If you don't like RIFT then maybe its time to give up on Theme-park mmos for the next few years and

arcsur

Or Everquest, but as its 12 years old, and may be a bit slow and its graphics outdated, try Vanguard instead.

 

I did and after playing all the post-WoW-themeparks i have to say Vanguard is a fresh breathe of air. Everyone who is bored with RIFT and says its just another WoW clone must experience the challenge and deepness which lies in the dungeons and lore of Vanguard.

It's not true that every MMO is a "traditional fantasy MMO". Darkfall, Mortal online, Everquest, Vanguard: These games have some very different taste, actually these games are THE traditional way, and as Vanguard is the only quality new AA title of this 4, i have to say that today Vanguard is the one for those, who are also bored, as i was 1 month ago.

 

Please stop thinking that if Rift-GW2-Tera will fail, then all is lost. No. We have other choices, people just don't realize them because of bad marketing and such. One they a new-polished-lovely Everquest will be born and from that day MMORPG's will have a renessaince. Till that day Vanguard awaits.

 

Yes, im a fanboi for exatly 27 days, since i first went to a 4 hour long grouping in a reaaaaally challenging non-instanced dungeon on my level 18 necro in Vanguard.

fiontar

I played Vanguard. Huge world, but it still felt just like every other quest based MMO, but on crack. I also couldn't shake the feeling it was quantity over quality. Many art assets don't blend together well and the lay out of mobs sometimes feels more "Theme Park" than some games people call Theme Park.

Germaximus_S

I wanted to play it, its cool, the graphics are crap ya know but its neat.

I wont play it due to low population and the fact that its not supported or updated yet still has a monthly charge. I mean seriously?

TheMinn

ummm...how is Vanguard not a themepark? Instead of Vanguard hit up Fallen Earth, much better setting and way more different than a themepark. AND it gets patches and updates still.....and has more than 2 people working on it.

Loke666

While Vanguard today is a fine game (it wasn't at launch) it is a lot closer to classic themeparks than GW2 will be.

Sure, it is different from Rift and it is worth trying but it is not that different even if it have some sandbox elements in it.

But Everquest is not just a "traditional fantasy MMO" but the traditional fantasy MMO everyone is copying but you can't compare it with MO or DF. EQ is a themepark.

The question is why a certain person didn't like Rift, there are several reasons for that and the game you should recommend them instead depends on that,

Calling GW2 a traditional themepark is just wrong. I would rather call it a dynamic game since that is it's focus, it is doing it's own race and not really either follow the footsteps EQ or UO like most MMOs. That isn't neccesarily a good thing, just different.

TERA is traditional even if it tries to change the combat mechanics, the rest of the game seems pretty much the same as earlier games.

Rift do have some different features as well, like the character customization but it still follows EQ and Wow.

TOR is on the other hand taking themeparks a lot further the other way Bioware style, not sure that will work either but just because someone didn't like Rift does not say they wont like TOR.

I didn't particularly like Wow but I like EQ2. And many people feel the opposite way. That doesn't mean anyone is wrong, just that taste differs and that small differences sometimes matters a lot.

cheyane

This is a good idea more people should play Vanguard. Go ,go and play Vanguard it is a good game.

TheMinn

Originally posted by Loke666

While Vanguard today is a fine game (it wasn't at launch) it is a lot closer to classic themeparks than GW2 will be.

Sure, it is different from Rift and it is worth trying but it is not that different even if it have some sandbox elements in it.

But Everquest is not just a "traditional fantasy MMO" but the traditional fantasy MMO everyone is copying but you can't compare it with MO or DF. EQ is a themepark.

The question is why a certain person didn't like Rift, there are several reasons for that and the game you should recommend them instead depends on that,

Calling GW2 a traditional themepark is just wrong. I would rather call it a dynamic game since that is it's focus, it is doing it's own race and not really either follow the footsteps EQ or UO like most MMOs. That isn't neccesarily a good thing, just different.

TERA is traditional even if it tries to change the combat mechanics, the rest of the game seems pretty much the same as earlier games.

Rift do have some different features as well, like the character customization but it still follows EQ and Wow.

TOR is on the other hand taking themeparks a lot further the other way Bioware style, not sure that will work either but just because someone didn't like Rift does not say they wont like TOR.

I didn't particularly like Wow but I like EQ2. And many people feel the opposite way. That doesn't mean anyone is wrong, just that taste differs and that small differences sometimes matters a lot.

agreed. couldnt get into EQ2 because of the combat/animations but i never hated on it. I don't do WoW anymore only because I played it for years so it was time to move on and I was upset that, with all the $$$ blizzard has, they have yet to add another race or make the world larger; juts doesnt make sense. Now with this post it should have recommended non-themepark games but even non-themepark games have themeparks in them, ironically. Mention Xyson, Fallen Earth, Darkfall, even Mortal Online, even Ryzom. Just a bad argument. I am actually enjoying RIFT...maybe it's because it's just new lore, or that it has a nic polish, who knows....sometimes you just cannot explain anything. I still play Fallen Earth too...I would more if I was not in college. I wish every MMO luck, even Warhammer....but I do think RIFT will stabalize even after a few months. But I am gettin GW2 just because I am curious, but I'm pasing on TOR. Why? honestly...the art style just disgusts me...

