While I always thought KS was an interesting method to have more projects funded that the player base actually wants vs. what marketing tests show; I've never even considered pledging to one. This was the first game I've pledged to and mainly its because unlike non-MMO's, it has a very long staying power and I'd like to be involved as early as possible both to learn as much as the game as I can as well as help in the development process. $250 isn't much of a gamble for me since even if its a small chance of success it could be getting me setup from the ground floor on something I play years to come which at this point in my career is very well worth a minor investment that I'd blow one night out at the clubs.
The 2nd game i pledged to and it will be the last as well was unsung hero only because FFT was 1 of the 3 iconic games in my 24 years of playing video games that truly ruined all other games for me. (EQ, FFT, and FF3 for different reasons). So I was gladly willing to throw $100 at them to do my part to help ensure we get the game we all have been begging for. Unfortunately in hind sight it might include my number one hated feature of any god damn game which is characters that don't carry over. Sounds like each portion is a different period in time with different people etc. I haven't been following because I want to be suprised when the game comes out but I did read that early on it was heading this direction which i just hate. I love character development and growing in power and figuring out how to make various classes OP and also having to decide abit who is going to be your big hitters etc. Ogre Tactics, and Ogre Battle were some of the most amazing experiences for character development for me because you had so many options but making poor decisions could really make you pay. My only wish is they make a game with alot of flexiability but also make the god damn thing hard. I mean just punishing. And that doesn't mean 5 levels of difficulity. The old FFT was like that, wasn't the hardest thing in the world but man you couldn't just auto pilot it either when your blm's could get 1 shot etc.
Anyway, I have no interest in EQN, I don't have time just now to be dedicated to FFXIV plus the combat speed just makes me scream and complete multi classing (call me old school but i like limitations, it puts value in choices. This whole no matter what you pick you can always change mentality while smart on many levels just goes against my personal style, hell I used to defend it but now I just dispise the idea). So i'm in for a long wait I guess hoping this actually gets a miracle boost in donations or figures something else out so i can help pre alpha testing and make sure they make the damn wizard like the old school sorc in VG. God bless chaos volley and casting on the run.
As far as Brad goes...regardless of all other factors there were 2 facts I took away from the entire VG era. One; so much of that game was exactly intune with what I enjoy regardless of if it has mass market appeal. Classes were 5 X as better then any other class design of all other MMO's and i've played 90% of them since 1999. Two; so much was mismanaged and a picture perfect example of why different components are required for a successful anything in todays world. The best designers etc do not neccassiarly make for good shot callers, PM's businessman etc. VG was mishandled and while I'm not dumb enough to think it was all Brad's fault I also have been around the world enough to know he had the potential to guide the direction of things and he partially failed which was evident in the butchering of what should have been the best MMO ever made (not maybe in subs but from a non casual's perspective). While I'm not in this industry nor have I run an MMO but I did concive, PM, and now manage and have full control of a $10M department w/ close to $3M a year operating expense that envolves a fair amount of technology etc and I can be the first to say that while I may not know alot about some areas of the technical parts of my department , I do know that the leadership abilities I bring to the table make or break the success more then any other component of the department. Hopefully Brad learned from his failures, which he is lying to himself if can't admit it was a failure when compared to what it should have been.
To end on a positive note...OT/DT, i'd have probably paid my $250 just for that in a damn MMO. How is this shit not standard in every MMO and why haven't more games mimiced the amazing classes that were VG. Rift's pre-changed chloromanacer was the only class in 15 years i've played that touched the awesomeness of a blood mage in VG. Too bad Trion had to bitch out and go all WoW approach and removed the skill factor by normalizing heals instead of scaling with damage. Went from the best dominating the heal charts to everyone being the same, fucking yippy.
