A useful point to not forget in all of this is that SOE probably had to buy Vanguard when Microsoft walked - if they didn't the Blizzard could have. Vanguard was a direct competitor to EQ2; just imagine if Blizzard had bought it pre-release and said "nice, flying mounts and more involved crafting, let's make this a step-up game from WoW, push release back 1 year and rock this!". Ah, that would have been nice.
So if SOE didn't buy in then they could have disappeared entirely over the next few years. Actually, unless they actually do make Vanguard into a great game then leave it alone they probably will disappear; Blizzard has way higher design and implementation capabilities and the "free-games" are getting better and better all the time to chew away the niche market that many of SOE's games rely on, and everyone knows Microsoft et al want in on this market...
Based on what has gone before,
- would I buy UO 2 if EA/Mythic made it? Sure, UO was great, worth a try at least;
- would I buy another SOE game? No way, even if it's good it won't last;
- would I buy a new Blizzard MMORPG? Absolutely, love it or hate is WoW has well, the wow factor (even if it is prone to being boring in the long term).
Actually, it's nearly time to admit that the "modern" games have simply lost it a bit and go for Kingdom Reborn until something really good comes along.
A useful point to not forget in all of this is that SOE probably had to buy Vanguard when Microsoft walked - if they didn't the Blizzard could have. Vanguard was a direct competitor to EQ2; just imagine if Blizzard had bought it pre-release and said "nice, flying mounts and more involved crafting, let's make this a step-up game from WoW, push release back 1 year and rock this!". Ah, that would have been nice.
So if SOE didn't buy in then they could have disappeared entirely over the next few years. Actually, unless they actually do make Vanguard into a great game then leave it alone they probably will disappear; Blizzard has way higher design and implementation capabilities and the "free-games" are getting better and better all the time to chew away the niche market that many of SOE's games rely on, and everyone knows Microsoft et al want in on this market...
Based on what has gone before,
- would I buy UO 2 if EA/Mythic made it? Sure, UO was great, worth a try at least;
- would I buy another SOE game? No way, even if it's good it won't last;
- would I buy a new Blizzard MMORPG? Absolutely, love it or hate is WoW has well, the wow factor (even if it is prone to being boring in the long term).
Actually, it's nearly time to admit that the "modern" games have simply lost it a bit and go for Kingdom Reborn until something really good comes along.
Flute.
Speaking of that and I know, I know its off topic, isn't WoW supposed to announce their next offering on the 19th of May or sometime around there? I think thats what I read someplace. A lot of people are speculating, its either going to be an MMO based on the Diablo universe and will be made with more realistic looking graphics, similar to the realistic look in EQ II OR that its going to be an MMO based on the Starcraft universe, with dog fights in space, futuristic looking armors and themes and build on the star craft games. Either way, I say either one would be great idea. Oh man, can you see SoE's faces if they decide to make one on Diablo Universe and make it realistic looking? Thats gonna cut into Vanguard AND EQ II if they do lol. Ok, please go back to your usual posting (please don't flame, I was just saying what I have heard, because I was reminded by Flute's comments about Blizzard)
Comments
So if SOE didn't buy in then they could have disappeared entirely over the next few years. Actually, unless they actually do make Vanguard into a great game then leave it alone they probably will disappear; Blizzard has way higher design and implementation capabilities and the "free-games" are getting better and better all the time to chew away the niche market that many of SOE's games rely on, and everyone knows Microsoft et al want in on this market...
Based on what has gone before,
- would I buy UO 2 if EA/Mythic made it? Sure, UO was great, worth a try at least;
- would I buy another SOE game? No way, even if it's good it won't last;
- would I buy a new Blizzard MMORPG? Absolutely, love it or hate is WoW has well, the wow factor (even if it is prone to being boring in the long term).
Actually, it's nearly time to admit that the "modern" games have simply lost it a bit and go for Kingdom Reborn until something really good comes along.
Flute.
ROFL!
Fucking Prawned