I actually imagine a guild of ashaman linking together to defeat a dungeon boss, or a seanchan deathguard flying on a raken, or a sea mistress ready to set sail. There is no limit to imagination.
Sounds fantastic to me. Would be nice if the old blizzard north team would develop this.
There's a bunch of books that are very popular that many people would like to see turned into an MMORPG. Just look up Hugo or Nebula award winners.
However, IMO, an MMORPG isn't a great place for a story or the characters from a book. It's more about setting and game mechanics. Do I want to read a story in an MMORPG written by the author fo the Wheel of Time series? Absolutely not, especially with a bunch of other players, and especially if I'm trying to make a few levels or get some loot. If I want to read a good story, I'll sit down with the books, thank you very much.
The better course of action is to start from scratch, like EQ or DAoC, or use and existing game IP like WoW. Matrix, LoTRO, Star Wars Galaxies, etc., dont' make for superior MMORPGs even when they come from surperior IP's.
I don't think it really matters where the IP is coming from, whether it's original or from a book. The gameplay makes or breaks the game, not the story or an mmo made from scratch.
I agree. It's not the story so much as the gameplay. What do players complain about in most posts? It's usually doesn't have anything to do with the lore of the game, the stories of teh quests, the background of the NPC characters in the MMORPG, etc. It's always loot, xp, combat, skills, classes, levels, raiding, PvP or PvE, static quests vs. dynamic quests, instancing vs no instancing, races, customization of characters, economy, crafting, housing, and so on. Get those things right, and you can make up any story or setting you want.
That might be the problem with making WOT into a MMO. It might possibly be too big? There are so many different classes that there is no way to include them all and when people find out the class they wanted to play wont be added, they get all pissy. Id love to see it made but i dunno if its going to ever be done.
Too many classes? I would have to disagree. Look at how many classes DAOC has.
Variety is a good thing. And having the IP availible to create many classes provides you with the opportunity to release expansion packs with new classes. IMO things like this keep a game viable and healthy, if done right. For example: Kunark and Velious expansions for EQ.
Existing IP rarely will make for a good MMO. MMOs are essentially games without an ending, novels on the other had have a beginning, a middle and most importantly an end. I don't think you can turn a novel (or series) into a MMO without compromising the novel or the game. I love the Tolkien novels and have read them multiple times, but what makes for good reading for me, did not translate into a good game. I don't like LOTRO; it's a solid game, but I just don't enjoy playing it.
As for the Wheel of Time; the world is very fleshed out, but whoever was editing these books should be shot. There was no reason their had to be so many books, I lost interest after book four.
Actually a few years ago a company did start a Wheel of Time MMO. I'm kinda surprised none of you had heard about this.
It was going to be called Wheel of Time: Ta'veren and they had a website with concept art, forums, developers, everything. The game was actually looking to be quite promising.
I can just see a bunch of you sitting there aghast with your mouths open, "What happened?" you may ask. Well see they made this great site, worked up a bunch of buzz, did some great concept art of Aiel, etc. and all of it was to put together in a package to send Robert Jordan. Seeing as he's got the sole rights to the IP he's got the final say on whether a WoT MMO gets made.
For whatever reason (no reason was given) he must have said no. Not long after they announced that they had sent the information package to Robert Jordan, the Wheel of Time: Ta'veren MMO site went down, forums closed, and the project just sorta disappeared. It's kinda sad because it was a very ambitious project, they were talking about allowing people to play Ogier, trying to figure out a system for traveling The Ways (i think it's called), and how they could do the system of magic.
But who knows, maybe some day Robert Jordan will change his mind. It would certainly be an interesting game world to play in.
Then again, do we really need ANOTHER fantasy MMO?
