Eh, this sounds just like good old "Warhammer Online VS AoC" things a few years ago.

Remember what happened then? Both games turned out meh. So don't bother and just wait for it...

Originally posted by gormourn

Eh, this sounds just like good old "Warhammer Online VS AoC" things a few years ago.

 

Remember what happened then? Both games turned out meh. So don't bother and just wait for it...

Yep. Except Aion has loads of people playing it, and Champions beta is about to go open...

So all in all, we know a lot already, and it's pretty clear what both games are like.

Champions has more humour and madness, and more casual friendly, fun from teh get go; Aion is more of a serious fantasy, requiring many hours of commitment.

Here is my prediction: many people who are in principle attracted to the longer grind of Aion will be quite surprised at how much they enjoy CO if they try it out... and be rather tempted to play it.

It has been much more addictive for me, in beta, anyhow. SO many things to fiddle around with right from the outset. Will it wear off? Sure, all MMOs do.

Incidentally, this superheroes vs magic argument is a bit curious...

In one game you wear wacky clothes and hurl fireballs, shoot bows, summon stuff, or spin around with two swords. In the other game you.. oh. Waitaminnut.

Originally posted by markyturnip

Originally posted by gormourn

Eh, this sounds just like good old "Warhammer Online VS AoC" things a few years ago.

 

Remember what happened then? Both games turned out meh. So don't bother and just wait for it...

 

Yep. Except Aion has loads of people playing it, and Champions beta is about to go open...

So all in all, we know a lot already, and it's pretty clear what both games are like.

Champions has more humour and madness, and more casual friendly, fun from teh get go; Aion is more of a serious fantasy, requiring many hours of commitment.

Here is my prediction: many people who are in principle attracted to the longer grind of Aion will be quite surprised at how much they enjoy CO if they try it out... and be rather tempted to play it.

It has been much more addictive for me, in beta, anyhow. SO many things to fiddle around with right from the outset. Will it wear off? Sure, all MMOs do.

Incidentally, this superheroes vs magic argument is a bit curious...

In one game you wear wacky clothes and hurl fireballs, shoot bows, summon stuff, or spin around with two swords. In the other game you.. oh. Waitaminnut.

 

Sure, all MMOs wear off, but the difference is some do in 4 weeks and some do in 4 years. From what I am seeing, CO is a 4 weeker... Aion gives me the impression it will have much more longevity then that, and the playerbase (revenue stream) to develop it heavily as they go.

I mean, CO is worth a buy to play for that time I guess, you would still get your VFM from it, but it's seems very top loaded (with the flash bang good stuff thats the main draw such as the character designer etc at the very start). It is screaming super casual lite solo arcade game to me, which, as I say, is ok if thats what Cryptic were aiming for. It's not what i am looking for personally, but I get that some people are looking for a low impact game to play.

In my experience though games like this have a great first month from box sales but a very poor retention rate as people tire of the shallow content on offer. I'm not saying any of this as 'fact', it's all just my opinion, but the way I see it content is king is themepark mmorpgs, and Aion just looks like it has more. I am also impressed at the rate that it has had more patched since it's Asian launch.

btw, Mark, you seem to know a lot about CO.. any chance you could answer my last questions based on your previous post? It would be appreciated :)

The fact that PvP in Aion has worthwhile objectives (both in the form of quests and the fact that holding forts opens content) to be achieved in an open zone draws me strongly to it. Does CO have these? Or are PvP scenarios just for fun? The Stronghold one where you play villians vs heroes looks like it could be neat for a run or two, but does it offer more then that for my character? Is it built similar to Warhammer in it's use of BGs?

Originally posted by stormsoul

 

Buying via RMT shop ~ Buying a new radio or getting a new paint job, etc

It's more like having to insert a quarter every time you want to listen to a song on the radio...

Originally posted by protoroc

Originally posted by stormsoul

 

Buying via RMT shop ~ Buying a new radio or getting a new paint job, etc

It's more like having to insert a quarter every time you want to listen to a song on the radio...

Except that the radio still works and still plays songs for free, its only if you want that specific song played right NOW that you have to put the quarter in -- i.e. a choice of time vs money.  And you can still get your song for free anyhow, it just might take a little time.

