When a REAL change comes along, that game stops being the said genre and creates its own. Like Minecraft, it starts to be a genre on its own, rather then a rpg or builder sim, or whatever you would classify it as.

As for your wishes for more dynamic combat and graphics.. there are always limits on hardware side, it is not because developers dont want to advance. When you are in an enviroment with lots of players, one gotta sacrifice graphics for better performance, same goes for combat. Dynamic, real time aim based combat is very network demanding what I am aware of, reuslting in constant "I hit you first, - no I hit you first" issues.

Originally posted by Toferio

When a REAL change comes along, that game stops being the said genre and creates its own. Like Minecraft, it starts to be a genre on its own, rather then a rpg or builder sim, or whatever you would classify it as.

As for your wishes for more dynamic combat and graphics.. there are always limits on hardware side, it is not because developers dont want to advance. When you are in an enviroment with lots of players, one gotta sacrifice graphics for better performance, same goes for combat. Dynamic, real time aim based combat is very network demanding what I am aware of, reuslting in constant "I hit you first, - no I hit you first" issues.

That's the thing, people have no idea really how to classify a game. And to be honest, I don't know much either. But there isn't "alot of option". So people just use random and stupid classification.

It's more easy to say WoW Clone than Themepark. And so many people are talking about Sandbox game when I wonder if they know what a real sandbox game is.

Also, some game might actually give REAL change, but it is popular ? No. Does the compagny make money with it ? No. Because player aren't interested in it. Game like The Secret World or Otherland might actually be a big change from WoW and a majority of games, but will it be good when shipped ? Will they fulfill their promise ? We can't tell.

I would say that Minecraft might be the most popular game that was different lately. But it is not an MMO really, so does it really even count ? Well some might still call it "MMO", but again no one seem to have the same definition. I even begin to see some game trying to copy minecraft, but it's just a huge fail. Most likely like the game that are trying to copy big name like WoW or Dota, or anything good in their own genre.

Originally posted by Loke666

Originally posted by odinsrath

a REAL change in mmorpg's..

never

its a booming cash cow of theamparks and cash shops...devs and companys know this..they wont change untill the gamer dose or untill they think they are loseing money

Well, Wows income is going down rather fast now, and the genre is going over to F2P to survive. It isn't as peachy in MMO land as it was 5 years ago and if the games are the same in another 5 years I think some of the studios making them will be gone.

EQ styled themeparks have controlled the genre for 10 years now with Eve as the only exception. With almost exactly the same combat and loot mechanics that means many old MMO player have become tired of it all and quit along the road.

If the genre want to revitalize itself something new really needs to be done.

The question is not if it can stay the same but how big those changes needs to be. I am not so sure that we will move to sandboxes as some people think.

The 2 main changes I believe will happen is combat mechanics and quests. Since we spend so much time in combat  the devs of new games must give us a feeling of something new and more interesting. The easiest way to do this is killing of the hoy trinity that been in almost all MMOs since Meridian 59 1996.

As for quests, that is trickier. Maybe quests indeed will turn into DEs like in GW2 or maybe just making them more interesting like OP suggests is enough. Maybe CPs WoDO crew is right and player created quests is the right way. Or something else but killing 10 rats is on it's last turnin.

Game genres needs to change eventually or they will die out like the platform games did, once almost all games were platform games, now they only exists in java and on cellphones. The genre just couldn't change with time.

I hope MMOs will do better and last longer, but they can't stay the same if they want to do that. There will always be room for a few "classic" games but they will not be in pole position but rather far back in the nostalgic bin. 

But in early days it was also about creativity not purely money wise like Asherons calls or UO.

Nowadays its mostly how we can make money and not try to be creative or different.

And they could back then, the internet was in its infancy when it comes to mass multi player games  so we all loved first generation becouse there where not many and we never had experience before walking in a fantasy world with thousends other players so it was all awesome back then.

 POST WoW:Darkfall try but failed misrable xyson try but failed.

