Originally posted by Lord.Bachus

Originally posted by urbanaudio
@lordbachus you're right about that Bacchus the stories are immersive, but i was really talking about more of how you get involved and why do you get involved in those stories other than that you're spot on. movies are linear, yet the skill of a great filmmaker is to subtly remove that feeling of linearity and provide you with a suspension of disbelief. So in spirit they are truly not linear, thats kin of what I was trying to get at. I Know things arent perfect, If you read my post, I address that.I've heard those numbers before, haha too many times, and they only have a lasting effect until you complete those same planetary and side quests over an over again, so I'd really say that 100-8 classes of gameplay time really only translates to about 20-8 hours of original story-telling, I don't know what that has to do with you not wanting sandbox elements, but that's your call.

Just the statement that adding sandbox features improves the game, as some have been crying on this website for ages, just the fact that that statement is not true...  The great majorriy of gamers are casuall, and in generl like to be entertained by a game istead of spending hors upon hours tring to find the entertainment in a game.

So very true.  Sandbox games are a niche in every sense of the word.  Now non-linear gameplay and open ended gameplay are very much a fan favorite.

Then again if one was to play SWTOR as a KOTOR style game then it becoems a very good game.  As an MMO, not so much but I did enjoy leveling 3 different characters to max. (Sith Assasin, Trooper and Imperial Agent)

Originally posted by ShakyMo
My guess is no, the main bulk will be wow style quest hubs. There will be things dotted around you can discover eq2/rift style that give you bonus xp / gear.

Was afraid of this, makes it an almsot 100% deal breaker to me.  Guess it all depends when WS and ESO come out then.  Cause I already know ESO will have non-linear questing.

Originally posted by omgthisnamesux

To OP:

Can you describe non-linear questing, or your interpretation of it?  Some people associate it to level and some people associate it to quest hubs.

Can you also describe a game that did non-linear questing well?  Simply so I have a point of reference to what your ideal world is.

To "Settler" question:

I imagine settler quests will be kill/collect/defend quests, associated to an end goal.  i.e.

Phase 1:  We're looking to expand our control over Crimson Isle, we need you to head south and find a suitable spot to set up an outpost for our recon forces. 

Phase 2:  Now that you've found a suitable spot, you'll need to clear this area of baddies and start collecting some resources in order to build defensive structures to protect the outpost.  Here's the schematic for basic defensive turret a, which should help you out.

Phase 3:  Nicely done! We've got two defensive turrets set up, but it looks like a number of the locals aren't too enthusiastic about us moving in on their territory.  Keep building and defend the Outpost from the incoming baddie assaults.

Completion:  Congratulations, you've defended the outpost and reinforcements have arrived!

Living World:  Baddies will continue to assault the outpost every X minutes, with their forces becoming progressively larger and more dangerous.  On average the outpost falls every 15-20 minutes, and thus a new group of settler(s) will recieve the quest and the loop will start all over again (think of Rift Onslaught questing)

 

at least.. that's my 2 cents.. there's tons of quest things they can do with settlers.

 

MMO's: Asheron's Call and GW2 also Neverwinter's Foundry Content (currently leveling up my TR through 100% Foundry missions)

Single Player Games: Skyrim/Oblivian/Morrowind, Just Cause 2 and Two Worlds 2

Originally posted by silvermember

how is that different from a sub? 

The reason F2p and b2p exist is because a lot of players believe most MMO are not worth a sub. What you are suggesting is simply fixing a symptom of a much bigger problem. It still doesn't change the fact that I have to buy the game and keep paying money for it. The most important thing for me, is that if I don't feel playing I lose access to my character, while in other models I can still reasonably play with no issues.

Also your token model, sucks because that means people will feel the need to play in other to maximize their tokens, but I suppose that is more of a personal problem.

added: with your model, i still have to buy game+ pay sub or token+pay expansion. how it is any different from having to buy game+pay sub+ expansion? Ultimately, your suggestion doesn't really fix anything or offer any suggestions that will benefit the majority of MMORPG which is not the same as the population that post on forums like these. All it does is make people that stupidly think a sub AUTOMATICALLY makes a game better or people that have an irrational hatred of f2p, happy.

 

td;dr

You suggestion doesn't fix or even understand the reason sub games are not popular and it is simply most MMORPG are not worth their subs. 

Wrong!

The reason F2P and B2P exist is because we "know" subscription gaming is an antiquated proposition and a barrier to entry for anyone who plays other types of games.  Guys don't pay subscription for games like Super Mario Brothers, Quake, Call of Duty, Skyrim and any other type of single player game so why should a multiplayer game be any different?  Answer: their not, therefore MMO's ought to be going F2P or B2P to attract new players else you're competeing for the same failed and niche playerbase (the current MMO playerbase).

Originally posted by FromHell

Originally posted by Roxtarr
Yes.  Predicting this now.  WoW Raiding + Blend of WoW and GW2 Combat + 50% of development effort going to endgame content + tons of freedom = Wildstar.

I wonder how people still think a slightly different mashup of old concepts can ever become the next "big thing"...

 

Because there is nothing really new I can think of to implement in an MMO, if it can be done, most likely it has been done.  The trick is finding the right kind of "mashup" and innovating upon that and then adding your own twist. 

I wonder how people can think there is something new that can be done.

I prefer Non-Linear Themeparks by MMORPG.com definitions.

Or in the real world I enjoy PvE sandbox'es.

Originally posted by Tamanous

Asheron's Call had their form of currency but once crafting became more involved in the game it became clear that rare craft items became the real currency. Pyreal notes soon became primarily used for vendor purchasing and not much else. CU may require some sort of currency for NPCs crafters will always demand resources for the products others require them to make.

