The reality is that we are playing mmo versions of Playstation 2 games.
Your reality is not everybody else's reality, and even less "the" reality ;-)
As I said, I've been playing video games on various platforms for over 30 years, and comparing MMORPGs to PS2 games is just... nonsense (as in "doesn't make any sense at all").
Actually, I think WoW is a Soulcalibur clone... I mean, both have swords.
Mr. Literal has a place in the subway.
Honestly I think the comparison is that MMORPGs have stagnated at 2004.
I mean TOR's biggest claim to fame is voice acting through-out. I played PS1 games with that feature. Hell that's barely as impressive now as the first time I played NBA Jam on a Genesis and kept hearing BOOMSHAKALAKA all the time.
We have made progress. The MMO genre has made progress. We've been in a rut for the past 7-8 years... that's what happens when something comes along that redefines the standards.
We are coming out of that rut. I honestly believe that.
I wish I had your optimism.
We still have a long way to go to fully realize the potential of this genre, but we are making progress.
As the technology advances, so too will the possibilities presented to us in games.
I think the genre needs to go back to the virtual world roots yet retain a lot of the ease of access and advancement in accessability and features.
The biggest hinderance right now is bandwidth - though processing power is still finite too. Bandwidth limits how "massively" things can be. Even the "biggest" and most "massively" MMO out there - EvE is essentially sharded. Each system is it's own "instance" just because we don't yet have the tech and the bandwidth to make a virtual world/universe without those kinds of boundries and limitations.
I mean, imagine an EvE online with a completely open universe. Travel from person to ship to space to system to next system to planet back to person - without seems.
Thousands of players and NPCs and ships in a single system without time dialation.
Free flight from vacuum to the surface of a planet to hopping out of your ship and walking around and back again...
10-15 years these things, this kind of scale and truly "massively multiplayer" will be not only possible but the new norm.
We'll look back at the days of loading screens and zoning and and player caps and laugh, with rosey eyed glasses, at how primitive it is.
The reality is that we are playing mmo versions of Playstation 2 games.
Your reality is not everybody else's reality, and even less "the" reality ;-)
As I said, I've been playing video games on various platforms for over 30 years, and comparing MMORPGs to PS2 games is just... nonsense (as in "doesn't make any sense at all").
Actually, I think WoW is a Soulcalibur clone... I mean, both have swords.
Mr. Literal has a place in the subway.
Honestly I think the comparison is that MMORPGs have stagnated at 2004.
I mean TOR's biggest claim to fame is voice acting through-out. I played PS1 games with that feature. Hell that's barely as impressive now as the first time I played NBA Jam on a Genesis and kept hearing BOOMSHAKALAKA all the time.
Thanks for confirming what I was saying. So TOR is similar to a PS1 game because both have voice overs? It's quite similar to my silly WoW/Soulcalibur comparison. Let's go further, and say EvE is a Space Invaders clone because both have spaceships. No? Why not?
Respect, walk, what did you say? Respect, walk Are you talkin' to me? Are you talkin' to me? - PANTERA at HELLFEST 2023
The reality is that we are playing mmo versions of Playstation 2 games.
Your reality is not everybody else's reality, and even less "the" reality ;-)
As I said, I've been playing video games on various platforms for over 30 years, and comparing MMORPGs to PS2 games is just... nonsense (as in "doesn't make any sense at all").
Actually, I think WoW is a Soulcalibur clone... I mean, both have swords.
Mr. Literal has a place in the subway.
Honestly I think the comparison is that MMORPGs have stagnated at 2004.
I mean TOR's biggest claim to fame is voice acting through-out. I played PS1 games with that feature. Hell that's barely as impressive now as the first time I played NBA Jam on a Genesis and kept hearing BOOMSHAKALAKA all the time.
Thanks for confirming what I was saying. So TOR is similar to a PS1 game because both have voice overs? It's quite similar to my silly WoW/Soulcalibur comparison. Let's go further, and say EvE is a Space Invaders clone because both have spaceships. No? Why not?
Yeah, the only thing TOR brought to the genre was cut scenes and voice acting. It's very comprable to a PS1 game.
