Congrats Turbine.  A landslide indeed, and well deserved.

They really deserve it. Well won.

Can't say I really agree with it. Imho, Lotro has never really justified it's existance.  It's always been a WoW clone with very little improvements that doesn't really set itself apart. It's a "good, just not as good as..." game.

Originally posted by Gameloading

Can't say I really agree with it. Imho, Lotro has never really justified it's existance.  It's always been a WoW clone with very little improvements that doesn't really set itself apart. It's a "good, just not as good as..." game.

While I share your opinion of the game itself, Turbine launched the game relatively smooth.  My main issue with Turbine as a company is how they ruined Asheron's Call with a horrid sequel.   They should give AC1 some love, maybe make it free to play, promote it more, or give it some sort of graphical overhaul.

Another MILESTONE of bad taste and a tribute to what mmorpg.com readers stand for.

In 2008 Turbine introduced .... FISHING ! Yep you read it here first. Wow.

First they ruined AC. Everyone agrees on that.

Then they ruined the beautiful playing Lore I grew up with: Dungeons and Dragons

Then they ruined the best original Fantasy Lore ever: Middle Earth with a pure and utterly dead (faction wise) Wow clone. The books were epic, the film legendary, the game clownesk and as dead as the puppets you control (I always found the hunter shooting at zero range a disgrace for Legolas).

The only thing it has is a copyright carton figure giving you quests with a ring above his head.

If it weren't for the bought out lore, this game would have less players than Ultima Online.

And hail to their animations: every avatar in Turbine products are stuck with a stick in their ass.

Cheers. It demonstrated what MMORPG.COM is becoming. A place of old moaning grognards who don't have a clue.

Originally posted by Paragus1

Originally posted by Gameloading

Can't say I really agree with it. Imho, Lotro has never really justified it's existance.  It's always been a WoW clone with very little improvements that doesn't really set itself apart. It's a "good, just not as good as..." game.

 

While I share your opinion of the game itself, Turbine launched the game relatively smooth.  My main issue with Turbine as a company is how they ruined Asheron's Call with a horrid sequel.   They should give AC1 some love, maybe make it free to play, promote it more, or give it some sort of graphical overhaul.

While Lotro did indeed have a smooth launch, that was in 2007, not 2008.

They haven't done anything really special in 2008 besides releasing a good expansion pack which is,sorry to repeat myself, "good,just not as good as..."

Also, I can't really say that Dungeons & Dragons Online received anything truly noteworthy.

I agree with you on AC1. AC1 is just sort of sitting there. It doesn't really have a lot of subscribers, it would be nice if Turbine was a bit more creative with the game. Make it free, perhaps an item mall, advertise it a little bit on banners and the game might just be revived again.

Originally posted by Gameloading

Can't say I really agree with it. Imho, Lotro has never really justified it's existance.  It's always been a WoW clone with very little improvements that doesn't really set itself apart. It's a "good, just not as good as..." game.

Good God. Here we go again... WoW clone.

The category isn't best MMO, it's best MMO Studio.  Turbine won because of their Devs' constant presense and availablity to the customers through the forums and even in-game, great customer service, smooth launches, and the constant free content updates.

Landslide victory for Turbine.  Good job.  Not that I play LOTRO tho.  Hate the animations and the moral system...

Best thing about Turbine ... They let the game do the talking  99% of the time.  The two newcomers this year didn't do that.  Funcom lied their arse off and more and more issues are coming up with WAR now.  Many of them so serious that the entire agenda for the game is compremised.

But the surprise in this vote...  Blizzard.... Company that has ALWAYS been considered to put the player in first place...   Is not even close to Turbine... 

Maybe its time for Blizzard to realise their custimors are no longer their priority .... And maybe its time for the custimors to realise that Money is now the main focus of BLizzard (after Activision took over).  

I love this result...It was about time BLizzard was shown in the right light.  Population is just a small spectrum of the real game....

Originally posted by LordAdder

Originally posted by Gameloading

Can't say I really agree with it. Imho, Lotro has never really justified it's existance.  It's always been a WoW clone with very little improvements that doesn't really set itself apart. It's a "good, just not as good as..." game.

 

Good God. Here we go again... WoW clone.

The category isn't best MMO, it's best MMO Studio.  Turbine won because of their Devs' constant presense and availablity to the customers through the forums and even in-game, great customer service, smooth launches, and the constant free content updates.

I think it's only fair to judge a studio by the quality of the games they produce, no?
Turbine developers can spend as much time on the forums they like, that doesn't make a game good. In fact, I'd say it really doesn't matter if a developer visits the forum, or if Community managers pass on the issues players have with the game to the developers.

Originally posted by Gameloading

Originally posted by Paragus1

Originally posted by Gameloading

Can't say I really agree with it. Imho, Lotro has never really justified it's existance.  It's always been a WoW clone with very little improvements that doesn't really set itself apart. It's a "good, just not as good as..." game.

 

While I share your opinion of the game itself, Turbine launched the game relatively smooth.  My main issue with Turbine as a company is how they ruined Asheron's Call with a horrid sequel.   They should give AC1 some love, maybe make it free to play, promote it more, or give it some sort of graphical overhaul.

 

While Lotro did indeed have a smooth launch, that was in 2007, not 2008.

They haven't done anything really special in 2008 besides releasing a good expansion pack which is,sorry to repeat myself, "good,just not as good as..."

Also, I can't really say that Dungeons & Dragons Online received anything truly noteworthy.

I agree with you on AC1. AC1 is just sort of sitting there. It doesn't really have a lot of subscribers, it would be nice if Turbine was a bit more creative with the game. Make it free, perhaps an item mall, advertise it a little bit on banners and the game might just be revived again.

Well thats your personal opinion that LotrO is "good,just not as good as..."

There is people who dont agree and think that LotrO offers something unique in the MMO market and Turbine are doing a great job with it. 46% of the voters thinks that Turbine is best of thoose companies so it seem Im not alone.

And grats Turbine :)

Originally posted by Papadam

Originally posted by Gameloading

Originally posted by Paragus1

Originally posted by Gameloading

Can't say I really agree with it. Imho, Lotro has never really justified it's existance.  It's always been a WoW clone with very little improvements that doesn't really set itself apart. It's a "good, just not as good as..." game.

 

While I share your opinion of the game itself, Turbine launched the game relatively smooth.  My main issue with Turbine as a company is how they ruined Asheron's Call with a horrid sequel.   They should give AC1 some love, maybe make it free to play, promote it more, or give it some sort of graphical overhaul.

 

While Lotro did indeed have a smooth launch, that was in 2007, not 2008.

They haven't done anything really special in 2008 besides releasing a good expansion pack which is,sorry to repeat myself, "good,just not as good as..."

Also, I can't really say that Dungeons & Dragons Online received anything truly noteworthy.

I agree with you on AC1. AC1 is just sort of sitting there. It doesn't really have a lot of subscribers, it would be nice if Turbine was a bit more creative with the game. Make it free, perhaps an item mall, advertise it a little bit on banners and the game might just be revived again.

 

Well thats your personal opinion that LotrO is "good,just not as good as..."

There is people who dont agree and think that LotrO offers something unique in the MMO market and Turbine are doing a great job with it. 46% of the voters thinks that Turbine is best of thoose companies so it seem Im not alone.

And grats Turbine :)

 

It's not just my personal opinion, it's the opinion of many professional critics as well who are, unlike many voters on this website, not biased.

Originally posted by Gameloading

/removed due to length/
 

It's not just my personal opinion, it's the opinion of many professional critics as well who are, unlike many voters on this website, not biased.

How was that saying going again? A professional critic is a failed writer/designer/artist. Lacking the capability to work they earn living by dissecting the work of others.

And of course voters are biased, if they are not biased in favour of one party they wouldn't bother to vote. 

Overall it is a well earned title for Turbine as a studio.

Personally I think PVE content is the real winner in this reward.  It is now proven time and time and time again that PVP is NOT playerfriendly - is NOT easy to control in terms of balance and ALWAYS causes 100 if not 1000s of unhappy players .... Why ?... Because 50% of the players are LOOSING in pvp.....   And the GMs are the ones that have to answer for that...

Originally posted by Gameloading

Originally posted by Papadam

Originally posted by Gameloading

Originally posted by Paragus1

Originally posted by Gameloading

Can't say I really agree with it. Imho, Lotro has never really justified it's existance.  It's always been a WoW clone with very little improvements that doesn't really set itself apart. It's a "good, just not as good as..." game.

 

While I share your opinion of the game itself, Turbine launched the game relatively smooth.  My main issue with Turbine as a company is how they ruined Asheron's Call with a horrid sequel.   They should give AC1 some love, maybe make it free to play, promote it more, or give it some sort of graphical overhaul.

 

While Lotro did indeed have a smooth launch, that was in 2007, not 2008.

They haven't done anything really special in 2008 besides releasing a good expansion pack which is,sorry to repeat myself, "good,just not as good as..."

Also, I can't really say that Dungeons & Dragons Online received anything truly noteworthy.

I agree with you on AC1. AC1 is just sort of sitting there. It doesn't really have a lot of subscribers, it would be nice if Turbine was a bit more creative with the game. Make it free, perhaps an item mall, advertise it a little bit on banners and the game might just be revived again.

 

Well thats your personal opinion that LotrO is "good,just not as good as..."

There is people who dont agree and think that LotrO offers something unique in the MMO market and Turbine are doing a great job with it. 46% of the voters thinks that Turbine is best of thoose companies so it seem Im not alone.

And grats Turbine :)

 

 

It's not just my personal opinion, it's the opinion of many professional critics as well who are, unlike many voters on this website, not biased.

You meen like theese reviewers?

http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/pc/middleearthonline?q=lord%20of%20the%20rings%20online

or theese for MoM?

http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/pc/lordoftheringsonlineminesofmoria?q=lord%20of%20the%20rings%20online

I understand that some people think that LotrO is just a lesser WoW clone.. because WoW is the better than LotrO at being WoW... thankfully LotrO is better in other aspects and follows a different design philosophy. So if you are looking for more WoW in LotrO then you are going to be dissapointed.

It's not just my personal opinion, it's the opinion of many professional critics as well who are, unlike many voters on this website, not biased.

Pls, you show me a critic with something bad to say about Mines of Moria, and i'll show you two critics with something good to say.

Face it, your a hater and a troll. Man up, realize that Turbine has put out a good product and has pushed the limits of their engine what always updating and progressing their engine.

LOTRO will be around for many many years. The game will continue to grow, and  your bashing/trolling doesn't change that.

Regardless of what you personally may think about tubine, the facts are, Tubine revamped D&D, they continue to add free content updates (including a new class) to AC1 and have grown LOTRO's content by 40% in the the year of 2008.

Thats more then any other Studio can boast.

Its okay to be one of the 14.7% fanboi's but its also okay to be one of the 40%+ that got love for turbine.

Originally posted by bodypass

Another MILESTONE of bad taste and a tribute to what mmorpg.com readers stand for.

In 2008 Turbine introduced .... FISHING ! Yep you read it here first. Wow.

First they ruined AC. Everyone agrees on that.

Then they ruined the beautiful playing Lore I grew up with: Dungeons and Dragons

Then they ruined the best original Fantasy Lore ever: Middle Earth with a pure and utterly dead (faction wise) Wow clone. The books were epic, the film legendary, the game clownesk and as dead as the puppets you control (I always found the hunter shooting at zero range a disgrace for Legolas).

The only thing it has is a copyright carton figure giving you quests with a ring above his head.

If it weren't for the bought out lore, this game would have less players than Ultima Online.

And hail to their animations: every avatar in Turbine products are stuck with a stick in their ass.

Cheers. It demonstrated what MMORPG.COM is becoming. A place of old moaning grognards who don't have a clue.

 So in your discriminating MMO wisdom certainly above and beyond the simpletons here on MMORPG which MMO do you feel deserves the honor?  I'm asuming of course since you post and provide your comments here among the rest of us you actually play at least one.

CONGRATZ TURBINE! YOU REALLY DESERVE IT!

first off  when LOTRO was released  It was a unbelieveably solid and complete game. most mmos in the past have the reputation for going live anywhere from 40% to 80% ready  and the developers "fixing" probem in the first few months of release.  for turbine there was little trace if any of the game being "incomplete" upon release  

if i only knew this fact alone it would have been worthy.

but turbine goes farther!  they have been nearly obsessively punctual about  ingame expansions on mainly a 2 month scedual only going to 4 month with a major zone installment. and to top it off  these additions to the game have for the most part IMPROVED the game or at least headed in the same direction I was hoping they would go. (the only exception to this was fishing which to me was insulting)

turbine is definatly on the right track  are they perfect?  no  but they have the right idea

some things I would like to see in 2009

BOATS  they have some weard aversion to them and it ruins the game immersion

more in game diversions such as public works projects  and "amusement areas/attractions(skating,sking areas,, sailing, water slides in moria, ore cart rollercoasters,, log rolls,ect. this is rather brief but you can imagine that im thinking of)"

things like slippery ice and interactive terrain  and  (zones are dead once the quests are completed need a reason for players to want to go back to them )

more choices in charactor appearance (faces)

the next improvement to the housing area  having only 20 ridgid item hooks in a house is far too restrictive my house is just a storage area

for me a much more complex fishing than click wait click

Im allready level 60 and i dont see the point in raiding or pvp  so that leaves me fustrated and looking for something to do in game.

VOICE OVERS!!  they really need to add voice overs to the major quests  its just not the same reading what a nazgul is saying instead of actually hearing that raspy,creepy voice.

crafting has become a useless  id like to see them make some improvement to the usefullness and customization of the crafts (id like to see many more usefull and unique ground spawns.

some other attractions in LOTRO

costume clothing sets! greatly increased the customization of how your charactor looks!! i have a set of "work" clothes  and a set of "cold weather" clothes

music system! besides there being some prety catchy in game tunes  they have a prety darn good player music system  and you can hear some prety innovative tunes being played in towns and camps

Originally posted by Papadam

Originally posted by Gameloading

Originally posted by Papadam

Originally posted by Gameloading

Originally posted by Paragus1

Originally posted by Gameloading

Can't say I really agree with it. Imho, Lotro has never really justified it's existance.  It's always been a WoW clone with very little improvements that doesn't really set itself apart. It's a "good, just not as good as..." game.

 

While I share your opinion of the game itself, Turbine launched the game relatively smooth.  My main issue with Turbine as a company is how they ruined Asheron's Call with a horrid sequel.   They should give AC1 some love, maybe make it free to play, promote it more, or give it some sort of graphical overhaul.

 

While Lotro did indeed have a smooth launch, that was in 2007, not 2008.

They haven't done anything really special in 2008 besides releasing a good expansion pack which is,sorry to repeat myself, "good,just not as good as..."

Also, I can't really say that Dungeons & Dragons Online received anything truly noteworthy.

I agree with you on AC1. AC1 is just sort of sitting there. It doesn't really have a lot of subscribers, it would be nice if Turbine was a bit more creative with the game. Make it free, perhaps an item mall, advertise it a little bit on banners and the game might just be revived again.

 

Well thats your personal opinion that LotrO is "good,just not as good as..."

There is people who dont agree and think that LotrO offers something unique in the MMO market and Turbine are doing a great job with it. 46% of the voters thinks that Turbine is best of thoose companies so it seem Im not alone.

And grats Turbine :)

 

 

It's not just my personal opinion, it's the opinion of many professional critics as well who are, unlike many voters on this website, not biased.

 

You meen like theese reviewers?

http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/pc/middleearthonline?q=lord%20of%20the%20rings%20online

or theese for MoM?

http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/pc/lordoftheringsonlineminesofmoria?q=lord%20of%20the%20rings%20online

I understand that some people think that LotrO is just a lesser WoW clone.. because WoW is the better than LotrO at being WoW... thankfully LotrO is better in other aspects and follows a different design philosophy. So if you are looking for more WoW in LotrO then you are going to be dissapointed.

Exact, I'm talking about those reviewers who rate both Lotro and Mines of Mornia below World of Warcraft, The Burning Crusade and Wrath of the Lich King.

www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/pc/worldofwarcraft

www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/pc/worldofwarcrafttheburningcrusade

www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/pc/worldofwarcraftwrathofthelichking

Lotro doesn't follow a different design philosphy, it follows the exact same one as WoW. Make it approachable, lead the players through quests from area to area to keep rewarding the player, and toss in an instance every now and then. Sure, Lotro adds a few more storyline cutscenes, but it's core gameplay mechanics are the same.

Lotro is good, just not as good as and that's why World of Warcraft is rated higher and has 11 million subscribers while Lotro has only a few hundred thousand.

 While I share your opinion of the game itself, Turbine launched the game relatively smooth.  My main issue with Turbine as a company is how they ruined Asheron's Call with a horrid sequel.   They should give AC1 some love, maybe make it free to play, promote it more, or give it some sort of graphical overhaul.

I was interested in trying AC  and I would seriously consider it but for its being so outdated  its very difficult spending  a full subscription price on an "old game" with obsolete graphics and engine

if there gonna leave AC the same they really need a different pricing scheme

if they want to keep p2p  than they need a major update

they could also  package them  with other turbine accounts.

