Okay, so I poked a little fun. Nevertheless, I thought that on some foundational level it could be a profitable scheme IF EXECUTED CORRECTLY. Well, it seems, with a paper thin excuse as their shield, it's not going to happen at all...
An email I just received from somebody forwarding an email they received to me (thanks man, you know who you are!).
Sony Online Entertainment:
Thanks for pre-ordering Sony Online Entertainment Worlds Magazine. We
wanted to let you know that we have decided to delay the release of the magazine so that we can focus all of our attention on the upcoming release of two games we are really excited about and we know you are excited about: EverQuest[R] II and Star Wars Galaxies[R]: Jump To Lightspeed[TM].
We have not re-scheduled a specific release date for the magazine but our goal is to release the magazine in the first quarter of 2005. That will give us sufficient time to produce a first-rate magazine packed with information, articles and screenshots that you can use and enjoy.
We are going to cancel your pre-order at this time; however, we invite you to visit the official SOE Worlds magazine website at www.soeworlds.com or click on the link below if you would like receive email notification about future news and announcements relating to SOE Worlds magazine.
We are sorry if this has inconvenienced you in any manner. Thank you for your interest in SOE Worlds.
Please visit http://soeworlds.station.sony.com if you would like to
receive future emails with announcements, news and updates relating to SOE Worlds Magazine.
- Sony Online Entertainment
Gasp!
Delayed because they are focusing all of their attention on the upcoming release of their two major games? Uh, I hate to break it to you, but, errr, when you have money oozing out of your ass, you don't need to 'focus' on anything.
That's like saying Bill Gates is going to delay release on the X-BOX2 because he's focusing on 'Longhorn'. Hey, he's Bill Gates, it's not exactly breaking his back. The same thing goes here. This in no means is a good explanation for why they decided to delay the magazine...
Which, let's be honest, is great for us. Well, for a parasite like me anyways. It leaves me open to completely wild conjecture. Like, I could blame the Leprechauns again. Or, I could BLAME THIS GUY. But that's just mean. So, to try and give those of you heartbroken at this news, some closure. Some resolution. Some peace of mind. I'll tell you what went down.
SOE was at some point along the line sold on this idea. Now, they knew about MOG and its Massively Failure, but figured they had a far more accessible and maniputable demographic. Their subscribers.
Hell, their subscribers keep buying EQ Schwag. STILL. Even though it sucks. Obviously they'll buy anything.
And, so, decisions were made. Things were said. Plans were schemed people. Literally schemed. Somewhere in the background, I think perhaps, Smed even cackled. I don't know, I'm just guessing. But yes, I think there was a cackle in there.
The website was launched. The emails flogged to their mailing list. The hype machine started. They beat one poor dude up on the street even when he admitted to not knowing about SOE Worlds. They hired that hot Firiona Vie model chick to pose for the cover. Even dreamed up witty splash headlines such as: "TWENTY WAYS TO PLEASE YOUR ONLINE LOVER!" and "HOW TO PLAY EVERQUEST AND STILL KEEP YOUR WIFE!"
Yes. Everything was perfect...
Except, then, recently, the poor guy locked in accounting_dungeon_02, broke into Smed's office and said, in a hesitant voice:
"Uh, sir?"
To which he was greeted with: "Yes?"
"We've run into some, errr, well, problems."
"What sort of problems?"
"Well, you know, some, numbers problems. Yes. Let's call them numbers problems..."
"Oh, like the problem where I got a personal check for a million dollars? Which was totally heinous, because it needed an extra zero? Hah hah hah."
Smed's laughter unnerves the poor accounting monkey to say the least, at which point he manages the stutter of: "Uh-ah-well, not, precisely."
"Then, what's the problem? Speak up! Did we order too much toilet paper again?!"
"Well, it has to do with SOE Worlds."
"Ahhh, my precious. My sweet, sweet, precious..."
"Right, that, well, you see... there seems to be a bit of number discrepancy."
"In what way?"
"Remember how we projected towards a hundred thousand subscribers?"
"Right. Low balling it if I remember correctly."
"...uh huh. Well, it seems, we have, a bit less than that."
"Less? Like how much less? Four less. I can handle four less. It would be a blow, but I think we could work with it."
"Let's just say significantly less."
"What does that mean? Speak english!"
"Remember that Atari cartridge? ET?"
"Yeah, that game ruled! We model our games release quality on that you know?"
"Right. Well, do you know how many copies it sold?"
"I heard there were millions of copies in piles. It must've had a very dedicated audience."
"..."
"What?"
"Fuck it. SOE Worlds has three subscribers. And one of them has the Station Account name of: EyeC Pea."
"Icy pee?"
"Yes."
"Weird, my pee is hot. He should see a doctor about that."
Nevertheless, the message was delivered, and after a certain level of convincing, it was made apparent that SOE worlds would have to be 'delayed'.
Okay. So, maybe it didn't happen exactly like that, but with SOEs lame excuse for cancelling their pre-orders, obviously there is more to the story. I suspect that it was purely a financial decision after they looked at the numbers a bit more. I suspect they believed there would be more interest, and, sadly, there wasn't, so it only made sense to delay it until EQII and Jump To Lightspeed brought in a new influx of hopeful subscribers. At that point, they can try the idea again and revaluate their numbers.
Can't say I'm surprised.
And so, the mythical MMOG magazine, for the moment, fades from memory, just like MOG did. I do believe it may resurface if they feel they can securely get the numbers they want. That said, anybody remember their MMORTS? Remember it had a website? Hype even? Does anybody ever remember any official announcement of a cancellation? Or anything else?
You get my point. I don't think this veiled reassuring email from SOE is a good sign of whether or not it will ever make its way into the light of day
Which is starting to become a bit of trend isn't it? It's too bad. The idea has so much damn potential it sickens me. I believe done properly, with the right level of marketing, distribution and good writing that is very relevant to the people who play these games, a magazine could find itself in the hands of a hundred thousand people fairly simply.
I mean, hell, I'd wager that this site gets around 5% of that in regular front page readers/browsers (based on internal page statistics/visits/etc). And I have how much access to gamers? I have how much marketing? I have how much of a budget? How many writers?
Right. Zero. Well, one writer, but that's using the term loosely.
So, in my opinion, If, with a decently organized campaign and a smartly put together plan, you couldn't build to a hundred thousand subscribers within four months of publication, then I'd suggest you're doing something wrong.
MOG? SOE? Just two more to fall on the list of: "seemed like a good idea at the time". Who knows, if we're lucky, maybe somebody who really gets the industry and the demographic will fulfill this idea's potential in the future. At the moment though? In my opinion SOE Worlds isn't looking like it will be it.