Originally posted by The_Korrigan Originally posted by FoomerangSure buddy. You keep telling yourself that The reality is that we are playing mmo versions of Playstation 2 games.
Your reality is not everybody else's reality, and even less "the" reality ;-)
As I said, I've been playing video games on various platforms for over 30 years, and comparing MMORPGs to PS2 games is just... nonsense (as in "doesn't make any sense at all").
Actually, I think WoW is a Soulcalibur clone... I mean, both have swords.
Thanks for thinking critically. I look at what mmos are offering recently, and it is obvious they are borrowing from established genres heavily. Strong personal stories, platforming, weapon swapping, active dodging, combos, dynamic events, etc. These are old hat for other genres and have been a staple on consoles since the 90s. Final Fantasy, Ninja Gaiden, GTA, Shenmue, Resident Evil, Devil May Cry, Jet Set Radio, Sonic, Mario, Zelda, Metroid, Phantasy Star Online, Rez, the list is infinite.
Taking these types of gaming and making them massively multiplayer is not suddenly redefining the genre. It definitely adds to the variety of mmos out there but I look at where mmos were heading up to 2003 and you must be blind to think what we have now is an evolution. Its a fun diversion, but its not groundbreaking or innovative. And really thats the point of these games is to be a fun distraction, a bit of entertainment. But as an enthusiast, its a shame that this is the apparent new direction of the genre, considering where it had the potential to grow. It got too popular way too fast and everyone came in, slapping old formulas onto the mmo space like a gold rush.
Like I said, I'm glad this is an eye opener to some folks. I enjoy them for what they are as well. They are a good bit of fun for a couple months.
We have made progress. The MMO genre has made progress. We've been in a rut for the past 7-8 years... that's what happens when something comes along that redefines the standards.
We are coming out of that rut. I honestly believe that.
I wish I had your optimism.
We still have a long way to go to fully realize the potential of this genre, but we are making progress.
As the technology advances, so too will the possibilities presented to us in games.
I think the genre needs to go back to the virtual world roots yet retain a lot of the ease of access and advancement in accessability and features.
The biggest hinderance right now is bandwidth - though processing power is still finite too. Bandwidth limits how "massively" things can be. Even the "biggest" and most "massively" MMO out there - EvE is essentially sharded. Each system is it's own "instance" just because we don't yet have the tech and the bandwidth to make a virtual world/universe without those kinds of boundries and limitations.
First, Eve doesn't realy have instances, because anyone can go to these places.
Second, "as tech advances so too will the possibilties" I thought that too, except possibilties have been getting less and less with each MMO.
But yes, virtual world roots. Currently, tech isn't what is limiting MMOs. We already have games that allow 500 man sieges in real time combat with balistics tracking (made by a 30 man team in Greece with no publisher). It's game design and WoW clones that are crippling things.
Before 2001 = Was considered one of the most hardcore gamers on the planet. Played almost every single SNES, NES, PSX and Dreamcast title avaliable as well as I enjoyed arcade and PC net gaming with friends outside.
2001 = Since I got my PC lost complete interest in most single player games. I was totally addicted to the online gameplay from FPS shooters like CS, HL, UT and RTS like SC to playing most big title MMORPGs like UO, SWG, WOW and many many others F2P or smaller P2P titles.
2011 = DCUO was one of my last MMORPG that I enjoyed for 2-3 months and Aion happened to last around the same.
PRESENT time = 0 interest in any MMORPG or 99% of single player PC games. I happened to go back and try to finish some missed games like FFX, FF12 and pretty much thats about it.
So I must thank the developers and their awesome job for turning one of the most hardcore players on the planet into a game free individual. Thank you so much, without your lack of imagination and lazy work I would be playing something right now than thanking you!
Although my choice of games are a little different, we share the same mindset on the genre. I am holding on to my last MMORPG (Vanguard: Saga of Heroes) and when the day finally comes to close up all of my accounts, I will have nothing to go to other than F2P/B2P shit that is ruling the world at the moment. So I will most likely take a long break or leave completely.
I think GW2 will be fun for a short while but it will hold no lasting impression with me as there is no raiding or anything to do at end game other than weapon appearance and a few dungeons.