Originally posted by Gameloading

Originally posted by Papadam

Originally posted by Gameloading

 

It's not just my personal opinion, it's the opinion of many professional critics as well who are, unlike many voters on this website, not biased.

 

You meen like theese reviewers?

http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/pc/middleearthonline?q=lord%20of%20the%20rings%20online

or theese for MoM?

http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/pc/lordoftheringsonlineminesofmoria?q=lord%20of%20the%20rings%20online

I understand that some people think that LotrO is just a lesser WoW clone.. because WoW is the better than LotrO at being WoW... thankfully LotrO is better in other aspects and follows a different design philosophy. So if you are looking for more WoW in LotrO then you are going to be dissapointed.

 

Exact, I'm talking about those reviewers who rate both Lotro and Mines of Mornia below World of Warcraft, The Burning Crusade and Wrath of the Lich King.

www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/pc/worldofwarcraft

www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/pc/worldofwarcrafttheburningcrusade

www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/pc/worldofwarcraftwrathofthelichking

Lotro doesn't follow a different design philosphy, it follows the exact same one as WoW. Make it approachable, lead the players through quests from area to area to keep rewarding the player, and toss in an instance every now and then. Sure, Lotro adds a few more storyline cutscenes, but it's core gameplay mechanics are the same.

 

Lotro is good, just not as good as and that's why World of Warcraft is rated higher and has 11 million subscribers while Lotro has only a few hundred thousand.

So you are saying that a MMO needs to get better reviews than WoW and have more subs to not be called a WoW clone but just not as good? Great logic! Its all your opinions... And what does it have to do with best studio of 2008?

Its ironical that I just read a thread where you were defending Aion against thoose who are saying its just an Asian grinder or WoW clone ;) "it's core gameplay mechanics are the same."

Originally posted by Papadam

Originally posted by Gameloading

Originally posted by Papadam

Originally posted by Gameloading

 

It's not just my personal opinion, it's the opinion of many professional critics as well who are, unlike many voters on this website, not biased.

 

You meen like theese reviewers?

http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/pc/middleearthonline?q=lord%20of%20the%20rings%20online

or theese for MoM?

http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/pc/lordoftheringsonlineminesofmoria?q=lord%20of%20the%20rings%20online

I understand that some people think that LotrO is just a lesser WoW clone.. because WoW is the better than LotrO at being WoW... thankfully LotrO is better in other aspects and follows a different design philosophy. So if you are looking for more WoW in LotrO then you are going to be dissapointed.

 

Exact, I'm talking about those reviewers who rate both Lotro and Mines of Mornia below World of Warcraft, The Burning Crusade and Wrath of the Lich King.

www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/pc/worldofwarcraft

www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/pc/worldofwarcrafttheburningcrusade

www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/pc/worldofwarcraftwrathofthelichking

Lotro doesn't follow a different design philosphy, it follows the exact same one as WoW. Make it approachable, lead the players through quests from area to area to keep rewarding the player, and toss in an instance every now and then. Sure, Lotro adds a few more storyline cutscenes, but it's core gameplay mechanics are the same.

 

Lotro is good, just not as good as and that's why World of Warcraft is rated higher and has 11 million subscribers while Lotro has only a few hundred thousand.

 

So you are saying that a MMO needs to get better reviews than WoW and have more subs to not be called a WoW clone but just not as good? Great logic! Its all your opinions... And what does it have to do with best studio of 2008?

Its ironical that I just read a thread where you were defending Aion against thoose who are saying its just an Asian grinder or WoW clone ;) "it's core gameplay mechanics are the same."

No, Thats not what I'm saying. If you're clearly designing your game after WoW's gameplay mechanics, then ofcourse your game is going to be called a WoW clone. Reviews have nothing to do with a game being a clone or not, reviews merely reflect the quality. I already explained what this has to do with best studio of 2008, I suggest you read my posts more carefully.

Also, how is it ironic? Aion's gameplay mechanics differ from WoW's.

Originally posted by Gameloading

Can't say I really agree with it. Imho, Lotro has never really justified it's existance.  It's always been a WoW clone with very little improvements that doesn't really set itself apart. It's a "good, just not as good as..." game.

      I dont even know what best "studio" means....Best game? best employee lounge? best pad to crash at after the game?? I agree with you...The game is nothing special, it gets old very quick......WHen I played it felt like it was WOW wrapped up in LoTRO lore......After level 35 the game got excrutiatingly boring and the quests were very poor.....The book quests were good I'll give them that but its a very dull, mundane game after 35.....I didnt try MoM so maybe that put new life into the game....I left when WAR came out and there was little life on my server......The game is great for about a month then its time to move on......

Well deserved!

Originally posted by Gameloading

Originally posted by LordAdder

Originally posted by Gameloading

Can't say I really agree with it. Imho, Lotro has never really justified it's existance.  It's always been a WoW clone with very little improvements that doesn't really set itself apart. It's a "good, just not as good as..." game.

 

Good God. Here we go again... WoW clone.

The category isn't best MMO, it's best MMO Studio.  Turbine won because of their Devs' constant presense and availablity to the customers through the forums and even in-game, great customer service, smooth launches, and the constant free content updates.

 

I think it's only fair to judge a studio by the quality of the games they produce, no?
Turbine developers can spend as much time on the forums they like, that doesn't make a game good. In fact, I'd say it really doesn't matter if a developer visits the forum, or if Community managers pass on the issues players have with the game to the developers.

 

Well in that case, in the world of DIKU based games, LOTRO is fucking top notch they excel at technical excellence and engine performance VS. Graphical quality (no one touches them) not to mention everything this vote was really about, as mentioned in the article. They are extremely good to their subscribers, with 4 whole full zones added in the last year alone, including at lest 4 new features to the game to go with them.

I do agree that turbine is top dog but you also have to look at the entire scale  to me  turbine rates a "C" 

they tend to be average and acceptable and relativly stable  but LOTRO is rather plain  even mines of moria for me was a huge letdown  it wasnt much more than the same old thing  just another  zone with a rock sky  nothing orrigional or creative about the game play  and it took most people less than a month to SLAM head first into the level cap   and any quests you do now is a waste of an exp resource for leveling later on.

the best description is "acceptable"

so players do one of several things 

1 go on raiding or pvp or  completing the quests  or workig reputation

2 start a new charactor and do the quests all over again

3 place their charactor in cold storage and play something else until  something new comes along

4 cancel and find a new game

Originally posted by brenth

I do agree that turbine is top dog but you also have to look at the entire scale  to me  turbine rates a "C" 

they tend to be average and acceptable and relativly stable  but LOTRO is rather plain  even mines of moria for me was a huge letdown  it wasnt much more than the same old thing  just another  zone with a rock sky  nothing orrigional or creative about the game play  and it took most people less than a month to SLAM head first into the level cap   and any quests you do now is a waste of an exp resource for leveling later on.

the best description is "acceptable"

so players do one of several things 

1 go on raiding or pvp or  completing the quests  or workig reputation

2 start a new charactor and do the quests all over again

3 place their charactor in cold storage and play something else until  something new comes along

4 cancel and find a new game

Your doing it wrong.

It’s a casual game, where the journey is king, not the destination. This is not Wow, it is a world. If you want to catass go play Wow. If you’re looking for story (Top notch writing), immersion, and a solid gamming experience try LOTRO.

If you want to rush to end level, then grind for gear, or talk to an NPC, skip the quest text, see your reward, and hit accept, this isn’t your game, never was.

Turbine knows its market, and keeps delivering in spades.

You also completely left out legendary items in your uninformed rant.

Everyone is also forgetting that they won best new game in 07, as well as many, MANY other awards.

“The best MMOG expansion ever.” - Massive Gamer Magazine

“The best fantasy MMORPG yet created.” - WarCry.com

"Mines of Moria, an absolutely brilliant expansion pack that takes everything the development team has learned and crafts it into a sublime MMO experience." 4.5/5.0 stars.- Gamespy

“The Mines of Moria builds on the strengths of the existing game by presenting loads of atmosphere, engaging quests and a meaningful story."- IGN

"It's Awesome." - 1up

"A Stunning and evocative world…destined to become the next big MMO." - Computer and Videogames

"Lord of the Rings Online is already huge, deep, enormously entertaining…" - Games Radar

"…the adventure just gets better the more you play." - GameZone

"LOTR Online is one of those games that refreshes and renews PC gaming, and reminded us what can be great about an MMORPG." - Gaming Illustrated

"It is a major achievement of interactive storytelling, the first game truly worthy of the “Lord of the Rings” franchise and a must-play for just about anyone with an interest in Tolkien or the future of online entertainment. " - New York Times

Lets not also forget here people, Turbine invented the standard interface for MMO's that you see in just about every game out there, careful how you throw the world "clone" abouts.

Originally posted by Gameloading

Originally posted by LordAdder

Originally posted by Gameloading

Can't say I really agree with it. Imho, Lotro has never really justified it's existance.  It's always been a WoW clone with very little improvements that doesn't really set itself apart. It's a "good, just not as good as..." game.

 

Good God. Here we go again... WoW clone.

The category isn't best MMO, it's best MMO Studio.  Turbine won because of their Devs' constant presense and availablity to the customers through the forums and even in-game, great customer service, smooth launches, and the constant free content updates.

 

I think it's only fair to judge a studio by the quality of the games they produce, no?
Turbine developers can spend as much time on the forums they like, that doesn't make a game good. In fact, I'd say it really doesn't matter if a developer visits the forum, or if Community managers pass on the issues players have with the game to the developers.

 

Nice, you go completely off topic and then try to back peddle when they call you on it.  BTW when you consider what is out there in this genre Lotro is as good as any other.   AC1 and DDO are not bad either and they continue to provide free updates for both.

Turbine continues to provide the best support in the industry.  Only CCP comes close.

As always, a whole lot of people need to get over the "I don't like this game, therefore it sucks" BS. LotRO isn't for everyone, but it is a damn fine game. The game had a nearly flawless launch, constant content upgrades and a massively successful paid expansion, can't get much better than that.

It has a graphics style that I happen to like, just as I happen to dislike the graphics style of WoW.

Nor is LotRO a 'WoW Clone", anyone who thinks that simply hasn't played both games. WoW is entirely driven by raiding and gear upgrades from it as an "endgame", rather a different path from LotRO's "epic" book/chapter story arc and trait/accomplishment system. Yeah there are some similarities between the two, but thats inevitable in the same genre and as meaningless as calling WoW an "EQ-clone".

Does LotRO have some weaknesses/problems? Heck yeah, but it's a fun, stable pve game.

Back to the point of this poll though, why did I and others vote for Turbine?

- excellent and prompt customer service in every case I have encountered

- player friendly expansion and pricing policies

- good balance/design decisions keeping the game good for soloists, raiders and small groups

- not feeding the player base heaping piles of BS like Funcom, Mythic and others

They support three respected games, with stable servers.

With less than a million subscribers they provide more free content updates than Blizzard does with one game and  more than 10 X the subscription base.

End of debate.

Well first off let me say I paid for the lifetime for both my account and the wifes account.  I love LOTRO.  It sure beet the daylights out of anything sony has done. And dont give me its a wow clone, wow has cheesy graphics, to the point of it looking childish.

Now saying that, we won because everybody was bribed. We were offered a free in game item to come vote.  So that says we have a good size fan base who love the game.  Maybe Wow and the other MMO's could have leanred form that lesson.  Offer your subcribers something, they will jump at the chance to give you a good tumbs up.

Now I have to comment on Mines of Moria.  It was pourly executed. We have had numerous crahses, and silent patches since its rollout.  There has been tons of downtime on the most populated server BRANDYWINE.  In fact its down more than the other servers.  We have tons of lag due to the way the entire mines were laid out.

Things I would like to see, do something  to help with the lag, like cap off the server, or dedicate more resources. Undo the nerf bat to the Mini class, it was a popular class now days its hard to find a good one. On thing that all good MMO's should be aware of ; and that is the player base does not like their skills trashed.

All in all, I still love my LOTRO,  I play it every day sure beets anything else out there, and even if you think the vote was rigged, it was done so by folks who love their game.

 I don't understand why people get so excited over this awards. They mean nothingt except that MMORPG.com is full of LOTRO fans. If this poll actually reflected the majority of the playerbase then Turbine would have the most subscribers. As it stands now it has 1 game with a decent number of subscriptions.

2 years ago CCP and Eve fans invaded this website now it's Turbines turn and I wouldn't be surprised if next year at this time it was someone else (maybe Aion and NCSoft?).

People's Choice Awards are a joke, especially when you polling a very small percentage of the people many who are extremely uninformed.

How can you even judge which company is better especially when many of you haven't even taken the time to research each company, their philosphy, customer service, community involvement, etc

Sorry I am not saying Turbine doesn't deserve the award. I love AC, I am playing LOTRO right now. I am just saying that the poll is a joke. If you took 100 players from each companies games and polled them the results would look alot different.

Originally posted by brenth

CONGRATZ TURBINE! YOU REALLY DESERVE IT!

first off  when LOTRO was released  It was a unbelieveably solid and complete game. most mmos in the past have the reputation for going live anywhere from 40% to 80% ready  and the developers "fixing" probem in the first few months of release.  for turbine there was little trace if any of the game being "incomplete" upon release  

 

One quick thing here...  As to being complete on release...  What about no skills or traits after lvl 41 except legendary traits?  What about not enough quests past level 30?

if i only knew this fact alone it would have been worthy.

but turbine goes farther!  they have been nearly obsessively punctual about  ingame expansions on mainly a 2 month scedual only going to 4 month with a major zone installment. and to top it off  these additions to the game have for the most part IMPROVED the game or at least headed in the same direction I was hoping they would go. (the only exception to this was fishing which to me was insulting)

turbine is definatly on the right track  are they perfect?  no  but they have the right idea

some things I would like to see in 2009

BOATS  they have some weard aversion to them and it ruins the game immersion

more in game diversions such as public works projects  and "amusement areas/attractions(skating,sking areas,, sailing, water slides in moria, ore cart rollercoasters,, log rolls,ect. this is rather brief but you can imagine that im thinking of)"

things like slippery ice and interactive terrain  and  (zones are dead once the quests are completed need a reason for players to want to go back to them )

more choices in charactor appearance (faces)

the next improvement to the housing area  having only 20 ridgid item hooks in a house is far too restrictive my house is just a storage area

for me a much more complex fishing than click wait click

Im allready level 60 and i dont see the point in raiding or pvp  so that leaves me fustrated and looking for something to do in game.

VOICE OVERS!!  they really need to add voice overs to the major quests  its just not the same reading what a nazgul is saying instead of actually hearing that raspy,creepy voice.

crafting has become a useless  id like to see them make some improvement to the usefullness and customization of the crafts (id like to see many more usefull and unique ground spawns.

some other attractions in LOTRO

costume clothing sets! greatly increased the customization of how your charactor looks!! i have a set of "work" clothes  and a set of "cold weather" clothes

music system! besides there being some prety catchy in game tunes  they have a prety darn good player music system  and you can hear some prety innovative tunes being played in towns and camps

Originally posted by Gameloading

Originally posted by Papadam

Originally posted by Gameloading

Originally posted by Paragus1

Originally posted by Gameloading

Can't say I really agree with it. Imho, Lotro has never really justified it's existance.  It's always been a WoW clone with very little improvements that doesn't really set itself apart. It's a "good, just not as good as..." game.

 

While I share your opinion of the game itself, Turbine launched the game relatively smooth.  My main issue with Turbine as a company is how they ruined Asheron's Call with a horrid sequel.   They should give AC1 some love, maybe make it free to play, promote it more, or give it some sort of graphical overhaul.

 

While Lotro did indeed have a smooth launch, that was in 2007, not 2008.

They haven't done anything really special in 2008 besides releasing a good expansion pack which is,sorry to repeat myself, "good,just not as good as..."

Also, I can't really say that Dungeons & Dragons Online received anything truly noteworthy.

I agree with you on AC1. AC1 is just sort of sitting there. It doesn't really have a lot of subscribers, it would be nice if Turbine was a bit more creative with the game. Make it free, perhaps an item mall, advertise it a little bit on banners and the game might just be revived again.

 

Well thats your personal opinion that LotrO is "good,just not as good as..."

There is people who dont agree and think that LotrO offers something unique in the MMO market and Turbine are doing a great job with it. 46% of the voters thinks that Turbine is best of thoose companies so it seem Im not alone.

And grats Turbine :)

 

 

It's not just my personal opinion, it's the opinion of many professional critics as well who are, unlike many voters on this website, not biased.

whoa, wait a minute. I know you are smarter than that Gameloading. A critic can be as biased as anyone else. I've seen it time and time again in the arts. Yes, it is their job to give their opinion and because of a wide array of experiences that opinion is supposed to be an educated opinion, but they are still people with likes and dislikes.

How many time have I seen a movie review only to see the reviewer pan some aspect that I thought was why the movie was a good one? Many.

