In this week's edition of The List, Managing Editor Jon Wood counts down the five studios (past or present) that he would love to see make a modern MMO. Bioware and Blizzard have shown the hype that can come when someone moves into this business. Who should be next?

It isn’t as though this is a new idea. The most obvious and glaring example is Blizzard with World of Warcraft. Already a recognized and respected name in gaming, Blizzard was able to leverage the company’s success and their staff’s experience into a multiplayer phenomenon that put MMOs on the mainstream map. More recently, the hype created with the simple announcement in 2006 that the renowned RPG kings at Bioware were dipping their feet into the MMO waters was enough to generate and sustain a huge amount of hype for two full years before The Old Republic was officially announced.

So, with the above having made the leap, what other studios would we like to see take on the mantle of the MMO maker?

Enjoy the full list here.

Nice list. I had to stop reading about Valve's Portal though since it is still on my to-be-played list.

What? No Bethesda?

Bethesda is already making an MMO, so no, they should not be on that list.

However, I 100% agree with the Valve comment. I love the way they approach things, and an MMO would be an interesting stretch for them.

Good piece :)

Originally posted by Zulika

What? No Bethesda?

ZeniMax is the parent company of Bethesda. They opened a sister studio to Bethesda a couple years ago in Maryland. It's headed by Matt Firor, the former Executive Producer at Mythic, who left at about the time EA bought them.

See here.

They have not announced what they're working on yet. ZeniMax does not currently hold the Fallout MMO rights though, if you're wondering ;)

It seems odd that none of these studios have shown any indication of moving into the genre, at least the ones that still are in existance today. 

What further puzzles me is some of popular IP's being given to virtually unknown gaming companies, like Wheel of Time as an example.  Personally a Wheel of Time MMO could have huge potential with all the lore, yet I have already relegated it to one I will never see because of the doubtful skillset of the company that is supposedly doing it.

Originally posted by Ozmodan

It seems odd that none of these studios have shown any indication of moving into the genre, at least the ones that still are in existance today. 

What further puzzles me is some of popular IP's being given to virtually unknown gaming companies, like Wheel of Time as an example.  Personally a Wheel of Time MMO could have huge potential with all the lore, yet I have already relegated it to one I will never see because of the doubtful skillset of the company that is supposedly doing it.

Valve has shown some interest in MMOs, though its not a very clear position. TF2's unlocks, and class update deployments seems to me like they are testing the waters, Heck even the weapon unlocks even have levels. Also looking into the actual code there is quite a few snippets of them testing various other things, like armor etc so they arent afraid at perhaps blurring the line. And I'm personally all for it :)

Originally posted by grunty

Nice list. I had to stop reading about Valve's Portal though since it is still on my to-be-played list.

WHAT ?!!!

You mean you haven't played it yet?

Stop whatever you are doing right now and play Portal....trust me, the MMO(s) will be there when you finnish, you will not be disappointed.

Originally posted by eagle4x4

Originally posted by grunty

Nice list. I had to stop reading about Valve's Portal though since it is still on my to-be-played list.

 

WHAT ?!!!

You mean you haven't played it yet?

Stop whatever you are doing right now and play Portal....trust me, the MMO(s) will be there when you finnish, you will not be disappointed.

Yeah, I have to agree. one of the most enjoyable game experiences I've ever had.

Originally posted by eagle4x4

Originally posted by grunty

Nice list. I had to stop reading about Valve's Portal though since it is still on my to-be-played list.

 

WHAT ?!!!

You mean you haven't played it yet?

Stop whatever you are doing right now and play Portal....trust me, the MMO(s) will be there when you finnish, you will not be disappointed.

Nope, I'm serious. I don't steal games and am on a tight budget. $40.00 is a little steep for me. I've seen The Orange Box available for about $25.00.

I wish Sierra would create an MMO. I played their Quest for Glory Series. I started at QfG 5 and liked it so much I went out and bought the collection of 1-4 and played those. They have 1-3 on gametap and if anyone here is a member I suggest playing it. Quest for Glory 1 was great and they just got better as time went on with 5 being the absolute best IMO. Quest for Glory 4 was great also cause it had the whole tranylvania theme with vampires. I would love to see what Sierra could have done with an MMO.

Originally posted by grunty

Originally posted by eagle4x4

Originally posted by grunty

Nice list. I had to stop reading about Valve's Portal though since it is still on my to-be-played list.

 

WHAT ?!!!

You mean you haven't played it yet?

Stop whatever you are doing right now and play Portal....trust me, the MMO(s) will be there when you finnish, you will not be disappointed.

 

Nope, I'm serious. I don't steal games and am on a tight budget. $40.00 is a little steep for me. I've seen The Orange Box available for about $25.00.

