Darkfall has taken a page from Sigil's book

Johnhost

Everyone on this website probably remembers Brad.  I like Brad, I think he is a guy with a dream.  Sadly Brad has personal issues, a runaway budget and lost his publisher mid-stream.  Brad royally messed up Vanguard through poor management.

It wasn't that Vanguard in theory was bad, or that under proper management would have launched as a true WoW killer, but in it's alpha launch state it was pretty poor.  Perhaps Darkfall will be the same.

Darkfall stikes me as a home-brewed MMO by a unknown publisher who might come out and suprise us all, or might show us why MMO's are supposed to have $1,000,000+ budgets and an extremely high level of organization to be successful.  Everquest was a suprise hit, it to lacked from the polish and professionalism we expect now (thanks Blizzard) in a AAA title, but it was also at a time that we were given this huge MMO world in full glorious 3D.  And no matter the horrible launch, bugs and famously harsh death we loved it.

Darkfall, Vanguard and other indy MMO titles seem to suffer from this 1999 mentality.  Perhaps because the game started back then...but either way the business has changed.  You can't make a AAA title without serious organization and money.  Two things which Adventurine seem to lack.

Darkfall will at best become a cult-hit that sucks in disinfranchized SOE players who love hardcore classic gaming.  And if it accomplishes that, it will do more then any MMO to today since Vanguard tried to. 

At worst it will be a bug ridden failure who closes it's doors after a few months due to serious over-hype and under delivering.  I know game makers feel that hype needs to be there before substance to gain a following and financial support...but if this game isn't vaporware I believe it nearly has been over and over again and only within the last couple of months has this game actually got some legs to it.

I wish it the very best, but all signs indicate it will be a hellish launch with only the most faithful hanging on.  However if Adventurine can manage the community better, give us a good game and polish as the money comes in, then I think they could see the game grow to WoW status in a couple of years.

Enigma

good thought out commentary. However; it is Aventurine....not Adventurine. The fanbois will kill you for that error.

But otherwise, good statement.

daarco

Best thread i have seen here in a long time. And it is the same i feel about DF. Will be really interesting to what Aventurine manages to do with DF.

tombear81

Nice reasoned post. It good to see the madness of this game and the developers (in)actions has not turned you into a frustrated psycho like the rest of us.... there is still time 

I for one tend towards this gaming being a big stinking pile of horse poo and thats the nicest, reasoned way can put it.  I used to be so articulate. Well sort of... 

asdar

I totally disagree. I think the failures have been those new MMO's that try to follow the same mold.

Successes I'd say were GW, low budget, big niche and a pretty loyal following and Eve, free for all PvP with spaceships.

They did their own thing without trying to follow along. GW at least wasn't a huge budget operation.

I don't think anyone will do WoW better than WoW. I think it's going to take someone that can show a new direction, and I don't think it matters if the game starts slow, as long as it keeps going in the right direction.

Like Eve, it'll grow on you, if it's fun. I'm not saying Darkfall is that game, just that I think independents can do it, as long as they stay true to their vision.

Vanguard was a great game halted in mid development, then the vision got completely lost before release, for the money of a big backer.