Same can be said for games.

There are many critics who like LOTRO. In the end it comes down to personal opinion. Personal opinion of players, critics, what have you.

Is LOTRO the end all and be all of games? No of course not. But it does many things right for many people.

as far as this bit of recognition, it is merely a poll of some of the people who visit this site. Perhaps if there was a similiar poll on another site they would get a different result.

But for this site, many players (myself included) have been impressed with the work and effort that Turbine has put in LOTRO. And given some of my experiences with other game companies I can't say that it is wrong. Are there better games? Possibly but that is subjective. And in the end it is the impression that Turbine has made on players that gives them this bit of recognition.

If Aion was to come out right now I'd probably just go and play Aion because I don't have time to play other games. But if you were to ask me which was the better game company I would probably still say Turbine even though I left LOTRO for a NC Soft game. I think given my experiences with many of these companies that Turbine has been more consistant with delivering. One might not like their games and there is nothing wrong with that, but pound for pound I think their effort and customer service as been the most impressive.

I would also say that though games like DDO and AC1 might not have huge followings, the players that are playing those games really like them. I think that says a lot about a game. A game doesn't have to cater to everyone but if it caters to a segment of the populations that loves what is being done then that says a lot for that game and the work being done with it.

Turbine.....

The company that released the lackluster Lotro and DnD, two of the biggest fantasy franchises and they butchered them in mmorpg form.

Let me guess..... there was no "none of the above" choice in this poll ...right ?

As an MMORPG fan, I have played an MMO from all those Studios, Turbine got my vote by far. LoTRO being as good as it is, and DDO (though started as a terrible game, has improved significantly) is very fun and unique in the MMO genre. And CCP should of came in second; even though I do not play Eve Online, they have done a really good job on that game, it's just not my style.

I said to myself I wasn't going to butt in, but here we go.

Turbine deserved this is hands down. Anyone who's played the early years of AC or LoTRO knows they know how to run a game, and they know how to create a symbiotic relationship between the players and the company, rather than simply leeching them dry like some other companies that won't be mentioned.

People compairing the game to WoW are falling into the same trap and curse that every other game on the market is under right now. The preconception that "To be a good MMO, you must be WoW'. Yes, it shares the core mechanics in that you kill stuff, loot drops, and you level. But that is not "core WoW mechanics" that's core MMO mechanics. WoW hardly cornered the market on "grinding loot and levels". What WoW players tend to look for and what the people who play LoTRO look for is vastly different. WoW players look at LoTRO and see a boring game where the armor isn't ridiculously huge or flashy enough, without constant raiding or the other gear grinding accoutrements they're used to. What they don't see is that's not the point, and that's what differentiates this so called "WoW Clone." LoTRO was designed using the old MMO concept of developing a virtual world, not just a linear gear grind. It's not about powering on to the level cap so you can raid raid raid until the next armor tier is dropped. It's about exploring the LoTRO universe, playing through the story as it unfolds with each book, and running around with your group completing a few quests or earning some deeds, maybe crafting a few things,  before capping off the day by going back to your player owned house and fishing in the nearby lake. As mentioned before, LoTRO is all about the journey, not the destination, or the grinding, or the loot. Sure, it's there, but it's not the only driving force to the game. This doesn't appeal to everyone because to most of the people brought in by WoW, the WoW concept of what an MMO is, is all they know, and they're just looking for simple grinding fun. That's fine, it's different. But understand that just because it caters to a different audience, doesn't make it simply "failing at being this game I think is better."

As for one of the bigger complaints about the look and feel of the game, it's not going to appeal to everyone. The LoTR universe can best be described as "realisitc fantasy". As in, it's a fantasy world no doubt, but it's one that with a dash of trolls and pinch of magic added, could actually exist. As the game is kept well in check to not go blatantly against the spirit of the LoTRO universe, the classes, abilities, and yes the armor styles, are stylized but conservative to the point where you could actually see them being worn/made as opposed to WoW where it's not uncommon to see a human warrior hauling around more steel than a panzer tank. Personally, especially with Moria, I like how they're managed to keep it semi-realistic while still making the newer equipment look more ornate.

tl;dr version: WoW and LoTRO are similar in core MMO concepts only. The direction and community are wholely different animals. WoW players might not understand it, but LoTRO players don't understand what WoW players see in their game either. What needs to be accepted is that things can be different without being "not enough like that other game." Not everything needs or wants to be similar, and not everything must be assimilated.

What a joke...

Then again I never did have much if any respect for the main following here at MMORPG.Com.

really people no need to fight about it, there was just more turbine fans here on mmorpg.com then others, we all know its just a popularity contest, some may post honestly but its basically American Idol hehe, look how many people actually come to mmorpg.com clearly a lot avoid it, if there were more fans of other companies posting here we know things would have been different.

But in my Opinion Turbine is a pretty good company, they have lots of experience.  i put blizzard up along side them myself, for their first MMO they certainly rocked the world, not too mention i doubt many have games that have been out for 10 or so years and keep selling off the shelves. (not too mention a whole country, nearly worships Star Craft lol)

Grats to turbine.  Hopefully more companies will raise their quality like Turbine did with LOTRO.

grats to turbine, my vote again .  Turbine will actually listen to thier core audience, and I love em!

It's quite simple, really.  This award is for best MMO Studio.  There's no doubt at all that Turbine is the best of all the options listed.

Next year (you heard it here first), the Best MMO Studio 2009 with go to Bioware (The Old Republic) or Masthead (Earthrise), depending on which of the two rises to it's potential.

Originally posted by Gameloading

 

It's not just my personal opinion, it's the opinion of many professional critics as well who are, unlike many voters on this website, not biased.

Yeah well it's biased if it's not the studio you gush over.

I look at your sig laugh my ass off  and dismiss your credibility.

Oh Smed...Smeeeedddddd!!!!  /smirk

Originally posted by bodypass

Another MILESTONE of bad taste and a tribute to what mmorpg.com readers stand for.

In 2008 Turbine introduced .... FISHING ! Yep you read it here first. Wow.

First they ruined AC. Everyone agrees on that.

Then they ruined the beautiful playing Lore I grew up with: Dungeons and Dragons

Then they ruined the best original Fantasy Lore ever: Middle Earth with a pure and utterly dead (faction wise) Wow clone. The books were epic, the film legendary, the game clownesk and as dead as the puppets you control (I always found the hunter shooting at zero range a disgrace for Legolas).

The only thing it has is a copyright carton figure giving you quests with a ring above his head.

If it weren't for the bought out lore, this game would have less players than Ultima Online.

And hail to their animations: every avatar in Turbine products are stuck with a stick in their ass.

Cheers. It demonstrated what MMORPG.COM is becoming. A place of old moaning grognards who don't have a clue.

 

Quoting for truth and emphasis.

Originally posted by bodypass

Another MILESTONE of bad taste and a tribute to what mmorpg.com readers stand for.

In 2008 Turbine introduced .... FISHING ! Yep you read it here first. Wow.

First they ruined AC. Everyone agrees on that.

Then they ruined the beautiful playing Lore I grew up with: Dungeons and Dragons

Then they ruined the best original Fantasy Lore ever: Middle Earth with a pure and utterly dead (faction wise) Wow clone. The books were epic, the film legendary, the game clownesk and as dead as the puppets you control (I always found the hunter shooting at zero range a disgrace for Legolas).

The only thing it has is a copyright carton figure giving you quests with a ring above his head.

If it weren't for the bought out lore, this game would have less players than Ultima Online.

And hail to their animations: every avatar in Turbine products are stuck with a stick in their ass.

Cheers. It demonstrated what MMORPG.COM is becoming. A place of old moaning grognards who don't have a clue.

 

So true.
 

Glad Turbine won as opposed to any of the other companies that were listed.

That said, Turbine isn't using its full potential, which is sad. They should, in my opinion, go back to making new IP game worlds and expanding on the skill based progression system that was in AC instead of taking established IPs and going the themepark route. Such a huge waste of creative potential, in my opinion.

Grats to Turbine for well deserved accolade.

here's a bit of cheese and  a few crackers for the posters in this thread who have been using their sour grapes to make a bit of whine.

im happy for them but with all the anti blizzard hate from so many on these forums its a rather bias win. But I do like turbine there just not up to par with blizzard in my mind.

Originally posted by Daedrick

Originally posted by bodypass

Another MILESTONE of bad taste and a tribute to what mmorpg.com readers stand for.

In 2008 Turbine introduced .... FISHING ! Yep you read it here first. Wow.

First they ruined AC. Everyone agrees on that.

Then they ruined the beautiful playing Lore I grew up with: Dungeons and Dragons

Then they ruined the best original Fantasy Lore ever: Middle Earth with a pure and utterly dead (faction wise) Wow clone. The books were epic, the film legendary, the game clownesk and as dead as the puppets you control (I always found the hunter shooting at zero range a disgrace for Legolas).

The only thing it has is a copyright carton figure giving you quests with a ring above his head.

If it weren't for the bought out lore, this game would have less players than Ultima Online.

And hail to their animations: every avatar in Turbine products are stuck with a stick in their ass.

Cheers. It demonstrated what MMORPG.COM is becoming. A place of old moaning grognards who don't have a clue.

 

 

Quoting for truth and emphasis.

The problem here is that players can't separate "favorite studio" from "favorite game".

Is Body Pass correct about some things? i would say yes.

Fishing? Bah from me.

Bad Avatars? Agreed. Stick up A** of characters? Agreed.

Ruined D&D? Well, some like it. I think it's ok. I have fun playing it for short periods. LOTRO not epic? Well I think it is Epic but it's also sublime and most mmo players will not be able to appreciate that.

But that is an argument about the games. Not about the studio and its relationship to the players. It is THAT fact that won it this bit of recognition.

There is no monetary prize or plaque or gift certificate. Just a bit of harmless polling in an mmo website. It's a way for players to say thanks to their favorite studio or an acknowledgment that Turbine is somehow greater than the sum of its parts.

Even though Bodypass has some valid points it does not detract from them listening but not bowing to players, their involvement with the playerbase and their willingness to add free content, constantly improve their games and try to make interesting or at least different games in some cases.

So people have to stop reading this as "favorite game". It's favorite studio. And given the studios that were on that list is it really so hard to believe that Turbine wouldn't win or at least be in the top?

edit: ok let's see...

Blizzard
14.7%

I actually think Blizzard is a great studio but there is a lot of Blizzard Backlash because of the popularity of WoW and the perception that somehow it is responsible for the end of the world as we know it. maybe/maybe not and maybe good or maybe bad
 

› CCP
13.2%

I think they are also a good studio, especially for creating a very unique game. There are issues here and a lot with perceived scandals (true or false) perceived favoritism, selling isk, etc. Could those have been factors?
 

› Mythic Entertainment
10.2%

People feel cheated that Warhammer wasn't what they thought it would be. I can't say if they are a good studio though they do seem involved with their playerbase.
 

› NCsoft
12.4%

I like their games but I think they are an arrogant company from what I've seen. That' my opinion and mostly from playing Lineage 2.
 

› Turbine
46.7%

see post above
 

› Funcom
2.8%
 

People feel cheated regarding Conan. Not only because some had issues but because of all the instancing, the lack of features when the game went live, the perception that they witheld info regarding how the world was to manifest itself. They have done a lot to fix issues and I have been having a bit of fun in Conan. I think they are a company that just improves its games over time. It's as if they need to just throw the clay on the floor and then start really working thereafter.

Turbine effectively destroyed my two favourite IPs in the MMO market: D&D and Lord of the Rings. Either one could have been an incredible game, but they both feel fake and Turbine bastardised the feel of the world with ridiculous mechanics. The only thing I can praise them for is the RP gear slots in LOTRO. That was very clever, and they do deserve kudos for the idea; other games should follow suit.

But I tried desperately to like both of these games, and am even a founder of LOTRO, but they both feel *wrong.* They couldn’t carry the feel into the world, and they made bad games trying to change what already worked perfectly in D&D. Why would you change a system that has been developed over several decades? They are by far the kindest and most helpful in customer service, but their games, while polished (and launching without a single hitch that I saw) and gorgeous, they are just poor excuses for IP development.

Congrats to Turbine!! They are exceptionally good Devs and I'm glad they won.

Originally posted by silkakc

Congrats to Turbine!! They are exceptionally good Devs and I'm glad they won.

   I would have to agree, I would still be with them LOTRO if my business did not demand so much of my attention.  Gee , I wonder How SOE fared in this the award......Muahahahahaha < Nevemind.

Kudos to Turbine, you guys deserve it :).  I don't play any of your games at the moment, but Lotr is on my short list of games I'd like to try.  This recommendation, plus what friends tell me, bumps it to the top.

Congrats Turbine. Having experienced many MMO Studios, none compare with Turbine's excellent service.  The amount of free quality content alone puts them head and shoulders above all other studios.  Maybe some day players of certain other MMOs will realize that their studios are playing them for suckers, raking in money and giving little back. Their loss I guess.

Originally posted by todeswulf

Originally posted by Gameloading

 

It's not just my personal opinion, it's the opinion of many professional critics as well who are, unlike many voters on this website, not biased.

 

Yeah well it's biased if it's not the studio you gush over.

I look at your sig laugh my ass off  and dismiss your credibility.

Oh Smed...Smeeeedddddd!!!!  /smirk

If a person is currently paying for one game, they probably aren't experiencing the other and this is the case with most voters.

I dismissed my "Credibility"?  Awww, a SOE hater says I lack credibility, I'll be crying myself to sleept tonight.

Originally posted by Ozmodan

Originally posted by Gameloading

Originally posted by LordAdder

Originally posted by Gameloading

Can't say I really agree with it. Imho, Lotro has never really justified it's existance.  It's always been a WoW clone with very little improvements that doesn't really set itself apart. It's a "good, just not as good as..." game.

 

Good God. Here we go again... WoW clone.

The category isn't best MMO, it's best MMO Studio.  Turbine won because of their Devs' constant presense and availablity to the customers through the forums and even in-game, great customer service, smooth launches, and the constant free content updates.

 

I think it's only fair to judge a studio by the quality of the games they produce, no?
Turbine developers can spend as much time on the forums they like, that doesn't make a game good. In fact, I'd say it really doesn't matter if a developer visits the forum, or if Community managers pass on the issues players have with the game to the developers.

 

Nice, you go completely off topic and then try to back peddle when they call you on it.  BTW when you consider what is out there in this genre Lotro is as good as any other.   AC1 and DDO are not bad either and they continue to provide free updates for both.

Turbine continues to provide the best support in the industry.  Only CCP comes close.

Stop talking out of your ass, You judge a company based on their games, and only partly on their service.  Would NP Cube be a great development studio if only they delivered great customer service and frequent content updates? Ofcourse not, because Dark & Light is still a crappy game, no matter how much customer service you throw at it.

Keep in mind that I didn't say Lotro is by any means bad, it's a really good game, just not as good as World of Warcraft. Which wouldn''t be a problem, if they weren't so similar to each other. but they are, so why should a person play Lotro over WoW? Unless you're a die hard Lord of the rings fan, I really see no reason why anybody should play Lotro over WoW.

You're right, Lotro is as good as any other...except for Warcraft, the game they have been trying so hard to imitate.

But oh dear, what am I saying? We can't have Blizzard win any awards now can we? Oh gosh no.

Originally posted by Kordesh

I said to myself I wasn't going to butt in, but here we go.

Turbine deserved this is hands down. Anyone who's played the early years of AC or LoTRO knows they know how to run a game, and they know how to create a symbiotic relationship between the players and the company, rather than simply leeching them dry like some other companies that won't be mentioned.

People compairing the game to WoW are falling into the same trap and curse that every other game on the market is under right now. The preconception that "To be a good MMO, you must be WoW'. Yes, it shares the core mechanics in that you kill stuff, loot drops, and you level. But that is not "core WoW mechanics" that's core MMO mechanics. WoW hardly cornered the market on "grinding loot and levels". What WoW players tend to look for and what the people who play LoTRO look for is vastly different. WoW players look at LoTRO and see a boring game where the armor isn't ridiculously huge or flashy enough, without constant raiding or the other gear grinding accoutrements they're used to. What they don't see is that's not the point, and that's what differentiates this so called "WoW Clone." LoTRO was designed using the old MMO concept of developing a virtual world, not just a linear gear grind. It's not about powering on to the level cap so you can raid raid raid until the next armor tier is dropped. It's about exploring the LoTRO universe, playing through the story as it unfolds with each book, and running around with your group completing a few quests or earning some deeds, maybe crafting a few things,  before capping off the day by going back to your player owned house and fishing in the nearby lake. As mentioned before, LoTRO is all about the journey, not the destination, or the grinding, or the loot. Sure, it's there, but it's not the only driving force to the game. This doesn't appeal to everyone because to most of the people brought in by WoW, the WoW concept of what an MMO is, is all they know, and they're just looking for simple grinding fun. That's fine, it's different. But understand that just because it caters to a different audience, doesn't make it simply "failing at being this game I think is better."

