It seems that in this day in age of MMO investors won't put their money in anything that doesn't guarantee them a return.  I can't say I blame them, economically times are hard.  Overall, this causes AAA titles to stick to a strict formula.  It's up to the indie companies, without any funding, to pave the way of innovation for this genre.  

I agree.  I have been trying random games last the few weeks to try and find one I can stick with, but they are all just blah.  Truth is, I have spent more time on my computer playing the original Baldur's Gate and Star Command 2(God I love gog.com) then I spent logged into any MMO...ya games made in the 90's are holding my interest more then all the MMO's out there.

But I always have hope to the future, and plan on playing TOR and maybe GW2.

Yeah I too completely agree with OP.

A sandbox (not a PVP fps with a little sand) with swords and magic seems to be way too hard for these guys to put together.

Whoever gets there first will make a killing imo.

It's a pity they are all unimaginative business guys.

Originally posted by seansean

Well, I've about had it. I've played all kinds of MMORPG's, EVE, EQ2, vanguard, ryzom, AOC, anarchy online, global agenda, beyond protocol, black prophecy, neocron 2(the best of them all, by a wide margin) SWG, matrix online, and many more.

nothing holds my interest. I've spent a lot of time, money and so on. it feels like I'm playing the same game over and over, with a different skin. EVE is a standout; but CCP lost my trust. once you're down to arguing about monocles, I pick up a book, ya know?

I'm the problem; my mind needs to be engaged(EVE did that but it's going down), I like sci-fi, I like flying things, I like virtual open worlds, I like persistence, I like player housing, but(and I can't stress this enough) IF I SEE ONE MORE FUCKING ELF IN MY LIFE I WILL GO ON A  JIHAD. I can't take it anymore. plus MMO's seem to all be going P2W, not just P2P. guess its time to hang it up. hell even SWTOR, with all the money in the world to spend, decided that a STAR WARS game should have space on rails. WTF..

fuck it. I swear to christ imma play magic: the gathering...

Can I have your stuff?

lol j/k

maybe hang it up until The Secret World,Guild Wars 2,or World of Darkness comes out?  those games seem like they are trying to change up the monotony a bit.

the problem is MMORPG is now extincted.  what they CALL MMORPG these days are actually MSOGFW (massive singleplayer online gankfest for whiners)...

occationally, you get together with your closest buddy and go on a 2man "raid" and realize it's boring because a trained monkey with a nostromo can beat the boss:D

too many faceroll games and not enough MULTIPLAYER is the problem.

I really do think quite a few of us are in the same boat.

We've 'been there/done that'.

I'm still waiting for the 'next generation MMO'.  I'm not sure that I have seen any real 'innovation' in a while that provides the 'hook' that these games did when they were first unleashed upon us.

There are a few games that will be out in the next year that I'm looking forward to... but there really isn't 1 game out right now that holds my attention. 

Originally posted by Shadowlord10

I don't think your the only one m8.  I too share your thoughts.  It's kind of sad, that no one is willing to step up and make something different.   I think the problem really is the fact that everyone wants the "big hit" instead of having something original.  Couple that with easy games, facebook apps, smartphone apps, people don't care for the engaging part anymore.  Most games nowadays cater to the masses, and in order to do that, they have to be simple and easy.  The lowest common denominator is the bane of the gaming industry I think.  That or it is just the bane of those who want to play a game that has some depth and can engage the mind.

Totally agree with your post and thats why I dont do mainstream mmos. I have tried them all from WoW, Lotro, EQ 2, Rift, Age Of Conan and Warhammer and the longest I ever lasted was 2 months of EQ 2. Guild Wars 2 is the only mainstream mmo thats got my attention and thats only because its being made to be a different kind of mmo. 

