For me, even though it's not yet out or on the list, the best PvP game on the horizon is:

Global Agenda

Having played through from alpha, I can honestly say it's incredible fun.

No, it won't tax your brain in the same way EVE might and it's not as gritty as games like AoC but: 

• It offers instant action
• It's very accessible
• Success is based around player skill not kit
• There are no time sinks
• It's bloody good, old skool fun!

I think it may be the first game to really challenge the supremacy of WoW on the 'hours-played' front, but obviously that's my opinion.

 Aryas

I recommend trying: Earth Eternal

I really like this game. It's in open beta and it's similar to Warcraft (in a good way). It has lots of nice features and twists. I've just left the starter zone and it's got quite a bit tougher in terms of quests, but I'm having fun.

As a game, it's free with a little shop to buy helpful things (not essential but convenient). It does require a client to be installed so it's not totally net-based but the download is very small and runs on just about anything (including netbooks).

This is the only MMO I play regularly at the moment and I really enjoy it, which is a rather damning reflection of the MMO market. There are lots of games out there with fancy graphics, etc and this is a very basic game, but it's good fun and easy to pick-up, which is sometimes all you need.

Aryas

If ganking for you = hardcore, then yes WAR will be too 'Carebear' for you.

If you're the sort of person that thinks ganking lower levels = skill, then I think WAR will be a better game without you for most players.

For me, ganking is nothing but a twisted and somewhat bizarre way to get your rocks off. It suggests to me you are a person whose company I'd rather avoid, both in and out of game.

Originally posted by Blackwell99

 

If you give this game an "-A"

What do you give games that really do deserve this mark?

Like:

Aion

FE?

WoW?

LOTRO

or EvE

Hard to take this review seriously.

 

He gave his opinion.

Either deal with it and provide a logical, coherent counter argument or /troll off.

All you've done is state your opinion (that there other other games which are better) without any reasoning behind it.

Total fail.

The best thing F2P did for DDO was prompt people to try it.

I didn't play the initial release of the game, but from what I hear it was pretty limited in terms of content.

Sometime later and the game was bigger, better and rocked... but no-one knew this. Ok, it's totally instanced and for some people this doesn't sit well, but if you don't mind that design element it's basically a damn good game that for a while, hardly anyone was aware of. It literally dropped off the radar, most likely due to a sh*t release. I only discovered this game even existed by chance, and shortly after the F2P move was announced.

Soon as F2P dropped, masses of people though "I know what, I'll give this a go. What have I got to lose? I don't even have to buy a box to try it like I did with GuildWars". Now it's got almost a positive feedback mechanism in place; free makes people try it, which makes the game busy, which makes people stay. More and more try it (for free), the game gets busier and busier and it just progresses from there.

I'm off the opinion that community is one of the biggest factors in an MMOs success. You normally only get one chance at wowing the crowd. Cock it up and your left with the diehards and less than 100k subs, like WAR and AoC. F2P seems like a way to really breath life into games that just don't seem worth the P2P outlay. An in the case of DDO, the development costs were nodoubt covered years ago so Turbine had nothing to lose going F2P with only a tiny playerbase at the time.

I think the switch to F2P could save A LOT of games from the scrap heap.

Aryas

Q. Are there too many good MMOs to choose from?

A. No idea.

I was thinking the other day about MMOs and why I'm having difficulty finding one to dedicate my playtime to at the moment. Now I read the reviews on here from players slagging of this game, that game, every game and so on. But what I've begun to think is that maybe it's not that these games are total sh*t, it's just that they're all equally good but that none really stand out as being much better than the others. In essence, players have too much choice now.

I'm fairly easily pleased when it comes to games, I think. I mean I don't mind taking a risk and spending £50 on a game if I like the look of it, even if it gets mixed reviews or whatever. I've spent way more than that on dates in that past and not been impressed with what I saw there either so I figure, 50 bucks on a game is fine. I've tried lots of games and enjoyed some but still found loads of duff ones.

