I LOL at this mentality as this is exactly why previous MMOs which are now trainwrecks got anyone to subscribe. Let's apply this same logic to other games...
It's Dungeon and Draongs. Period. - Turbine practically botched the grandfather of all RPGs. This game had nothing to do with real D&D past the name on the box.
It's Star Wars. Period - Again another complete and utter catastrophe where a company tried to milk a big name franchise and ended up burning thousands of players.
It's the Matrix Period. - Another complete botched project which isn't even a blip on the radar of the MMO world.
Slapping a big name franchise on a box is clearly not even close to justification to purchase a game. I'm not saying this game will be good or bad, but you will need to do a lot better then this. That is the exact same mentality literally tens of thousands of gamers had walking into what are now some of the biggest disasters of MMO's released.
I just left Vanguard as that ship is sinking rapidly. So what makes this game any better then that one? It is after all the same type game of swords, creatures and spells. Is it a grind type game as are all the others of its kind? What's the big difference in this game? What makes this game better then all the others out here now? I'd like to know as I'm searching for a game atm but hesitate to get this one as it looks like more of the same. Now, I'm not bashing this game as I've never played it nor do I know anything about it. Just that it's more of the same type game as the rest of the market.
* LotRO is a 'Casual' players game with some innovative PvP elements
* It is very much a close clone of WoW mechanics
* It is generally not for the 'Hardcore' or even 'Semi-Hardcore' player
* It is a Lord of the Rings IP development (means Elves, Dwarves, Orcs, Men, etc)
For unhappy V:SoH, EQ2, DAoC, CoH/CoV players : I would recommend EVE or Anarchy Online, depending on your PvP needs.
As a long time Alpha/Beta tester, I was on the fence about Lotro. during this time I was also a Vanguard tester and now retail player. Unfortunately Vanguard has some problems with it that just make it unplayable for me right now so I started playing in the Lotro OB again and have been actually enjoying it. So I will definitely pick up retail and will play it at least for a while. If by chance Vanguard fixes the bugs and shows a growth in population I may switch back to it but we will have to wait until then. For now I will stick with Lotro as it keeps me entertained, which is what I truly look for in any game I play.
Will you like it? Only you can determine that. All I can tell you is that while its not as exciting as EQ was for me back in the day (of course that will never happen again), it is enjoyable.
WoW copied 90% of its mechanics from Everquest. Nothing has been original since Everquest and Asheron's Call.
It also confuses me to see people bashing a game because they've been playing MMOs for years. You are never going to see a total revolutionary product in this genre - it won't happen.
Sure, Age of Conan may boast a new combat system that hasn't been tried, Warhammer Online might boast extreme PvP content, Gods and Heroes tells you that you will get to control NPCs for your army and even Star Trek Online says you will be able to command a starship with other players.. but at the end of the day, they will all boil down to the base mechanics of what you have seen already for 10 years.
Just like every other category of game. Did the 8+ years between Half Life 1 and Half Life 2 really change alot? Was Command and Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars really that different from Red Alert? No, not at all.
If you're burned out on MMOs, look to yourself and the expectations you're setting on games.
LOTRO is a polished MMO, with balanced classes, nice zones, a good engine, lots of quests and lots of content. Over the last month they have added over 500+mb of content upgrades - and for anyone who played Asheron's Call 1, you know what they are capable in their monthly patches. I expect them to be working on masses of high level content right now.
They said themselves they've taken a different approach - they worked from level 1 upwards as opposed to max level and downwards, like most MMOs do.
Blizzard's monthly patches were disgusting compared to the level of content Turbine can pump out.
I LOL at this mentality as this is exactly why previous MMOs which are now trainwrecks got anyone to subscribe. Let's apply this same logic to other games...
It's Dungeon and Draongs. Period. - Turbine practically botched the grandfather of all RPGs. This game had nothing to do with real D&D past the name on the box.
It's Star Wars. Period - Again another complete and utter catastrophe where a company tried to milk a big name franchise and ended up burning thousands of players.
It's the Matrix Period. - Another complete botched project which isn't even a blip on the radar of the MMO world.
