I bought LoTRO last weekend, and played it all day on Sunday. Pretty game.
But I can't get motivated to play it....I went back to WoW, and probably won't bother playing LoTRO much.
As others have said, it's basically WoW with Lord of the Rings Skins. It's a very nice looking game, well polished, and if you aren't already tired of the WoW-style, quest-driven, linear type of MMO, you may enjoy it immensely.
I just haven't found it all that compelling.
____________________________________________ im to lazy too use grammar or punctuation good
This game HAS a loyal following, just not on boards like these *grins*...
Don't fool yourself, there's no MASSIVE population loss on the servers. The people that play are just not ranting here on the boards. The people here on the boards are dedicated core and hardcore gamers. That's all you need to know, while every 5 seconds someone states openly that he/she likes competetive gameplay, likes fine-tuned combat, likes challenge...
not even once in a month someone starts a rant because he/she is a dedicated roleplayer and modern MMOs treat roleplaying like an unwanted stepchild.
Get the drift?
This game HAS a HUUGE following, just not within the "Why is pre-CU SWG gone bohoooo"-crowd.
Also, this game has very many haters from all kinds of games; why do you think they waste their time bashing LotRO? - Because they picked a random game to test and hate?? *LOL* .... No, it's because their personal expectations were hurt by the way Turbine decided to manifest Middle-Earth. Why would you try out a new game when you are happy with the game you are playing? - Right, you would not. So those people that are now "back in game XY" wanted LotRO to save them from their frustration with their own game and it didn't. And yay, like my dad says: "Stupid people always blame the world"
That does not make the game bland, shallow, boring, unoriginal, copycat or all these fine words they have for it. No, it just shows you that high expectations were hurt and now those people feel Turbine owes them something...
Now let me tell you, I still have a level 67 char in EQ2 on ice, a level 70 char in WoW on ice, a battleship capable char in EvE on ice and a level 90 former pistoleer in SWG on ice... And THIS game is NOT bad, it can be honestly recommended to be tried by anyone. Get yourself a buddy key and SEE FOR YOURSELF. I can gather 50 people hating EvE if you like, or 50 people hating EQ2.... Why trust the opinions of some jaded gamers more than your own? Or the magazines, or the online-reviews, or the reviews on this site...?
Meridion
EDIT: also, never trust posters with less than 500 posts
Unlike many of the people here I love the game and came from EQ, EvE Online, WoW (which I hate), and a ton of other ones. It is casual but I have no idea how anyone could say its boring if they do the epic quests (which can be started around level 6), the story is engaging, amazing quests with a great story.
I dont think people who are hard core MMOers will enjoy it if they realize its casual, but if they are expecting the grind of EQ/EQ2/VSoH... they will hate it.
The game is very polished, stable and the planned content is impressive with easily a several year life to it..
I do miss the hard core aspects of the other games, but LotRO is nice for a fun, good community MMORPG
This is a good game, it was released when it was finished, very stable, excellent graphics, and easy to pick up.
This game suffers though, from the fact that while it has good qualities, it just doesn't do anything new. If you've played WoW, EQ, EQ2 or DDO then you've played this game.
Right guys?
That is a pretty good summary. The reason I could not play it was the ackward character movement and lack of an high dps, offensive caster character class. EQ2 and WoW are just far superior on that front and many other areas. In my opinion of the current crop of MMOs, EQ2 is the best out there right now. I am not saying it is great but it is the best you can do for this genre at this point in time. WoW is great also but I can not get pass the cartoon graphics.
Of course LotR is technically solid so as with any MMORPG, if you have a good group of people to play with LoTR will be a lot of fun to play.
I found it to be lacking a quality which made it distinct. The game relies too heavily on the Lord of the Rings franchise (as a selling point) and seems to mimic many other games to a point which makes it feel very cheap. The game could have been a very involved sandbox game with skill sets instead of classes. The world of Middle Earth is very rich with content that could easily transfer to an MMORPG. Instead of harboring this, the game chose to copy the style of World of Warcraft with only a few changes (see also: gimmicks).
It's sad isn't it? The game was originally called Middle Earth Online. It was a sandbox game, it had an interesting dark/light system kind of like KotOR, and the whole premise was "Live in Middle Earth." However, after an information blackout in 03-04, the next news announcement was that Turbine won the rights to the game from Vivendi. Turbine had always been developing, but felt they were being held back by Tolkien Enterprises.
