| Lastly – FLS themselves. It is rare to see a company such as FLS, because they have been very good at communicating with the community, both beta and otherwise. Taking feedback, replying on the forums and all that and for one not wanting to be a “WoW killer” (or in their case an EVE killer). Very refreshing, and that alone almost makes me want to buy the game – just to support them. However they also have problems. They struggle to balance the game, they struggle to limit themselves and they are still making monumental chances very close to launch (IIRC the 22nd of January, with “pre order boarding party” the 7th, meaning that pre-orders get to play 15 days before other retail), which basically means they’ll be relatively untested.
This can only leave any experienced MMO gamer with the impression that the first period of time will be a basically a paid beta, meaning you get to pay to “beta” test. This – unfortunately – is not a new feeling, but it doesn’t suit FLS to do so when they’ve had so much time and been given so much feedback about the game. The AV Combat introduction alone have set the game back years, and caused much feedback, both negative and otherwise, and critism ever since its implementation. As have many other things.
FLS simply seems unable to balance and polish their game enough. They are lucky they are a small and relative unknown company.
Over all – PotBS is a very interesting game, but as it stands now, I’ll not buy it due to only actually likeing ship combat and port battles, but I strongly dislike AVCombat, and dislike ad-hoc PvP, economics, the PvE grind, lack of exploration in the game and so on all count against it. Currently – the only reason I have to buy it is to support FLS because I genuinely like them as a development house – I just think they’re caught in their own inexperience.
So thanks, but currently no thanks. Perhaps I’ll check in, in about half a year and see how the game have fared then and whether or not it has taken new directions not yet visible.
Good potential, not so good execution. |