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Marathon approaching 15k CCU low (sponsored by coachmcguirk91 - still having a blast)

Actually now that I think about it, how much you wanna bet Factions was gonna be an extraction shooter and the only reason why Bungie killed it is because they didn't want to be outdone in regards to Marathon?

Asking a dishonest studio their opinion on a potential competitor is peak retardation. I don't know what the hell Sony was thinking with this. It's pretty clear they sabotaged Factions while at the same time favoring the acquisition of a Bungie spin-off studio, creators of Concord.

This is the worst acquisition in history.
 
I was around the Top 1-3% ( I think it was 1%) of hours played in Destiny 2 when I finally stopped playing. I didn't play Destiny 1, other than the demo.
Even if a Destiny 3 came out, I don't think I'll be jumping back in.

Bungie games are too much of a time sink. It's not just getting to the end game, it's every new season/big release, it requires another big investment in time. Not to mention how they money gate everything even after you've paid for a season and annual update. I'm just to old for that shit now and would rather play a variety of games instead of spending all of my time playing just one.

They really had something special in their Raids though.

I hear ya. I would eat it up tho because I just loved crucible but all the other pvp modes and events, the gunplay and I'm just a big fan of arena shooters in general it always gets me. But yea sadly playing destiny required alot of commitment. I just would've rather seen that than marathon because damn that's a good handful of years to end up here.

I guarantee that if destiny 3 was what they just released those numbers would be in the hundreds of thousands easily know what I mean?
 
I hear ya. I would eat it up tho because I just loved crucible but all the other pvp modes and events, the gunplay and I'm just a big fan of arena shooters in general it always gets me. But yea sadly playing destiny required alot of commitment. I just would've rather seen that than marathon because damn that's a good handful of years to end up here.

I guarantee that if destiny 3 was what they just released those numbers would be in the hundreds of thousands easily know what I mean?
I was the opposite, being more in it for the PvE, but would play the PvP as a necessity to get some of the good loot. I regularly did solo Dungeons and hard content just for the challenge.
I had a regular circle of friends, where every weekend, we'd be doing Raids for hours upon hours, going in blind because we wanted the satisfaction of not using a guide.

Among the 10-12 of us, we had 3 of us that would grind for the most optimum setup.
It was really some of my best experience in gaming.

Then Bungie got even more greedy and started to make you pay for everything separately even after you bought the season pass and yearly update. It was about that time, I noped out as even my small band of clanmates had dropped the game. I found I had to LFG to play the Raids which took all the fun out of it.
 
I was the opposite, being more in it for the PvE, but would play the PvP as a necessity to get some of the good loot. I regularly did solo Dungeons and hard content just for the challenge.
I had a regular circle of friends, where every weekend, we'd be doing Raids for hours upon hours, going in blind because we wanted the satisfaction of not using a guide.

Among the 10-12 of us, we had 3 of us that would grind for the most optimum setup.
It was really some of my best experience in gaming.

Then Bungie got even more greedy and started to make you pay for everything separately even after you bought the season pass and yearly update. It was about that time, I noped out as even my small band of clanmates had dropped the game. I found I had to LFG to play the Raids which took all the fun out of it.
Oh yea dude absolutely, I loved the pve stuff also big time it was all so memorable.. Our raid weeks were steady for years and yea same we had a handful of guys and we'd just raid it up and bang them for all 3 chars etc it was awesome some of my favorite memories ever.

And yea the game took a turn it just didn't feel special like it did, it honestly felt like it was on auto pilot to me is the best way to explain it.

It's why I'm bitter at them because I would've given them another 10 years of play and bought a shit load of skins etc... But that wasn't enough for them apparently
 
It's early but this game is tanking.

10 am completed hour. It's -3% vs yesterday. And both past weekend's Sundays had higher peaks than Saturdays..

If it tracks like this all day it'll end about 52k which is what weds peak was. It'll be higher than thurs 48k peak which would mean cryo + weekend only had around a +11% using saturdays peak of 53.5k.

That cryo dump got gamers in trying it, but gamers bailing fast. Yesterday was already a -5% vs cryo Friday.

Marathion active users at rank 72 with 33.5k CCU as I type. That's the lowest I've seen. And that's at similar hours apples to apples.
 
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Down 7k CCU from this time last Sunday. That's a big drop when we're talking about total ~40k CCU

The initial signal obviously hit Bungie when this launched (I'm happy using the 500M kill target as evidence that their base expectations were must higher), but this new weekend drop after doing their first big update has to confirm to them that this is not at all on the right track for a sustainable population. This is not more Cryo updates from turning the numbers, they NEED different content.
 
