SWTOR has hope of 'expanding' on space combat based on the 'feedback' from the Shooter-on-Rails design.
DarkPony has a new amazing Sig
Guild Wars 2 pushed back to 2012
Mass Effect 3 delayed.
This is great news. It allows us to launch SWTOR, and not have to rush through. So that in 2-3 months when we've hit cap, and the themepark ride is over. We can move on happily to the 2012 releases, and have good memories not bitter resentment.
Ummm Atari owns Cryptic....
Not to mention Cryptic is developing another project for Atari that is not announced. Which worries me as it seems like they are ignoring their past failures considering that Neverwinter seems to be still on the whiteboard stage with "Rouge" brainstorming and yet they are developing another MMO on the side or whatever thes project is.
SWTOR has hope of 'expanding' on space combat based on the 'feedback' from the Shooter-on-Rails design.
DarkPony has a new amazing Sig
Guild Wars 2 pushed back to 2012
Mass Effect 3 delayed.
This is great news. It allows us to launch SWTOR, and not have to rush through. So that in 2-3 months when we've hit cap, and the themepark ride is over. We can move on happily to the 2012 releases, and have good memories not bitter resentment.
Ummm Atari owns Cryptic....
Not to mention Cryptic is developing another project for Atari that is not announced. Which worries me as it seems like they are ignoring their past failures considering that Neverwinter seems to be still on the whiteboard stage with "Rouge" brainstorming and yet they are developing another MMO on the side or whatever thes project is.
Well, there is hope that EVE will finally implement Incarna (ambulation) and bring a host of new players who have always claimed the only reason they didn't play was the lack of an avatar they could relate to.
2011 could be a great year in that case regardless whether or not TOR ships. I still say 2012, but I'm more of a realist and the good news for all TOR fans is.... I really suck at making predictions so you're all probably OK.
Indeed there is hope, imo.
Once Incarna launches this Summer, I can only imagine how many players will join and/or come back to EVE. If that happens, the boom of subscriptions might gain the attention of the greedy corporate bastages who are responsible for funding the 'let's take the safe route" games that have been launching and failing, and we could see more depthful FFA or core MMORPG titles start churning up.
I personally am very excited to see my Avatar out of her ship and hob-knobbing with other capsuleers ;-) I think the already splendid living economy will explode with activity, considering the new markets that will open up based on clothing, tattoos, jewelry, hair, and all the aesthetics that come along with having rich avatar creation/customization. That will in turn amp up the demand for minerals, giving some fresh excitement for the miners, which in turn, gives more targets for the pirates :-)
Incarna will do a lot, i think.
This is not a troll, flame, or anything else worth banning me over. It is simply my pure opinion, and I have a right to share it.
SWTOR has hope of 'expanding' on space combat based on the 'feedback' from the Shooter-on-Rails design.
DarkPony has a new amazing Sig
Guild Wars 2 pushed back to 2012
Mass Effect 3 delayed.
This is great news. It allows us to launch SWTOR, and not have to rush through. So that in 2-3 months when we've hit cap, and the themepark ride is over. We can move on happily to the 2012 releases, and have good memories not bitter resentment.
Ummm Atari owns Cryptic....
Not to mention Cryptic is developing another project for Atari that is not announced. Which worries me as it seems like they are ignoring their past failures considering that Neverwinter seems to be still on the whiteboard stage with "Rouge" brainstorming and yet they are developing another MMO on the side or whatever thes project is.
SWTOR. Face it, in the Scooby Doo Mystery Solving Van of coolness, this game is Velma. In this current MMO climate it has about as much chance for survival as a group of inquisitive teenagers in a 1980s slasher flick. -Tardcore May, 2011
@Ebil_Piwat: that's my whole point that I was trying to make, the lineup of MMO's for 2011 and 2012 has something for all types of MMO gamers to be excited about:
- for fans of themepark MMO's you'll have SWTOR, Rift and TERA
- for those who crave innovation or just something different in MMO's, you'll have GW2, TSW and Firefall
- for fans of sandbox MMO's you'll have ArcheAge and World of Darkness
- for those who like a more story immersive questing experience, you'll have GW2, SWTOR and TSW
- for those who're sick of traditional sword&sorcery fantasy you'll have SWTOR, Firefall and Planetside Next and for those who're also sick of scifi you still have TSW and WoD.
Of course you'll still have very specific niches and tastes that aren't covered in the MMO's listed above (a well done Dune, Blade Runner, Resident Evil, Games of Thrones or Otherland MMO would be nice, thank you) but most of the major style preferences have been covered by one or more of the upcoming MMO's.
I'd go so far to say that if an MMO gamer can't find gaming fun and enjoyment in any of those MMO's, then it's maybe time to think if they haven't outgrown MMO's in some way - or the MMO genre outgrown them - and that the specific thing they're looking for in MMO's is merely a thing that could've been satisfied in their past.
The ease with which predictions are made on these forums: Fratman: "I'm saying Spring 2012 at the earliest [for TOR release]. Anyone still clinging to 2011 is deluding themself at this point."
