An RP server that actually enforced policy can, and would probably have to, charge a lot more money each month.  Enough people are obviously willing to make it worth someone's time!  

Separating players based on their particular play styles may sound elitist, but a lot of the issues developers have policing RP servers in the first place are coming from conflicting play styles, and a simple lack of man power.   Actually, conflicting play styles is a gross understatement, because Rpers and non Rpers might as well be on different planets.  Not regulating RP servers because it's too much work... is the very reason they don't work.  Charge more $$$...   

You've written some really good articles before, but God damn this is just trolling! 

edit:  For the record, Antonia Bayle has a GREAT role playing community.  You don't even have to speak in old english or cyber to participate.

When you compare heroic accomplishments in a living D&D game to those in an MMO, you're comparing playing an active, interesting role in a constantly evolving story, to playing Mage #3323 in instance #22.  The depth of a challenge is limited by a level playing field and game mechanics in one, and only by imagination in the other.  Having experienced a good D&D campaign, no MMO will ever measure up for you in that capacity.  

I think the lack of real lasting consequences dispels the significance of heroics, leaving only a basis of comparison for bragging rights.

Originally posted by Warsong

I think the majority if not all of the "i want to swim" cries actually come from WoW fanboisms. And if that's the case then go swim in WoW.

LOL too funny!

Only the insensitive will "forget" there are real people playing a game with them in the first place, right?  Most would simply ignore a rude comment from someone like that.  Offended enough to open a  ticket?  Go right ahead, that's what they're there for. 

Not being able to distinguish genuine, malicious bigotry from thoughless comments only exasperates this sad situation.     

EVE players actually used this "service"?  Really?

I don't think I ever ran into a single person in this game that wasn't suitably paranoid!

Good for him, and LOL at the guys who bought ISK from him, they're no doubt banned or broke by now.

12 PT it starts.  =)

A $7 dollar a month paid beta seems like a pretty damned good idea!

Good article, but I'm going to have to disagree with the idea that there's no end for some of these guy's careers . That's not just wishfull thinking either!  It's a small industry, and the lack of competition for leadership is the sole factor keeping them on top. 

Managing artists is an art in itself, but knowing a good idea when you hear it from a subordinate isn't about having some magical leaderships skills, it's about not having your head in your ass and actually doing your job and listening.  How many game saving ideas have these guys ignored?  How many of these guys even come close to matching the dedication and effort of the artist's and programmers on their team?  How could they, without cutting into their golf/dirtbike/whiskey/spaceship time?  Who would ever trust these jackasses with a multi million dollar project after seeing them fail again repeatedly?   

Personality might get them the job, but only results matter to the players.  A product that stands out as exceptional is almost always the result of a good team effort, but a product that flops is almost always the result of bad management.  MMO customers will always remember the flops first, I promise. 

Word.

Originally posted by Wizardry

One thing i can say for sure is that Square has had a hard time controlling the balance in FFXI since beyond level 50.Players now are more egotistical,they have changed the play design of the game to be more superficial[easier] and soloable.The game has creapt closer to other games than it was originally designed to be.

I agree for the most part, but I'd have to say that FFXI players have ALWAYS been egotistical.

The changes in FFXI that have pushed it toward being more casual have all come from player feedback.  These changes effect the pace of leveling more than they do the challenge of the end game, however, so it seems like a logical change to make if they're to attract more players and get them into that content with the rest of the players. Square listens to their customers, this is something NC soft has never been accused of.  Ironicly, listening to their playerbase is exactly what's shifted FFXI game away from the things that made leveling so challenging.  Though even in it's more casual current state, it still manages to provide a challenging experience that no other MMOs even hint of. 

There is no way in Hell that a newly released MMO that focuses on challenge as much as FFXI will be accepted by as many people as a more casual one.   What is challenging to a very few of us, is just frustrating to everybody else. 

I  agree that quests sometimes actually take away something from a game, in that they provide direction for players.  Doesn't sound like a problem, and I suppose it's not for most.  Weird people like me actually liked having to sneak into an area, find an open camp, and then pull the things they fight.  It was a grind for sure, but the extra element of challenge somehow made it feel rewarding.  I think most people would rather just skip the tedium and frustration, and that's reflected in current MMOs.  Nothing wrong with that, the more accessible the game the more money they can make with it.  I think that also accounts for a great deal of the player turnover rate, as people who feel they've actually earned something in an MMO are more reluctant to walk away from it.

Originally posted by natuxatu

Oh and bots don't destory the game at least none i have played. They've always been around and while they can be annoying or influence the game economy it doesn't change the core of a game really. Sounds like you're just trying to hate, bots are everywhere and to most people they go unnoticed and people just don't care. Wow has bots no one cares, guild wars has bots, no one cares... complain if you want but *shrug* no one will listen because it doesn't really matter.

What about the effect of botting on Lineage 2, did that not change the core of the game?  There is no better example than this when it comes to games ruined by botting.   No other games ever even approached the scope of economic dissaster in Lineage 2.  These are the same people, so of course people are going to sound the alarm!  What will they do this time around?  I hope they do something, because that would be more than they've done against botting in Lineage 2.  

Guild Wars?  WoW?  The economy in those games is the picture of perfect health compared to L2.  

If it's casual at all, it will be more like WoW than FFXI in terms of difficulty. 

I'm glad they made it clear that at least two of the developers also worked on FFXI have been on board, apart from that and the character design, there are not many other reasons to believe that FFIV will be similar to FFXI in any major way.  The elements of FFXI that most people are hooked on couldn't exist in a game where people could solo, but that's a feature they're claiming it will have.  I hope it turns out well!

Games could just add a bit of seriously challenging content, that would go a long way toward making hardcore players happy.

Unfortunately, a few frustrated players will always cry foul in such situations.  I wouldn't call that an issue of casual vs. hardcore, it's just that some people like to whine.  Not all casual players are whiners, and not all hardcore players are elitists.  I think it's unfortunate that players are lumped into these groups in a negative way. 

 I think it's really funny that people's definition of a challenge in mmos is the measure of time spent, and not the difficulty! 

KwisatzHaderach of Titan is looking for mages with sky access, lv70+ .

We're a very active Link Shell that focuses on notorious monster hunting, sky farming and Dynamis. 

If you're interested, send a /tell to Sekhmet, Frankdux, Ssjamer, Proleus or Lilune.    =)

In my opinion it's among the better mmos available, free or pay to play.  It's unique world and stylish animation is what sets it apart. 

http://www.thebestpageintheuniverse.net/c.cgi?u=macs_cant

Why?  Because people are holding a grudge against funcom, and not judging the game based on it's current merits or flaws, but on that first impression.  They're not rating the game, they're punishing it.