Magebane by Dragones
I apologize for the delay in this statement. However, it was intentionally timed to allow initial emotional reactions to subside and allow logic and rationality to step in.
It was a week ago today that HoN changed its business model from a Pay 2 Play game to a Free 2 Play game. Along with that change we introduced Early Access (EA) which is a new way to deliver some of our free content updates (heroes). Both of these decisions were controversial, causing a lot of different reactions in the community. These decisions were not made lightly and were made after months of discussion, deliberation, and iteration. We knew there would be significant reactions but at the end of the day we had to make the decisions that we felt best served the game and more importantly the community that enjoys it.
Here are some quick numbers to show the explosive growth of players since this change. HoN now has:
• 4,000,000+ registered accounts
• Concurrent users increase 35%+
• Daily unique logins nearly double to 300,000+
• Games played daily has grown over 50%
These are exciting statistics that shows there is significant demand for a superior, high quality, fun, free 2 play game. We appreciate all the new players coming to check us out and our amazing community for helping to spread the word (and hopefully warmly welcoming all the new blood).
Lastly, I’d like to say a few words about EA. There have been a vocal group of players showing their displeasure with our decision to release this program. While we disagree with many of the assessments being made about EA, your frustrations do not go unheard. It is never S2's intention to upset any part of our community. We appreciate the ever growing HoN fan base. One of the biggest pleasures of making games is seeing people enjoy the fruits of your labor. Our ability to take HoN free to play relied on EA. In planning for this, it was important to us to make sure the first two early access heroes were accompanied by heroes released for free to the general hero pool to keep the FREE content coming as our existing community is used to. There have been claims that with EA we now have introduced pay for power. I strongly disagree with this statement. We are allowing people the privilege to play a hero sooner than its normal FREE release (to legacy players). While this is a highly debatable subject, pay for power is selling power ups that give heroes magic armor penetration, faster attack speed, more starting gold, etc...
We know you have a choice on which games you spend your time and money on, and we continue to be committed to improving HoN, the overall player experience and expanding the community to encourage new and exciting matches. We hope our HoN community understands the rapid changing landscape of online video games, especially in this exploding genre. Inability to adapt as variables constantly evolve would have significant negative ramifications to the game we all love. Developing and implementing new HoN structural changes is done with tremendous consideration, and with our community in mind. We encourage all HoN fans to embrace these changes with us.
[S2]Maliken
S2 Staff Member
12 comments:
"There have been claims that with EA we now have introduced pay for power. I strongly disagree with this statement [...] pay for power is selling power ups that give heroes magic armor penetration, faster attack speed, more starting gold, etc.. "
Ignorant or just dumb? Pay for power could also be applied if the new hero is OP or has a great skill no other hero can offer. If that NEVER (ever!) happens one cant blame S2 for pay for power but instead say that their new marketing method was well done. But if it does... S2 and their staff should be boycotted and learn their lesson not to shit on their true fanbase.
/ Payed for this game since beta!
ROLF. Just like always. QQ. U'r idea about EA it's bullshit.
In 90% of the games this last week, I've had one or more players disconnect. Their accountstatus is Verified, created within 7 days. Is this how it's going to be? Leavers in every game cuz it's now free to make a new account?
And i created a 2nd account, just to see how it is as a new player. I played a few matchmakings.
And 70 % at least 1 leaver, AND at least 3 people who feed because they don't know how to play.
I don't say everyone should know how to play the game. But in this game were this big noobs + legacy people, it was around 1500 rating, still the verified people fed on them and owned.
That are not fair matches anymore
since my internet connection sucks, i havent played since last 5 or 6 patch, too bad.And still i dont agree with EAP and I am a Golden Shield user
Leave HoN for Dota 2.
lmfao at all these comments
9 days 23 hours... http://dota2talk.com/ and QQ for me.
Can't wait for Dota2. I love HoN, but it's just not the same anymore, no matter how you dress it up. The heroes are getting worse, it takes longer for new heroes to be designed and the games are complete garbage now. I support the fact that you guys want to make money off of the hard work you do, but it's just not the same. I hope you guys really enjoy being a copy of Lol...
DOTA 2 is coming and HON will feel it like a stab in the heart...
yah HoN fanbase is gonna be SLAUGHTERED by Dota 2 as soon as it comes out lmao. After everything since the servers went down theres no way I'm staying. Sorry, HoN. You were fun in beta, but you've gone downhill
Sorry HoN but im switching to LoL. Have always been a huge fan of HoN and bought the game so i would always have unlimited acess to all the heroes. If you could buy EA with silver i would accept it but you are selling power where LoL is not. Even if it isnt as good of a game in my opinion, it is fair. S2 have lost my trust, I feel cheated, and will never log on to that game until they remove EA
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