These days its what mass ones and make money thats what we get im affraid and this won't chance anytime soon.

Originally posted by Requiem6

Originally posted by Toferio
 

 I even begin to see some game trying to copy minecraft, but it's just a huge fail. Most likely like the game that are trying to copy big name like WoW or Dota, or anything good in their own genre.

Im not sure I agree, the minecraft clone on xbox is selling quite well. Same goes for terraria, which is heavily inspired 2D minecraft (but with few own gimmicks). Same goes for dota clones.. LoL is doing extremely well (thou it did extend the genre by adding talents, runes, and what more), and DOTA2 seems to be generating a lot of hype and positive feedback.

Originally posted by BigGayNorman

Originally posted by jpnz

Originally posted by BigGayNorman

Originally posted by jpnz

 

Bad in what way?

Free Realms is actually a well designed game.

I see innovation and changes happening in the MMO scene. Whether they succeed or not is up to the market.

Working as intended.

Sorry, thought my generalisation was sufficient.  Please, and think about this before you answer because I will not accept Rift as an answer, name one significant change in game mechanics since 2004??? Please do.

Phasing is one.

LFG tool is another.

EVE's Incursion type mechanic is another.

Shall I go on?

Yes, because you have mentioned nothing that fundamentally alters the genre, just tools to (in my opinion) make it less fun.

Edit: infact I have to go so far as to call you out as a moron, please only raise a point if you have a point to make, otherwise I am busy baking bread.

So if something doesn't fundamentally change the genre, it's not innovation...riiight.

• If person 1 says "Here are some non-MMORPGs which have innovated in creative ways"
• Then person 2 says "But those aren't MMORPGs"
• Then person 1 says "Here are some ways MMORPGs have been innovating"
• Then person 2 says "Those didnt' fundamentally change the genre, so they don't count"

Honey. If you are bored with MMORPGS then no change is ever going to make you like them again.

Maybe MMORPGS just aren't for you. Try FPS Games, or heck try real life it's 100% better.

Originally posted by jpnz

Originally posted by GameDevJake

I know how all of you feel and agree with alot of what you are all saying. Our genre is detiorating a lil. What I want to know is how to get it back on track.

Other than NOT BUYING new games, which wont happen, what can we do? How can we be heard?

Im only seeing MMO sites that give news and updates, rarely does the industry try to reach out to us, the gamers who buy their products.

Any thoughts?

 

Contrary to popular belief, the genre's been changing non-stop for the past few years.

We have all kinds of MMOs.

Need for Speed: World? Age of Empire Online? Free Realms? A tale in the desert?

All different MMOs.

Just because you don't know them doesn't mean they do not exists.

Umm, pretty sure I didnt say the genre wasnt changing. Anybody want to point out where I said anything about change?

I said its detiorating, because it is. We've gone from a player run genre to a Massively Multiplayer Online Single Player Game genre. And Im not talking sandbox v. thempark here, Im talking industry run by players v. profit schemes.

EX: We came from world of UO to the world of SWGdeath and games that want to handhold the player.

Originally posted by forest-nl

But in early days it was also about creativity not purely money wise like Asherons calls or UO.

Nowadays its mostly how we can make money and not try to be creative or different.

And they could back then, the internet was in its infancy when it comes to mass multi player games  so we all loved first generation becouse there where not many and we never had experience before walking in a fantasy world with thousends other players so it was all awesome back then.

That's exactly the mistake devs do! Creativity ,fresh ideas is the key element that is missing last years. It was no coincidence good rpg or mmorpg were coming out.

And yes it was something magic at those times but personally im still looking for it around. If something is good i ll stick with it , my personal idea about the game wont be lesser caue its been some years that the mmorpg genre is on the stage.

If something is based on creativity,innovation,challenge,its refreshing , well it s gonna be a hit ,period.

Df was a try ,it had gasps though starting with combat . And ill stick with combat cause as its been said combat is the one thing we surely gonna do mostly in an mmorpg. Combat needs to be intresting and improved alot .