Once again, if you don't like the cash shop, don't use it.  If everything in the cash shop is available in-game though quests or drops or raids, then why the hate?  Play as if the cash shop is not there, and then for you, its not.  No difference whatsoever.  You can still go do the quest and get the item just as if the cash shop did not exist.  People are acting like they are going to be REQUIRED to USE the cash shop, which seems silly to me.

And as I said, if they put items in the cash shop that AREN'T available in the game normally, I would totally agree that its a bad idea, esp. if there are items with stats that could unbalance PvP.  But as far as I've heard that's not supposed to be the case here.  I guess we'll just have to wait and see on that one.

And hey, if people putting money into the cash shop allows them to hire an extra zone designer, quest designer, 3d modeler, artist, or whatever  to create more content, that seems like a win/win to me.  Because as long as the stuff is available in-game and not exclusive to the cash shop, I'll still get that content, even if I choose not to spend a cent.

 Okay... i have played many MMO's out there so i can give some good insight on the outlook of these two games.  

-Champions Online is easy to play and has a huge chest of customization that can be played with to make your hero very unique in comparison to the others (Obviously CoH and CoV started this trend). The PvP is fast and fun especialy with a friend it gets intense. Then the ability to make your ArchNemesis is pretty cool. The strength behind Champions Online that would pull in players is easy to play and character individuality at its finest in a game. 

-Aion is a game for the serious PvE'r the pvp in this game is kind of lacking if you ask me (o noes).  Let me put it like this... if you played wow and you enjoyed Raids and instances this game is for you. Progress is tough but once you get far you can easily be impressed in your character's power. This game takes time to play but in this day and age .. thats tough to do. The strength in Aion would be its graphical beauty (which is pretty damn good) not much else in this package

In conclusion go ahead try them both out and get your own oppinion... dont respond to me with uh'uh's or o noes' this is just my insight on the two games. Heres a good thing to remember "Beta = All things subject to change" but if i were to say which game has the best outlook on playerbase i'd have to put a bet on Champions Online because if your like me you dont want to spend 8 hours trying to level up once.

edited cause I decided I had more to say :P

Originally posted by nonxaznxboi

 Okay... i have played many MMO's out there so i can give some good insight on the outlook of these two games.  

well, on that basis, I guess we can all give a good insight to both of these games...

Are you actually in beta for both?

This game takes time to play but in this day and age .. thats tough to do.

Why is it any more 'tough to do' then 10 years ago? Sure, some have time to play more then others, but 'tougher'? I don't get that at all. Are you just talking about a personal perspective? If not, whats changed in this 'day and age'? This always confuses me when people say this.

The strength in Aion would be its graphical beauty (which is pretty damn good) not much else in this package

Your kidding right? Aion seems to offer everything that standard PvE mmos offer, plus open zone PvP with worthwhile objectives.

In short, it offers everything CO offers, except the nemisis gimmick and such a deep character design component at the very start (though Aions looks v nice for a fantasy mmo I have to say), but only on a more challenging and deeper level of content, but you say it has 'not much else' compared to other games?

You continue to confuse me.

best outlook on playerbase i'd have to put a bet on Champions Online because if your like me you dont want to spend 8 hours trying to level up once.

Your honestly saying that you think that CO will have a larger player base then Aion?

Erm... lol just lol.

 

NO cash shop for me.  AT least toss the monthly fee if you're going to include a shop.  Having both is like telling people, we're screwing you right to your face.  Then again, some people apparently think its OK to pay a fee AND be able to buy there way through the game.   If MMOs all go in this direction, count me out.  I couldn't give a rip.  I'll stick to single player games and be quite happy. 

Super Hero games don't do it for me, esspecially when everything is an instance like COH.  How does Cryptic justify the monthly fee if every zone is an instance?   Might as well pay a monthly fee to Valve when you log into TF or Left fo Dead.  NO different. 

CO is a solo game primarily. People tend to ignore that. Most of the group content is soloable for numerous easily playable builds. It literally is 99 % solo, whereas Aion offers solo AND group gameplay, at highest level an emphasis on group gameplay through PvP mechanics (fortresses etc.) and dungeons.

I think all other things aside, this is going to make or break these games for a lot of people. I myself cannot see a point in playing a pure solo game. Just nothing I would consider paying more than the box price for, let alone sub AND RMT.

Others are heavily opposed to the notion of group play, and prefer a game where you can do everything on your own. They ll see Aion as a bad game, and love CO, as its very easy, solo, and you got the hang of it in an hour or two.

