Mostly Asheron's Call and City of Heroes.. mostly..
I'd be lying if I said I don't use almost all of those I played as benchmarks in some way.. Each genre entry might have a few others added to it for comparison.. TR, E&B, SWG, and AO for sci-fi.. WAR, EQ2 and WoW for fantasy.. etc..
..because we're gamers, damn it!! - William Massachusetts (Log Horizon)
The only reference I need is mmorpg.com forum, if I don't have more fun playing a game than reading the same old rants about how all new games suck there's no reason to play them. The last time I had fun playing an mmorpg I deleted my account here.
Iselin: And the next person who says "but it's a business, they need to make money" can just go fuck yourself.
None, if I spent time comparing how one game doesn't offer what another did, I'd miss what it does offer, I look at games on a game to game basis, judging them on their own merits or lack there of.
For every minute you are angry , you lose 60 seconds of happiness."-Emerson
Mine would be EVE Online for many reasons but mostly for the roles you can have in this game. And by roles I don't mean tank, dps, support, etc.
During my tenure I have taken on many roles. A cannon fodder, a miner, a merc, a spy, an accountant, a leader, a jerk and so on.
That is what made me feel like I was part of a virtual world. And this is what I expect from an MMO, otherwise I'd rather just play a singleplayer game.
Crafting and player economic interactions I would go with either Star Wars Galaxies pre-CU and/or EVE Online. For long term play, EVE Online as Star Wars Galaxies was short on content.
If ya use one game to judge all others.... that's the game you might as well be playing and don't bother playing anything else... when I try a new game I try to give it a fair chance and I don't compare it to others
Dark Age of Camelot because it did a great job of providing an us vs. them medieval warfare simulation and providing realm-wide rewards for group activities. Caring about your realm and feeling like you were part of a nation was just part of everyday life in DAoC.
The preoccupation with individual achievements in solo-centric MMO gaming has pretty well destroyed any possibility of factions being central to that great feeling of community. Guilds try to replace that feeling of being part of a greater whole in some ways but they do so in a much smaller and scattered way. DAoC also had guilds and alliances of guilds but they acted more like functional tactical units in a greater whole.
That was the highlight of social gaming in MMOs for me.
"Social media gives legions of idiots the right to speak when they once only spoke at a bar after a glass of wine, without harming the community ... but now they have the same right to speak as a Nobel Prize winner. It's the invasion of the idiots”
― Umberto Eco
“Microtransactions? In a single player role-playing game? Are you nuts?” ― CD PROJEKT RED
If ya use one game to judge all others.... that's the game you might as well be playing and don't bother playing anything else... when I try a new game I try to give it a fair chance and I don't compare it to others
Guess what I'm back to playing? 2002 ruleset version of DAOC, so sound advice.
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
It tends to change. And it depends on the sort of MMO I'm playing. It would be silly to compare SWTOR against AA for example given they're entirely different experiences. Might as well compare Skyrim against FIFA then.
The ones that left lasting impressions would be City of Heroes, Ultima Online and SWTOR. Although future games will also be compared against BDO, since it's taken over my main MMO spot since launch.
My SWTOR referral link for those wanting to give the game a try. (Newbies get a welcome package while returning players get a few account upgrades to help with their preferred status.)
Just a little respectful tip to all the lads whom don't use a reference
When you say you don't a judge a game it means you would never know if what you are playing is good or bad, you like it or you don't--which is impossible. You can replace the word judge with any other fancier word, but it's the same.
And when you say you don't use a game as a reference but a series of features instead, it is again the same thing. Because you haven't come with those ideas yourself, you are taking them from another game(s). And that first game you had played and had that feature which you like, is the reference.
Part of how we deal with everything new is through our past experiences. It is impossible to cast aside your experience unless you have reached nirvana and already on your way to a higher astral plane.
Constantine, The Console Poster
"One of the most difficult tasks men can perform, however much others may despise it, is the invention of good games and it cannot be done by men out of touch with their instinctive selves." - Carl Jung
Ultima Online is still the game that all others will be judged by for me , The game still offers more in game activities than any other MMORPG on the market today , Why Devs cant seem to get close to this standard after 19 years is mind boggling
I'd like to say none but I always find myself comparing features of the new games I try to all the others I've played before it. There is no one game in particular I do this with. Mostly it's "the combat reminds me of this game" or "crafting here is like in that game"... If I experienced something similar in a past game I can't help but to remember it and make the comparison.