After that, everything changed in a VERY short amount of time. Corruption system was scrapped, sandbox was scrapped, Middle Earth was sort of dumbed/watered down significantly. The name changed to Lord of the Rings online to reflect the new direction and it became a linear, hold your hand, quest driven game.
Now, I enjoyed LotRO for what its worth. It was too much like WoW for my taste, but its a good game. I just felt they didn't do justice to Middle Earth by forcing you to follow these paths made of fake hills and making sure you were guided along every step of the way. Now, Middle Earth Online, a sandbox game like SWG, Vanguard, and AC1 would have been amazing. Unfortunately for most of the old MMOers, WoW was a success.
Wow. I actually never heard about that. The first I heard of LOTRO was sometime early last year. That's too bad... that seems like the best choice for a Middle Earth MMORPG too! Maybe that will be LOTRO 2!?
This game HAS a loyal following, just not on boards like these *grins*... Don't fool yourself, there's no MASSIVE population loss on the servers. The people that play are just not ranting here on the boards. The people here on the boards are dedicated core and hardcore gamers. That's all you need to know, while every 5 seconds someone states openly that he/she likes competetive gameplay, likes fine-tuned combat, likes challenge... not even once in a month someone starts a rant because he/she is a dedicated roleplayer and modern MMOs treat roleplaying like an unwanted stepchild. Get the drift? This game HAS a HUUGE following, just not within the "Why is pre-CU SWG gone bohoooo"-crowd.
Also, this game has very many haters from all kinds of games; why do you think they waste their time bashing LotRO? - Because they picked a random game to test and hate?? *LOL* .... No, it's because their personal expectations were hurt by the way Turbine decided to manifest Middle-Earth. Why would you try out a new game when you are happy with the game you are playing? - Right, you would not. So those people that are now "back in game XY" wanted LotRO to save them from their frustration with their own game and it didn't. And yay, like my dad says: "Stupid people always blame the world" That does not make the game bland, shallow, boring, unoriginal, copycat or all these fine words they have for it. No, it just shows you that high expectations were hurt and now those people feel Turbine owes them something... Now let me tell you, I still have a level 67 char in EQ2 on ice, a level 70 char in WoW on ice, a battleship capable char in EvE on ice and a level 90 former pistoleer in SWG on ice... And THIS game is NOT bad, it can be honestly recommended to be tried by anyone. Get yourself a buddy key and SEE FOR YOURSELF. I can gather 50 people hating EvE if you like, or 50 people hating EQ2.... Why trust the opinions of some jaded gamers more than your own? Or the magazines, or the online-reviews, or the reviews on this site...? Meridion
EDIT: also, never trust posters with less than 500 posts
Lol, nice catch at the end reaching 500 posts :-P.
Anyways, I agree with you and the few others that have posted saying that is just the case: everyone likes their own game for their own reasons. My point in posting this thread was to see WHY they all hated it. It's actually been very interesting to see a few valid points. I believe I've made my decision to go to EQ II though, rather then try LOTRO, simply because one of my friends is going to start up EQ II as well. However, I'm definately going to try LOTRO later on, maybe when the first expansion pack comes out. They can do so much with the world that it will be interesting to see how it progresses.
I think its beautufil and noobie friendly, but too linear, simple and unoriginal. Worth playing for a bit if you tired of WoW, but not worth if you looking for MMORPG to stay with for years
Someone above described the game very well. "a shallow mmo geared towards casual gamers". I would describe it as "A mediocre carebear PVE game with lots of trivial questing."
That is pretty much my assesment after playing it for a couple of months also. got to level 40 and just could not take the totally linear progression with few options and cancelled last week.
I think it is a good game for the beginner in MMO's, and for very casual players - but for anyone that has been playing MMO's for a while, it is a step down.
No other game out lets you customize your abilities to the point that LoTRO does. Through questing, grinding mobs and exploration you can gain traits to customize your character to fit your own idea of how you want him to play out.
Well, actually quite a few games do, and they all do it a lot better - notably EQ1, EQ2, Asheron's Call (probably the ultimate in custom characters), and several others. Maybe WOW does also, but never played that.