As for one of the bigger complaints about the look and feel of the game, it's not going to appeal to everyone. The LoTR universe can best be described as "realisitc fantasy". As in, it's a fantasy world no doubt, but it's one that with a dash of trolls and pinch of magic added, could actually exist. As the game is kept well in check to not go blatantly against the spirit of the LoTRO universe, the classes, abilities, and yes the armor styles, are stylized but conservative to the point where you could actually see them being worn/made as opposed to WoW where it's not uncommon to see a human warrior hauling around more steel than a panzer tank. Personally, especially with Moria, I like how they're managed to keep it semi-realistic while still making the newer equipment look more ornate.

tl;dr version: WoW and LoTRO are similar in core MMO concepts only. The direction and community are wholely different animals. WoW players might not understand it, but LoTRO players don't understand what WoW players see in their game either. What needs to be accepted is that things can be different without being "not enough like that other game." Not everything needs or wants to be similar, and not everything must be assimilated.

Excellent.  I completely agree.  I never understood the appeal of WoW but I am a huge fan of MMO in general and of LOTRO for the reasons you mentioned.

Originally posted by Kordesh

I said to myself I wasn't going to butt in, but here we go.

Turbine deserved this is hands down. Anyone who's played the early years of AC or LoTRO knows they know how to run a game, and they know how to create a symbiotic relationship between the players and the company, rather than simply leeching them dry like some other companies that won't be mentioned.

People compairing the game to WoW are falling into the same trap and curse that every other game on the market is under right now. The preconception that "To be a good MMO, you must be WoW'. Yes, it shares the core mechanics in that you kill stuff, loot drops, and you level. But that is not "core WoW mechanics" that's core MMO mechanics. WoW hardly cornered the market on "grinding loot and levels". What WoW players tend to look for and what the people who play LoTRO look for is vastly different. WoW players look at LoTRO and see a boring game where the armor isn't ridiculously huge or flashy enough, without constant raiding or the other gear grinding accoutrements they're used to. What they don't see is that's not the point, and that's what differentiates this so called "WoW Clone." LoTRO was designed using the old MMO concept of developing a virtual world, not just a linear gear grind. It's not about powering on to the level cap so you can raid raid raid until the next armor tier is dropped. It's about exploring the LoTRO universe, playing through the story as it unfolds with each book, and running around with your group completing a few quests or earning some deeds, maybe crafting a few things,  before capping off the day by going back to your player owned house and fishing in the nearby lake. As mentioned before, LoTRO is all about the journey, not the destination, or the grinding, or the loot. Sure, it's there, but it's not the only driving force to the game. This doesn't appeal to everyone because to most of the people brought in by WoW, the WoW concept of what an MMO is, is all they know, and they're just looking for simple grinding fun. That's fine, it's different. But understand that just because it caters to a different audience, doesn't make it simply "failing at being this game I think is better."

As for one of the bigger complaints about the look and feel of the game, it's not going to appeal to everyone. The LoTR universe can best be described as "realisitc fantasy". As in, it's a fantasy world no doubt, but it's one that with a dash of trolls and pinch of magic added, could actually exist. As the game is kept well in check to not go blatantly against the spirit of the LoTRO universe, the classes, abilities, and yes the armor styles, are stylized but conservative to the point where you could actually see them being worn/made as opposed to WoW where it's not uncommon to see a human warrior hauling around more steel than a panzer tank. Personally, especially with Moria, I like how they're managed to keep it semi-realistic while still making the newer equipment look more ornate.

tl;dr version: WoW and LoTRO are similar in core MMO concepts only. The direction and community are wholely different animals. WoW players might not understand it, but LoTRO players don't understand what WoW players see in their game either. What needs to be accepted is that things can be different without being "not enough like that other game." Not everything needs or wants to be similar, and not everything must be assimilated.

Actually the biggest issue is that many developers such as turbine, not players, think that to be a good/successful mmo you have to be like WoW. You're trying to make Lotro be something that it clearly isn't. Lotro isn't designed to create a virtual world anymore than a game like WoW. Players have very little influence on the actual game world. Some people call this the "theme park" mmo concept and while I don't really like to call it that way, it's clear that the game directs your experience. It sends you from one quest to the next and from area to area. There is no room for politics or any sort of non - controlled PVP.

You claim that unlike WoW, Lotro is all about exploring the Lord of the Rings Universe. How is that done anymore than WoW? Lotro lets you discover Middle Earth, but so does WoW. We explored Azeorth in classic WoW, meeting important characters from the games and books, The Burning Crusade introduced Outland, where you would discover the land of the draenei and  meet well known characters from the games and books. WOTRL did..well you get the picture. There is no difference between the two, nor are any of the other things you mentioned.

Questing with your group, fishing, crafting, with the exception of your player house (neighborhoods are instanced), all of that can, and is, being done in WoW.

WoW and Lotro in design are nearly identical to each other, and the driving force is up to the player,. If your driving force is leveling, questing, getting more and better items, you can do that in both mmorpg's. If you want a more "relaxed" experience, you can do that in both games as well.

Nearly everything you mentioned can and is being done in WoW.

Originally posted by Gameloading

Stop talking out of your ass, You judge a company based on their games, and only partly on their service.  Would NP Cube be a great development studio if only they delivered great customer service and frequent content updates? Ofcourse not, because Dark & Light is still a crappy game, no matter how much customer service you throw at it.

Keep in mind that I didn't say Lotro is by any means bad, it's a really good game, just not as good as World of Warcraft. Which wouldn''t be a problem, if they weren't so similar to each other. but they are, so why should a person play Lotro over WoW? Unless you're a die hard Lord of the rings fan, I really see no reason why anybody should play Lotro over WoW. *

You're right, Lotro is as good as any other...except for Warcraft, the game they have been trying so hard to imitate.

But oh dear, what am I saying? We can't have Blizzard win any awards now can we? Oh gosh no.

 

You claim that unlike WoW, Lotro is all about exploring the Lord of the Rings Universe. How is that done anymore than WoW? Lotro lets you discover Middle Earth, but so does WoW. We explored Azeorth in classic WoW, meeting important characters from the games and books, The Burning Crusade introduced Outland, where you would discover the land of the draenei and meet well known characters from the games and books. WOTRL did..well you get the picture. There is no difference between the two, nor are any of the other things you mentioned.

WoW and Lotro in design are nearly identical to each other, and the driving force is up to the player,. If your driving force is leveling, questing, getting more and better items, you can do that in both mmorpg's. If you want a more "relaxed" experience, you can do that in both games as well.

* Let me answer that:

1 - I prefer less cartoonish characters

2 - I prefer a good story, a good RP to a rush to the level Cap a beeing called a noob all the way up

3 - I prefer a live, textured world to an untextured neon and blunt place

4 - Did i mention that i don't like cartoons?

5 - I like my shoulder's size the way they are, thank you.

6 - I don't think any kind of character can wear 1 Ton of Metal and still have enough agility to evade an attack

7 - I prefer a mature community

8 - I don't like to follow the herd and play a game "just because 10 million can't be wrong".

9 - I prefer a Company with activelly speaking and hearing devellopers, that interact and actually implement and answer do private messages.

10 - I don't like people considering other players "lesser players" just because they don't have reached max level yet.

11 - I my game to be fun at all levels, not just at endgame.

12 - DirectX 10? :)

13 - The Shire, Bree-Town, Rivendell, Weathertop, Fornost, Annuminas, Carahadras, Hollin Gate, 2nd Hall, Chamber of Crossroads, Endless Stairs, Lothlorien and all those mythical places.

Wa.. What? Are you actually comparing Lord of the Rings lore and Books to Warcraft lore and books? And putting them in the same scale? That boggles the mind...

Yes, the driving force is the player. And i would never trade the community we have at lotro for your 10 million friends.

I wonder when was the last time you got a free REGION in wow for free. Or the last time you had a free Class for free. Heck? Do you even have the chance of a lifetime membership or be able to go to the barber without RMT?

Both blizzard and Turbine are companies and are here for the money. But Turbine allways gives something back and blizzard just takes it all away.

Originally posted by bodypass

Another MILESTONE of bad taste and a tribute to what mmorpg.com readers stand for.

In 2008 Turbine introduced .... FISHING ! Yep you read it here first. Wow.

First they ruined AC. Everyone agrees on that.

Then they ruined the beautiful playing Lore I grew up with: Dungeons and Dragons

Then they ruined the best original Fantasy Lore ever: Middle Earth with a pure and utterly dead (faction wise) Wow clone. The books were epic, the film legendary, the game clownesk and as dead as the puppets you control (I always found the hunter shooting at zero range a disgrace for Legolas).

The only thing it has is a copyright carton figure giving you quests with a ring above his head.

If it weren't for the bought out lore, this game would have less players than Ultima Online.

And hail to their animations: every avatar in Turbine products are stuck with a stick in their ass.

Cheers. It demonstrated what MMORPG.COM is becoming. A place of old moaning grognards who don't have a clue.

 

I have to agree with the above, not often I agree with a negative post but that sums up my feelings exactly when it comes to Turbine!

 

Congratulations for Turbine!

Sure there are things to do better in the future, but they are going the right way.
A  well deserved award in my opinion, I hope they'll keep up the good work for many years to come.

Originally posted by wickedpt

Originally posted by Gameloading

Stop talking out of your ass, You judge a company based on their games, and only partly on their service.  Would NP Cube be a great development studio if only they delivered great customer service and frequent content updates? Ofcourse not, because Dark & Light is still a crappy game, no matter how much customer service you throw at it.

Keep in mind that I didn't say Lotro is by any means bad, it's a really good game, just not as good as World of Warcraft. Which wouldn''t be a problem, if they weren't so similar to each other. but they are, so why should a person play Lotro over WoW? Unless you're a die hard Lord of the rings fan, I really see no reason why anybody should play Lotro over WoW. *

You're right, Lotro is as good as any other...except for Warcraft, the game they have been trying so hard to imitate.

But oh dear, what am I saying? We can't have Blizzard win any awards now can we? Oh gosh no.

 

You claim that unlike WoW, Lotro is all about exploring the Lord of the Rings Universe. How is that done anymore than WoW? Lotro lets you discover Middle Earth, but so does WoW. We explored Azeorth in classic WoW, meeting important characters from the games and books, The Burning Crusade introduced Outland, where you would discover the land of the draenei and meet well known characters from the games and books. WOTRL did..well you get the picture. There is no difference between the two, nor are any of the other things you mentioned.

WoW and Lotro in design are nearly identical to each other, and the driving force is up to the player,. If your driving force is leveling, questing, getting more and better items, you can do that in both mmorpg's. If you want a more "relaxed" experience, you can do that in both games as well.

* Let me answer that:

1 - I prefer less cartoonish characters

2 - I prefer a good story, a good RP to a rush to the level Cap a beeing called a noob all the way up

3 - I prefer a live, textured world to an untextured neon and blunt place

4 - Did i mention that i don't like cartoons?

5 - I like my shoulder's size the way they are, thank you.

6 - I don't think any kind of character can wear 1 Ton of Metal and still have enough agility to evade an attack

7 - I prefer a mature community

8 - I don't like to follow the herd and play a game "just because 10 million can't be wrong".

9 - I prefer a Company with activelly speaking and hearing devellopers, that interact and actually implement and answer do private messages.

10 - I don't like people considering other players "lesser players" just because they don't have reached max level yet.

11 - I my game to be fun at all levels, not just at endgame.

12 - DirectX 10? :)

13 - The Shire, Bree-Town, Rivendell, Weathertop, Fornost, Annuminas, Carahadras, Hollin Gate, 2nd Hall, Chamber of Crossroads, Endless Stairs, Lothlorien and all those mythical places.

Wa.. What? Are you actually comparing Lord of the Rings lore and Books to Warcraft lore and books? And putting them in the same scale? That boggles the mind...

Yes, the driving force is the player. And i would never trade the community we have at lotro for your 10 million friends.

I wonder when was the last time you got a free REGION in wow for free. Or the last time you had a free Class for free. Heck? Do you even have the chance of a lifetime membership or be able to go to the barber without RMT?

Both blizzard and Turbine are companies and are here for the money. But Turbine allways gives something back and blizzard just takes it all away.

 

It's clear that you're struggling to find reasons to pick Lotro over WoW as they can be summed up in 3 aspects:

1: Graphics
2: Community
3: Storyline

1: Graphics is hardly an argument, WoW has been praised many times for it's artistic direction, and it depends on taste. Also, are graphics really that important in a game to you? I consider graphics a nice extra but it's gameplay and content that really matter

2: You really can't attack a developer for the community of a game. Also, it really depends on your personal experience and they differ. You can meet big assholes in Lotro and friendly people in WoW and vice versa.

3: True, storyline is an option, but if you want to give up a whole load of content for a storyline which impacts about 10% of your actual gameplay experience and is little more than cutscenes and text during quests, more power to you.

First of all what I meant by discovery is that both games feature exploring, thus designed the same way.

Also, what's your point about regions? WoW has received plenty of free updates, including its PVP system.

About classes, World of Warcraft launched with 9 classes and 8 races. Lotro launched with 7 classes and 4 races. Currently WoW has 10 classes and 10 races. Lotro has 9 classes and 4 races.

WoW currently requires WotLK for 1 class.

I'm not sure if Mines of Mornia is required for Warden and Rune Keeper? if yes, that requires an expansion for 2 classes.

 Lifetime membership? Oh, you mean that plan that was first announced as pre - order only to lure more people into pre-ordering?

oh sure, WoW doesn't have lifetime membership or free barber shops. Know what WoW does have? A full blown PVP system. Then again, Lotro has monster play....

And that pretty much sumps up WoW and Lotro. Lotro and WoW are the same game with the biggest gameplay differences being that WoW has much more content and a PVP system where as Lotro only has PVE.

Why Turbine?

Asherons Call - The game i missed when it was published and when I found it the graphics and UI were just too much a thing from the past. Still, if Turbine ever revamps the UI and replaces the graphics engine with the one they use in LotRO and D&D, I willl very probably sub. It still had features that made me go *wow* like the magic, way the skills and levels are handled - reminding me pretty much of Rolemaster actually at places. And it's still only one of the first big three that doesn't have RMT shop added in...

D&D - Not the biggest D&D hit universe at  which the game could be located and it's instanced, making the world at places feel less alive. Still it is a game where you can live some of the tabletop feeling. When played with regular group of friends, advancing and learning while they go, not zerging behind someone who's already done it all, it's a good and entertaining game. And one of the few - maybe the only one - where character skills and player skills are in balance, needing both twitchiness and strategic use of the abilities granted by character.

LotRO - Enough of it said already. Not a WoW clone unless the scrutiny is marginal, but very different beast underneath.

PvP stance - I reckon Turbine has learnt their lesson with AC and AC2. Mixing PvP and PvE tends to break both, and the way PvP is handled in LotRO shows that they have given a lot of thought how PvP disrupts PvE gameplay the least - and vice versa.

Continuing and mostly free development of their existing titles. The quality and quantity of new stuff added free in all of them far exceeds most of the other companies. I reckon that CCP with EvE is similar in that respect.

Indie company after buying the right for AC back from Microsoft. Turbine is responsible only feeding their staff and to us who are playing their games. They don't need to turn their profits in to the shareholders. So with Turbine I can be assured that my money goes mostly into upkeep of the servers, staff and ongoing development of their games.

Congrats to Turbine for very deserved win!

As I have said before Gameloading this is YOUR OPINION... There are alot of people in this thread who dont agree with you and some who do. You said that the critics agree with you but I havent seen any of them who says LotrO is just a WoW clone with no PvP and less content. If you dont see the differnces between the games then LotrO is not for you, just like some people cant see Aion as anything else than WoW with Korean graphics and wings. (see the Irony yet?)

The funny thing is that what I have read/heard about Wotlk is that they are making WoW more like LotrO: Adding achivements, More focus on the lore and story, Starting instnace for DK to tell story, making it more accesible and less grindy. So it seems that WoW is now the follower ;)

Originally posted by Papadam

As I have said before Gameloading this is YOUR OPINION... There are alot of people in this thread who dont agree with you and some who do. You said that the critics agree with you but I havent seen any of them who says LotrO is just a WoW clone with no PvP and less content. If you dont see the differnces between the games then LotrO is not for you, just like some people cant see Aion as anything else than WoW with Korean graphics and wings. (see the Irony yet?)

The funny thing is that what I have read/heard about Wotlk is that they are making WoW more like LotrO: Adding achivements, More focus on the lore and story, Starting instnace for DK to tell story, making it more accesible and less grindy. So it seems that WoW is now the follower ;)

The "It's your opinion" argument isn't going to get you anywhere. A games design is not a matter of opinion, it is a fact. a game is quest driven or it's not. A game offers more content than the other or it does not.

I'm sure there are lots of people who think Aion is WoW with different graphics, and if you ask me the differences I will gladly explain to you how they are different (Not in this thread ofcourse, no reason to turn it into a thread about Aion). Meanwhile some people here have attempted to argue how Lotro is different. One mentioned a couple of features of which nearly all were present in WoW as well, while others argued things such as "Community", which is fine, but a community experience varies greatly depending on your own attitude, the people you run into and even which hours you play the game, and has very little to do with a games design, or its developers.

