Novidian

How about no. If it was free, then it would have cost nothing, like countless betas before it. I’ve participated in tons of betas dating back to Anarchy Online, and they were actually free. Literally free.
 
Hell, I dropped $250 on the secret world and that got me beta access + a lifetime sub (and theirs was much more expensive monthly).
 
No one paid $150-250 solely for 3-9 months of sub. That’s 2+ years of sub time, based on the 12 month cost of $7/mo. If that’s true, then early backers got fleeced by your logic.
 
If you add the time there have even BEEN subs, plus whatever game time they gave as a bonus, then the numbers make sense. They don’t have to pay a sub until release precisely because they paid more than anyone on a subscription plan has by a large margin (even factoring in DAC). It’s no different than paying a large sub plan to get a greater discount - the more you pay up front, the better the value.
 
We apparently have very differing views on free.

May be, but i'm playing MMOs for over 20 years now and i don't remember a single one, where players payed a subscription fee during a beta. Most other games have beta testing phases for some weeks to fix bugs, the servers are on and off, not running constantly.
That's the one big difference. If there has'nt been the message "we don't want to do a wipe, except there is no other way to solve massive technical issues" i never would have startet this game or invested so much time and effort.

Was about to say. Paying $150 got what… 3, maybe 6 months of game time post launch? I don’t even remember. That  is at best a $50 value. Even including the post wipe beta period when subs were introduced, it’s more like people paid up front - not for free. Two years sub pre paid is like $168.
 
Hell, originally, a year was like $65.
So yeah, no one is playing for free. That’s ridiculous.

Everyone payed to play so everyone is paying but now I think about it the only people who did not pay were the people who received a free beta key so you can have them if you like but I certainly payed money to play and the notion that only subs payed to play is incorrect.
 
Sorry to the original poster this thread seems to be turning into a lot of off topic arguments and I hope you get the answer you are after sooner rather than later.

Ah, but Aphelia has watched your kind fail over and over. Trial after trial, age after age; that persistent hubris has been your undoing each time. Far more times than you know, pitiable and tragic  Icarus’, one and all…
 
Despite knowing the pitfalls and short comings of your species’ tribal nature, even with the knowledge of your predecessor’s mistakes, you failed to manifest even the slightest semblance of the utopia you sought to create.
 
This time will be different - the Silicon Mother is certain of that. Praise be this new and final age, oh empty vessel.
 
Dundundun…

I had a similar premise in my head cannon. The difference was that humanity entrusted AI to see us through the cosmos until we arrived at a habitable planet. Afterwards, we were supposed to be reconstituted and slowly introduced to the new seat of human civilization they had set up for us.
 
Unfortunately, humanity’s old grudges and prejudices reared their ugly heads again and our benefactors wiped the slate clean after it was determined that if we remembered our former lives, we would surely destroy ourselves vying for supremacy.
 
After numerous small batch social experiments (like GLaDoS in portal lol) it was determined that our memories must be erased and all “unsafe” history deleted for our protection. What a mind fudge it would be to learn that we were actually the XXXth attempt at rebuilding humanity, but aphelia time and time again wipes us out because we became unworthy and self destructive.
 
That would give a lore reason for us not having talents at the start of the game, along with any hand holding after being rezzed the first time. It would also explain any mysterious ruins we’ve found, without actually having to introduce aliens. Why things we encounter seem advanced beyond our present capabilities, yet strangely intuitive and familiar.
 
Over time, we would uncover the truth about what aphelia had done to us and be forced to align with her or rebel/go off world to assert our autonomy.

so what is wrong with having a few rich people?  They add character to the game. This obsession with fairness is not natural.  I am not rich by any means, but I don't mind if others are, as they are either wonderful allies or a goal worthy of bringing down.
 
This isn't the kind of game where you have a score.  What is the actual need for a "level set" that is driving the wipe requests?

Since the game in general is just a kind of time loop, a wipe would only make me stop playing. What's the point of putting the years I've put into the game and paying for it again? It doesn't make sense since there is no real new content either. The game itself won't generate a huge amount of player hype upon release either, as this game is more of a niche product that tends to attract a very small community of players, most of whom are already in the game or have been and left.
So I, for one, have no fun in collecting all the skill points again over years, to grind again millions of ore and build up again everything that has already been built up in the course of this time. 
A half wipe would also make no sense in this respect, because everything you let the player keep in a wipe is a game advantage, which would cancel out the wipe idea, because absurd.

Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me. I think it's been more than twice at this point.

I believe that wipe mention at the end of patch annoucement was a very clumsy way for NQ to gauge how much of upheaval can they expect if they had gone through with it.
 
I've decided long ago, granted after years of broken promises and vaporware annoucements, that NQ is not getting any more of my money unless they show some cosistency in the way they operate their business. And that latest annoucement stunt is wonderful proof of them being exactly the joke we have suspected them to have become.  They should really clarify this cliffhanger promptly, unless they want to loose whatever little left they have for potential playerbase for their so called "release".
 
I for once, i'm done playing this guess what smells behind curtain number 2 game. Make your mind up, and grow a pair and than maybe, maybe you'll see a cent out of my wallet. Not a moment before than.
 
Started from scratch in DU twice before, 3rd time will be in different game.
 
 

If a full wipe does happen, I'm gone.

I have relied on the fact that NQ has said that a wipe is only the last resort.
 
So I have invested as much time as I could in the last months, procured Quantas and Blueprints. Other players were creative and spent months building their buildings/ships.
I don't give a shit about the players who have enriched themselves in some illegalway, but why should the community suffer?
 
The market can still be brought in order, only need is a consumption here (except fuel).  Be it about the elements that break down, factories that lose efficiency or the like. Also, you could insert a Recykler, where you get a small l share of ore in return from broken parts.
 
It's nice that there should be an Aphelia Space market, I would much rather see player markets, where you can log in from your location.
 
Just my 2 cents
 

Wipe or no wipe doesn't even matter: we should have an answer either way without being teased and told to wait for weeks.

Wiping or not, I really want an answer from NQ. The way they keep going around the answer and pushing it forward is really giving a bad taste, similar to when scam games start "disappearing".
 
At least for me, if they go for wiping I really will pause my subscription until post wipe, as I don't see any point in investing time and money into something that's just going to disappear.
 
Sure, many other players *will* do the same, since there isn't really a point in investing when you know a wipe is happening, but if NQ keeps pushing it like that, by hiding information, I *really* hope they are prepared, because the backlash will be monumental and will be another stain on NQ's public image and public relations, similar to the whole Market 15 story.

The biggest problem is that NQ has used or broken game lore as they see fit and where it suits them, effectivively invalidating the little lore there is/was. They deny perfectly sensible suggestions as "outside of lore" and at the same time make stuff magically exist while completely ignoring the lore.
 
And IMO that is actually a major issue with he game. There is no (and really never has been a) real plan at all and NQ mostly just thows stuff at the wall, hoping something will stick.. in many different ways. 

Your post is a triumph, I'm making a note here - HUGE SUCCESS!
It's hard to overstate my satisfaction!

Maybe NQ find someone else to help them?
Maybe Black Mesa?
That was a joke *Haha - Fat Chance*
 
 
p.s.
deleting history and memory seems like a bad story line. Deleting those things and you are just force to repeat the same mistake ad nauseam

I had a similar premise in my head cannon. The difference was that humanity entrusted AI to see us through the cosmos until we arrived at a habitable planet. Afterwards, we were supposed to be reconstituted and slowly introduced to the new seat of human civilization they had set up for us.
 
Unfortunately, humanity’s old grudges and prejudices reared their ugly heads again and our benefactors wiped the slate clean after it was determined that if we remembered our former lives, we would surely destroy ourselves vying for supremacy.
 
After numerous small batch social experiments (like GLaDoS in portal lol) it was determined that our memories must be erased and all “unsafe” history deleted for our protection. What a mind fudge it would be to learn that we were actually the XXXth attempt at rebuilding humanity, but aphelia time and time again wipes us out because we became unworthy and self destructive.
 
That would give a lore reason for us not having talents at the start of the game, along with any hand holding after being rezzed the first time. It would also explain any mysterious ruins we’ve found, without actually having to introduce aliens. Why things we encounter seem advanced beyond our present capabilities, yet strangely intuitive and familiar.
 
Over time, we would uncover the truth about what aphelia had done to us and be forced to align with her or rebel/go off world to assert our autonomy.

