thanks, but pretty sure that wasn't it. It basically centred on the couple, within their house and getting more and more delusional. The female lead was someone who was or resembled holly hunter.

can you post a link please?

i have not played a free to play game in years, as they all seemed like korean grinders. It seems that this model is being adopted more and more, so surely the gamed have improved. Loved lotro, then heard it went free to play. What exactly did this mean? I paid my sub from day one, and bought mines of moria. So how does it work now? Has it been ruined? What has changed since moria came out and then it went to ftp? They were meant to be bringing out expansion packs, to follow the course of the books. The story being set a few weeks behind the fellowship. Has there been anymore proper expansions? Also, any decent free to play that are not just like lineage2? I mean, games that have storylines, etc. Thanks for any advice. Also are there any mmorpg's for cell phones, not as powerful as iphone or android, but it is threeg.

lol, i need spectacles, as i thought thread was ' best FILM ever'. I am using mobile phone though. Fyi, if it had been that then it would be 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest'! Hehe.

i have a similiar problem, so thought i would use your thread op, rather than start a new one. This film had the guy from the series 'six feet under'. Not the homosexual but the other brother. Anyway, he was ultra paranoid. He was delusional, and meets a new girl friend, cannot remember her name. Anyway, rather than thinking he is crazy, she actually beieves him, and both become extremely paranoid. There is one scene, which i recall, where he is in such an advnced state of paranoia that he actually pulls out his own teeth thinking that the government have somehow wired them. Don't actually recall why he did this. It was a movie, i started to watch only casually paying attention, but it turned out to be excellent. It was not a well known movie, and probably made in the last seven years. I'd really like to watch it again, see if it was as good as i thought it was.

My ex was who actually got me into mmorpg's. She was an avid Everquest 2 player, and had several toons of various power. Not only could she show me the ropes with a more powerful toon, but as a role-player, it was fun for us to invent storylines around our characters. It was the first time, player housing had any cosmetic value, and we had three different houses. Interesting to see how we decorated them, although pretty dishearenting when i would visit her main house. In the most expensive area of town, and adorned with all the trophies, pets and achievements she had attained. We also were often apart in real life, and often even in different countries due to work commitments. This meant that playing together added an extra dimension. Not only fun going through the game together, but i way off us staying in contact every day. So it is a good idea. She also tried to get me into Guild Wars, and this would probably have been even better, but i started playing WoW, which she hated. Then she'd try and get me into Matrix, is that still going? However, i hated that. Then i tried to get her into lotro, which again she did not like. Simply put, if it was SOE, she would try and get me to play those games, apart from GW. I knew it was the beginning of the end when i left EQ2 for lotro. Lol, never had any arguements in rl. You could say that we used mmo's to fall out. Thank God, not every aspect of our relationship was conducted in a virtual world ;) I would recommend GW. Or lotro. And go through the game at a similiar level. Not only do you do the same quests, etc, but you can also meet the same friends, join the same guild, etc. Also, just notice how much more guys will be nicer to her than you. Sexism certainly exists, i remember some guy gave her a ton of platinum in EQ2. I mean a lot. He obviously had not been aware that she was not single anymore, and she gave me half. So at level ten, i was already super rich!

As i mentioned earlier, both GAME and GAMESTATION are owned by the same company. Where i live in Falkirk in Scotland there are both stores within 30 seconds from each other. I have always been curious as to why GAMESTATION is able to present cheaper deals, and sell the exact same software at a cheaper cost. Why is this when they are both owned by the same people? I have noticed that GAME tries to convey a more slick, professional image, where the other shop is more casual. I find it strange that GAME still sells freetoplay mmo's, and not cheap either.