After that...ESO? I would like to think so but highly doubt it (even though i love the TES series to death, they will murder it with this MMO)...Arche Age? possibly without all the Asian themed combat and armour/weapons but they won't change for the western version.
I do not think anyone in the west has the balls to do something like Arche Age for us, which is sad, I really think it would work.
The reality is that we are playing mmo versions of Playstation 2 games.
Your reality is not everybody else's reality, and even less "the" reality ;-)
As I said, I've been playing video games on various platforms for over 30 years, and comparing MMORPGs to PS2 games is just... nonsense (as in "doesn't make any sense at all").
Actually, I think WoW is a Soulcalibur clone... I mean, both have swords.
Mr. Literal has a place in the subway.
Honestly I think the comparison is that MMORPGs have stagnated at 2004.
I mean TOR's biggest claim to fame is voice acting through-out. I played PS1 games with that feature. Hell that's barely as impressive now as the first time I played NBA Jam on a Genesis and kept hearing BOOMSHAKALAKA all the time.
EvE is a Space Invaders clone because both have spaceships.
Pong clone, they both have pixels lit up on a screen.
Self-pity imprisons us in the walls of our own self-absorption. The whole world shrinks down to the size of our problem, and the more we dwell on it, the smaller we are and the larger the problem seems to grow.
The biggest hinderance right now is bandwidth - though processing power is still finite too. Bandwidth limits how "massively" things can be. Even the "biggest" and most "massively" MMO out there - EvE is essentially sharded. Each system is it's own "instance" just because we don't yet have the tech and the bandwidth to make a virtual world/universe without those kinds of boundries and limitations.
First, Eve doesn't realy have instances, because anyone can go to these places.
Well, they aren't private instances but each "room" is certainly seperate from each other "room" - systems etc.
I mean, Jita can be a laggy mess and one jump away clear as day.
Jump into a system with a massive blob vs. blob and (at least before dialation) it became a screen saver.
That's why I said "essentially sharded."
But yeah, I agree that in the past 7-8 years there has been a rut where people are not trying new things and innovating and trying to expand what is possible, they have been copying and just trying to steal a piece of the same pie instead of trying to invent a new pie!
LMSO thanks for that! I've often wanted to say that to so many people on here! But it is true that GW2 while not a lazy project nor a broken game, doesn't appeal to the so called hard core PVE players because there isn't a gear treadmill, there isn't a monthly fee, there aren't raids to get geared for before doing the same dungeons ad nausium, they aren't forced to be online constantly to do anything they find meaningful (like get gear grind, grind rep), there isn't gear solely from raids they can wear to walk about the major cities and strut making them feel relevant, and finally, there isn't this bloated advantage in pvp where it doesn't matter how skilled or terrible you might be you have macros and gear that gives you an unfair advantage.
Yes because GW2 does not have gear and gear will not matter in pvp. Stop with the fanboy nonsense please.
GW2 will have a gear grind, gear will matter in pvp and raids.
Originally posted by FoomerangSure buddy. You keep telling yourself that The reality is that we are playing mmo versions of Playstation 2 games.
Your reality is not everybody else's reality, and even less "the" reality ;-)
As I said, I've been playing video games on various platforms for over 30 years, and comparing MMORPGs to PS2 games is just... nonsense (as in "doesn't make any sense at all").
Actually, I think WoW is a Soulcalibur clone... I mean, both have swords.
Thanks for thinking critically. I look at what mmos are offering recently, and it is obvious they are borrowing from established genres heavily. Strong personal stories, platforming, weapon swapping, active dodging, combos, dynamic events, etc. These are old hat for other genres and have been a staple on consoles since the 90s. Final Fantasy, Ninja Gaiden, GTA, Shenmue, Resident Evil, Devil May Cry, Jet Set Radio, Sonic, Mario, Zelda, Metroid, Phantasy Star Online, Rez, the list is infinite.
Taking these types of gaming and making them massively multiplayer is not suddenly redefining the genre. It definitely adds to the variety of mmos out there but I look at where mmos were heading up to 2003 and you must be blind to think what we have now is an evolution. Its a fun diversion, but its not groundbreaking or innovative. And really thats the point of these games is to be a fun distraction, a bit of entertainment. But as an enthusiast, its a shame that this is the apparent new direction of the genre, considering where it had the potential to grow. It got too popular way too fast and everyone came in, slapping old formulas onto the mmo space like a gold rush.
