The Big Picture
The best thing for everyone who enjoys playing the SoT is if Rare continue to produce quality updates and free events to keep the game fresh and fun for many years to come. And the best (and possibly only) way of insuring this happens is to “grow” the player base. In other words, attract as many new players to the game as possible.
To this end Rare has to demonstrate its value to its owner, Xbox Games Studios. Perhaps surprisingly to many, Xbox Games Studios doesn’t really care if the SoT is any good as a game or whether Rare makes money or not (although this is obviously preferable to the alternative). Microsoft’s interest in the SoT goes only as far as to how much it helps promote their main goal… gaining a larger portion of the World Gaming Market. More specifically, increasing the amount of Xbox consoles sold. For example, Rare recently attempted this when they released Arena Mode which was aimed at a certain market segment (Target Audience) where Xbox’s competitors are currently doing quite well. The more potential Xbox Games Studios sees in Rare increasing their market share the longer they will continue to promote, support and finance Rare.
Put simply, more new players means more SoT.
So how would PvE mode help achieve this?
There is a definite interest in a PvE Mode. It is the most requested feature on almost every SoT forum (with PC/Xbox discussions a distant second). It also targets the exact market that is essential to the longevity of SoT. New players. A PvE game mode is specifically attractive to three groups of players/buyers. Parents of small children, starting players (Noobs) and hardcore PvE-ers (players looking for a less aggressive form of entertainment). It is debatable what percentage of the Market these three Groups make up in total. What is not debatable is that they represent a potential source of new players. One that Rare would do well to cater to.
SoT is a beautiful cartoon-like game with many simple and fun mechanics. With the introduction of Tall Tales it lends itself even more to adventure/exploration. Exactly the type of things that appeal to these target audiences.
But a PvE-mode will ruin my enjoyment of this game!
Unless you are the type of person that enjoys picking on little kids, inexperienced helpless players trying to learn the game and people that really, really just want to be left in peace, then no. A PvE Mode will not affect your experience whatsoever. In fact, it’s more likely to improve it.
There will still be a 6 ship max on the server in Adventure Mode. As long as there are a few hundred people online playing at any time any change to your actual “in-game” experience would be negligible.
In fact, it may actually improve that experience. At least if you play in a Random Crew. Gone will be most of the Random Anchor Dropping Noobs and Microphone Screeching little kids babbling nonsense. Gone will be the crew mate who just wants to sail around looking at things and avoid other players. The quality of the average random pirate in Adventure Mode will actually increase on average. Making your game experience all the more satisfying.
And if the player count has dropped so low that there aren’t enough players to make up a full server then the SoT is finished either way. PvE-only or not.
PvE Mode players don’t deserve the rewards
Not true. For game balance PvE Mode should reward less gold and reputation for exactly the same reason that you earn more in the Devil’s Roar. Adding the risk of Volcanoes ups the ante, taking away the threat of PvP lowers it. But those are just two of the challenges that players face. There are still many challenges, Megalodons, The Kraken, Skeletons in various forms, Storms, Rocks to name some.
Then there is the fact that you have to actually go out and find/dig/slash your way to your goal and return to sell the loot. So yes, PvE mode players still "earn" their rewards. The rewards should be a bit less because it's just a bit easier. Like the DR is a bit harder.
Nothing you do in SoT has any real intrinsic value in life or to you as a person. There is no accomplishment in this game that you should invest more than a fleeting sense of pride in. You aren’t actually learning to sail or fish or shoot a cannon you know? Apart from it’s escapism and relaxation SoT (and all computer games) are a hollow nothing (Unless you work in this industry in which case it is your profession).
If you invested that time learning a new language, taking sailing lessons or practicing to pick locks you would be improving yourself as person and be justified in taking pride in your achievements. Who cares how another player gets their Sea Dog Jacket? What does it matter? If that is actually important to you then you need to take a long look at yourself in the mirror.
It goes against Rare’s Original Core Concept?
So what? Rare have never made any secret that SoT was a game in development. Things change, as do concepts. Look at Arena Mode. They needed to do something to appeal to a larger market segment. What other potential markets are still out there to be explored, I wonder?
At the end of the day the more players the better for all of us. Players leave so new players are needed to maintain a healthy player base. Exploring new markets is essential to this goal. PvE-ers are a potential market.
If you don't like a PvE mode simply don't play it. Same goes for Arena or Adventure modes. Problem solved. “What’s good for the Goose is good for the Gander”.