@ MMO.Maverick I see your point, and agree mostly.
Ofcourse we all know WE could mostly put features into games WE prefer, and thus think everyone else will enjoy as well, right?
SWTOR. Face it, in the Scooby Doo Mystery Solving Van of coolness, this game is Velma. In this current MMO climate it has about as much chance for survival as a group of inquisitive teenagers in a 1980s slasher flick. -Tardcore May, 2011
Yes MMO.Maverick Guild Wars 2 delay wasn't expected, and I agree both ( although in different ways ) SWTOR and GW2 will have an effect on MMO's, and gamers.
I'll also agree with you Rift was/is a decent game, with a polished launch that drew in a crowd, but now to why I highlighted in yellow. I feel I am a 'true MMO' player. not the new breed of enter, rush to cap, play 'endgame' til bored, find a new title.
I've crafted, explored, been in guilds, been a guild officer, when the plague that NGE was swept through my guild town, I stood firm, even as it swept the population aside. I do not want to chase the next big hit, I do not like running to Gamestop, and pre-ordering the next launch to recieve the extra pvp map pack.
Developers now use the term 'persistant world' to say it's a feature of their product, yet the RP'ers are teased for wanting immersion. So as a 'true MMO gamer' I don't want to be immersed in my game world? I don't want to persistantly explore, and be engaged by it?
I get an MMO today to ride a themepark from level 1-50/65/80/etc getting new gear to symbolize my advancement? I want to re-entertain the same dungeon over, and over to grind out a better helmet? I want to capture the same flag over and over, win.. loose.. don't matter. because when you get to 5,000 'points' I have these nifty gloves?
Where is my online community from before? My crafters that I interact with? MMO's used to be living breathing, thriving communities? Why must I get my gear from a PvP merchant? or a 'boss'?
Does Seal team six go out and PvP bin Laden for a new rifle? Did Nike travel overseas and kill the animal for a new cross trainer?
Maybe I am a sand box over themepark MMO player.. problem is all new sandbox mmo's are full loot pvp gank-fests. ( I'm looking at you Earthrize, darkfall ) So looking forward. Where is the UO's, the DAoC, the pre-NGE SWG style games?
EVERY new game is a quest hub, instance dungeon, themepark. With crafting added as an after thought, or sub par with Quest / pvp gear. None have open housing, or player communities. And all basically get selected by holy trinity group dynamic.
You say: " then maybe instead of complaining year after year it's time to consider looking elsewhere for gaming enjoyment, cause it sounds like a case of chronic MMO burnout or persistent mismatch between MMO's and such people to me "
I say: The current development cycle to cater to the casual console type new game every 2-3 months crowd, has shattered the Massive Multiplayer Communities that used to thrive in MMO's, and until a developer realizes their themepark crowd rides the new ride in 2-3 months, it's the community that stays playing. We will continue to get a new themepark ride with all the benifits of that themepark plus our new logo cycle.
very well written post, and I agree.
I am one of the people whom the MMO genre has "outgrown" apparently, and have given up on the genre.
I will, however be playing SWTOR.
Sound odd? It's because I won't be thinking of the game in comparison or context with other MMORPGs. I will be thinking of it as being KOTOR with multiplayer.
I loved the KOTOR games...have played them both to death. I figure I'm going to have a damn good time in SWTOR, especially if I can pretend that it's not supposed to be an MMORPG, but simply a continuation of one of my favorite game series.
And hey, Bioware really seems to be listening to the community, and trying to make the best game they can. It will be a nice change from the way SOE treated us back in the SWG days, eh?
Yes MMO.Maverick Guild Wars 2 delay wasn't expected, and I agree both ( although in different ways ) SWTOR and GW2 will have an effect on MMO's, and gamers.
I'll also agree with you Rift was/is a decent game, with a polished launch that drew in a crowd, but now to why I highlighted in yellow. I feel I am a 'true MMO' player. not the new breed of enter, rush to cap, play 'endgame' til bored, find a new title.
I've crafted, explored, been in guilds, been a guild officer, when the plague that NGE was swept through my guild town, I stood firm, even as it swept the population aside. I do not want to chase the next big hit, I do not like running to Gamestop, and pre-ordering the next launch to recieve the extra pvp map pack.
Developers now use the term 'persistant world' to say it's a feature of their product, yet the RP'ers are teased for wanting immersion. So as a 'true MMO gamer' I don't want to be immersed in my game world? I don't want to persistantly explore, and be engaged by it?
I get an MMO today to ride a themepark from level 1-50/65/80/etc getting new gear to symbolize my advancement? I want to re-entertain the same dungeon over, and over to grind out a better helmet? I want to capture the same flag over and over, win.. loose.. don't matter. because when you get to 5,000 'points' I have these nifty gloves?
Where is my online community from before? My crafters that I interact with? MMO's used to be living breathing, thriving communities? Why must I get my gear from a PvP merchant? or a 'boss'?