The usual suspects who would pop in this thread to insist that they're having the blastiest of blasts and everything's fine have been noticeably absent.

Even that one guy who would keep pointing to the positive reviews and insisting that Marathon's retention is good stopped dropping by.
We're going to need a bigger enema, or a smaller elephant.
 
The usual suspects who would pop in this thread to insist that they're having the blastiest of blasts and everything's fine have been noticeably absent.

Even that one guy who would keep pointing to the positive reviews and insisting that Marathon's retention is good stopped dropping by.
We're going to need a bigger enema, or a smaller elephant.
Marathon's retention is bad. Game is better than it was when it launched.
 
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soulslike endgame dungeon?
what makes it a soulslike? do you respawn on previously activated respawn points and can then get your stuff back?

because that's the only thing that could make it soulslike...
If it's difficult enough that they had to have someone else play it while they watched for review purposes, then it's a Soulslike

EDIT: or maybe their dating life.
 
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Grabbed this dudes post but I don't want to blow apart their game chat so bringing it here but this right here... Is it just me or on paper reading this does it sound miserable? If someone said design a game I don't think in a million years would I create anything that sounds like what this dude wrote

I couldn't agree more. Don't look at your loot as a physical object that you treasure, everything is just there to get you through each round.
Use the Rook as it is ingenious because it allows you to jump into a couple of rounds and stock up again.
Also rank up each faction and you unlock free valuables each day.
Remember, when you get looted there is nothing stopping you from looting others and at some point you're going to gain one of these prestige items from someone who probably spent weeks trying to get it themselves, it's all just on loan, you own absolutely nothing and remember that you are playing one of the greatest MP games ever made.

You own nothing, spending weeks to get an item to just give to someone else

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Grabbed this dudes post but I don't want to blow apart their game chat so bringing it here but this right here... Is it just me or on paper reading this does it sound miserable? If someone said design a game I don't think in a million years would I create anything that sounds like what this dude wrote



You own nothing, spending weeks to get an item to just give to someone else

Zr3eNm2A.gif
That's the genre.
 
Grabbed this dudes post but I don't want to blow apart their game chat so bringing it here but this right here... Is it just me or on paper reading this does it sound miserable? If someone said design a game I don't think in a million years would I create anything that sounds like what this dude wrote



You own nothing, spending weeks to get an item to just give to someone else

Zr3eNm2A.gif
When you have to be constantly saying something is the best ever.. it probably isnt
 
I actually think the game is quite addictive in a way I have not felt in a multiplayer in years.

What I like is the focus on small story beats and mystery - I could frankly do without a lot of the pvp stuff completely. I even think it would make a minor difference since the AI Is very competent and could be tuned up even more instead
 
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Grabbed this dudes post but I don't want to blow apart their game chat so bringing it here but this right here... Is it just me or on paper reading this does it sound miserable? If someone said design a game I don't think in a million years would I create anything that sounds like what this dude wrote



You own nothing, spending weeks to get an item to just give to someone else

Zr3eNm2A.gif

The game is a psyop.

It's the New World Order man, they're conditioning us all. We don't even own the slop any more. IT AIN'T OUR SLOP TO OWN!!!

iu
 
People have been conditioned on easy, hand holdy games for decades so when they see a game about warfare and loss they can't handle it.

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Being afraid of Extraction is an indictment on modern culture.
 
Yea but phrased like that makes it sound even worse than it is. Terrible genre of game but that's why its niche
Yeah it's a shitty description.

But think of it like poker. You go in with a certain amount of money, you play, cut your losses when you're up and walk away from the table, or keep risking it for a chance at a bigger win. Sometimes you get it, sometimes you don't.

That's what it's like playing one of these games.

Again, the game is bleeding players right now. That's a fact. It is also unfortunate, because it is some of the most fun I've had in a (sometimes)PvP mp game in a long time.

Game is very good if you like the loop. I hope Sony gives Bungie enough time to try and find an audience.
 
Yeah it's a shitty description.

But think of it like poker. You go in with a certain amount of money, you play, cut your losses when you're up and walk away from the table, or keep risking it for a chance at a bigger win. Sometimes you get it, sometimes you don't.

That's what it's like playing one of these games.

Again, the game is bleeding players right now. That's a fact. It is also unfortunate, because it is some of the most fun I've had in a (sometimes)PvP mp game in a long time.