Like I said, I'm glad this is an eye opener to some folks. I enjoy them for what they are as well. They are a good bit of fun for a couple months.
I cant stress enough how much I agree with what you said, this is something I have been really thinking as of late, that maybe the MMORPG genre is no longer for me, I still want that long term experience, I still want that world freedom, but I also want to interact with other people, I keep thinking that maybe what I need is to sacrifice massive multiplayer interaction and hope that bethesda adds some sort of 4 player co-op to their next installment of TES and continue increasing the complexity so I can finally have an experience that will be more akin to what 15 years ago I was hoping I would be having in an MMO in 2012.
I keep hoping that this is some sort of experimental phase we are going through and that we might see a breakthrough at some point and that someone is gonna look back at the root and why people played MUDs and the first MMORPGs and make something that extends on that concept rather than mangle it.
The reality is that we are playing mmo versions of Playstation 2 games.
Your reality is not everybody else's reality, and even less "the" reality ;-)
As I said, I've been playing video games on various platforms for over 30 years, and comparing MMORPGs to PS2 games is just... nonsense (as in "doesn't make any sense at all").
Actually, I think WoW is a Soulcalibur clone... I mean, both have swords.
Mr. Literal has a place in the subway.
Honestly I think the comparison is that MMORPGs have stagnated at 2004.
I mean TOR's biggest claim to fame is voice acting through-out. I played PS1 games with that feature. Hell that's barely as impressive now as the first time I played NBA Jam on a Genesis and kept hearing BOOMSHAKALAKA all the time.
Considering most MMOs were not targeted at hardcore console gamers, I'd say they did things right in that regard. Especially for someone with your history of action combat addiction. But then again, the genre does seem to be hurtling full force down the console gravy train lately and with upcoming games. You'd be hard pressed to find one out of the next 20 games that isn't action combat oriented. The entire genre appears to be redefining itself into Massively Online Arcade Games.
I agree with OP, but us jaded cynics need to point the finger of blame in the right direction. Developers and MMO gamers love their games they did not get us where we are today.
It was the taking over of MMO comapnies by coporates and the influx of teenage gamers that has killed the MMO genre.
I have been told before to look at the money MMO's are making, it is not dead with all that cash, all those players, how could it be? Well today's MMO's are a new genre of game for those who came from single player consoles and drowned out the voices of old PC MMO gamers. So MMO's are dead, easymode MMO's are what we have now.
But the easymode MMO players do not realise that the changes to MMO's do not stop here. 'Gamers' from social networks have arrived and the MMO genre is transforming once more. It is becoming even more easymode, with a emphasis on social networking. Just as control systems got dumbed down for console players, we are now looking at them being dumbed down for tablets and mobile phones. Just as MMO world concept was dumbed down for console players who had not played MMO's before it is being dumbed down now for 'gamers' from social networks who have only played Farmville.
Wecome to MMO's version 1.2: simpler, shorter, solo.
You hit the nail on the head....
When the CEO of Blizzard / Activision came out and said they were in competition with Farmville, everyone laughed.
"LOL - How does World of Warcraft compete with social media games?!?"
What the CEO was describing was their NEW audience, not the game. The BIG HUMP under the WOW playerbase bell curve are CASUAL gamers. These gamers are fickle in how they consume entertainment media, they look for quick play cycles to accomodate their schedules, and typically aren't interested in deep & challenging game play.
Angry Birds & Mafia Wars fit that description just as much WOW (modern MMORPGs) does.
As massively popular as these EZ-Mode MMOs are, the downfall of the new MMO model is the fickleness of the audience. CCP will never have to worry about an EVE player spliting time between Farmville....but Blizzard does. And as the likes of EA chase after these fickle gamers for their business...they will be driven to make their games easier, more instantly gratifying, and watered down...in hopes of competing with the cheap throw-away social media & mobile OS games.
