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General: The Console MMO is the Future
SBFord
Former Associate EditorMember LegendaryPosts: 33,129
If there is one thing that causes many PC gamers' brains to explode is the thought that their favorite MMO just may be release simultaneously for consoles. In today's Devil's Advocate column, MMORPG.com's Drew Wood talks about the benefits of console MMOs and how it's definitely something that's in our future, like it or not. Let us know your reaction to his column in the comments.
The Console-based MMO is an affront to the genre. Games suffer in terms of quality, presentation and the limitations of having a third-party company approve updates, patches and additional content.
On the contrary.
Read more of Drew Wood's The Devil's Advocate: The Console MMO is the Future.
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Comments
5 years ago I would have disagreed with this post. Now? Not so much....
I own both PC (3 of them) and a PS3.
One thing I like about the PS3 is that I KNOW there is a certain standard of game play that I can expect. Bugs seem to be less frequent (MUCH less frequent) and the developer only has to work on one hardware standard per system. This saves a LOT of effort on their part as opposed to having to try and work with every possible PC build out there. There are not "high end" or "low end" PS3's or XBox 360's out there. This is part of the problem with PC gaming to begin with.
Furthermore, look at the console hardware. Wtih the high end hardware that's in these beasts, why bother even releasing PC games? They're generally co-released anyway. The current consoles have USB ports and bluetooth as well as wired and wireless internet connections. I can now do everything on my PS3 that I can do on my PC. So why spend twice to four times the amount on a PC that MIGHT perform well when I can spend far less on a console (ok, ok, if you put a one time purchase of a HD TV in there, the playing field evens out) and I KNOW what I'm getting.
Case and point: Fallout 3. I was going to get it for PC, but had heard of all the bugs and patches and whatnot. Picked up the PS3 version and it looks GREAT! No problems, no fuss and if there's a patch it's as easy as clicking OK.
I honestly hope they release Star Wars The Old Republic for the consoles as well as PC. I'd feel far more comfortable playing that game on a nice stable console than taking a chance on what performance I might get on a PC.
Oh yeah....and....FIRST!
"The Console MMO may still have a big question mark surrounding it, but it also has the mark of great potential, far more now than it did even as recently as five years ago when Final Fantasy XI was ported to the 360."
Uhm, you do know that FFXI was an mmo developed primarily for PS2 ? I don't see of what importance is the fact that it was later ported to an xbox.
DCUO did better on PS3 because it was built for it. It isn't really built for PC's, from what I played, controls and UI and all. Plus, console players love their superhero games. I have a friend on PS3 who bought it and loved it, but he doesn't play any other MMOs. Personally, I hated it. Same with Free Realms. Come back to me when MMOs on consoles are as deep, user friendly and MODDABLE(UIs and such) like they are on PC.
Agreed. I have been playing DCUO and this type opf game works great on consoles (except for the freezes). But, I believe the games will have to built either for console or PC. Having the exact same game on both causes issues.
Funcom has stated that the Secert World version that will be relased on XBOX is a very different game from the PC. It will not just be a port. This is how it should be and how Sony should of done it with the PC version.
In my experience every PC MMO that I've tried that was built with console compatibility has been the worse for it. Community and its associated game dynamics are always negatively impacted, and community is what makes an MMO worth a sub fee. Otherwise I can just play standalone rpgs or standalone games with multiplayer.
If it was ported to an Xbox, i would have bought it too tbh. I would kill for an mmo that i coul play from my sofa, with a joypad.
PS: I don't see the conection between console players and super hero games.
Unfortunately, Funcom has put the Xbox version on hold. (again)
Oh devil's advocate articles, you're such flamebait.
People have been saying this on and off since FF XI, and it has yet to come to fruition. Not to say that it will never happen, but I doubt the typical console gamers tends to be the type to be willing to pay a $15 a motnh sub for a single game that they may or may not decide to play a lot at any given month. A B2P console MMO on the other hand could work, but we'll see.
I think the currently MMO's are in an infinatile state on consoles, but i do agree they will become more prominent over time, i dont think that when the current consoles were concieved that they would be able to implement vast mmo's, more so the next generation of consoles will have far more potential for this.
