They might actually be making an economic profit in terms of revenue. From their end, the increase in revenue will offset the loss in subscription numbers. They aren't concerned about playerbase unless it positively affects their bottom line. If they downsize and increase their revenue/cost ratio, they've benefited.
According to their math.
Of course, from the consumer standpoint, it's a horrible idea to expect people to pay more for bad and out-of-demand service. Unfortunately, the market is made up of lots of people. While individually they might all come to the conclusion that, in a vacuum, SoE isn't worth even thinking about, a significant enough number of consumers are likely enough to fall for it that SoE stays afloat.
Even if they do go down, I doubt it'll be because of a spectacular failure. Someone higher up will probably decide not that the company has failed but rather that there could be a marginally more efficient allocation of resources. This is the way companies end: not with a bang, but with a whimper.
One can only hope that putting out quality products instead of mindlessly chasing the ever evasive profit margin maximization will spread insidiously throughout the industry's economic projections. Maybe craftsmanship in game design will become the next hot thing and MMO's will be worth the fees charged per unit of game play.
Re: SOE Station All-Access pass, thirty bucks
They might actually be making an economic profit in terms of revenue. From their end, the increase in revenue will offset the loss in subscription numbers. They aren't concerned about playerbase unless it positively affects their bottom line. If they downsize and increase their revenue/cost ratio, they've benefited.
According to their math.
Of course, from the consumer standpoint, it's a horrible idea to expect people to pay more for bad and out-of-demand service. Unfortunately, the market is made up of lots of people. While individually they might all come to the conclusion that, in a vacuum, SoE isn't worth even thinking about, a significant enough number of consumers are likely enough to fall for it that SoE stays afloat.
Even if they do go down, I doubt it'll be because of a spectacular failure. Someone higher up will probably decide not that the company has failed but rather that there could be a marginally more efficient allocation of resources. This is the way companies end: not with a bang, but with a whimper.
One can only hope that putting out quality products instead of mindlessly chasing the ever evasive profit margin maximization will spread insidiously throughout the industry's economic projections. Maybe craftsmanship in game design will become the next hot thing and MMO's will be worth the fees charged per unit of game play.
Wishful thinking, unfortunately.