Best city in an MMORPG

Bane101

Playing World of Warcraft, I found myself impressed with the design of several of the big cities there - Ironforge and the Undercity are paritcularly good. I've not seen them all yet though so others may impress too.

Of course, the two main city's of Everquest 2 are impressive too as are some of the cities in Star Wars Galaxies. Then there's the megacities in Neocron and the Matrix Online - big but any good? The list goes on... But that made me think, which is the best designed/ looking city in a current MMORPG?

You have to consider the functionality. Are the services all in logical 'easy to find' locations? Is the city the busy hub it should be or is it deserted because of a flaw in the gameworld system? Does the dock area really look like a dock?

Then there's the look of the city. Does it inspire awe or do you hardly notice anything as you run around in it?

One reason I'm interested is that I am an Urban Planner in real life and the virtual represenations of cities interest me.

So what's your favourite city in an MMORPG?

anarchyart

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Originally posted by Bane101

Playing World of Warcraft, I found myself impressed with the design of several of the big cities there - Ironforge and the Undercity are paritcularly good. I've not seen them all yet though so others may impress too.
Of course, the two main city's of Everquest 2 are impressive too as are some of the city's in Star Wars Galaxies. Then there's the megacities in Neocron and the Matrix Online - big but any good? The list goes on... But that made me think, which is the best designed/ looking city in a current MMORPG?
You have to consider the functionality. Are the services all in logical 'easy to find' locations? Is the city the busy hub as it should be or is it deserted because of a flaw in the gameworld system? Does the dock area really look like a dock?
Then there's the look of the city. Does it inspire awe or do you hardly notice anything as you run around in it?
One reason I'm interested is that I am an Urban Planner in real life and the virtual represenations of cities interest me.
So what's your favourite city in an MMORPG?

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I haven't played in a while but, hands down I would say Ironforge in WoW!

When walking up the hill toward it, it rises out of the horizon like some mythical hulk that has survived for aeons. It's battlements and windows all are placed such that it looks like it was really designed in a real world from the ground up. Flying in on a gryphon with no lag is truly breathaking and beautiful, it is really a unique city in gamedom and seems the work of an inspired architect. Its my pick for number one city in a game ever.

Best entrance of a city would be Stormwind from WoW. When entering the gates at night and seeing those majestic statues with the towers  backlit against the moonlight, yikes it is breathtaking! Everything about Stormwind is really well done, in fact it might be a tie for first place with Ironforge, although the city streets are a bit run of the mill although quite lovely. The mage quarter in Stormwind is a feast for the eyes as well.

One thing I can say about WoW is they had some great city designers, there truly isn't a boring locale in the entire game.

pirrg

Id have to agree, other cities are mere limericks compared to the visual poetry that is Ironforge, Stormwind and the Undercity.

deggilator

Without a second thought, I'd say Neocron. The propagandistic voice announcements through the whole city, beggars on the streets, litter and graffiti, and a variety of areas, like the upper middle class in Via Rosso and the ghetto area of Pepper Park. It's the best cyberpunk atmosphere I've seen in a game, multiplayer or not. I so wish that game didn't have all those bugs and imbalances, *sigh*...

Of course, I love Qeynos in EQ2. It feels so lively, NPCs moving around, children running around and playing, vendors shouting their merchandise... I like Freeport as well, but it doesn't feel as lively, though it's exactly how it should be.

nubbins

i know im gunna get flamed for it but i dont care

Ikeras in AC2 4tw !

me lieks  the random grouping of people always playing 1 instrument or another altho i must admit the constant spams of LFG for FETS gets annoying

manday

For WoW I'd have to vote Darnassus and The Undercity. They're definetly opposites (both still being very colourful, though). Darnassus is beautiful, The Undercity is colourful, gruesome, and has some very interesting things going on in it (Fight club, scenes from WC, just neat, scary stuff). There's so many really neat looking places in WoW though, they definetly put attention into the detail of "zones".

I also really liked Windurst in FFXI, the sound of water, and the happy music made that city pretty great. Not many other memorable cities from other games.. Saga of Ryzom maybe. I really like the colours (similar to WoW).

Bane101

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Originally posted by deggilator


Without a second thought, I'd say Neocron. The propagandistic voice announcements through the whole city, beggars on the streets, litter and graffiti, and a variety of areas, like the upper middle class in Via Rosso and the ghetto area of Pepper Park. It's the best cyberpunk atmosphere I've seen in a game, multiplayer or not. I so wish that game didn't have all those bugs and imbalances, *sigh*...