This is one of the best, and relevant threads i've read in my entire time on this site. The OP's original point is exactly what i've tried to express for years now. Also a lot of the other contributions were bang on the money. I am extremly frustrated with mmorpg's. They should be the future of gaming. However, a lack of innovation had stagnated the genre a long time ago. I blame this on greedy companies, who think that WoW's success meant that they did not need to change the 'formula'. Yes, we've had variations on the general theme, but where are the true pioneers? After wow, it was generally accepted that this would be the model of mmo's. The OP is right. There is too much content forfeiting quality. After you've done all of the standard things, seen all there is to see, grinded your way through to achieve gear or other stuff, like end game content, if you've managed to do all this without becoming bored stiff, then you must be easily pleased. There'so much more an mmorpg could offer. Someone mentioned that the games are not single player, short lifed games, because they are meant to be worlds, where you live. Well, i've never had a feeling of verismilitude where i feel i am in a dynamic world. We pay subs for most of the triple a games, so the devs should have a responsibility to provide us with a living, breathing world. If it means cutting out some of the grind, good. That is just a cheap way of creating a timesink anyway, so that you will play, therefore pay, month after month. Instead of expansions which are glorified more of the same, or patches with crap content, especially when the inevitable, seasonsble content gets added. Be it halloween, christmas, etc. Who truly likes all that stuff anyway? What about a truly dynamic world? Where there is intrigue at court, catasphroe's, events that cause players to think. If it is too hard to code, then why don't they employ gm's to become characters, say like actors. Rather than stock npc's, have major npc's played by employee's. Their roles could be minor, to a king. They could trigger dynamic events, just as in a real world. They could be infamous villians, known through out the land. I'm not talking about turning your game into a series of rp events. But it would be cool to be passing through a forest and come across a well known bandit. Would you take him out, and the rep that went with killing him and his crew? Or perhaps join him. How much more exciting would a quest be if it involved that character allocating it to you? Remember this is not some stock npc who would respawn. A long time player could boast that he once took out the king's champion. More player interaction as well, let them effect the world. Don't worry, the essential game, with it's grind would still be there. All of what makes people like an mmorpg would still be there. Your fetch and kill x and y quests. But making the world alive, what would be so wrong with that? As for difficulty, i would have servers. I don't like not getting penalised for dying. I would allow characters of a certain level to get looted. I would allow player housing to mean something, for example, if i hire myself as a guide, or herald, or bodyguard to prevent looting, even perhaps an assasain, to take out your enemy, but you'd need to know how to find me, because there would be a law. This would make my gold count for something. As it is, in wow, i have thousands of gold, and it is nothing to me really. In short, i think that there are categorises of player, the grinder, rp'er, etc. It is not hard or should not be with our sub money to make a game that caters for everyone. I mean, imagine having your own shop, and it specialised in you and your guildies being hired guides, rather than a dot on a map telling you where to go?

pmsl at zytin. Very eloquently put. I mean the whole point of this forum is to debate and discuss the games of this very genre. I don't understand the point the op is trying to make. I've learned a lot about certain mmo's through these very debates. I'm interested in a fellow gamers opinion on certain titles. Yes, i might not agree, but it gives me an insight into what others believe, and could actually be an indication of what direction the genre is taking, without having to try every title.

it would be a shame for employers, but i hate GAME. They deliberately rip off customers, where their sister shop GAMESTATION offers more deals, cheaper products, etc. No justification for it. Also, why don't these companies use initiative? Hold competitions, game events, a tips day. Shop vrs shop team bouts in certain games. Not just there, stagnant with ppl who often don't know the game you ask about. Just tell you anything to get sales. If online sales are killing them, then they should try thinking outside the box. Follow gamesworkshop model, which draws people in. Make it community based. So many things shops could do, especially via the medium of gaming. But as usual no imagination from the suits. At least in the sell off, we'll get some cheap games. Originality, then they could compete.