If the MMO industry (as we knew it) has any shot in modern day gaming....they will need to lower costs TREMENDOUSLY to make the econmics right to sustain business with a niche audience (10s - 100s of thousands...NOT MILLIONS)
Thanks for thinking critically. I look at what mmos are offering recently, and it is obvious they are borrowing from established genres heavily. Strong personal stories, platforming, weapon swapping, active dodging, combos, dynamic events, etc. These are old hat for other genres and have been a staple on consoles since the 90s. Final Fantasy, Ninja Gaiden, GTA, Shenmue, Resident Evil, Devil May Cry, Jet Set Radio, Sonic, Mario, Zelda, Metroid, Phantasy Star Online, Rez, the list is infinite.
Taking these types of gaming and making them massively multiplayer is not suddenly redefining the genre. It definitely adds to the variety of mmos out there but I look at where mmos were heading up to 2003 and you must be blind to think what we have now is an evolution. Its a fun diversion, but its not groundbreaking or innovative. And really thats the point of these games is to be a fun distraction, a bit of entertainment. But as an enthusiast, its a shame that this is the apparent new direction of the genre, considering where it had the potential to grow. It got too popular way too fast and everyone came in, slapping old formulas onto the mmo space like a gold rush.
Like I said, I'm glad this is an eye opener to some folks. I enjoy them for what they are as well. They are a good bit of fun for a couple months.
It makes me feel like they are just grasping at straws and have no idea how to make an MMORPG that plays to the inherant strengths of being able to create a virtual world.
"You CAN'T buy ships for RL money." - MaxBacon
"classification of games into MMOs is not by rational reasoning" - nariusseldon
Considering most MMOs are not targeted at hardcore console gamers, I'd say they did things right in that regard. Especially for someone with your history of action combat addiction. But then again, the genre does seem to be hurtling full force down the console gravy train lately and with upcoming games. You'd be hard pressed to find one out of tne next 20 games that isn't action combat oriented. The entire genre appears to be redefining itself into Massively Online Arcade Games.
Eh, I think even being "virtual arcades" would be more stimulating than the guided by the hand borefests we've recieved lately.
Originally posted by nilden It makes me feel like they are just grasping at straws and have no idea how to make an MMORPG that plays to the inherant strengths of being able to create a virtual world.
I get that feeling too sometimes.
Originally posted by 3-4thElf Eh, I think even being "virtual arcades" would be more stimulating than the guided by the hand borefests we've recieved lately.
I, too, would like to thank the current crop of developers and publishers for allowing me the oppurtunity to save money on their awesome games. They aren't over hyped, overpriced, drm ridden, dlc infested reskinned versions of previous games at all.
I, too, would like to thank the current crop of developers and publishers for allowing me the oppurtunity to save money on their awesome games. They aren't over hyped, overpriced, drm ridden, dlc infested reskinned versions of previous games at all.
"You CAN'T buy ships for RL money." - MaxBacon
"classification of games into MMOs is not by rational reasoning" - nariusseldon
I agree with OP, but us jaded cynics need to point the finger of blame in the right direction. Developers and MMO gamers love their games they did not get us where we are today.
It was the taking over of MMO comapnies by coporates and the influx of teenage gamers that has killed the MMO genre.
I have been told before to look at the money MMO's are making, it is not dead with all that cash, all those players, how could it be? Well today's MMO's are a new genre of game for those who came from single player consoles and drowned out the voices of old PC MMO gamers. So MMO's are dead, easymode MMO's are what we have now.
But the easymode MMO players do not realise that the changes to MMO's do not stop here. 'Gamers' from social networks have arrived and the MMO genre is transforming once more. It is becoming even more easymode, with a emphasis on social networking. Just as control systems got dumbed down for console players, we are now looking at them being dumbed down for tablets and mobile phones. Just as MMO world concept was dumbed down for console players who had not played MMO's before it is being dumbed down now for 'gamers' from social networks who have only played Farmville.
Wecome to MMO's version 1.2: simpler, shorter, solo.
You hit the nail on the head....
When the CEO of Blizzard / Activision came out and said they were in competition with Farmville, everyone laughed.
"LOL - How does World of Warcraft compete with social media games?!?"
What the CEO was describing was their NEW audience, not the game. The BIG HUMP under the WOW playerbase bell curve are CASUAL gamers. These gamers are fickle in how they consume entertainment media, they look for quick play cycles to accomodate their schedules, and typically aren't interested in deep & challenging game play.