Does Seal team six go out and PvP bin Laden for a new rifle? Did Nike travel overseas and kill the animal for a new cross trainer?
Maybe I am a sand box over themepark MMO player.. problem is all new sandbox mmo's are full loot pvp gank-fests. ( I'm looking at you Earthrize, darkfall ) So looking forward. Where is the UO's, the DAoC, the pre-NGE SWG style games?
EVERY new game is a quest hub, instance dungeon, themepark. With crafting added as an after thought, or sub par with Quest / pvp gear. None have open housing, or player communities. And all basically get selected by holy trinity group dynamic.
You say: " then maybe instead of complaining year after year it's time to consider looking elsewhere for gaming enjoyment, cause it sounds like a case of chronic MMO burnout or persistent mismatch between MMO's and such people to me "
I say: The current development cycle to cater to the casual console type new game every 2-3 months crowd, has shattered the Massive Multiplayer Communities that used to thrive in MMO's, and until a developer realizes their themepark crowd rides the new ride in 2-3 months, it's the community that stays playing. We will continue to get a new themepark ride with all the benifits of that themepark plus our new logo cycle.
very well written post, and I agree.
I am one of the people whom the MMO genre has "outgrown" apparently, and have given up on the genre.
I will, however be playing SWTOR.
Sound odd? It's because I won't be thinking of the game in comparison or context with other MMORPGs. I will be thinking of it as being KOTOR with multiplayer.
I loved the KOTOR games...have played them both to death. I figure I'm going to have a damn good time in SWTOR, especially if I can pretend that it's not supposed to be an MMORPG, but simply a continuation of one of my favorite game series.
And hey, Bioware really seems to be listening to the community, and trying to make the best game they can. It will be a nice change from the way SOE treated us back in the SWG days, eh?
Could not have said it better.
Let's just hope EQ Next, ArcheAge and World of Darkness can deliver.
Played: MCO - EQ/EQ2 - WoW - VG - WAR - AoC - LoTRO - DDO - GW/GW2 - Eve - Rift - FE - TSW - TSO - WS - ESO - AA - BD Playing: Sims 3 & 4, Diablo3 and PoE Waiting on: Lost Ark Who's going to make a Cyberpunk MMO?
If GW2 has been moved back to 2012 then i wasn't really surprised, and i'm actually glad if it has. Gives em more time to fix it up give out more info and build up more. 2011 just seemed way too close to SWToR and last thing you want is to try and rival Bioware and star wars game's in hype :P
As for last hope, dunno i'm certain it will be fun to play, and is probably the last hope for me for a good story based game It will depened on the TSW/Tera on when they come out, if they are moved back to 2012 then probably yeah this one is probably my last hope for 2011.
Help me Bioware, you're my only hope.
Is ToR going to be good? Dude it's Bioware making a freaking star wars game, all signs point to awesome. -G4tv MMo report.
We probably need Ben Kenobi now more than ever if we're going to have a decent mmo for 2011. NcSoft made it official that the GW2 mmo will go in closed beta by the end of the year. That all but eliminates the majority of possibilities we will see GW2 in 2011 unless a small miracle happens. Are there any other hopes for 2011 ? Honestly, it looks like online rts and rpg games will reign supreme yet again. Lets pray that The Old Republic has a good launch.
Maybe the only mmorpg hope but not the only rpg hope.
Skyrim, Witcher II, and perhaps even Diablo 3 should be great alternatives for a while.
Personally I am fully convinced Swtor will lead us to the eternal valley of gaming bliss.
*looks over his shoulder for Tardcore*
... If it ever releases, that is.
Skyrim, maybe. Doubt it will be out this year.
Witcher 2, liked the first one, but would really still rather re-read the novels.
Diablo 3, no way in hell we will see this for awhile, and since my love and trust for Blizzard has diminished quite a bit in the last two years, I'm not sure if it isn't better if I never playit.
SWTOR. Face it, in the Scooby Doo Mystery Solving Van of coolness, this game is Velma. In this current MMO climate it has about as much chance for survival as a group of inquisitive teenagers in a 1980s slasher flick.
Oh yeah, EPIC sig there Dark
"Gypsies, tramps, and thieves, we were called by the Admin of the site . . . "
I think GW2, The Secret World, and Arch Age are all games to keep an eye on, even if they don't necessarily release in 2011.
The only problem I have with TERA is that I have little reason to believe it won't devolve into yet another Korean grind but with pretty graphics. I mean, we heard the localization talk from NCSoft years ago with AION, but it has been three years, and I still don't believe AION has been westernized enough for mass appeal within the American market.
Maybe the only mmorpg hope but not the only rpg hope.
Skyrim, Witcher II, and perhaps even Diablo 3 should be great alternatives for a while.
Personally I am fully convinced Swtor will lead us to the eternal valley of gaming bliss.
*looks over his shoulder for Tardcore*
... If it ever releases, that is.
Skyrim, maybe. Doubt it will be out this year.
Witcher 2, liked the first one, but would really still rather re-read the novels.
