What i want in gemstone.

[loxe]

I want the days when new characters ran errands around town because hunting rats right away was hard. (anyone seen the runner?)

I want visiting the raging thrak to mean something to folks again. (I WANT A BROADSWORD!!!!!!!)

I want the gemstone where there would be a line to make iron. (search workface)

I want the days when a drake falchion was the weapon of choice until you were old enough to hold vultite. (Used my drake falchion until i was 20)

I want the days when you turned 10 trains and were forced to make the decision what do i want to blow my savings on.
---a 4x weapon, keeping my mithril shield and 1x leathers
---or a 4x shield and keep my drake falchion and 1x leathers
---or keep my drake falchion and mithril shield and find some 4x doubles. (this was my choice)

I want the days when you finally turned 20 trains and someone who mentored you announced on the amunet Everyone please welcome the lands newest Lord, or Lady <insert name here>...and folks sent congratulations via thought. (thank you Primabella)

I want to be able to Thump some little snot for bieng an idiot and watch them turn purple and fight to breath for 2 minutes. (Yes i to once received a thump)

I want the times when a mass merchant events occurred maybe once every other year, and not every 4 months.

I want the gemstone where critter found 4x flaring weapons wouldnt be considered run of the mill everyday junk to be thrown down the well or pawned off.

I want the days when simu actually cared more about developing and expanding the lands than developing new items for merchant events.(new items that will be worthless in a few months when there is no continued support for said items...EG the enhancive votive beltlamps loved mine but there arent any ways to get new votives)


all the things listed here and bunches more are things that i loved , and miss about gemstone, and will most likely never see again.

This i why I am leaving.

John.
soon to be former player of

Oary, Nottinghamm, Bonewhite, Communion, Loxe, Loxar, Demonraze, Urtos, Necra, Kiarhu, Telmon, and others

[IorakeWarhammer]

Like.

You know, early Shattered was much like that man. I wish you had taken part in it. No one had any cash, no uber items existed. I hunted Danjirland with a drakar Hammer of Kai, manually. Some of the funnest times in GS ever.

I think they should open a new Shattered server every 3 months, and at the end of the 3 months, dump them into the normal Shattered environment. I think that would recreate that old-school feel.

[kookiegod]

I gonna disagree with many of your points...

I want the days when new characters ran errands around town because hunting rats right away was hard.

This one I agree with, fixskills and 30 day migration changed 1-20 for the really bad..the really bad.

I want visiting the raging thrak to mean something to folks again.

Still does, disagree...

I want the gemstone where there would be a line to make iron.

Why? I never did except for the one task...

I want the days when a drake falchion was the weapon of choice until you were old enough to hold vultite.

Was others...

I want the days when you turned 10 trains and were forced to make the decision what do i want to blow my savings on.
---a 4x weapon, keeping my mithril shield and 1x leathers
---or a 4x shield and keep my drake falchion and 1x leathers
---or keep my drake falchion and mithril shield and find some 4x doubles.

Disagree, more choices, more diversity, and 20 years of gear makes it more fun to choose.

I want the days when you finally turned 20 trains and someone who mentored you announced on the amunet Everyone please welcome the lands newest Lord, or Lady <insert name here>...and folks sent congratulations via thought.

Yes, agreed, Lord should be moved to 50 at a minimum.

I want to be able to Thump some little snot for bieng an idiot and watch them turn purple and fight to breath for 2 minutes.

Too many snerts, and GM policing has removed player policing from the realms. Its a necessary thing.

I want the times when a mass merchant events occurred maybe once every other year, and not every 4 months.

When has it been every 4 months in the last 2 years?

I want the gemstone where critter found 4x flaring weapons wouldnt be considered run of the mill everyday junk to be thrown down the well or pawned off.

20 years of GS will do that...even 4x flaring

I want the days when simu actually cared more about developing and expanding the lands than developing new items for merchant events.

I think in the last 2 years, GS has gone more into a story driven mode, more RP events, more game expansion etc. The fall off has been mechanics on an epic scale really, and merchants while new items continue to come out, coding is far more restricted in the past and they reuse old items constantly rather than developing new ones, they got 20 years of them to pull from.

~paul
all the things listed here and bunches more are things that i loved , and miss about gemstone, and will most likely never see again.

This i why I am leaving.

John.
soon to be former player of

Oary, Nottinghamm, Bonewhite, Communion, Loxe, Loxar, Demonraze, Urtos, Necra, Kiarhu, Telmon, and others[/QUOTE]

[Gelston]

You can still thump people that are under level 5, most people get over level 5 in a day though.