Angry Birds & Mafia Wars fit that description just as much WOW (modern MMORPGs) does.
As massively popular as these EZ-Mode MMOs are, the downfall of the new MMO model is the fickleness of the audience. CCP will never have to worry about an EVE player spliting time between Farmville....but Blizzard does. And as the likes of EA chase after these fickle gamers for their business...they will be driven to make their games easier, more instantly gratifying, and watered down...in hopes of competing with the cheap throw-away social media & mobile OS games.
If the MMO industry (as we knew it) has any shot in modern day gaming....they will need to lower costs TREMENDOUSLY to make the econmics right to sustain business with a niche audience (10s - 100s of thousands...NOT MILLIONS)
that is so true. however heres a problem. ive been playing mmos for erm 14 years give or take. my first ever MMOrpg was * legend of mir 2* most americans havent realy herd of this game and im still wondering why, but back in europe when i played it and asia this game ended up in the guinnes book of records. anywas my point is yeh most companies now want to get the casual audience of gamers because they are there to stay( most likely) even now after 14 years i would still play that first mmo now if only it had an audience. its still alive in private servers but i just cant get passed the original game and how well it appealed to me in giving me FUN. it wasnt eazy. pvp was insane, crafting was sometimes nice and sometimes u wanted to punch a whole in ur screen. pve was the bomb because it involed the risk of huge pvp over 1 boss... :S i miss that game. WTB OLD SKOOL GAMING BACK TO MMO to hell with all u kiddies!
I know the op is written with a huge dose of sarcasm, however I actually do feel this way to a certain degree. I was missing out on a lot of single player games, I very rarely got to play any, maybe the odd new instalment of civ and the like. Now I have loads of extra time, just going though a round of magika with a few friends (who were also mmo players).
----- The person who is certain, and who claims divine warrant for his certainty, belongs now to the infancy of our species.
I, too, would like to thank the current crop of developers and publishers for allowing me the oppurtunity to save money on their awesome games. They aren't over hyped, overpriced, drm ridden, dlc infested reskinned versions of previous games at all.
What over-priced? Most MMOs are F2P .. and if free is not the right prize, i don't know what is.
I definitely thank them for entertaining me for free, and also the "whales" who subsidize my gaming.
Comments
Mr. Literal has a place in the subway.
Honestly I think the comparison is that MMORPGs have stagnated at 2004.
I mean TOR's biggest claim to fame is voice acting through-out. I played PS1 games with that feature. Hell that's barely as impressive now as the first time I played NBA Jam on a Genesis and kept hearing BOOMSHAKALAKA all the time.
a yo ho ho
We still have a long way to go to fully realize the potential of this genre, but we are making progress.
As the technology advances, so too will the possibilities presented to us in games.
I think the genre needs to go back to the virtual world roots yet retain a lot of the ease of access and advancement in accessability and features.
The biggest hinderance right now is bandwidth - though processing power is still finite too. Bandwidth limits how "massively" things can be. Even the "biggest" and most "massively" MMO out there - EvE is essentially sharded. Each system is it's own "instance" just because we don't yet have the tech and the bandwidth to make a virtual world/universe without those kinds of boundries and limitations.
I mean, imagine an EvE online with a completely open universe. Travel from person to ship to space to system to next system to planet back to person - without seems.
Thousands of players and NPCs and ships in a single system without time dialation.
Free flight from vacuum to the surface of a planet to hopping out of your ship and walking around and back again...
10-15 years these things, this kind of scale and truly "massively multiplayer" will be not only possible but the new norm.
We'll look back at the days of loading screens and zoning and and player caps and laugh, with rosey eyed glasses, at how primitive it is.
Thanks for confirming what I was saying. So TOR is similar to a PS1 game because both have voice overs? It's quite similar to my silly WoW/Soulcalibur comparison. Let's go further, and say EvE is a Space Invaders clone because both have spaceships. No? Why not?
Respect, walk
Are you talkin' to me? Are you talkin' to me?