"Because it's easier to nitpick something than to be constructive." -roach5000
Existing IP rarely will make for a good MMO. MMOs are essentially games without an ending, novels on the other had have a beginning, a middle and most importantly an end. I don't think you can turn a novel (or series) into a MMO without compromising the novel or the game. I love the Tolkien novels and have read them multiple times, but what makes for good reading for me, did not translate into a good game. I don't like LOTRO; it's a solid game, but I just don't enjoy playing it.
As for the Wheel of Time; the world is very fleshed out, but whoever was editing these books should be shot. There was no reason their had to be so many books, I lost interest after book four.
Hehe, although in part you are right, it could turn out good then :P Tolkien did a master piece of a novel and the game did not reach up to its standards. My gut feeling is that the gane has too much to compete with. It has to compete with the novel, the movies, the RTS games, other MMOs such as WOW and most of all fans expectations. I guess the latter was indeed turned down by moving away from the original classes. Jeez I really wanted to be a ranger! WOT has a fan base and a good foundation for a game to be set up. SO if things are planned in the right way and for once gamers are actually listened to, it would be a new high fantasy MMO with new scenarios and ideas. It could actually be great however agian - WISHFUL THINKING
To wannabe or not to wannabe? Hey I know the answer and it is not 42!
If the Wheel of Time first-person-shooter had great sales then perhaps you would have seen some movement on an mmorpg project. I own the game and actually it is quite fun (and it was reviewed positively) but it didn't really take the gaming world by storm.
This makes me concerned about the upcoming Shadowrun shooter for the same reasoning. Although with the way Microsoft is pushing Shadowrun/Vista/Live connectivity it should do well.
RJ did not die! What the heck are you talking about?????
He has a blog that he posts on at this website:
dragonmount.com
He has a rare blood disease but he is getting treated and he isn't dead! Good lord.
Sorry, got him mixed up with Gemell who died shortly after Jordon was diagnosed with that disease.
Jordon's blood disease is terminal though and his life expectancy is not more than 5 years. I doubt he'll be spending that time writing when he could be enjoying what remains with his family.
If the Wheel of Time first-person-shooter had great sales then perhaps you would have seen some movement on an mmorpg project. I own the game and actually it is quite fun (and it was reviewed positively) but it didn't really take the gaming world by storm. This makes me concerned about the upcoming Shadowrun shooter for the same reasoning. Although with the way Microsoft is pushing Shadowrun/Vista/Live connectivity it should do well.
Blurr, if it offers new stuff and what I want YES I NEED ANOTHER FANTASY MMO. One which is not another clone of what we already have. It is such a pity that all this money making and cloning has put a stop to originality in Fantasy MMOs where as the name itself implies without creativity you are only kiilling the genre and making people look at other stuff.
To wannabe or not to wannabe? Hey I know the answer and it is not 42!
If they had been able to do the magick system justice, allow asha'man and aeis sedae, and finally include the ways-even corrupted as they were (that could be great on its own, finding your way through, and avoiding machin shin), I think a wot mmorpg would be awesome.
For those of you wondering how a world such a Wheel of Time, where the wielders of the novel's form of magic (the "One Power" and "True Source" for males and females) completely dominate the landscape, could possible succeed as a balanced MMO, you obviously have not tried any of the dozens of MUDs based on the WoT IP. While there are many different implementations and game systems across the various MUDs, some of the custom work to include a combination of the weaves and combat styles have gone a long way towards keeping the game balanced.
Obviously there are many differences between a mud and a MMO (namely, a graphical engine and the desire to have a semi-real-time environment). However, some of the facets that could make a WoT MMO amazing:
The Magic System: The "magic" of WoT uses five "flows": Earth, Air, Water, Fire, Spirit. The user's ability with each of these components influences how effective they are, and what "weaves" (think spells) they can use. By giving players a finite number of available points to place into all five categories, it would allow them to either specialize or generalize their characters abilities. Many of the weaves described in WoT would translate into everything from amazing effects to subtle mind-control.
The combat system - Styles: WoT describes a series of named motions, which would translate amazingly into styles as used in DAOC. The motions are well documented from the books, and would make combat both entertaining and engaging.