It's not a matter of just innvation, it's a matter of mindset. Name one AAA game that holds enough content more than TOR offers in their press releases. There isn't any without some grind. The problem is, you want no grind, you want massive amounts of content, and you want it cheap. There is no way in HELL you will get it dirt cheap. The next evolution of mmog will cost you more than these wow clones. It will cost you more in time and money, and it will need to make more money than these wow clones. As for costs, it is rediculous, but thats not the issue. You need to hire a massive amount of organized people to cut work load times for people in this industry. Sure we can all license big world tech or hero engine and make a mmog, but by the time we get around the development phases we will be bald and on the verge of heart attacks. That is why costs go up, it's why big companies call it the Crunch Time. The investors pull the shots, but if a AAA studio can get around and make a game without investors aka publishers, then well maybe there is a chance. For me, I know if I target a game genre, its going to be with a lot of competition, so their best is my worst. I always will go above and beyond for my target audience, but it is ultimately up to the players to accept it or not. No game can give you infinite playtime without you getting bored for cheap. Sandbox bores people, themepark bores people. They want to be high 24/7 and they can't be. Instant gratification, meeting their pyschological needs, and the need to be self appeased and pleasured for 24/7 is ridiculous. You can't be, and you're a major part of the problem if you think you do.

I played magic the gathering, and it did indeed bore me. I played a lot of stuff, and it bored me. I changed my mindset and view on things, and started to take control of my feelings, and guess what? I ain't bored no more. You choose to be bored, burnt out, things are worthless. It's called being a cynical asshole and there is a cure. You just probably aren't strong enough to do it. You need to stop thinking with your emotions, and think with your mind. Tell yourself how to react to things, and then go back and see if you're bored by design. If so, then it's the games fault, if not then it was your fault.

You want the moon? Pay up. I'd be willing to spend any amount of money and give you what you want, if you pay my price. Hell, I'll even rope the moon and start building little colonies on it, as long as you paid me my price. You get the picture? It's quite plain and obvious. Stop being cynical about games, and you will go back to that love that your cyncism killed long ago.

I'm personally waiting for TOR. I've burnt myself out of EVE.

So what I play right now is Red Orchestra 2: HoS ;)

Although if you can call AoE an MMO, I play that a little...

Originally posted by seansean

Well, I've about had it. I've played all kinds of MMORPG's, EVE, EQ2, vanguard, ryzom, AOC, anarchy online, global agenda, beyond protocol, black prophecy, neocron 2(the best of them all, by a wide margin) SWG, matrix online, and many more.

nothing holds my interest. I've spent a lot of time, money and so on. it feels like I'm playing the same game over and over, with a different skin. EVE is a standout; but CCP lost my trust. once you're down to arguing about monocles, I pick up a book, ya know?

I'm the problem; my mind needs to be engaged(EVE did that but it's going down), I like sci-fi, I like flying things, I like virtual open worlds, I like persistence, I like player housing, but(and I can't stress this enough) IF I SEE ONE MORE FUCKING ELF IN MY LIFE I WILL GO ON A  JIHAD. I can't take it anymore. plus MMO's seem to all be going P2W, not just P2P. guess its time to hang it up. hell even SWTOR, with all the money in the world to spend, decided that a STAR WARS game should have space on rails. WTF..

fuck it. I swear to christ imma play magic: the gathering...

Feel ya Bro

Except for that MtG comment.

Been playing EMPIRE: Total War, Stronghold Kingdoms, and even ESPN Bar & Grill through FB more than any MMO. That speaks volumes for me...trust me.

I have recently downloaded and played Dragon Nest....and it is ok, but it too speaks of being an MMO...but is more an instanced single player RPG than anything else. I have been soloing everything...mainly because looking for groups is a waste of time...barely anyone is forming or looking for groups.... it's fairly easy and fast paced combat, and if you die?....np....you can respawn on the spot and keep fighting....bleh. Little challenge and the main point is that of every other MMO there is....get the shinies.

Dont let the door hit you on the way out.

