Originally posted by Batmanlives

Please go to the Champions site http://www.champions-online.com/

All Cryptic staff are being kept on as well as all those in management and Atari has announced they will not interfere in the development of the game.

It seems after this was anounced at the champions site alot of people were starting to get nervous about this buy out and what it could mean for the champions game.So one of the Admins had to respond to all the questions being asked.Go to the web site and check out the forums on this topic.

 

what you say is true, and i have read the information on it and it sounds good. but the style of manigment will be the life or death of cryptic. i hope im wrong. i hope cryptic can survive the buyout. but i fear we are seeing the end of a great game maker .
 

Originally posted by Aked_elBosse

Returned Vet here....ok so SWG gets under your skin. For me the game broke back with the CU and then the NGE did it for me. Can't do anything about that, SOE messed up big time. Got tired of ragging endlessly and finally realized there is no going back. So, I came back. I had some fun, met some old friends and tried some new stuff. That was a few months ago now and the luster has worn off . Now theres a game with hundreds of collections, some seemingly endless (the slaughter stuff). GCW has become a an AFK heaven and totally meaningless. How a DEV team can unbalance only nine character lines is head scratching.  Has anyone told them that doing those Heroic instances repeatly for jewels or whatever is boring after awhile? They should ask those that do the Jedi collection for halos about frustration and boredom. I know in MMOs anything and everything gets boring after awhile but, this setup is asking for people to go elsewhere.

And now they add Hoth. Wow, ok so its new and different. But, do not tell me it somehow fits into the games supposed timeline, thats just taking it too far. They could have done Bespin with content coming in the form of keeping the Imperials away from all the mining cities or helping Lando with Tibana gas bandits or something that would fit. But, i guess that doesn't matter after all isn't Luke looking for that one last piece to his collection?

We're getting more content from the silly card game then anything. Wait the cards are important for that nifty loot you can get. So we go along and think this is Star Warsy. I came back with an open mind, had some fun and relived alot of good memories. Now its old and boring and not for real gamers so I'll be moving on again.

Maybe, the new release will be end of SWG. If so it will be both a sad and happy day. Sad for what could have been and happy to see what its become finally end. For now I'll walk around Mos Eisley listening to children curse and duel each other as if its proving something. I will refuse to do anymore collection stuff since it no longer makes sense to. I'll not get sucked in to buying endless packs of cards to get this item or that to show off. Till I decide to finally close the door on SWG, I'll try to recapture the old fun of hunting, hang out with those friends that refuse to leave and slowly forget the constant hype from SOE on how much they have done and will do for the game.

Sorry Hoth just doesn't hit it.

 

 

this post and others like it is just the same old stuff. post NGE.  lag, buggy patchs, stupid DEV's , what else is new. what can we say people its a SOE run game. nuf said.................
 

Originally posted by darkevision

A great question! My answer is meant to encourage you to continue your quest for an enjoyable, immersive RPG experience in whatever MMO you choose!

So, to begin...first, you must realize that role-playing is something that the average MMO players is simply not interested in! (especially when you consider the average age and attention span of the players involved).

As a veteran of many MMORPG's(many of which I have gotten involved with simply to investigate the level of player involvement in the RP aspects of the game or universe),  I can say that only a few offer a true effort at role-playing. Many of these have been listed in this very topic thread, such as LOTR and SWG( I cannot help but state my opinion that the major reason SWG doesn't live up to it's promise is *because* they don't encourage rp gameplay more prominantly). It is one thing to pick up a lightsaber and start offing wamprats, but it is a whole new level of dedication to actually *believe* you are a Dark SIth Lord when immersed in the SW universe!

That said, my background in RP is one of spectacular hits and horrifying misses! When I enter my chosen universe, I try to *become* the character I have created for the time I invest in a game(not to mention the money...lol). This is not an easy thing to do! I try to create an atmosphere of fun and comraderie, but this is very difficult for a player new to the game. I have found that the variious sub-genres of many MMO's are extremely cliquish( Rp, PVP, etc), usually because they feel that by inviting new people to the community, they open themselves up to criticism by some immature 13 year old(and in some cases, 30-40 year olds who haven't grown up, as well). 

As i said, I would like to encourage your pursuit of genuine fun-seeking, good old fashioned method-acting RP, so a few helpful tips:

A) Encourage *all* who join you to participate! This seems a no-brainer, but many MMO players are flexible, and will *go with the flow* when they find themselves on a competent, xp-oriented team!