Yet despite this, I'm currently torn between about 6 games (5 of which are MMOs), which I can't decide between. These include commonly derided games (e.g. AoC, WAR), some that have made a comeback (DDO, Diablo III... errr, I mean Torchlight) and some still in beta (Earth Eternal, Global Agenda). There's yet more games on the horizon that I haven't even tried yet and I'm already thinking may be a great way to while away the hours (Black Prophecy, Mortal Online).

Back in the heyday of WoW, that was pretty much the only choice for me. EQ1 and 2 didn't have everything I wanted, there were loads of other nerdy games out that I'd never heard of and didn't care to try and the only real alternatives were weird Asian grinders and GuildWars, which I didn't think much of. Sometime later EVE came to my attention but due to the fact I have a tiny brain and a child-like mentality, I didn't enjoy that one either (/sarcasm off). Now WoW's a bit long in the tooth, I get the feeling that for many people "The king is dead, long live... ummm, lots of kings!" Well it certainly feels like that to me, and lots of kings are a bit confusing!

So maybe the 'problem' with MMOs at the moment isn't that they're crap and devs have reached an all time low, etc, etc, it's just that there are too many good ones but no stand-out game amongst them.

Aryas

I tried the demo of this game and absolutely loved it.

It has that 'classic' feel to it that you get with simple but effective games like Pacman and Tetris.

I assume the early release of the offline game is to generate funds for the development of the MMO version. If this is the case, I really hope people buy it. It's great value imho and an MMO version could be fantastic.

The Diablo parallels are obvious and only time will tell whether the two games will compete and if so, which will come out on top. I loved the Diablo series but I'll always play what I like the most, regardless of who made it.

These guys have some great ideas. None of them are particularly radical, but the fact that they are seriously considering implementing is what gives me confidence in this game. Too many games come out now promising goodies only to deliver them poorly implemented and at the expense of something more important.

This game reminds me of another game - Earth Eternal - in it's approach. I really like that game too because even though technically it's quite basic, the core game and the features are extremely good.

My one concern with this game is the 2-year development phase for the MMO! Crickey, that's ages! Now I'm sure some software dev guru can tell me that given what they're aiming to achieve, etc that's to be expected. However, it still looks bad on paper and things in this industry move rapidly. I just hope their cool ideas aren't old news by the time they see the light of day.

Aryas

Woah, those Warmachine PCs look nice!

Not had a close look at it but I can tell you now the price of it would go thru the roof if you included shipping tot he UK!

Just so you guys know, I live in the UK so please try to recommend international or UK-based companies?

Anyone know what SCAN or Beast computers are like? (I'm googling 'custom PCs' atm)

Aryas

I need a new PC for gaming and I'm torn between a whole range of options.

I've got a decent budget - around £2000 ($3250) - but I can't whether or not to buy something like an Alienware PC, try and make my own, go for a small custom builder or just get some cheap-o thing and thrash it until it breaks? I'd like something pretty high spec to play a range of games on (not just MMOs), but is it worth it?

Any input from people who've got experience in buying PCs from a range of sources would be much appreciated. I'm totally confused by the fact that custom PC builders seem to offer much better value for money.

Cheers,

Aryas

Hi there

My taste in games is probably fairly similar to yours so here's a list of games which you might want to consider or wait for:

FREE (with item shop, etc)

> Dungeons & Dragons Online (I'm playing this and enjoying it immensely, but it's heavily instanced)

> The Chronicles of Spellborn (not playing this coz the art style creeped me out, aside from this though it was really good)

SUBSCRIPTION

> Fallen Earth (not tried this due to very mixed reviews, buts looks interesting)

> Age of Conan (a beautiful game which I enjoyed but found a bit too gritty for me, i.e. depressing to play)

> Planetside (not tried this, mainly because it's very dated)

> Darkfall (hmm, either love it or hate it I guess, but I haven't given it a shot)

UNRELEASED

> Global Agenda (I will definitely be playing this, although I'm concerned it may lack depth)

> Earthrise (looks good and will probably try this too)