1000 things that set LotRO apart from EQ2: - Music system Just about the only somewhat original thing that LOTRO has. Unfortunately, half the instruments don't work right. And after playing with it for a bit, it just gets kind of .. bleh.. And it gets very very tiresome having to put up with the constant "music" spam in some places. - Coloring Uhm.. hardly new. True that EQ2 does not have it, but on the other hand EQ2 has more than one color of armor to begin with. And EQ1 has had that for like.. 8 years? - REAL deed system, like DOING something for achievement hmm.. you mean like the AA system in EQ that has been around for over 7 years, or the AP system in EQ2 that has been around for over 2 years? - Monster Play System EQ1 had that years ago. And a much better system IMO. - scripted and exciting, partly instanced questlines hmm.. and LOTRO is the first MMO to do that? Don't think so. Well, OK LOTRO left out the exciting parts. - No goofy froggish lizardish races In fact, not even female dwarfs.... - No goofy sparkling whizzing whirling overloaded effects Just horrible animations for them. That animation for summoning your horse has to be the dumbest out of place one I have ever seen. - Top notch, very fitting sound engine Uhm.. you mean like all the whining NPC's saying the same 5-6 stock phrases, over and over about how miserable they are? - Zoneless, homogenic world design You mean like Asheron's Call, that did it better 9 years ago? - Original crafting, from peasant to elder Hardly original. Well, OK, more grinding than any other game around, except maybe Vanguard. I guess that is original. Meridion
May I add that I am not a newbie, not a carebear, not a PvE freak and not a WoW-lover?
I am a more "veteran" than many of the "lolz played for x weeks got bored to tears, suxxx" here. And I love the game for what it is. It's in no way uninspired, the inspiration has just flown into things you do not cherish... As simple as that.
And to the OP: If you have never played EQ2, it's not a bad decision. I had loads of fun in this game and although I do think its not "the very best super-uber PvE game" its solid and fun.
@Laiina: have I said that those were innovations? You must have mistaken me, I said these are things that set LotRO apart in the direct comparison to EQ2. And of COURSE, these are facts mingled with opinion, e.g. I don't like many, totally off-the-wall races, I am not a friend of spellcasting classes, etc. I don't think you got my point there; But doesn't matter, as I said before, I'm not hating EQ2, I just defy the claim that EQ2 contains LotRO and is in every way superior. I've played both games, long enough, and enjoyed them enough to say thet both have strenths, and weaknesses...
A. I, as an MMORPG player, thought that LOTRO was really rather dull, boring, insipid, uninspired, unoriginal, uninteresting, underwhelming, mediocre and stale.
Within the first few levels I had a feeling of nausia and tedium. Where was the excitement that should accompany a new game? Maybe it was hiding under one of the million ~ "Go fetch 10 pelts for me, by killing zzZzZzZz...sorry it happened again.
For those of you whom love LOTRO all the power to you, but it just wasn't for me.
Monsterplay will be fixed by expanding it. The Creeps will get one-time playable monsters for example, like you log in and are allowed to play a troll, until it dies or you log out. A troll that is, a group encounter... To strengthen the creeps.
Turbine is well aware that Monsterplay is not balanced at the moment, as is crafting (though it got better), so eventually fixes will come...
This game HAS a loyal following, just not on boards like these *grins*... Don't fool yourself, there's no MASSIVE population loss on the servers. The people that play are just not ranting here on the boards. The people here on the boards are dedicated core and hardcore gamers. That's all you need to know, while every 5 seconds someone states openly that he/she likes competetive gameplay, likes fine-tuned combat, likes challenge... not even once in a month someone starts a rant because he/she is a dedicated roleplayer and modern MMOs treat roleplaying like an unwanted stepchild. Get the drift? This game HAS a HUUGE following, just not within the "Why is pre-CU SWG gone bohoooo"-crowd.