WoW does a few things different in Wrath of the Lich King, it now has more cinematics and phasing is introduced. thats about it. Ofcourse it added a lot of other things as well.

Originally posted by Gameloading

 

It's clear that you're struggling to find reasons to pick Lotro over WoW as they can be summed up in 3 aspects:

1: Graphics
2: Community
3: Storyline

1: Graphics is hardly an argument, WoW has been praised many times for it's artistic direction, and it depends on taste. Also, are graphics really that important in a game to you? I consider graphics a nice extra but it's gameplay and content that really matter

Well why not? When you date are you completely disregarding whether or not someone is attractive to you? Or do you find that an extra.

I feel that that can never really be an argument. We are very much a visual species among other things. We respond t things visually.

The whole reason why we have art is because as a species images have a profound effect on us. Otherwise we could just have stick figures and very little use of color and save a whole lot of money.

If you were to ask me, sure, WoW has more than LOTRO in many ways. It has a bit more polish, It has all its "i's" dotted and "t's crossed. I like how WoW deals with rewards much better as it will actually offer you something you can use depending on class whereas LOTRO might offer me things that I just have to vendor. Essentially WoW is better at details.

But I don't really play WoW except on occassion. The Art design and world of LOTRO is far more appealing. And since it is a polished game that only helps.

Part of the reason so many players scream for customization is because they want the look of something that is appealing to them. Something that inspires. Same for the look of a game.

So sure, beauty is only skin deep but it is the first of many invitations to a player. if a player can't get beyond the art style then it doesn't matter how great the gameplay is, they are going to find something else. That visceral response is what initially attracts. The gameplay then has to do the rest.

But if, when you date you completely don't care what the person looks like, no matter what then you are a rare individual indeed.

Originally posted by Gameloading

Originally posted by Papadam

Originally posted by Gameloading

Originally posted by Papadam

Originally posted by Gameloading

Originally posted by Paragus1

Originally posted by Gameloading

Can't say I really agree with it. Imho, Lotro has never really justified it's existance.  It's always been a WoW clone with very little improvements that doesn't really set itself apart. It's a "good, just not as good as..." game.

 

While I share your opinion of the game itself, Turbine launched the game relatively smooth.  My main issue with Turbine as a company is how they ruined Asheron's Call with a horrid sequel.   They should give AC1 some love, maybe make it free to play, promote it more, or give it some sort of graphical overhaul.

 

While Lotro did indeed have a smooth launch, that was in 2007, not 2008.

They haven't done anything really special in 2008 besides releasing a good expansion pack which is,sorry to repeat myself, "good,just not as good as..."

Also, I can't really say that Dungeons & Dragons Online received anything truly noteworthy.

I agree with you on AC1. AC1 is just sort of sitting there. It doesn't really have a lot of subscribers, it would be nice if Turbine was a bit more creative with the game. Make it free, perhaps an item mall, advertise it a little bit on banners and the game might just be revived again.

 

Well thats your personal opinion that LotrO is "good,just not as good as..."

There is people who dont agree and think that LotrO offers something unique in the MMO market and Turbine are doing a great job with it. 46% of the voters thinks that Turbine is best of thoose companies so it seem Im not alone.

And grats Turbine :)

 

 

It's not just my personal opinion, it's the opinion of many professional critics as well who are, unlike many voters on this website, not biased.

 

You meen like theese reviewers?

http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/pc/middleearthonline?q=lord%20of%20the%20rings%20online

or theese for MoM?

http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/pc/lordoftheringsonlineminesofmoria?q=lord%20of%20the%20rings%20online

I understand that some people think that LotrO is just a lesser WoW clone.. because WoW is the better than LotrO at being WoW... thankfully LotrO is better in other aspects and follows a different design philosophy. So if you are looking for more WoW in LotrO then you are going to be dissapointed.

 

Exact, I'm talking about those reviewers who rate both Lotro and Mines of Mornia below World of Warcraft, The Burning Crusade and Wrath of the Lich King.

www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/pc/worldofwarcraft

www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/pc/worldofwarcrafttheburningcrusade

www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/pc/worldofwarcraftwrathofthelichking

Lotro doesn't follow a different design philosphy, it follows the exact same one as WoW. Make it approachable, lead the players through quests from area to area to keep rewarding the player, and toss in an instance every now and then. Sure, Lotro adds a few more storyline cutscenes, but it's core gameplay mechanics are the same.

 

Lotro is good, just not as good as and that's why World of Warcraft is rated higher and has 11 million subscribers while Lotro has only a few hundred thousand.

Can you say sore loser? For someone who thinks that the choices that MMORPG shouldn't be that important you sure are posting a lot about it and having a lot to say about it. If you want to get into the subject of how great Blizzard is you should sign into WOW sometime and watch the in game talk whenever something goes wrong with WOW. It usually goes something like there goes Blizzard again, and wonder what they messed up now, or wonder how many days the games going down.

Even the people who play WOW for the most part will agree with how bad Blizzard is as a studio. This isn't a vote for any game or games they have out. Its for the studio as a studio. How their customer service is is exactly what this win is for. Its not about a game they have or someone else has.

Guess you skipped over that in all the research you did above. Just thought I might help you out there.

Originally posted by Sovrath

Originally posted by Gameloading

 

It's clear that you're struggling to find reasons to pick Lotro over WoW as they can be summed up in 3 aspects:

1: Graphics
2: Community
3: Storyline

1: Graphics is hardly an argument, WoW has been praised many times for it's artistic direction, and it depends on taste. Also, are graphics really that important in a game to you? I consider graphics a nice extra but it's gameplay and content that really matter

 

Well why not? When you date are you completely disregarding whether or not someone is attractive to you? Or do you find that an extra.

I feel that that can never really be an argument. We are very much a visual species among other things. We respond t things visually.

The whole reason why we have art is because as a species images have a profound effect on us. Otherwise we could just have stick figures and very little use of color and save a whole lot of money.

If you were to ask me, sure, WoW has more than LOTRO in many ways. It has a bit more polish, It has all its "i's" dotted and "t's crossed. I like how WoW deals with rewards much better as it will actually offer you something you can use depending on class whereas LOTRO might offer me things that I just have to vendor. Essentially WoW is better at details.

But I don't really play WoW except on occassion. The Art design and world of LOTRO is far more appealing. And since it is a polished game that only helps.

Part of the reason so many players scream for customization is because they want the look of something that is appealing to them. Something that inspires. Same for the look of a game.

So sure, beauty is only skin deep but it is the first of many invitations to a player. if a player can't get beyond the art style then it doesn't matter how great the gameplay is, they are going to find something else. That visceral response is what initially attracts. The gameplay then has to do the rest.

But if, when you date you completely don't care what the person looks like, no matter what then you are a rare individual indeed.

 

You know just as well as I do that dating and playing games can't be compared, they are very different things. People like pretty graphics, sure, but I think few people would actually let graphics be a huge, major influence in their decision.

Case in point, which console is selling the most? Not the Playstation 3, not the Xbox360, it's the little underpowered Wii, just like the underpowered Playstation 2 was the best selling machine last generation. Handhelds is no different, DS is selling much more than the more powerful PSP.

Originally posted by Gameloading

Originally posted by Papadam

As I have said before Gameloading this is YOUR OPINION... There are alot of people in this thread who dont agree with you and some who do. You said that the critics agree with you but I havent seen any of them who says LotrO is just a WoW clone with no PvP and less content. If you dont see the differnces between the games then LotrO is not for you, just like some people cant see Aion as anything else than WoW with Korean graphics and wings. (see the Irony yet?)

The funny thing is that what I have read/heard about Wotlk is that they are making WoW more like LotrO: Adding achivements, More focus on the lore and story, Starting instnace for DK to tell story, making it more accesible and less grindy. So it seems that WoW is now the follower ;)

 

The "It's your opinion" argument isn't going to get you anywhere. A games design is not a matter of opinion, it is a fact. a game is quest driven or it's not. A game offers more content than the other or it does not.

I'm sure there are lots of people who think Aion is WoW with different graphics, and if you ask me the differences I will gladly explain to you how they are different (Not in this thread ofcourse, no reason to turn it into a thread about Aion). Meanwhile some people here have attempted to argue how Lotro is different. One mentioned a couple of features of which nearly all were present in WoW as well, while others argued things such as "Community", which is fine, but a community experience varies greatly depending on your own attitude, the people you run into and even which hours you play the game, and has very little to do with a games design, or its developers.

WoW does a few things different in Wrath of the Lich King, it now has more cinematics and phasing is introduced. thats about it. Ofcourse it added a lot of other things as well.

Since the game design is not exactly the same (very differnt in some cases) then its a FACT that LotrO is not just WoW with less content and no PvP :)

Originally posted by Papadam

Originally posted by Gameloading

Originally posted by Papadam

As I have said before Gameloading this is YOUR OPINION... There are alot of people in this thread who dont agree with you and some who do. You said that the critics agree with you but I havent seen any of them who says LotrO is just a WoW clone with no PvP and less content. If you dont see the differnces between the games then LotrO is not for you, just like some people cant see Aion as anything else than WoW with Korean graphics and wings. (see the Irony yet?)

The funny thing is that what I have read/heard about Wotlk is that they are making WoW more like LotrO: Adding achivements, More focus on the lore and story, Starting instnace for DK to tell story, making it more accesible and less grindy. So it seems that WoW is now the follower ;)

 

The "It's your opinion" argument isn't going to get you anywhere. A games design is not a matter of opinion, it is a fact. a game is quest driven or it's not. A game offers more content than the other or it does not.

I'm sure there are lots of people who think Aion is WoW with different graphics, and if you ask me the differences I will gladly explain to you how they are different (Not in this thread ofcourse, no reason to turn it into a thread about Aion). Meanwhile some people here have attempted to argue how Lotro is different. One mentioned a couple of features of which nearly all were present in WoW as well, while others argued things such as "Community", which is fine, but a community experience varies greatly depending on your own attitude, the people you run into and even which hours you play the game, and has very little to do with a games design, or its developers.

WoW does a few things different in Wrath of the Lich King, it now has more cinematics and phasing is introduced. thats about it. Ofcourse it added a lot of other things as well.

 

Since the game design is not exactly the same (very differnt in some cases) then its a FACT that LotrO is not just WoW with less content and no PvP :)

It's core gameplay mechanics ARE the same, and so is the vast majority of the content. 

Can you say sore loser? For someone who thinks that the choices that MMORPG shouldn't be that important you sure are posting a lot about it and having a lot to say about it. If you want to get into the subject of how great Blizzard is you should sign into WOW sometime and watch the in game talk whenever something goes wrong with WOW. It usually goes something like there goes Blizzard again, and wonder what they messed up now, or wonder how many days the games going down.

Even the people who play WOW for the most part will agree with how bad Blizzard is as a studio. This isn't a vote for any game or games they have out. Its for the studio as a studio. How their customer service is is exactly what this win is for. Its not about a game they have or someone else has.

Guess you skipped over that in all the research you did above. Just thought I might help you out there.
 

Sore loser? wait, what? I didn't lose anything, I don't have stocks in mmorpg gaming. "Someone who thinks that the choice that MMORPG shouldn't be that important"? Huh? That doesn't even make any sense.

Yes I'm sure they thing Blizzard is terrible as a studio, Thats why they keep playing their games and lining up in front of stores just for an expansion, right?

Also, apparently you skipped over this part:

"Personally, I'm thrilled that we added this category to the awards this year. It wasn't an easy decision. After all, by what criteria do you judge a game studio? On their product? On their Customer Service? In the end, we left it in your hands to choose the best overall studio, from product to community to customer service and you overwhelmingly told us that Turbine was your favorite."
 

So yes, product is very important, and I already said that I find the quality of the products  far and away the most important aspects. A good game with bad customer support is still a good game. A bad game with good customer support is still a bad game.
 

Originally posted by Gameloading

Originally posted by Sovrath

Originally posted by Gameloading

 

It's clear that you're struggling to find reasons to pick Lotro over WoW as they can be summed up in 3 aspects:

1: Graphics
2: Community
3: Storyline

1: Graphics is hardly an argument, WoW has been praised many times for it's artistic direction, and it depends on taste. Also, are graphics really that important in a game to you? I consider graphics a nice extra but it's gameplay and content that really matter

 

Well why not? When you date are you completely disregarding whether or not someone is attractive to you? Or do you find that an extra.

I feel that that can never really be an argument. We are very much a visual species among other things. We respond t things visually.

The whole reason why we have art is because as a species images have a profound effect on us. Otherwise we could just have stick figures and very little use of color and save a whole lot of money.

If you were to ask me, sure, WoW has more than LOTRO in many ways. It has a bit more polish, It has all its "i's" dotted and "t's crossed. I like how WoW deals with rewards much better as it will actually offer you something you can use depending on class whereas LOTRO might offer me things that I just have to vendor. Essentially WoW is better at details.

But I don't really play WoW except on occassion. The Art design and world of LOTRO is far more appealing. And since it is a polished game that only helps.

Part of the reason so many players scream for customization is because they want the look of something that is appealing to them. Something that inspires. Same for the look of a game.

So sure, beauty is only skin deep but it is the first of many invitations to a player. if a player can't get beyond the art style then it doesn't matter how great the gameplay is, they are going to find something else. That visceral response is what initially attracts. The gameplay then has to do the rest.

But if, when you date you completely don't care what the person looks like, no matter what then you are a rare individual indeed.

 

You know just as well as I do that dating and playing games can't be compared, they are very different things. People like pretty graphics, sure, but I think few people would actually let graphics be a huge, major influence in their decision.

Case in point, which console is selling the most? Not the Playstation 3, not the Xbox360, it's the little underpowered Wii, just like the underpowered Playstation 2 was the best selling machine last generation. Handhelds is no different, DS is selling much more than the more powerful PSP.

I'm not talking about the ins and outs of relationships as compared to gameplay. I'm talking about how we as a species have evolved with a strong visual sense and that it plays more into our daily decisions then people know or would admit to. If I look at a woman but I don't find her attractive then no matter how great a person she is, I'm not going to date her. If I look at a game that seems goofy or the Art design seems lacking then I might not initially be attracted to try it. And again, I think WoW has much more than LOTRO in many areas but I can't get beyond the art design. Others have said the same thing.

As far as which console is selling most, the idea that the wii is selling more despite that itdoesn't have the graphic strength of the others is specious reasoning.

The reason it is selling more is that it has games and activities that actually speak more to the average person, not the average power console gamer salivating over Halo 9 or Gears of War. It doesn't have to have cutting edge graphics because the games it offers don't really require them. So sure, Tetris could have amazing graphics so that you feel that they are shimmering 3 d blocks falling from the sky but it doesn't realy require that to get the gameplay across. To that end it it was a white back ground with Black shapes it might hearken back to the days of Pong but wouldn't really catch on today. Art Design and Graphics have to seem natural to the gameplay.

But I contend that if a game has an art design that is not inspiring or attractive to a player then gameplay might not be enough. Remember, we are not talking about graphics that have to be latest and greatest, we are talking about Art Design and Graphics that are convincing given what that Art design requires.

---

So yes, product is very important, and I already said that I find the quality of the products far and away the most important aspects. A good game with bad customer support is still a good game. A bad game with good customer support is still a bad game.

---

We get it. You voted for Blizzard because you find the quality of the product far and away the most important aspect. Obviously, not everyone does. I don't play LOTRO anymore, despite my very misleading title, but my vote(if I had voted) would've gone to Turbine, also. In my opinion(which carries as much weight as yours), LOTRO is an excellent game. When you take that fact, and combine it with their excellent development team, customer service, community, and everything else you conveniently forgot to put in red, Turbine comes out on top.

Is LOTRO better at being WoW than WoW? No. Is it still trying to imitate it? Maybe. Their new expansion did add ten additional levels, much like WoW's expansions have been doing. The only real difference is the introduction of legendary items. It's an important difference, though. When World of Warcraft: Lust of the Fallen Titan comes out, and expands the level cap to 90, you're still throwing away all your epic items for greens. In LOTRO, at least, if the level cap is expanded again in another expansion, you still have your legendary items you can keep leveling to our theoretical level of 70.

Does that make it better than World of Warcraft? What the fuck do I know? It all comes down to personal taste. I hate McDonald's, but I love Burger King. They both make burgers, but I'd much rather have my double whopper with cheese than a Big Mac.

Also, your console statement is quite misleading. I don't think you truly understand why the Wii sells more units. The Wii appeals to a much wider audience, and many of these people who buy a Wii also have an XBOX 360 or a PS3. Maybe both. So what's your point? They're two different things. When they want to play something that doesn't look like a South Park version of Mario, they turn on their XBOX or PS3. When they want to jerk and wave their hands around pretending to be swinging a lightsaber, they play the Wii.

