Mi Tes:
I see Mythic Entertainment doing the same thing that Turbine did with AC2. They are leaving the good ideas and taking the crappy ones to the next game, as well as adding a bit of shiney (AC2=Imperator). Too late for game #2, but lets hope by game #3 they will have learned the lesson. Granted I can see Imperator having a stable release, I just don’t see that many people who will be interested in the concept. In fact, rather suprised Imperator has fanbois.

I agree even if I don’t like the multi-game approach. If you aren’t able to make one of them, you won’t be able to make 2, or 3 or 4.

Mythic isn’t reacting well with DAoC in the last year and I don’t think they’ll be able to improve with a new game simply because of a new name (so you can “fool” yourself with a DAoC 2, but if you aren’t able to fix DAoC 1 you also won’t be able to create something better just because of its name).

I also wonder what’s the sense of writing impressions about it when all we have is a press release and a few environmental screenshots.

Instead, let’s consider the other aspect. Is Imperator going to steal subscribers from DAoC? Or it will get different subscribers?

Well, my point of view is that Imperator will catch directly DAoC’s players. Just them and perhaps a few between those who left the game (like me). I don’t think it will draw in *new* players in a considerable percent. I also believe that most of these players will probably keep playing for both games but Imperator will mantain lower subscription numbers compared with its “brother”.

To translate all this:
– DAoC keeps a steady 250k that will probably decrease till 230k (or a bit less) as WoW and EQ2 are out.
– Imperator, the next year, could probably reach 100k at the start but the future won’t have a strong impact on that number. If there will be a light increase it will depend on the raw quality of the game.

DeepT:
I am sure any PvE game can do well provided it has the mythical content most games seems to totally miss or skimp on.

Yes, in fact DAoC is wonderful in the PvE. Great “mythical content” indeed.