Originally posted by seansean

Well, I've about had it. I've played all kinds of MMORPG's, EVE, EQ2, vanguard, ryzom, AOC, anarchy online, global agenda, beyond protocol, black prophecy, neocron 2(the best of them all, by a wide margin) SWG, matrix online, and many more.

nothing holds my interest. I've spent a lot of time, money and so on. it feels like I'm playing the same game over and over, with a different skin. EVE is a standout; but CCP lost my trust. once you're down to arguing about monocles, I pick up a book, ya know?

I'm the problem; my mind needs to be engaged(EVE did that but it's going down), I like sci-fi, I like flying things, I like virtual open worlds, I like persistence, I like player housing, but(and I can't stress this enough) IF I SEE ONE MORE FUCKING ELF IN MY LIFE I WILL GO ON A  JIHAD. I can't take it anymore. plus MMO's seem to all be going P2W, not just P2P. guess its time to hang it up. hell even SWTOR, with all the money in the world to spend, decided that a STAR WARS game should have space on rails. WTF..

fuck it. I swear to christ imma play magic: the gathering...

  Well random internet poster thanks for dropping by to let us know you leaving. Have fun in the real world, theres lots of cool things for you to do there don't lead to MMO burnout. In the end you'll learn more, and probably be happier and healthier then sitting in front of the computer monitor all day/night

To be honest i think there is lots of things that are causing this:

1)  Easy mode play - Lets be honest, you cant doubt that Vanilla WoW was fantastic, however you didnt have things like quest helper, boa etc etc etc.  It took months to level up, and then another load of months to do some of the end content.  You had to read the quests and god forbid.........speak with people to get help! (leads to my next point)

2) Community - Why do most people play MMOs?  The answer is simple to have fun with other people, often your rl friends.  However, the latest load of MMOs as some stated above seem to be more single player games with lots of rl people also playing.  You dont need to talk with anyone and just press a button to get into dungeon.

3) Samey - I picked up Rift the other day as it was £7, and guess what it felt like wow mark 2, i didnt need to read any instructions and i was able to play the game from the box, i didnt need to read the quest logs as i had my in game GPS pointing which way i needed to walk.

4) Money - the last thing and again something other people have commented on, if it isnt gonna make millions then no one cares how cool or great it is for MMO players.  Its the FIFA affect, churn out the same rubbish on a yearly basis for the masses.

As i was reading this thread, i heard a sad violin playing in the background.

i feel im in the same situation.. passing time just waiting.. i have a rift sub for another 3 months and have logged in twice since june when i got bored with it.   I must say, now that i look back.  I miss the grind.  I miss the hours and days and months of just waiting for the next or two lvls for the new skill.  My first MMO was knightonline, and i was hooked for a couple years with well over 3500 hours.  Altho it was item mall F2P.  Just grinding kept me going.  Then my next big game that i played that i thought would be a bit similar, Then it was just the next weapon.   I want a game that i have to grind for my lvls.  less weapon, armor choices, and new.   Wishful thinking,  oh i do miss the days where i was able to get my fix in a game.   dragonhunter for ps3, download game rpg style has me atm fixed.

I feel you OP. But see... future MMOs will be even worse. Might as well enjoy what we have now.

Hey! leave our pointy eared brethren alone...big meanie.  In serious I feel you, I so want to be done with the fantasy genre.  I can hope that TOR is that lil breath of fresh air I've been wanting. But if not, I can always go back to pnp, or even...*gasp* go outside once in a while ;). G'luck to ya, hope you find that which you seek.

In a similar position to the OP here. My plan is to just enjoy all the non-mmo games I have on Steam and wait for something innovative and fun. I won't be giving any devs/companies money that fail to show even an ounce of innovation and / or creativity. Unfortunately, most people will continue to pre-order crap games and so we will keep receiving crap games. Crap = The same themepark game over and over in a different skin. Money grabs, that's all they are.

I do hope that the indie developers will continue to be and even become more successful in the near future with all the crap the AAA publishers/companies are trying to pull.