General Discussion

So, over the last 12 months, what lessons have we learned about MMORPGs?

The best way to learn is to look at our mistakes, and DDO and Vanguard and Archlord spring to mind. I don't know much about Archlord, so I won't comment on it too much.

Lesson 1) Content is King
Learned from DDO, which didn't have much content at launch, and suffered a lot from it. People need things to do. The more, and the more different to do the better.

Lesson 2) Get the release right
Vanguard, I'm looking at you. As much as I wanted this game to suceed, it's clear they launched way to early (I thought March at the early, and to be truthful it needed longer). Whilst die-hards will stick with paying for a beta project, the public as a whole won't.

Lesson 3) People like to do different things.
Both DDO and Vanguard here. DDO had no soloable content, which hit it hard. If you got into a group quickly, then fine, but too much downtime or sitting around, and you arn't going to be having fun.

Lesson 4) Make it fun
The main problem I have with Vanguard is this. It just ain't fun. Theres too many kill X of X quests, theres too many big open spaces with nothing. Whilst the areas are big open and flow to create a world, theres not many places to actually visit and explore. Some pretty views sure, but nothing that interesting there. I've been in dungeons with getting nothing but XP out of it, killing boring mobs, in boring ways, for boring loot. From the sounds of it, BC is pretty fun. Probably not fun enough to make me resubscribe to WoW, but I'm tempted. At the end of the day these are games after all.

Lesson 5) People change
The old-school have moved on. I'm 26, I have a job, a house to look after, and a wife which moans at me. I don't really have the time to devote to MMORPGs, which means I have maybe an hour or 2. If it takes an hour to travel anywhere, then I've wasted most of my evening. I though I could do it, but I can't, and I'm sure I'm not alone.


Anyway thats my piece, add your own, or disagree with me if you like. Hopefully the devs of future and current games learn and 2007/2008 will be full of great games.

Lesson 6) Never preorder

It doesn't matter how reputable you think the company is. Developers don't deserve a penny until they release a polished product. Beta test or free trial a MMOG before you buy it.

   o/p Nicely stated, Sam i would add not pre pay either, swg nge folks learned that one
 I  have come to the conclusion that the type of game i want to play is not being made currently and will not be around for a while.
 While it is true a game cannot be all things to all people a good mix of the mentioned above can appeal to a wider audieance.

     I do not want to grind then find nada there except pvp at the end road. I want to enjoy the journey along the way and have content that isn't all about just combat. Would love to see more social venues offered in mmorgs. While none will have the extent old swg did. A good mix and match could bring in players back to the fold.
  I no longer give new mmorpgs a pass either. If it is not in good shape i will no longer support it till it is.
 
    I also figured for the time being that mmorpgs may not just be for me for now. That doesn't mean that will always be like that, just with what is out there and soon to be released does not speak to me yet.
 It is ok not being in mmorpg and it is ok to wait till something not only peeks your interest but works reasonably well upon release.
 
   One futher note though all mmorpgs change progress grow move on, if it is always changing  and have to read patch notes because what you did the day before you can no longer do, and items you worked hard for are made worthless next patch is something that needs to be re addressed as well. One singal patch should never be so extensive it whipes away everything you achieved before .