[Mogonis]

I understand your nostalgic suffering, but those days are over. You have to face it. I respect your want to leave again, but that's the opposite of what the game needs. Everyone from the good days and earlier need to come back and restore what they can.

[Gelston]

I'm actually probably going to be putting my accounts on hold soon too. I don't play much anymore, no sense in paying for it. Never thought I'd see the day when I'd actually get bored with GS. Oh well, shit happens.

[waywardgs]

i want to be 13 again...?

[Kitsun]

I don't think it's really fair to attribute the loss of mystical and magical feeling of the GS world to what essentially boils down to personal growth, both for yourself and the rest of the player base. How can you spend 10+ years grinding out to earn a +25 item?

[That Jay]

I want a pony.

[IorakeWarhammer]

I WANT A BROADSWORD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[4a6c1]

I WANT A UNICORN

(<33 Farn)

[IorakeWarhammer]

i have an idea to revive the 1990s feel, it's posted in the other folder

[B4Hand]

I've found to "relive" the magic that Gemstone once was..for me simply means to continue my character development in terms of role play. I try to walk slowly when I enter an area, and I'm still "seeing" things I didn't know were there.

I agree with Mogonis it is up to the "old-timers" so to speak to keep some of the older traditions alive.

Anywhoo, I understand becoming disenchanted, been there. I just have always felt like if I didn't like my game experience it was up to me to find a way to enjoy it again..or take a break.

I hope you'll find a way to enjoy it again and return.

M's Muse.

[loxe]

My post was merely a list of things that i missed about gemstone, leading up to my decision to leave. Purely opinion on my part, and wasnt intended as debate starter or gemstone bash.
However some folks seemed to feel the need to interject their opinions over mine, and even attempt to justify why theirs is superior.

So in rebuttal::

To Paul, first of all i respect the work and effort you have put into the game, but two of your comments bother me.

1st-
(my comment) I want the gemstone where there would be a line to make iron.
(yours)Why? I never did except for the one task...

rebuttal: Why? For me the iron making process was a great way to make silvers for my young character, and at the time was start of quite a few in game friendships as my character interacted with others waiting to also take their turn at the forge. I thought that this was a basic goal of gemstone...to socialize and interact..
Just because you only used it for the one task...that must mean its insignificant? I think i would have expected more than this from you...and i am sorry you missed out on some great opportunities.

2nd-
(my comment) I want the times when a mass merchant events occurred maybe once every other year, and not every 4 months.

(yours) When has it been every 4 months in the last 2 years?

rebuttal:2010

Ebon Gate Festival - October/November 2010
Four Winds Isle Eastern Harbor Street Festival - August 2010
Grawood Farmstead’s Spring Festival - May 2010
Highman Games - February 2010
Traveling Caravan - March 2010
2009
Convocation of Coraesine Field - April/May 2009
Ebon Gate Festival - October/November 2009
Ebon Gate Festival Auction - October/November 2009
Feast of the Immortals - December 2009
Festival of Lumnea - June 2009
Four Winds Isle Festival - September 2009
Lassaran Sylvan Encampment - March 2009

2008
Ebon Gate Festival - October/November 2008
Festival of Lumnea - June 2008
Winterfest Caravan - December 2008

2007
Dragonfly Festival - April 2007
Ebon Gate Festival - October 2007
Isle of the Four Winds Summer Celebration - July 2007
Festival of Lumnea - June 2007
Winter Caravan - December 2007

2006
Ebon Gate Festival - October/November 2006
Ebon Gate Festival Auction - October/November 2006
Festival of Lumnea - June 2006
Revel of the Anfelt - April 2006
Romance for Two - February 2006

Yes some of these are game expansion based.... most are not. RP events? Really? a bunch of people camping in room after room waiting waiting for the luck of the spinner is roleplay? or groups going around seeking items to stock up on to make a killing selling off after the festival closes is roleplay?

shrug..

__________________________________________________ ________

Mogonis
Ever the realist, Life sucks, the world changes, best we can do is adapt and deal with it. I truely respect your post. thank you.


But this isnt life, its the game i loved to play to allow me to escape the real world for a while, giving me strength to deal with it, when i went back to reality.
Now, for me the game is more frustrating than the real world. To continue paying for something that annoys you.. to me is Akin to Alimony.