EQ2. I've never been as attached to a game as that one. I still play it almost every night. The new MMO's are a joke. They're all the same with different graphics, and offer less than games when they were released 10 years ago.
Just a little respectful tip to all the lads whom don't use a reference
When you say you don't a judge a game it means you would never know if what you are playing is good or bad, you like it or you don't--which is impossible. You can replace the word judge with any other fancier word, but it's the same.
And when you say you don't use a game as a reference but a series of features instead, it is again the same thing. Because you haven't come with those ideas yourself, you are taking them from another game(s). And that first game you had played and had that feature which you like, is the reference.
Part of how we deal with everything new is through our past experiences. It is impossible to cast aside your experience unless you have reached nirvana and already on your way to a higher astral plane.
It's quite simple, there's no need to compare one game to another, as playing a game you're either having fun or not, you like the combat or don't, you like the story lines or don't, you like the questing/grind style or don't, there's no need to bring other games into those thoughts, as that just gets in the way of a game's individual merits. On top of that how do you compare say SWG to modern games? There's no real comparison to be made, as they're totally different approaches.
Even outside of MMOs this type of comparing is pointless, I mean why would I worry about stacking Skyrim up to Divinity OS, or Total War to Dawn of War? Each game has it's own lore and gameplay systems, I don't need to play Skyrim to know if Divinity is good...
People really fall into this when it comes to sequels, always expecting the next installment to replicate their first experience with a given property. That's just setting oneself up for disappointment, it's akin to chasing the dragon.
For every minute you are angry , you lose 60 seconds of happiness."-Emerson
Just a little respectful tip to all the lads whom don't use a reference
When you say you don't a judge a game it means you would never know if what you are playing is good or bad, you like it or you don't--which is impossible. You can replace the word judge with any other fancier word, but it's the same.
And when you say you don't use a game as a reference but a series of features instead, it is again the same thing. Because you haven't come with those ideas yourself, you are taking them from another game(s). And that first game you had played and had that feature which you like, is the reference.
Part of how we deal with everything new is through our past experiences. It is impossible to cast aside your experience unless you have reached nirvana and already on your way to a higher astral plane.
It's quite simple, there's no need to compare one game to another, as playing a game you're either having fun or not, you like the combat or don't, you like the story lines or don't, you like the questing/grind style or don't, there's no need to bring other games into those thoughts, as that just gets in the way of a game's individual merits. On top of that how do you compare say SWG to modern games? There's no real comparison to be made, as they're totally different approaches.
Even outside of MMOs this type of comparing is pointless, I mean why would I worry about stacking Skyrim up to Divinity OS, or Total War to Dawn of War? Each game has it's own lore and gameplay systems, I don't need to play Skyrim to know if Divinity is good...
People really fall into this when it comes to sequels, always expecting the next installment to replicate their first experience with a given property. That's just setting oneself up for disappointment, it's akin to chasing the dragon.
Having fun or not is a different thing. You don't digest and review anything based on the amount of fun you have.
But when you do digest and review, you are doing everything in comparison. That's how can you come up with a valid criticism. Based of what you saying, an opinion of a critic who has played 100s of games, or has watched a thousands or movies or listened to hundreds of albums or tasted seven billion of wines should be the same as a person 0 experience because they shouldn't compare.
And I am not saying you can't know Divinity is good or not if you haven't played anything else. But you can't know how good it is unless you have played other similar games.
Constantine, The Console Poster
"One of the most difficult tasks men can perform, however much others may despise it, is the invention of good games and it cannot be done by men out of touch with their instinctive selves." - Carl Jung
None. I just want something new. I don't compare or use any prior MMO's as a reference because there are just too damn many I've played. I judge each game separately and on its own. I didn't open up ESO and compare it to DAOC or WoW. I just enjoyed it for what it was. BDO I just plain well didn't like due to the poor graphics engine (short draw distance and clipping even when all is maxed).
Just a little respectful tip to all the lads whom don't use a reference
When you say you don't a judge a game it means you would never know if what you are playing is good or bad, you like it or you don't--which is impossible. You can replace the word judge with any other fancier word, but it's the same.
And when you say you don't use a game as a reference but a series of features instead, it is again the same thing. Because you haven't come with those ideas yourself, you are taking them from another game(s). And that first game you had played and had that feature which you like, is the reference.
