The Big DOGS of MMO... who is next?!?!

franksalbe

The list below represent some of next big players they are either big them selves or working on some pretty hefty IP's. (the list is based more on US popularity then Global)

Please make a selection and state why...

cyanhide

DUDE plz change that title quick or ur gonna get one big flame lol mythic u have realy no idea lol that is the biggest game company for me that is ,they where one of the first who made mmorpg's lol so plz get mythic out of there ,its the best company ever ,accept now they merged with EA or something btw DOAC wa before the know hype of WOW

Unknown

Add WEBZEN, they are very big overseas, and they could be getting more popularity here with Huxley and SUN.

franksalbe

I choose Bioware. Although their product is unkown interms of MMO. These guys have a track record that is just at good as Blizzard. Bioware has KOTOR, Baulder's Gate, Jade, and the ever popular NWN I am not even going to throw in BioShock which looks like it's going to be a killer hit... I mean is there really any Doubt about the skillz of Biowares creative and developers team.

They got Hero's Engine. Which I personally like based on what I read. The engine is designed not by a graphic intensive company like the Unreal engines. But by a Simultronic All they do is MMOs. They are one who are still making money of their original Muds. Nobody keeps playing a Mud unless the game truly has some awesome content and features.!!

I do apologize for sounding like a Fanboi for Bioware but they have not disappointed me yet in the titles I have played which are KOTOR and the  BAULDER GATE SERIES.

Paragus1

Mythic and Funcom are the only 2 on that list in my opinion that have
released MMO's that are still played by a good amount of people to this
day.   I think to be considered one of the "Big dogs"  it
would require the company to become more then a 1 hit wonder. 


Turbine is what I call a one hit wonder.  They had what I think
was one of the most innovative games which was years ahead of its time,
Asherons Call 1.   Behind those outdated graphics was a seemless
world which was magnificent, a character developement system that was
amazing, and randomized loot making it exciting to hunt.  The rest
of their games have been a series of fumbles, some of them
catastrophic.   Asherons Call 2 only needed to be AC1 in a
slightly differnt world with better graphics, and they botched
it.  D&D Online another game in the eyesof many is a total
disgrace to Dungeon and Dragons, and LoTR could quite possible be
another atrtempt to capitalize on the successful name of a franchise
that will turn wrong.

All this being said, I went with
Funcom.  Mythic being bought by EA has worried me a bit as EA has
been turning out lower quality games lately.  Funcom also has AO
which is probably the only successful Sci-Fi MMO, which in many ways
was innovative way ahead of its time, and hopefully will do the same
with Age of Conan.  Mythics WAR may very well be another sandbox
Fantasy game.  Not that that's a bad thing, if they can do right
what WoW did wrong in regards to PvP and end game.   Since
AoC is due to release before WAR, I'll stand by Funcom, although I hope
BOTH games do well.  I attribute WoWs success to a major factor
being a lack of viable alternatives in the genre currently, 2006 being
a horrid year for MMOs.  I personally think Blizzard has lost its
way, but they have introdiced a massive new load of people to this
genre.  More good alternatives is a win for everyone as it keeps
companies like Blizzard from resting on its laurels and making what
some consider to be a lazy expansion.

franksalbe

I changed the Title. Thanks for that i forgot where i am posting. As for Mythic. Yes your right they are one of the Originals. But with this whole merger with EA. Although they say that nothing has changed. I am sorry to say but my coporate experience in mergers state otherwise. More times then not you will eventually see change happen. It wont be immediately noticable but it does happen so EA MYTHIC gets placed back into the miX

 

For the Person how said Webzen. I debated that for a bit and at the end they just didnt cut the mustard. They have not made enough waves in the US to warrant the possible success factor here not overseas.

Awakened

Bioware was the only one of those companies smart enough to buy into hardware too, I persoanlly think (no factual data to back this up) they're going to try to break into the console market in about 5 years.  They'll probably put a MMORPG out before then though I would think, and it should be pretty good based on their track record.

I disagree with the above poster.  Due to nature of MMORPGs, you really only need one major seller to be one of the top dogs in this industry.  Again, just an opinion.

Gameloading

none of those. I put my money on NCsoft and Aion.

franksalbe

This genre is pretty much based right now running on 1 hit wonders. Remember this industry is still young.

Funco did do AO but they got thrown into the pot by pulling the 9 dragons stunt. Its not new but it sure takes balls. I think we can all agree that they are placing a pretty high bet on this 9 dragons.

Aelfinn

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Originally posted by franksalbe

This genre is pretty much based right now running on 1 hit wonders. Remember this industry is still young.
Funco did do AO but they got thrown into the pot by pulling the 9 dragons stunt. Its not new but it sure takes balls. I think we can all agree that they are placing a pretty high bet on this 9 dragons.

---

Um, what does Funcom have to do with 9 Dragons? FC is making Age of Conan and the World Online.

My bets on FC, they've got the best customer service around, are packing a heck of a lot of damn interesting features, and have a well known trademark name to attract fans.