Diablo 3, no way in hell we will see this for awhile, and since my love and trust for Blizzard has diminished quite a bit in the last two years, I'm not sure if it isn't better if I never playit.
SWTOR. Face it, in the Scooby Doo Mystery Solving Van of coolness, this game is Velma. In this current MMO climate it has about as much chance for survival as a group of inquisitive teenagers in a 1980s slasher flick.
well is the group made up of virgins or sluts and players? ;P
I think as far as MMORPG's are concerned TOR will do very well. At the very least, like previously mentioned, it will be a very good multiplayer Bioware Star Wars RPG which should excite any RPG gamer.
What I think will be unique for 2011 for this genre though is that we will look at it as the year WoW finally peaked. I think there is plenty of room for lots of MMORPGs to coexist but its rather unsettling (and not healthy for the industry) that a 6 year old game engine has held on to the top spot for long and with such numbers. The WoW "platform" has enjoyed top ranking longer than most console lifespans.
I think the Rift-> SW:TOR-> GW2 punch will finally wake blizzard up a little. They should have been working on "WoW 2" years ago, and expansions shouldn't take 2 years. No one has challenged them in the least and they have had no reason what-so-ever to innovate.
TOR has the IP and the Development Studio to finally capture the attention of the gamers WoW brought to the genre. It looks great and even if its nothing but WoW with a KoTor 3 skin unless they really bungle the launch and advertising push, it will be profitable for them. It will start change the genre for good (hopefully we will start to see two big elephants in room).
And then GW2 hits and Everything changes....
Idle speculation based on two games I haven't played admitedly but from what I have seen from both of those titles it doesn't look too far fecthed.
It's been a good year already but if you are going to just put success (or a win) down to subs then most mmo's are going to fail in the eyes of someone. Look at wow and all those subscribers and still there is a large amount of folks that look at it as the anti-christ. I don't believe most that cry about mmo's have a clue and will throw a tantrum no matter how good a game is about some feature they didn't like. Can anyone else look at the state of mmo's without wearing blacked out glasses?
Not to mention Cryptic is developing another project for Atari that is not announced. Which worries me as it seems like they are ignoring their past failures considering that Neverwinter seems to be still on the whiteboard stage with "Rouge" brainstorming and yet they are developing another MMO on the side or whatever thes project is.
Nice try, but Atari has already confirmed to the media that they are going to still fund the Neverwinter project Cryptic is working on. From IGN:
Citing an Atari earnings statement, Gamasutra has gleaned details about Atari's relationship with developer Cryptic Studios.
As of March 31st, Atari is divesting its interest in the studio, working to sell it at some point in time. Atari has made it clear that it will continue to support both Star Trek Online and Champions Online, but doesn't see the studio as part of its long-term goal of "fewer but more profitable releases."
Gamasutra has also been informed that work will continue as normal on Cryptic's Neverwinter project.
Nothing has changed for GW2 it is on the same schedule it has always been on, no confirmation of time line as ever been announced. Besides that they will hold a closed beta during the second half of the year of 2011 (which means it could be any time from July to December) and depending on how that goes, it will determine when the open beta happens and launch occurs. Directly from ANet:
All right, everyone. Seems that this investor call got a few people worked up, so I wanted to reiterate information about beta and the business model. Our release date remains "When it's done" and our current beta timing is still closed alpha/beta this year, with public beta and release to be determined based upon feedback from closed alpha/beta.
The business model remains subscription-free (buy the game, no monthly fees) with microtransactions, which you have long known about. Other games charge a subscription fee to provide ongoing game content. As you know from Rick's posts on the forums, microstransactions in Guild Wars 2 are going to help sustain the game and provide you with ongoing game content. So, really, the investor call revealed nothing new to fans who have been following the game closely. For investors, the call was informational and provided status updates for them. Unlike fans, investors don't constantly hit F5 on the blog or the Guild Wars 2 website to track every single minute detail. - Regina Buenaobra
So GW2 could still come out at the end of 2011 or the start of 2012, it will all depend on how smooth the closed beta goes. So unless you can travel into the future and see what happens in the beta no one here knows when the game is going to launch, it is just speculation!
AS much as I want to love this game, I have a feeling the combat will be very boring since it will not be any different then most oher mmo's out there. Also see many other problems, but time will tell.
AS much as I want to love this game, I have a feeling the combat will be very boring since it will not be any different then most oher mmo's out there. Also see many other problems, but time will tell.
Exactly.
It is best for the industry the MMO throne remains an dusty empty seat never to be filled.
This is great news. It allows us to launch SWTOR, and not have to rush through. So that in 2-3 months when we've hit cap, and the themepark ride is over. We can move on happily to the 2012 releases, and have good memories not bitter resentment.
I'm pretty sure the combined content and replay value of SWTOR is going to last much longer than 2-3 months. Heck, that was the replay value of KOTOR 1+2 together or Dragon Age 1+2 and SWTOR is at least 8x bigger than those games. Not to mention future expansions including the space expansion and additional DLC that have quality, size, and playtime comparable to DA:Awakening or ME2 Lair of the Shadow Broker.