Slapping a big name franchise on a box is clearly not even close to justification to purchase a game. I'm not saying this game will be good or bad, but you will need to do a lot better then this. That is the exact same mentality literally tens of thousands of gamers had walking into what are now some of the biggest disasters of MMO's released.
Except LOTRO is actually very faintful to the setting The epic story line quest is awesome and makes me want to play starting at level 1.
Coming from WoW (level 60 pre BC), that's one thing that I did not find in WoW. I didn't find a reason to exist in WoW. Why did I start adventuring? In LOTRO, the beginning experience/instance drew you right in the middle of a conflict and gave you a reason to go on. I really liked that a lot.
Also, having the franchise really does help the game a lot. I was one giddy hobbit when I was touring The Shire, seeing the Party Tree for the first time. It's a great experience. I can't wait for the level cap in open beta to lift so I can venture to the other parts of Middle Earth. Another thing that I really want to play is participate in Monster Play as a player and combat monsters that are controlled by human players. Those were so fun in closed beta!
LOTRO is a game with a proven formula and small innovations and polishes all over the place. Except the /music system of course. Players do incredible things with it and I have already seen people playing music together. It just puts a smile on my face when I see someone standing in town practicing playing a lute!
And with such a smooth launch, I am sure it will do very well
I just left Vanguard as that ship is sinking rapidly. So what makes this game any better then that one? It is after all the same type game of swords, creatures and spells. Is it a grind type game as are all the others of its kind? What's the big difference in this game? What makes this game better then all the others out here now? I'd like to know as I'm searching for a game atm but hesitate to get this one as it looks like more of the same. Now, I'm not bashing this game as I've never played it nor do I know anything about it. Just that it's more of the same type game as the rest of the market.
Two cooks make soup; basic ingredients are the same, but the the end results are very different, ranging from meh to sheer artistry.
A game is not a bunch of checkmarks on a checklist, but a very complex blending of many, many ingredients. I felt VG didn't make an interesting game, although the ingredients were certainly there. I was mostly on Qalia, so the game seemed drab.
LotRO manages to be fun, colorful, and consistently interesting. Why? Some novel approaches to the genre, like the instanced epic quests, and the humorous quests like the fast mail service or pie delivery. A lot of hand work in the scenery, so that there is more variety than usual, and an excellent sense of local ecologies. A lot of polish. And a superb base on which to build, a base to which they are very faithful. A dense geography, with something usually happening just around that corner. And some magic ingredient...
Finally, unlike VG, very professionally managed, so they got where they were planning to go. They listened, really listened to the beta players, and made changes as a result. They also put out an excellent questionaire, and are incorporating the responses; not a Vanguardish thing at all.
Only thing I don't like right now about this game that its takes awhile for you to be able to get /ride a horse. I they said level 41or 42 it was I think it should be around 15, maybe 20 I mean it should not take alot for peole in that time to be able to ride a horse, kids around 5 and 6 in the movies and books could ride a horse but a level 20 combat ready man or woman can't!? Thats the only thing that I don't like so far, still an alright game tho.
As a long time Alpha/Beta tester, member of a dev guild and test team I have to warn you. If you DONT like a really fun exciting, graphically superior game, with tons of quests, a great crafting system, awesome lore, enhanced raid content, personally customizable classes, and an innovative pvp system.. well then you wont like LOTRO. LOTRO offers all of this and more and I strongly ugre you to avoid it if buggy unfinished unplayable games with no content are what you are looking for. If you are NOT looking to actually spend your money on a solid playable game with unlimited potential this is not the game for you.
Your living so far away from reality kid, you need to come and experience life a bit.
You say: if you dont like FUN (whats fun?? PONG was fun...fun is relative, dont even try to encapsulate fun as a whole and then pass judgement)
You say: graphically superior game (What exactly is superior in the graphics?? it doesnt lag, it doesnt CTD, so its a smooth engine, BUT where is the superior graphics... its looks good but I dont see the superior graphics. It is superior then Vanguard YES, but superior as a graphical entity... you dont need to exagerate.... we get it.. the game is smooth and looks good)
You say, tons of quests, a great crafting system, raid content, customizable classes A.K.A talents for the WoW fans. (hmmm and how is this diferent from any other class/level MMO??)
