Angrakhan

You can do this in a PvE-centric game. This wouldn't work in WAR where the whole game is about open-world zone control since if you didn't like how the game was going in your specific instance you could just switch instances. Don't get me wrong, CO looks great, but design decisions like this tell me it will never be a good pvp game even if they add in playable villains as an expansion pack. PvP will always be limited to instanced arena-style stuff.

If you're telling me it's taken them $66 million USD to build Darkfall, then the chances of them ever turning a profit are very slim.

I think Darkfall is making the same mistake that WAR made: overestimating the interest in a pvp-centric MMO. Darkfall caters to the same demographic that UO and Shadowbane did which is the hardest of hardcore no-holds-barred full-loot open pvp crowd. That segment is VERY small.

All I can say is I really hope the Darkfall dev's are self-funded and have budgeted around having a tiny niche MMO that has at its hay day a low 6-figure subscription number because they are quite simply targeting a game at the absolute smallest demographic of gamers.

It's like building a car for right-side lateral paraplegics. Yes, the market segment is there, but you're really limiting your growth potential.

That being said the hardest of hardcore full-loot open pvp guys would be very loyal to a new MMO that actually delivers on its promises considering their limited options. Hope this game works out for them. I won't be playing it though.