Also, this game has very many haters from all kinds of games; why do you think they waste their time bashing LotRO? - Because they picked a random game to test and hate?? *LOL* .... No, it's because their personal expectations were hurt by the way Turbine decided to manifest Middle-Earth. Why would you try out a new game when you are happy with the game you are playing? - Right, you would not. So those people that are now "back in game XY" wanted LotRO to save them from their frustration with their own game and it didn't. And yay, like my dad says: "Stupid people always blame the world" That does not make the game bland, shallow, boring, unoriginal, copycat or all these fine words they have for it. No, it just shows you that high expectations were hurt and now those people feel Turbine owes them something... Now let me tell you, I still have a level 67 char in EQ2 on ice, a level 70 char in WoW on ice, a battleship capable char in EvE on ice and a level 90 former pistoleer in SWG on ice... And THIS game is NOT bad, it can be honestly recommended to be tried by anyone. Get yourself a buddy key and SEE FOR YOURSELF. I can gather 50 people hating EvE if you like, or 50 people hating EQ2.... Why trust the opinions of some jaded gamers more than your own? Or the magazines, or the online-reviews, or the reviews on this site...? Meridion
EDIT: also, never trust posters with less than 500 posts
When I played the game i thought it was a good game. But I just want to play something new and different than games like Wow (even though Wow is a good game). I think Lotro will do well because it is a solid game. But I am eager to see the new games being released. I think they will push the MMORPG envelope.
This game HAS a loyal following, just not on boards like these *grins*... Don't fool yourself, there's no MASSIVE population loss on the servers. The people that play are just not ranting here on the boards. The people here on the boards are dedicated core and hardcore gamers. That's all you need to know, while every 5 seconds someone states openly that he/she likes competetive gameplay, likes fine-tuned combat, likes challenge... not even once in a month someone starts a rant because he/she is a dedicated roleplayer and modern MMOs treat roleplaying like an unwanted stepchild. Get the drift? This game HAS a HUUGE following, just not within the "Why is pre-CU SWG gone bohoooo"-crowd. Also, this game has very many haters from all kinds of games; why do you think they waste their time bashing LotRO? - Because they picked a random game to test and hate?? *LOL* .... No, it's because their personal expectations were hurt by the way Turbine decided to manifest Middle-Earth. Why would you try out a new game when you are happy with the game you are playing? - Right, you would not. So those people that are now "back in game XY" wanted LotRO to save them from their frustration with their own game and it didn't. And yay, like my dad says: "Stupid people always blame the world"
Ithink you are arguing a point nobody is making. I don't see people posting here that it is a failure or that it is hemorrhaging players - people are just stating thier opinion, a rather common on amongst the people not playing, that is is shallow and unchallenging. As for speculation as to its subscriber base - it is just that, speculation. I would think that Turbine has a success on thier hands so long as thier intention is not to rival WoW in terms of sub numbers. I think the next wave of MMOs coming will cut into that quite a bit but the overall quality of the production and the franchise will keep LotRO with a respectable number of subscribers into the future.
That being said, McDonald's sells billions of burgers - but it is still crappy, cheap, fast food. In the same way LotRO is what many here say it is despite the fact that it might sell well. Shallow is shallow and it isn't very subjective to look at LotRO and compare it to MMOs of the past and determine that it is a bit shallow and cookie cutter with a linear path. If you like this fine, but why argue to convice others that it isn't a Big Mac when it clearly is.
Originally posted by Meridion
That does not make the game bland, shallow, boring, unoriginal, copycat or all these fine words they have for it. No, it just shows you that high expectations were hurt and now those people feel Turbine owes them something...
Very presumptive, and I suspect, incorrect. In my case I couldn't care less about the LotR franchise so that plays no part. I knew when I pre-ordered that the rap on the game was 'nothing new, well made, mass market target. My expectations where not off at all, I just was bored by the lack of entertainment from the combat (which, in the end, is most of the game) and the lack of uniqueness to the characters. Since I didn't enjoy the simplistic combat and didn't feel I had any stake in the character I quit playing after about ten days and three characters at the cap (of differant classes). I cancelled the pre-order and don't much care about LotRO now at all other than circumstances where I have occasion to discuss it, among other things MMO, in places like this.
It is not hard to understand that people at a site dedicated to MMos are going to be the more picky or hardcore of the genre and, therefore, less likely to have good things to say about a mass market game like LotRO. I would think a site dedicated to movies would probably have little good to say about the typical summer blockbusters. It doesn't negate the opinions though and when people here ask , people likely to be of a similar mindset at least somewhat - the opinions are quite valid.