Originally posted by NotArkard 

It's an important difference, though. When World of Warcraft: Lust of the Fallen Titan comes out, and expands the level cap to 90, you're still throwing away all your epic items for greens. In LOTRO, at least, if the level cap is expanded again in another expansion, you still have your legendary items you can keep leveling to our theoretical level of 70.

Actually the lich king expansion added items to the game that level with your character and can also be given to characters on the same account. 

Both games took their que for this from UO2's intelligent weapon system as far as I can tell.  Both are very nice additions to the genre that I hope many games emulate.

Also I have no idea why people single out expansions as something that makes all your current items invalid.  The basic premise of most mmos is to aquire gear.  In that essence, every single event, dungeon and raid has the same net effect as an expansion. When a company adds a new free raid zone, dungeon or whatever why don't people make the same complaints?

Originally posted by duwat1982d 

Even the people who play WOW for the most part will agree with how bad Blizzard is as a studio. This isn't a vote for any game or games they have out. Its for the studio as a studio. How their customer service is is exactly what this win is for. Its not about a game they have or someone else has.

Guess you skipped over that in all the research you did above. Just thought I might help you out there.

I think you have missed the point.

This vote is very much about what game each studio has out.  Do you think Turbine would have won this award if they never released LOTRO?  Do you think the strength of AC2 and DDO would have earned Turbine anything?  This vote very much reflects turbines efforts with Lotro and forgives their recent past efforts.

Personally I am fine with Turbine winning.  We as players should applaud when some company does something right and we should make sure other companies take note of our approval. 

Both companies are doing wonderful things with their respective products.  It is silly to compare these two companies with each other (in respects to WoW vs Lotro), because honestly they are both doing the same exact thing.  There is no clear loser in this comparison.  One company will not come out looking horrible and the other some shining bastion of light for the gaming masses. 

The problem is that there just are not enough companies right now that can really enter the debate for consideration.   

---

Originally posted by Daffid011

---

Originally posted by NotArkard 
It's an important difference, though. When World of Warcraft: Lust of the Fallen Titan comes out, and expands the level cap to 90, you're still throwing away all your epic items for greens. In LOTRO, at least, if the level cap is expanded again in another expansion, you still have your legendary items you can keep leveling to our theoretical level of 70.

---

 
Actually the lich king expansion added items to the game that level with your character and can also be given to characters on the same account. 
Both games took their que for this from UO2's intelligent weapon system as far as I can tell.  Both are very nice additions to the genre that I hope many games emulate.
 
 
Also I have no idea why people single out expansions as something that makes all your current items invalid.  The basic premise of most mmos is to aquire gear.  In that essence, every single event, dungeon and raid has the same net effect as an expansion. When a company adds a new free raid zone, dungeon or whatever why don't people make the same complaints?

---

In truth, expansions tend to be demonized because of the same concept they were built on. MMOs are built around the whole carrot-on-a-stick concept. The thing is, people eventually have to reach that carrot, or there's no sense in chasing it. You can't just keep extending the stick. Eventually people are going to get tired of running.

XI, for example, took a different approach to their more recent expansions. That's a different discussion altogether, though.

-Edit-

As far as your comment on the Lich King. I didn't know that. I stopped chasing the carrot myself after BC raids. Thanks for pointing out though. I hope something at least similar gets introduced to most games.

You might not have heard of them, because they are no where as close to a primetime feature in WoW as they are in Lotro.  Most of them are designed to be given to your lower level characters, because by the time you can get them at max level odds are you have better items already.  

It is a similar feature to legendary items, but no where as close to the complexity or involvement. 

A couple of things stand out recently that I feel compelled to post about....

This survey and every post here are most definately opinion, regardless of side. Gameloading can scream "it's a fact" all he wants, in caps or pretty colors even, but that doesn't make it so.

Unless there was some hidden set of grading criteria and a universal measurement rubric, it's all based on subjective perception and experience, thus making it quite solidly opinion. Which is all you are ever going to get when comparing different games and studios because to try and create such a universal standard you would have to simplify the categories to the point of making them meaningless. (or use pure stats, like number of subs, number of open CR tickets etc, not that the companies would ever give you those numbers anyways)

Secondly, a lot of people need to get over the "it's a WoW-clone" nonsense. WoW is a damn successful franchise, just ask their accountants. Every game out there is a "WoW-clone" in the sense that they want to succeed financially; no one runs a company to lose money and look bad. (Except maybe the Garriott brothers lol)

MMORPGs are a very very limited genre;game devs are limited a great deal by the size of the player base, current generations of computer technology, internet functionality and other factors which make them ALL very similar in many ways. Every MMO out there still has a great deal in common with MUDs/MUSHs/UO and EQ - so of course there is a great deal of similarity between them, arguing otherwise or trying to say its a bad thing somehow is niave at best and moronic at worst.  Likewise, these are competing companies, of course concepts and ideas are going to be stolen and migrated back and forth, welcome to the real world.

Originally posted by Gameloading

Originally posted by Papadam

Originally posted by Gameloading

Originally posted by Papadam

As I have said before Gameloading this is YOUR OPINION... There are alot of people in this thread who dont agree with you and some who do. You said that the critics agree with you but I havent seen any of them who says LotrO is just a WoW clone with no PvP and less content. If you dont see the differnces between the games then LotrO is not for you, just like some people cant see Aion as anything else than WoW with Korean graphics and wings. (see the Irony yet?)

The funny thing is that what I have read/heard about Wotlk is that they are making WoW more like LotrO: Adding achivements, More focus on the lore and story, Starting instnace for DK to tell story, making it more accesible and less grindy. So it seems that WoW is now the follower ;)

 

The "It's your opinion" argument isn't going to get you anywhere. A games design is not a matter of opinion, it is a fact. a game is quest driven or it's not. A game offers more content than the other or it does not.

I'm sure there are lots of people who think Aion is WoW with different graphics, and if you ask me the differences I will gladly explain to you how they are different (Not in this thread ofcourse, no reason to turn it into a thread about Aion). Meanwhile some people here have attempted to argue how Lotro is different. One mentioned a couple of features of which nearly all were present in WoW as well, while others argued things such as "Community", which is fine, but a community experience varies greatly depending on your own attitude, the people you run into and even which hours you play the game, and has very little to do with a games design, or its developers.

WoW does a few things different in Wrath of the Lich King, it now has more cinematics and phasing is introduced. thats about it. Ofcourse it added a lot of other things as well.

 

Since the game design is not exactly the same (very differnt in some cases) then its a FACT that LotrO is not just WoW with less content and no PvP :)

It's core gameplay mechanics ARE the same, and so is the vast majority of the content.  

Yea and that can be said about every Class/lvel based MMO from EQ to Aion... I actually agree that WoW is overall a better game than Lotro and is designed to apeal to a wider audiance. But there is alot that LotrO does better than WoW and alot that seperates them. I found this quote in a MoM review that I think sums up what Im trying to say:

" I suspect the vast majority of hardened MMO players will be really surprised by this game and rightly so. Its a breath of fresh air in a cluttered market. Will it cause me to jump ship from World of Warcraft? Maybe not quite, but that's because I'd argue that it's difficult to compare the two. Certainly they're technically the same genre, but it would be like comparing Duke Nukem to Half-Life. Same concept, but one does it so much more intelligently with a much more detailed story. Ultimately, it all depends on your mood at the time and what you fancy playing. "

from: http://play.tm/review/22681/the-lord-of-the-rings-online-mines-of-moria/

And since this vote was about the company I think Turbine is doing a much better job with giving free content and communicating with its players. Also considering how much more resources Blizzard have compared to a small indy company like Turbine, and I tihnk alot of people voted for David against Goliath :)

 I can't believe people get pissed/defensive over crap like this.  No wonder mmo game communities are notorious for being annoying. 

Gratz to Turbine, generally excellent studio.

What is Lotro doing in the thread title? I thought we were voting for a Studio not one of their games.

 Who gives a crap about Turbine. Funcom got  2.8% votes. 

They didn't get my vote, but congrats to Turbine.

I have family and friends that play LotRO, but personally I couldn't get into it.  I was an elder beta tester and a founder.  Just something about it didn't catch my full attention.  I really tried to like the game numerous times, it just wasn't for me.

Originally posted by Gameloading

It's clear that you're struggling to find reasons to pick Lotro over WoW as they can be summed up in 3 aspects:

1: Graphics
2: Community
3: Storyline

1: Graphics is hardly an argument, WoW has been praised many times for it's artistic direction, and it depends on taste. Also, are graphics really that important in a game to you? I consider graphics a nice extra but it's gameplay and content that really matter

2: You really can't attack a developer for the community of a game. Also, it really depends on your personal experience and they differ. You can meet big assholes in Lotro and friendly people in WoW and vice versa.

3: True, storyline is an option, but if you want to give up a whole load of content for a storyline which impacts about 10% of your actual gameplay experience and is little more than cutscenes and text during quests, more power to you.

First of all what I meant by discovery is that both games feature exploring, thus designed the same way.

Also, what's your point about regions? WoW has received plenty of free updates, including its PVP system.

About classes, World of Warcraft launched with 9 classes and 8 races. Lotro launched with 7 classes and 4 races. Currently WoW has 10 classes and 10 races. Lotro has 9 classes and 4 races.

WoW currently requires WotLK for 1 class.

I'm not sure if Mines of Mornia is required for Warden and Rune Keeper? if yes, that requires an expansion for 2 classes.

 Lifetime membership? Oh, you mean that plan that was first announced as pre - order only to lure more people into pre-ordering?

oh sure, WoW doesn't have lifetime membership or free barber shops. Know what WoW does have? A full blown PVP system. Then again, Lotro has monster play....

And that pretty much sumps up WoW and Lotro. Lotro and WoW are the same game with the biggest gameplay differences being that WoW has much more content and a PVP system where as Lotro only has PVE.

LOTRO's Monster play is much better balanced and more fluid then WoW's PVP system has ever been in the 4 years I have played WoW. 

LOTRO's storyline is much more then a few cutscenese and text and it most definitely is more then 10% of your gametime.  Heck I haven't even finished all of the epic quests yet and I have been playing casually since launch.  

LOTRO's game mechanics are extremely different from World of Warcraft.  Anyone that says they are pretty much the same (and isn't lieing) either has never played the game or never played past the low levels.  Fellowship manuervers alone makes combat mechanics different combine that with tactical combat as opposed to WoW's button mashing combat and that is entirely different.  LOTRO has a much deeper crafting system then WoW does.  They have a lot more roleplaying tools (such as facial expressions, emotes, etc).  The game revolves around small group content as opposed to WoW which revolves around raid content. 

And you are entirely leaving out the Music system.  LOTRO's music system is extremely well done and provides a nice tool for the community. 

LOTRO is one of THE best "Sandbox" type games on the market currently.  (It isn't old SWG sandbox or UO sandbox but it is definitely a whole lot more sandbox then World of Warcraft is).  

In WoW you can kill stuff and that is pretty much about it.  You can't really exist in that world and succeed in any fashion unless you are doing group content.  Either 5mans, raids, Arena, or BGs all are group content.  In Lord of the Rings online success is measured differently.  Sure you will still see the "powerleveler" who looks for the fastest route to the level cap so he can clear the content but more often you will see the "Bard" sitting in the inn and playing music (who doesn't care what level he is). 

People like GL discount the game as a "WoW Clone" but in fact Turbine has created a World.  Where as Blizzard has created a game.

Originally posted by Dr.Rock

Gratz to Turbine, generally excellent studio.

What is Lotro doing in the thread title? I thought we were voting for a Studio not one of their games.

Exactly, why is an award for Turbine with three great games put in the LotrO section?

I liked LotrO very much, but it's hard to take my friends from "WoW, what a grind". Hopeless examples of carrot and stick, got fooled already - milions of flies can't wrong, eat wow and pay.

But still, I think the best of their games is DDO. Really shows how great and innovative this company is, and just wait, great things are in store for this game. Mod9 could be the biggest (or one of the biggest...) mods to date. I don't say it because of the number of quests and raids - we don't know it - but because of many changes which have been announced are still announced almost each day. On their forums, by Devs in normal discussions, in people's threads.

So congratz Turbine, and bring it on with DDO!

Originally posted by Cabe2323

Originally posted by Gameloading

It's clear that you're struggling to find reasons to pick Lotro over WoW as they can be summed up in 3 aspects:

1: Graphics
2: Community
3: Storyline

1: Graphics is hardly an argument, WoW has been praised many times for it's artistic direction, and it depends on taste. Also, are graphics really that important in a game to you? I consider graphics a nice extra but it's gameplay and content that really matter

2: You really can't attack a developer for the community of a game. Also, it really depends on your personal experience and they differ. You can meet big assholes in Lotro and friendly people in WoW and vice versa.

3: True, storyline is an option, but if you want to give up a whole load of content for a storyline which impacts about 10% of your actual gameplay experience and is little more than cutscenes and text during quests, more power to you.

First of all what I meant by discovery is that both games feature exploring, thus designed the same way.

Also, what's your point about regions? WoW has received plenty of free updates, including its PVP system.

About classes, World of Warcraft launched with 9 classes and 8 races. Lotro launched with 7 classes and 4 races. Currently WoW has 10 classes and 10 races. Lotro has 9 classes and 4 races.

WoW currently requires WotLK for 1 class.

I'm not sure if Mines of Mornia is required for Warden and Rune Keeper? if yes, that requires an expansion for 2 classes.

 Lifetime membership? Oh, you mean that plan that was first announced as pre - order only to lure more people into pre-ordering?

oh sure, WoW doesn't have lifetime membership or free barber shops. Know what WoW does have? A full blown PVP system. Then again, Lotro has monster play....

And that pretty much sumps up WoW and Lotro. Lotro and WoW are the same game with the biggest gameplay differences being that WoW has much more content and a PVP system where as Lotro only has PVE.

 

LOTRO's Monster play is much better balanced and more fluid then WoW's PVP system has ever been in the 4 years I have played WoW. 

LOTRO's storyline is much more then a few cutscenese and text and it most definitely is more then 10% of your gametime.  Heck I haven't even finished all of the epic quests yet and I have been playing casually since launch.  

LOTRO's game mechanics are extremely different from World of Warcraft.  Anyone that says they are pretty much the same (and isn't lieing) either has never played the game or never played past the low levels.  Fellowship manuervers alone makes combat mechanics different combine that with tactical combat as opposed to WoW's button mashing combat and that is entirely different.  LOTRO has a much deeper crafting system then WoW does.  They have a lot more roleplaying tools (such as facial expressions, emotes, etc).  The game revolves around small group content as opposed to WoW which revolves around raid content. 

And you are entirely leaving out the Music system.  LOTRO's music system is extremely well done and provides a nice tool for the community. 

LOTRO is one of THE best "Sandbox" type games on the market currently.  (It isn't old SWG sandbox or UO sandbox but it is definitely a whole lot more sandbox then World of Warcraft is).  

In WoW you can kill stuff and that is pretty much about it.  You can't really exist in that world and succeed in any fashion unless you are doing group content.  Either 5mans, raids, Arena, or BGs all are group content.  In Lord of the Rings online success is measured differently.  Sure you will still see the "powerleveler" who looks for the fastest route to the level cap so he can clear the content but more often you will see the "Bard" sitting in the inn and playing music (who doesn't care what level he is). 

People like GL discount the game as a "WoW Clone" but in fact Turbine has created a World.  Where as Blizzard has created a game.

Very well put and I agree with your every point. May I also add that LOTRO is NOT about PvP. They do PvE and they do it VERY well. Their PvP (PvMP: Player vs Monster Player) I would say is more for the casual player, and that suits me just fine. And I've also had very good dealing with the people behind the scenes, especially with having tickets answered.

Gratz Turbine! Well deserved. Now if only I can switch characters to different accounts so my wife and I can play with our main toons. :)

Congrats Turbine. Well deserved! Keep up the good work!

Originally posted by Thradar

 I can't believe people get pissed/defensive over crap like this.  No wonder mmo game communities are notorious for being annoying. 

Yeah but its so much fun sometimes to get people worked up. Sometimes you can just pick the right people out and say one or two words and just let them run. I mean come on. THEY'RE GAMES. Is it that big of a deal. Turbine won. Lets just say Congrats and go on to the next subject.

Congrats to Turbine! It's obvious that a bunch of folks find what they're doing to be enjoyable, so kudos to them for their win(s) in the Best of 2008 Reader's Choice Awards.

That being said, I still remain curious as to how the nominations were made. Missing from the voting list were a few fairly well known studios, including Sony. I realize Sony is more publisher than developer for the most part, but still, they're responsible for overall development strategy and certainly for Customer Service, and certainly are similar to the likes of NCSoft. In addition, they have at least 4 financially successful MMOG's in their camp. While my personal feelings for the companies that didn't make it (including Sony) are lukewarm at best, I found it odd they were left out of voting consideration, and it left me wondering about the criteria used to pick the "finalists".