------------------------------------------------------------------

Kitsun:
(your post) I don't think it's really fair to attribute the loss of mystical and magical feeling of the GS world to what essentially boils down to personal growth, both for yourself and the rest of the player base. How can you spend 10+ years grinding out to earn a +25 item?

question: By personal growth do you mean?
A- The growth of your personal bank account, and locker inventories, combined with the attitude OK i'm 10 trains you can hand me my birthright uber gear so i can rush through the lands doing whatever it takes to get to the top, because he who dies with the most toys wins?

or B- The sense of pride you get from working hard to achieve your goals. Having to take risks, and developing strategies to overcome obstacles. And when you do finally make it to the top, being able to smile because you know you earned everything you have achieved.

(your question) How can you spend 10+ years grinding out to earn a +25 item?

(my answer) Because I dont have to have the material stuff to enjoy the game. I didnt need anything other than basic gear to advance. I enjoyed having to work hard to and take risks. I enjoyed getting beaten down by the next critter when i thought i might be big enough to take it on, but found out i wasnt, so had to go back to the one i just left for another train.

------

just my ramblings.

[Kuyuk]

Monks.

[IorakeWarhammer]

hey man - check out my 3 month server roll idea and see what you think.

again, when I joined Shattered, I relived a lot of that early GS feel

I think it's possible, just with the right design. would be easy, actually.

check my new thread.

[Latrinsorm]

I want the days when people didn't use "old" to refer to "high trains". But those never happened.

I think it is important when being nostalgic for a lost past to determine whether that past ever truly existed.

[IorakeWarhammer]

I used to fry my warrior in forest trolls and then hunt birds with a bow and arrow in my backyard. was 4th - 5th grade.

now I fry in nelemar while I play SC2. i like the present just fine! but yeah, there's an easy way to recreate those old times..

[Gelston]

I want the days when people didn't use "old" to refer to "high trains". But those never happened.

I think it is important when being nostalgic for a lost past to determine whether that past ever truly existed.

That used to make sense though.

[phantasm]

_______________ A Letter to the Editor
/ \ ____ ____\ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
\@| +|~| __ |~|+| by Sean2 Lladd
| |~|/~~\|~| |
_| |~/~/\~\~| |
/@| _|__/ \__|_|hile I am fairly for survival (vs. his greed factor)
\_/_____________/ new to the game of is best guaranteed. This is a very
GemStone, I would like to take this rational decision that was made by
opportunity to express an opinion my character, not by me as a player.
that I feel is appropriate to the My character knows that if he stays
role playing community. This has to in the catacombs, he is perfectly
do with the concept of Role Playing safe, and will go up in experience.
and character re-rolling. Heck, I made my first level's worth
of experience almost totally in the
It is my belief that a fair number catacombs.
of role players are missing the main
point of Fantasy Role Playing. They At any rate, he slew a few, and came
are taking on a character, a chance up with a chest. To make a rather
to be someone completely different; long story short, when the chest was
to live a different life; in effect, opened for him, inside was a Drake
they are escaping from reality and Falchion. My character was ecstatic
entering a different "reality" for over this discovery, but one of the
a while. However, by treating their other players was "surprised" that I
character as a disposable entity, was so excited. His comment to me
something simply to be discarded if was that he could have given me one
it does not meet their expectations, if I had asked.
they are depriving themselves (and
others) of a rewarding experience. That is the point. What made it so
The chance to take a character that exciting was that my character had
may or may not be the "best," and to encountered the wild and unknown,
play them is a reward unto itself. had survived and returned with, for
him, a great treasure. The treasure
I understand that the alter reality was, for those players who have been
of GSIII is not supposed to mirror here for awhile, perhaps trivial to
our reality. But, by discarding a them, but for my character (my role)
character because it is not up to it was a rich reward. Because it was
someone's standards (not necessarily trivialized by this other character
your own standards, I have seen a (however unintentional), some of the
number of newer players just "dump" enjoyment was gone. I realize that
a character because it did not meet there was no malice intended in this
someone else's idea of perfection), other player's off-hand remark.
you deny yourself of the chance to
"make it" in this alter world. By That is part of my point. Do not let
trivializing something for someone yourself become so jaded or bored
else (intended or unintended), you with your life in Kelfour's that you
assist in proliferating this type of can not see the wonder from anothers
view, that if a character is not all perspective. After all, it is *NOT*
powerful, with near perfect stats, the real world; life in this type of
then that character is not a good environment should be a challenge, a
one. joy, a reason to rejoice. So if by
chance, a second rank fighter does a
Every character is a good character! dance through the square because of
a treasure he or she has found, then
This is perhaps best expressed by an dance with that character and share
experience that "I" had while in their joy. Role play.
Kelfour's the other morning hunting.
My character was out in Kobs, mostly For you newer players, think about
because he is only a second rank this: If you take the time to build
fighter and that is where his chance a background for your new character,