Part of how we deal with everything new is through our past experiences. It is impossible to cast aside your experience unless you have reached nirvana and already on your way to a higher astral plane.
It's quite simple, there's no need to compare one game to another, as playing a game you're either having fun or not, you like the combat or don't, you like the story lines or don't, you like the questing/grind style or don't, there's no need to bring other games into those thoughts, as that just gets in the way of a game's individual merits. On top of that how do you compare say SWG to modern games? There's no real comparison to be made, as they're totally different approaches.
Even outside of MMOs this type of comparing is pointless, I mean why would I worry about stacking Skyrim up to Divinity OS, or Total War to Dawn of War? Each game has it's own lore and gameplay systems, I don't need to play Skyrim to know if Divinity is good...
People really fall into this when it comes to sequels, always expecting the next installment to replicate their first experience with a given property. That's just setting oneself up for disappointment, it's akin to chasing the dragon.
So , we compare , Movies, Books ,Cars, Food, Cities,Girls/Boys,Phones,Tv SHows, TVs, Music ,Atheletes , Sports,Teams,Carpet, Bricks , Trees, Weather,Cleaning Products,Toilet Paper,Cats,Dogs,Pets,, and on and on and on , everything in life gets compared ...
Just a little respectful tip to all the lads whom don't use a reference
When you say you don't a judge a game it means you would never know if what you are playing is good or bad, you like it or you don't--which is impossible. You can replace the word judge with any other fancier word, but it's the same.
And when you say you don't use a game as a reference but a series of features instead, it is again the same thing. Because you haven't come with those ideas yourself, you are taking them from another game(s). And that first game you had played and had that feature which you like, is the reference.
Part of how we deal with everything new is through our past experiences. It is impossible to cast aside your experience unless you have reached nirvana and already on your way to a higher astral plane.
It's quite simple, there's no need to compare one game to another, as playing a game you're either having fun or not, you like the combat or don't, you like the story lines or don't, you like the questing/grind style or don't, there's no need to bring other games into those thoughts, as that just gets in the way of a game's individual merits. On top of that how do you compare say SWG to modern games? There's no real comparison to be made, as they're totally different approaches.
Even outside of MMOs this type of comparing is pointless, I mean why would I worry about stacking Skyrim up to Divinity OS, or Total War to Dawn of War? Each game has it's own lore and gameplay systems, I don't need to play Skyrim to know if Divinity is good...
People really fall into this when it comes to sequels, always expecting the next installment to replicate their first experience with a given property. That's just setting oneself up for disappointment, it's akin to chasing the dragon.
So , we compare , Movies, Books ,Cars, Food, Cities,Girls/Boys,Phones,Tv SHows, TVs, Music ,Atheletes , Sports,Teams,Carpet, Bricks , Trees, Weather,Cleaning Products,Toilet Paper,Cats,Dogs,Pets,, and on and on and on , everything in life gets compared ...
But not games .....got it
Agreed, people are being disingenuous if they say they don't compare, even if they don't do it line by line with a single game.
Reason you do it is does the current product you are trying meet or exceed ones you've used or experienced before.
The degree which they do determines the success of the product or experience and confirms the wisdom of the consumers choices and whether they should purchase the same or similar products in the future.
If you enjoy similar products more or less equally then likely you don't really enjoy any of them or have a preference at all, like say for...toilet paper.
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 only reason i find comparing a mmo with another one is if you had to choose between one of them but outside of that, what's the point?
If you play it and enjoy it enough to continue playing then the mmo is good, if you don't enjoy it then it's bad. It makes no sense going "I enjoy this feature but the "other mmo" does it better so this feature is shit."
When you say you don't a judge a game it means you would never know if what you are playing is good or bad, you like it or you don't--which is impossible. You can replace the word judge with any other fancier word, but it's the same.
No one is saying we don't judge games. Of course we critic a game.
What we don't do is judge them against other games. It's pointless.
Anyway the OPs question is a bit idiotic. It's like asking what is the one single player game you use as a reference when you judge a new game?
I don't. It's pointless. Like when people pick there top 10 MMO's.
Just a little respectful tip to all the lads whom don't use a reference
When you say you don't a judge a game it means you would never know if what you are playing is good or bad, you like it or you don't--which is impossible. You can replace the word judge with any other fancier word, but it's the same.