Stuff like graphics, the world (and I have now played CO, and see little error in my statements bar one minor issue), the bugs etc. will not matter if its just not your TYPE of MMO.

Personally, I dont think solo MMOs will last. Either you go heavy grouping, or you ll just lose most players to a more social experience n gameplay after the first honeymoon month has worn off. My purely subjective opinion, talking from years of MMO experience ever since EQ1.

Originally posted by Khaunshar

CO is a solo game primarily. People tend to ignore that.

Personally, I dont think solo MMOs will last. Either you go heavy grouping, or you ll just lose most players to a more social experience n gameplay after the first honeymoon month has worn off. My purely subjective opinion, talking from years of MMO experience ever since EQ1.

It being solo focused is a massive turn off for me as well, alongside the MT and the fact that it seems EZ mode gaming.  Everything about CO seems to be instant gratification to me, and thats definitely not what I look for.

I agree that social co-op play, with a secondary minor option of soloability, is the key to building a mmorpg with any kind of longevity. If a player base dosent actually need each other it wont ever be a community, and in a themepark mmorpg thats a bad thing...

What, after all, do people stay for once they have gotten bored of all the rides if there is no community?

Aion seems to have this fully in mind by design with co-op play and shared guild objectives.

Regardless of the actual quality of either game, Champions will be more commercially successful in North America than Aion.  The popularity of comic books and being based on a well-established pen and paper game assures it.

I have played both. Can t comment much on CO, but I personally like CO btter. I thought Aion was stable, very polished, quite a good game, but I , in beta slowly stop logging in. It just felt like the same old. Maybe I m just sick of fantasy I don t know. Now that I think of it, CO,STO, and SWTOR, are my most anticipated games so that makes sense. FFXIV is another mind you but knowing SE it will not be the norm. Anyways, if you like some good action, and great char customization, you ll like CO. Anyone that thinks it s a COX copy will be suprised I think.

Originally posted by Ferretboy

Regardless of the actual quality of either game, Champions will be more commercially successful in North America than Aion.  The popularity of comic books and being based on a well-established pen and paper game assures it.

well, the PnP RPG aside, because thats just a niche of a niche and really has no mass market penetration at all (and I say that owning a lot of original Champions RPG stuff), the only real consideration tbh is the popularity of the superhero genre.
 

was CoH more commercially successful in NA then WoW then?

 I think both games will have their markets, I don't think they'll really be fighting against eachother... at least not any more then they will be fighting against any other MMOs out there right now.

Now, on to more pressing matters, I think the real question is who wins when its Moose vs. Llama

  Loving CO right now. Like someone else said, the interaction with the environment is just fantastic! I love being my Iron Minotaur tossing cars about :D Not to mention I love the way the storyline weaves differently each time. The instances just make it sooooo much easier. I always loved the Instances in CoX. As for Aion, good game. Bit to slow after level 20 though. Not my style of game. Ill stick to LOTRO and CO at this point.

There are a lot of non-factual statements in this thread about Champions.  I guess when the NDA is lifted it will get sorted.  As for Aion, it feels like an asian grinder and I hate asian grinders..  It doesn't feel like WoW to me.  But, of course, this is just my opinion.

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Originally posted by stormsoul .... Once again, if you don't like the cash shop, don't use it. ....

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Originally posted by stormsoul .... And hey, if people putting money into the cash shop allows them to hire an extra zone designer, quest designer, 3d modeler, artist, or whatever to create more content, that seems like a win/win to me. ...

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Originally posted by junzo316

There are a lot of non-factual statements in this thread about Champions.  I guess when the NDA is lifted it wil get sorted.  As for Aion, it feels like an asian grinder and I hate asian grinders..  It doesn't feel like WoW to me.  But, of course, this is just my opinion.

Well, CO look like gold sellers/farmers took over and manage the company. And I hate gold sellers/farmers. My opinion also.

Originally posted by Xasapis

Originally posted by junzo316

There are a lot of non-factual statements in this thread about Champions.  I guess when the NDA is lifted it wil get sorted.  As for Aion, it feels like an asian grinder and I hate asian grinders..  It doesn't feel like WoW to me.  But, of course, this is just my opinion.

 

Well, CO look like gold sellers/farmers took over and manage the company. And I hate gold sellers/farmers. My opinion also.

When the bots have taken over Aion, which I see happening, just like in L2, then we will revisit this thread about your gold sellers.