bioware lets you pick your role and then presents you with epic content that makes that role feel as it should be.  Plus it pulls you in to make you feel as though you have contributed in a meaningful way.  further making you feel as though you have been part of a true epic tale.  This is what true RPGs are meant to do :)

All bioware had to figure out is how to put the MMO in their RPGs :)  and I believe they will succeed where many have failed. including Blizzard...

Originally posted by Tardcore

Originally posted by Isane

Originally posted by Tardcore

"No I'm NOT a fan of Buckethead! WTF do people keep asking me that!?"

 

As I've said once before I find SWTORS graphics to be meh. My problem isn't that they aren't detailed enough, but that the conceptual artists and I apperently have a very different view about what looks cool and what looks silly. Frankly though I couldn't care less. If the game is fun and rewarding, then they could just give us stick figures for all I care.

If you didn't care you would not be posting here ; So you don't care but you post and then try to make out you don't care sounds a little suspicious to me ; You seem to be contradicting yourself.

What Bioware have produced is impressive so far regardless of opinion.

Guess you missed that part I highlighted. No contradiction at all. The game being enjoyable is far more important to me than how it looks. However that isn't going to stop me from mocking what I find humorous. And I find ol "Buckethead" there ripe for riffing. Go ahead though and make your arrogant statements about how Bioware's works are the greatest thing since sliced bread and sacrosanct from any critiques (or GOOD NATURED RIBBING) from the peanut gallery. Its fans like yourself that help kill a franchise deader than hell by making those less fanatic too embarrassed to list themselves among your ranks.

I'm a super Bioware fanboy, not all fanboy's are narrowminded though :P because i find the buckethead referense to be pretty funny.  I'm not a fanboy of bioware's because of how they do art design or even because of what graphics engine they use.  It's because when they design a game, the actual gameplay and heart of how well they write along with overall game elements are amazing.  I would agree that some of their art design elements could use a bit of work sometimes even the animation in KotoR wasn't the greatest.  But that isn't what makes or breaks a game. 

Only people who have short attention spans and lack the ability of abstract thought tend to want graphics over gameplay... 

sometimes you just have to lay it out there and if someone doesn't get the joke then that's their problem :P

on mmorpg.com the stars are based mostly (if not solely) on how many times you log in a month consecutively.  ie. if you set this website to be your homepage then you will garner a 5 star in no time as long as you have it set to automatically log you in of course. 

I did just that a few years ago and had a 5 star rank for quite awhile until i changed it back to google's homepage.

Not only do Clerics make good healers but you can also be a very good tank in the game as well.  If you take the right soul setup and of course later on take toughness based gear then you are very useful as a tank in PVE expert dungeons.  More or less like the Paladin tank in WoW.  But clerics can also DPS well, mostly AOE DPS, but you can basically do backup healing/DPS.  I've found the DPS build to be better for soloing general quests and mobs.  a good defense build is what you want if you plan to try and solo elite mobs.  I tend to combo Justicar, Inquistor and Warden, primarly because you get more effective instant heals with warden then you do with druid.  And I solo level 50 elites this way.  But for PVP you want to go either healer or DPS route for better overall group support.  the debuffs from the DPS side are very useful but of course there is a need for good healers. 

Best overall DPS are pyro mages then Markmen or Assassin build rogues, warriors are good all around with many skills to debuff their targets and take mana away from casters which can be very useful in PVP.

And you have wardrobe slots that allow you to look however you want while wearing armor you need to.  Not to mention there are a lot of different types of mounts in the game.  some quite unique to the different zones/areas in the game.  but you have to quest and gain lots of faction points with the local faction in order to gain access to their mounts.

Constantly changing story elements drive the rift events in the game, and various event rewards can be gained that are unique to the events.  Once the event is over you still have access to the vendors for those that still have tokens to turn in for rewards.  but once the events are over then you can't gain new tokens for those events.  So some items you gain will be quite unique game wise.

Definately better than WoW in many ways...

i don't think a 2nd one would even be as good as the first, although they would probably have better physics but extensive customization in the original is fenominal and something that they would have a hard time matching on a new release.  but then again if they really invested the time and money on it they could... but that is the one key element.  IF they are willing to do that.

don't think any other game will ever come close to the level of customization that this game provides.  for at least a long while...

I think the Letter Grade method is much more informative of what it would be to the current overall generation of games.  Rather than a number scale that seems to represent 10 being the best ever.  but 5 years from now hardware will be 5 times better and overall game designs will have changed with that.  Which in turn would have made that old perfect game not so perfect anymore. Not only that we all have different opinions in what we like, thus numbers just seem completely arbitrary.  Where as letters are a better representation of our opinions. 

As far as Previews/Reviews go, I think that there should be an ongoing news blog for games that the journalist actually play or have played to give each person's insite on the game.  Kind of like Movie reviews... IE. the "Movies" app on the Android Market that connects with the same facebook app.  You have a section of journalist reviews and then a section of fan reviews.  and the overall scores of each are accumulated to the overall Score of "critics" and "movie goers". 