Classes could include: Aes Sedai (with the ranks from the books representing tiers of levels), Ashaman (same ranks), Warders, as well as Tinkers, Wolfkin, etc. There could potentially be a pretty wide assortment, each capturing one of the "heroic" elements of WoT. Noone wants to be an average person, so each player would represent one of the exceptional classes of people from the series of novels.
Alas, as previous mentioned IP is tough to deal with, and the best anyoen could hope would be a game that takes place AFTER the series is done. Faithful readers can only hope WoT is finished before Jordan is .
Anyway, lots of potential for a WoT mmo. The first issue is how to avoid the alpha class, but this isn't necessarily a deal breaker. Take Lan for instance. He's just a guy. A guy from an ancient if extinct house with a power forged sword, but can't channel a whelk. Yet Lan could probably take on a moderately powered aes sedai.
But most people are going to want to channel, but remember that there are lesser and greater degrees of channeling. A paladin in most rpgs can cast heals, but he/she isn't as powerful as a fully spec'd priest. Also there are all sorts of channeler's besides the Aes Sedai and Asha'man. Wise Ones, Windfinders, the Kin, Damane, Dreadlords, Wilders, False Dragons, Real Dragons, Pink Dragons etc. So ruling the game as un-do-able just for fear of an alpha class is kinda silly.
The real reason we aren't seeing a WoT based mmo is the same reason we haven't seen any other wot based games, or television programs, or films, or amusement parks. Robert Jordan hasn't released the rights yet. He doesn't want anyone touching his IP until the story is finished. And I for one am glad for it. The world RJ had created is to colorful and detailed to be loused up by just any development team. Whoever puts it together has so much material to draw off of. I want it done, just like any other fan, but more than anything else, I want it done right.
Off topic, I noticed that someone had mentioned a Forgotten Realms mmo. They really dropped the ball on that one by setting DDO in w/e crapverse they put it in. Fortunately, R.A. Salvatore is currently working on an mmo with Todd McFarlane. A Demon Wars themed mmo would be incredible, and might just set right the wrongs done by the online translation of the grand daddy of rpgs.
Actually, he did die and the blog on dragonmount is actually by the author chosen by Jordan's widow to finish book 12, fortunately he left much material and notes to finish the last book in the series, the guy says he should be finished by end of 2009.
Actually, he did die and the blog on dragonmount is actually by the author chosen by Jordan's widow to finish book 12, fortunately he left much material and notes to finish the last book in the series, the guy says he should be finished by end of 2009. Looking forward to the game.
LoL Necromancy FTL
Another great example of Moore's Law. Give people access to that much space (developers and users alike) and they'll find uses for it that you can never imagine. "640K ought to be enough for anybody" - Bill Gates 1981
Actually, he did die and the blog on dragonmount is actually by the author chosen by Jordan's widow to finish book 12, fortunately he left much material and notes to finish the last book in the series, the guy says he should be finished by end of 2009. Looking forward to the game.
The post you commented on was a year and a half old. He wasn't dead at the time. Interesting to know that someone will be finishing the series though.
I am surprised anyone thought the series would not be finished. The days of a series not being finished because of the death of the author died long ago. Today as long as the series was a success it will get a ghost writer. The only issue that can stop this is legal considerations from the authors estate.
Publishers usually like some sort of tie in to the author to add a veneer of authenticity. Does he leave a wife, any children over 18? If so you may find them drafted in as “co-authors”. They will search for an author he did collaborations with or at a pinch was just a good friend.
But if there is money in it old dogs can do new tricks and in their series never die.
I will most likely be a fanboy of this game if it comes out. I'm pretty objective with new games but I love those books. If they seemed to long or drawn out (which I thought for awhile) then get the audio books. The audio books are amazing! I got so much more that way then I did when I read the novels. I was surprised on how much I missed while reading.