How this affects development of MMO titles will be something to see, whether developers sway towards console development and release identical content on a PC expecting it to sell well ? If it lacks the current standard mechanics provided by released MMO's then i would assume PC's gamers will be displeased in what would be called gimped versions.
DCUO is a bad game because it was made for consoles. would it have been made for the PC it couldve been a success. right now its just garbage.
)no multiplayer on comsole or pc is only a shadow of its true meanning.for those old player we called them and still are multiplayer online game but saying farmvilla is massive because it has 500 million player on it is lunacy.in that thinking then mario varioous game are all mmo since million play them same for chess
Console MMOs ARE the future. This is true.
DCUO was alright on the PS3, but it WAS much better on the PC as far as, load times, response times, overall performance, as long as you used a controller on the PC it was all positive and no negative...well... aside from the hacks.. which I guess counts as the biggest negative.
I'd have to say though, I'm looking forward to upcoming console MMOs.. too bad the agency was canceled.
1 thing thats holding them back, imo is red tape involving psn and Xbox live, especially Live's insistance to pay a fee for gold on top of whatever MMO fee.
Dont patches and things have to also be approved by the respective networks and what not, delaying deployment time for quite a while?
well just look for FF14 who was made pretty much to work in a console... do we still need to say anything else?
The MMO Console is the Future.
Until the next generation of consoles gets announced I don't think consoles hold the future of mmo gaming.
I wont even read it thats how much I despise the thought of MMO's on consoles. lol
Oh please, console MMO's blow ... SOE has already slit their own throat trying to bring console gamers into the MMO market, how much farther is this trend going to go.
I wish the whole idea of bringing MMORPG's and microtransactions would both get lost in the worlds, get eaten by coyotes, and pooped off a cliff.
I think its almost certain the successors to the ps3 and the xbox360 will be both mmo friendly and 3d capable . The option of a keybord and mouse that can be used for such games rather than a joypad would be a definate must . The minuite the mmo console comes out I dont think I would bother with PC mmos ever again .
I actually believe that console MMOs have great potential, but the only company that seems to get the point is Zombie labs.
A ported PC MMO will always suck, and a MMO that is made for both with about the same controls will suck as well.
To make a successful console MMO the game needs to be made for console players only. The controls needs to be like they are in console games, not like in PC games.
A MMO based on Soul calibur for an instance have great potential with console players. Combo systems like that would work fine, just let the player lock up more possible combos as he/she levels.
Another option is to limit the number of attacks you can make or even have a Diablo styled combat where you click a lot.
Most of us probably wont like it anyways because most of us are PC gamers, but that doesn't mean that you can't make a very successful console MMO, if anyone talked about a console FPS 10 years ago most people laughed but now they are as popular with consoles as with PC, mybe even more.
Of course the social aspect might suffer unless the players plug a keyboard to their console or if the game have a good voice over system.
DCUO and FFXIV were the worst MMO UIs I've ever had to deal with and I blame it on being console ready.
If you want to make MMOs cross platform, cut a deal with omeone to make keyboards and mice for consoles.
"Never met a pack of humans that were any different. Look at the idiots that get elected every couple of years. You really consider those guys more mature than us? The only difference between us and them is, when they gank some noobs and take their stuff, the noobs actually die." - Madimorga
Don't forget about DUST 514 being launched with the PS3, it'll be the biggest MMO probably to ever be released and the ONLY one of it's kind. An MMO part of a bigger picture MMO bringing PC users and console users together in a seamless universe. It's pretty exciting and it doesn't have a monthly sub. The unfortunate thing is, for some odd reason I don't think it's going to succeed as CCP plans, and with the way EVE online is going... I don't wanna get into it lol
With you on the FFXIV UI... I keep trying to play that game, desperately wanting to like it, but the UI is a kick in the cotch with a pair of golf shoes.
Perhaps i big company like Blizzard have the time, staff and money to develop a good, big MMO on the consoles. in my opinion, the pc will be the main for MMO in the future.. Only here u can play so many good mmo beside from World of Warcraft. Sandbox games like EVE and Perpetuum have only a chance on the pc.