Regarding Roma Victor. It does seem to be a very complex and open ended MMOG but the graphics are way, WAY too outdated. It looks worse than AC 1 and how many years old is that?
If they would upgrade their gfx engine to a even an old one as the Unreal engine then we can start talking but as of now there is no way to convince people to play such an ugly game, no matter how many features it has.
And regarding LOTR. Come on, can anyone honestly tell me it takes any significant amount of mental effort to play that game? It IS MMOG for dummies. Please give me one example where the game would require the intelligence of an average intelligent adult. It is so linear that a 5 year old would in fact be able to play it and be rather succesful at it.
This doesnt neccesary mean that it is a bad game, I would say 75% of the games released today doesnt require much intelligence to play, but to say that LOTR is an advanced MMOG is a joke. A bad one.
That's utter bull, you have no idea what you are talking about. The RV graphics are more life-like than any I have ever seen in an MMO. Probably the reason you don't like them is because they are life-like and you are into anime and cartoon-like graphics.
Here are some other ignorant people that were claiming the same sort of things, why don't you join them:
I have never played roma victor but the screenshots, every screenshot i see of that game looks abysmal and that is putting it very gently. I don't see how you can even compare those graphics with lotro, as lotro has realistic and beautiful graphics that can easily compete with even oblivion while the screenshots of RV come closest to second life, if you have to compare it to anything.
Regardless, LOTRO is anything but anime/cartoony in my opinion. WoW and even EQ2 are anime/cartoony, the environment in LOTRO looks realistic.
And regarding LOTR. Come on, can anyone honestly tell me it takes any significant amount of mental effort to play that game? It IS MMOG for dummies. Please give me one example where the game would require the intelligence of an average intelligent adult. It is so linear that a 5 year old would in fact be able to play it and be rather succesful at it.
This doesnt neccesary mean that it is a bad game, I would say 75% of the games released today doesnt require much intelligence to play, but to say that LOTR is an advanced MMOG is a joke. A bad one.
You've just described EVERY game in the MMO genre. Linear or not, they all require the same thing.. a computer, the game, your fingers and time.
So LOTRO has less buttons to push and you can finish a quest rather quickly. These so called "hardcore" games just have more buttons and it takes a longer time (sometimes extreme) in order to finish a quest... not more intelligence.
We've all seen these "3rd" generation and advanced MMO's... the only thing they promise is a timesink, a top end computer to run the graphics and a credit card to beta test the bugs.
_________________________________ JonMichael
Currently: AION, an MMO Beta under NDA Played: WAR, LOTRO, Hellgate: London, CoX, GW, SotNW, DAOC, EQ2, SWG, WoW, AO, Horizons, Second Life, There, TSO Beta'd: There, Second Life, EQ2, DAOC:LotM, LOTRO, Tabula Rasa, Gods and Heroes, Hellgate: London, Requiem:Bloodymare, AoC, WAR, DDO, Fallen Earth
"It's a leveling game where the most powerful characters are not necessarily the best skilled or strategic players, but the ones that have completed the most quests and leveled up the highest. Combat involves standing near something and merely clicking on buttons and items until it's dead."
In PVE yes, they may think they are the most powerful, but in PVP they have to prove their skills, even if PVP in lotro is limited in one area. Combat In real life also involves standing near something and "clicking" something until it's dead, many times without any kind of strategy at all.
I would not expect from You to reach lvl 50 several times like the "masochists" that come here and post how "common" and "linear" the game is after reaching lvl 50 many times, but at least you should try the game as an online game and not as a quest grinder as many people know to do only.
As for the ultimate mmos "of the past" like ultima and SWG, Ultima now has feluca and trammel since "hardcore" mmo players could not stand losing and SWG was shut down for reasons that nobody really knows (we blamed SOE, SOE blamed us), so now it is as competitive to them as any other "linear " mmo is.
It is very easy for someone to go and troll everywhere about any online game and say that it has no interaction between players, but interactions are a matter of personal choice and playstyle and not limited by any mmo that has a simple chat and grouping system. And You as a veteran mmo player should know that very well.
As for the kids and masses that will play and play Lotro, i must inform you that many people in the late 40's enjoy the game and they have no problem at all sharing their experience and spare time with much younger people. We are all equal in MMOS, despite of any difference in age, culture and gaming experience. The only difference between kids and grown ups is the price of their toys.
I am an MMO vet to be sure. Started back with MUDs then EQ and M59, and about every major mmo (and many minor) release since then. LOTRO is a polished and satisfying PVE style game with a great back story. Lots of role playing opportunities present themselves such as the Summer Festivals going on right now. It may seem silly but it is fun to complete a set of fair ground quests to learn to dance like a hobbit.
Well, PVP players and power levelers probably won't find it to their liking just as pure PVP type games are not to mine. I started LOTRO in beta 1, stayed through beta 2 and am still enjoying the game a great deal. I am in a very active kinship and find great fellowships and people to group with everytime I am on.
To each their own. I do not think that LOTRO is going to even remotely touch the base of WOW but that is fine. I think it will have a strong base of new entry players and vets and will continue to grow.
...interactions are a matter of personal choice and playstyle...
