Next-Gen

AmbassadorDvinn

Everyone keeps talking about this so-called "next-gen".  What I don't get what exactly -defines- "next-gen"?  Ok, I understand that may sound like a stupid question but what does it offer?  My guess is something that is different from the "current-gen"?  Something new?  In my honest opinion EVE Online is unlike any other mmorpg and offers many "next-gen" features. 

EVE consistently grows as the years go by but I firmly believe there will be no EVE 2.  There just isn't a reason for it to have a sequel.  Take for instance the new graphics engine expansion coming this November and the exciting new Ambulation expansion coming next year (www.tentonhammer.com/node/11409).  This to me is very "next-gen" in a whole category of it's own not to mention being the first MMORPG with all players in one single universe.  The mature community (you can thank the game-play for that), market and player-made material are also very unique.  Why do we need sequels for a game to be next-gen?  It just gets redundant and we as gamers have to take into account that these games are meant to grow and become better but not to be played and then thrown into the trash waiting for part two to come out.

This is why I have used EVE as a example.  It is one of the very few games that have a life that shows no sign of slowing down, for that matter it only keeps getting better, as today it hit a record 35,000 online users.  I feel like EVE is doing something right for the community by showing us that a good game doesn't need sequels. 

So I end my post with a simple question:  What does next-gen mean to you?

crimsonmori

Next-Gen to me is something that when its being made its differnt then almost all mmo's. EvE is a good example and if Darkfall becomes like it should it will be classed as Next-Gen. Also the more open ended it is the better i think, if mmo's go open ended then it makes for a better game if its well thought out if not it crashes and burns

Wolfenpride

Next gen doesnt mean anything to me. Its just a term to get people excited for a game that will undoubtfully offer the same old features we've expirenced in previous mmo's.

 

rungard

true "next gen" mmos wont feature the standard levelling progression systems that you see in almost all traditional games. 

true next gen games will also not have the lesser popular skill based systems of advancement. 

 

true next gen games will instead rely on an an inventory and options system, where the power of your character is based on the abilities (spells) you have accumulated and the equipment you have accumulated. 

the difference will be that the accumulation system wont be linear as in traditional games, but instead will be balanced for specific uses so players need to make choices on what advantages they want versus what disadvantages they can live with. 

another key aspect is that each ability or peice of equipment will be heavily customizable, which would be modifiable on the fly so players can " respec their flavor" at will for no cost. 

this is where replayability and creativity beats out grindability and linearity.

 

  

AmbassadorDvinn

Originally posted by Wolfenpride


Next gen doesnt mean anything to me. Its just a term to get people excited for a game that will undoubtfully offer the same old features we've expirenced in previous mmo's.
 

Well that can't be true..  because there will always be a game that offers something new.

freakomar

Next-gen MMO to me means an MMO that has completely NEW ideas that have never been used before.

Take for example Darkfall - well dUH alot of the ideas have been used before, housing and what not. But if you look deep into the game, is there any other mideval/fantasy MMO thats an FPS? that has free for all looting? such intense PvP? major focus on land combat .. AS WELL as with major focus on ship combat? (One of the video shows people attacking a ship by cannons on land , and some guy in a ship using his cannon in FPS mode to destroy another ship.

 

BAH I just hope it gets released this year, id be a happy penguin then.

AmbassadorDvinn

Originally posted by freakomar


Next-gen MMO to me means an MMO that has completely NEW ideas that have never been used before.
Take for example Darkfall - well dUH alot of the ideas have been used before, housing and what not. But if you look deep into the game, is there any other mideval/fantasy MMO thats an FPS? that has free for all looting? such intense PvP? major focus on land combat .. AS WELL as with major focus on ship combat? (One of the video shows people attacking a ship by cannons on land , and some guy in a ship using his cannon in FPS mode to destroy another ship.
 
BAH I just hope it gets released this year, id be a happy penguin then.

