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What the heck is a "NEXT-GEN" mmorpg?
jasco20
Member Posts: 46
So what's with all the hub-bub about "NEXT-GEN" mmorpgs?
What does a "NEXT-GEN" mmorpg look and play like that makes it so "Next-Gen?"
How is it different than what's being played today?
What do I have to look forward to? I don't get it....
Somebody tell me... or does anyone have any idea at all????
Comments
Instead of your typical EQ-replicas, you get games with features like Darkfall's. Quite simple.
Next Gen can mean a lot of things. People tend to look at graphical quality as next gen, while others look at gameplay. Most times people will call a game next gen based one when they come out, like how many people will call a game that releases this year the next generation compared to a game that released a year or two ago.
Its all pretty subjective.
What I see for a Next Gen game would be something that uses a better graphical engine, offers new, interesting and unique gameplay and pushes the genre to a new level.
There are 3 types of people in the world.
1.) Those who make things happen
2.) Those who watch things happen
3.) And those who wonder "What the %#*& just happened?!"
Just better GFX according to this round! Even with AoC, WAR, Spellborn, etc and all the new Console games I've yet to any new gameplay ideas. Only the GFX have improved and thats considered the next gen.
Now go look at Nintendo and their Wii....thats being claimed as a New-Gen tech cause its not entirely new GFX, but its an entirely new way to play older ideas, and a few new ones!
There is nothing in the way of MMORPGs coming out in the next 2+ yrs thats Next-Gen until the devs get the head outa their ass and stop trying to copy WoW success:
Stop making these baby MMOs with no DP or level loss.
Make a Perma Death Server, yeah alot of ppl won't make it too far but thats the fun!
Possible loss of equipped gear on char when dead, and have to run back to corpse and retrieve them before someone else does.
Make the game really hard to acquire XP or just take alot longer and force grouping or other tactics on players that require thought and preperation...not just a zerg fest!
Remove the dumb ass idea of giving us 50,000XP for killing 10 boars....make us have to fight 2,000 boars instead.
....and tons of other ideas that I'm not gonna list cause I'm currently planning on using them for the 2D MMO I'm designing atm.
Kemih ~ 13 Red Mage | Currently playing FFXI & LOTRO, awaiting Warhammer Online & Aion...
Anyway first of all Ive yet to see a MMO thats out there or in development which i could consider 'Next-Gen' mainly because they all seems to be rehashes of the same old MMO formula. Now i will say the promises that Darkfall holds does make it a good contender for the 'Next-Gen' crown but in the end there is some doubt as to whether it will even come out and as to whether it can fulfill its promises as no one has yet to show us what its really like.
Another great example of Moore's Law. Give people access to that much space (developers and users alike) and they'll find uses for it that you can never imagine. "640K ought to be enough for anybody" - Bill Gates 1981
Next gen is an industry buzz word that is suppose to wrap the concept of a game using new technology and game concepts not found in older games into one catchy phrase. Unfortunately what it usually means is envelope pushing graphics with little in the way of new types of game play.
""But Coyote, you could learn! You only prefer keyboard and mouse because that's all you've ever known!" You might say right before you hug a rainforest and walk in sandals to your drum circle where you're trying to raise group consciousness of ladybugs or whatever it is you dirty goddamn hippies do when you're not busy smoking pot and smelling bad."
Coyote's Howling: Death of the Computer
Sad but true
There are 3 types of people in the world.
1.) Those who make things happen
2.) Those who watch things happen
3.) And those who wonder "What the %#*& just happened?!"
Ok, but what is "---new, interesting and unique gameplay???"
What qualifies as truly unique and creative?
Uh last time I looked these are actually really really old ideas that didn't go over well with the common playerbase just the dark twisted few that like to think its new and interesting when its not.
Harsh DP, level loss, Perma death, gear loss, corpse decay looting have been around since Diablo 1, UO, and Everquest 1. They're a step backwards in the tree of evolution. Infact there's really few ideas anyone could come up with for death penalities these days thats actually new other than maybe you get hit in the head once in real life for every death or your account is charged for every in game ressurection.
Personally Next Gen is subjective ... its why I hate when game developers toute their games as next gen when really its just an evolved version of something I played years ago. Thankfully alot of developers are starting to stop using those terms unless it truelly is something 'new' journalists may still use it but then they've proven to be far from accurate in their reviews anyway.
Please Refer to Doom Cat with all conspiracies & evil corporation complaints. He'll give you the simple explination of..WE"RE ALL DOOMED!
Next-Gen
UO gameplay with new graphics
"hit while moving" pvp
hi
Ok, but what is "---new, interesting and unique gameplay???"
What qualifies as truly unique and creative?
