AOE-II DE Make AOE2 profitable for Microsoft

[Helichaos]

I was gonna write a super long essay on this debating the pros and cons, but couldn't be bothered, so here's the TLDR.

Microsoft needs a monetary incentive to support AOE2DE, otherwise eventually support will just dry up. I Ihink modders should be able to monetize their work, with Microsoft getting a cut of this, similar in concept to a twitch sub.

Then the devs don't have to provide any more unwanted content to justify their existence. They are literally getting paid for doing nothing, except for ensuring the game runs smoothly, and occasional small updates with QOL features that the community wants (i.e. not removing game modes when noone asked for it).

Discuss.

 

[SuperskinnyBLS]

It's inevitable - one day they will stop supporting the game/sponsoring tournaments. Probably after aoe4 realease.

 

[willdbeast]

It's inevitable - one day they will stop supporting the game/sponsoring tournaments. Probably after aoe4 realease.

Just because it's inevitable doesn't mean we don't want to take the possible steps to delay it though. Much like aoe2 I'm gonna die some day but that doesn't mean I've given up on trying to make it last a bit longer.

 

[Dagan]

A good way of supporting AoE2DE is by introducing micro transactions for optional skins. This will not affect the gameplay and at the same time will increase the income they get from the game.

 

[A B C 1]

Then the devs don't have to provide any more unwanted content to justify their existence. They are literally getting paid for doing nothing, except for ensuring the game runs smoothly, and occasional small updates with QOL features that the community wants (i.e. not removing game modes when noone asked for it).

If they are getting paid doing nothing then that would be an internal problem at Microsoft, how would you know on what things the devs are exactly working on and if there is even a significant amount of full time devs left? At the moment there is no sign of Microsoft dropping the support soon. And why should we even worry if their support doesn't include fixing things like pathing?
You say yourself they don't do much, so I guess the only thing you worry about are the matchmaking servers? I doubt they are so expensive that shutting them off soon will be more profitable or that the community can't come up with a workaround. Worst long-term scenario I see is DE multiplayer being allocated to Voobly.

 

The game is literally sold for the third time or so. How much more profitable do you want to make it?

"Microsoft needs a monetary incentive to support AOE2DE"

The reason why Microsoft is supporting the game is because people at World's Edge show them the numbers of the player base and give them hope that AoE4 will be a success for the franchise. AoE2DE or in general the Definitive Editions are not solely a cash grab or so, they are a relatively cheap promotion action for their AA RTS-title AoE4 in the future. Just as tournaments organized by the community for a few thousand Dollars are a cheaper way to make promotion for their game than to involve a high-class studio and produce a single trailer/advertisment for a TV/game magazine or anything.

 

[Surf_Meal]

Tell Microsoft that we the community will pay for a developers salary + 8% (got to be profitable). If the community fails to meet the payment deadline, developer loses job (inbuilt performance incentive) & MS deletes game (good test of community wherewithal).

 

[Nicov]

paying for skins would solve the issue, like in cs go. But it will never happen.

 

[fleece316]

Things we can include

1. microtransactions for skins -units, buildings
2. Create MOBA mode and induct CBA as official moba format
3. Live tournaments like TI
4. UI mods, Data mods etc can be free + paid
5. Single player campaigns
6. New player training and build order campaigns that attracts new players
7. make it free to play with 4 to 6 civs so players can buy the entire game after trying it.

 

[Ayase_Chihaya]

The game is literally sold for the third time or so. How much more profitable do you want to make it?

"Microsoft needs a monetary incentive to support AOE2DE"

The reason why Microsoft is supporting the game is because people at World's Edge show them the numbers of the player base and give them hope that AoE4 will be a success for the franchise. AoE2DE or in general the Definitive Editions are not solely a cash grab or so, they are a relatively cheap promotion action for their AA RTS-title AoE4 in the future. Just as tournaments organized by the community for a few thousand Dollars are a cheaper way to make promotion for their game than to involve a high-class studio and produce a single trailer/advertisment for a TV/game magazine or anything.

Third time bro?
AoK, AoC, Forgotten, Rajas, African Kingdoms, HD, DE, Lords of the West, and soon Dawn of the Dukes. Some people may have paid for aoe2 up to 8 times already with the 9th coming up! 11

 

[Halleju]

paying for skins would solve the issue, like in cs go. But it will never happen.