[diethx]

I don't agree with everything the OP said (some though), but I hear you. I still get nostalgic every so often for the GS of the mid-late 90's, however these days I don't start playing again because of that nostalgia. My last sell-out was my final sell-out - I won't ever play again, mostly because no amount of nostalgia will never negate how I felt last time I played. The game is different and I guess so am I, and i'll never enjoy it the way I once did, or at all really.

[Sean]

Yes some of these are game expansion based.... most are not. RP events? Really? a bunch of people camping in room after room waiting waiting for the luck of the spinner is roleplay? or groups going around seeking items to stock up on to make a killing selling off after the festival closes is roleplay?

shrug..


How is sitting around waiting for a spinner really that much different than sitting around waiting for a turn on the iron forge?

[Blushy]

That used to make sense though.
Yeah, but it was dumb.

[Warriorbird]

I really hope my sarcastic "Monks in 2011!" post in 2004 actually comes true. I'd consider playing again then.

[Gan]

HOOKERS AND BLOW, PEOPLE!

HOOKERS AND BLOW!


Love,

Charlie.

[Warriorbird]

HOOKERS AND BLOW, PEOPLE!

HOOKERS AND BLOW!


You should've signed that David Whatley.

[Fallen]

What I want in Gemstone: Paid coders TO WORK ON GEMSTONE, not Heroengine, not Fantasyschool facebook land, but gemstone. Imagine what would get if there were even 1 active coder working 6-7 hours a day on cranking out code?

[Warriorbird]

What I want in Gemstone: Paid coders TO WORK ON GEMSTONE, not Heroengine, not Fantasyschool facebook land, but gemstone. Imagine what would get if there were even 1 active coder working 6-7 hours a day on cranking out code?

Current Dragonrealms.

[Ryvicke]

Current Dragonrealms.

Why is this exactly? I mean--I know the player base is larger, but I didn't think it was THAT much larger. Like 450-550 instead of our 250-350?

Did they just luck out and get a few GMs that got really passionate and have stayed on for a very long time? Simu doesn't actually "pay" a coder for DR, does it?

[Warriorbird]

Why is this exactly? I mean--I know the player base is larger, but I didn't think it was THAT much larger. Like 450-550 instead of our 250-350?

Did they just luck out and get a few GMs that got really passionate and have stayed on for a very long time? Simu doesn't actually "pay" a coder for DR, does it?

These are questions worth asking Product Managers, but not on the Officials.

[Ryvicke]

These are questions worth asking Product Managers, but not on the Officials.

Ah okay--I was just looking for general information. You're the guy that plays DR right? Or used to? I just want to know why it gets so much more love. I kind of hated it, and saw very little RP--but that was just my limited experience.

[Kuyuk]

I think I would probably be interested in coming back if there was a lot larger playerbase, much like the mid 90s.

When I play, I want to piss off at least 400 of the 1000 people in the game at that time. Not 75 of the 150 people.

[Warriorbird]

Ah okay--I was just looking for general information. You're the guy that plays DR right? Or used to? I just want to know why it gets so much more love. I kind of hated it, and saw very little RP--but that was just my limited experience.

Solomon was first the Product Manager of DR. He's heading the ship so it naturally gets more now.

[Suppressed Poet]

Lots of people complain about the playerbase in Prime and the loss of the appeal since the old days.

Yes the 90s were magical...nobody knew all the details about game mechanics, the game seemed much harder, and you had many more players.

I think some forget just how much of a pain it was back then though. Delivering notes for the runner sucked @ss. I couldn't wait to start hunting and found that to be a big pain. I like now that I can eventually afford great equipment. Face it, a drake falchion DOES suck. Hunting grounds not being overpopulated is a GOOD thing. If XXX experience didn't happen, I probably would have stoped playing long ago.

The way I see it now, I kind of like the lower population. Remember the appeal that Platinum had? Back in the day, everyone liked the idea of LOWER population for a closer knit community. I feel more connected. I could stand for it to increase 50 - 100 players during the evening prime hours, but I don't wish for the population to return to the AOL/Prodigy days.