GreenChaos

Flagship Studios

Anofalye

BioWare!!!

 

Any other game is a PH until the game is released.

curahee

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Originally posted by Gameloading
none of those. I put my money on NCsoft and Aion.

---

 I live in Korea and I think Aion is being too overrated in other cultural regions. Aion will probably turn

up to be a decent game but I can't imagine it becoming the next killer mmorpg. It's gameplay is

too much arcade oriented (maybe even more than WOW) and like most Korean games it would

lack in diversity of it's contents

mithrandir72

Bioware FTW!

With any luck, we'll get a Kotor/Star Wars Themed MMO. But even if we don't, it will be great, no matter what. So far, Bioware has yet to fail me in any way.

Unknown

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Originally posted by mithrandir72
Bioware FTW! With any luck, we'll get a Kotor/Star Wars Themed MMO. But even if we don't, it will be great, no matter what. So far, Bioware has yet to fail me in any way.

---

I'll go with the grey pilgrim here, I'd bet on Bioware if I had to bet.

Cik_Asalin

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Originally posted by franksalbe
I
choose Bioware. Although their product is unkown interms of MMO. These
guys have a track record that is just at good as Blizzard. Bioware has
KOTOR, Baulder's Gate, Jade, and the ever popular NWN I am not even
going to throw in BioShock which looks like it's going to be a killer
hit... I mean is there really any Doubt about the skillz of Biowares
creative and developers team. They got Hero's Engine. Which I
personally like based on what I read. The engine is designed not by a
graphic intensive company like the Unreal engines. But by a Simultronic
All they do is MMOs. They are one who are still making money of their
original Muds. Nobody keeps playing a Mud unless the game truly has
some awesome content and features.!! I do apologize for
sounding like a Fanboi for Bioware but they have not disappointed me
yet in the titles I have played which are KOTOR and the  BAULDER
GATE SERIES.

---

Agreed...I'd be very very interested in a Bioware product.

myrrdinirl

I say EA Mythic, Bioware just doesn't have the muscle that EA Mythic does (WAR) and they haven't proven themselves in the mmo arena yet. I see Funcom is tied with both EA Mythic and Bioware and I completely disagree with that. Although AO was a decent MMO it wasn't as good as DAOC was. I expect WAR to be in Wow's current position after release and Age of Conan in a position similar to where Everquest/EQ2 is now.

Infliction

I've still got high hopes for WAR, even if EA is now creating it. I'll be playing this game for sure, unless EA decides to throw spyware in the package. If they do, I'll keep my $15 a month. Same reason I won't be purchasing BF2142.

Gorukha

  Are people counting those crappy Mythic games pre -DaoC as good or something. DaoC is not one of the first mmorpgs, I have no idea what some of you folks are talking bout.

Precusor

Funcom and Mythic.

Zorvan

Funcom.

Gorukha

  Mythic will have a respectable hit with WAR first.  I would say Bioware eventually will come out with a huge seller.
I dont see Age of Conan as being as huge as WoW.  I think it will be a 200k-500k subscriber tops. 

franksalbe

Sorry about the Funco 9 dragon reference earlier that was a typo

 

CleffyII

Not one of those companies surpasses 20 million a year from mmo based revenue.  I would hardly call them the Big Dogs.  More like the poodles of mmo.  Blizzard, NCSoft, Webzen, Gravity, Wemade, HanbitSoft.  Those are the real big dogs with revenue above 40 million a year from mmo based revenue.

Archon2021

Im saying EA Mythic, although EA has screwed up games in the past they are a big company and forming with mythic, they will have the budget they need to complete excellent games like WAR.  I have a feeling they are going to be the next biggest thing.

Wizardry

I believe VANGUARD should and will be the best out there however,there are factors that can deter this.Does the game's setup really favour botters ?if this is so then there will be thousands of RMT farming in the game there by allowing tons of NEWB type gamers the ability to BUY from RMT,in turn making for a game that seems over populated because it's good.If the game doesn't favour botting then thousands of accounts from RMT will not be present,wich also equates to lazy players quitting after there initial subscription fee.This will leave the game not so overly populated and in turn have clueless type players hitting forums talking about how WOW has 20x more subscriptions and this game or that game has more subscriptions,all just a bunch of clueless peeps shouting out.

I will try this game myself for at least a month,but unlike alot of haphazard players walking around with no clue,i WILL be able to spot cheats and botters alike.If i see this game has no control over its economy or botters ,then i will be gone faster than the next months subscription can clue in.

This game really has some great potential,and i hope its a heavily populated game for all the RIGHT reasons,not because its easy to bot or buy game currency from RMT's.The MMO industry would take a huge turn for the better if SIGIL does an above average job of policing it's game.If you look at the millions of dollars that are traded from RMT's to gamers then its obvious alot of people out there don't want a new game that is all about fairness,they want something that gives them an edge over everyone else,too bad for there egos,myself and probably 50% of the rest want a good game that isnt broken by second mnth of operations.

crossing my fingers for SIGIL,otherwise i hope the game rots in purgatory ..hmm lol ..i sound angry