Similar to why many play Asheron's Call. The levels of customization available, the time invested, the friends made.
Both these MMOs were highly player customizable compared to later MMOs where everyone is cookie cutter. Even the world was in a way less cookie cutter.
Plus in some ways developer interaction had been much more personal then. So I would say that investments made early have their pay offs. Get the community built and it can sustain itself. Reinvent yourself a few times along the way will help and hinder at times, but if you give players a means to establish a good community they will stick with it.
Finally, not shutting down when other games would call it quits is big too. Both Origin and Turbine attempted spin offs but neither made it, I don't even think any Origin follow up even launched. Players had their comfort level and moving on isn't all its cracked up to be
Both these MMOs were highly player customizable compared to later MMOs where everyone is cookie cutter. Even the world was in a way less cookie cutter.
Plus in some ways developer interaction had been much more personal then. So I would say that investments made early have their pay offs. Get the community built and it can sustain itself. Reinvent yourself a few times along the way will help and hinder at times, but if you give players a means to establish a good community they will stick with it.
Finally, not shutting down when other games would call it quits is big too. Both Origin and Turbine attempted spin offs but neither made it, I don't even think any Origin follow up even launched. Players had their comfort level and moving on isn't all its cracked up to be