The major change we are seeing right now is next generation engines - so better graphics and music..but additionally more use of the z axis and a more complicated role for the server. This means basically better more engaging combat. Think Tera/GW2 combat instead of EQ/WoW combat.
The next big change we hope to see is better AI for the NPCs and the world in general. You can already see hints of this in Skyrim with their radiant AI and in Borderlands with their 'Director 2.0' AI. People think AI is all about making mobs smarter in fights. But that's not necessarily it. Ideally it can be used to make the game experience feel more organic and less scripted..
This ties into the "Holy Grail" for MMO developers - systems that can procedurally generate engaging content. When this happens - all bets are off. You might see world wide productivity start to slow because of MMOs. I am not kidding..
You need to look beyond the strict MMO definition.
LoL, WoT are not big hit 2 years ago.
Destiny and Division are not on the horizon 2 years ago.
I know you view it like this, but many do not. I play LoL, like it, but it does not give me my mmo fix. I like fps games also, but they do not give me the mmo fix. So yes, their are plenty of good games, but not so much in the traditional mmo sense.
We can call everything a mmo if we want, but for many, it would just make the complaining/debate worse, I mean if someone used LoL, then made a post why they thought it was a horrible mmo, or why they like mmo 'x' more, people would think they were crazy.
Everything gets old. If someone has to play a MMO based on old design, he will have no choice but to be disappointed.
Now of course it is his prerogative to do so.
I don't have to share such a preference. In fact, I also throw in ARPG in the same category of MMO as LoL, WoT and games like that. They are similar enough to me. And i bet i have a lot more fun than the OP.
It's definitely few more years than just two. I've been checking the forum from time to time as well, just with different accounts, because I end up deleting them at a point. The discussion always feels like it's stalled to the same state, and I'm not helping. This forum is one of the most discontent and anxious feeling one I can think of. Serves as a channel for people to vent about the lack of interesting games.
I haven't played a MMORPG in few years, so I can only agree, there's isn't much of interest. Many dry, copied, depthless games. Some interesting, but too hardcore and simply not suitable for average human being, like EVE. Naturally part of the problem is in me, because I expect to feel the same way I played a MMORPG the first time. But I do feel there currently is not 'the game' in the this industry. Something that has bit depth, polish, vision, that appeals to average human being as well as the veteran gamers. Most of the best games in history have offered smooth learning period and progressively increasing difficulty, that leaves room for the player to see how far he can get. Some of the basic interesting mechanics are currently missing in MMORPG's. While they are MMO, and RPG, they need to be good games too. The current games don't respectfully fill any of those three really. Socializing isn't promoted, RPG elements are scraped off constantly and the game part is further being taken over by reward mechanics and grinding. Visuals and audio are of course major focus, but only take so far.
Originally posted by Z3R01 I used to get silly on these forums, posting dozens of times everyday, fighting the good fight acting like my favorite mmo was a sports team...After a while i got tired of not only these forums but the games i loved so much.So i took a break, two years of almost zero mmo playing. Yesterday i returned to find the mmo landscape to be exactly the same... Obviously the petty fan wars havent changed here on mmorpg.com but i expected that. However to my surprise the games havent changed either.WoW is still top dog, Eve is still the premiere sandbox. Rift and SWTOR are around but F2p.Darkfall released an update but its still the same niche game hardly anyone will touch.New games did release like TERA & The Secret World but were quickly demoted to F2p and B2p status.GW2 the savior of the genre ended up not being enough like WoW for most people... I don't understand it... What other genre makes no progress in two years? No radical game that changes things? I left this genre tired of WoW, Eve and Rift... and they are the only games worth playing still? SO what should i be playing? the same games i got sick of when i left?What's there to look forward to? Wildstar, Elder scrolls and EQ Next? I was excited to come back... but within 24 hours i find myself frustrated with this sub-genres stagnation. Maybe there's a gem you guys know about that I dont? or maybe i should just come back after the next gen is over and hope WoW and Eve arent the only games the sub-genre has to offer.
Don't know what to tell you man. You were a hater when you took your break, nothing has changed there either. You can't rely on a video game genre to improve your outlook. You should know people can look up your post history btw. You've been playing GW2 since at least feb this year and even said you tried out some 10 day wow trials after that. Two years? Heh. I forgot how melodramatic you were. Welcome back! =D
On topic. FFXIV has the best themepark crafting period. Star Citizen is fully funded. Repopulation is in beta. SWTOR is getting space PvP. The list goes on.
Comments
The major change we are seeing right now is next generation engines - so better graphics and music..but additionally more use of the z axis and a more complicated role for the server. This means basically better more engaging combat. Think Tera/GW2 combat instead of EQ/WoW combat.
The next big change we hope to see is better AI for the NPCs and the world in general. You can already see hints of this in Skyrim with their radiant AI and in Borderlands with their 'Director 2.0' AI. People think AI is all about making mobs smarter in fights. But that's not necessarily it. Ideally it can be used to make the game experience feel more organic and less scripted..
This ties into the "Holy Grail" for MMO developers - systems that can procedurally generate engaging content. When this happens - all bets are off. You might see world wide productivity start to slow because of MMOs. I am not kidding..
Everything gets old. If someone has to play a MMO based on old design, he will have no choice but to be disappointed.
Now of course it is his prerogative to do so.
I don't have to share such a preference. In fact, I also throw in ARPG in the same category of MMO as LoL, WoT and games like that. They are similar enough to me. And i bet i have a lot more fun than the OP.
It's definitely few more years than just two. I've been checking the forum from time to time as well, just with different accounts, because I end up deleting them at a point. The discussion always feels like it's stalled to the same state, and I'm not helping. This forum is one of the most discontent and anxious feeling one I can think of. Serves as a channel for people to vent about the lack of interesting games.
I haven't played a MMORPG in few years, so I can only agree, there's isn't much of interest. Many dry, copied, depthless games. Some interesting, but too hardcore and simply not suitable for average human being, like EVE. Naturally part of the problem is in me, because I expect to feel the same way I played a MMORPG the first time. But I do feel there currently is not 'the game' in the this industry. Something that has bit depth, polish, vision, that appeals to average human being as well as the veteran gamers. Most of the best games in history have offered smooth learning period and progressively increasing difficulty, that leaves room for the player to see how far he can get. Some of the basic interesting mechanics are currently missing in MMORPG's. While they are MMO, and RPG, they need to be good games too. The current games don't respectfully fill any of those three really. Socializing isn't promoted, RPG elements are scraped off constantly and the game part is further being taken over by reward mechanics and grinding. Visuals and audio are of course major focus, but only take so far.
Don't know what to tell you man. You were a hater when you took your break, nothing has changed there either. You can't rely on a video game genre to improve your outlook. You should know people can look up your post history btw. You've been playing GW2 since at least feb this year and even said you tried out some 10 day wow trials after that. Two years? Heh. I forgot how melodramatic you were. Welcome back! =D
On topic. FFXIV has the best themepark crafting period. Star Citizen is fully funded. Repopulation is in beta. SWTOR is getting space PvP. The list goes on.
An honest review of SW:TOR 6/10 (Danny Wojcicki)