The 90s were 20 years ago. It will never be that way again, whether you like it or not.

[Gelston]

I think the closer knit community thing came from people hanging out in one area. Cul de Sac for example. Me, I sat around at the temple alter.

[Warriorbird]

Worst decisions effecting the two games in my mind?

Player shops in GS.
Banning sales outside the Bank in DR.

It is poison to a MUD to disrupt player gathering spaces.

[pabstblueribbon]

I want graphics. Man that would be cool.

[Farn]

I WANT A UNICORN

(<33 Farn)

Hey, that unicorn's still around, and you can even ride it into glorious battle now.

Once the server's back up on Wednesday, anyway. Yay moves.

[Warriorbird]

Hey, that unicorn's still around, and you can even ride it into glorious battle now.

Once the server's back up on Wednesday, anyway. Yay moves.

Want all the things you listed? Go play Farn's game.

[DaCapn]

I know you guys are looking for a little of that 90's nostalgia. There's a place where that exists... like in real life:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVmq9dq6Nsg

[loxe]

Hmmm I guess I shouldnt have left so soon, as Im positive that the droughtman challenge must be the lead in to a Rp adventure building up to some long promised RSN release.

Monks perhaps? Completed spell circles. Completed profession Guilds?
Ohh I can Hardly wait so find out what great thing I will be missing out on.

P.S. I wonder how much coding time went into making the maze?

[Warriorbird]

You know what I want from GS? People not to confuse CE and Dev GMs. It'll never happen.

[Stanley Burrell]

I dunno.

Plunkett of Tammany Hall award to the first big money news outlet who spins spoken politics into their live meteorological report.

[Warriorbird]

I dunno.

Plunkett of Tammany Hall award to the first big money news outlet who spins spoken politics into their live meteorological report.

Been there. Foxed that.

Also...

http://movie-shop.us/pictures/Plunkett_&_Macleane.jpg

[Drakefang]

You know what I want from GS? People not to confuse CE and Dev GMs. It'll never happen.

This may be true, but the fact is the DEV side is suffering big time. The quality isn't there nor the quantity. They can't release anything because they can't code major projects. While I suppose you can never cut out the CE side, more time needs to be spent on DEV. They're so far behind that they'll never catch up, which is why they constantly do these big CE events. It's a distraction and the masses love them.

[loxe]

This may be true, but the fact is the DEV side is suffering big time. The quality isn't there nor the quantity. They can't release anything because they can't code major projects. While I suppose you can never cut out the CE side, more time needs to be spent on DEV. They're so far behind that they'll never catch up, which is why they constantly do these big CE events. It's a distraction and the masses love them.



THIS

[Warriorbird]

You can't magically wave your hands and make CE GMs DEV GMs.

[loxe]

[You can't magically wave your hands and make CE GMs DEV GMs.]

Sigh...you are right, you cant. AND im not asking for that... BUT.. geee how about this idea.. add more DEV GMs? Maybe? Maybe?

[Kitsun]

There's so much legacy code involved in changing things that players want done, they probably burn out well before they actually touch a damn thing. In a way, it is a lot easier to make something new and shiny than to try and fix someone else's old project.

[Fallen]

From what I understand it takes ages and ages to train a DEV GM. I doubt most that apply even finished the whole process.

[Drakefang]

Then they need to PAY the few DEV GMs they have left. Instead of minimum wage or whatever amount less than that a GM gets, they need to pay them. I call bullshit that this game cannot afford to pay people. Thousands of accounts are still active and at this point I think most are no longer basic accounts. They can afford it. I don't know what it takes, pay wise...but $20-25/hour sounds fair to me. It's not enough to steal coders away from their day jobs, but it might be enough to keep someone pumping out product 15 hours per week.

[LMingrone]

I've always been wondering one thing. How much do you think it would cost to buy out Gemstone (Not Simu, just Gemstone)? I guess I would never sell it as it is a constant income flow. I'm just trying to do the math on the actual worth of GS on its own.

I know at least half of the prevalent posters on the PC are smart enough to code the stupid game, and do better than the current staff. At least make it more funner!

How much do you think it would cost to buy just GSIV out?

[Warriorbird]

GS/DR are basically residual income for Whatley.

[IorakeWarhammer]

il invest 250$ to be a shareholder.. but i want a sheath that produces 10x max weighted max lightened claids!! and a broadsword!!!!!!!

