New Versions of the games we love

ultimateduck

Lately, there's recently been a ton of discussions that revolve the glory of old games. A lot of people, myself included, feel that older MMOs got the formula right for a lot of things like community, class diversity and progression progression, loot tables, class balance, monthly subscription, PvE, PvP (and the balance between PvE and PvP), etc.

Many feel, if the game they loved were to be re-released exactly as they were back in the day only with with modern graphics and quality of life upgrades, that they would play them without question. World of Warcraft had great success going back to vanilla even though it was not modernized. For myself, I would play a visually modernized yet mechanically in tact DAoC in a heartbeat.

centkin

The problem with modernizing an old game is it could cease to have the charm, or soul, of the old game.  Plus a lot of people have rose colored glasses when it comes to old games.  That said I picked Asheron's call because nobody has made a game with that kind of loot system, nor a game so very open to third party programs.  The game wouldn't be the same without decal.

cameltosis

SWG would be top of my list.

I don't even really care about upgraded graphics if I'm honest, I'd play it in it's original form quite happily as long as it had a large enough community. I've played on the emu servers and the game is still great, but I've never found a decent EU community large enough to get the most out of the sandbox. If the game were released again formally, I imagine it would have the community I wanted.

But, as always, it depends on what those quality of life changes were. Would they make an effort to fix the outstanding bugs from the original, or leave them in to give it authenticity?

I would also like to try DAoC. I never played it originally and I won't join a game once it's gotten old, but i hear very good things about how it was back in the day so I'd like to try it with a vibrant, modern community. Likewise, original LotRO was one of my favourite times in my gaming history so I'd definitely play that with original gameplay and better graphics/animations.

centkin

Actually, I vastly tend to prefer the beta community of games to a modern community.

Amathe

So many. Hard to choose. If I had to choose, it would be EQ first. Then a half dozen tied for second.

kitarad

Everquest but it must only upgrade the graphics everything else must stay exactly the same.

Yukmarc

I would definitely like to see DAoC and EQ. The only thing that really needs updating on both of these games to make them playable for myself are the UI. I've tried to go back to these games several times, but can't get past the UI anymore even though back then, it wasn't an issue for me.

Marid

I voted for Anarchy Online. Hopefully Tencent will buy FUNCOM and fire all the scumbag executives there...we might just see an 'Anarchy Online 2: Moons of Rubi-Ka' MMO, in that case; and it might very well be a VR MMO to boot! 

Kyleran

If I had to pick just one I'd go with UO as it is one of several I missed in their prime as I focused on DAOC instead.

So I would more likely pick Asherons Call or a few others over DAOC, because after almost 7 years on official servers and freeshards I've pretty much wrung all I want from its design, whereas the others would be a unique and new experience.

Mendel

Although I sincerely doubt that any amount of coding, design, marketing, etc. will ever bring back the feel of the early 90s game communities, I voted Anarchy Online.

AO is probably the one game to benefit most from improved graphics.  The current version is awful to look at; it is almost impossible for me to determine which way an NPC is facing.  The NPC's field of vision is pretty important, from what I remember.  Not being able to tell which way that NPC is facing reduces sneaking around to a guessing game.

AO had some interesting systems that I think I'd like to experience first hand.

A very, very, very close second was Star Wars Galaxies.  It also had systems I never experienced.  There's also quite a lot of praise for SWG, here and elsewhere.  I was busy with some congestive heart failures at its peak, and would like the opportunity to experience this for myself.  The only thing that made me vote AO over SWG is a personal distaste for the SW cannon.

AlBQuirky

Honestly, no MMO developer today has my trust to do a good job of it. I don't trust that any could keep their "creative hands" off of the original systems for their own "improvements."

Aeander

Guild
Wars
1

Kyleran

AlBQuirky said:

Honestly, no MMO developer today has my trust to do a good job of it. I don't trust that any could keep their "creative hands" off of the original systems for their own "improvements."

I'll agree, in the few times devs tried to recapture a previous game (WAR, FFXIV) the devs were unable to resist including some designs from more modern MMOs which weren't well received by the fans who were looking forward to the new game.

ultimateduck

Aeander said:

Guild
Wars
1

I almost put GW1 in the list but thought "nah..."

AlBQuirky said:

Honestly, no MMO developer today has my trust to do a good job of it. I don't trust that any could keep their "creative hands" off of the original systems for their own "improvements."