i think that rp'ers themselves are actually part of a community that has its own micro forms of what each person views as rp'ing. Some rp'ers think that sitting around talking ic about events outwith the narrative and plot, are one sub group. Others like to play the game ic using plot as a basis for rp'ing. Others will use the games areas to conduct rp events, having formed their own, usually guild based storylines. What appears as a seemingly trivial point made by the op actually opens up an entirely new topic. What kind of rp'er are you? Personally, i have not tried the game yet, but was hoping that a company famous for adopting the traditional form of rp games, and making excellent solo crpg's, should be bringing rp into the mainstream. I thought that this game would start to remove us from the bland nature of most mmo's, and begin to introduce strong storylines, and envirnments where traditional rp'ing would be welcomed. The concern of your character due to a certain storyline, area rich zones where random rp could take place. I thought this game should cater for the rper. Chat bubbles can make rping a lot easier, as it gives your character an easy to identify a voice. I'll be dismayed if they have actually put your character in scenes where they make them talk. However, the best result would be for chat bubbles to be the players decision. Sometimes, certain rp'ers can be the most cliquey of players. We all have our own taste in what gives us that sense of verismilitude. When there is a big rp event, it can be confusing to follow what everyone is saying and doing, and chat bubbles do help this. However, when a small clique forms and are busy 'rping' about things not relevant to anyone else, bubbles could be an annoyance. Especially as they usually are not friendly to strangers entering their rp. Personally, my idea is for ppl to stay ic, and act as though their character would. If on a quest, why would a pc go to a zone and 'rp' about trivial conversations not to do with what their character would really be thinking. For example, you have an important quest in say lotro, but your character is in bree, in the tavern 'rping' about often silly conversations. Too me the game is then an irrelevance, just an envirnment to act. Whereas, if people were concerned, implented what is happening in game to reflect their characters mood, it would add to my game. I pass someone who is concerned. I can if it's my pc's nature ask what is wrong. Dismayed, they tell me about the details of their quest, i can offer my services. We remain ic. We can remain in sync and go onwards, using the game's npcs and quests to remain ic, meet others with a similiar predicament. Before long there's a group of us. We're rp'ing through boring quests, and grinding without it seeming like such, as we're ic. Learning about each other, forming friendships ic. We take breaks to unwind, learn background, etc. Perhaps a non game plot begins, etc. So i'm playing the game, rping through quests, which rarely happens, and advancing. We all have our traits, and side stories form. But it all started because i noticed some comment made in a chat bubble. That's my way i like to rp, but like i say, we all have our own preferences. So rp'ers themselves could be split into different categories. However, i thought this game would not be like a solo crp. I thought it would take us closer to meshing a dynamic world, with original and exciting plots, ripe for rp'ing. Is this not true? And does my pc or toon, talk for himself during cut scene?

as long time members may know, i've been a huge fan of martin and his books. I have met him, but long before the series was even in production, as in the tv series, so never thought about asking him of the possibility of an mmo. It could be great if done well. Anyone know about the game?

that post got me curious, so may check out the link. Will it work on my mobile/cell phone, which is 3g, but not one of the big three. As for the initial question? I loved text adventures. Even made a few, with graphics. My favourite was the lord of the rings, whch came with the book, and was on two cassettes. It was on the old, rubber-keyed spectrum 48k. Did you get that pc in the US? My all time fav game, before i got a pc, was a game called Doomdark's Revenge by Mike Singleton. If you heard of that. Then maybe you heard of Sorderon's Shadow. It used a similiar game engine, but i still think it's the toughest game i've ever played, and baxk then there was no goggle. As for muds, i've always found them disappointing. The ones i've tried were rated as the best, such as aardwolf. However, i found them tedious as the communities and too many 'filler' areas. No storylines, or interaction with the actual text, and a bit of a grind. I hate grinding on normal mmo's, so extremely tedious in a game that felt like a giant, text adventure, with no story, and random people too busy to bother with newbies. As for rpg's, i would like to run one in the role-playing forum. Anyone could take a part, and it would run like a pen and paper type game. I'd be dm, and to begin, we'd use simple fighting fantasy rules, unless anyone would prefer ad&d, any version other than the fourth. You can even transfer your own pc, be it a toon, or a pc you use in a rpg. Depending on interest, i will see if it will be worthwhile. However, i am a published writer, despite the quality of my posts :), so the level of dm'ing should be high. I have a running, dynamic world, already mapped, with its own lore, and choice selection of npc's. I also believe in giving you freedom to do what you like. Remember that there are consequencies of your actions. Back to the op's topic. Suggestions for mmo's that are phone friendly, be it text based or otherwise, please let me know.

what's this got to do with roleplaying. Just shows, when i ask a valid question in the pub, it gets put into some forum that nobody moderates. I'm going to ask a rp question in the pub, and if it gets booted into here, then i will use this an example. Btw anyone know a mmo for cell phones?

