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What are my options, really?
#1 Continue waiting through the winter as I've been through most of the year. Played Path of Exile for few months and gave WOW 5.4 a try for month and a half.
#2 Sub to EVE is first thing that comes to my mind. It is one of the few games that has the complexity with persistant world where I can create content, conflicts while also be able to play it (hardcore) as much as I want... all day. My biggest drawback to it is the passive skill gain, that I cannot do anything about. I also find the combat dull and Star Citizen on the horizon. Might be a bad idea to start it, but what could I lose?
What else is there really that I can see myself playing until 2015 and beyond that is available right now?
I'm in the process of doing a full research, gathering as much info on every single multiplayer game available on the market as well as upcoming ones in next few months. $ is not an issue.
I see Eden Eternal, Aura Kingdom gaining some positive feedback. I know DCUO getting new DLC in 1-2 months with entire new PvP tier and they're removing the replay badges. So i can enjoy the combat and PvP as much as I want (for free if I just buy the DLC, which is like $10-15). I know Elder Scrolls coming like in couple of months, but the way I see it it will be just a massive RvR PvP without anything deeper behind it. I don't see myself paying box fee + monthly fee just so I can PvP endlessly without further goal. And then, lastly when it comes to other themeparks FFXIV and SWTOR is what comes to my mind. Problem is both received some backlash and mixed reviews and I'm trying to find one good reason why I should be going through their PvE and pay the subs?
So what are your thoughts, plans for this winter. I could use as much info as I can on every possible MMO that exists out there as well as the benefits and drawbacks. I find content based, themepark rides too casual, especially when they are in decline. The content slows down further and the reason behind doing the content is not that rewarding (at least in WOW). I'm positive that almost every single game will bleed badly by 2015 and beyond.
Comments
If you're looking into online multiplayer in general, it doesn't get much better than GTA V Online. And of course, Gran Turismo 6 comes out this week and the online races are a lot of fun.
"People who tell you youre awesome are useless. No, dangerous.
They are worse than useless because you want to believe them. They will defend you against critiques that are valid. They will seduce you into believing you are done learning, or into thinking that your work is better than it actually is." ~Raph Koster
http://www.raphkoster.com/2013/10/14/on-getting-criticism/
You should find something other than MMORPGs to play. Not trying to be a downer, but the Indie games are not going to have the 'polish' that it sounds like you want (WoW, Eve), and the publisher backed games are going to seem pretty shallow unless you are very much into a story line like what SWToR has.
Anyway ->
SWToR - great single player story line, but group content can be hard to get into, and the single player content outside of the class story lines does not seem all that engaging. You can, however, play though the story lines for free, or nearly free.
Bioshock 1 and Bioshock Infinite - Single player games, but the story line is engaging and the games are fun pretty much all the way through. These are not long term games, but Bioshock Infinite will stay interesting for awhile.
Fallout 3/New Vegas - Long term, single player game play. Interesting little stories, good overall story line and the game play is engaging as well. Plenty of expansion packs if you get the "Game Of The Year" editions.
Minecraft - Yes, Minecraft. Download the single player game, play it for awhile. Join the Massivecraft server (look it up). Massivecraft will have the experience of a sandbox MMORPG, even though it's not an MMORPG. Then find out about Feed The Beast and start playing Minecraft with crazy mods. Start or join a Feed The Beast server. This could keep you occupied all winter and beyond.
I can not remember winning or losing a single debate on the internet.
I just like to play a secure game (one that has not been completely destroyed by some unadressed cheating, exploiting), depending what it is about (themepark or sandbox) to have a further reason for doing whatever the game intends me to do.
For example, WOW. Offers great PvE, but I cannot find a valid reason to overcome the bosses other than just experiencing them or socializing with others, which I could be doing both of these activities in a different setting, at my own pace, minus the monthly fee or the drama that comes from depending on others.
If the game focuses on PvP, player conflicts etc. It must reward me with more than just a website rank/ladder/numbers for being a good PvPer. The gear I would be obtaining from PvP for example, must open me further path of what I can do with that particular character within the persistant world.
Overall, I'm just looking for a game that works, that has a meaning to be played, that feels rewarding. If Ultima Online, SWG-Pre CU could do all these things, I'm sure there must be something out there that's close to what I'm trying to find.
For instance, Ultima Online allowed me to PvP for gold, items, faction rating or for a house plot that was becoming available soon from a house that was in danger of collapsing. SWG-Pre CU (similar story). Except it was in 3d graphics and being able to become a jedi, something that was rare and so useful for PvP. Being chased by bounties all the time was fun. I was on the mission terminals and hunted. I was creating content for players and there was also true war going on between the Rebels and the Empire. Players were building all kinds of structures to help them in the war and commanding NPC troopers or big AT machines as well.
That's a hard one to nail because its subjective to the person playing but I will try.
Rift, has no mandatory subscription and doesn't handicap free players. The PvE is near WoW standards and the PvP does have its gear rewards. The community can be good if you find a guild and the game world is large and could provide you with 3-4 months worth of PvE even if you are fast paced due to there being two factions to play through. So basically, the only thing you would lose for trying the game out, is your time, if you don't end up liking it.
For straight up PvE, Neverwinter is another F2P game that wont cost you anything at all. Think of it as Neverwinter Nights as a multiplayer. PvP is very very weak though there is progression to it via gear. Don't enter this thinking typical MMO, think of it more as a multiplayer RPG because there isn't a great deal of depth.
The Secret World has very deep PvE alongside a storyline that's very different from other MMOs since it takes place in the real world, slightly futuristic and based around zombies. Plenty of PvE progression here though I cant say anything at all about its PvP because I never got into that part of the game. It is buy to play so there would be some investment. The game has no actual classes, you can raise all skills/weapons by using them and have any combination of them you want. Many of the quests are very unique and if you turn off the hints...some are a real PITA to solve. Slightly higher difficulty level to this game.
For multiplayer. If you enjoyed the GTA series or even tried the Saints Row series, Saints Row 4 is a god damn blast. Its not a "serious" game, its a spoof series. Funny. Over the top story and the gameplay is outstanding, it has a multiplayer option.
"People who tell you youre awesome are useless. No, dangerous.
They are worse than useless because you want to believe them. They will defend you against critiques that are valid. They will seduce you into believing you are done learning, or into thinking that your work is better than it actually is." ~Raph Koster
http://www.raphkoster.com/2013/10/14/on-getting-criticism/
Yea I had a blast playing almost every single game in the golden age of Nintendo, SNES, PSX, Dreamcast, but once I got my PC I simply refused to buy a console ever again. Year and a half ago I got a really nice rig ($850) that can run anything smoothly, but yea I've been purposely refusing to spend unnecessary $ on consoles because I just wanted PC to become the most dominant and only platform where every developer will focus on.
Dividing the player market any further than it already is (scattered through hundreds of different games) is not helping at all... I remember I had a blast getting those licenses in Gran Turismo 1 and 2. I also question myself what kind of quality console games have now compared to 15+ years ago. I wonder for instance if Gran Turismo 6 is as complex and engaging as it was during its early years.