Very nice list Jon, I agree with your top picks. I think Aion should be a bit higher, but WoW, GW2, SWTOR should most definitely be on top. I would like to think GW2 will de-thrown WoW since it has a large, dedicated player base waiting on it's release, but you are most likely correct.

Originally posted by tryklon

Originally posted by dhayes68

I believe that though they'll start big, the weight of hype and IP-fan expectations will drag both STO and SW:TOR down fairly quickly.

My prediction is a company is going to proffer an high-end, community building, sandbox type MMO that will start small but quickly explode.  Theme park style mmo's will migrate to consoles (and do very well there for the most part).

 

You honestly think that? You thnk that the almost 12 million wow players, plus all the other millions that play in a PC daily games like WoW, Lotro, AoC, Aion, WAR and so many others will suddenly stop and start playing Sandbox MMo's?? Lol

Did I say that? Nope I didn't. Perhaps you're responding to the wrong post. 

 Here is my list:

1. WoW
2. SW: ToR
3. FFXIV
4. Lotro (Mordor is waiting for us)
5. Earthrise
6. Aion
7. AoC
8. Warhammer
9. APB
10. Star Trek Online

Don't think GW2 will be released 2012... and we first have to see how it'll look like.

Originally posted by Dana

Originally posted by MMO_Doubter

Star Trek won't be big because it's design veers too far from the appeal of the TV shows.

SWTOR won't be big because it's going to be a massively single-player game. It will be big at first, but then people will see how limited its group gameplay is. Concentratrion on story will divide players, not unite them.

 

You do your name justice ;) hehe

Seriously though, I am curious what games you think Jon missed on there. Clearly, there will be a top 10 games. Should be fun to hear all the opinions.

One game he missed was Stargate Worlds. 

I do hope by 2012 there is a game that beats WoW, it got boring a long time ago.

WoW ...number 1 in 3 years time ?

plz the game is old as the hills now...it was good and had its time but my kids have even done that and been there now

Originally posted by Guintu

Originally posted by Dana

Originally posted by MMO_Doubter

Star Trek won't be big because it's design veers too far from the appeal of the TV shows.

SWTOR won't be big because it's going to be a massively single-player game. It will be big at first, but then people will see how limited its group gameplay is. Concentratrion on story will divide players, not unite them.

 

You do your name justice ;) hehe

Seriously though, I am curious what games you think Jon missed on there. Clearly, there will be a top 10 games. Should be fun to hear all the opinions.

 

One game he missed was Stargate Worlds. 

I do hope by 2012 there is a game that beats WoW, it got boring a long time ago.

Trust me, he didn't miss it. It ain't happening.

I'd bump Guild Wars 2 and World of WarCraft down a few pegs, but otherwise I agree with the list.

I agree that WoW will be a behemoth for some time to come, but I really can't see it still being #1 in 20-frickin'-12.

They'll all suck and I'll still be waiting for my SWG Pre CU mmorpg.

Originally posted by marinkov

 Here is my list:

1. WoW
2. SW: ToR
3. FFXIV
4. Lotro (Mordor is waiting for us)
5. Earthrise
6. Aion
7. AoC
8. Warhammer
9. APB
10. Star Trek Online

Don't think GW2 will be released 2012... and we first have to see how it'll look like.

GW2 will be released by then.

AoC and WAR i hope not, but in 2012 i think the plug is pulled on both, or they went f2p

Originally posted by Dana

Just to be clear, since it keeps coming up. Diablo 3 wasn't considered for this list. As it stands now, we don't qualify it as an MMO. We could be wrong, and maybe that will change, but as of this moment, it's not the way it sounds, nor how Blizzard positions it. I'd be first in line if they make it more MMO-like, but if it's anything like D2 in terms of online play, adding it to the list opens the door to every lobby based online game on the planet.

Umm, you guys already opened that door with Failgate: London, Huxley, and Crimecraft. Hard to close it now.

Oh, unless you call hosting 16 player matches on other players computers massively multiplayer now.

Belive me, WoW will be N1 in 2012.
Blizzard will release (maybe) the final expansion of it and, of course, everyone wants to see The End :)

Originally posted by MMO_Doubter

Originally posted by Nicoo

Star Trek wont be there. Neither will APB. Darkfall will be there. And I cant get how the fuck can you forgett DIABLO 3? :S
Its gonna be the tip one. No doubt about it.

None of the previous Diablos has been an MMORPG, what sign is there that D3 will be?

Thank you very much for pointing that out.  I would love for D3 to be an MMORPG, but I highly doubt it, plus I wouldn't want it to bleed into being too close to WoW, as much as I enjoy the game.

How do the current top 10 list for 2009 look like ?

I doubt City of Heroes is on current top 10 list, so I doubt any super hero games will be on the 2012 list. They almost look the same to me.

I also think there will be more than 2 asian mmo on the 2012 list. I have the feeling that the asian developers finaly understands what the players of the world wants.

I still have high hopes for The Day from Reloaded Studios even though there havent been any news from them for almost a year.

The downfall of WoW:

1. Aion will be out shortly and it will deal a semi-significant blow to WoW, the Hardcore players that have been playing for years are looking for something new at this point, even if the story and lore of WoW is incredible.