And dont get me wrong, the pvp system is a sorry excuse for a concept.
There is nothing more enjoyable than reading posts like this, where people who are fanbois try and levitate the product (game) of their choice to godly levels, simply cause they like it.
You know, there are some people in this sick planet who eat shit. You know... they poop and they eat it. Real shit, Im not talking about shit as in taking crap from someone. Of course they like it.... its good to them.... its a fetish... its whatever and they can prolly tell you the good side of it (if their is such a thing). But it doesnt change the TRUTH.... they are sick fucks in the head..... and it is shit after all.
So spare us the pityful comments when you say, if we dont like fun and exciting games then this isnt for us and if we like broken unfinished games then this isnt for us. This game has nothing DIFFERENT to offer then most other MMO's out there. It is the same old shit with a LOTR label stuck to it. Nothing wrong with that... But don't try and market the game as unique and new and BETTER then the rest, when in fact it is nothing more and nothing new then what is currently available.
If you disagree, your a fanboi with an agenda.
Now as to my opinion, play beta for free and wait for something else to be released, this game doesnt cut it. LOTR fan or not. (Im a star wars fan... you dont see me playing SWG)... enough said.
Comments
I LOL at this mentality as this is exactly why previous MMOs which are now trainwrecks got anyone to subscribe. Let's apply this same logic to other games...
It's Dungeon and Draongs. Period. - Turbine practically botched the grandfather of all RPGs. This game had nothing to do with real D&D past the name on the box.
It's Star Wars. Period - Again another complete and utter catastrophe where a company tried to milk a big name franchise and ended up burning thousands of players.
It's the Matrix Period. - Another complete botched project which isn't even a blip on the radar of the MMO world.
Slapping a big name franchise on a box is clearly not even close to justification to purchase a game. I'm not saying this game will be good or bad, but you will need to do a lot better then this. That is the exact same mentality literally tens of thousands of gamers had walking into what are now some of the biggest disasters of MMO's released.
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* LotRO is a 'Casual' players game with some innovative PvP elements
* It is very much a close clone of WoW mechanics
* It is generally not for the 'Hardcore' or even 'Semi-Hardcore' player
* It is a Lord of the Rings IP development (means Elves, Dwarves, Orcs, Men, etc)
For unhappy V:SoH, EQ2, DAoC, CoH/CoV players : I would recommend EVE or Anarchy Online, depending on your PvP needs.
Good Luck
Will you like it? Only you can determine that. All I can tell you is that while its not as exciting as EQ was for me back in the day (of course that will never happen again), it is enjoyable.
Warp
It also confuses me to see people bashing a game because they've been playing MMOs for years. You are never going to see a total revolutionary product in this genre - it won't happen.
Sure, Age of Conan may boast a new combat system that hasn't been tried, Warhammer Online might boast extreme PvP content, Gods and Heroes tells you that you will get to control NPCs for your army and even Star Trek Online says you will be able to command a starship with other players.. but at the end of the day, they will all boil down to the base mechanics of what you have seen already for 10 years.
Just like every other category of game. Did the 8+ years between Half Life 1 and Half Life 2 really change alot? Was Command and Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars really that different from Red Alert? No, not at all.
If you're burned out on MMOs, look to yourself and the expectations you're setting on games.
LOTRO is a polished MMO, with balanced classes, nice zones, a good engine, lots of quests and lots of content. Over the last month they have added over 500+mb of content upgrades - and for anyone who played Asheron's Call 1, you know what they are capable in their monthly patches. I expect them to be working on masses of high level content right now.
They said themselves they've taken a different approach - they worked from level 1 upwards as opposed to max level and downwards, like most MMOs do.
Blizzard's monthly patches were disgusting compared to the level of content Turbine can pump out.
I LOL at this mentality as this is exactly why previous MMOs which are now trainwrecks got anyone to subscribe. Let's apply this same logic to other games...
It's Dungeon and Draongs. Period. - Turbine practically botched the grandfather of all RPGs. This game had nothing to do with real D&D past the name on the box.
It's Star Wars. Period - Again another complete and utter catastrophe where a company tried to milk a big name franchise and ended up burning thousands of players.