How sad is that? If I thought it was something I could afford and accomplish, I would consider buying the DAoC IP rights, convert it to a new graphics engine and update the art. I think it would do quite well.

Maybe I should buy a lotto ticket.

Scorchien

Thats a really tuff choice for me UO being my favorite game of ( 23 years now)

    And Anarchy Online but such a great IP and interesting world ..

   I voted for Asherons Call , which was an incredible experience and IMO would translate the best to being updated .

  And to add i still play UO as stated regulary and AO each year for a few months , would play AC if it was running .. It does not need an upgrade for me , its superioir as an MMORPG than most games on the market today

maskedweasel

I can't decide. It would be between City of Heroes or Marvel Heroes.  I want a good superhero MMO and DCUO doesn't cut it anymore, though they have some novel ideas. 

After that, Star Wars Galaxies.

Then Tabula Rasa.

The rest I don't know... 

rojoArcueid

After much thought on this thread i think i would love to see a new version of The Secret World without all the mistakes TSW (and SW Legends) have.

ultimateduck

maskedweasel said:

I can't decide. It would be between City of Heroes or Marvel Heroes.  I want a good superhero MMO and DCUO doesn't cut it anymore, though they have some novel ideas. 

After that, Star Wars Galaxies.

Then Tabula Rasa.

The rest I don't know... 

You know, I was looking for games that were released prior to 2010 and City of Heroes/Villians didn't populate. I thought about adding them but figured they were too new.

rojoArcueid said:

After much thought on this thread i think i would love to see a new version of The Secret World without all the mistakes TSW (and SW Legends) have.

Something about that game couldn't keep me playing. I wish I knew what because it was a solid game. Regardless, I was focusing on games released prior to 2010.

Aethaeryn

I surprised myself . .but DAoC.  There was sooo much I loved about that game.  If it was redone I would likely play it.  I loved SWG but don't know if I could do it again.  UO was great but a modernization would have to leave the gameplay as is with the only QOL improvements being graphics, controls and UI.  Just my quick thoughts

ultimateduck

Aethaeryn said:

I surprised myself . .but DAoC.  There was sooo much I loved about that game.  If it was redone I would likely play it.  I loved SWG but don't know if I could do it again.  UO was great but a modernization would have to leave the gameplay as is with the only QOL improvements being graphics, controls and UI.  Just my quick thoughts

That is the question. The game is the exact same game, only updated graphically with basic QOL changes.

Iselin

DAoC for sure. Although I'm not optimistic that this would do the trick of recreating the atmosphere and community those games had when they were new. Players are different now and there's no going back.

IsilithTehroth

I consider Darkfall online old school since it started development in 2002 but didnt release until 2008. I'd like to try SWG, Asherons call and Daoc in new graphics and mechanics though, or planetside 1 instead of the gimmicky casual p2w Planetside 2(since Smedley absolutely butchered the game to sell cash shop items but that is Smedley in every way a great IP and design his developers make but he comes in and shits all over it in the sake of getting more money).

noxaeternus

I would go crazy over a modernized jumpgate.

ultimateduck

Vinterkrig said:

I voted DAOC but with Camelot Unchained on the way in 2025 I've got little hope it'll recapture what I enjoyed so much back then...partly because of me and the time I don't have to spend playing it but also it's just a thing of the past.

2025...lol.

Optimist.

rojoArcueid

ultimateduck said:

rojoArcueid said:

After much thought on this thread i think i would love to see a new version of The Secret World without all the mistakes TSW (and SW Legends) have.

Something about that game couldn't keep me playing. I wish I knew what because it was a solid game. Regardless, I was focusing on games released prior to 2010.

Prior to 2010, then i would like to see a modern non-instanced Hellgate London.

GladDog

ultimateduck said:

maskedweasel said:

I can't decide. It would be between City of Heroes or Marvel Heroes.  I want a good superhero MMO and DCUO doesn't cut it anymore, though they have some novel ideas. 

After that, Star Wars Galaxies.

Then Tabula Rasa.

The rest I don't know... 

You know, I was looking for games that were released prior to 2010 and City of Heroes/Villians didn't populate. I thought about adding them but figured they were too new.

rojoArcueid said:

After much thought on this thread i think i would love to see a new version of The Secret World without all the mistakes TSW (and SW Legends) have.

Something about that game couldn't keep me playing. I wish I knew what because it was a solid game. Regardless, I was focusing on games released prior to 2010.

City of Heroes released in 2004.  And that game would have my vote in the poll - I voted OTHER.