Concept of AO

Mrlogic

I used to play AO back at release and quit a while after SL came out, SL was thee nail in the coffin for me. Ao had strayed way off the path I had hoped for it to go. So I started playing WoW like everyone else when it was released but now im beyond bored, you see, I miss my agent and my sniper rifle I had in AO. The problem is that I have been trying to resume AO but its just not the same anymore, I just end up sitting in Tir or OA remembering the good ol´days.

I have been trying to search this site for another game that has a similar build to it, it is hard to explain but those of you that used to play AO might know what I mean. I want to be an agent in an open world, doing what I did in AO but with a more refined atmosphere and feel to it.

Anyone know if there even is a game out there that can be compared to AO, or something that might be under development? 

 

 

 

SevenOmatic

Good luck with your quest Mr.Logic. AO is one of a kind.

Jennyfyr

AO needs only one thing to make what could be the biggest comeback in mmo history:

New character models.

This is easily the single biggest gripe today's mmo players have with the game. The character models (decent by 2001 standards), simply no longer appeal to todays gamers. Updating the graphics engine isn't going to make a huge difference if the character models remain blocky and dated. Todays gamer wants thier avatar to be stylish and appealing. By "current" standards.

 

Graphics aren't everything, I know. And AO's gameplay is certainly capable of running with the best of todays current games. But, they are a big factor in todays gamespace. Having played the game for a good many years myself, I know that new character models alone won't turn the game around completely, BUT, if it were the foundation for new expansion content that evolved the story of Rubi-Ka beyond what Shadowlands ruined for many players, the possibilities would be endless.

I think FC is going to find that updating AO's engine isn't going to be enough on its own. The game needs a fresh look in every aspect. Not just foliage textures.

burmese

They -have- to upgrade the engine - modern video drivers are starting to drop DX7 compatibility.  Character model upgrades would be far more expensive, though, so don't expect it anytime soon (though the current avatars will get polished and airbrushed some to  look better under the new engine - see recent comments from the Game Director)

Trashcantoy

they also -have- to upgrade the engine cause its the only way the game will fill up its servers with fresh blood

Rollerrat

Anarchy Online was my first MMO and I played and loved it about 2,5 years (the longest time I have played a single MMO). Unfortunately, I haven't found any other game yet with as deep game mechanics as AO has. Background story was really interesting as well.

Kraxxin

Originally posted by adeptuz


Anarchy Online was my first MMO and I played and loved it about 2,5 years (the longest time I have played a single MMO). Unfortunately, I haven't found any other game yet with as deep game mechanics as AO has. Background story was really interesting as well.

 

I feel the same way as the poster above, longest mmo I've ever played,and I'm still looking for something to replace AO. I can't go back to it now,it's just not what it used to be.

Mrlogic

There are quite a few game like WoW and even more with a Final fantasy build to it but from the looks of it, nothing like AO. My biggest reasons for not going back to AO again apart from the fact that none of my friends plays it any more  is Shadowlands. I can see why so many people liked it but I really hated it from the start and it ruined the game imho. I am convinced that if Funcom decided to make something like Anarchy Online 2 that went back to the roots of what AO used to be I am sure it would be a hit, with updated graphics on top of that I seriously think it could compete with WoW. And even if it wouldnt be able to compete with WoW, I would be happy if it atleast would have the playerbase AO had once and that wouldnt be an impossible goal to reach.

Looking at the list of available mmorpgs here on this site tells the story of where most games are leaning towards and it looks, atleast to me very one sided. From what I have seen there's nothing that resembles AO under development, there are maybe one or two games that could look like AO on the surface but they look like pile of ratpoo with outdated graphics just like AO. So, will we ever see a game like AO in the future? It doesnt look like it at this point. The only hope we have is that Funcom will refine what they have or do some spin off.

 

burmese

When Funcom first added Shadowlands into AO, it was a case of taking a bunch of material that had been initially developed for a project called Midgard, which got cancelled fairly early in development, and tweaking it to fit AO. Over the years, however, they have gradually massaged the SL content and quests and background such that the relationship between Rubi-ka and the metaphysical realm of The Shadowlands is deeply intertwined and makes a great deal of sense.  With the addition of the LoX (Legacy of the Xan) Booster, all the disparate elements - Shadowlands, Aliens, Dust Brigade, and Rubi-Ka - have been interwoven into a meaningful tapestry. The focus is back to 'What is going to happen to this little planet and who will control it'.  The fight between the megacorp Omni-Tek and the Rebel clans is as fierce as ever but people are starting to realize that there are ancient elements out there that have a vested interest in what happens to Rubi-Ka and who are working towards achieving their own vision of the future of the planet, by either opposing or aiding the humans who walk the surface today.

Mrlogic

So maybe it's worth giving Ao another chance then? What you wrote sounds really interesting tbh, I'm still a bit worried about SL though, it never made any sense to me when it came out and I'm still very lost once in SL, far distances to travel, key quests that I don't understand and an environment that feel so out of context from Rubi-ka. And if I want to reach max levels I assume I will need to get all the SL levels and that is a huge turn off for me. I don't want to sound negative, but these are opinions I have had for years hehe  

burmese

SL didn't make much sense to me the 1st 6 months I played, either.  Most of what has been added to it is dialog and quests, starting about 1/2 way thru the SL progression that introduce a lot of background detail explaining just what the Shadowlands was and is.  As well, the more recent material added has all been back on Rubi-Ka, tying things together, even explaining (to a degree) why the aliens are attacking the people on the planet.

As for leveling, you have to level in most every MMO.  Power levelers in AO get from 1 to 220 in 2 to 3 months, while some ppl take many years.  Getting to 220 is hardly the most important, or useful goal in the game.

Sweede

My first char in anarchy online was an agent this was back in mid 2001, he recently made lvl 100 so i'm not a speed leveler

my highest char is an engineer at lvl 165, i play from time to time but not caring much for crude level grind.

But even today i still enjoy anarchy a lot, the graphics are fitting the terraformed planet sort of so works for me

Lord_Vayde

Originally posted by burmese


"When Funcom first added Shadowlands into AO, it was a case of taking a bunch of material that had been initially developed for a project called Midgard, which got cancelled fairly early in development, and tweaking it to fit AO."

 

Just out of curiosity, but do you have a source for this? Mostly because I'm just curious about how all of AO's concepts came together.

I was under the impression that Shadowlands was planned from the very beginning, at least as early as AO's first novel in which the Unredeemed's stake in Omni-Tek is made apparent.

Here's the link for that novel, Prophet Without Honour, if anyone is interested. If nothing else, maybe it'll help you tie Shadowlands in with your idea of what Anarchy Online is.