What gets me is the people who defend a fair assessment of the game instead of just saying that they like it that way. Like I said before, a big mac is what it is and even though I sometimes want one and it can really hit the spot I would never argue that it is gourmet food. LotRO is fast food, mass market, simplistic and linear - by design. Turbine did a good job of making the game that way and polishing it nicely to that end. But it is what it is, love or hate doesn't alter that.
LOTRO is nothing more then WoW-Lite......Same taste, just less filling. This is just another example of a company hitching a saddle to a big name franchise and trying to ride the coat tails of it to the bank. Its the same thing they pulled with Dungeons and Dragons Online.
Well, thats a polished game that many of my guildies and allies that are MMO veterans and dedicated gamers play and the community seems to be very great and helpful. I think the greater comm makes the good MMO for RP'ers and some hardcore buddies that are not so biased.
I havent played LOTRO because i dont like PvE too much, and I prefer scifi and sandbox games, but LOTRO is still a very good game and you will find a lot of quests, a billion tons of lore, smart graphics, a well-known GUI, endless expansions for free and make a lot of new friends.
There are some reasons why LOTRO is the top rated game, i only quote some.
Comments
I've played WoW for almost 2 years.
I bought LoTRO last weekend, and played it all day on Sunday. Pretty game.
But I can't get motivated to play it....I went back to WoW, and probably won't bother playing LoTRO much.
As others have said, it's basically WoW with Lord of the Rings Skins. It's a very nice looking game, well polished, and if you aren't already tired of the WoW-style, quest-driven, linear type of MMO, you may enjoy it immensely.
I just haven't found it all that compelling.
____________________________________________
im to lazy too use grammar or punctuation good
1. Eat a can of bushes baked beans
2. Drink a large cold glass of milk
3. Jump up and down for an hour
4. Fart into a large brown paper bag after the hour of jumping up and down is up
5. Put the large brown paper bag over your head after you farted into it
6. Now you know what playing Lord of the Rings Online is like
Probably best graphic in any PC game up to date.
Runs even on average PC.
Great community.
Great atmosphere.
Great quests.
Company dedicated to great free upgrades....
etc etc
This game HAS a loyal following, just not on boards like these *grins*...
Don't fool yourself, there's no MASSIVE population loss on the servers. The people that play are just not ranting here on the boards. The people here on the boards are dedicated core and hardcore gamers. That's all you need to know, while every 5 seconds someone states openly that he/she likes competetive gameplay, likes fine-tuned combat, likes challenge...
not even once in a month someone starts a rant because he/she is a dedicated roleplayer and modern MMOs treat roleplaying like an unwanted stepchild.
Get the drift?
This game HAS a HUUGE following, just not within the "Why is pre-CU SWG gone bohoooo"-crowd.
Also, this game has very many haters from all kinds of games; why do you think they waste their time bashing LotRO? - Because they picked a random game to test and hate?? *LOL* .... No, it's because their personal expectations were hurt by the way Turbine decided to manifest Middle-Earth. Why would you try out a new game when you are happy with the game you are playing? - Right, you would not. So those people that are now "back in game XY" wanted LotRO to save them from their frustration with their own game and it didn't. And yay, like my dad says: "Stupid people always blame the world"
That does not make the game bland, shallow, boring, unoriginal, copycat or all these fine words they have for it. No, it just shows you that high expectations were hurt and now those people feel Turbine owes them something...
Now let me tell you, I still have a level 67 char in EQ2 on ice, a level 70 char in WoW on ice, a battleship capable char in EvE on ice and a level 90 former pistoleer in SWG on ice... And THIS game is NOT bad, it can be honestly recommended to be tried by anyone. Get yourself a buddy key and SEE FOR YOURSELF. I can gather 50 people hating EvE if you like, or 50 people hating EQ2.... Why trust the opinions of some jaded gamers more than your own? Or the magazines, or the online-reviews, or the reviews on this site...?
Meridion
EDIT: also, never trust posters with less than 500 posts
Unlike many of the people here I love the game and came from EQ, EvE Online, WoW (which I hate), and a ton of other ones. It is casual but I have no idea how anyone could say its boring if they do the epic quests (which can be started around level 6), the story is engaging, amazing quests with a great story.
I dont think people who are hard core MMOers will enjoy it if they realize its casual, but if they are expecting the grind of EQ/EQ2/VSoH... they will hate it.