So instead of just using 1 journalist, use all that actually play the game for a time more than 1 month.  And those that actually actively play could have a running blog that could explain the different happenings within the game, and report news/updates as well. 

You could have a special section for each game for the opening month of the game for it's initial release review, then have the overall review at least a month or 2 after release for a more substantial "state of the game".

just my 2c :)

Well it is in development by MS and it's in beta right now and i'm pretty sure it will be more of an RTS MMO so i'm assuming it's on the sister site of mmorpg.com... but technically it will be a MMOG nonetheless.  *shrug*

Well the article is all well and good, but why even talk about a sandbox game when it's being developed by Bioware is odd.  Bioware isn't known for sandbox games, that isn't their style to begin with even in the remote sense of the word.  So the point overall is mute to me, to say the market and such has caused this to be a them park game... that makes no sense.

Bioware makes very story driven RPGs and I wouldn't expect their MMO to be any different, and the millions of fans that play Bioware games wouldn't want it to be any less different.  Thus you could say the huge majority of people who play RPGs like story driven content.  Call it whatever you want, but it is meaningful and is what makes a Roleplaying Game a Roleplaying game. 

There are just a minority of people who really like sandbox games, which i'm one of those that like both.  I would have to say that it would seem that those of us that like RPGs especially those table top games where we created our own story prefer the Sandbox style because of that fact.  We can sort of create our own content. and live out whatever fantasy at our own whim.

Considering that Bioware did create neverwinter nights i wouldn't put it past them to eventually have a sandbox title... not neccessarly based on Starwars. 

But considering this is their first MMO there are very high expectations and they really have to hit a homerun so to speak in order to gain a foothold on the market as a whole which will lead to them eventually developing other titles for other niche groups of people i'm sure.

Good review, the score seems good considering it is better than WoW in many ways, although the same in others.  Which WoW wasn't the first do a lot of the things it does but the first to refine what was available in multiple games already.  But to the original reviewer, their system being quite good compared to mine, and they only had their settings on high?  I only use a dual core 3.2ghz with the same GTX 460, and only 4 gb of ram vise the 6 for the reviewer and i have my settings on Ultra+.  I have the water quality maxed and view distance on draw objects maxed and I still get 30 fps on average even during PVP or huge rift raids.  I'm running windows 7 as well...  

The class system is awesome and the rift war is really good dynamic content that even the casual gamer can have fun with for an hour.  Even gain raid quality gear without raids feeling like a second job.  But there are raid dungeons for the hardcore as well.  I think they have a good mix of casual to hardcore content available and they are adding in content at a good rate.  The first 3 months are the most important of any MMO and how they can give players content to keep them going for the next year before coming out with an expansion is very important.

I honestly don't care for PVP to be purely balanced, it would be waaaay to boring if it was.  But I do hope they add more maps and maybe some contested open world pvp areas with added benefits from participating that is equal to raid content. You win some and you lose some... it boils down to a lot of times if people in the warfronts know what they are doing and how well they are coordinated.  Because no matter how you slice it,  the FotM build is not greater than a group of well coordinated players.

UT, UT 2004

UT3 they just keep getting better to me...

CoD 4 and Black Ops

Red Dead Redemption ( it's a 3rd Person/ 1st person hybrid)  which is awesome...  we totally need a old west MMO like this.

I think this is spot on...  And I feel they should develop the pvp side of things more for end-game content.  I hope they don't stick mostly to raids because i lead a way to busy life now to where "us casual players" can't spend hours on end doing some raids for thrills in a game.  There are only 4 arena style play fields, which seems cool for now, but in a month or two they will get old.  Makes me want to give Warhammer another run...

at least they are off to a good start with the open skill based character developement.  i truely hope they do develop it a lot more when it comes to all the different aspects of pvp.  area style is fun but only to a certain extent.  looks like there is a mix of pve in there as well.  it will be an interesting one to watch and see if they pull this off.  considering funcom's track record i feel this will be released way to early people won't like it at the start and it'll be a year before it's worth playing...  just sayin.

Originally posted by riko717

If this hinders any of blade and souls developement I'm going to be mad 

nice disregard of human life... you have to be joking or really have no life.

Asheron's Call was great overall, but Guild Wars has run a good tie to that to me.  City of Heroes and Villians is pretty darn awesome...  All of which has sucked the most life out me.  Each being games i'ved devoted multiple years to, so far.

Guess I'd have to say Guild Wars has been my all time favorite aside from Asheron's Call... If i could combine the skill based system and the salvaging/augmenting system of AC with the strategy, Hero system and awesome storylines and scenematics and the pvp systems of GW i'd have the perfect game.

