I understand all of your concerns. They're valid ones. From what I understand from your writing, you are worried that essentially TWI is creating separate games from each other with these different modes. There is truth to that. Particularily comparing the action mode from the classic mode. I've played both of these new modes in beta. Action is very different from classic, so much, that they're completely different game experiences.
So why Tripwire didn't start the job of RO classic since RO 2 original itself without creating RO classic ??
The problem is why they start a new base of creation inside the game ?? Why it can't be the game itself ??
Action is very different from classic, so much, that they're completely different game experiences.
Theses completely different game experiences will create 2 community of RO gamers. Or maybe more if players will ask a new gameplay who dislike RO 2 original because it's too easy and RO classic because it's too hard. It can be also a new kind of players : player who will want a "ultra Ro classic" because RO classic will be too easy for them.
Maybe anothers of players will want a Ultra RO 2.
Attack, counter-attacks. RO classic attack, RO 2 counter attack (by a ultra RO 2 gameplay) And new RO classic will attack with new udpate, etc...We are in war betwen RO 2 and Ro classic. It will be endless i am afraid. It's why i prefer all updates stay in RO 2...RO classic has fews good points but bad points too : it is not perfect. As the same way : all in RO 2 original is not bad. There is good point in RO 2. Then bad point, ok, good point ok but worked from RO 2. And all problems solve by big but fews numbers patches.
By adding Ro classic, Tripwire will lost the gameplay community and the game experiences community.
And so ironical : defenders of RO 2 original will become "traitors" to RO community ! By defending Ro 2 original against Ro classic...Because RO classic will become the new ground of RO game and RO community.
A company like Tripwire will most likely never be able to compete with Activions, Electronic Arts, Treyarch at all.
But you forget Activision, Electronic Arts, Treyarch never WANT to create realist game as RO 2. They can but they DON'T WANT to create a realistical game. They create game with relaxed-too much relaxed for being open to all players.
Ok : Tripwire is never be able to compete with Activision, Electronic Arts, Treyarch at all in one dimension (industrial).
But the opposite is correct too :
This time, Activision, Electronic Arts, Treyarch are never be able to compete with Tripwire AT ALL in this second dimension (artistical)
Activision, Electronic Arts, Treyarch have surely the power but they choose another industrial way.
We see two battles.
An Industrial battle : Activision, Electronic Arts, Treyarch are winner. by quantity of their games.
An Artistical battle : Tripwire is winner ! by quality of their games.
Quality win against quantity. Remenber it even if we see victory of quantity. Tripwire well understand it : it's why they create a game like RO 1 in their starting.
The fact there is a poll asking the removing of all way of gaming except RO classic show the community will split in 2 part.
Unfortunately, new players to HOS who play the action mode will probably be seen as untermensch, by my fellow 'RO vet' brethren.
The opposite is ritgh too :
It will become so ironical for old RO 2 gamers - the players who defended RO 2 since the starting of the game with its good and bad point - who defended RO 2 until now...Defenders of "RO 2 heroes of stalingrad" will become "Traitors of RO classic".