> Jumpgate Evolution (not played a spaceship game for ages and this looks very slick, so will try this)

> Black Prophecy (as with JGE but with more grit, will try this too unless they really screw it up)

> Mortal Online (not sure about this one tbh so will watch closely)

I'm mainly playing DDO and another free game called Earth Eternal (open beta) at the moment, both of which I'm really enjoying. EE is very much like WOW and very much aimed at 'innocent' players so you may not like it, but I really enjoy it. DDO is very hands-on so it may well meet your needs. I've also been playing GA since alpha and have to say I love this game to bits. It's very fresh and I'll probably sub it alongside a more 'traditional' MMO like EE or GW2 when they're released.

If you're young and concerned about upsetting your parents, I'd go with any of the games I've highlighted in green. This is based on what I currently know about these games. Some of the unreleased ones may get a bit more violent, who knows.

Although I like DDO, I'm probably gonna can it when some of the unreleased games come out as they look very promising to me and look a bit more interesting.

Aryas

Originally posted by Consensus

guys this pricing system is a rip off compared to guildwars, some of the above comments are pretty ignorant.

this game is as much (or less) a mmo as guildwars. basically the same type of game but with fun shooter combat, but much worse/little PvE.

and while its great you can play without subscription its still a joke they are asking for subscription for other features. AvA is same as GvG in guildwars (guilds are called agency's, only difference). when it says 60 vs 60 notice thats in 6 squads so its really 6 concurrent games of 10 vs 10. I think 10 vs 10 is largest game size, not complaining thats what they went for. but its no way massive, even guildwars had larger pvp battles.

the game is fun. but if areanet/NC soft managed to have no sub at all with guildwars, gobal agenda should definately be able to manage it. well anyway fair play they are indy company and I wish them luck, don't think i'll be buying though.

edit: although I've talked to alot of the dev team and played with them and they are really nice guys maybe I will buy, but no way am I subbing ;)

Man, every time I see your creepy little avatar I know I'm about to read a post I totally disagree with.

The comparison with GuildWars is irrelevant. Value in a game is a matter of perception. Having played both I could equally turn around and say GW was crap and would never have attracted paying subscribers, but that would still only be my opinion.

The thread isn't about the game - which is obviously a matter of personal taste - it's about pricing model, which is clearly something new - fact.

And before some gimp says "It's been done before in a blah blah blah MMO" that no-ones cares about, I'm sure it has but this is a big, fresh release not some 2-bit operation for a target audience of zero so comments like that are equally worthless.

Aryas

Originally posted by leumasx7

The Best way to take advantage of this would be. Play 1 or 2 of your favorite classes to level 30, Get a good agency. with NO SUBSCRIPTION. Then when you accomplish those things, then your ready to subscribe for all the good agency and end time content, Which you will get 1 month to experience for free. Then Subscribe, and enjoy the rest of the good content.

 

Also,  might of not included it, but i thought the real max is level 40. So Subscribing will prob allow that 10 extra levels.

I think max level is at least 50.

Aryas

At last!

A developer that breaks the pricing plan mould and gives players something new: a decent f2p option without some bullsh*t cash shop and a decent subscription option for the hardcore players.

The casual players get a free game that's a heck of a lot of fun.

The hardcore players get lots of f2p cannon fodder, more conflict options and a load of advanced features.

WIN-WIN

This is a damn good game from a damn good developer that has impressed me from the start. I'm glad this game is different because the standard MMO format has been exhausted. Most devs have just tied ribbons to a corpse with their recent releases. I'm also glad some people don't consider this to be an MMO. That's it's because it's very different to the worn-out dross that's gone before and a more exciting product for it.

I was sold on this game months ago and I'm glad to say I'm even more sold on it now.

Aryas

What an odd set of replies.

I like the overall idea of PlanetSide but tbh, it's a bit long in the tooth for me to pick up now as a game. So, a new updated version sounds great!

Could it be a load of crap: YES.

Is it going to hurt me to wait and see: NO.

