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Why this game may last longer than other sandboxes
Triadninja
Member Posts: 111
Now, before you comment on this, know that this is only my opinion, and it is not a fact/your opinion/the opinion of the game developers/the divergence community. This is my opinion, and mine alone (Though others may share it, I think i'll be the first to say it).
I heard about this game awhile ago, saw all the negative comments on it, and passed it up as just another failed project/someone trying to get money for a game that would never see the light of day. I heard about this awhile ago, and had forgotten about it.
Flash forward to about a couple months ago, I saw a thread in the rumor mill that linked to one of the videos that the developer had posted. I watched the first video, which was the developer's explanation for why it was taking so long (I also had no idea it was one guy). I then watched the second video, in which he detailed the environment, the mechanics, what his goals were and what his hopes were. I watched in awe as this amazing environment unfolded before me, untouched by developer's hands, and untouched by player's hands. I saw mountains, trees, valleys, plains, oceans, beaches, the like. I listened as the developer talked about giving players true freedom, with his want to make a game similar to Starwars Galaxies, a game which I never had the pleasure of playing. But nonetheless, I saw and heard everything that this game aspires to be, the freedom of a player to run through this environment and take what they want.
This game gives the sandbox environment alot of what players have been wanting for a long time.
The game will have something I am excited for, infinite procedural terrain. In an MMO. This is something unheard of, something you would never expect to see in a Triple-A MMO. Because of this, there will always be new things to explore, new places to go, new things to see. Environments will be created before your eyes, always giving more to explore.
There will be player-housing, player cities and player developments. Combine that with not only infinite terrain, but also a terraforming tool, and you have what sounds almost too good to be true. You get the ability to travel far and wide in an infinite terrain, find a perfect plot of land, and start your city. You can modify terrain around it to better suit your needs. There will be vehicles, to travel between places.
There will be a sort of perma-death system, similar to EVE's (From what I understand, that may not be true).
All of this, infinite terrain, player cities and housing, terraforming, EVE-like deaths, players will be able to create the content. There will never be a lack of things to explore, there will be plenty for players to do, and with all this, will allow developers to simply add mechanics and additions onto the game, without having to make whole new areas or large amounts of content to satisfy players.
TL;DR: Player made content combined with infinite terrain, sounds like a recipie for an MMO that will have a long shelf-life.
Comments
Feydikan sums up Divergence Online development.
"OMG working so hard..pant pant... need sleep... pant pant.... and money... pant pant....keep faith"
A Description of the game from this site:
Divergence Online is an upcoming third person shooter that mixes the best elements of an MMORPG and a TPS. The sci-fi themed game, under development by Stainglass Llama studios, will feature four races, including Humans and even AI, who each have their own history and destiny. Set to feature various locations as well as mysterious factions, DO is currently under development, so stay tuned for more information as it’s released!
Three red flags there for me:
What does the last 15 "wow" killers have in common over the last 7 years? Little to no sandbox in the game at all even though all of their forums . Remember a little pre alpha game called Minecraft which sales are now past WoW numbers? Totally sandbox and even though it isnt a MMO it does prove that people do want to craft their own stories, not some copy catted rinse and repeat game with different skins. There are tons of people who are so turned off by lead by the nose on a rail games who are just chomping at the bits for a true sandbox mmo to hit the market and this is that game. While most mmo's who follow the copy and paste wow methods have dried up, went free to play, or just closed their doors completely this particular game has from my perspective kept it low key, got out info that needed to be out, has a very respectful and mature forum base, and are rabid hard core mmo'ers and PVP'rs. This group understands that this game will be challenging from start to....well in a sandbox game their is no finish.
Thats the beauty of sandbox, you done when you think you are done not when you run out of dev made content and have to wait on another downloadable content patch. You have immediate things to do in this game to survive and long term goals that take years to complete. Will you be a loaner or start as a part of a larger organization? You always have a purpose, a mission statement, a reason to survive and with the talk of a perma death features you better make the right decisions and make them fast. There is an element of real danger in this game, an element thats missing in your swtor/wow type games. Death means nothing in a game where you die in the game and are back fighting within a few minutes. Death should carry a consequence not just be an inconvience. Most spoon fed MMO'rs cant handle a real game like this, they have to have their content metered, be able to download how to kill a boss, and have a formula to play the game. Not sandbox, you just play it and play it your way or your groups way.
I have spent quite a few hours on the Divergence forums reading every post I could get in and I know they truly believe that this game will be made, released very soon at least in alpha and beta versions, and will be a major game changer. And so do I.
LOL well I had PvP as a red flag, and I had that because I do not want to play a PvP game, end of story. I suspect from "Open World 24/7 PvP" and "has real danger in the game" you are saying OW FFA PvP and that is definitely something I despise.
As for the rest, some pluses some negatives, but for me it does not matter three strikes and you are out.
For everyone else take a look, make up your mind, it may be for you or maybe not.
With respect, everyone has their own play style and this may not be yours since you are not a pvp'r. I myself enjoy pvp but I am not a huge participant in pvp activities. One thing I left out in the description of the what the game has to offer is a perpetual world this takes place in. That was the biggest draw for me. The ability to just take off and go for days to avoid contact with others until I am ready for it. To endlessly explore a world with no two places alike is a dream come true. If you dont want pvp then just avoid others until you are ready.
Somebody, somewhere has better skills as you have, more experience as you have, is smarter than you, has more friends as you do and can stay online longer. Just pray he's not out to get you.
They had people alpha testing yesterday. Pretty elaborate scam if they went that far just to take some money.
Couldn't care less about what may or may not transpire with the title but because those 3 "red flags" I'll never play the game. The 3 worst aspects I do not like about games.
Sandbox means open world, non-linear gaming PERIOD!
Subscription Gaming, especially MMO gaming is a Cash grab bigger then the most P2W cash shop!
Bring Back Exploration and lengthy progression times. RPG's have always been about the Journey not the destination!!!
Doesnt give you the right to slander a game just because you dont like that type of game or cant handle a non linear game. You obviously dont have a clue about this game, the creator, or how its going to be played.
By the way...
First pre-Alpha steps.
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"Evening Star": a The Repopulation novel.