And, a multiplayer game design can either encourage interaction, discourage it, or make it completely unecessary. The best feature multiplayer games have over single player games is the player interaction. As such, it should be the number one priority.
Comments
No offense, but I had to stop reading after that.
I jus wanna know where the hell muh hi-res textures is, dammit?!
If they would upgrade their gfx engine to a even an old one as the Unreal engine then we can start talking but as of now there is no way to convince people to play such an ugly game, no matter how many features it has.
And regarding LOTR. Come on, can anyone honestly tell me it takes any significant amount of mental effort to play that game? It IS MMOG for dummies. Please give me one example where the game would require the intelligence of an average intelligent adult. It is so linear that a 5 year old would in fact be able to play it and be rather succesful at it.
This doesnt neccesary mean that it is a bad game, I would say 75% of the games released today doesnt require much intelligence to play, but to say that LOTR is an advanced MMOG is a joke. A bad one.
My gaming blog
That's utter bull, you have no idea what you are talking about. The RV graphics are more life-like than any I have ever seen in an MMO. Probably the reason you don't like them is because they are life-like and you are into anime and cartoon-like graphics.
Here are some other ignorant people that were claiming the same sort of things, why don't you join them:
http://mmorpg.com/discussion2.cfm/thread/95734/page/2
Anyway, this is a thread about LoTRO, are you lost?
I have never played roma victor but the screenshots, every screenshot i see of that game looks abysmal and that is putting it very gently. I don't see how you can even compare those graphics with lotro, as lotro has realistic and beautiful graphics that can easily compete with even oblivion while the screenshots of RV come closest to second life, if you have to compare it to anything.
Regardless, LOTRO is anything but anime/cartoony in my opinion. WoW and even EQ2 are anime/cartoony, the environment in LOTRO looks realistic.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLjm5qpw8fw
yeah super realistic.
You've just described EVERY game in the MMO genre. Linear or not, they all require the same thing.. a computer, the game, your fingers and time.
So LOTRO has less buttons to push and you can finish a quest rather quickly. These so called "hardcore" games just have more buttons and it takes a longer time (sometimes extreme) in order to finish a quest... not more intelligence.
We've all seen these "3rd" generation and advanced MMO's... the only thing they promise is a timesink, a top end computer to run the graphics and a credit card to beta test the bugs.
_________________________________
JonMichael
Currently: AION, an MMO Beta under NDA
Played: WAR, LOTRO, Hellgate: London, CoX, GW, SotNW, DAOC, EQ2, SWG, WoW, AO, Horizons, Second Life, There, TSO
Beta'd: There, Second Life, EQ2, DAOC:LotM, LOTRO, Tabula Rasa, Gods and Heroes, Hellgate: London, Requiem:Bloodymare, AoC, WAR, DDO, Fallen Earth
"It's a leveling game where the most powerful characters are not necessarily the best skilled or strategic players, but the ones that have completed the most quests and leveled up the highest. Combat involves standing near something and merely clicking on buttons and items until it's dead."
In PVE yes, they may think they are the most powerful, but in PVP they have to prove their skills, even if PVP in lotro is limited in one area. Combat In real life also involves standing near something and "clicking" something until it's dead, many times without any kind of strategy at all.
I would not expect from You to reach lvl 50 several times like the "masochists" that come here and post how "common" and "linear" the game is after reaching lvl 50 many times, but at least you should try the game as an online game and not as a quest grinder as many people know to do only.
As for the ultimate mmos "of the past" like ultima and SWG, Ultima now has feluca and trammel since "hardcore" mmo players could not stand losing and SWG was shut down for reasons that nobody really knows (we blamed SOE, SOE blamed us), so now it is as competitive to them as any other "linear " mmo is.
It is very easy for someone to go and troll everywhere about any online game and say that it has no interaction between players, but interactions are a matter of personal choice and playstyle and not limited by any mmo that has a simple chat and grouping system. And You as a veteran mmo player should know that very well.
As for the kids and masses that will play and play Lotro, i must inform you that many people in the late 40's enjoy the game and they have no problem at all sharing their experience and spare time with much younger people. We are all equal in MMOS, despite of any difference in age, culture and gaming experience. The only difference between kids and grown ups is the price of their toys.
Thank you for not playing Lotro!
ps/ im speaking about Bored of the Rings Online
I am an MMO vet to be sure. Started back with MUDs then EQ and M59, and about every major mmo (and many minor) release since then. LOTRO is a polished and satisfying PVE style game with a great back story. Lots of role playing opportunities present themselves such as the Summer Festivals going on right now. It may seem silly but it is fun to complete a set of fair ground quests to learn to dance like a hobbit.
Well, PVP players and power levelers probably won't find it to their liking just as pure PVP type games are not to mine. I started LOTRO in beta 1, stayed through beta 2 and am still enjoying the game a great deal. I am in a very active kinship and find great fellowships and people to group with everytime I am on.
To each their own. I do not think that LOTRO is going to even remotely touch the base of WOW but that is fine. I think it will have a strong base of new entry players and vets and will continue to grow.
And, a multiplayer game design can either encourage interaction, discourage it, or make it completely unecessary. The best feature multiplayer games have over single player games is the player interaction. As such, it should be the number one priority.