They're almost guaranteed to keep us hooked for way longer than 2-3 months. There's no way they would let their $80-million baby just sit and die from lack of expansions.
Yes MMO.Maverick Guild Wars 2 delay wasn't expected, and I agree both ( although in different ways ) SWTOR and GW2 will have an effect on MMO's, and gamers.
I'll also agree with you Rift was/is a decent game, with a polished launch that drew in a crowd, but now to why I highlighted in yellow. I feel I am a 'true MMO' player. not the new breed of enter, rush to cap, play 'endgame' til bored, find a new title.
I've crafted, explored, been in guilds, been a guild officer, when the plague that NGE was swept through my guild town, I stood firm, even as it swept the population aside. I do not want to chase the next big hit, I do not like running to Gamestop, and pre-ordering the next launch to recieve the extra pvp map pack.
Developers now use the term 'persistant world' to say it's a feature of their product, yet the RP'ers are teased for wanting immersion. So as a 'true MMO gamer' I don't want to be immersed in my game world? I don't want to persistantly explore, and be engaged by it?
I get an MMO today to ride a themepark from level 1-50/65/80/etc getting new gear to symbolize my advancement? I want to re-entertain the same dungeon over, and over to grind out a better helmet? I want to capture the same flag over and over, win.. loose.. don't matter. because when you get to 5,000 'points' I have these nifty gloves?
Where is my online community from before? My crafters that I interact with? MMO's used to be living breathing, thriving communities? Why must I get my gear from a PvP merchant? or a 'boss'?
Does Seal team six go out and PvP bin Laden for a new rifle? Did Nike travel overseas and kill the animal for a new cross trainer?
Maybe I am a sand box over themepark MMO player.. problem is all new sandbox mmo's are full loot pvp gank-fests. ( I'm looking at you Earthrize, darkfall ) So looking forward. Where is the UO's, the DAoC, the pre-NGE SWG style games?
EVERY new game is a quest hub, instance dungeon, themepark. With crafting added as an after thought, or sub par with Quest / pvp gear. None have open housing, or player communities. And all basically get selected by holy trinity group dynamic.
You say: " then maybe instead of complaining year after year it's time to consider looking elsewhere for gaming enjoyment, cause it sounds like a case of chronic MMO burnout or persistent mismatch between MMO's and such people to me "
I say: The current development cycle to cater to the casual console type new game every 2-3 months crowd, has shattered the Massive Multiplayer Communities that used to thrive in MMO's, and until a developer realizes their themepark crowd rides the new ride in 2-3 months, it's the community that stays playing. We will continue to get a new themepark ride with all the benifits of that themepark plus our new logo cycle.
very well written post, and I agree.
I am one of the people whom the MMO genre has "outgrown" apparently, and have given up on the genre.
I will, however be playing SWTOR.
Sound odd? It's because I won't be thinking of the game in comparison or context with other MMORPGs. I will be thinking of it as being KOTOR with multiplayer.
I loved the KOTOR games...have played them both to death. I figure I'm going to have a damn good time in SWTOR, especially if I can pretend that it's not supposed to be an MMORPG, but simply a continuation of one of my favorite game series.
And hey, Bioware really seems to be listening to the community, and trying to make the best game they can. It will be a nice change from the way SOE treated us back in the SWG days, eh?
If it's KOTOR with multi play i will be happy but I do think it will be much more than that.
I can feel your anger. This game is defenseless. Take your weapon. Strike this game down with all of your hatred, and your journey towards towards the Dark Side will be complete.
We probably need Ben Kenobi now more than ever if we're going to have a decent mmo for 2011. NcSoft made it official that the GW2 mmo will go in closed beta by the end of the year. That all but eliminates the majority of possibilities we will see GW2 in 2011 unless a small miracle happens. Are there any other hopes for 2011 ? Honestly, it looks like online rts and rpg games will reign supreme yet again. Lets pray that The Old Republic has a good launch.
Nothing about GW2 is really certain yet, but I agree that we should hope SWG launches in good shape.
I also have some rather optimistic hopes for TSW (third launch is a charm), that game actually seems to have some potential as well. NWNO might also be acceptable even if I have my doubts since Cryptic is making it.
Rift wasn't bad compared to what have launched in a while and same goes for TERA so I think even without GW2 and TOR will 2011 still be an acceptable year.
2008-2010 sucked so bad that 2011 will rank better already.
Not sure on the 2011 launch for TSW though.. With TOR, those are really the 2 games I'm waiting on right now.. Even TOR is borderline here, have a bad feeling about this one..
This is great news. It allows us to launch SWTOR, and not have to rush through. So that in 2-3 months when we've hit cap, and the themepark ride is over. We can move on happily to the 2012 releases, and have good memories not bitter resentment.
