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looking for the opinion of SWG vets on another game
ArcAngel3
Member Posts: 2,931
I've been part of this veteran refuge for a while now, and I value a lot of what other vets have to say about MMOs.
I'm wondering if you guys have found another MMO, after SWG, that works well, is fun, and where the people who run it don't change the game out from under you with unwanted, whole-game revamps. I also like it when people give you what they advertise, and what you pay for.
After those basic benchmarks are met, I like games with adventure, socializing and some exploration. Any recommendations? I'm kind of leaning towards LoTR for now, and I'm waiting for SWTOR and StarTrek Online.
Comments
Just wait for Star Wars: The Old Republic.
I really don't see how that is going to be so great, plus it is years off. I think if I took years off mmos, I would never return. Hmm, maybe that would be a good thing...
There is currently no game like CU/Pre-CU SWG. There are also no games with the social structure of any incarnation of SWG (player cities, entertainers, personalized crafting opportunities, etc).
That said. Lord of the Rings has a good community and player cities (instanced). EQ2 also has a great community, as does Ryzom (which is a sandbox, no player cities), and Eve, which is beyond the scope of most games.
I could type about different games forever. Here is the problem with your post: There are a few fun MMO's left out there. None of them (zero) offer what we had in SWG.
Played (more than a month): SWG, Second Life, Tabula Rasa, Lineage 2, Everquest 2, EvE, MxO, Ryzom.
Tried: WoW, Shadowbane, Anarchy Online, Everquest, WWII Online, Planetside
Beta: Lotro, Tabula Rasa, WAR.
I hate to admit but the new SW Old Republic looks more and more like NGE2 the more I read about it.
It will NOT be a sandbox. Crafters are NOT important. It will be LOOT based. It WILL be class based themepark with cartoony graphics. They seem to be following WoW like all other newer MMO's
Maybe it will be good, maybe it will fail. In any case I wouldn't advise ANYONE to wait for it.
EVE is what I went to after leaving SWG (because of NGE). EVE is the only sandbox freestyle MMO I have found since old SWG. It is also one of the very few MMOs NOT following WoW. Many things are being implimented into EVE for the future also so LONGEVITY is very strong in EVE, which is important to me.
SHOHADAKU
Best game out there for those desiring a game that is:
1. Sci-Fi
2. Skill based
3. Complex
4. Sandbox
There is only one. EVE. Only thing that was close to it was Pre-CU, which is (temporarily) gone.
Well that's not exactly fair to say and no I don't mean the EvE part.
That's actually what I call the EQ formula... WoW just took it and made it mass market.
UO was the first MMO I played and actually far more open ended than SWG was. I loved UO and followed Raph to SWG. But I always felt more limited in SWG as it was a class/skill game (if you ever played UO then you should know what I mean by that).
Regardless after UO -> EQ .. SWG was really the only mainstream MMO that followed UO more than EQ. Some games have been a bit more inventive with their use of class, level and uber loot. Yet its still the same.
Anyway I agree with you regardless.
You really do have EQ to thank for this tho to be honest. When it hit 450,000 subs .. and far exceeded what UO had done. It became the model for mass market... WoW just took that to the next level (ya haha) made it more commerical and mainstream (in music they call that selling out I guess).
I liked MMO's better when it was a niche market.
I don't know if you'll find your home with LOTRO...I'm a huge LOTR fan and really wanted to like it, but was a bit bored with it after a while. It is not even CLOSE to a sandbox/SWG style game. It is a great game, don't get me wrong, but it isn't what you are looking for I think.
Something I recently gave a shot was Ryzom. Right now it's free to try with no limitations. It's purely skill based, no level restrictions for grouping, no 'hand holding' quest style grinding or anything like that. You can customize and create your own spells and combat moves. It has a decent crafting, foraging, combat, magic system that lets you really flesh out the play style that suits you.
I would suggest going to the site, DLing it and giving it a shot while it's still free. It's much more about exploration and hunting than questing. So you may like it.
It's not SWG, but it is as close to it as I can see for now. I like it and will probably continue playing it for a while, maybe even subbing.
Good luck in whatever you play!
Eve demands longevity. The skill system enforces longevity if you want to play. It is also the one game where relationships, if you bother to go that far, are so very important.
What I like about this "where do we go" conversation, is the number of answers. The aspects of different games that appealed to the former pre-cu/cu player. Like you stated with EvE. SWG demanded longevity to gather resources, master crafting, run the guild/city, create events, organize the faction.