Anyone have any insights on this? And I apologize if this was already covered in the 7 previous pages of posts. Sadly, I don't have enough free time to read everything I want to. :)

Originally posted by Gameloading

Originally posted by LordAdder

Originally posted by Gameloading

Can't say I really agree with it. Imho, Lotro has never really justified it's existance.  It's always been a WoW clone with very little improvements that doesn't really set itself apart. It's a "good, just not as good as..." game.

 

Good God. Here we go again... WoW clone.

The category isn't best MMO, it's best MMO Studio.  Turbine won because of their Devs' constant presense and availablity to the customers through the forums and even in-game, great customer service, smooth launches, and the constant free content updates.

 

I think it's only fair to judge a studio by the quality of the games they produce, no?
Turbine developers can spend as much time on the forums they like, that doesn't make a game good. In fact, I'd say it really doesn't matter if a developer visits the forum, or if Community managers pass on the issues players have with the game to the developers.

 

... except that you're not the one deciding the criteria for each category.

There is a separate category that deals with the quality of the product itself.

... which Turbine also won.

Go figure.

Originally posted by Gameloading

Originally posted by Papadam

Originally posted by Gameloading

Originally posted by Paragus1

Originally posted by Gameloading

Can't say I really agree with it. Imho, Lotro has never really justified it's existance.  It's always been a WoW clone with very little improvements that doesn't really set itself apart. It's a "good, just not as good as..." game.

 

While I share your opinion of the game itself, Turbine launched the game relatively smooth.  My main issue with Turbine as a company is how they ruined Asheron's Call with a horrid sequel.   They should give AC1 some love, maybe make it free to play, promote it more, or give it some sort of graphical overhaul.

 

While Lotro did indeed have a smooth launch, that was in 2007, not 2008.

They haven't done anything really special in 2008 besides releasing a good expansion pack which is,sorry to repeat myself, "good,just not as good as..."

Also, I can't really say that Dungeons & Dragons Online received anything truly noteworthy.

I agree with you on AC1. AC1 is just sort of sitting there. It doesn't really have a lot of subscribers, it would be nice if Turbine was a bit more creative with the game. Make it free, perhaps an item mall, advertise it a little bit on banners and the game might just be revived again.

 

Well thats your personal opinion that LotrO is "good,just not as good as..."

There is people who dont agree and think that LotrO offers something unique in the MMO market and Turbine are doing a great job with it. 46% of the voters thinks that Turbine is best of thoose companies so it seem Im not alone.

And grats Turbine :)

 

 

It's not just my personal opinion, it's the opinion of many professional critics as well who are, unlike many voters on this website, not biased.

-hands Gameloading a bowl of sugar-

... for those sour grapes.

It's always easy to tell when something has you truly annoyed. The more annoyed you are by it, the higher on your horse you get.. and start making statements like "It's a fact" or, as you did here, pointing at all those others who agree with you.

Of course, all of those who don't agree with you never seem to matter.

Turbine has apparently done well enough to win over the majority of people here - by a substantial margin. It's not like this was "neck in neck" or anything. Those are some pretty sound results.

Maybe you just need to accept the outcome, disagree with it, and move on... like all the rest who didn't vote for Turbine or LoTRO?

That would be the reasonable thing to do.

Or you can keep chewing on the sour grapes.

How is a voter biased? because they voted for something they liked?...oh..I get it...all the voters were paid by Turbine to vote for LotRO.  And in the process Turbine spent more money and time tracking down these "shills' then they could ever hope to make up in publicity/new subs. Makes sense...(not really)

Originally posted by Gameloading

Originally posted by Papadam

As I have said before Gameloading this is YOUR OPINION... There are alot of people in this thread who dont agree with you and some who do. You said that the critics agree with you but I havent seen any of them who says LotrO is just a WoW clone with no PvP and less content. If you dont see the differnces between the games then LotrO is not for you, just like some people cant see Aion as anything else than WoW with Korean graphics and wings. (see the Irony yet?)

The funny thing is that what I have read/heard about Wotlk is that they are making WoW more like LotrO: Adding achivements, More focus on the lore and story, Starting instnace for DK to tell story, making it more accesible and less grindy. So it seems that WoW is now the follower ;)

 

The "It's your opinion" argument isn't going to get you anywhere. A games design is not a matter of opinion, it is a fact. a game is quest driven or it's not. A game offers more content than the other or it does not.

I'm sure there are lots of people who think Aion is WoW with different graphics, and if you ask me the differences I will gladly explain to you how they are different (Not in this thread ofcourse, no reason to turn it into a thread about Aion). Meanwhile some people here have attempted to argue how Lotro is different. One mentioned a couple of features of which nearly all were present in WoW as well, while others argued things such as "Community", which is fine, but a community experience varies greatly depending on your own attitude, the people you run into and even which hours you play the game, and has very little to do with a games design, or its developers.

WoW does a few things different in Wrath of the Lich King, it now has more cinematics and phasing is introduced. thats about it. Ofcourse it added a lot of other things as well.

Ahh... I see you haven't kicked the habit of entering every discussion assuming you're right and any who disagree are misinformed or simply not as enlightened as you are.

Some things never change, huh?

The fact that it's your opinion is all that needs to be said.  That's all anyone has to express here.. opinions... including you, no matter how strongly you feel about it. Of course, your posting history demonstrates quite consistently your tendency to mistake or otherwise portray your own opinions as fact... only to backpedal as soon as someone calls you on it.

Regardless, your points here have no bearing on the actual topic.

Turbine won Best Studio from voters here. It's not based not on how LoTRO compares to WoW, but on  Turbine as a developer (regardless of what one might think of them), how they treat their subscribers and so forth.

You keep arguing "how LoTRO is a WoW clone", and seem to feel you're making a valid point. Problem is, you are putting up a strawman. The award and this thread are not about "game A versus game B versus game C", etc. It's about the studios behind the games - ie. Blizzard compared to Turbine, compared to CCP, etc.

Once again, you do not determine the criteria for the polls- that's the MMORPG.com staff's job. Nor do you get to change or ignore the criteria after the fact because you don't like the results.

By the way... Has the sugar helped the sour grapes any?

 Wow, quite the landslide...and you guys won best expansion?  Really?

Your stuff isn't that good, you must be paying your PR team and forum grunts a FORTUNE to keep voting for you.

Grats Turbine on a  job well done.

Those begrudging LOTRO it's moment in the sun calling it WOW lite are funny. Weren't these the same people denying WOW was EQ lite? (Which it still is)

Oh the Irony.....

Originally posted by WSIMike

Originally posted by Gameloading

Originally posted by Papadam

Originally posted by Gameloading

Originally posted by Paragus1

Originally posted by Gameloading

Can't say I really agree with it. Imho, Lotro has never really justified it's existance.  It's always been a WoW clone with very little improvements that doesn't really set itself apart. It's a "good, just not as good as..." game.

 

While I share your opinion of the game itself, Turbine launched the game relatively smooth.  My main issue with Turbine as a company is how they ruined Asheron's Call with a horrid sequel.   They should give AC1 some love, maybe make it free to play, promote it more, or give it some sort of graphical overhaul.

 

While Lotro did indeed have a smooth launch, that was in 2007, not 2008.

They haven't done anything really special in 2008 besides releasing a good expansion pack which is,sorry to repeat myself, "good,just not as good as..."

Also, I can't really say that Dungeons & Dragons Online received anything truly noteworthy.

I agree with you on AC1. AC1 is just sort of sitting there. It doesn't really have a lot of subscribers, it would be nice if Turbine was a bit more creative with the game. Make it free, perhaps an item mall, advertise it a little bit on banners and the game might just be revived again.

 

Well thats your personal opinion that LotrO is "good,just not as good as..."

There is people who dont agree and think that LotrO offers something unique in the MMO market and Turbine are doing a great job with it. 46% of the voters thinks that Turbine is best of thoose companies so it seem Im not alone.

And grats Turbine :)

 

 

It's not just my personal opinion, it's the opinion of many professional critics as well who are, unlike many voters on this website, not biased.

-hands Gameloading a bowl of sugar-

... for those sour grapes.

It's always easy to tell when something has you truly annoyed. The more annoyed you are by it, the higher on your horse you get.. and start making statements like "It's a fact" or, as you did here, pointing at all those others who agree with you.

Of course, all of those who don't agree with you never seem to matter.

Turbine has apparently done well enough to win over the majority of people here - by a substantial margin. It's not like this was "neck in neck" or anything. Those are some pretty sound results.

Maybe you just need to accept the outcome, disagree with it, and move on... like all the rest who didn't vote for Turbine or LoTRO?

That would be the reasonable thing to do.

Or you can keep chewing on the sour grapes.

 

 

 

 

Perhaps this hasn't really sunken in yet, in which case I'll explain it to you. If you look at the top end of the page, there is a link which you probably used to get here. It's called "forums", and Forums are usually used to discuss subjects, which is what I'm doing right now.

It really doesn't matter what the "results" are. The results of a user poll such as this one is a contest of which game has the most fanboys present. Do you honnestly believe that people vote for this from an unbiased perspective? Ofcourse not.I think it's obviously most people who play Lotro vote for MoM, people who play WoW vote for WotLK, and people who hate WoW simply because it's popular vote for the next best thing, which was probably Lotro as well.

Originally posted by WSIMike

Originally posted by Gameloading

Originally posted by Papadam

As I have said before Gameloading this is YOUR OPINION... There are alot of people in this thread who dont agree with you and some who do. You said that the critics agree with you but I havent seen any of them who says LotrO is just a WoW clone with no PvP and less content. If you dont see the differnces between the games then LotrO is not for you, just like some people cant see Aion as anything else than WoW with Korean graphics and wings. (see the Irony yet?)

The funny thing is that what I have read/heard about Wotlk is that they are making WoW more like LotrO: Adding achivements, More focus on the lore and story, Starting instnace for DK to tell story, making it more accesible and less grindy. So it seems that WoW is now the follower ;)

 

The "It's your opinion" argument isn't going to get you anywhere. A games design is not a matter of opinion, it is a fact. a game is quest driven or it's not. A game offers more content than the other or it does not.

I'm sure there are lots of people who think Aion is WoW with different graphics, and if you ask me the differences I will gladly explain to you how they are different (Not in this thread ofcourse, no reason to turn it into a thread about Aion). Meanwhile some people here have attempted to argue how Lotro is different. One mentioned a couple of features of which nearly all were present in WoW as well, while others argued things such as "Community", which is fine, but a community experience varies greatly depending on your own attitude, the people you run into and even which hours you play the game, and has very little to do with a games design, or its developers.

WoW does a few things different in Wrath of the Lich King, it now has more cinematics and phasing is introduced. thats about it. Ofcourse it added a lot of other things as well.

 

Ahh... I see you haven't kicked the habit of entering every discussion assuming you're right and any who disagree are misinformed or simply not as enlightened as you are.

Some things never change, huh?

The fact that it's your opinion is all that needs to be said.  That's all anyone has to express here.. opinions... including you, no matter how strongly you feel about it. Of course, your posting history demonstrates quite consistently your tendency to mistake or otherwise portray your own opinions as fact... only to backpedal as soon as someone calls you on it.

Regardless, your points here have no bearing on the actual topic.

Turbine won Best Studio from voters here. It's not based not on how LoTRO compares to WoW, but on  Turbine as a developer (regardless of what one might think of them), how they treat their subscribers and so forth.

You keep arguing "how LoTRO is a WoW clone", and seem to feel you're making a valid point. Problem is, you are putting up a strawman. The award and this thread are not about "game A versus game B versus game C", etc. It's about the studios behind the games - ie. Blizzard compared to Turbine, compared to CCP, etc.

Once again, you do not determine the criteria for the polls- that's the MMORPG.com staff's job. Nor do you get to change or ignore the criteria after the fact because you don't like the results.

By the way... Has the sugar helped the sour grapes any?

 

Some things are an undeniable fact. As I already explained, A game is quest driven or it is not, a game has more content than the other or it does not, a game is a racing game or it is not, a game is a FPS game or it is not. These are all undeniable facts and have absolutely nothing to do with opinion.
 

And I quote from the article one more time:

"It wasn't an easy decision. After all, by what criteria do you judge a game studio? On their product? On their Customer Service?"

As you can see MMORPG.com doesn't have a set definition either. I said multiple times that I think a company should be judged on the quality of its products.

Perhaps you should keep the sugar for yourself because you seem to be very worked up that i'm criticizing the mmorpg.com award results.

Originally posted by Gameloading

Originally posted by WSIMike

Originally posted by Gameloading

Originally posted by Papadam

As I have said before Gameloading this is YOUR OPINION... There are alot of people in this thread who dont agree with you and some who do. You said that the critics agree with you but I havent seen any of them who says LotrO is just a WoW clone with no PvP and less content. If you dont see the differnces between the games then LotrO is not for you, just like some people cant see Aion as anything else than WoW with Korean graphics and wings. (see the Irony yet?)

The funny thing is that what I have read/heard about Wotlk is that they are making WoW more like LotrO: Adding achivements, More focus on the lore and story, Starting instnace for DK to tell story, making it more accesible and less grindy. So it seems that WoW is now the follower ;)

 

The "It's your opinion" argument isn't going to get you anywhere. A games design is not a matter of opinion, it is a fact. a game is quest driven or it's not. A game offers more content than the other or it does not.

I'm sure there are lots of people who think Aion is WoW with different graphics, and if you ask me the differences I will gladly explain to you how they are different (Not in this thread ofcourse, no reason to turn it into a thread about Aion). Meanwhile some people here have attempted to argue how Lotro is different. One mentioned a couple of features of which nearly all were present in WoW as well, while others argued things such as "Community", which is fine, but a community experience varies greatly depending on your own attitude, the people you run into and even which hours you play the game, and has very little to do with a games design, or its developers.

WoW does a few things different in Wrath of the Lich King, it now has more cinematics and phasing is introduced. thats about it. Ofcourse it added a lot of other things as well.

 

Ahh... I see you haven't kicked the habit of entering every discussion assuming you're right and any who disagree are misinformed or simply not as enlightened as you are.

Some things never change, huh?

The fact that it's your opinion is all that needs to be said.  That's all anyone has to express here.. opinions... including you, no matter how strongly you feel about it. Of course, your posting history demonstrates quite consistently your tendency to mistake or otherwise portray your own opinions as fact... only to backpedal as soon as someone calls you on it.

Regardless, your points here have no bearing on the actual topic.

Turbine won Best Studio from voters here. It's not based not on how LoTRO compares to WoW, but on  Turbine as a developer (regardless of what one might think of them), how they treat their subscribers and so forth.

You keep arguing "how LoTRO is a WoW clone", and seem to feel you're making a valid point. Problem is, you are putting up a strawman. The award and this thread are not about "game A versus game B versus game C", etc. It's about the studios behind the games - ie. Blizzard compared to Turbine, compared to CCP, etc.

Once again, you do not determine the criteria for the polls- that's the MMORPG.com staff's job. Nor do you get to change or ignore the criteria after the fact because you don't like the results.

By the way... Has the sugar helped the sour grapes any?

 

Some things are an undeniable fact. As I already explained, A game is quest driven or it is not, a game has more content than the other or it does not, a game is a racing game or it is not, a game is a FPS game or it is not. These are all undeniable facts and have absolutely nothing to do with opinion.
 

And I quote from the article one more time:

"It wasn't an easy decision. After all, by what criteria do you judge a game studio? On their product? On their Customer Service?"

As you can see MMORPG.com doesn't have a set definition either. I said multiple times that I think a company should be judged on the quality of its products.

Perhaps you should keep the sugar for yourself because you seem to be very worked up that i'm criticizing the mmorpg.com award results.

Only one thing here...  A game can be more than one type.  It doesn't have to be either or.

they really deserve the call of best. well done

One Studio to rule them all!

Reasons to vote for them:

- decent and modest company neither yelling about its games nor attacking competition

- indy company

- running three good mmorpgs

- lifetime membership

- acquiring prestigious IPs and respecting them, adding a lot of their own innovative ideas in the process

- their gentle CEO Jeffrey autographed me an MoM poster in a game fair

- their regular developpers' bulletins explaining how they devise things

- their active forums with devs and responsible guys answering and chatting

- complete LOTRO game + expansion pack at a decent price on first day of the expansion

- not greedy like some other big fellows out there

Reasons no to vote for them:

- inconsistencies and unequal treatment of Turbine and Codemaster (Europe) subscribers (in-game goodies, websites, forums)

- feeble advertisement

- a pain in the ass to subscribe and an ugly unfriendly customer website (they improved it though)

- unfriendly patch and expansion processes (you simply can't figure out what's going on or what's to be done)

So all points considered : good company IMHO, voted for them.

WoW they won ? Then they should have atleast half of World of warcrafts players then about 5 million + accounts?

Originally posted by patrikd23

WoW they won ? Then they should have atleast half of World of warcrafts players then about 5 million + accounts?

Nope. That's not needed to win. WoW players not necessarily love Blizzard as MMO game studio. Even less love them, so they probably didn't even care to vote for Blizz.

And this shows how players love and rescepct Turbine, even while their games are little, ranging to much smaller. They actually cared to vote for them, and that's a huge thing.

