The reason I guess it is negative towards that game is if it really isn't a WoW clone. LOTRO is not a WoW clone, yet is referred to as such pretty often.
That's an interesting point and I think it's the result of one's MMO experiences. If someone has primarily played EQ2, WOW, LOTRO, Aion and other similar games, then the differences are so great that one would definitely question calling something like LOTRO a WOW clone. However, when the gaming experiences also include games like EVE, UO, ATITD, Puzzle Pirates, Free Realms, Wizard 101, Runescape, - or even as far out on the MMO platform as LOCO, Combat Arms, BattleSwarm, and Savage - then that first set of games starts to look extremely similar in mechanics and design.
There isn't a "right" or "wrong" way to play, if you want to use a screwdriver to put nails into wood, have at it, simply don't complain when the guy next to you with the hammer is doing it much better and easier. - Allein "Graphics are often supplied by Engines that (some) MMORPG's are built in" - Spuffyre
The reason I guess it is negative towards that game is if it really isn't a WoW clone. LOTRO is not a WoW clone, yet is referred to as such pretty often.
That's an interesting point and I think it's the result of one's MMO experiences. If someone has primarily played EQ2, WOW, LOTRO, Aion and other similar games, then the differences are so great that one would definitely question calling something like LOTRO a WOW clone. However, when the gaming experiences also include games like EVE, UO, ATITD, Puzzle Pirates, Free Realms, Wizard 101, Runescape, - or even as far out on the MMO platform as LOCO, Combat Arms, BattleSwarm, and Savage - then that first set of games starts to look extremely similar in mechanics and design.
Hmm, despite the wide variety of MMO's that I've played I do consider LotRO to be a standard theme park MMORPG modeled in same vein as WOW and some others.
The principal driving factors behind my beliefs include the quest based character advancement system (common today, but not the only option), it's reliance on set fantasy roles (its a trinity game at heart), crafting systems that are simplisitic and have little impact on the economy (drops are still king as far as I know), involves levels and ever increasing level caps. (Did I mention excessive soloability) At its core the end game is your typical gear grinder, with new dungeons added which has players chasing gear upgrade ad infinitim.
Sure, theres' some differences, like the PVP system (love it or hate it) and the lore is pretty cool, but when I played it back in the day by level 30 I felt like I was having Deju Vu and playing WOW again.
OK, some of you don't agree, but that is how I perceive it. And before you say all games play like this, or "its not a sandbox", look back at games such as pre TOA DAOC to see how a themepark game could play with a design considerably different than what is accepted practice today.
Just trying to live long enough to play a new, released MMORPG, playing New Worlds atm
Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions. Pvbs 18:2, NIV
Don't just play games, inhabit virtual worlds™
"This is the most intelligent, well qualified and articulate response to a post I have ever seen on these forums. It's a shame most people here won't have the attention span to read past the second line." - Anon
The reason I guess it is negative towards that game is if it really isn't a WoW clone. LOTRO is not a WoW clone, yet is referred to as such pretty often.
That's an interesting point and I think it's the result of one's MMO experiences. If someone has primarily played EQ2, WOW, LOTRO, Aion and other similar games, then the differences are so great that one would definitely question calling something like LOTRO a WOW clone. However, when the gaming experiences also include games like EVE, UO, ATITD, Puzzle Pirates, Free Realms, Wizard 101, Runescape, - or even as far out on the MMO platform as LOCO, Combat Arms, BattleSwarm, and Savage - then that first set of games starts to look extremely similar in mechanics and design.
Hmm, despite the wide variety of MMO's that I've played I do consider LotRO to be a standard theme park MMORPG modeled in same vein as WOW and some others.
The principal driving factors behind my beliefs include the quest based character advancement system (common today, but not the only option), it's reliance on set fantasy roles (its a trinity game at heart), crafting systems that are simplisitic and have little impact on the economy (drops are still king as far as I know), involves levels and ever increasing level caps. (Did I mention excessive soloability) At its core the end game is your typical gear grinder, with new dungeons added which has players chasing gear upgrade ad infinitim.
