With the Darkfall scam, SWG NGE, the Vanguard failure and the AoC fiasco currently going on it seems that MMO games are on the decline. Seriously it seems that there have been more failures in this industry since EQ1 than successes. When will it get to the point that developers give up on the MMO framework and stop making the games entirely. EQ2, WoW and LotRO seem to be the only successful games and only WoW can compete with other genres of games.   The MMORPG genre needs another success soon or I think it might be in trouble.

Originally posted by bsmith239

With the Darkfall scam, SWG NGE, the Vanguard failure and the AoC fiasco currently going on it seems that MMO games are on the decline. Seriously it seems that there have been more failures in this industry since EQ1 than successes. When will it get to the point that developers give up on the MMO framework and stop making the games entirely. EQ2, WoW and LotRO seem to be the only successful games and only WoW can compete with other genres of games.   The MMORPG genre needs another success soon or I think it might be in trouble.

You're not mentioning tons of other smaller MMORPG's that are a complete success for their makers. A game doesn't have to be making 10 million dollars per month to be a success.

Originally posted by Freemasons

Originally posted by bsmith239

With the Darkfall scam, SWG NGE, the Vanguard failure and the AoC fiasco currently going on it seems that MMO games are on the decline. Seriously it seems that there have been more failures in this industry since EQ1 than successes. When will it get to the point that developers give up on the MMO framework and stop making the games entirely. EQ2, WoW and LotRO seem to be the only successful games and only WoW can compete with other genres of games.   The MMORPG genre needs another success soon or I think it might be in trouble.

 

You're not mentioning tons of other smaller MMORPG's that are a complete success for their makers. A game doesn't have to be making 10 million dollars per month to be a success.

he did also forget a bunch of failures.

the question you have to ask yourself -- are more (or less) MMOs being produced that YOU enjoy?  if the answer is less; then, the market isn't doing so well.  If the answer is more, then the market is improving.

The failure of AoC is a gut shot to MMO fans because a "New" , solid, MMO was needed. Now its up to WAR to succeed. If it bombs we are in trouble.  I am personally not going to play war because of the Mines of Moria LotRO expansion but I hope it does well.

In BioWare I trust though!

I've been playing MMOs since UO.  5 years of EQ, 3 years of WoW and litterally every MMO in between.  I know there are thousands of other players out there like me and this answer has been given in one form or another on many occasions but it all comes down to the fact that the market is way too saturated with too much of the same old.

There was that post a while ago about where the late nights went and how you never get that same feeling as when you very first logged into your first MMO.  This has all been covered before.

MMOs are in trouble because people get bored of them faster today than ever.  I used to pick up a new MMO and play it for months if not years before I tried another.  Nowadays I barely play the free month you get at the begining.

Want to know a secret?  There will be no new ground breaking game mechanics coming out.  Ever.

You need a tank, a healer, some damage and maybe some crowd control if your game has any.  Everquest created the Holy Trinity of Warrior, Cleric, and Enchanter.  Everything since has been the same.  It doesn't matter what game you play or what the classes are called, you will find the same thing.

Grinding, loot, PVP, raiding. Fantasy, Science Fiction, Comic Books, Future, Past, Cars (I have to admit Auto Assault was under rated).  You either like it or you don't.

As a long, LONG time MMO player I have this advice for you.  MMOs are not going to change.  If you really like them though take some time off.  Go outside, read a book, go play a non-MMO.  Come back later with a fresh look.  You will still need a Warrior, Cleric and Enchanter or whatever they are called and you will still need to grind, loot, PVP, raid, but at least it will a fresh look at it.

Reading this over it obviously sounds negative and I don't mean for it to sound that bad but it does.

Personally I'm waiting for WAR.  Will I be disappointed? Probably.  Will I play it anyways? Probably, but then I'll get bored and go surfing the 14 day free trials again.

Don't mean to beat a dead horse but I been lurking these boards for years and finally wanted to get that out.

What is wrong is that people forget that every game since EQ1 was never even remotely close to perfection at launch. Either they've forgotten, or they never saw it. Let's face it the majority playing MMOs today probably have one of two fairly recent MMOs under their belt. That's it.

The only MMO failures are the ones that have closed their servers and basically shut down, any other game is still alive and being updated and can not therefore be considered 'failures'. Please get that out of your head. And it's not because they are hundreds of loud mouths belly aching about Age of Conan that the game has failed or is dead in any way. Can we burn down Blizzard now? ^^ I kid, but they are responsible for these crazy expectations, which is great for them and really annoying for everyone else. *hugs Blizz* You know don't I really mean it. Too much. :P

In my eyes the only MMORPG out there that actually exists is EVE, and that is because it is the only one that gives players true freedom. No classes, player owned space, etc. Most so called "mmo's" become boring because they are so artificial. They're more like single player games with minimal multiplayer features. A real MMO needs an economy and political atmosphere that are both player driven.

If MMO's are indeed dying then it it most likely because MMO devs are so afraid of taking risks that they jsut use WoW as a template for their game. This worked for a few MMOs but after that it just got ridiculous. Games like AoC have started to incorpoerate EVEesque features but not enough to break away from the feeling that it is too artificial for anyone to have some meaningful fun.