Comments
Sounds fantastic to me. Would be nice if the old blizzard north team would develop this.
I agree. It's not the story so much as the gameplay. What do players complain about in most posts? It's usually doesn't have anything to do with the lore of the game, the stories of teh quests, the background of the NPC characters in the MMORPG, etc. It's always loot, xp, combat, skills, classes, levels, raiding, PvP or PvE, static quests vs. dynamic quests, instancing vs no instancing, races, customization of characters, economy, crafting, housing, and so on. Get those things right, and you can make up any story or setting you want.
Too many classes? I would have to disagree. Look at how many classes DAOC has.
As for the Wheel of Time; the world is very fleshed out, but whoever was editing these books should be shot. There was no reason their had to be so many books, I lost interest after book four.
Actually a few years ago a company did start a Wheel of Time MMO. I'm kinda surprised none of you had heard about this.
It was going to be called Wheel of Time: Ta'veren and they had a website with concept art, forums, developers, everything. The game was actually looking to be quite promising.
I can just see a bunch of you sitting there aghast with your mouths open, "What happened?" you may ask. Well see they made this great site, worked up a bunch of buzz, did some great concept art of Aiel, etc. and all of it was to put together in a package to send Robert Jordan. Seeing as he's got the sole rights to the IP he's got the final say on whether a WoT MMO gets made.
For whatever reason (no reason was given) he must have said no. Not long after they announced that they had sent the information package to Robert Jordan, the Wheel of Time: Ta'veren MMO site went down, forums closed, and the project just sorta disappeared. It's kinda sad because it was a very ambitious project, they were talking about allowing people to play Ogier, trying to figure out a system for traveling The Ways (i think it's called), and how they could do the system of magic.
But who knows, maybe some day Robert Jordan will change his mind. It would certainly be an interesting game world to play in.
Then again, do we really need ANOTHER fantasy MMO?
"Because it's easier to nitpick something than to be constructive." -roach5000
To wannabe or not to wannabe? Hey I know the answer and it is not 42!
If the Wheel of Time first-person-shooter had great sales then perhaps you would have seen some movement on an mmorpg project. I own the game and actually it is quite fun (and it was reviewed positively) but it didn't really take the gaming world by storm.
This makes me concerned about the upcoming Shadowrun shooter for the same reasoning. Although with the way Microsoft is pushing Shadowrun/Vista/Live connectivity it should do well.
Sorry, got him mixed up with Gemell who died shortly after Jordon was diagnosed with that disease.
Jordon's blood disease is terminal though and his life expectancy is not more than 5 years. I doubt he'll be spending that time writing when he could be enjoying what remains with his family.
CoH/CoV - D-Zol/Kinslayer
Auto Assault - Slayer
WoW, LOTRO, DDO - Kinsul
Matrix Online - Tempest
Shadowrun is cancelled:
To wannabe or not to wannabe? Hey I know the answer and it is not 42!
Obviously there are many differences between a mud and a MMO (namely, a graphical engine and the desire to have a semi-real-time environment). However, some of the facets that could make a WoT MMO amazing:
The Magic System: The "magic" of WoT uses five "flows": Earth, Air, Water, Fire, Spirit. The user's ability with each of these components influences how effective they are, and what "weaves" (think spells) they can use. By giving players a finite number of available points to place into all five categories, it would allow them to either specialize or generalize their characters abilities. Many of the weaves described in WoT would translate into everything from amazing effects to subtle mind-control.
The combat system - Styles: WoT describes a series of named motions, which would translate amazingly into styles as used in DAOC. The motions are well documented from the books, and would make combat both entertaining and engaging.
Classes could include: Aes Sedai (with the ranks from the books representing tiers of levels), Ashaman (same ranks), Warders, as well as Tinkers, Wolfkin, etc. There could potentially be a pretty wide assortment, each capturing one of the "heroic" elements of WoT. Noone wants to be an average person, so each player would represent one of the exceptional classes of people from the series of novels.