Personally. I left after the NGE. Tried again during restuss, and the BH/Jedi revamps, then again after then expertise was done for all classes. What I found was a game where there was nothing but grind, for buffs and buffs and buffs and gear (drops like WoW), and those "lucky" enough to have the time to grind it.
EvE is a very good game. Ryzom is a very good game. TBCompletelyFHonest WoW and Lotro are good games, just not games I play or find interesting.
The suggestion to wait for Kotor? Sorry, they have no intent of replicating SWG. The single comment of eclipsing WoW should give you a beacon to what they strive to acheive.
Played (more than a month): SWG, Second Life, Tabula Rasa, Lineage 2, Everquest 2, EvE, MxO, Ryzom.
Tried: WoW, Shadowbane, Anarchy Online, Everquest, WWII Online, Planetside
Beta: Lotro, Tabula Rasa, WAR.
I've been playing WoW mostly after I left swg. I have lots of fun with it and its well made with most everything working as it should. I know crapping all over WoW is the cool thing to do wit the internet geeks but I like it. Its no sandbox and doesn't have a lot of the things that we liked about swg but imo its the best out there at the moment, at least for me. As for EVE, I can see how people like it but I just couldn't get into it. I don't like the spread sheet like mass of numbers you have to understand in order to play effectively and I don't like the fact that any skills you get can only come over time, not by doing missions or accomplishing goals. It just replaces one type of grind with another. Oh and I'm also playing WAR as well. I love the classes and the emphasis on pvp but imo its not quite on par with WoW yet.
Personally, I can't wait for the new SW mmo. I prefer sci fi settings over fantasy. For example, I realy liked Oblivion but I'm having much, much more fun with Fallout 3 simply because its a sci fi game with guns instead of swords.
Is a man not entitled to the herp of his derp?
Remember, I live in a world where juggalos and yugioh players are real things.
Hey thanks for all the input. Gives me a few things to look into ^_^.
I think you might be surprised how many North American SWG players flocked to Wow after the NGE, or even the CU for that matter. The key statement you made that I have heard so often is "lots of fun with it and its well made with most everything working as it should."
What I mean by this is SWG did well amounst it's community despite the bugs, once they made the game unplayable, a good number found WoW. My friends locally who played SWG from launch now play WoW, and they just keep telling me how there are so few bugs, and even no lag deaths or rubber banding. They drive me nuts. I didn't like wow (i don't hate it) but the idea that SWG had enough bus to afford wow a pass on SWG's missing systems, says something about how unique the game was.
Played (more than a month): SWG, Second Life, Tabula Rasa, Lineage 2, Everquest 2, EvE, MxO, Ryzom.
Tried: WoW, Shadowbane, Anarchy Online, Everquest, WWII Online, Planetside
Beta: Lotro, Tabula Rasa, WAR.
Arc,
EVE Online is your only option right now that even comes close to SWG. But it doesn't have ground avatars at all, it's 100% ship-based.
Fallen Earth or Darkfall (yes laughingly) are the next hopes we have. Fallen Earth seems to be getting pretty close to a beta of some sort.
Tecmo Bowl.
I have played EVE for about two years. Right now I am on a break from it. It is good with community. However since I broke from my last corp. I was playing solo for a while. I like Zero Puncutation have a slight problem continuing to have a second job that I pay for. As a result I don't stay with corps long as it usually ends up my efforts just support the corp owners and their goals and I see very little reward.
So after a while I ignore them and I get kicked out and I just grind for a while. Right now it is just taking a break. Don't get me wrong I still find the game fun as well as the idea of corps. I just wish they had stock options and dividends and an in game mechanic to enforce them. I wish there was a listed stock market where the corps could sell shares to gain capital for investment. Not just rely on the noob to give them money from ratting to pay for the corp owners new faction battleship. Plus since EVE is one server there are 1000s of corps to join. This makes it tricky to pick the right one where goals don't change at the lower level. If someone has a good link for corps that I be missing from the above writting, please share.
I am really hoping ambulation comes soon. It will hasten my return.
"Suddenly, thousands of Trekies whose heads are full of facts of things like the stardate when the Cardassians farted on Deep Space nine are irrlelevant." - hardcoremoviecritic
check out fallen earth. its in beta now.
classless
huge map
deep crafting
LOTRO or EVE, are probably the best games at this time imo. But nothing compared to older version of swg.
As a vet, I am watching Aion, and Darkfall ATM. And FYI, i am not following them because they are top of the hype meter. I have been following them both as they where both not even on the top list, or on the bottom of the list. So its not about the hype level for why i am following. I guess i just have a good eye for MMO's that will make it to the top
Nah, i think its because of how close to release they are said to be.