It's the Matrix Period. - Another complete botched project which isn't even a blip on the radar of the MMO world.
Slapping a big name franchise on a box is clearly not even close to justification to purchase a game. I'm not saying this game will be good or bad, but you will need to do a lot better then this. That is the exact same mentality literally tens of thousands of gamers had walking into what are now some of the biggest disasters of MMO's released.
Except LOTRO is actually very faintful to the setting
Coming from WoW (level 60 pre BC), that's one thing that I did not find in WoW. I didn't find a reason to exist in WoW. Why did I start adventuring? In LOTRO, the beginning experience/instance drew you right in the middle of a conflict and gave you a reason to go on. I really liked that a lot.
Also, having the franchise really does help the game a lot. I was one giddy hobbit when I was touring The Shire, seeing the Party Tree for the first time. It's a great experience. I can't wait for the level cap in open beta to lift so I can venture to the other parts of Middle Earth. Another thing that I really want to play is participate in Monster Play as a player and combat monsters that are controlled by human players. Those were so fun in closed beta!
LOTRO is a game with a proven formula and small innovations and polishes all over the place. Except the /music system of course. Players do incredible things with it and I have already seen people playing music together. It just puts a smile on my face when I see someone standing in town practicing playing a lute!
And with such a smooth launch, I am sure it will do very well
Two cooks make soup; basic ingredients are the same, but the the end results are very different, ranging from meh to sheer artistry.
A game is not a bunch of checkmarks on a checklist, but a very complex blending of many, many ingredients. I felt VG didn't make an interesting game, although the ingredients were certainly there. I was mostly on Qalia, so the game seemed drab.
LotRO manages to be fun, colorful, and consistently interesting. Why? Some novel approaches to the genre, like the instanced epic quests, and the humorous quests like the fast mail service or pie delivery. A lot of hand work in the scenery, so that there is more variety than usual, and an excellent sense of local ecologies. A lot of polish. And a superb base on which to build, a base to which they are very faithful. A dense geography, with something usually happening just around that corner. And some magic ingredient...
Finally, unlike VG, very professionally managed, so they got where they were planning to go. They listened, really listened to the beta players, and made changes as a result. They also put out an excellent questionaire, and are incorporating the responses; not a Vanguardish thing at all.
Your living so far away from reality kid, you need to come and experience life a bit.
You say: if you dont like FUN (whats fun?? PONG was fun...fun is relative, dont even try to encapsulate fun as a whole and then pass judgement)
You say: graphically superior game (What exactly is superior in the graphics?? it doesnt lag, it doesnt CTD, so its a smooth engine, BUT where is the superior graphics... its looks good but I dont see the superior graphics. It is superior then Vanguard YES, but superior as a graphical entity... you dont need to exagerate.... we get it.. the game is smooth and looks good)
You say, tons of quests, a great crafting system, raid content, customizable classes A.K.A talents for the WoW fans. (hmmm and how is this diferent from any other class/level MMO??)
And dont get me wrong, the pvp system is a sorry excuse for a concept.
There is nothing more enjoyable than reading posts like this, where people who are fanbois try and levitate the product (game) of their choice to godly levels, simply cause they like it.
You know, there are some people in this sick planet who eat shit. You know... they poop and they eat it. Real shit, Im not talking about shit as in taking crap from someone. Of course they like it.... its good to them.... its a fetish... its whatever and they can prolly tell you the good side of it (if their is such a thing). But it doesnt change the TRUTH.... they are sick fucks in the head..... and it is shit after all.
So spare us the pityful comments when you say, if we dont like fun and exciting games then this isnt for us and if we like broken unfinished games then this isnt for us. This game has nothing DIFFERENT to offer then most other MMO's out there. It is the same old shit with a LOTR label stuck to it. Nothing wrong with that... But don't try and market the game as unique and new and BETTER then the rest, when in fact it is nothing more and nothing new then what is currently available.
If you disagree, your a fanboi with an agenda.
Now as to my opinion, play beta for free and wait for something else to be released, this game doesnt cut it. LOTR fan or not. (Im a star wars fan... you dont see me playing SWG)... enough said.