I'm pretty sure the combined content and replay value of SWTOR is going to last much longer than 2-3 months. Heck, that was the replay value of KOTOR 1+2 together or Dragon Age 1+2 and SWTOR is at least 8x bigger than those games. Not to mention future expansions including the space expansion and additional DLC that have quality, size, and playtime comparable to DA:Awakening or ME2 Lair of the Shadow Broker.
They're almost guaranteed to keep us hooked for way longer than 2-3 months. There's no way they would let their $80-million baby just sit and die from lack of expansions.
The problem with replay value is who all will do it? Very few I would imagine did all the multiple endings of the Me and DA series. Also keep in mind we're talking bout the MMO player here which has the attention span of a 12 year old, stereotyping. If your relying on replayability as the holder of attention then I don't see how that can end well as that might be great for PC single palyer games, but for MMOs...don't think it'll go over well.
This is great news. It allows us to launch SWTOR, and not have to rush through. So that in 2-3 months when we've hit cap, and the themepark ride is over. We can move on happily to the 2012 releases, and have good memories not bitter resentment.
I'm pretty sure the combined content and replay value of SWTOR is going to last much longer than 2-3 months. Heck, that was the replay value of KOTOR 1+2 together or Dragon Age 1+2 and SWTOR is at least 8x bigger than those games. Not to mention future expansions including the space expansion and additional DLC that have quality, size, and playtime comparable to DA:Awakening or ME2 Lair of the Shadow Broker.
They're almost guaranteed to keep us hooked for way longer than 2-3 months. There's no way they would let their $80-million baby just sit and die from lack of expansions.
The problem with replay value is who all will do it? Very few I would imagine did all the multiple endings of the Me and DA series. Also keep in mind we're talking bout the MMO player here which has the attention span of a 12 year old, stereotyping. If your relying on replayability as the holder of attention then I don't see how that can end well as that might be great for PC single palyer games, but for MMOs...don't think it'll go over well.
Well blizzard actually acknowledged recently that they lost 5% of subscriptions & that they believe the reason this happened was because they took too long between content releases.
I dont think you can rely on replayability in an MMO (not everyone wants to roll an alt and play the same or similar experience through again, many people only have one character & want to be able to continue with it) continued progression & new content to explore will keep more people interested and those who want to roll alts still can & will do so plus they then have ever more content to experience.
To me this is what SWTOR will need, regular and continual content updates. Bioware will need some of these prepared to go right out of the gate and when a certain % of their subscriber base reach cap they will need to roll out each new update. I think within the first 6 months they will have collected anough information that they know how long it takes the magic percentage of their subscriber base to reach the end of content they will be able to build and plan content updates accordingly. But I really think in the begining they will need fresh content ready to go as it likely needs to be thoroughly tested and deployed when people hit cap.
Comments
Ummm Atari owns Cryptic....
Not to mention Cryptic is developing another project for Atari that is not announced. Which worries me as it seems like they are ignoring their past failures considering that Neverwinter seems to be still on the whiteboard stage with "Rouge" brainstorming and yet they are developing another MMO on the side or whatever thes project is.
http://www.mmorpg.com/discussion2.cfm/thread/316147
And they dumped them.
For every minute you are angry , you lose 60 seconds of happiness."-Emerson
Indeed there is hope, imo.
Once Incarna launches this Summer, I can only imagine how many players will join and/or come back to EVE. If that happens, the boom of subscriptions might gain the attention of the greedy corporate bastages who are responsible for funding the 'let's take the safe route" games that have been launching and failing, and we could see more depthful FFA or core MMORPG titles start churning up.
I personally am very excited to see my Avatar out of her ship and hob-knobbing with other capsuleers ;-) I think the already splendid living economy will explode with activity, considering the new markets that will open up based on clothing, tattoos, jewelry, hair, and all the aesthetics that come along with having rich avatar creation/customization. That will in turn amp up the demand for minerals, giving some fresh excitement for the miners, which in turn, gives more targets for the pirates :-)
Incarna will do a lot, i think.
This is not a troll, flame, or anything else worth banning me over. It is simply my pure opinion, and I have a right to share it.
Well I had something to write but I've forgotten what it was.
-Verenath-
Hence they can fire them. Enjoy! --> http://www.atari.com/dyncontent/atari/uploads/PR_ATAR_FY10-11_20110517_1.pdf
SWTOR. Face it, in the Scooby Doo Mystery Solving Van of coolness, this game is Velma. In this current MMO climate it has about as much chance for survival as a group of inquisitive teenagers in a 1980s slasher flick. -Tardcore May, 2011
@Ebil_Piwat: that's my whole point that I was trying to make, the lineup of MMO's for 2011 and 2012 has something for all types of MMO gamers to be excited about:
- for fans of themepark MMO's you'll have SWTOR, Rift and TERA
- for those who crave innovation or just something different in MMO's, you'll have GW2, TSW and Firefall
- for fans of sandbox MMO's you'll have ArcheAge and World of Darkness
- for those who like a more story immersive questing experience, you'll have GW2, SWTOR and TSW
- for those who're sick of traditional sword&sorcery fantasy you'll have SWTOR, Firefall and Planetside Next and for those who're also sick of scifi you still have TSW and WoD.