i was hoping to find a rpg being run in this forum. I mean, why not? Are there any already? If not, i may pick up the baton. It would be in the style of myself as story teller and referee. Anyone could enter the game, by simply 'appearing' with their character. They could simply introduce theirselves, in character, and give away as much detail as they want. Especially if their character has some intrigue that you want to keep for players to uncover. I would keep combat rules to a minimum, to begin with. Such as fighting fantasy rules. The more the game evolves so will the rules. I have a dice system, so it would even be interactive. So if anyone is currently running a game on this forum, please let me know. Otherwise, i shall start one. Any genre preferences? All you would need to take part is a pencil and piece of paper. I already have an old ad&d world which i have actually used to have short stories published, based within said world. I like to run a game whereby you have a sense of freedom. The campaign is dynamic, with events occurring that may or may not effect your characters. Also, the risk of having freedom, albeit restricted by rules and consequencies of your actions, is that you are not limited to where you go, or what you do. So beware, it's only slightly scaled to your pc's power. If it seems as though you are getting hints of the danger level, then you can live or die by your sword!

i agree with jimmac. All the muds i've tried have not had friendly communities to newcomers. They seem too involved in solo'ing, or involved in their own cliques. Also when you are looking for story, plot, etc, and you are getting nothing from the other players, i find that each room has nothing but descriptive text. This can be excellent, but unlike solo text based adventures, there is never anything to interact with. Perhaps if there was a mud, with a little less 'rooms', and say a hundred areas where quests and interesting storylines could be triggered, i would give them more of a chance. Btw, is there anyone running an actual rpg via this forum?

i am looking for a mmo that will run on a cell phone, it's a 3g phone, but not good specs. Not as good as an iphone, blackberry or android. So does anyone have any help? Even a mud or adventure game designed for cell or as we call them, mobile phones. Please help, need my mmo fix!

when i heard tnat lotro had been made freetoplay, it stopped me from returning to the game. Maybe going off topic, but how did this effect what i used to think was an excellent mmo. Btw, i had been away from the game when i moved house, and thus internet connection, and that was a few months after moria expansion had came out, so my hunter has barely explored said mines, but did enjoy the expansion. That was a couple of years ago.

There is a world, fully mapped, filled with all manner of characters, with ongoing events occuring all the time.  It has been beautifully produced by a friend who has seen some of her work published. 

Now we are deciding to put together a game, played either through the traditional postal system, or online, where you can become your own character in this world.  I have taken the reigns as Games Moderator, and we shal be using a form of rules loosley based on the D&D 3.5 system, but only as the shell.

As a player you have a multitude of classes you can choose from, and after learning of your background, and home area, you are then free to do as you please and make your mark within the land of Tharfold (this is the name of the continent where the bulk of the game will be set).  Along the way you are destined to met sttange and interesting characters, visit strange lands, met with kings and lords.  Adventure is never far away, and you are guarenteed to be gripped. 

You don't need to know or learn book loads of lore, or master vast amounts of rules before you play, but it is all there and you will pick it up gradually, and as you do, the game will become even more alive to you.  Your turns are gracefully written accounts of the actions you tell us what you want your character to do.  If you have a spouse or partner, you can begin adventuring with them, or with a group of friends.  Or of course you may make friends and enemies of other player characters in the game. 

There is never a dull moment, and we recommend that you keep your turn results as they will read like a book, that you have created.  Let me know if you are interested in creating a character, and making your mark, be it for good or evil, or both then e-mail me at         mrh5474@tiscali.co.uk

RPG fans will love this.  Fantasy fans will love this.  Heck, even if this is normally not your thing, why not give it a go?

PS. With every post a sneaky hint at something big within the world will be included.  This one is just to let you know that something major happens around turn 50, which may affect all players.

So I am a bit pissed off as my copy of The Witcher Enhanced will not work.  So I want to try something new on the MMO front.  My problem though is that i have a download capacity of only 1 gig.  Everything would run fine, if I could get enough space to download, or a game with a client small enough.

Anyway, I am clicking on these glossy ads - free, play instant acess, blah, de blah. 

You know what I am going to do folks?  Start a collective of talented people, who would not mind giving up some freetime, Everyone with their own area of expertese, and actaully create a decent, bloody MMO that people would want to play without all this corporate bullshit.

You heard it here first,