Thats the thing. No one can really think of something new to add to the genre. You already have games that use the EQ standard gameplay (what WoW, AO, WAR, etc already use). You have games using the FPS style gameplay (TR, Spellborn, Planetside). You also have games using Skill based gameplay (UO and upcoming games such as Darkfall).As of right now its just easier to push a games graphical limits and claim its 'Next-Gen' even though it offers the same gameplay/systems the games used 2-6 years ago. A game like WAR will be very similar to DAoC, while a game like Darkfall will be more like a truely 3D version of oldschool UO.
There are 3 types of people in the world.
1.) Those who make things happen
2.) Those who watch things happen
3.) And those who wonder "What the %#*& just happened?!"
Ok, but what is "---new, interesting and unique gameplay???"
What qualifies as truly unique and creative?
Usually "---new, interesting and unique gameplay" means a different spin on something that has been done before. Really no game has done everything different. For example TR has an intrest combat system but it really is a different take on FPS so I would not consider it "Next Gen". Can anyone name a game that has been a complete divergence from what has come before?
""But Coyote, you could learn! You only prefer keyboard and mouse because that's all you've ever known!" You might say right before you hug a rainforest and walk in sandals to your drum circle where you're trying to raise group consciousness of ladybugs or whatever it is you dirty goddamn hippies do when you're not busy smoking pot and smelling bad."
Coyote's Howling: Death of the Computer
Ok, but what is "---new, interesting and unique gameplay???"
What qualifies as truly unique and creative?
Thats the thing. No one can really think of something new to add to the genre.They can, cause I did. ...and well sorry but I can't share that with anyone until I get my game and idea copyrighted so it doesn't get stolen so u'll just have to wait until next year. The current devs are just scared of trying something new and not getting WoW success. Maybe if they tried something new that alone would kill WoWs success instead of mirroring their gameplay!
EDIT: As deathtom said above yeah u can't do entirely new without using some of the old ideas. Which works for me, and thats exactly what I'm doing. I've desgined an entirely new way to approach combat and survival, but I'm also using older ideas from several MMOs that I think are great!
Kemih ~ 13 Red Mage | Currently playing FFXI & LOTRO, awaiting Warhammer Online & Aion...
Ok, but what is "---new, interesting and unique gameplay???"
What qualifies as truly unique and creative?
Usually "---new, interesting and unique gameplay" means a different spin on something that has been done before. Really no game has done everything different. For example TR has an intrest combat system but it really is a different take on FPS so I would not consider it "Next Gen". Can anyone name a game that has been a complete divergence from what has come before?
Well it can be new if its something never done in a genre. Like taking a fighting game system from say Street Fighter, and working it in as the combat system for an MMO. New and Unique can be achieved by just adding an element that has never been tried/used in the genre itself. Though that won't constitute making the game 'Next-Gen'.
There are 3 types of people in the world.
1.) Those who make things happen
2.) Those who watch things happen
3.) And those who wonder "What the %#*& just happened?!"
Ok, but what is "---new, interesting and unique gameplay???"
What qualifies as truly unique and creative?
Usually "---new, interesting and unique gameplay" means a different spin on something that has been done before. Really no game has done everything different. For example TR has an intrest combat system but it really is a different take on FPS so I would not consider it "Next Gen". Can anyone name a game that has been a complete divergence from what has come before?
Well it can be new if its something never done in a genre. Like taking a fighting game system from say Street Fighter, and working it in as the combat system for an MMO. New and Unique can be achieved by just adding an element that has never been tried/used in the genre itself. Though that won't constitute making the game 'Next-Gen'.
I agree with you on this. Putting in something you usually don't find in an MMO would make it different and maybe even better but as you stated not "next Gen". We may not get next gen until we can jack into a game and experience the game world first hand.
""But Coyote, you could learn! You only prefer keyboard and mouse because that's all you've ever known!" You might say right before you hug a rainforest and walk in sandals to your drum circle where you're trying to raise group consciousness of ladybugs or whatever it is you dirty goddamn hippies do when you're not busy smoking pot and smelling bad."
Coyote's Howling: Death of the Computer
I define "Next-Gen" as something new and untested, yet turns out to be suprisingly popular.
Some examples come to mind:
The Nintendo Wii - Completely different control scheme then most gamer are used to, and turned out a huge sucess.
Halo 3: The Forge and Replay Camera - Complete and total editting tool built into the game, but one that can be active on-the-fly. If you haven't played a game with 8+ people where each team has a single Architect, I tell ya it's a blast. Also the ability to replay and save vids and screenshots from every second of multiplayer and singleplayer Halo action is huge.
Things like story-telling and interactiveness can also be defined as Next-Generation principles I think.