Alas, as previous mentioned IP is tough to deal with, and the best anyoen could hope would be a game that takes place AFTER the series is done. Faithful readers can only hope WoT is finished before Jordan is
OMG ROBERT JORDAN IS DEAD?!
lol j/k... that's how rumor's get started
Anyway, lots of potential for a WoT mmo. The first issue is how to avoid the alpha class, but this isn't necessarily a deal breaker. Take Lan for instance. He's just a guy. A guy from an ancient if extinct house with a power forged sword, but can't channel a whelk. Yet Lan could probably take on a moderately powered aes sedai.
But most people are going to want to channel, but remember that there are lesser and greater degrees of channeling. A paladin in most rpgs can cast heals, but he/she isn't as powerful as a fully spec'd priest. Also there are all sorts of channeler's besides the Aes Sedai and Asha'man. Wise Ones, Windfinders, the Kin, Damane, Dreadlords, Wilders, False Dragons, Real Dragons, Pink Dragons etc. So ruling the game as un-do-able just for fear of an alpha class is kinda silly.
The real reason we aren't seeing a WoT based mmo is the same reason we haven't seen any other wot based games, or television programs, or films, or amusement parks. Robert Jordan hasn't released the rights yet. He doesn't want anyone touching his IP until the story is finished. And I for one am glad for it. The world RJ had created is to colorful and detailed to be loused up by just any development team. Whoever puts it together has so much material to draw off of. I want it done, just like any other fan, but more than anything else, I want it done right.
Off topic, I noticed that someone had mentioned a Forgotten Realms mmo. They really dropped the ball on that one by setting DDO in w/e crapverse they put it in. Fortunately, R.A. Salvatore is currently working on an mmo with Todd McFarlane. A Demon Wars themed mmo would be incredible, and might just set right the wrongs done by the online translation of the grand daddy of rpgs.
Actually, he did die and the blog on dragonmount is actually by the author chosen by Jordan's widow to finish book 12, fortunately he left much material and notes to finish the last book in the series, the guy says he should be finished by end of 2009.
Looking forward to the game.
LoL Necromancy FTL
Another great example of Moore's Law. Give people access to that much space (developers and users alike) and they'll find uses for it that you can never imagine. "640K ought to be enough for anybody" - Bill Gates 1981
The post you commented on was a year and a half old. He wasn't dead at the time. Interesting to know that someone will be finishing the series though.
http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/home/permalink/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20090115005275&newsLang=en
____________________________________________
im to lazy too use grammar or punctuation good
and lo and behold!
http://www.gamespot.com/news/6203233.html?om_act=convert&om_clk=newstop&tag=newstop;title;14
not only the series is gonna be finished, BUT we get at least 3 movies with it, several games and a MMO!
"If you give a man a fish, you feed him for a day, if you teach him how to fish, you feed him for a lifetime"
I am surprised anyone thought the series would not be finished. The days of a series not being finished because of the death of the author died long ago. Today as long as the series was a success it will get a ghost writer. The only issue that can stop this is legal considerations from the authors estate.
Publishers usually like some sort of tie in to the author to add a veneer of authenticity. Does he leave a wife, any children over 18? If so you may find them drafted in as “co-authors”. They will search for an author he did collaborations with or at a pinch was just a good friend.
But if there is money in it old dogs can do new tricks and in their series never die.
I have to disagree. I enjoyed Wheel of Time, but I don't think the IP is right for an MMO.
Game of Thrones, however...with the main Houses in that IP, there'd be a place for everyone.
the official MMORPG.com deadhead
I will most likely be a fanboy of this game if it comes out. I'm pretty objective with new games but I love those books. If they seemed to long or drawn out (which I thought for awhile) then get the audio books. The audio books are amazing! I got so much more that way then I did when I read the novels. I was surprised on how much I missed while reading.
-Almerel
Hello my old friend.