The game is very polished, stable and the planned content is impressive with easily a several year life to it..
I do miss the hard core aspects of the other games, but LotRO is nice for a fun, good community MMORPG
Playing EQ2
Quit - LotRO, EQ, EQOA, EvE, FFXI, DAoC, TitD, AO, AC1, AC2, AA, CoH, CoV, D&L, DS, DDO, EA, GW, HZ, IW, L1, L2, M59, UO, MoM, MoUL, N2, RS, RO, RoE, RYL, SB, SO, SWG, MxO, UO, VSoH, WoW
That is a pretty good summary. The reason I could not play it was the ackward character movement and lack of an high dps, offensive caster character class. EQ2 and WoW are just far superior on that front and many other areas. In my opinion of the current crop of MMOs, EQ2 is the best out there right now. I am not saying it is great but it is the best you can do for this genre at this point in time. WoW is great also but I can not get pass the cartoon graphics.
Of course LotR is technically solid so as with any MMORPG, if you have a good group of people to play with LoTR will be a lot of fun to play.
After that, everything changed in a VERY short amount of time. Corruption system was scrapped, sandbox was scrapped, Middle Earth was sort of dumbed/watered down significantly. The name changed to Lord of the Rings online to reflect the new direction and it became a linear, hold your hand, quest driven game.
Now, I enjoyed LotRO for what its worth. It was too much like WoW for my taste, but its a good game. I just felt they didn't do justice to Middle Earth by forcing you to follow these paths made of fake hills and making sure you were guided along every step of the way. Now, Middle Earth Online, a sandbox game like SWG, Vanguard, and AC1 would have been amazing. Unfortunately for most of the old MMOers, WoW was a success.
Wow. I actually never heard about that. The first I heard of LOTRO was sometime early last year. That's too bad... that seems like the best choice for a Middle Earth MMORPG too! Maybe that will be LOTRO 2!?
Anyways, I agree with you and the few others that have posted saying that is just the case: everyone likes their own game for their own reasons. My point in posting this thread was to see WHY they all hated it. It's actually been very interesting to see a few valid points. I believe I've made my decision to go to EQ II though, rather then try LOTRO, simply because one of my friends is going to start up EQ II as well. However, I'm definately going to try LOTRO later on, maybe when the first expansion pack comes out. They can do so much with the world that it will be interesting to see how it progresses.
A transition game for WOW players. Special setting...gameplay nothing we haven't all seen and done before.
I think it is a good game for the beginner in MMO's, and for very casual players - but for anyone that has been playing MMO's for a while, it is a step down.
Well, actually quite a few games do, and they all do it a lot better - notably EQ1, EQ2, Asheron's Call (probably the ultimate in custom characters), and several others. Maybe WOW does also, but never played that.
Another raiding game.
Not worth my time, I would end up unhappy with the game, so I will just save me the trip to unhappiness and just say it is weak right away.
- "If I understand you well, you are telling me until next time. " - Ren
Betad it and was bored to tears. WoW clone but WoW is better.
After a week with LoTRO I'll sum it up in one word: uninspired
Joined 2004 - I can't believe I've been a MMORPG.com member for 20 years! Get off my lawn!
May I add that I am not a newbie, not a carebear, not a PvE freak and not a WoW-lover?
I am a more "veteran" than many of the "lolz played for x weeks got bored to tears, suxxx" here. And I love the game for what it is. It's in no way uninspired, the inspiration has just flown into things you do not cherish... As simple as that.
And to the OP: If you have never played EQ2, it's not a bad decision. I had loads of fun in this game and although I do think its not "the very best super-uber PvE game" its solid and fun.
@Laiina: have I said that those were innovations? You must have mistaken me, I said these are things that set LotRO apart in the direct comparison to EQ2. And of COURSE, these are facts mingled with opinion, e.g. I don't like many, totally off-the-wall races, I am not a friend of spellcasting classes, etc. I don't think you got my point there; But doesn't matter, as I said before, I'm not hating EQ2, I just defy the claim that EQ2 contains LotRO and is in every way superior. I've played both games, long enough, and enjoyed them enough to say thet both have strenths, and weaknesses...