[LMingrone]

I was being serious. Put GS/DR in a package deal. Simu can't hold up to big studios when it comes to graphic MMOs. I would never have the money on my own for a BO. But what do you think it would take for Whatley to sell? He's one of the few people at Simu I've never talked to, so I can't judge the dude. If he's pulling in enough to live a happy life, good for him. I was just doing the hypo question. What is the value of GS/DR in a sellout?

[IorakeWarhammer]

we should pool our cash and buy it. i'll put 250$ up.

I'd say a million. :)

what factors would be involved with assessing costs?

[Drakefang]

Honestly, the best way to figure it out is to know precisely how many paid accounts are still out there. Anything the GMs accomplish at this point are merely a holding action in a fight against the game's death. You have to assume the life of the game is measured in terms of years and not decades at this point, with my guess being that he'll actually want to sell it off by the time he is nearing retirement if not a good bit before. At the current rate of subscription, the game probably has 4-6 years left in it, without a serious influx of talent and money. With a significantly reduced rate of subscription, it may have 10 years left...if they want to keep the game up for 25-50% of the current game population.

As a random figure, I'd throw out an estimate of $2-3 million, but I am no judge of business/property value. Additionally, if you were to assume that DR outlasts GS, with an eventual shut down of the GS servers, it could extend the life of DR significantly (if GSers migrate). I don't know how much of SIMU, as a business, is actually tied to DR/GS. The above figure is tied solely to my estimate of the value of GS alone and I'm just a retail manager. You put that math together.

[LMingrone]

.

Great post. I was thinking about the same. I still think the game has great potential to live on for 10+ years. I know I'm not the normal PC gamer but, I would much rather play Gemstone than WoW.

[Drakefang]

They're going to likely get $30,000 for this new Droughtman's event or in that vicinity. That's less than 1,000 premium accounts billing per month. I think we'd all agree that there are probably at least 1,000 premium accounts still billing and if not then the basics would add up to enough to fill that 1,000.

$40,000 a month in income minimum times 48 months is $1,920,000 over the next four years. Even with significant costs, I'd say that's a quarter mil or more in profits. How do you estimate business value from that? Plus, those numbers are likely low balling by a chunk.

The end result, in my opinion, is a significantly large value than $1 mil.

[LMingrone]

Thanks for doing the math for me. That's insane. Reminds me of the kid that started Minecraft. Good for them for making a market. I wish my vision was better than 20/10. RAAAAAAAGEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE.

[Ivex]

I asked a GM once about licensing the code (not the game, just the engine), ballpark estimate was $10,000

[DaCapn]

For $15 you can transfer a character.
For $40 you can attend a festival with a character.
For $250 you can restore a character.
For $10,000 you can finally figure out some mechanics.

[Kaig]

Forgive my being late to post as this is the first I have seen this thread, but back to the original thought of this post: 'What I want in gemstone'

What do I want?
To play GS with no worry of it being gone next time I go to log in. All this talk of its worth in $$$ makes the realization of its impending doom more realistic, at least in my eyes. So should the company inevitably sell, what do you think the fate of GS/DR would be?

[Gelston]

Forgive my being late to post as this is the first I have seen this thread, but back to the original thought of this post: 'What I want in gemstone'

What do I want?
To play GS with no worry of it being gone next time I go to log in. All this talk of its worth in $$$ makes the realization of its impending doom more realistic, at least in my eyes. So should the company inevitably sell, what do you think the fate of GS/DR would be?

I play GS with no worry of it being gone next time I log in.



Honestly, the best way to figure it out is to know precisely how many paid accounts are still out there. Anything the GMs accomplish at this point are merely a holding action in a fight against the game's death. You have to assume the life of the game is measured in terms of years and not decades at this point, with my guess being that he'll actually want to sell it off by the time he is nearing retirement if not a good bit before. At the current rate of subscription, the game probably has 4-6 years left in it, without a serious influx of talent and money. With a significantly reduced rate of subscription, it may have 10 years left...if they want to keep the game up for 25-50% of the current game population.

As a random figure, I'd throw out an estimate of $2-3 million, but I am no judge of business/property value. Additionally, if you were to assume that DR outlasts GS, with an eventual shut down of the GS servers, it could extend the life of DR significantly (if GSers migrate). I don't know how much of SIMU, as a business, is actually tied to DR/GS. The above figure is tied solely to my estimate of the value of GS alone and I'm just a retail manager. You put that math together.

As long as one game has enough subs to keep Simu profitable, I'm pretty sure GS will be around. Look at Modus Operandi, Alliance of Heroes, and CyberStrike 2.