Yeah, Darkfall looks amazing and all.  I'm just worried that all these new game mechanics will cause loads of lag.

freakomar

Originally posted by Vyre


 
Originally posted by freakomar


Next-gen MMO to me means an MMO that has completely NEW ideas that have never been used before.
Take for example Darkfall - well dUH alot of the ideas have been used before, housing and what not. But if you look deep into the game, is there any other mideval/fantasy MMO thats an FPS? that has free for all looting? such intense PvP? major focus on land combat .. AS WELL as with major focus on ship combat? (One of the video shows people attacking a ship by cannons on land , and some guy in a ship using his cannon in FPS mode to destroy another ship.
 
BAH I just hope it gets released this year, id be a happy penguin then.

 

Yeah, Darkfall looks amazing and all.  I'm just worried that all these new game mechanics will cause loads of lag.

Thats not the only thing im concerned about, its a never heard of company ... can they really make what they promise ? 7 years in development. im sure they cant though.

AmbassadorDvinn

Originally posted by freakomar


 
Originally posted by Vyre


 
Originally posted by freakomar


Next-gen MMO to me means an MMO that has completely NEW ideas that have never been used before.
Take for example Darkfall - well dUH alot of the ideas have been used before, housing and what not. But if you look deep into the game, is there any other mideval/fantasy MMO thats an FPS? that has free for all looting? such intense PvP? major focus on land combat .. AS WELL as with major focus on ship combat? (One of the video shows people attacking a ship by cannons on land , and some guy in a ship using his cannon in FPS mode to destroy another ship.
 
BAH I just hope it gets released this year, id be a happy penguin then.

 

Yeah, Darkfall looks amazing and all.  I'm just worried that all these new game mechanics will cause loads of lag.

 

Thats not the only thing im concerned about, its a never heard of company ... can they really make what they promise ? 7 years in development. im sure they cant though.

Yeah..  I personally think it's vaporware.  That's just my opinion though.

SonofSeth

Originally posted by freakomar


Next-gen MMO to me means an MMO that has completely NEW ideas that have never been used before.

Hmm, I don't realy think that reinventing MMOs is going to lead us anywhere interesting, it can only lead to more and more repetative gameplay, only it will be of diferent kind.

To have truly next gen gameplay, a game needs to build upon existing features to make it a deeper and more engaging expirience. Give us more choices and more freedoms, also give us more limitations and consequences, but what ever you do, make it so that it makes sense in the game world, not just just slap a name on the server like that explains everything. Give us more social dynamics and social conflict, if we can socialise easy and in a way that we feal it's our choice and not programers, conflict and cooperation will follow by itself....

freakomar

Originally posted by SonofSeth


 
Originally posted by freakomar


Next-gen MMO to me means an MMO that has completely NEW ideas that have never been used before.

Hmm, I don't realy think that reinventing MMOs is going to lead us anywhere interesting, it can only lead to more and more repetative gameplay, only it will be of diferent kind.

 

To have truly next gen gameplay, a game needs to build upon existing features to make it a deeper and more engaging expirience. Give us more choices and more freedoms, also give us more limitations and consequences, but what ever you do, make it so that it makes sense in the game world, not just just slap a name on the server like that explains everything. Give us more social dynamics and social conflict, if we can socialise easy and in a way that we feal it's our choice and not programers, conflict and cooperation will follow by itself....

I do agree with you.

 

And OP, I highly doubt its vaporware  its been in development for 7 years BECAUSE its a low budget company, not like a very good one etc. Therefore they have a shortage of people, and if they're gonna put all those features in - HELL I wouldnt be surprised if it takes them 10 years.

Phos

"Next gen" used to mean a whole new type of game with upgraded graphics, play style, everything.

Nowadays everything is so humdrum that we need to break down each component of the game and decide which COMPONENT is a next gen component. I don't see any entirely new 'next gen' games like UO or EQ1 were when they were released.

- Phos

freakomar

Originally posted by Phos


"Next gen" used to mean a whole new type of game with upgraded graphics, play style, everything.
Nowadays everything is so humdrum that we need to break down each component of the game and decide which COMPONENT is a next gen component. I don't see any entirely new 'next gen' games like UO or EQ1 were when they were released.
- Phos
 

so true, but thats because there were no MMO's back in those ddays, like today we have hundreds.... back then maybe 5-10?