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Can SOE be trusted to produce a quality "Sandbox"?
Fadedbomb
Member Posts: 2,081
If you haven't read the interview with Smedley see here.
Also, there's a thread discussing what Smedley said here.
The purpose of this thread, and poll, is to ask the burning question.
"Do you trust SOE to make a quality "Sandbox" title that isn't PayToWin, and doesn't spit all over its players?"
So far SOE's track record is filled with nothing but themeparks, SOE destroying SWG, failing hard with Vanguard, and ignoring Planetside 1 to death (SWG being their own "Sandbox" title, and Planetside 1 their other non-Themepark title being an MMOFPS can't really be called a sandbox).
So, what do you think 
?
The Theory of Conservative Conservation of Ignorant Stupidity:
Having a different opinion must mean you're a troll.
Comments
Are you saying the poll is biased against SOE into forcing people to vote No? When a company like SOE does the things it does there isn't any way to say it postively without sounding like a paid shrill.
However, I voted undecided as Smedley has, oddly enough, changed his tone on a LOT of stuff. A lot of rumors about how poorly their themeparks are doing was circulating at the last SOE Fanfest.
The Theory of Conservative Conservation of Ignorant Stupidity:
Having a different opinion must mean you're a troll.
+1 for SoE: they have done it before
+1 for SoE: no Lucas Arts to appease this tie around
-1 for SoE: no Raph Koster this time
I will give 'em a chance (desperate times and all-) but voted undecided.
I hate SOE but feel SWG was destroyed by LA. Not trying to spark that issue but... That aside I could list pages upon pages of things SOE has mucked up-But if they are going to attempt a sandbox I will try it. Tired of amature devs being the only ones- This could be decent at leat until an Xpac or two when it WILL get mucked up. lol
i laughed and i agree
EQ2 fan sites
Never let truth get in the way of an agenda, bro.
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
Considering SOE's past history, I'm going to have to say a big FUCK NO!
"Gypsies, tramps, and thieves, we were called by the Admin of the site . . . "
2 years ago I think I would have fully agreed with you.
I WANT to agree with you. In FACT I think its foolish NOT to agree with you.
But damn man... At this point I have thrown money at every "sandbox" attempt out there. I have wasted hours TRYING to like a game and overlook placeholder features and bugs on top of bugs on top of bugs.
SOE or not- If this is going to be a quality Sandbox with a decent featureset- They get another chance from me.
Will I get burned? Probably. But I really want a well made sandbox title and this seems like the best chance there is at this point.
No what I am saying is SOE can never be trusted.
Here I will make it easier for you to understand... Saying Yes you can trust SOE is like saying it feels good to roll around in fire ant beds.
Is SOE producing a sandbox of some sort that I'm not aware of. PS2 and EQNext are not gonna be sandboxes (although EQNext could be a themebox but I have a bad feeling it'll be even more WoWish than any previous iteration).
So if they are not producing a sandbox what is the point of this thread again?
PS2 is likely to be a themepark/sandbox hybrid
PS2 is supposed to have sandbox elements - w player created bases that can be destroyed
Is there really an untapped market for sandbox MMOs? Smed offers an answer
EQ2 fan sites
Did you miss the link I put to that in my OP :S?
Also, EQ3 (aka: EQ:Next) was said to be an MMO that provides "Emergent Gameplay" by Smedley at the last Fanfest. I can't find a recording of it but I was in the audience when he was asked specifically if EQ3 was going to be "just another WoW-Clone".
Note: he doesn't say Sandbox, so maybe he doesn't understand what "Emergent" means? Anyways that discussion is for the other thread! This one is specifically talking about SOE
!
The Theory of Conservative Conservation of Ignorant Stupidity:
Having a different opinion must mean you're a troll.
How are they more capable?
Maybe a better statement would be they have more funds to back one... doesn't mean they are more capable with their mindset and talent.
What would seperate SoE from other developers would be their track record for developing higher tech features. Some might laugh at SoEMote... Until you read Georgson's comments about spell weaving in the next EQ. Look at all the features EQ2 has and I would say SoE is more than capable of pulling off a sandbox-ish game.
They definitely do NOT have more funds to back one. SoE isnt rolling in the dough, and Sony isnt likely giving them any money after DCUO. If anything, their financial status is a concern, not a benefit.
But in terms of game quality, their track record is above average.
EQ is obviously regarded as one of the best, if not the best, pre-themepark games (EQ was neither a sandbox or a themepark, the set of MMORPGs contains more than those two elements)
Planetside was a well respected MMOFPS
SWG is one of only 3 prominent sandboxes in MMORPG history (UO and EvE)
EQ2 at its peak was as good as any themepark
And for all its failure, DCUO actually tried to do a more action oriented thing before it was cool to do so and has rebounded from a bad launch. And this is the one that stands as SoEs biggest failure.
5 games, 5 different genres, 4 of the 5 considered good to great.
no developer can make a great sandbox MMO in this age, unless its a game like Second Life.
hybrid is the future.
Philosophy of MMO Game Design
well after seeing how well they are interacting with the community in the PS2 beta i voted yes... I know PS2 is not a sandbox game but the company has a drive to make good games and are willing to listen..
I think a lot has changed at SOE.. as lnog as they use their own IP and not an IP they dont have control over i think they could pull it off.
I'm not so sure, PS2 will have quite a few elements from EVE online check out the link to another thread :
http://www.mmorpg.com/discussion2.cfm/thread/364299/page/1
Trusted, as in I have confidence that the game will be released in good condition without major flaws in either game design or payment model? No that's a stretch I cannot make.
Do I think there's a chance that they could produce a winner that's worth playing? Possibly.
In fairness, I do trust them far more than any EA owned / driven studio.
Why don't we just judge the game by its merits rather than what its developer might or might not have done in the past, hmm?
I expect most of the players who will pick this game up don't know or don't care about Vanguard, SWG or any other dusty relic SOE might have been involved with.
I skate to where the puck is going to be, not where it has been -Wayne Gretzky
Normally that would be applicable in most other genre of games, but as you know MMO's are a different kind of dynamic beast with the regular patching, updating & newer builds implemented, MMOers want to invest their time and money into there favorite MMO knowing its not a board meeting away from patch/build: verison "1.5.NGE-The QQ & heart break is back" if you get my drift just my 2 cents
Well, if you ant an analogy, somebody who is into Napalm Death music is not gonna even bother checking the latest Justin Bieber album. Ok, it's an exageration, but I guess you get the point.
When a company has disappointed you a few times already... are you going to trust it again?