What kind of skins you want to include in Aoe2. Building and unit skins would confuse people and take away at the same time the classic aoe2 feeling. It would backfire in my opinion.

 

[MuscleChamp]

paying for skins would solve the issue, like in cs go. But it will never happen.

I wouldnt be so sure about that, sooner or later they will take the easy money

 

Third time bro?
AoK, AoC, Forgotten, Rajas, African Kingdoms, HD, DE, Lords of the West, and soon Dawn of the Dukes. Some people may have paid for aoe2 up to 8 times already with the 9th coming up! 11

I didn't count DLCs as extra games, but if you do for sure it's looking worse. Wanted tos stay reasonable though.

 

[The_Philos]

Microsoft needs a monetary incentive to support AOE2DE, otherwise eventually support will just dry up. I Ihink modders should be able to monetize their work, with Microsoft getting a cut of this, similar in concept to a twitch sub.

Well, they have. It's basically advertising for AoE IV. That's the main reason why they did the DE versions, growing the player base for AoE IV and advertising.
Don't expect MS to invest into AoE II DE more than they need to. The support is almost minimal and the pricepool contributions will shift to AoE IV once it's out. There is no interest other than that for MS. I just hope they don't cut the support as soon as AoE IV is out.
If they release a DLC once in a while to keep the interest rolling, I gladly support it. However the DLCs weren't really well received in parts of the community and some even are calling for a boycott.

Then the devs don't have to provide any more unwanted content to justify their existence

I really hope, they don't have to justify their existence. The DLCs are the way to make more money from this franchise, there is basically no other way. The "unwanted" part is disputable, but this would be your proposed way to support AoE II DE.
Somehow it feels kinda weird, to even have a discussion about, how a multi-billion dollar company can make more money from an already paid game.

 

[SouFire]

Do you realize that none of your suggestions is good for us?

We have paid for this game so many times, the most expensive part of a videogame is the source code, not the freaking skins or dlcs, so for microsoft this game has been only positive sales since realease.

They kept the support for a bad product(HD) for long 6 years and withouth the DE they would probably do it, why do you even think they would remove support any time soon for the DE if they can at least sell another 3-4 more DLC with more silly civs.

Selling skins would mean to remove MODDING capability, so people wont just port the paid mod for a free one, see this is terrible for everyone.

The servers are shared among other gaming services from the xbox game pass meaning that they are not wasting resources, in fact having the aoe saga on their services is good for their catalogue.

All the money they have got hasn't been reflected on a positive change for us, microsoft has more gaming servers available for high populated regions but they haven't added a single new one, despite how bad is the traffic to the brasilsouth server or the uk, the performance is still bad, the crashing and freezes are more frequent now, they don't even listen to us, that so called expert team close to them telling them what balance changes to do has been a joke cause they recommend one thing and the devs does the opposite, why would you want to give them more money if the best they can do are new icons and pictures.

 

[Zbyszek]

I was gonna write a super long essay on this debating the pros and cons, but couldn't be bothered, so here's the TLDR.

Microsoft needs a monetary incentive to support AOE2DE, otherwise eventually support will just dry up. I Ihink modders should be able to monetize their work, with Microsoft getting a cut of this, similar in concept to a twitch sub.

Then the devs don't have to provide any more unwanted content to justify their existence. They are literally getting paid for doing nothing, except for ensuring the game runs smoothly, and occasional small updates with QOL features that the community wants (i.e. not removing game modes when noone asked for it).

Discuss.

The majority of players bought HD and DE with expansions. Thats like 60$! And look at the product. Its not worth 60$.
So no I will not by the next DLC. There are better made games for 10$ with updated versions coming out for FREE. What kind of an argument is this. Microsoft should get their **** together to make sure that people will keep playing their game and trust them to make good games in the future.

 

The majority of players bought HD and DE with expansions. Thats like 60$! And look at the product. Its not worth 60$.
So no I will not by the next DLC. There are better made games for 10$ with updated versions coming out for FREE. What kind of an argument is this. Microsoft should get their **** together to make sure that people will keep playing their game and trust them to make good games in the future.

Apropos good games, I can recommend Disco Elysium, not RTS but fun and worth the money.

 

[malamadre]

lol i rather see aoe2 DE die and play in voobly than give MS another cent for their shitty reremake.

If game was as smooth as sc2 or like a 2020 game sure ill pay monthly if you want.