 

I simply do not see how CU can dodge the basic barter system as it is managed by the players. All CSE has to do allow the economy to flourish and the players will determine what is most in demand.

Asheron's Call economny was based on a Loot economy, rather it be Pyreal Motes, Shards & Fragments in the early days then to Major's and Epics in the latter days.

Still told, the Crafting in AC was solly based on the ability to augment/enchant or Tinker loot dropped items and at no point was it ever possible to craft an armor piece or weapon, only augment them.  Beautiful system that ESO is reinstituting right down to the dynamic loot differentiation on gear where no 2 "like" items will have the same stats.  Enjoy CU where the economy is based on nothing and any lasting appeal to do find something worthwhile is destroyed with the sense that you cna jsut hire someone to craft it.  Borring!

Originally posted by Edany

I think this was possibly the most botched explanation of the game's features that CSE doled out during the last 60 days.

'No PvE.'. What they should have said, and went on to half-ass clarify was 'No leveling or gear drops via PvE'.

 

That is in essence what PvE is!!!!!  To not have a leveling system and a loot system associated with PvE and monsters/mobs is a huge mistake.

Originally posted by Mavolence
[mod edit]

Hate to say "this" 

but

This

ARPG's jsut don't do it for me like they did 15+ years ago.  love the action but constant clicking and isometric view is immersive breaking.  WOuld love to see a 3rd person ARPG with a hotbar, WSAD movement and LMB/RMB attacks......ohh wait, Neverwinter ftw.

http://nw.perfectworld.com/news/?p=883571

Got news for those who think the game is P2W?  P2W games do not give away free sh*t.

The majority of thsoe lost subs were because the 1 year subscription from Diablo ended in May.

The majority of thsoe people left already and are enjoying themselves in games such as GW2, AoW, DF and NWO to name a few.

Originally posted by Bidwood

Smedley said this is going to be the biggest sandbox MMO ever and most of the world - much of which will be player-created - can be destroyed... like the world you see today could be much different five days later...

How can I destroy most of the world, including player creations, if other players aren't able to defend it?

I see this being a game with lots of conflict between players, which is incredibly exciting - provided the combat is engaging enough. (e.g. action-based.)

Remember - this is a parallel world to EQ1 and 2, which gives SOE license to turn the gameplay upside down.

 

Dear god I hope not.  In fact I would love to see split servers with different rulesets but if that isn't in the cards then I owuld opt for a No-PvP stance.  FFA PvP and the game is doomed to mediocrity like all the other sandbox games.

Originally posted by asrlohz

Originally posted by azzamasin

Originally posted by SafariS

I'm HEAVILY excited by Elder Scrolls Online, even with the leaked crap video. However, I've read something VERY interesting today which took my hype level to max. The loot in ESO will have randomed stats (with an array prolly), like in D3.

full article here:  http://www.tesoelite.com/2013/05/eso-gear-progression-dynamically-generated-stats/

bring it already!

All I can say "OHH EMM EFF GEE"

 

Finally a game will have Asheron's Call style loot pinatas and give min/max'ers all the more reason to continue to play the game.  This is 1 of those things I thought I would never ever see in an MMO ever again.  Color me extremely excited and hyped for this game.  Once again ZOS pulls no punches when it comes to designing an MMO for the future!!  Words can't express how excited for this game because of this.

That's a bit over the top, don't you think? Even by my standards.

One of the best features of my beloved Asheron's Call and the only MMO to ever support Dynamic Loot.  Not over the top at all.  That's how excited I am for ESO now because of this feature.

Originally posted by Shadanwolf
I'm glade you found out early....you're not going to play the game.

Yup, wish more people would actually read a game's F.A.Q. and core features, would save a lot of heart ache in the long run.  Its like buying Darkfall and bitching because of FFA Full Loot PvP and complaining about it ad-naseum on the forums.  Then again I do not put much stock in the average gamer, especially MMO gamer since the majority of them refuse to do a modicum of research of a game.

Originally posted by SafariS

I'm HEAVILY excited by Elder Scrolls Online, even with the leaked crap video. However, I've read something VERY interesting today which took my hype level to max. The loot in ESO will have randomed stats (with an array prolly), like in D3.

full article here:  http://www.tesoelite.com/2013/05/eso-gear-progression-dynamically-generated-stats/

bring it already!

All I can say "OHH EMM EFF GEE"

Finally a game will have Asheron's Call style loot pinatas and give min/max'ers all the more reason to continue to play the game.  This is 1 of those things I thought I would never ever see in an MMO ever again.  Color me extremely excited and hyped for this game.  Once again ZOS pulls no punches when it comes to designing an MMO for the future!!  Words can't express how excited for this game because of this.

Originally posted by MMOExposed

Animations are one of my main deal breakers in a MMO. Not to be confused with Graphics. But character animations, as i how they look moving, or how they look swinging a weapon or how they look casting a spell. 

 

Imo Warhammer, another of MJ's game had very poor animations for movement as well as Melee an cast. Far worst than World of Warcraft. Total deal breaker to see the animations for the Chaos Chosen compared to the GW2 Norn. 

But hard to back this game when they havnt shown much in the Animation area. I hope we see animations soon.

I don't agree with you often but absolutely agree 100%.  Combat and Character Animations are the #1 deal breaker for me.  I would also add that Rift's animations were severely lacking as well which resulted in my discontinue of playing.  WoW, GW2 (non Dual Wield) and now Neverwinter ought to be the standard for combat animations IMO.