[Kaig]

@ Gelston:
Its good you play with no worry of it being gone next time you log in. I do. I'm sure I am not the only one who does, and you are not the only one who does not. Why bother quoting my post? Anyway, I appreciate your viewpoint and in truth it has eased my mind some regarding this, I thank you. Hell GS has lasted a long time... It still has life ahead of it.

[Gelston]

@ Gelston:
Its good you play with no worry of it being gone next time you log in. I do. I'm sure I am not the only one who does, and you are not the only one who does not. Why bother quoting my post? Anyway, I appreciate your viewpoint and in truth it has eased my mind some regarding this, I thank you. Hell GS has lasted a long time... It still has life ahead of it.

I generally quote all posts I'm responding to.

[That Jay]

Gemstone is a vampiric undying cash calf (not quite a full size cow). They could stash a server in a closet and forget about it at this point. The costs to keep it running are ridiculously minimal in comparison to the incoming revenue stream.

[Cyprion]

I want the days when new characters ran errands around town because hunting rats right away was hard. (anyone seen the runner?)

I want visiting the raging thrak to mean something to folks again. (I WANT A BROADSWORD!!!!!!!)

I want the gemstone where there would be a line to make iron. (search workface)

I want the days when a drake falchion was the weapon of choice until you were old enough to hold vultite. (Used my drake falchion until i was 20)

I want the days when you turned 10 trains and were forced to make the decision what do i want to blow my savings on.
---a 4x weapon, keeping my mithril shield and 1x leathers
---or a 4x shield and keep my drake falchion and 1x leathers
---or keep my drake falchion and mithril shield and find some 4x doubles. (this was my choice)

I want the days when you finally turned 20 trains and someone who mentored you announced on the amunet Everyone please welcome the lands newest Lord, or Lady <insert name here>...and folks sent congratulations via thought. (thank you Primabella)

I want to be able to Thump some little snot for bieng an idiot and watch them turn purple and fight to breath for 2 minutes. (Yes i to once received a thump)

I want the times when a mass merchant events occurred maybe once every other year, and not every 4 months.

I want the gemstone where critter found 4x flaring weapons wouldnt be considered run of the mill everyday junk to be thrown down the well or pawned off.

I want the days when simu actually cared more about developing and expanding the lands than developing new items for merchant events.(new items that will be worthless in a few months when there is no continued support for said items...EG the enhancive votive beltlamps loved mine but there arent any ways to get new votives)


all the things listed here and bunches more are things that i loved , and miss about gemstone, and will most likely never see again.

This i why I am leaving.

John.
soon to be former player of

Oary, Nottinghamm, Bonewhite, Communion, Loxe, Loxar, Demonraze, Urtos, Necra, Kiarhu, Telmon, and others

I feel the same about many of these. I remember running messages, then kobalds, hobs, forest trolls. Now you just do rats to 10. I remember seeing someone disappear into the boot and thought that was the coolest thing. And drake falchion... I still give my new guys that to use. Loved that thing.

Also when I hit Lord for the first time it was great. My friend announced it on the amulet and got lots of congrats. Also the merchants you brought up. I remember getting a juggernaught pin and thinking that was pretty cool.

[Asha]

The only way I feel GS will ever end is if / when the staff stop volunteering.

[Ivex]

Those are all great memories that I share as well. When I started my sorc I always prepped spells with the mnemonic name instead of the number

[phantasm]

Can you imagine how terrible GS would be if it was run by a bunch of bickering players.

[Latrinsorm]

They could stash a server in a closet and forget about it at this point.Ha ha, "could". Your optimism is inspiring, sir.

[Ivex]

The current server network can't even handle 500+ concurrent players. Unless the core is running on an ancient java platform on Mac OS 9 and a bargain bin walmart router, their hardware infrastructure can't be terribly expensive or robust.

[DevonG]

What I miss:
The wandering Vortexes!
When this game was free.
The good ole days of the boulder.
When people would actually RP a bit.

THATJAY said it best. Do you guys understand how low maintenance on a server of this size should be? It's complete crap that we still even pay for this fucking game.

I guarantee you, of all this money we pay. maybe 25% of it is actually gettin put into Gemstone. They're just riddin the boat out before they jump ship.

This is what killed GS through my eyes:

- 3rd Party Programs (Psinet was the start of it, Lich is up next. And its not because of the cool utilities. It's actually because it's another escape mechanism to act more OOC. I see shit all the time on the net where it's just OOC talk. People are used to it.)