Game is very good if you like the loop. I hope Sony gives Bungie enough time to try and find an audience.

I hear ya and the thing Is I'm a real life gambler I play a ton, but the difference tho is real life time money and investment, I have definitely lost my ass gambling but I've also had won many high lucrative gambles that helps me in life so I'm ok with that gamble per say.

In games tho it's more time and investment where the frustrations only lead to a few in game happy moments, that doesn't outweigh the negatives imo since even a good moment doesn't lead to much happiness whereas when I win gambling I got a huge chunk of cash I can go use for whatever making the risk reward much more valuable and worth it to me
 
If it doesn't gain interest I wouldn't be surprised if a PvE mode only is added.
Unless they're already working on one, I don't see them adding it soon enough to save the game.
You would also alienate the people actually playing the game now because they wanted a hardcore extraction game so you risk losing what little audience you already have.
 
In games tho it's more time and investment where the frustrations only lead to a few in game happy moments, that doesn't outweigh the negatives imo since even a good moment doesn't lead to much happiness whereas when I win gambling I got a huge chunk of cash I can go use for whatever making the risk reward much more valuable and worth it to me
Yup. And I get that. And the idea of coming home to relax with a game that actively infuriates you is not for everyone. Hell, it's not for me all the time.

The one thing I appreciate is when I lose everything it's never unfair. I was just outplayed or over extended or got sloppy.

Again, not for everyone. You definitely don't have the relaxing nature of Arc here. But it's a damn good time if you're into it.
 
Yup. And I get that. And the idea of coming home to relax with a game that actively infuriates you is not for everyone. Hell, it's not for me all the time.

The one thing I appreciate is when I lose everything it's never unfair. I was just outplayed or over extended or got sloppy.

Again, not for everyone. You definitely don't have the relaxing nature of Arc here. But it's a damn good time if you're into it.
Oh I get that yea alot is on the player, it's pretty much the mindset of souls games I'd say and that is one that alot misunderstand as well given losing souls isn't really a major deal.

I think a huge portion of this boils down to friends, none of my shooter pals are playing it... If they were I'd probably be in there hah same with arc the couple dudes who played and are good players as well, were like nah to many fuckers playing. So I think friends and lack of that are playing is also a huge detriment.
 
I think a huge portion of this boils down to friends, none of my shooter pals are playing it... If they were I'd probably be in there hah same with arc the couple dudes who played and are good players as well, were like nah to many fuckers playing. So I think friends and lack of that are playing is also a huge detriment.
Solo is there, and it's good. But it didn't exist a year ago, and it shows. Further balancing that, and doing more to keep people in runs longer would help.

But if they do get the time and runway from Sony, Bungie has a lot of work to do. Like I said. Fun game, but there's a lot they can do to make it a more enticing product.
 
The usual suspects who would pop in this thread to insist that they're having the blastiest of blasts and everything's fine have been noticeably absent.

Even that one guy who would keep pointing to the positive reviews and insisting that Marathon's retention is good stopped dropping by.
Maybe it's because the people who enjoy the game have no reason to go into a thread that is nothing but people shitting on it?

I'm still loving the game and I've basically dropped the other multiplayer games in my rotation. I don't need to or feel the need to justify that to anyone or try to convince people that they are wrong because I'm enjoying myself and that's all that matters.
 
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Then Bungie got even more greedy and started to make you pay for everything separately even after you bought the season pass and yearly update. It was about that time, I noped out as even my small band of clanmates had dropped the game. I found I had to LFG to play the Raids which took all the fun out of it.
LFG raids are indeed AIDS and cancer put together. I'm not sure what you're saying about them getting more greedy though. Aside from the 30th anniversary pack you're just paying the once-a-year expansion/pass fee as a subscription and that model has been pretty stable. I guess if you wanted to pay per season then you had to get the stupid Dungeon Passes which I agree were completely retarded.
 
Grabbed this dudes post but I don't want to blow apart their game chat so bringing it here but this right here... Is it just me or on paper reading this does it sound miserable? If someone said design a game I don't think in a million years would I create anything that sounds like what this dude

Its even worse, because if you do loot something as well, the decay mechanic means you might get it for 3 games or 1 game. It's basically a game where it's a race to the bottom which is why it is really unbalanced, and the small number of people making it to the top are the ones who aggregate the most marginal gains.

People have played hard, fair and challenging shooters their whole lives (CS:S, Q3A, CoD SaD when it was good).