Q. What do you MMORPG players think of LOTRO?
A. I, as an MMORPG player, thought that LOTRO was really rather dull, boring, insipid, uninspired, unoriginal, uninteresting, underwhelming, mediocre and stale.
Within the first few levels I had a feeling of nausia and tedium. Where was the excitement that should accompany a new game? Maybe it was hiding under one of the million ~ "Go fetch 10 pelts for me, by killing zzZzZzZz...sorry it happened again.
For those of you whom love LOTRO all the power to you, but it just wasn't for me.
A lot of people I know were playing this. (by a lot I mean 10ish... that's not very many in the grand scheme of things really)
They all just canceled, it seems mostly due to boredom.
Monsterplay will be fixed by expanding it. The Creeps will get one-time playable monsters for example, like you log in and are allowed to play a troll, until it dies or you log out. A troll that is, a group encounter... To strengthen the creeps.
Turbine is well aware that Monsterplay is not balanced at the moment, as is crafting (though it got better), so eventually fixes will come...
I totally agree with your viewpoint
When I played the game i thought it was a good game. But I just want to play something new and different than games like Wow (even though Wow is a good game). I think Lotro will do well because it is a solid game. But I am eager to see the new games being released. I think they will push the MMORPG envelope.
Ithink you are arguing a point nobody is making. I don't see people posting here that it is a failure or that it is hemorrhaging players - people are just stating thier opinion, a rather common on amongst the people not playing, that is is shallow and unchallenging. As for speculation as to its subscriber base - it is just that, speculation. I would think that Turbine has a success on thier hands so long as thier intention is not to rival WoW in terms of sub numbers. I think the next wave of MMOs coming will cut into that quite a bit but the overall quality of the production and the franchise will keep LotRO with a respectable number of subscribers into the future.
That being said, McDonald's sells billions of burgers - but it is still crappy, cheap, fast food. In the same way LotRO is what many here say it is despite the fact that it might sell well. Shallow is shallow and it isn't very subjective to look at LotRO and compare it to MMOs of the past and determine that it is a bit shallow and cookie cutter with a linear path. If you like this fine, but why argue to convice others that it isn't a Big Mac when it clearly is.
Very presumptive, and I suspect, incorrect. In my case I couldn't care less about the LotR franchise so that plays no part. I knew when I pre-ordered that the rap on the game was 'nothing new, well made, mass market target. My expectations where not off at all, I just was bored by the lack of entertainment from the combat (which, in the end, is most of the game) and the lack of uniqueness to the characters. Since I didn't enjoy the simplistic combat and didn't feel I had any stake in the character I quit playing after about ten days and three characters at the cap (of differant classes). I cancelled the pre-order and don't much care about LotRO now at all other than circumstances where I have occasion to discuss it, among other things MMO, in places like this.
It is not hard to understand that people at a site dedicated to MMos are going to be the more picky or hardcore of the genre and, therefore, less likely to have good things to say about a mass market game like LotRO. I would think a site dedicated to movies would probably have little good to say about the typical summer blockbusters. It doesn't negate the opinions though and when people here ask , people likely to be of a similar mindset at least somewhat - the opinions are quite valid.
What gets me is the people who defend a fair assessment of the game instead of just saying that they like it that way. Like I said before, a big mac is what it is and even though I sometimes want one and it can really hit the spot I would never argue that it is gourmet food. LotRO is fast food, mass market, simplistic and linear - by design. Turbine did a good job of making the game that way and polishing it nicely to that end. But it is what it is, love or hate doesn't alter that.
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LOTRO is nothing more then WoW-Lite......Same taste, just less filling. This is just another example of a company hitching a saddle to a big name franchise and trying to ride the coat tails of it to the bank. Its the same thing they pulled with Dungeons and Dragons Online.
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Well, thats a polished game that many of my guildies and allies that are MMO veterans and dedicated gamers play and the community seems to be very great and helpful. I think the greater comm makes the good MMO for RP'ers and some hardcore buddies that are not so biased.
I havent played LOTRO because i dont like PvE too much, and I prefer scifi and sandbox games, but LOTRO is still a very good game and you will find a lot of quests, a billion tons of lore, smart graphics, a well-known GUI, endless expansions for free and make a lot of new friends.
There are some reasons why LOTRO is the top rated game, i only quote some.
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