No point slagging things off before they're even underway or released, or no-one will ever bother putting an MMO out again. Everyone hates at least one thing - be it a dev, company, game - with a passion, but it doesn't cost you to button your trap and see what their next offering will actually be like before condemning them based purely on speculation.

Bitching before a game is even in beta! = Fail.

What the PvP like in this game?

Any kind of decent, organised battlegrounds or is it all small scale crap or open air stuff?

Cheers,

Aryas

Yawn, I come looking for info and get another tired thread.

No game of this type will ever be released 'finished', just liked no one will ever be born an adult.

This debate has been done to death. Please, either accept the nature of the product you are buying or go and do something else with your spare time.

And no, I'm not making an excuse for crap devs but I personally do not see this situation changing and have learned to live with it. Why these whiny, glass-half-empty gamers keep dragging this up I have no idea.

Some people make a point, but it's all been said and done so why are you still typing? Others are just spoilt kids who must find it hard to reconcile an imperfect world when they've been raised in a decadent western fantasy land where they are given everything they want. I mean, kids moaning that the graphics are poor, etc. You could feed a family in a third world country for a year with the money your part-time parents paid for that pile of circuits you just 'play' on and you moan that you're not getting this, that and the other. Tell someone who gives a sh*t. 

Often it's so not the games that are the problem.

Respect to the companies putting all these games together, they all look very promising.

I've been both an Alpha and Beta tester and I must say I'm looking forward to Global Agenda immensely. I'm also intrigued by Fallen Earth which I may try out, even though the initial outlay is quite steep (£50?).

As for Alganon, this game asks to be hated but to be honest I think it looks good too. Those people who draw comparisons with WoW have a fair point but all I care about is if it's any good. As for those who say it doesn't bring anything new to the table: so what!?! The ideas employed may be similar but there are a lot of new ideas in there from what I can tell and tbh, radical innovation is rare in any game. Name one game that's come out recently thats done something thats never ever been seen before - and good luck btw. Despite being totally bored with WoW for ages now, I'll probably give this a try too since to me it looks like a pretty fresh spin on that style of game.

Aryas

Originally posted by Kyleran

Originally posted by pauly6478

 I will even help you do your jobs

 

1. Multiple factions over 2 - give players options - Agree completely

2. Game speed - Who wants to play a slow game - Run speed is great - Disagree, I play EVE, slow and steady wins the race. For those who want action, there are FPS'ers. W R O N G !

3. Cartoon game play is /fail -  They all look like cartoons to me.

4.  PvP and PvE skills - Guild wars hit this part right when then they made them seperate. That way PvE will stop ruining PvP. - Another item I agree with,  not good to blend the two.

5. Customizable UI's - Not a bad feature, not a must have.

6. Travel in game -  Having to travel in a mount like in WoW that takes 10 mins to get to a zone is seriously retarded - Disagree, 10 minute travel time is too long? I'll sometimes spend hours traveling in EVE, it adds a strategic element to your movement choices, making the world more realistic.

7. Looking for team - So important make a better user interface and people having to sit looking for team all day with no team end up leaving game so u might wanna think here real hard. - It isn't the interface that needs changed, its the grouping mechancis (or lack thereof) which determine whether people will want to team with you.  If they do, a simple shout channel actually suffices.

8. Every class or race has a unique story line - We all make alts who wants to grind the same stuff  -This would be good to have, after my 5th WOW alt I had enough.  Of course, eliminating classes completely sort of solves that issue doesn't it?

9. Auction house in WoW is actually a pretty neat design - Yes, all games should have them.

10. Bag space -  Don't go over board but don't give us low bag space that is really just dumb - Its a stategic element like travel time, but perhaps overused.

 

This is just a start - Stop not adding things or thinking outside the box just because other game developers don't.

Do you promise to buy it if they build it?  You are asking them to take a lot of risk on the unproven, and most new ideas fail.  What indie or off the wall games do you currently play?

Did I mention no one likes slow games? - That would be you, I prefer them, makes thinking more important than doing.

