General Discussion

I've played MMO's since back in the day and the original Ultima Online.  Since then (about 10 years or so), there have been exactly two MMO's that have had it all.  And by having it all I mean, PvP, PvE, lots of updated content, blanced, flushed out rule sets, few bugs, the whole shootin' match.

The two games I speak of are WoW and UO, both of those games were flushed out when they were released, sure they had their issues, but when the games were launched, they were finished games, they had everything they were going to have when they launched, and anything that was added after launch was not to deliver some feature promised pre-release, it was to add more content or add additional functionality that was above and beyond what was promised in the base game.  You can argue the point that these two games were the best ever, but the stats don't lie.  WoW has the largest player base ever for an MMO and UO is still consistently rated in the top 10 MMO's after all these years.

There have been other games that have come close to being complete, Everquest, DoC, AoC,LotRO etc, but really only two that have been good solid games with ongoing playability.  A couple of examples of what I am talking about:

SWG - Can't believe they launched it without vehicles or space

PotBS - Ship combat was great, but the economy and avatar combat were after thoughts

AoC - Alot of nice features but unfinished siege warfare, economy, repetitive content, got boring quick.

MxO - repetitive PvE content, lots of bugs, lots of lag

LotRO - Nice game but lacking content, PvP not all that great, economy needed work, repetitive content

CoH - Launched w/out PvP, added later as an expansion

EvE - One of my favorites, problem with this was it's just too big.  Takes a half an hour to an hour just to get people together to do something. "I'm 20 jumps away, I'll be there in about 30 minutes"  They've added content and things to mitigate the mindless jumping, but for most people it was too little too late.  I think these guys have come the closest of anyone, but still, it's lacking something.

I'm not saying these aren't good games now, but when they were launched there were big parts missing and they weren't added or fixed until some time after the game was released.  In other words they closed the barn door after the horse was already gone, to coin a phrase.  Players leave and don't come back, even if the features they wanted are added later, players sometimes feel so burned by the experience, they don't come back.

There have been lots of others, but those are the major ones that could have been a contenders if they just waited a bit longer and fixed a few more bugs, were a bit more responsive to their communities and released a complete product.

There seems to be a malaise in the MMO business and it's this, games are released before they are ready.  I'm not sure why, but it probably has something to do with marketing.  Engineering: "This game isn't ready yet" Marketing: "We have to ship it now to generate revenue, we promised a ship date of XXX".... 3 or 4 months later Marketing: "Hey why are all of our players leaving in large numbers?  It must be engineering's fault, all the bugs they left in, and content they did't get done".

Maybe they don't care, maybe if they get their $50 and a month or two of subscription it pays for their development time and they make a bit of a profit, so what if the game is schlock and people don't stick around, as long as you recoup your investment and make a little cash on the side, it's all good right?

I think the gauntlet has been thrown down by WoW, is there a gaming company that can compete?  Will anyone release an MMO as complete as WoW or UO?  I think WoW has set the bar, the question is, will anyone pick up the challenge and release an MMO that is ready for prime time, or will they continue with the existing program, which is to release games almost done, with a few bits to add later?

On the Horizon I'm looking forward to

Star Trek Online - I'm not holding up alot of hope for this, it's been in and out and all around, but nothing solid yet.

Jumpgate Evolution - I really liked the gameplay in the original version, it didn't have any economy and no PvE content to speak of, I'd like to see this one do well.

Battlefield Heroes - I've been a big fan of the BF games 1942 is still my favorite, it's free to play so I'm wondering what the hook will be, i.e. how are they going to make their money and will it make the game suck for people that don't pony up.

You trolling, boy? Howcome you haven't even mentioned WAR?

Originally posted by markoraos

You trolling, boy? Howcome you haven't even mentioned WAR?

It isn't mentioned because it's the ugly mutant child of WoW and DaoC.

Also, In Before Darkfall

How is it possible to make a post about looking for the successor of UO and *not* mention Darkfall?

I'm kinda scared at how many of the SAME threads I've seen with different names. Yes, MMO's are becoming unoriginal, so use your time to go find a better game, or better yet, start developing your own game.

Complaining about it on this forum is going to do nothing but up your post count...

www.fallenearth.com
www.play-earthrise.com
www.mortalonline.com
www.darkfallonline.com
www.aiononline.com/us
www.infinity-universe.com
www.jumpgate-evolution.com
<Mod edit>

Their will never ever be a large scale hit like WoW had, with the way new mmo's have been lately :P

Sigh it is so sad that you people have absolute no experience with all MMORPG and "claims" ---  "I play them all".

 Note: FFXI is the only perfect launch in mmo gaming history "period". Only the true japanese imports can tell you that, but for Americans player, they would also say the same thing because they play with the japanese that been in the game half a year ago. Why? because PS2 can't afford to be boink unlike PC..SE make sure the game launch was smooth.

Have you even play Final fantasy XI online? How can you claim there is "no originally" when you never even touch Final fantasy online?

Have you played a game where you can be multi job? have unlimit class potential? Not just re-assign your talents or whatever but changing the combination? A game that can be "attacker" or "healer" or "support" or "just screwing around" at anytime?

have you played a game with a "SIEGE" that happen 2-3 time a day that have 700 REAL players protecting the city and protecting their "way of leveling"? (losing a battle mean, people can't level because they lose points that can gain and a 15% EXP bonus, also impair the whole city ...because NPC are kidnapped left and right and you can't use "teleport")

Have you played a game with tear breaking story with awesome cutscenes and a real challenge that isn't all about following the pattern?

Have you played a game where there is a feature that give you a "pet" that growth with you and fought alone side with you ? (fellowship system - can give him item, ...create a bond and do combos)

Have you even level with a party and fought monsters that cover a whole area that cover over 500 people?

You just haven't try final fantasy online... or you did but didn't not reach beyond level 5.. because it is "TOO HARD" for you.

DON'T worry, SE are making FFXI easier for noobs now..with the level sync system.

From 2010 on.