B)DON'T BREAK CHARACTER! At all, for any reason! If the leader of the group can demonstrate how easy it is to answer any question...fulfill any request....and acknowledge any real-life concern in-character, the beginning rp'er will get a great insight into the dynamics of RP.  For example, on Thanksgiving Day, I and 5 others were doing scanner missions in City of Heroes(one of 6 games I currently am subscribed to). The character I was on at the time was a magic-based tanker, and we were lucky enough to run with the same group for over 2 hours, pretty good for Thanksgiving! When the group broke up, and I said in character that the Lady Dark( my wife's character, who was not online at the time) had requested my presence at DarkeGable castle for a sumptuous feast, I thought little of it. But just before I logged off, three of the others I had run with for most of the morning sent me private tells, and basically said they had heard of RP-centric players, but had never realized how fun it was, and they couldn't believe I never broke character even when some (using the hated parenthases of out of character comments, as I am doing...lol) had said "phone..brb" or "gotta feed the dog", etc....! These were comments I took gratefully, and I was glad to inspire others to RP in the future!

C) Be patient with non-RPers!  They may have many reasons for not participating, but until they become rude or insulting, they are helping you to advance as you are helping them! Experience, loot and money have a way of uniting even the most disparate of players

D) Most importantly, HAVE FUN WITH IT!

E)Lastly, never be discouraged by the kill-joy players you meet online! They have their reasons for playing, and we have ours! I never give a moment's thought to a rude or smart-ass comment, but I have remembered great players and comrades(many of whom I still run with) for over 10 years now!

THanks for the great question, and HAPPY HUNTING!

this is why pople poke fun at RP ers. they try to take it to far.
i am a roll player from way back D & D . we did it in charter and had lods of fun. but if your invirment  dose not lend its self to rping then go with the flow. rp a little hear and a little their. you will find you will have fun. is SWG i RP when i could and loved. it dose not take devs to make a rp server to RP.

Originally posted by SinzOfMan

So people that play Aion might actually get laid?

i have a wife and 3 children .  i want to game now . but i have a gig so 300 hr is quite enough

Originally posted by Ihmotepp

Originally posted by Abrahmm

Originally posted by Ihmotepp

i disagree because although Darkfall is a sandbox, it's just one type of sandbox.

A sandbox does not require, at all:

1. FFA PvP. See SWG pre-NGE which most people consider a sandbox, NO FFA PvP. See EVE, which has safe areas. See UO, which was still considered a sandbox even after Trammel.

2. Using skills to increase them as a character advancement system. No way you are going to argue that a game cannot be a sandbox unless you use this character advancement system.

3. Full Loot

4. FPS style aiming in combat.

 

NONE of these things are required to be a Sandbox game, and ALL of them are in DArkfall. So a Darkfall failure does not equal a SANDBOX failure.

A Darkfall failure might equal a FFA PvP, Full Loot, FPS style combat, use skills to increase them, failure. 

 

I 100% agree with your points of what Darkfall has that aren't needed for a sandbox game. In face, I don't even like  points 1, 3, and 4 in my MMO's. What I'm saying is that Darkfall is the first game to break the WoW clone mold in a long time, and it's success or failure could dictate the possibility of a AAA sandbox game being developed in the future. I'm not saying that the AAA will have exactly the features as Darkfall, but if Darkfall fails, the posibility of a AAA sandbox will diminish greatly, as they are only in it for the money, and not to make a great game. If they still only see money available in WoW clone style games, that is all they will produce.

 

I still disagree. I think it may work like this. If Darkfall succeeds, and I hope it does, that will be GOOD for the future of the sandbox style of MMORPG. It will encourage other dev teams to make more sandbox games, because they see there is a market.

However, if Darkfall fails, I don't see it as necessarily a blow to the "sandbox" design, for the reasons I listed above. Maybe it would mean there's a market for sandbox play, but not necessarily FPS style aim to shoot combat, for example.

it is the total point that if DF failes. the reason will not matter much. it will show the money men that it is not worth the cash to try to break form the WOW format.  that is why i wish DF the best
 

Originally posted by redriver

SWG wasn't 'bout heros. it was 'bout livin' in SW universe not livin' in SW movies!

it was for ppl who liked SW sci-fi settin'  and could become anybody from a farmer to an ace pilot in good ol' SWG...

 iconic/starwarsy my shiny buttom! ppl who wanted to be like the main characters in the movies just had to either role play that with what they had(32+ proffesions should be enough choice) or just go play any of SW SP games where ya can have all the insta action and heroic all day!

thats it in a nut shell.  i want the SW life not the moive life. thats what i loved about  swg. just give us back swg pre-nge

lets see a 3 year sub of  SWG  with 2 accounts --$1,520 dollors

                a 2 year  sub of  WOW  only 1 account --$560

                a 2 year  sub of COH    only 1 account --$560

game coast  SWG X2,  JTL X2 , wookie X2 ------$240

game credits--------------ebay-------------------------$100

game coast  COH COV,--------------------------------$90

game coast GUILD WAR-------------------------------$60

game coast EQ2------------------------------------------$60

total MMO fun----------------------------------------------$3590 us give or take

and i love every min of it

Originally posted by BlixaB

Originally posted by Impacatus

Originally posted by Foxman13

Why does a game have to pure sandbox or pure "guide the players along" type game? In theory, a developer could create a system in which content is easily added to a game by staff and players alike, while providing a pre-determined path for players not interested in directly affecting the game world and who just want to experience pre-made content and/or content made by other players. Would a game like this satisfy players?