This is what makes Mass Effect "Next Gen" in my opinion, the amazingly crafted story and the true interactivveness to play the game as you want to. Sure, they (Bioware) did it in KOTOR but in Mass Effect you can tell that they figured out the perfect execution of this style.
"Next-Gen" should be / should've been :
But instead we've been presented with, over and over again :
:: m a k i n g o v e n f r i e s ::
"No one can really think of something new to add to the genre... "
Ok, I hear ya... but... UGH!
I hope all genuine creativity has not been lost. I hope that what we have today is not all we get to experience in gameplay! What's it going to take? True Virtual Reality? New interfaces? Voice recognition?
I think Next Gen is gonna have to hit new innovative marks for combat. FPS's have gone there. It's gotta happen for us. Some stable blend between FPS and RPG combat styles to mix it up. And just because it hasn't been done well before doesn't mean it can't be done- that's the point of innovation and creativity!
Somewhere along the way, our MMORPG universe is going to have to come alive with truly intelligent and dynamic AI. I'm so weary of walking into mostly abandoned big beautiful cities... That was a major disappointment in EQ2 for me. BIG GORGEOUS CITY... eentsy teensy population. Ok, what happened to all the people? Why all the houses and shops? Hard to suspend disbelief with that.
What's the solution?
"No one can really think of something new to add to the genre... "
Ok, I hear ya... but... UGH!
I hope all genuine creativity has not been lost....
I don't think that it is a lack of creativity as much as it is a lack of will. As was stated above most companies do what is safe or sales.
""But Coyote, you could learn! You only prefer keyboard and mouse because that's all you've ever known!" You might say right before you hug a rainforest and walk in sandals to your drum circle where you're trying to raise group consciousness of ladybugs or whatever it is you dirty goddamn hippies do when you're not busy smoking pot and smelling bad."
Coyote's Howling: Death of the Computer
There are quite a few great new ideas as I keep stating and listing some, but nobody wants to risk their company on them even when we all sit here and demand they do this or that. They'd rather sit around and wait for some small company with little to lose and succeed at the new ideas then steal them all when they're a success!
Kemih ~ 13 Red Mage | Currently playing FFXI & LOTRO, awaiting Warhammer Online & Aion...
"No one can really think of something new to add to the genre... "
Ok, I hear ya... but... UGH!
I hope all genuine creativity has not been lost. I hope that what we have today is not all we get to experience in gameplay! What's it going to take? True Virtual Reality? New interfaces? Voice recognition?
I think Next Gen is gonna have to hit new innovative marks for combat. FPS's have gone there. It's gotta happen for us. Some stable blend between FPS and RPG combat styles to mix it up. And just because it hasn't been done well before doesn't mean it can't be done- that's the point of innovation and creativity!
Somewhere along the way, our MMORPG universe is going to have to come alive with truly intelligent and dynamic AI. I'm so weary of walking into mostly abandoned big beautiful cities... That was a major disappointment in EQ2 for me. BIG GORGEOUS CITY... eentsy teensy population. Ok, what happened to all the people? Why all the houses and shops? Hard to suspend disbelief with that.
What's the solution?
As many have stated, there really isn't a loss of genuine creativity, its more of a loss of corporate backbone. Companies/Investors see the monster that is WoW and fear trying something radical because it might not pan out. So instead they rehash the same thing over and over. Many players will look at a new game and wonder why they should play it seeing as the game they are playing now (even though outdated) offers the same thing.The solution may be the smaller, self financed teams who are will to risk it all to try something new. They might fail in their attempt, but they might also show others that the risk could be worth it.
There are 3 types of people in the world.
1.) Those who make things happen
2.) Those who watch things happen
3.) And those who wonder "What the %#*& just happened?!"
Me!
Kemih ~ 13 Red Mage | Currently playing FFXI & LOTRO, awaiting Warhammer Online & Aion...
Me!
And I hope your game comes to fruitation, because even if you fail, you might inspire someone else to try something different.
There are 3 types of people in the world.
1.) Those who make things happen
2.) Those who watch things happen
3.) And those who wonder "What the %#*& just happened?!"
Next-Gen... Next Generation... The next stereotype of MMORPG's, like WoW and such are the usual now. And the 2d ones were.
You know it, the best way to realize your dreams is waking up and start moving, never lose hope and always keep up.
Me!
And I hope your game comes to fruitation, because even if you fail, you might inspire someone else to try something different.
Thx, and be on the lookout sometimes later this year or early next! Might be looking for more help around that time too.
Kemih ~ 13 Red Mage | Currently playing FFXI & LOTRO, awaiting Warhammer Online & Aion...
Next-Gen... Next Generation... The next stereotype of MMORPG's, like WoW and such are the usual now. And the 2d ones were.
Excellent definition, Erandur, but what does the Next-Gen look and play like?