- PANTERA at HELLFEST 2023
Yeah, the only thing TOR brought to the genre was cut scenes and voice acting. It's very comprable to a PS1 game.
a yo ho ho
As I said, I've been playing video games on various platforms for over 30 years, and comparing MMORPGs to PS2 games is just... nonsense (as in "doesn't make any sense at all").
Actually, I think WoW is a Soulcalibur clone... I mean, both have swords.
Thanks for thinking critically. I look at what mmos are offering recently, and it is obvious they are borrowing from established genres heavily. Strong personal stories, platforming, weapon swapping, active dodging, combos, dynamic events, etc. These are old hat for other genres and have been a staple on consoles since the 90s. Final Fantasy, Ninja Gaiden, GTA, Shenmue, Resident Evil, Devil May Cry, Jet Set Radio, Sonic, Mario, Zelda, Metroid, Phantasy Star Online, Rez, the list is infinite.
Taking these types of gaming and making them massively multiplayer is not suddenly redefining the genre. It definitely adds to the variety of mmos out there but I look at where mmos were heading up to 2003 and you must be blind to think what we have now is an evolution. Its a fun diversion, but its not groundbreaking or innovative. And really thats the point of these games is to be a fun distraction, a bit of entertainment. But as an enthusiast, its a shame that this is the apparent new direction of the genre, considering where it had the potential to grow. It got too popular way too fast and everyone came in, slapping old formulas onto the mmo space like a gold rush.
Like I said, I'm glad this is an eye opener to some folks. I enjoy them for what they are as well. They are a good bit of fun for a couple months.
First, Eve doesn't realy have instances, because anyone can go to these places.
Second, "as tech advances so too will the possibilties" I thought that too, except possibilties have been getting less and less with each MMO.
But yes, virtual world roots. Currently, tech isn't what is limiting MMOs. We already have games that allow 500 man sieges in real time combat with balistics tracking (made by a 30 man team in Greece with no publisher). It's game design and WoW clones that are crippling things.
Although my choice of games are a little different, we share the same mindset on the genre. I am holding on to my last MMORPG (Vanguard: Saga of Heroes) and when the day finally comes to close up all of my accounts, I will have nothing to go to other than F2P/B2P shit that is ruling the world at the moment. So I will most likely take a long break or leave completely.
I think GW2 will be fun for a short while but it will hold no lasting impression with me as there is no raiding or anything to do at end game other than weapon appearance and a few dungeons.
After that...ESO? I would like to think so but highly doubt it (even though i love the TES series to death, they will murder it with this MMO)...Arche Age? possibly without all the Asian themed combat and armour/weapons but they won't change for the western version.
I do not think anyone in the west has the balls to do something like Arche Age for us, which is sad, I really think it would work.
http://www.cellsea.com/ringtone/detail/RT4c6d8f7c9a051.htm
BOOMSHAKALAKA!
"classification of games into MMOs is not by rational reasoning" - nariusseldon
Love Minecraft. And check out my Youtube channel OhCanadaGamer
Try a MUD today at http://www.mudconnect.com/Pong clone, they both have pixels lit up on a screen.
Self-pity imprisons us in the walls of our own self-absorption. The whole world shrinks down to the size of our problem, and the more we dwell on it, the smaller we are and the larger the problem seems to grow.
Well, they aren't private instances but each "room" is certainly seperate from each other "room" - systems etc.
I mean, Jita can be a laggy mess and one jump away clear as day.
Jump into a system with a massive blob vs. blob and (at least before dialation) it became a screen saver.
That's why I said "essentially sharded."
But yeah, I agree that in the past 7-8 years there has been a rut where people are not trying new things and innovating and trying to expand what is possible, they have been copying and just trying to steal a piece of the same pie instead of trying to invent a new pie!
Yes because GW2 does not have gear and gear will not matter in pvp. Stop with the fanboy nonsense please.
GW2 will have a gear grind, gear will matter in pvp and raids.
Sooner or Later
I cant stress enough how much I agree with what you said, this is something I have been really thinking as of late, that maybe the MMORPG genre is no longer for me, I still want that long term experience, I still want that world freedom, but I also want to interact with other people, I keep thinking that maybe what I need is to sacrifice massive multiplayer interaction and hope that bethesda adds some sort of 4 player co-op to their next installment of TES and continue increasing the complexity so I can finally have an experience that will be more akin to what 15 years ago I was hoping I would be having in an MMO in 2012.