 

 

When I think of sandbox and player-made content, I'm not thinking so much of players taking the role of developers and designing and scripting quests and so on.  Rather, I'd like to see a game where the world is sculpted by the player's actions within the game.

In order for this to work, there has to be a coherent "virtual community" for players to interact in vie economics, politics, etc.  The problem is, if players are interacting with the world, they're not interacting with each other.  The two models of game are fundamentally opposed.

An example is loot vs. crafting.  If loot is availible that serves the same purpose as crafted goods and does it better, no one will want to buy from the crafters.  The sandbox player economy and the linear loot table cannot coexist in the same sphere.

I think it is possible to make a game that has both types of content if the two don't overlap, but then what's the point?  Why not make two seperate games instead?

 

Come on, be creative.

It isn't loot vs crafting, they can work together perfectly fine. Two thoughts of mine:

1) best items created by crafters who use looted recipes

2) best items are looted ones but they can be studdied any copied by crafters. Need valueable mats to create and break at some point (both, looted and crafted items should turn out to be exactly as good as the other one). They should also be very limited so for example there a different bosses who are dead for good when they're dead. So if you want to keep a certain item "alive", you have to recraft it due possible breaking.

SWG did this.  thats why i loved the game crafters, hunters , builders, statemen,  it had it all
 

this is a game we all whould love to see. and of corse baced off the books. fights aginst spice smuglers, the whole 9 yards

Originally posted by tfox2k1

First the people constantly asking for a sandbox game are proving they can't handle the sandbox concept.   Reason there are free style MMOs out right now.   Go and find them.   Eve Online, UO, and Second Life, all come to mind.

 

Second, the player base can't be trusted to control the economy and world.   They will screw it up.   A few who have far more time than the majority of the other players will control the market.   Real skill isn't involved the primary currency is time.    If you want a sand box economy go find one of those amazing stock market sim.   Prove you're capable of handling a skill based economy, not one based upon time spent.

 

Third, sandboxes failed in the MMO industry.   The player base has proven several times now with high profile games, SWG, SIMS Online, to name two that they can't handle a sandbox game.

Lastly, you can build your own sandbox in NWN.   If you're so creative and skilled, build a world in NWN and invite your friends to play it. 

 

So really, stop asking for a sandbox game, you can't handle it.

 

i find you post to be 90% on the money.

the few of us that can handle the "sandbox" type mmo is not the big numbers that game makers are looking for. that is  why the WOW frame work has taken over.

swg was NEG to get more player peple left because of lack of content. only the diehart stayed.

we are looking for navarna, utoipa, it cant be found.

Originally posted by Thunderous

How many times does this have to come up before people realize there is a good reason that sandboxes are rare?

Sandbox games require independent thinking and creativity.

Most gamers, as in most people in life, need their hands held.  Sandbox games typically throw you to the wolves and let you do whatever you want, most people are not built for that sort of thinking.

 this is the big point the .  wow has its fan bace of those who want defind content. for some we want a world where the players create the content. where players craft all the items. players build the citys. where dungons change. where we can remake our toon . with open skill bace. you know like  SWG wan sob sob im about to cry

i love the post and replies. i came to this post looking for ansers and got more question.

so lets use some game (mmo) that we thing have a close to sandbox style

first game

1) SWG pre nge

look man i dont need your life story.  just get to the point.

it is in man to push for the next level. and to use the lates and greates hard ware and soft ware,

stop crying. it took me a wile to get a cp that could play a avrage mmo.

and i will upgrade every 3 years or less because its my hobby.

eather put up the cash or stop playing. "nuff said"

and this is not a flame. i mean this in all love

it whould have it all. politics , a in depth economy , swords and lazer guns, space ships.

what do you all think about a DUNE mmo.

the reason most of us will never come back is because. we feel sold out by SOE.

no matter how much they change swg . we where done wrong and nolonger trust SOE in any fasion.

for my self the hurt is so deep , i will not play any SOE game.

you might all laugh at me but i dont care,  SWG was the best mmo i have ever plsyed. with all its bug. i loved it the most.

the list of what i have played, COH/COV, EQ2, GW, WOW, EVE,

with all its bug SWG was the best to sony -f- it up with NGE