- CvC Prevention (Who the fuck remembers the day where it was all about the boulder? Or the crater in Kobolds? GM's would intervene with everything.)

- Poor Management on SIMU's side.

- Adding a cap (why add a cap? How about just keep expanding! We're paying you enough for it.)

- Flooded Market. Like the original poster. I kinda miss the days where your entire fortune was to either buy a weapon, piece of armor, or a shield. They should just start giving us all the godlike items to kill the rarity or price on items. Then try and do away with it all to reset. I know a reason a lot of people still play is the $$$ you can make off this game. True story.

However, I will say what I've seen GS do right as far as additions go:

- Adventurer's Guild (Where was this years ago?)
- New Society
- Paladin (New professions are always sweet)
- Spell Upgrades (shoulda been done years ago)
- Using ideas from other RPGs.



- My 2 Cents

[Fallen]

How can you promote the boulder and rp in the same post? The two had little to nothing to do with each other.

[beer]

the game was only "free" for about six months. you've had to pay for it for the other ~22 years.

[Warriorbird]

How can you promote the boulder and rp in the same post? The two had little to nothing to do with each other.

I disagree.

[DevonG]

How can you promote the boulder and rp in the same post? The two had little to nothing to do with each other.

It can be done.

[Drunken Durfin]

Fuck Gemstone. I'll be glad when this game goes under.

[Kaig]

And why is that exactly?

[Drunken Durfin]

Because, apparently, I can't just up and quit on my own. I need the decision taken out of my hands.

[Kaig]

Thats too bad... I left for a time... a second or third time... couldn't stay away for long. Its like a drug. I'm so addicted...

[IorakeWarhammer]

just play shattered, it fills that void but allows you to just leave it on autoplay. so you can level quickly AND actually have a life

[Kaig]

I never could get on the shattered bandwagon, and in truth i really have no interest to. On that bit about having a life, however, I do... I'm finding that I want more time to actually play GS. Lucky if I can find even 30 minutes most days.

[Warriorbird]

It can be done.

Pretty much. People were more conscious there than most other places in the game and a bunch of them roleplayed their asses off. There's been many less IC things pushed than a bloodthirsty fight club. Goodness knows it was a lot less boring than most GS organizational meetings.

[Drunken Durfin]

just play shattered, it fills that void but allows you to just leave it on autoplay. so you can level quickly AND actually have a life

All I play is Shattered. Durfin's account is closed.

[DevonG]

Pretty much. People were more conscious there than most other places in the game and a bunch of them roleplayed their asses off. There's been many less IC things pushed than a bloodthirsty fight club. Goodness knows it was a lot less boring than most GS organizational meetings.

Haha hell yeah. If I could take it back to the days where we had:

Methais, Morgynn, Icedraggon, Drakedragon, Tillmen, Kharhazz and Bobmuhthol back on the boulder. All entertaining people.

I know I'm missing a bunch of names from that list. However, all I can think about was the little war going on between Meth & Ice. Constant battles, it's pretty epic.

If they could release a saga that had Race Wars or Diety Wars, that'd be a real epic time to get the juices flowing back in Gemstone. Maybe some version of "Capture The Flag?" With no death penalties on decay, if you have deeds. The objective is to infiltrate some teams area and find their Sacred Relic to bring back to yours.

If every race had their own colony and relic, the race with all the relics wins the war.

[Corli]

I never could get on the shattered bandwagon, and in truth i really have no interest to. On that bit about having a life, however, I do... I'm finding that I want more time to actually play GS. Lucky if I can find even 30 minutes most days.

I played Shattered for about a week - it was fun. Then everyone stopped interacting and began scripting, so it wasn't fun anymore. Then I quit Shattered.

Too bad no one really puts an effort into playing regular GS the way they did that first week Shattered started - that would be awesomeness - but then, they were mostly there to get the names they wanted and whore the abundant merchants. Still... it was fun, because people interacted.

I guess what I really want in GS, is for more people interaction. Everyone is so cliquey and jaded now. I know there have been discussions about this out the wazoo, so I won't go into anything deep. I just wish there was more RPing (don't tell me to go to RR, I'm talking in general here!).

That's my three cents worth!

[Kaig]

Now that I think of it... I miss the days when I didn't occasionally see text abbreviations in the thoughts channel. ::Shudders::

[phantasm]

Anthem of a quitter.

[Corli]

Anthem of a quitter.

Who, me?