I keep hoping that this is some sort of experimental phase we are going through and that we might see a breakthrough at some point and that someone is gonna look back at the root and why people played MUDs and the first MMORPGs and make something that extends on that concept rather than mangle it.
I need that as my text alert. lol
a yo ho ho
Considering most MMOs were not targeted at hardcore console gamers, I'd say they did things right in that regard. Especially for someone with your history of action combat addiction. But then again, the genre does seem to be hurtling full force down the console gravy train lately and with upcoming games. You'd be hard pressed to find one out of the next 20 games that isn't action combat oriented. The entire genre appears to be redefining itself into Massively Online Arcade Games.
You hit the nail on the head....
When the CEO of Blizzard / Activision came out and said they were in competition with Farmville, everyone laughed.
"LOL - How does World of Warcraft compete with social media games?!?"
What the CEO was describing was their NEW audience, not the game. The BIG HUMP under the WOW playerbase bell curve are CASUAL gamers. These gamers are fickle in how they consume entertainment media, they look for quick play cycles to accomodate their schedules, and typically aren't interested in deep & challenging game play.
Angry Birds & Mafia Wars fit that description just as much WOW (modern MMORPGs) does.
As massively popular as these EZ-Mode MMOs are, the downfall of the new MMO model is the fickleness of the audience. CCP will never have to worry about an EVE player spliting time between Farmville....but Blizzard does. And as the likes of EA chase after these fickle gamers for their business...they will be driven to make their games easier, more instantly gratifying, and watered down...in hopes of competing with the cheap throw-away social media & mobile OS games.
If the MMO industry (as we knew it) has any shot in modern day gaming....they will need to lower costs TREMENDOUSLY to make the econmics right to sustain business with a niche audience (10s - 100s of thousands...NOT MILLIONS)
It makes me feel like they are just grasping at straws and have no idea how to make an MMORPG that plays to the inherant strengths of being able to create a virtual world.
"classification of games into MMOs is not by rational reasoning" - nariusseldon
Love Minecraft. And check out my Youtube channel OhCanadaGamer
Try a MUD today at http://www.mudconnect.com/Eh, I think even being "virtual arcades" would be more stimulating than the guided by the hand borefests we've recieved lately.
a yo ho ho
I, too, would like to thank the current crop of developers and publishers for allowing me the oppurtunity to save money on their awesome games. They aren't over hyped, overpriced, drm ridden, dlc infested reskinned versions of previous games at all.
"classification of games into MMOs is not by rational reasoning" - nariusseldon
Love Minecraft. And check out my Youtube channel OhCanadaGamer
Try a MUD today at http://www.mudconnect.com/that is so true. however heres a problem. ive been playing mmos for erm 14 years give or take. my first ever MMOrpg was * legend of mir 2* most americans havent realy herd of this game and im still wondering why, but back in europe when i played it and asia this game ended up in the guinnes book of records. anywas my point is yeh most companies now want to get the casual audience of gamers because they are there to stay( most likely) even now after 14 years i would still play that first mmo now if only it had an audience. its still alive in private servers but i just cant get passed the original game and how well it appealed to me in giving me FUN. it wasnt eazy. pvp was insane, crafting was sometimes nice and sometimes u wanted to punch a whole in ur screen. pve was the bomb because it involed the risk of huge pvp over 1 boss... :S i miss that game. WTB OLD SKOOL GAMING BACK TO MMO to hell with all u kiddies!
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Executive Editor (Games) http://www.wccftech.com
I know the op is written with a huge dose of sarcasm, however I actually do feel this way to a certain degree. I was missing out on a lot of single player games, I very rarely got to play any, maybe the odd new instalment of civ and the like. Now I have loads of extra time, just going though a round of magika with a few friends (who were also mmo players).
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The person who is certain, and who claims divine warrant for his certainty, belongs now to the infancy of our species.
What over-priced? Most MMOs are F2P .. and if free is not the right prize, i don't know what is.
I definitely thank them for entertaining me for free, and also the "whales" who subsidize my gaming.
really? lol