DeserttFoxx

The last actual update for vanguard was in 2009...

 

The game is clearly on life support, and sony is the grieving husband who just cant pull the plug.

 

 

update history - http://vgplayers.station.sony.com/gameUpdatesDetails.vm?id=089&mode=PatchNotes

Blacknd

It's hard for me to play a game that isn't supported by its parent company anymore.

Hell even EQ and Anarchy Online receive updates still..

Tutu2

Considering the last actual update of the game was in 2009...and some of the dev team was moved to EQ2 for a while...it's clear SOE does not give a shit about Vanguard. It was bought out for cheap.The forums are full of anger and disappointment and I'm just baffled as to why people still stick around and give money to such a bad company and a dead game.

djnexus

EQ and Vanguard

EQ- Epicness, biggest game world in an mmo, still going after 11 years strong with 11 or 12 servers and 2 prog servers

Vanguard- The true successor to EQ

Will Rift last 11 years mmmm nope. I dont think it will.

Miles-Prower

Personally, I'd much rather see them get rid of these "Themepark" and "Sand box" tags on MMORPGs and just make good quality MMORPGs instead of having people throw rocks at one another over who's MMORPG has more sand in it or amusement rides.

 

~Miles "Tails" Prower out! Catch me if you can!

bunnyhopper

Originally posted by Miles-Prower

Personally, I'd much rather see them get rid of these "Themepark" and "Sand box" tags on MMORPGs and just make good quality MMORPGs instead of having people throw rocks at one another over who's MMORPG has more sand in it or amusement rides.

 

~Miles "Tails" Prower out! Catch me if you can!

I think they are somewhat more than 'tags' but I can kind of see your point.

 

As for trying Vanguard, even as a die hard 'sandboxer', no just no.

sebbonx

Vanguard is on its way to the trash heap. RIFT will be HUGE.

Give up on promoting Vantard, we all know better.

Daffid011

Here I thought vanguard was a themepark style mmo. 

Explorium

Originally posted by TheMinn

ummm...how is Vanguard not a themepark? Instead of Vanguard hit up Fallen Earth, much better setting and way more different than a themepark. AND it gets patches and updates still.....and has more than 2 people working on it.

Fallen Earth is as themepark as Vanguard is. In FE you are forced to do quests for AP, and you go from one town to the next. And then from one sector to the next sector. In fact, to me, its more linear than VG is.

 

GreenKnight1776

Originally posted by DeserttFoxx

The last actual update for vanguard was in 2009...

 

The game is clearly on life support, and sony is the grieving husband who just cant pull the plug.

 

 

update history - http://vgplayers.station.sony.com/gameUpdatesDetails.vm?id=089&mode=PatchNotes

This.

I can appreciate the OP's sentiment. But sentiment does not develop or expand an MMO and ongoing support by its owners/publishers is critical to an MMO's health. I'm not an SOE hater, in fact I think they saved VG from cancellation, but what do we have today? Effectively one server and not only lack of updates since 2009/2010, but no communication from SOE regarding their stance on the game since 2009 either. Entire VG guilds moved to Rift or are waiting to move to other games, because of this fact alone. It's not that VG is not or could not be an outstanding long term game. It's that it's dying. This year I would expect a Matrix style announcment about VG shutting down. If they leave it as is...whoever is left playing can enjoy VG for what it is.

RIP VG.

VengeSunsoar

I have a love/hate relationship with Vanguard.  I want to love it.  It has most things I want, housing, free flight, great graphics (except characters) and decent roles.  True none of them (except for flight) are as extensive as I want them to be however they do have them.

But something about it is just boring.

The crafting seems dull and unininspired and very grindy.  I'm bored with the quests, and dungeons may be cool but the few that I've run just seem meh.

I'm not sure what it is but everything just seems bland.

And I can't stand the diplomacy.

Of course all this is just my opinion.  But every time I try within a couple weeks I'm just left feeling underwhelmed, and will move back to Istaria and WoW.  It's too bad.

Venge

Gardavil2

"If you don't like RIFT then maybe its time to give up on Theme-park mmos for the next few years and try Vanguard"

I lost my interest with themepark MMOs due to LotRO and the changes that were made from beta until now.

As for Rift... I have no interest in ever playing. Period. Rift is a shooting star... brilliant and bright, exciting... and short lived in my honest and cranky opinion. However 12 million people think World of Warcraft is peaches and cream so I imagine I could be the minority...

Vanguard? Already there. See you there.

Istaria? (you mean Horizons?) Yes that is another great game, and also another gem not yet fully polished and appreciated.

In all honesty each Person will have their own unique taste in what type and kind of MMO they enjoy, and that is how it should be.

gobla

I really loved the Vanguard trial. Great experience.

But as many before me have said I don't think it's wise to subscribe to a game that hasn't received updates for over a year.

vladww

Originally posted by gobla

I really loved the Vanguard trial. Great experience.

But as many before me have said I don't think it's wise to subscribe to a game that hasn't received updates for over a year.

 Not only that, but Vanguard has been dumbed down to pieces by Silius & his (small) team.

Crafting , Factions , Exploration , Boats, PvP, etc.. has been made useless & meaningless.

R.I.P.