MMORPG.com columnist Justin Webb explores the world of the iPhone MMO with his look at the new and only MMO for that platform, Pocket Legends.
 

It's always interesting to take a look at something new. We're still painfully going through the (hopefully) last iteration of AAA WoW clones. However, there are many developers out there working on new cool stuff (some announced, some not). Developers who have learned the lessons of those who tried to "out-WoW" WoW. Developers who are trying to innovate in the online space by sidestepping WoW and taking the road less travelled. I took at look at what EA is doing with the Unity engine a couple of weeks ago, and pondered what the online space will soon look like now that that new tech is out there. This week, instead of playing a new PC game, I rolled the dice on iTunes.

At this point, is there anything that the iPhone can't do?

Until last week, you could have answered "MMOs" to that question. However, on the same day as the launch of Apple's new device (the iPad), Spacetime Studios released a spiffy free-to-play game that remedies that problem. That game is Pocket Legends.

Spacetime Studios has an impressive pedigree. Formed by four ex-SOE employees, the studio worked previously on an unreleased sci-fi MMO for NCsoft before turning their attention to Apple's iSuite of mobile devices - Pocket Legends works on both the iPhone and iPad.

Read iMMO.

Remarkable, for sure.

It would likely be too simple to appeal to me, but I can see it being popular for long bus rides or car trips.

Anrufen is a way better iMMO than pocket legends, its diablo-like. Do a review on that.

No no no!  IAmMMO!

An iMMO needs a few changes from a PC based MMO.  Content needs to be available in minute-by-minute chunks as well as longer chunks.  In Wow, for example, there's no need for content that can be consumed in 5 minutes and could be interrupted any second by the bus arriving or the doctor calling you back for your "turn your head and cough" session.

Grouping needs to somehow take into account that people will be coming in and out of game on this minute-by-minute basis as well.  How do you account for this discontinuity?  How do you keep the game flowing with people popping in and out like this?

OK, that's just freaking awesome. Does it use airtime or bandwidth or both?

I play ANRUFEN on my iPod Touch and its cost $12.99 for 90days of play time, but its like a runescape subscription. You can play the game for free but only use 9/36 areas, and if you pay the $12.99 for 90 days, you can explore every area. its really fun to play on like your break at work or if you are just bored and out away from your pc.

There was already an MMO that I played on my DROID.  Was also available for the iPhone I believe.  Graphics weren't that great, but it used your GPS coordinates and had monster spawns, mines, etc based on where you live, work, etc. 

well if that is your thing, good for you, I know I will not play it XD, if i'm out of my pc I don't play anything, in travels you could argue its nice but I get sick if I keep my eyes on my hand all the travel(also its bad for your eyesight same for reading in bus travels), and if I have to wait for something like in a bank I prefer a quick single I can start fast and save or just drop the game anytime. well like I said its not for me :P

The thing I am wondering about iPhone MMOs is:

Voice chat?

Unless i misread that was the most fail thing i have seen all day! "At this point, is there anything that the iPhone can't do?Until last week, you could have answered "MMOs" to that question" there are at least 2 others i can name! Graal online and Anrufen!

Originally posted by starfoxx31

Unless i misread that was the most fail thing i have seen all day! "At this point, is there anything that the iPhone can't do?Until last week, you could have answered "MMOs" to that question" there are at least 2 others i can name! Graal online and Anrufen!

Yes, both of which are 2D.

Pocket Legends is fully 3D... which is why it's particularly interesting, especially since its on a mobile platform. And why it's worthy IMHO of an article.

I'm actually enjoying this. Just hope it works okay on the edge network. i'm using my Wifi right now to play it.

first gen iphone ftl.

Are we really going to call them iMMO's?   I swear if someone slaps an "i" onto one more product, the universe just may collapse in on itself from lame.

Originally posted by mmosnark

Originally posted by starfoxx31

Unless i misread that was the most fail thing i have seen all day! "At this point, is there anything that the iPhone can't do?Until last week, you could have answered "MMOs" to that question" there are at least 2 others i can name! Graal online and Anrufen!

Yes, both of which are 2D.

Pocket Legends is fully 3D... which is why it's particularly interesting, especially since its on a mobile platform. And why it's worthy IMHO of an article.

That Watchmen game is considered an MMO and it's 3D, or look up Seven Swords, it's more of an MMO than the Watchmen game and was also out before Pocket Legends.

Originally posted by mmosnark

Originally posted by starfoxx31

Unless i misread that was the most fail thing i have seen all day! "At this point, is there anything that the iPhone can't do?Until last week, you could have answered "MMOs" to that question" there are at least 2 others i can name! Graal online and Anrufen!

Yes, both of which are 2D.

Pocket Legends is fully 3D... which is why it's particularly interesting, especially since its on a mobile platform. And why it's worthy IMHO of an article.

He didn't say the iMMO wasn't worth covering. He was correcting misinformation from the article. He probably considers it 'fail' because even a basic google search for "iPhone MMO" reveals this as one of the first entries:

Parallel Kingdom: The iPhone's First MMORPG
posted by Blake Patterson on March 21st, 2008

Source: http://toucharcade.com/2008/03/21/parallel-kingdom-the-iphones-first-mmorpg/

Originally posted by soap46

Are we really going to call them iMMO's?   I swear if someone slaps an "i" onto one more product, the universe just may collapse in on itself from lame.

I refuse to buy any product that has an "i" at the beginning of the name.

I've been thiniking about looking for somethign new to try with my iphone, I'm gonna give it a try.

With ping ranging from 2K to 80K this game sucks big time :(

It's been playing fine for me. I stopped because I don't feel like paying so I can get passed level 13.