If you want to express how you like something and vote, that means it matters to you. Seems like players of other MMO Studios didn't care much, even if they play their games now. And in great numbers. Players of Turbine - care and voted. This confirms why they won, and that's a well deserver award.

So once again, congratz Turbine!

Originally posted by Sarr

Originally posted by patrikd23

WoW they won ? Then they should have atleast half of World of warcrafts players then about 5 million + accounts?

 

Nope. That's not needed to win. WoW players not necessarily love Blizzard as MMO game studio. Even less love them, so they probably didn't even care to vote for Blizz.

And this shows how players love and rescepct Turbine, even while their games are little, ranging to much smaller. They actually cared to vote for them, and that's a huge thing.

If you want to express how you like something and vote, that means it matters to you. Seems like players of other MMO Studios didn't care much, even if they play their games now. And in great numbers. Players of Turbine - care and voted. This confirms why they won, and that's a well deserver award.

So once again, congratz Turbine!

It may also be saying that more Turbine players use this place than any other.  Or it may be that Turbine urges their players to go vote for them.  I know they have in the past.

Originally posted by Gameloading

Originally posted by WSIMike

Originally posted by Gameloading

Originally posted by Papadam

Originally posted by Gameloading

Originally posted by Paragus1

Originally posted by Gameloading

Can't say I really agree with it. Imho, Lotro has never really justified it's existance.  It's always been a WoW clone with very little improvements that doesn't really set itself apart. It's a "good, just not as good as..." game.

 

While I share your opinion of the game itself, Turbine launched the game relatively smooth.  My main issue with Turbine as a company is how they ruined Asheron's Call with a horrid sequel.   They should give AC1 some love, maybe make it free to play, promote it more, or give it some sort of graphical overhaul.

 

While Lotro did indeed have a smooth launch, that was in 2007, not 2008.

They haven't done anything really special in 2008 besides releasing a good expansion pack which is,sorry to repeat myself, "good,just not as good as..."

Also, I can't really say that Dungeons & Dragons Online received anything truly noteworthy.

I agree with you on AC1. AC1 is just sort of sitting there. It doesn't really have a lot of subscribers, it would be nice if Turbine was a bit more creative with the game. Make it free, perhaps an item mall, advertise it a little bit on banners and the game might just be revived again.

 

Well thats your personal opinion that LotrO is "good,just not as good as..."

There is people who dont agree and think that LotrO offers something unique in the MMO market and Turbine are doing a great job with it. 46% of the voters thinks that Turbine is best of thoose companies so it seem Im not alone.

And grats Turbine :)

 

 

It's not just my personal opinion, it's the opinion of many professional critics as well who are, unlike many voters on this website, not biased.

-hands Gameloading a bowl of sugar-

... for those sour grapes.

It's always easy to tell when something has you truly annoyed. The more annoyed you are by it, the higher on your horse you get.. and start making statements like "It's a fact" or, as you did here, pointing at all those others who agree with you.

Of course, all of those who don't agree with you never seem to matter.

Turbine has apparently done well enough to win over the majority of people here - by a substantial margin. It's not like this was "neck in neck" or anything. Those are some pretty sound results.

Maybe you just need to accept the outcome, disagree with it, and move on... like all the rest who didn't vote for Turbine or LoTRO?

That would be the reasonable thing to do.

Or you can keep chewing on the sour grapes.

 

 

 

 

 

Perhaps this hasn't really sunken in yet, in which case I'll explain it to you. If you look at the top end of the page, there is a link which you probably used to get here. It's called "forums", and Forums are usually used to discuss subjects, which is what I'm doing right now.

It really doesn't matter what the "results" are. The results of a user poll such as this one is a contest of which game has the most fanboys present. Do you honnestly believe that people vote for this from an unbiased perspective? Ofcourse not.I think it's obviously most people who play Lotro vote for MoM, people who play WoW vote for WotLK, and people who hate WoW simply because it's popular vote for the next best thing, which was probably Lotro as well.

Nope... guess the sugar didn't help. Oh well, I tried.

Win some, lose some. Kinda like polls.

Yes, I know this is a message forum.

I'm also aware that in a forum, there are threads dedicated to a specific topic.

I also know that in this particular thread, the topic is about the results of a poll which Turbine won and which you can't seem to cope with, so you're at your usual tactics of trying to discredit those who voted for it because it didn't turn out the way you think it should have. Sooo you come out with your "facts" and all your usual arrogant, dismissive, "I'm right" nonsense.

Your "fanboys" comment is a perfect example of your arrogant dismissal of anyone who doesn't agree with you. People can't simply disagree with you for their own reasons... No no. Those who disagree must be fanboys if they like something you don't.

Reviews are (ideally) objective. They are an overall rating based on (again, ideally) objective criteria; Not personal bias of the person reviewing it.
Polls, on the other hand, ask "out of the nominees, which do you personally think deserves the award?". They are, by their nature, very subjective.

Further, people are going to vote (ideally) based on what they've played. You wouldn't expect them to vote for something they haven't played, would you? If I haven't played Eve Online, why would I vote for it, or for CCP? I have no basis to do so.

So, of course they're going to vote for their personal favorite. On this site, it just so happens that there were more who favor LoTRO and/or Turbine than the others.

What do you expect? For people to vote for a game they don't like or haven't even played simply so they won't be called a "fanboy" by people like yourself when you disagree with the results?

That said, I'll entertain your "fanboy" comment...

Your opinion of those who cast their votes is irrelevant because even if it is all fanboys who voted... guess what? Turbine still won... which means of all the fanboys here who voted, Turbine had the most.

Either way, Turbine won this poll.

Need more sugar?

Originally posted by Ian_Hawkmoon

Originally posted by Sarr

Originally posted by patrikd23

WoW they won ? Then they should have atleast half of World of warcrafts players then about 5 million + accounts?

 

Nope. That's not needed to win. WoW players not necessarily love Blizzard as MMO game studio. Even less love them, so they probably didn't even care to vote for Blizz.

And this shows how players love and rescepct Turbine, even while their games are little, ranging to much smaller. They actually cared to vote for them, and that's a huge thing.

If you want to express how you like something and vote, that means it matters to you. Seems like players of other MMO Studios didn't care much, even if they play their games now. And in great numbers. Players of Turbine - care and voted. This confirms why they won, and that's a well deserver award.

So once again, congratz Turbine!

It may also be saying that more Turbine players use this place than any other.  Or it may be that Turbine urges their players to go vote for them.  I know they have in the past.

Sorry, but not this time. Maybe Turbine players visit this place more than other games players, but I doubt it. Just compare the number of posts in WoW, AoC and WAR forums with Turbine games. It wouldn't be so huge difference in %, even if you were right.

And Turbine didn't say a word about mmorpg.com, even now. They may even be unaware of this award, if noone told them. No mention on DDO forums.

Face it, these were real, normal votes. MMORPG isn't even the most LotrO, and especially, DDO-friendly site. DDO section is almost dead. unlike the one on TenTonHammer and Massively.com.

Originally posted by Sarr

Originally posted by Ian_Hawkmoon

Originally posted by Sarr

Originally posted by patrikd23

WoW they won ? Then they should have atleast half of World of warcrafts players then about 5 million + accounts?

 

Nope. That's not needed to win. WoW players not necessarily love Blizzard as MMO game studio. Even less love them, so they probably didn't even care to vote for Blizz.

And this shows how players love and rescepct Turbine, even while their games are little, ranging to much smaller. They actually cared to vote for them, and that's a huge thing.

If you want to express how you like something and vote, that means it matters to you. Seems like players of other MMO Studios didn't care much, even if they play their games now. And in great numbers. Players of Turbine - care and voted. This confirms why they won, and that's a well deserver award.

So once again, congratz Turbine!

It may also be saying that more Turbine players use this place than any other.  Or it may be that Turbine urges their players to go vote for them.  I know they have in the past.

 

Sorry, but not this time. Maybe Turbine players visit this place more than other games players, but I doubt it. Just compare the number of posts in WoW, AoC and WAR forums with Turbine games. It wouldn't be so huge difference in %, even if you were right.

And Turbine didn't say a word about mmorpg.com, even now. They may even be unaware of this award, if noone told them. No mention on DDO forums.

Face it, these were real, normal votes. MMORPG isn't even the most LotrO, and especially, DDO-friendly site. DDO section is almost dead. unlike the one on TenTonHammer and Massively.com.

Are you kidding me?  Go to lotro.com and they already have the MMORPG.com award up for the best expansion.  Don't think for a moment they don't pay attention to this site.

And you can't judge how many players of a game go to a site by how many posts there are in a forum.

Obviously more Turbine game players came to this site than any other.  And just to be devils advocate...  How do you know they were real, normal votes.   Could have been a lot of people using a lot of alt accounts.  :)

Hey, Turbine won, fair or not.  But they did not get my vote.  :)

Originally posted by Ian_Hawkmoon

Originally posted by Sarr

Originally posted by Ian_Hawkmoon

Originally posted by Sarr

Originally posted by patrikd23

WoW they won ? Then they should have atleast half of World of warcrafts players then about 5 million + accounts?

 

Nope. That's not needed to win. WoW players not necessarily love Blizzard as MMO game studio. Even less love them, so they probably didn't even care to vote for Blizz.

And this shows how players love and rescepct Turbine, even while their games are little, ranging to much smaller. They actually cared to vote for them, and that's a huge thing.

If you want to express how you like something and vote, that means it matters to you. Seems like players of other MMO Studios didn't care much, even if they play their games now. And in great numbers. Players of Turbine - care and voted. This confirms why they won, and that's a well deserver award.

So once again, congratz Turbine!

It may also be saying that more Turbine players use this place than any other.  Or it may be that Turbine urges their players to go vote for them.  I know they have in the past.

 

Sorry, but not this time. Maybe Turbine players visit this place more than other games players, but I doubt it. Just compare the number of posts in WoW, AoC and WAR forums with Turbine games. It wouldn't be so huge difference in %, even if you were right.

And Turbine didn't say a word about mmorpg.com, even now. They may even be unaware of this award, if noone told them. No mention on DDO forums.

Face it, these were real, normal votes. MMORPG isn't even the most LotrO, and especially, DDO-friendly site. DDO section is almost dead. unlike the one on TenTonHammer and Massively.com.

Are you kidding me?  Go to lotro.com and they already have the MMORPG.com award up for the best expansion.  Don't think for a moment they don't pay attention to this site.

 

And you can't judge how many players of a game go to a site by how many posts there are in a forum.

Obviously more Turbine game players came to this site than any other.  And just to be devils advocate...  How do you know they were real, normal votes.   Could have been a lot of people using a lot of alt accounts.  :)

 

Hey, Turbine won, fair or not.  But they did not get my vote.  :)

 

 

Because I'm not goin into conspiracy theories just to explain something I don't agree with .

Jon Wood:

After all, by what criteria do you judge a game studio? On their product? On their Customer Service?

Exactly why this award category is a very bad idea.

The impression we get of a MMO studio, may very well be based on how other companies handles their products. For example, Turbine doesn't handle LOTRO and the customer support in Europe, Codemasters do that. And GOA's way of handling WAR in Europe have given Mythic a worse reputation than they deserve.

(This may have been pointed out earlier by other posters - I didn't read through the thread, so I wouldn't know.)

Turbine won ok? Get over it! Congrats Turbine!

Originally posted by Kaiserjager

Originally posted by Gameloading

/removed due to length/
 

It's not just my personal opinion, it's the opinion of many professional critics as well who are, unlike many voters on this website, not biased.

 

How was that saying going again? A professional critic is a failed writer/designer/artist. Lacking the capability to work they earn living by dissecting the work of others.

And of course voters are biased, if they are not biased in favour of one party they wouldn't bother to vote. 

Overall it is a well earned title for Turbine as a studio.

Do not really care either way, just stumbled on this thread and read the above post, especially the highlighted part and I just want to say.

PWND!

Lets have nonbiased votes shall we?

Heheh.

Why isn't SOE among the nominees?

Yes, I know it would be a very could day in hell before they had the slightest chance to win on this site, and I'm not any fan of them either. But when CCP with their single game and what... 250k customers (not sure about the numbers, sorry) is on the list, then there's not one single reason why SOE shouldn't be. I'd be surprised if EQ2 alone doesn't have more subs than EVE.

I think there's something very fishy going on here...

Originally posted by Netspook

Why isn't SOE among the nominees?

Yes, I know it would be a very could day in hell before they had the slightest chance to win on this site, and I'm not any fan of them either. But when CCP with their single game and what... 250k customers (not sure about the numbers, sorry) is on the list, then there's not one single reason why SOE shouldn't be. I'd be surprised if EQ2 alone doesn't have more subs than EVE.

I think there's something very fishy going on here...

This award was given for the "Best MMO Studio of 2008".  Its not based on subscription numbers, its based on the performance of the studio. If you think SOE qualifies in that regard, you are a part of a select few.

Now, Congrats to Turbine. Having played all their games (at least in beta), I am quite proud of the little "engine" that could. After AC2 crashed and burned (This remains my favorite MMO of all time), I thought they were dead in the water. They have learned from their mistakes and have risen from the ashes. To those who complain about Lotro being a WoW clone, if you had played AC2 you would see that its a beefed up version of that game with features that are available in WoW. When I first played WoW, I thought it was very similar to AC2 with a lot more features.

Originally posted by Bastogne

Originally posted by Netspook

Why isn't SOE among the nominees?

Yes, I know it would be a very could day in hell before they had the slightest chance to win on this site, and I'm not any fan of them either. But when CCP with their single game and what... 250k customers (not sure about the numbers, sorry) is on the list, then there's not one single reason why SOE shouldn't be. I'd be surprised if EQ2 alone doesn't have more subs than EVE.

I think there's something very fishy going on here...

 

This award was given for the "Best MMO Studio of 2008".  Its not based on subscription numbers, its based on the performance of the studio. If you think SOE qualifies in that regard, you are a part of a select few.

Now, Congrats to Turbine. Having played all their games (at least in beta), I am quite proud of the little "engine" that could. After AC2 crashed and burned (This remains my favorite MMO of all time), I thought they were dead in the water. They have learned from their mistakes and have risen from the ashes. To those who complain about Lotro being a WoW clone, if you had played AC2 you would see that its a beefed up version of that game with features that are available in WoW. When I first played WoW, I thought it was very similar to AC2 with a lot more features.

I think you would be amazed with DDO now :). It has changes drastically from beta until now, and I think that certainly for good. I suggest you trying it, there's a trial for both EU and US versions. Great game.

Wow, I think Turbine let this award go to their heads. They give an error when trying to reactivate and their account support line is down for the count. Wont accept incoming calls.

Hmmm

Originally posted by Bastogne

Originally posted by Netspook

Why isn't SOE among the nominees?

Yes, I know it would be a very could day in hell before they had the slightest chance to win on this site, and I'm not any fan of them either. But when CCP with their single game and what... 250k customers (not sure about the numbers, sorry) is on the list, then there's not one single reason why SOE shouldn't be. I'd be surprised if EQ2 alone doesn't have more subs than EVE.

I think there's something very fishy going on here...

 

This award was given for the "Best MMO Studio of 2008".  Its not based on subscription numbers, its based on the performance of the studio. If you think SOE qualifies in that regard, you are a part of a select few.

<snip>

And what "performance" is that? Releases? Expansions? Patches? If so, SOE is way more qualified than CCP. Or, server stability, customer service, etc - does that make Funcom more qualified?

No, I didn't try to support SOE in any way, but when we're not allowed to vote on one of the largest MMO studios in the western world, then there is something very wrong here.

Mmorpg.com left out one of the largest, most known mmorpg companies. When they do that, and not even explaining why, then this award is a joke. You may not like SOE (I don't), but that's not the issue here, the issue is that mmorpg.com already from the start decided that SOE didn't deserve a single vote. Which makes the whole award a joke.

The result would probably have been exactly the same, give or take a few votes here and there. Everyone knows SOE wouldn't have a chance here, but we know the same about Funcom, and they're on the list.

Originally posted by Bastogne

Wow, I think Turbine let this award go to their heads. They give an error when trying to reactivate and their account support line is down for the count. Wont accept incoming calls.

 

Hmmm

There's maintenance now.

I don't have much experience with Turbine, but I have had some negative impressions of CCP and Blizzard.

CCP's EvE-O has the "ghost training" and starbase exploit fiascos, about which you can find plenty of info on their forums.  Also, their recent "speed rebalancing".  In a game where it takes time, and lots of it, to train skills in a semi-linear path of ships/weapon/armor styles, having nearly every aspect of speed and propulsion related modules drastically changed has an effect on a large number of players, and is felt even moreso by veterans of EVE who may have found that their favorite ship setups were suddenly nerfed significantly, rendering their trained skills and time less valuable.

As for Blizzard's WoW, it feels like they give in to the game population too easily.  Classes are being nerfed/buffed/rebalanced on an almost regular basis, classes are poorly separated (everyone can heal, nuke, debuff, etc.), and leveling has been severely nerfed so that even casual players can hit high levels in a couple months.

These are just my opinions, of course.