Anyway, the thread is now just a barometer for how far it actually drops, the bounce (if S2 has one) and those hoping it shutters early. Gonna be a slow bleedout I think.
 
LFG raids are indeed AIDS and cancer put together. I'm not sure what you're saying about them getting more greedy though. Aside from the 30th anniversary pack you're just paying the once-a-year expansion/pass fee as a subscription and that model has been pretty stable. I guess if you wanted to pay per season then you had to get the stupid Dungeon Passes which I agree were completely retarded.
Yup, the Dungeons, which I enjoyed trying to solo became an added expense. I was already paying for the annual expansion and the seasonal passes. When they gated dungeons was when I noped out.
You were essentially paying for 2 full priced games every year to play "expanded" content. Not to mention they would sunset contents too.

Edit: Raids was what drew me in initially as I didn't even play Destiny 1. My group of friends that I played Halo with eventually convinced me to play it so that we could expand our clan and have enough players to run 2 full raid teams. Once I jumped in, I felt obligated to not be the weakest link on our teams so I would grind for the best shit. That and being geared to solo dungeons which was very satisfying.
 
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Its even worse, because if you do loot something as well, the decay mechanic means you might get it for 3 games or 1 game. It's basically a game where it's a race to the bottom which is why it is really unbalanced, and the small number of people making it to the top are the ones who aggregate the most marginal gains.

People have played hard, fair and challenging shooters their whole lives (CS:S, Q3A, CoD SaD when it was good).

Anyway, the thread is now just a barometer for how far it actually drops, the bounce (if S2 has one) and those hoping it shutters early. Gonna be a slow bleedout I think.
What is this?
 
They should've made Cryo a weekday map so the soon-to-be-unemployed devs have something to do.

Also, since it's clear Destiny knows fuck-all about how to manage a GAAS game and their "expertise" is nothing at all, Sony should let Naughty Dog revive Factions. I bet you that'd actually be a good one because the premise is sound.

Actually now that I think about it, how much you wanna bet Factions was gonna be an extraction shooter and the only reason why Bungie killed it is because they didn't want to be outdone in regards to Marathon?
The Last of ARC would actually be a pretty compelling game. Infected instead of robots and basically the same concept. I certainly think it would appeal to a wider audience than Marathon.
 

Easy explanations.

Cryo never peaked it into the stratosphere because it turns out it meant for hardcore gamers for weekend play. So a lot of gamers who have already left the game from the 88k peak (it dropped to 48k peak the day before cryo) barely came back to try it.

Bungie designed the game to be for hardcore extraction gamers, but didnt think sales would be so low. No wonder they messed up the 500M AI bot community game. They expected the game to have tons more players where this cryo thing was a bonus for hardcore gamers while everyone else plays the other 3.

But they had to promote it with secrecy to keep gamers interested. Low sales to start, trending down, but they knew they'd keep some gamers interested for weeks awaiting cryo. Turns out its trios only, weekends only and you got to be geared up to have a chance. So basically for top gamers only. And they never adjusted it.

If they really want to increase CCU (aside from price drop or F2P) is make cryo open for all days, all gamers, solos too. Everyone can have fun and pick how they want it. And it's simple, if you go in with low spec characters it scales so you get easier fights and shittier gear. If you go in as a top gamer with top gear, it's harder but you can get the best loot.

It should be like Diablo 3. Nephalam Rifts with a max of 20 minutes I think. You can choose the difficulty and it scales everything. Thats how cryo should be. But since it's MP, let the algorithm choose it for you. tI's not like Blizzard gated it to only characters level xxx with uber gear yyy and only on weekends.

What they should had done is have ready for end of March a regular 4th map so everyone could play. It'd make the rotation go from 3 to 4. ARC started with 4. So it'd be even. And make cryo come later.
 
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Unless the game has a US peak surge later tonight (last Sunday it didnt as the afternoon high sustained), the peak today is basically the same number as yesterday at 53.5k.

Unless it perks up more later tonight, this is not good:

1. About 9k less than last Sunday

2. Same as yesterday when Sundays always grow more than Saturdays in previous weekends (+3% and +7%)

3. The 53.5k peak this weekend is around the same as this past Mon and Tues. So no growth in 5-6 days despite it being a weekend and cryo launch

Both past Mondays were -14% each. This isnot uncommon. Every game goes down vs Sunday. But if that rate holds true tomorrow, the peak tomorrow may start the week at about 46k and trends down to 40k till it rebounds a bit next weekend.
 
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