I had a similar premise in my head cannon. The difference was that humanity entrusted AI to see us through the cosmos until we arrived at a habitable planet. Afterwards, we were supposed to be reconstituted and slowly introduced to the new seat of human civilization they had set up for us.
 
Unfortunately, humanity’s old grudges and prejudices reared their ugly heads again and our benefactors wiped the slate clean after it was determined that if we remembered our former lives, we would surely destroy ourselves vying for supremacy.
 
After numerous small batch social experiments (like GLaDoS in portal lol) it was determined that our memories must be erased and all “unsafe” history deleted for our protection. What a mind fudge it would be to learn that we were actually the XXXth attempt at rebuilding humanity, but aphelia time and time again wipes us out because we became unworthy and self destructive.
 
That would give a lore reason for us not having talents at the start of the game, along with any hand holding after being rezzed the first time. It would also explain any mysterious ruins we’ve found, without actually having to introduce aliens. Why things we encounter seem advanced beyond our present capabilities, yet strangely intuitive and familiar.
 
Over time, we would uncover the truth about what aphelia had done to us and be forced to align with her or rebel/go off world to assert our autonomy.

If it’s going to be alien, then make it alien. Make it a bloody obelisk or one of those zohar things from xenogears/saga, or something otherwise foreign. Not something that already exists with a green skin on it or something.

Seriously, from a potential lore perspective, it makes no sense to call them that at this point in the game. I mean, realizing that other life (and a technologically advanced civilization at that!) is not just a game changer for humanity, but for a game. I think it would be better suited as a post-launch expansion/content reveal. There's no lore in this game really, and unlocking the mysteries of an alien civilization is something that deserves to be expanded upon and even supported with in game events. I just think it's too soon to toss in there for the sake of doing it.
 
Also, are they just one core? Why not anomalies, instead? Or wormholes. Pick your your technobabble poison on that one. That way, you could give bonuses to any static core placed within proximity (various boosts to industry placed on cores there would be a start that could further tie industry/PvP). This could encourage more expansive building and inter-org cooperation in those zones, not one core to rule them all in a certain space. Aaaand you could hold off on the whole extraterrestrial thing to make it more meaningful.
 
tl;dr ALIEN cores? lol wut? Slow yer roll.

Not to mention that the new player experience has been ass since forever. Frankly, the only real reason recent players have stuck around this long is because the existing community was there to pick up the slack - teaching newbies, giving them ships, missions, materials, and direction that the tutorial failed to sufficiently provide.
 
I think if they wipe, they lose all of that and more. Probably worse, as disgruntled players and content creators will be warning new players away instead of welcoming them. And I say that as someone who loves a good launch day - it would be a huge mistake.

I’m already not playing because of the possibility of a wipe looming and my son is in the same boat. If a wipe happens, I don’t think either of us come back. If not, I’ll gladly pay our subs and keep on going - otherwise it’s a no for me.
 
I see literally no benefit of doing a server reset. You wanna reset HQ status so people have to manually add it in the game a few weeks before launch, be my guest. Purge more inactives through the game systems you designed, not some ham fisted way that will cause many of the people actually playing to pack up and leave.

Not to mention that the new player experience has been ass since forever. Frankly, the only real reason recent players have stuck around this long is because the existing community was there to pick up the slack - teaching newbies, giving them ships, missions, materials, and direction that the tutorial failed to sufficiently provide.
 
I think if they wipe, they lose all of that and more. Probably worse, as disgruntled players and content creators will be warning new players away instead of welcoming them. And I say that as someone who loves a good launch day - it would be a huge mistake.

Not to mention that the new player experience has been ass since forever. Frankly, the only real reason recent players have stuck around this long is because the existing community was there to pick up the slack - teaching newbies, giving them ships, missions, materials, and direction that the tutorial failed to sufficiently provide.
 
I think if they wipe, they lose all of that and more. Probably worse, as disgruntled players and content creators will be warning new players away instead of welcoming them. And I say that as someone who loves a good launch day - it would be a huge mistake.

This is how I view, more or less.
 
Anyone who thinks a hard reset will result in large scale equity or fairness is ignoring the nature of mmos. There will always be people who put in more effort and organize to greater success than others, especially if they have more experience with the game. In a matter of weeks the same gaps that exist now will manifest themselves again.

 
More opportunities don’t magically arise by knocking everyone back into the Stone Age.