A combo-happy, 2D, platforming Beat-'Em-Up MMORPG even half the size of Maple Story wouldn't just be fun, but it would practically print money for whomever actually creates it (likely even as a F2P game with a cash shop).  Putting together a party of a swordsman, an archer, a mage, and a theif, and pulling off insane team combos would make Maple Story itself look half-assed by contrast.  Man, I would play a game like that 'til my fingers fell off.

I can't speak for anyone but myself here, but for a long time I've wanted an MMORPG that played like a console action title, like God of War or Devil May Cry.  Somewhat simple controls with some depth, combo and chain attacks, and lots of dodging around (with all the stat-building and crafting you've come to love in an MMO).  The problem, of course, is that a game with ten or more people doing crazy chain attacks and dodging this way and that would be murder on all but the highest-end PCs and internet connections.  I have a particular, utterly massive idea involving this sort of play style that could make the game even more difficult to handle (in spite of the fact that it would be extremely fun if it were playable).

For this, it seems, I'll have to wait until technology catches up with my imagination.

Thank you Never, they pretty well shot down any fears I had about the game.  Gameplay looks amazing even so early on.

Hooray for Monster Rancher Online!

I am very interested, being a regular player of console soccer titles and someone who enjoys playing MMOs (and, of course, a person who watches the Premire League every time it comes on here in the States).  After looking over your site, I can honestly say that the game looks to be absolutely wonderful.  I particularly love the artwork for the stadiums (the City Stadium most of all, due to the fact that it displays the game's philosophy rather well).  I've already signed up for the newsletter, but I feel I should ask about one bit that confused me somewhat.

In the gameplay section, the play style was described as something similar to an FPS.  And, while I do enjoy Half Life & Halo every now and again, I was a bit taken aback, being that I expected the game would be shown from a third person view during the match.  Did I read this section incorrectly, or is that how the game was intended to be presented?

Yeah, they could stand to turn down the mob spawn rate just a bit.  Being attacked by one mob of angry wolves just after getting rid of the last of the previous mob of angry wolves makes moving on through a level extremely difficult.

I came in here ready to suggest Sword of the New World, but you said you didn't want a free to play MMO.  It fits all of the other criteria, and is a genuinely great game, but if you're sure...

I would suggest either Tabula Rasa or City of Heroes.  I've logged a good deal of time on CoH and I can tell you personally that the character creator is top-notch, and the community tends to be very helpful.

There is a bit of a difference between grinding and a game being a grind.  A game with a bit of grinding is alright, just so long as the missions are varied enough and the actual gameplay is enjoyable enough that you don't become bored with a game extremely quickly.  When a game crosses that line, it becomes a grind.  And, of course, since games are intended to be about having fun first and foremost, and since a game just isn't fun to play if it's tedious, that is usually about the point that I stop playing said game.

That is, if my horribly wimpy computer doesn't crash from the strain first.  But that's another issue altogether.

I've been playing the game for a few days now, and I can honestly say that it is better then a few of the Pay-To-Play MMOs that I've played.  The trios system is wonderful, and the musketeer class all by it's lonesome makes me a happy person.  And I'm not even to level 20 with my main trio (a fighter, a wizard, and a scout).

Now, if only I can get my computer to stop lagging to one frame a second every twenty minutes...

It sounds like loads of fun.  I can just imagine all of the crazy shootout action that could go down.  You could arm yourself with revolvers, rifles, shotguns, perhaps even tomahawks and knives for melee combat, and maybe even heavy weapons like a freakin cannon (which, of course, would be hard to move around, but insanely powerful).  On top of that, some nifty bits like getting your hat shot off mid-battle, or having a bullet tear into your arm and decrease your accuracy, or into your leg and decrease your movement speed, could make this even more wonderful then the typical.  And, of course, joining Guilds (call 'em Posses) and riding through town shooting up the joint could be awesome too.  Of course, you'd also have to have the Marshalls, player and NPC versions, hanging around and keeping the town safe.  (Safe by contrast to not-safe, anyway.)

A Good Wild West MMORPG would be quite the sight to see.