But game cant even be played with 4v4 with decent performance so fk MS. Joke remakes

 

[LeoMontero]

How Star craft has a big international league and AOE no??? how star craft monetarize it?? check them
why star craft has big anouncers and aoe no?? its something i cant understand.
i saw on youtube lan tournaments from SC in europe where literaly were less than 10 people in the theatre but the organization was perfect. a lot of companies, a lot of anouncers, why AOC dont copy that.
AOC shoudl be bigger than SC

 

[Helichaos]

Tbh I've never really understood that people pay for a game, and expect their $20-$30 to also cover eternal online servers and regular patches. If I want to play a game that requires online servers and dedicated staff to ensure it runs smoothly, I understand that the company running the game needs to somehow make money from it, whether it be a subscription or microtransactions.

At the moment Microsoft is trying to make this money from new DLC's, and sure, they could continue to do this if they really wanted and there was demand for it.

My first idea was skins, like LoL, but I don't think that translates well to age. So why not allow the community of modders to make some money from their work, and make Microsoft some money at the same time.

Also, to everyone saying they have "bought the game so many times". First, paying for additional DLC's is not the same as buying the game again, and if you were happy with AOC noone forced you to buy HD and DE.

 

[pete26196]

So why not allow the community of modders to make some money from their work, and make Microsoft some money at the same time.

Considering the sort of mods available on the workshop, that could literally result in pay-to-win.

Age of mandala but behind paywall, idle vill pointers, the tc ring minimap mod etc.

 

[Zbyszek]

Tbh I've never really understood that people pay for a game, and expect their $20-$30 to also cover eternal online servers and regular patches. If I want to play a game that requires online servers and dedicated staff to ensure it runs smoothly, I understand that the company running the game needs to somehow make money from it, whether it be a subscription or microtransactions.

At the moment Microsoft is trying to make this money from new DLC's, and sure, they could continue to do this if they really wanted and there was demand for it.

My first idea was skins, like LoL, but I don't think that translates well to age. So why not allow the community of modders to make some money from their work, and make Microsoft some money at the same time.

Also, to everyone saying they have "bought the game so many times". First, paying for additional DLC's is not the same as buying the game again, and if you were happy with AOC noone forced you to buy HD and DE.

I dont want to educate you about capitalism and the way a free market works. But Microsoft isnt a charity organization. They are commercial interests. If they can make more money with less effort then they will go for it.
The idea that Microsoft doesnt have the money to suport aoe development or the idea that aoe isnt making profits is foolish (to say it politely).
If you want to influence their decisions by buying whatever they make then you have gone insane. You might as well donate money to them.
Since I just cant believe that your attitude towards money can be somewhat sustainable without a limitless bank account I would suggest you go buy Microsoft stock and influence their decisions that way.

 

[Helichaos]

I dont want to educate you about capitalism and the way a free market works. But Microsoft isnt a charity organization. They are commercial interests. If they can make more money with less effort then they will go for it.

I don't get how you disagree with me? Microsoft is a commercial interest, what could possibly be less effort for Microsoft than to receive a cut of sales of mods that the community is making?! All they have to do is keep the game playable, i.e. servers and infrequent updates.

If they don't want to invest more into Aoe2 once AOE 4 is released, but they can see that it is earning them a profit every year through mod sales, then my thinking is that that alone would justify them supporting the game into the future. I just don't want to be in a situation where we have to go back to a 3rd party client run by volunteers, though I have great respect for everyone who worked to make Voobly happen.

I don't have unlimited money, but I was addicted to LoL for about a year and probably spent over $200 on skins, I know people who spend a lot more than that.

 

[Zbyszek]

You are saying that if they can make money buy selling mods that others made, i e essentially making money for doing nothing but hosting servers, then why the **** would they do anything more?
You are saying if they abandon this game then it is better to give them money for it? dude you are literally insane.

 

I just don't want to be in a situation where we have to go back to a 3rd party client run by volunteers, though I have great respect for everyone who worked to make Voobly happen.

Sooner or later that will be the only solution going forward, if you want to keep playing AoE2. World's Edge and Microsoft will not support the game for endless time. Your demand is kinda absurd and I need to say, really distorted by the capitalist system we are living in. Makes me a bit sad to listen to your helplessness.

But instead of empowering yourself and the people around you and for example demanding to open-source the relay server and/or the Game Engine, or to give a possibility to host the implementation of their relay server on your own you are only searching for ways to make a multi-billion dollar company that should be broken to smaller company pieces even richer and you don't even seem to see a problem with it.