Of course you'll still have very specific niches and tastes that aren't covered in the MMO's listed above (a well done Dune, Blade Runner, Resident Evil, Games of Thrones or Otherland MMO would be nice, thank you) but most of the major style preferences have been covered by one or more of the upcoming MMO's.
I'd go so far to say that if an MMO gamer can't find gaming fun and enjoyment in any of those MMO's, then it's maybe time to think if they haven't outgrown MMO's in some way - or the MMO genre outgrown them - and that the specific thing they're looking for in MMO's is merely a thing that could've been satisfied in their past.
The ACTUAL size of MMORPG worlds: a comparison list between MMO's
The ease with which predictions are made on these forums:
Fratman: "I'm saying Spring 2012 at the earliest [for TOR release]. Anyone still clinging to 2011 is deluding themself at this point."
@ MMO.Maverick I see your point, and agree mostly.
Ofcourse we all know WE could mostly put features into games WE prefer, and thus think everyone else will enjoy as well, right?
SWTOR. Face it, in the Scooby Doo Mystery Solving Van of coolness, this game is Velma. In this current MMO climate it has about as much chance for survival as a group of inquisitive teenagers in a 1980s slasher flick. -Tardcore May, 2011
very well written post, and I agree.
I am one of the people whom the MMO genre has "outgrown" apparently, and have given up on the genre.
I will, however be playing SWTOR.
Sound odd? It's because I won't be thinking of the game in comparison or context with other MMORPGs. I will be thinking of it as being KOTOR with multiplayer.
I loved the KOTOR games...have played them both to death. I figure I'm going to have a damn good time in SWTOR, especially if I can pretend that it's not supposed to be an MMORPG, but simply a continuation of one of my favorite game series.
And hey, Bioware really seems to be listening to the community, and trying to make the best game they can. It will be a nice change from the way SOE treated us back in the SWG days, eh?
Could not have said it better.
Let's just hope EQ Next, ArcheAge and World of Darkness can deliver.
Played: MCO - EQ/EQ2 - WoW - VG - WAR - AoC - LoTRO - DDO - GW/GW2 - Eve - Rift - FE - TSW - TSO - WS - ESO - AA - BD
Playing: Sims 3 & 4, Diablo3 and PoE
Waiting on: Lost Ark
Who's going to make a Cyberpunk MMO?
If GW2 has been moved back to 2012 then i wasn't really surprised, and i'm actually glad if it has. Gives em more time to fix it up give out more info and build up more. 2011 just seemed way too close to SWToR and last thing you want is to try and rival Bioware and star wars game's in hype :P
As for last hope, dunno i'm certain it will be fun to play, and is probably the last hope for me for a good story based game It will depened on the TSW/Tera on when they come out, if they are moved back to 2012 then probably yeah this one is probably my last hope for 2011.
Help me Bioware, you're my only hope.
Is ToR going to be good? Dude it's Bioware making a freaking star wars game, all signs point to awesome. -G4tv MMo report.
Yes, TOR is our only hope for 2011.
Skyrim, maybe. Doubt it will be out this year.
Witcher 2, liked the first one, but would really still rather re-read the novels.
Diablo 3, no way in hell we will see this for awhile, and since my love and trust for Blizzard has diminished quite a bit in the last two years, I'm not sure if it isn't better if I never playit.
SWTOR. Face it, in the Scooby Doo Mystery Solving Van of coolness, this game is Velma. In this current MMO climate it has about as much chance for survival as a group of inquisitive teenagers in a 1980s slasher flick.
Oh yeah, EPIC sig there Dark
"Gypsies, tramps, and thieves, we were called by the Admin of the site . . . "
I think GW2, The Secret World, and Arch Age are all games to keep an eye on, even if they don't necessarily release in 2011.
The only problem I have with TERA is that I have little reason to believe it won't devolve into yet another Korean grind but with pretty graphics. I mean, we heard the localization talk from NCSoft years ago with AION, but it has been three years, and I still don't believe AION has been westernized enough for mass appeal within the American market.
well is the group made up of virgins or sluts and players? ;P
I think as far as MMORPG's are concerned TOR will do very well. At the very least, like previously mentioned, it will be a very good multiplayer Bioware Star Wars RPG which should excite any RPG gamer.
What I think will be unique for 2011 for this genre though is that we will look at it as the year WoW finally peaked. I think there is plenty of room for lots of MMORPGs to coexist but its rather unsettling (and not healthy for the industry) that a 6 year old game engine has held on to the top spot for long and with such numbers. The WoW "platform" has enjoyed top ranking longer than most console lifespans.
I think the Rift-> SW:TOR-> GW2 punch will finally wake blizzard up a little. They should have been working on "WoW 2" years ago, and expansions shouldn't take 2 years. No one has challenged them in the least and they have had no reason what-so-ever to innovate.