And when you say you don't use a game as a reference but a series of features instead, it is again the same thing. Because you haven't come with those ideas yourself, you are taking them from another game(s). And that first game you had played and had that feature which you like, is the reference.
Part of how we deal with everything new is through our past experiences. It is impossible to cast aside your experience unless you have reached nirvana and already on your way to a higher astral plane.
It's quite simple, there's no need to compare one game to another, as playing a game you're either having fun or not, you like the combat or don't, you like the story lines or don't, you like the questing/grind style or don't, there's no need to bring other games into those thoughts, as that just gets in the way of a game's individual merits. On top of that how do you compare say SWG to modern games? There's no real comparison to be made, as they're totally different approaches.
Even outside of MMOs this type of comparing is pointless, I mean why would I worry about stacking Skyrim up to Divinity OS, or Total War to Dawn of War? Each game has it's own lore and gameplay systems, I don't need to play Skyrim to know if Divinity is good...
People really fall into this when it comes to sequels, always expecting the next installment to replicate their first experience with a given property. That's just setting oneself up for disappointment, it's akin to chasing the dragon.
So , we compare , Movies, Books ,Cars, Food, Cities,Girls/Boys,Phones,Tv SHows, TVs, Music ,Atheletes , Sports,Teams,Carpet, Bricks , Trees, Weather,Cleaning Products,Toilet Paper,Cats,Dogs,Pets,, and on and on and on , everything in life gets compared ...
But not games .....got it
Gotta love people who think everyone approaches things the same.. Who said I compare those things to each other? Just because you must compare everything to your favorites doesn't mean everyone does. I really don't compare things in such a way, I really don't care if people think that's being disingenuous or not. I don't see the point in it, especially the manner people do it with games or music. Maybe this is why some of you folks are so unhappy?
For every minute you are angry , you lose 60 seconds of happiness."-Emerson
The only reason i find comparing a mmo with another one is if you had to choose between one of them but outside of that, what's the point?
If you play it and enjoy it enough to continue playing then the mmo is good, if you don't enjoy it then it's bad. It makes no sense going "I enjoy this feature but the "other mmo" does it better so this feature is shit."
Because without comparison you won't be having a frame of reference. Without frame of reference anything can be anything.
Your second paragraph basically means there is no point in criticism.
Constantine, The Console Poster
"One of the most difficult tasks men can perform, however much others may despise it, is the invention of good games and it cannot be done by men out of touch with their instinctive selves." - Carl Jung
Though this might not be a popular pick, I would pick LotRO against a new MMORPG. (I have a beta account.) The game is 10 years old and still has 10 active servers. (Just got to Mordor a few months ago.) The game world is ENORMOUS. The number of single player and multiplayer quests are extensive. And Moria. There has never been a dungeon in any other game of any sort better than Moria.
Hedonismbot: Your latest performance was as delectable as dipping my bottom over and over into a bath of the silkiest oils and creams.
I use to judge every mmo using SWG as a reference. I used it when I tried WoW vanilla/BC and didn't like WoW at all cause it was different from the SWG blueprint. I used it when I played swtor as soon as it came out but it ended up ruining my experience there too. I used it when I played STO etc....
Anyways the point is your better off putting your expectations aside otherwise that may dictate whether you have a good experience, okay experience or bad experience. Yea I get it you want this "new" mmo to be your old favorite mmo of all time cause it seems impossible that anything will be like it you just try over and over again and force a comparison of your favorite mmo to a new mmo. But trust me its not going to do any good its like a csgo player going to play battlefield and judge it based on csgo and realize it doesn't have the skill based arena no ADS game but rather a giant map filled with people to shoot at via ADS if you want to. That csgo player sounds disappointed and less likely to enjoy battlefield.
The acronym MMORPG use to mean Massive Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game.
But the acronym MMMORPG now currently means Microscopic Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game. Kappa.
Comments
I'd be lying if I said I don't use almost all of those I played as benchmarks in some way.. Each genre entry might have a few others added to it for comparison.. TR, E&B, SWG, and AO for sci-fi.. WAR, EQ2 and WoW for fantasy.. etc..
..because we're gamers, damn it!! - William Massachusetts (Log Horizon)
For every minute you are angry , you lose 60 seconds of happiness."-Emerson
EQ1, EQ2, SWG, SWTOR, GW, GW2 CoH, CoV, FFXI, WoW, CO, War,TSW and a slew of free trials and beta tests
Let's party like it is 1863!