No doubt some innovation is sorely needed in today's MMO's, however if you can find nothing in today's games that you enjoy odds are you never will and will always be looking at the next game over the horizon.

 

No offence but I am sick and tired of hearing MMO gimps with 2 left hands bleat out the same old crap about fast-paced twitch gaming being "only good for FPS". To be honest what's turning this genre into a total drag is exactly what 'traditional' MMO gamers like:

Slow... repetitive... skill-free... grinding... for kit... and rep... *yawn*... access to dungeons... *yawn*... lets stir some sh*t up in my corporation and feel all 'political'... mining a rock for 10 minutes... *yawn*... *player falls off chair into coma*

I'm not saying liking this sort of thing is evil or wrong, but there are a significant number of people who desperately want something with MMO depth but FPS pace and skill. If MMOs are going to progress it's not going to be by rehashing the same combat-by-numbers auto-attack stuff.

Aryas

Waiting for:   Global Agenda | Jumpgate Evolution | Black Prophecy | Mortal Online | GuildWars 2

Originally posted by Hrothmund

Originally posted by Aryas

I can't see what the fuss is about. The way parts of the human anatomy are portrayed in computer games is only going to get increasingly realistic and the novelty factor is already gone.

I don't think it's a wise move to include representations of reproductive organs (i.e. penis and vagina) as this infringes the sense of modesty common to all civilised societies and takes the game into the realms of pornographic material.

Potentially sexual but non-reproductive body parts (breasts, backsides, legs, etc) I have no issue with. I'm not going to condemn a game because someone going through puberty gets all silly about part of it - we all had to start somewhere, lest the more pretentious 'mature' people forget. Nor am I going to deny my instincts and say there isn't anything alluring about the female form just to satisfy the PC crowd and a bunch of insecure men/women.

The game features breasts, so do 50% of the population... move on.

Aryas

 

I disagree about the so-called 'sense of modesty'. What is so unnatural about our reproductive organs? Modesty is just getting plain old stupid these days. I can imagine fifty years from now how the 'moral pillars' of our society, hypocritical religious figures, have distorted our sense of reality so much that even our household pets will be clothed. Looking at all the moronic people who dress their dogs up, we are already heading in that direction.

However, I do not want to see breasts or vaginas/penises being flashed in my MMO of choice. I'm a grown man, I've seen my share of nudity and still continue to enjoy the naked human form in the right circumstances. Yet, I do not want to see some teen-controlled character teabag me with accurately modeled testicles after defeating my character in PvP. There is a place for everything, I do not think nudity has a part in MMOs, at least not for player controlled characters.

Ok, you force my hand.

No, there is nothing unnatural about reproductive organs... or rape, murder, incest, protitution, infanticide, genocide - shall I go on? What's natural or unnatural is irrelevant.

Humanity and civilization distinguishes itself by being 'super-natural'; controlling it's own nature and environment, managing desires, drives and behaviours for the greater good. Not acting on instinct is exactly what separates us from the rest of the animal kingdom.

Modesty in ascending/advanced societies restates the sanctity and importance of genitalia and their role in reproduction. This teaches the members of such societies to value and respect the reproductive process as critical to the quality of their social environment and success as a group. A blasé attitude towards reproduction results in the 3rd world and ghettos.

Aryas

I can't see what the fuss is about. The way parts of the human anatomy are portrayed in computer games is only going to get increasingly realistic and the novelty factor is already gone.

I don't think it's a wise move to include representations of reproductive organs (i.e. penis and vagina) as this infringes the sense of modesty common to all civilised societies and takes the game into the realms of pornographic material.

Potentially sexual but non-reproductive body parts (breasts, backsides, legs, etc) I have no issue with. I'm not going to condemn a game because someone going through puberty gets all silly about part of it - we all had to start somewhere, lest the more pretentious 'mature' people forget. Nor am I going to deny my instincts and say there isn't anything alluring about the female form just to satisfy the PC crowd and a bunch of insecure men/women.

The game features breasts, so do 50% of the population... move on.

Aryas