its OMG there advertising in a game!!! NOOO!!!

For those of you *looks at all above posts* who haven't played a game in the past 3-5 yrs (5 being the absolute min amount of yrs ago) Advertising has been in video games and continues to get stronger and stronger. The only difference is the other games advertise but they arn't so prominent.

Stop complaining!!!!! GROW UP!!!!

Spekt

Perhaps you are telling yourself to grow up, because telling others to doesn't help them get older. Not get getting older makes you more intelligent, perhaps that's your case.

QforQ-MxO

Well I'm sure that SOE isnt making any money off of MxO with all the
costs involved in running the servers/bandwidth, on top of paying for
all the employees of MxO. If they are, it'd be a surprise.
Ontop of that, I heard SOE may have been handed the debt that WBIE had
from MxO.

I'd see the ads as needed to pay the bills. I dont really care that
there are ads, to tell ya the truth. I find it interesting to run
around a building and see a new spot where theres a mini billboard for
Valvoline or something. I like the colors as its kinda cool to
see something new. Right now it hasnt gotten too bad, but i'd say
they've probably put enough billboards ingame. What kinda sucks about
the deal is that it takes dev time to put those ads in, since Rarebit
had to run around the game and determine good spots for new billboards.

I hope we see a pay off to these, like maybe *just* one more dev hired,
or something to show us that there is a good side to the ads too.
The movies themselves I think have a very big cool factor that
outweighs the fact that they have little 10sec or whatever
commercials. I think its cool to have a video ingame SMILEY

And about the exploiting...I dont have too much of a problem with the
fact that people are getting punished for breaking the rules. We
can't really have complete anarchy in the game, allowing people to be
50ft above Mara Central PvPing isn't the best for the game and it's
enjoyability. The use of the white rooms is debatable though,
since it was originally designed as a piece for some sort of content
that isnt done yet....so I guess the CSRs began using it..

Meh, I dont really feel like exploiting the game anyways so I dont really care about that part of the game.

Spekt

Neo and Smith had a big fight scene in the air, and having said that.. both could fly. I'm sure if neo wanted to he would levitate above somewhere and drop rocks on someone. It all fits into the matrix, manipulating the system. However if you've played the game long enough you come to realize, that this game is not made to be the matrix, but something different called "the matrix online", seemingly independant from the movies. Might as well call it something else, cause I'm not convinced any more.

QforQ-MxO

Well I imagine stuff like that is limited to the possibilities of the
game itself. Not everything in the movies can happen in MxO for
certain technical reasons. Games aren't true to movies 100%, just
likes movies aren't true to the books that they are based off of.
People still see the movies, and the movies are still good despite
discrepencies.

I think the devs do try to keep things true to the Matrix, or atleast
Rarebit has said he tries to, especially with new content/live event
type things. They also admit to going off on their own sometimes,
so things like watching the Matrix movies help keep them on track.

Some people say that the Matrix movies 2 and 3 are not true to the "The Matrix", so I guess it just depends on the person.