If ya use one game to judge all others.... that's the game you might as well be playing and don't bother playing anything else... when I try a new game I try to give it a fair chance and I don't compare it to others
The preoccupation with individual achievements in solo-centric MMO gaming has pretty well destroyed any possibility of factions being central to that great feeling of community. Guilds try to replace that feeling of being part of a greater whole in some ways but they do so in a much smaller and scattered way. DAoC also had guilds and alliances of guilds but they acted more like functional tactical units in a greater whole.
That was the highlight of social gaming in MMOs for me.
“Microtransactions? In a single player role-playing game? Are you nuts?”
― CD PROJEKT RED
"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
The ones that left lasting impressions would be City of Heroes, Ultima Online and SWTOR. Although future games will also be compared against BDO, since it's taken over my main MMO spot since launch.
My SWTOR referral link for those wanting to give the game a try. (Newbies get a welcome package while returning players get a few account upgrades to help with their preferred status.)
https://www.ashesofcreation.com/ref/Callaron/
When you say you don't a judge a game it means you would never know if what you are playing is good or bad, you like it or you don't--which is impossible. You can replace the word judge with any other fancier word, but it's the same.
And when you say you don't use a game as a reference but a series of features instead, it is again the same thing. Because you haven't come with those ideas yourself, you are taking them from another game(s). And that first game you had played and had that feature which you like, is the reference.
Part of how we deal with everything new is through our past experiences. It is impossible to cast aside your experience unless you have reached nirvana and already on your way to a higher astral plane.
Even outside of MMOs this type of comparing is pointless, I mean why would I worry about stacking Skyrim up to Divinity OS, or Total War to Dawn of War? Each game has it's own lore and gameplay systems, I don't need to play Skyrim to know if Divinity is good...
People really fall into this when it comes to sequels, always expecting the next installment to replicate their first experience with a given property. That's just setting oneself up for disappointment, it's akin to chasing the dragon.
For every minute you are angry , you lose 60 seconds of happiness."-Emerson
But when you do digest and review, you are doing everything in comparison. That's how can you come up with a valid criticism. Based of what you saying, an opinion of a critic who has played 100s of games, or has watched a thousands or movies or listened to hundreds of albums or tasted seven billion of wines should be the same as a person 0 experience because they shouldn't compare.
And I am not saying you can't know Divinity is good or not if you haven't played anything else. But you can't know how good it is unless you have played other similar games.
Because it's a 12 yr old game and everything else still somehow feels like a cheap knockoff.
But not games .....got it
Reason you do it is does the current product you are trying meet or exceed ones you've used or experienced before.
The degree which they do determines the success of the product or experience and confirms the wisdom of the consumers choices and whether they should purchase the same or similar products in the future.
If you enjoy similar products more or less equally then likely you don't really enjoy any of them or have a preference at all, like say for...toilet paper.
Or for some people apparently video games.
"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
If you play it and enjoy it enough to continue playing then the mmo is good, if you don't enjoy it then it's bad. It makes no sense going "I enjoy this feature but the "other mmo" does it better so this feature is shit."
What we don't do is judge them against other games. It's pointless.
Anyway the OPs question is a bit idiotic. It's like asking what is the one single player game you use as a reference when you judge a new game?
I don't. It's pointless. Like when people pick there top 10 MMO's.
For every minute you are angry , you lose 60 seconds of happiness."-Emerson
Your second paragraph basically means there is no point in criticism.
Hedonismbot: Your latest performance was as delectable as dipping my bottom over and over into a bath of the silkiest oils and creams.
Anyways the point is your better off putting your expectations aside otherwise that may dictate whether you have a good experience, okay experience or bad experience. Yea I get it you want this "new" mmo to be your old favorite mmo of all time cause it seems impossible that anything will be like it you just try over and over again and force a comparison of your favorite mmo to a new mmo. But trust me its not going to do any good its like a csgo player going to play battlefield and judge it based on csgo and realize it doesn't have the skill based arena no ADS game but rather a giant map filled with people to shoot at via ADS if you want to. That csgo player sounds disappointed and less likely to enjoy battlefield.
But the acronym MMMORPG now currently means Microscopic Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game. Kappa.