They sell it alone, for less, but yeah, grab the orange box sometime. Well worth it. Or camp Steam for a sale ;)

My love for video games and pretty much the path of my life was set in motion by Sierra Games.  My first computer (an IBM PC Junior, circa 1983) came with two cartridges (yes I said cartridge!) - MS Basic and Kings Quest I (well just called King's Quest really).  From there I played every single title from them until they went out of business.  I loved Kings Quest, Space Quest, Police Quest, Heroes Journey, Leisure Suit Larry (I recall sneaking this one by my parents when I was a wee lad!), Manhunter, and other great stuff by these guys.

I probably sound like some old geezer, but man they just don't make games like that anymore!

Originally posted by Admin

My love for video games and pretty much the path of my life was set in motion by Sierra Games.  My first computer (an IBM PC Junior, circa 1983) came with two cartridges (yes I said cartridge!) - MS Basic and Kings Quest I (well just called King's Quest really).  From there I played every single title from them until they went out of business.  I loved Kings Quest, Space Quest, Police Quest, Heroes Journey, Leisure Suit Larry (I recall sneaking this one by my parents when I was a wee lad!)

I probably sound like some old geezer, but man they just don't make games like that anymore!

Same here - my first real game was Ultima III on a Commodore 64, also in 1983.

Man...those were the days.

Left4Dead Online anyone ?

Originally posted by Dana

Originally posted by grunty

Originally posted by eagle4x4

Originally posted by grunty

Nice list. I had to stop reading about Valve's Portal though since it is still on my to-be-played list.

 

WHAT ?!!!

You mean you haven't played it yet?

Stop whatever you are doing right now and play Portal....trust me, the MMO(s) will be there when you finnish, you will not be disappointed.

 

Nope, I'm serious. I don't steal games and am on a tight budget. $40.00 is a little steep for me. I've seen The Orange Box available for about $25.00.

 

They sell it alone, for less, but yeah, grab the orange box sometime. Well worth it. Or camp Steam for a sale ;)

Agreed.  Steam often does sales on The Orange Box.  I've seen it for $9.99 a few times but for only a couple days.

I would actually have to say that the industry doesn't need five more big budget MMO's.

Let's see if Bioware can make a good one before declaring a company that's never made a RPG a good fit.

id software with rehiring of John Romero to make "Doom Online : Hell is just the Beginning" :D

( I also was using an IBM and playing Kings Quest and Top Gun.:)

I'm really surprised ID Software didn't make the list. With Games like Quake and the Doom series, and the sheer fact that John C. is a god when it comes to developing an engine. I think they would be my #1 in the studio to develop an MMO. Even though they recently merged, they are still ID. Only thing that's a downfall is John has stated previously he would never work on an MMO engine, but one can dream can't he? =)

Originally posted by mackdawg19

I'm really surprised ID Software didn't make the list. With Games like Quake and the Doom series, and the sheer fact that John C. is a god when it comes to developing an engine. I think they would be my #1 in the studio to develop an MMO. Even though they recently merged, they are still ID. Only thing that's a downfall is John has stated previously he would never work on an MMO engine, but one can dream can't he? =)

id got bought by the same folks who bought Bethesda, so it may happen. Carmack has had some bad luck of late because of the talentless game designers who are using his Engines :/.

His game engine development is simply the best in the entire gaming industry, his mind works in a way unknown to man. His mega texture Idea is brilliant and I feel we will be seeing that tech in mmos in the next 5 years.

Originally posted by SaintViktor

Left4Dead Online anyone ?

me.

It's a pretty good list, but now let's see a counter-article about the five companies that should NOT make an MMORPG.

I agree with others. A good list. My only, admittedly pessimistic, concern is that they will just make an MMO in the light of the "themepark" brand that all the other major companies are doing. If they were to create new progression methods (other than the level climb) and do away with the idea of "end-game" (and instead build from the principle that the world goes on and on), I'd like to see them take a shot at it. I'd be even more interested if they weren't governed by "combat is the 800lb gorilla in the corner" and instead took the "we have a bunch of intelligent chimps to satiate" (crafting, socializing, combat, story, etc.) in equal/interacting parts approach.

Originally posted by DarkRexx

It's a pretty good list, but now let's see a counter-article about the five companies that should NOT make an MMORPG.

My top 5.

5. Company that takes the safe route (level based, quest hub to quest hub with an "end-game")

4. Company that takes the safe route (level based, quest hub to quest hub with an "end-game")

3. Company that takes the safe route (level based, quest hub to quest hub with an "end-game")

2. Funcom

1. Sony Online Entertainment

The List needs more Id Software and Relic Entertainment. Homeworld MMO FTW.