2. Star Wars: The Old Republic - I think it's safe to say that this game will be out in 2010. I know that this game will rock the WoW subscription numbers, there is so much fanbase and hype it is unmatchable, though, expected in a 35(ish)-year-old saga. If this doesn't kill WoW, it will severely cripple it. In fact, it may even hurt Aion in the process, lol.

3. Guild Wars 2 - If not done already, GW2 will deal the final blow to WoW. Enough said.

Therefore, WoW will be done by 2013.

This is not to say that other games won't contribute to the downfall of the MMO god.

These are my opinion's about what I think the future of MMO's holds, no need for fanboys to flame me. But, I suppose this is the wrong forum to ask of you that. :D lol

Originally posted by Dana

Jon breaks out his crystal ball and peers three years down the road. Which 10 games will dominate the market then?

This week, I dug deep into the old closet to pull out my trusty crystal ball. Gazing deep into its smoky depths, I asked a simple question: What MMOs will round out the Top 10 three years from now? Being a cantankerous old coot of a crystal ball, it told me that I needed to be more specific. Was it to base the list on subscriber numbers? Overall profitability? Random lottery? In the end we decided to look for a Top 10 list that took many factors into account, with subscribers, profitability, critical acclaim and fan support topping the list.

When I was putting this list together, there were a number of games that cropped up as possibilities that, for whatever reasons, I decided not to include in my top ten. The next Blizzard MMO, for example is left off because there’s a good chance it won’t yet have launched. It’s tough enough to define the Top 10 Games of 2009, let alone three years from now. Many quality titles didn’t make the list, but were kept firmly in mind. They include: The Secret World, The Agency, Copernicus, Lord of the Rings Online, Global Agenda and Fallen Earth.

Read more here.

And that is why this genre is now a dead duck.

I think the author is missing something. WoW is a behemot but it is old and by 2012 it will be very old. That being said the only one that can kill WoW is Blizzard and there has long been a rumour that Blizzard are working on a new MMORPG and my best bet is Starcraft Online.

Probably not released by 2012 but not long after and that is the MMORPG that will dethrone WoW. Sad really, but Blizzard with their solid games using existinc concepts, perfected, with little to no innovation seem to be a winning formula and Starcraft Online will be a more modern WoW in the Starcraft universe.

What about Blizzard's new MMO?  The end of 2012 is still 3+ years away and I'm sure Blizzard has already been working on there new MMO for a year or two, it's very possible that their new MMO will be out by the end of 2012.

Originally posted by Yamota

I think the author is missing something. WoW is a behemot but it is old and by 2012 it will be very old. That being said the only one that can kill WoW is Blizzard and there has long been a rumour that Blizzard are working on a new MMORPG and my best bet is Starcraft Online.

Probably not released by 2012 but not long after and that is the MMORPG that will dethrone WoW. Sad really, but Blizzard with their solid games using existinc concepts, perfected, with little to no innovation seem to be a winning formula and Starcraft Online will be a more modern WoW in the Starcraft universe.

Blizzard has said it's a new IP and not one of their older IP's, which rules Starcraft out.

Originally posted by Xyfire1

The downfall of WoW:

 

1. Aion will be out shortly and it will deal a semi-significant blow to WoW, the Hardcore players that have been playing for years are looking for something new at this point, even if the story and lore of WoW is incredible.

2. Star Wars: The Old Republic - I think it's safe to say that this game will be out in 2010. I know that this game will rock the WoW subscription numbers, there is so much fanbase and hype it is unmatchable, though, expected in a 35(ish)-year-old saga. If this doesn't kill WoW, it will severely cripple it. In fact, it may even hurt Aion in the process, lol.

3. Guild Wars 2 - If not done already, GW2 will deal the final blow to WoW. Enough said.

Therefore, WoW will be done by 2013.

This is not to say that other games won't contribute to the downfall of the MMO god.

These are my opinion's about what I think the future of MMO's holds, no need for fanboys to flame me. But, I suppose this is the wrong forum to ask of you that. :D lol

No that is not clear, alot of people, including myself think the game will not be out till mid to late 2011.

WoW will be #2 and Hello Kitty Online will be #1.

Originally posted by Mazin

Blizzard has said it's a new IP and not one of their older IP's, which rules Starcraft out.

Link please. All I have seen Blizzard saying is that it wont be based on the Warcraft IP.

Can't believe you guys left out Copernicus by Curt Schilling's 38 Studios.  With guys like RA Salvatore(one of the best fantasy writers around) and Todd Mcfarlane(great artist), along with all the other industry pros they have been hiring, its bound to be great.

Originally posted by Yamota

Originally posted by Mazin

Blizzard has said it's a new IP and not one of their older IP's, which rules Starcraft out.

 

Link please. All I have seen Blizzard saying is that it wont be based on the Warcraft IP.

wow.incgamers.com/blog/comments/blizzard-new-mmo-based-on-new-ip/

Originally posted by Yamota

Originally posted by Mazin

Blizzard has said it's a new IP and not one of their older IP's, which rules Starcraft out.

 

Link please. All I have seen Blizzard saying is that it wont be based on the Warcraft IP.

They said it won't be based on an existing ip.  I don't see why someone else needs to dig up the link for you.  Oh yeah Obama is president...  Well i'm a republican.  Find it yourself.

Originally posted by Reinier001

Aion definately deserves higher then #10, thats bottom of the barrel. World of Warcraft still #1 in 2012? I doubt it

That's not bottom of the barrel, it's bottom of the top ten.  Still a damned fine spot to be sitting.