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I agree that Neocron was a tour de force in virtual urban design. It had a very claustrophobic feel to it. I also liked the way when viewed form the wilderness, the city stood there like a mighty fortress with the Stormbots on guard.

But I guess things move on and it's probably matched it not bettered now by the Matrix Online city, with all the buldlings s that you can enter and look around in and all the traffic. Shame you can't drive in it though and the city is so empty. 

Imperatorian

Even though I quit WoW and rather dislike it, I'd say Ogrimmar, without a doubt. So colourful and full of life, I loved it. It was the main reason I played a Horde character, just so I could go to Ogrimmar from time to time.

zethcarn

After I've thought about a minute, I really can't think of any cities that are topped by the World of Warcraft cities.

scaramoosh

Bestine in SWG, just loved the Atmosphere there witht he players when the game was released.

nomadian

South Qeynos in eq2.

Imperatorian

Yes I'd have to agree with Bestine too. I guess it's a tie between Bestine and Ogrimmar. Bestine was indeed very good looking.

Anofalye

For some emotional reasons...I always like North Freeport a LOT! Dunno why...if I was purely wasting my time and not doing anything, just walking around or anything, it was the zone I would pick, for no particuliar reasons. Well, prolly have to do with the local history, with the Marr temple against the corrupted city.

 

Best city in a MMORPG...well, no surprise to anyone...Paragon city is the best city and by FAR!  LOL, the whole game happen inside the city...and it is nice looking and all, not like any city in others MMO can even compete.

Sparks243

Bastok in FFXI

Love the Metalworks

micona

i'll have to go with Jobe in anarchyonline cant beat the view up there

Greatness

I liked Aden in Lineage 2(cause of the castle very near to it and how you could get there). And this one city in World of Warcraft but I forgot the name.

ChrisMattern

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Originally posted by Sparks243
Bastok in FFXILove the Metalworks

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Sir, you have good taste.

Chris Mattern

Billings

I never liked dark elves but I always thought Neriak in EQ1 was excellent. I especially loved the under water bar with the windows so you could see the fish swimming by. Secretly, that was my favourite city as it was really neat, but officially it was Rivervale all the way..the oom-pah music, the bar, the halfling holes, the halfling families in the holes!

Don't forget Shakey Scarecrow!

 

Bobiin

My all-time favorite city in any MMORPG is... *drumroll*

Kelethin for EQ 1.  Not only was it the city that was full of culture, the players in it were as well.  There was always a group of beggers at the bank, with an equal number of annoyed rich people.  The lowbies just below the trees fighting random wildlife.  The auctions, Kelethin was one of the best place to sell your wares IMO.  (this was all pre luclin, after that kelethin died, along with EQ)

In second is Ironforge from WoW.  The first time I entered it, i was in awe.  The roofs were so tall, and the giant dwarf statue as you entered.

Dansas

Pronetra in Ragnarok Online.

Balter

My Favourite City is Stormwind in WoW.

My Favourite area/town in WoW though is Booty Bay and Stranglethorn, don't know why it's just neat.

Kiamde

Antwerp in WWIIO.

Otherwise, Freeport in EQII.

Techleo

I guess my all time favorite has to be...Jobe in AO:)
The shere fact the cities flying is enough to just make me scream for joy!

Jenuviel

I think Thunder Bluff in World of Warcraft is my favorite. The tribal design, complete with teepees and totem poles, was just so unusual to see in a virtual world. The fact that the city was built on top of stone mesas connected with rope bridges and pulley-lifts really added to to it. The Everquest franchise was good at creating cities that felt like original locations, too.

Really, I tend to prefer the style of city design that uses unique, distinctive artwork for each location to the more common style of just dropping pre-rendered buildings (occasionally with different skins) in different locations.

Apsylum

Definetly Neocron. I loved the main town (Sorry, I forgot the name, it's been a while). Tech Haven was awesome too

Also, Undercity isn't busy at all compared to Org. So it's flawed if we're going by your guidelines But I will admit, UC was pretty cool. I liked it more than Org, just there was never any people.

Hastati

I'm going to have to say either Stormwind in WoW or Bestine in SWG.