Well Shadowbane almost did this perfectly... it's more for the pure pvp crowd.  But I just think if one of these big companies that can code really well and make it so there is less lag etc.  Trion seems to have gotten massive content in a single zone thing down pat.  Rift is mainly PVE, now if they could make a PVP centric game that does the loot thing like in WAR, when you kill a player they spawn random loot.  Now of course it might be a bit hard to keep people from exploiting that to some degree.  But it would be nice if they could figure a way to make it to where you only gain exp from beating players.  or maybe just have PVE content to a certain level but then the rest is gained pvp wise.  But go all out on the whole land control/ Total War aspects to an MMO environment would be awesome.   But i really like the scenarios from WAR though quite a lot.

it may have as much PVE content but it lacks terrably when it comes to PVP content than that of WAR or even WoW at launch.  as in the battlegrounds etc.

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Originally posted by Xhieron
Well... you said it.  It's a cold hard truth, and as much as people like to be forward-looking and idealistic about human nature, here's the bottom line.
If you want people to group, force it.  Period.
And forced is forced; you can "incentivize" grouping with faster or better rewards, but if you really want people to group, that's going to be a hell of an incentive.  And don't get me wrong: Guild Wars 2 is the game to beat in terms of development, as far as I'm concerned.  And ANet is trying to adapt to the changing mindset of most gamers in MMO's when it comes to cooperation and coexistence with other players--but the social aspect in GW2 isn't going to be the same grouping we had in EQ1 or FFXI.  It will be good, hopefully, and I also hope their system will disincentivize the asshatness that's promoted by solo competition schemes--but it's not the great last hope of grouping.
Old-school grouping is counter-intuitive to the modern trend in game development, and as someone already mentioned, the only way to cross that hurdle is with something like Vent or TS, or some proprietary voice communication.  Twitchy gaming means less socializing because people can't chat and spam abilities at the same time.  WOW is definitely the progenitor here; it makes a more "active" game experience from a mechanics standpoint, but it takes the focus onto the developers content and away from the group's dynamic.  This is regrettably why I find myself championing more and more a return to camp-style grind leveling.  If it's more time-effective to wait for a respawn than relocate (as it was in EQ and FFXI at times), the downtime is social time, but there's no perceived loss of efficiency.  However, that concept, I'm afraid, is dead.  What was fun about FFXI to me was developing the relationship with my guild members by leveling with them:  I recruited them because I met them leveling, and we had the opportunity for meaningful dialogue while we were leveling together.  I actually got to know them.  What was fun about WOW was ganking people.  As a game, WOW wins, but FFXI wins as a social environment, because it actually contributed to discourse over the internet, at least potentially, while I was playing it.
If you want people to group, you twist their arms.  Genkai 1, anyone?  Guk?  Oasis?  When I think of those things, I think of relationships and atmosphere.  The closest equivalent WOW has is ... well, Barrens chat.  I think of the hills in Dreadlands and I think about my friends; I think about Strat and I think about ... loot.  When's the last time you made a new friend in a PUG?  I don't mean your guild mates or RL friends that you game with--I mean someone you met in a PUG and actually got acquainted with.  I have a feeling I know which games that happens in and which don't, but as always, YMMV.

---

For the most part that is true, but not 100%, because I never liked EQ due to the time sink with the downtime, I played Asheron's call from the beginning because of the lesser downtimes.  We had very good clans/guilds and we all socialized just as much as any in EQ.  We would all meet up in towns and BS around for awhile, then get together and do some quests that required a group.  but most of Asheron's Call content was solo centric and only required a group in the higher level quests like 90+ and some 60+.  there was even one quests that took place in 2 completely different dungeons 1 being a level 25 to 50 and the other one being a 50+ dungeon and you needed teams in both to complete the whole thing. 

The one thing I think most MMOs are missing is well thought out content, puzzles and things that require groups, yes.  but it doesn't all have to be forced grouping to encourage a social atmosphere. 
I think it is harder now than what it used to be to find that guild that fits your "click"  because of the sheer number of MMO players now plus with an added diversity of player types.  I for one was able to play for long hours at a time a few years ago but now i'm in a relationship and i have 1 son and 1 baby on the way.  I'm very much falling into the casual crowd now and that last thing i need is some game that requires a huge timesink with grouping.  because i would only be a burden more-so because i have frequent AFK moments.  So a game that is solo friendly is much better.  much like what City of Heroes and Villains is, but it has content catered to just groups as well called Task Forces that yield nice rewards and such.  Which to me fits my playstyle... 

I just feel there should be more variety in the designs of MMOs, but when it comes to forced grouping it seems that it will be the Indy developers that do that now.  which of course before WoW came along solo friendly content was almost non-existent.  I'm sort of thankful for what WoW has done to MMOs in general, it helped them to see a different light.  I like how in most newer games that we given the choice to group or not.  If you have problems finding a group then check out guild's message boards for those that are group centric and once you find that right guild then i'm sure your gaming experience would be much different.  you may end up having to switch servers, but at least you can enjoy the game more.  I just think if grouping is your main forte then you should make that a priority before even delving into the game.

TBH if I could have a single player game with the scope and depth of most MMOs then i wouldn't even play MMOs that much.  I wouldn't be surprised to see more of Single Player/Multi-player hybrids in the future that is more like Diablo 2, but with more updated content like MMOs. If i could get a single player/multiplayer game like CoH/CoV that would be perfect.