TOR has the IP and the Development Studio to finally capture the attention of the gamers WoW brought to the genre. It looks great and even if its nothing but WoW with a KoTor 3 skin unless they really bungle the launch and advertising push, it will be profitable for them. It will start change the genre for good (hopefully we will start to see two big elephants in room).
And then GW2 hits and Everything changes....
Idle speculation based on two games I haven't played admitedly but from what I have seen from both of those titles it doesn't look too far fecthed.
It's been a good year already but if you are going to just put success (or a win) down to subs then most mmo's are going to fail in the eyes of someone. Look at wow and all those subscribers and still there is a large amount of folks that look at it as the anti-christ. I don't believe most that cry about mmo's have a clue and will throw a tantrum no matter how good a game is about some feature they didn't like. Can anyone else look at the state of mmo's without wearing blacked out glasses?
Nice try, but Atari has already confirmed to the media that they are going to still fund the Neverwinter project Cryptic is working on. From IGN:
Citing an Atari earnings statement, Gamasutra has gleaned details about Atari's relationship with developer Cryptic Studios.
As of March 31st, Atari is divesting its interest in the studio, working to sell it at some point in time. Atari has made it clear that it will continue to support both Star Trek Online and Champions Online, but doesn't see the studio as part of its long-term goal of "fewer but more profitable releases."
Gamasutra has also been informed that work will continue as normal on Cryptic's Neverwinter project.
http://pc.ign.com/articles/116/1168885p1.html
on topic:
Nothing has changed for GW2 it is on the same schedule it has always been on, no confirmation of time line as ever been announced. Besides that they will hold a closed beta during the second half of the year of 2011 (which means it could be any time from July to December) and depending on how that goes, it will determine when the open beta happens and launch occurs. Directly from ANet:
All right, everyone. Seems that this investor call got a few people worked up, so I wanted to reiterate information about beta and the business model. Our release date remains "When it's done" and our current beta timing is still closed alpha/beta this year, with public beta and release to be determined based upon feedback from closed alpha/beta.
The business model remains subscription-free (buy the game, no monthly fees) with microtransactions, which you have long known about. Other games charge a subscription fee to provide ongoing game content. As you know from Rick's posts on the forums, microstransactions in Guild Wars 2 are going to help sustain the game and provide you with ongoing game content. So, really, the investor call revealed nothing new to fans who have been following the game closely. For investors, the call was informational and provided status updates for them. Unlike fans, investors don't constantly hit F5 on the blog or the Guild Wars 2 website to track every single minute detail.
So GW2 could still come out at the end of 2011 or the start of 2012, it will all depend on how smooth the closed beta goes. So unless you can travel into the future and see what happens in the beta no one here knows when the game is going to launch, it is just speculation!
AS much as I want to love this game, I have a feeling the combat will be very boring since it will not be any different then most oher mmo's out there. Also see many other problems, but time will tell.
Exactly.
It is best for the industry the MMO throne remains an dusty empty seat never to be filled.
They're almost guaranteed to keep us hooked for way longer than 2-3 months. There's no way they would let their $80-million baby just sit and die from lack of expansions.
If it's KOTOR with multi play i will be happy but I do think it will be much more than that.
I can feel your anger. This game is defenseless. Take your weapon. Strike this game down with all of your hatred, and your journey towards towards the Dark Side will be complete.
Nothing about GW2 is really certain yet, but I agree that we should hope SWG launches in good shape.
I also have some rather optimistic hopes for TSW (third launch is a charm), that game actually seems to have some potential as well. NWNO might also be acceptable even if I have my doubts since Cryptic is making it.
Rift wasn't bad compared to what have launched in a while and same goes for TERA so I think even without GW2 and TOR will 2011 still be an acceptable year.
2008-2010 sucked so bad that 2011 will rank better already.
Not sure on the 2011 launch for TSW though.. With TOR, those are really the 2 games I'm waiting on right now.. Even TOR is borderline here, have a bad feeling about this one..
The problem with replay value is who all will do it? Very few I would imagine did all the multiple endings of the Me and DA series. Also keep in mind we're talking bout the MMO player here which has the attention span of a 12 year old, stereotyping. If your relying on replayability as the holder of attention then I don't see how that can end well as that might be great for PC single palyer games, but for MMOs...don't think it'll go over well.
Well blizzard actually acknowledged recently that they lost 5% of subscriptions & that they believe the reason this happened was because they took too long between content releases.
I dont think you can rely on replayability in an MMO (not everyone wants to roll an alt and play the same or similar experience through again, many people only have one character & want to be able to continue with it) continued progression & new content to explore will keep more people interested and those who want to roll alts still can & will do so plus they then have ever more content to experience.
To me this is what SWTOR will need, regular and continual content updates. Bioware will need some of these prepared to go right out of the gate and when a certain % of their subscriber base reach cap they will need to roll out each new update. I think within the first 6 months they will have collected anough information that they know how long it takes the magic percentage of their subscriber base to reach the end of content they will be able to build and plan content updates accordingly. But I really think in the begining they will need fresh content ready to go as it likely needs to be thoroughly tested and deployed when people hit cap.