Sure, theres' some differences, like the PVP system (love it or hate it) and the lore is pretty cool, but when I played it back in the day by level 30 I felt like I was having Deju Vu and playing WOW again.
OK, some of you don't agree, but that is how I perceive it. And before you say all games play like this, or "its not a sandbox", look back at games such as pre TOA DAOC to see how a themepark game could play with a design considerably different than what is accepted practice today.
Agreed. When one's point of reference extends to the entirety of the platform, they do seem very similar. However, for millions of MMO gamers, WOW-era mainstream MMOs are the majority of what they have experienced, so their point of comparison is strictly within the subset of class-restricted level-based combat-driven fantasy games rather than a point of comparison that encompasses the larger scope that includes that subset.
There isn't a "right" or "wrong" way to play, if you want to use a screwdriver to put nails into wood, have at it, simply don't complain when the guy next to you with the hammer is doing it much better and easier. - Allein "Graphics are often supplied by Engines that (some) MMORPG's are built in" - Spuffyre
Comments
That's an interesting point and I think it's the result of one's MMO experiences. If someone has primarily played EQ2, WOW, LOTRO, Aion and other similar games, then the differences are so great that one would definitely question calling something like LOTRO a WOW clone. However, when the gaming experiences also include games like EVE, UO, ATITD, Puzzle Pirates, Free Realms, Wizard 101, Runescape, - or even as far out on the MMO platform as LOCO, Combat Arms, BattleSwarm, and Savage - then that first set of games starts to look extremely similar in mechanics and design.
There isn't a "right" or "wrong" way to play, if you want to use a screwdriver to put nails into wood, have at it, simply don't complain when the guy next to you with the hammer is doing it much better and easier. - Allein
"Graphics are often supplied by Engines that (some) MMORPG's are built in" - Spuffyre
Hmm, despite the wide variety of MMO's that I've played I do consider LotRO to be a standard theme park MMORPG modeled in same vein as WOW and some others.
The principal driving factors behind my beliefs include the quest based character advancement system (common today, but not the only option), it's reliance on set fantasy roles (its a trinity game at heart), crafting systems that are simplisitic and have little impact on the economy (drops are still king as far as I know), involves levels and ever increasing level caps. (Did I mention excessive soloability) At its core the end game is your typical gear grinder, with new dungeons added which has players chasing gear upgrade ad infinitim.
Sure, theres' some differences, like the PVP system (love it or hate it) and the lore is pretty cool, but when I played it back in the day by level 30 I felt like I was having Deju Vu and playing WOW again.
OK, some of you don't agree, but that is how I perceive it. And before you say all games play like this, or "its not a sandbox", look back at games such as pre TOA DAOC to see how a themepark game could play with a design considerably different than what is accepted practice today.
"True friends stab you in the front." | Oscar Wilde
"I need to finish" - Christian Wolff: The Accountant
Just trying to live long enough to play a new, released MMORPG, playing New Worlds atm
Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions. Pvbs 18:2, NIV
Don't just play games, inhabit virtual worlds™
"This is the most intelligent, well qualified and articulate response to a post I have ever seen on these forums. It's a shame most people here won't have the attention span to read past the second line." - Anon
Agreed. When one's point of reference extends to the entirety of the platform, they do seem very similar. However, for millions of MMO gamers, WOW-era mainstream MMOs are the majority of what they have experienced, so their point of comparison is strictly within the subset of class-restricted level-based combat-driven fantasy games rather than a point of comparison that encompasses the larger scope that includes that subset.
There isn't a "right" or "wrong" way to play, if you want to use a screwdriver to put nails into wood, have at it, simply don't complain when the guy next to you with the hammer is doing it much better and easier. - Allein
"Graphics are often supplied by Engines that (some) MMORPG's are built in" - Spuffyre