Well the fact that they are trying to make it another WoW clone has deterred me from getting it already. They already proved ti wasnt going to be sandbox, as you have said. I'm starting to lose all hope in gaming corporations and starting to hope for indie developers to wipe the floor with them.
Hell, the fact that i hear rumors of them banning anyone on the SWOR forums that even spout swg-cu is a big let down. Although many that are still active are very carefully sliding swg pre cu ideas to the devs in the suggestions forum, and many are backing them up.
Hmm... we can hope... but my guess it will STILL be a wow clone with no crafting, housing, or very much freedom.
"Do not fret! Your captain is about to enter Valhalla!" - General Beatrix of Alexandria
"The acquisition of knowledge is of use to the intellect, for nothing can be loved or hated without first being known." - Leo da Vinci
Because you mentioned LoTR i am assuming you have no problem with a game not being based on Sci Fi. If thats the case i can suggest Ryzom.
Very sandbox, supports and rewards socializing. You can adjust your level of Adventure by trying to solo difficult things
Many crafting recipes are still expert know-how among few.
Developers who like the game and stated "changing the game so that it's not "Ryzom" anymore is most definitely not our goal"..
-----MY-TERMS-OF-USE--------------------------------------------------
$OE - eternal enemy of online gaming
-We finally WON !!!! 2011 $OE accepted that they have been fired 2005 by the playerbase and closed down ridiculous NGE !!
"There was suppression of speech and all kinds of things between disturbing and fascistic." Raph Koster (parted $OE)
EVE Online, Star Trek Online, Darkfall, Saga Of Ryzom
check out fallen earth. its in beta now.
classless
huge map
deep crafting
you mean alpha? right? last time I looked at the Fallen Earth Forums they was still in alpha testing and recently invited more peeps thru the Gamestop website to get their keys and download the game..
I think you might be surprised how many North American SWG players flocked to Wow after the NGE, or even the CU for that matter. The key statement you made that I have heard so often is "lots of fun with it and its well made with most everything working as it should."
What I mean by this is SWG did well amounst it's community despite the bugs, once they made the game unplayable, a good number found WoW. My friends locally who played SWG from launch now play WoW, and they just keep telling me how there are so few bugs, and even no lag deaths or rubber banding. They drive me nuts. I didn't like wow (i don't hate it) but the idea that SWG had enough bus to afford wow a pass on SWG's missing systems, says something about how unique the game was.
I really wish that I had been able to enjoy WOW. Just like you said, nearly all my friends from SWG went to WOW and seem to be having a great time. Ive gone several times and can never make it more than a few weeks. I just cant seem to make myself enjoy or care about the game. I miss my friends very much, but with WOW having no real social aspect there isnt any reason to just hang around if the questing isnt what you like.
But none of that is to suggest that it isnt a good game. It is a good game, very well made and bug free. It just doesnt do anything for me.
"The man who exchanges Liberty for Iconic classes is a fool deserving of neither." - Me and Ben Franklin
Arc,
You might look at Entropia Universe. It's not a MMO but a micro, tho. (free to play and look at)
It's a lot like what I understand of the old SWG (without vehicles even), skillboxes, no levels, no quests, real (real) decay, etc, etc.
Problem is, it's a micro. If you want to be uber overnight, bring your checkbook. You can skill up with out depositing, but it almost takes years.
If you decide to look at it, pm me and i'll meet you. You get even less than a gun and a melon when u 1st come in and no tutorial at all.
Ever since 1 company, 1 game dominated the MMO scene, innovation has gone out the window.
Too bad.
"I have only two out of my company and 20 out of some other company. We need support, but it is almost suicide to try to get it here as we are swept by machine gun fire and a constant barrage is on us. I have no one on my left and only a few on my right. I will hold." (First Lieutenant Clifton B. Cates, US Marine Corps, Soissons, 19 July 1918)
Thx Esquire, I know from previous posts that you're playing there, and really having a good time. Makes me happy to hear it ^_^. Really, you know, I enjoy hearing about people having positive experiences, and I get kinda pissed off when I hear people being screwed. Must be all that empathy training us counsellors get lol.
The game sounds fun. With my long history of focusing on justice issues, however, I can just imagine how it will hit me if I detect the game company altering the mechanics to artificially increase the demand for RMT items. I'll start yelling about exploitation lol, guaranteed.
Really, I just want to pay a fee for a service that works, is enjoyable, and is not going to get pulled out from under me to attract a new audience. I guess I'd just like to be able to enjoy something and relax. I know, I'm crazy as hell lol -_^.
Thx Esquire, I know from previous posts that you're playing there, and really having a good time. Makes me happy to hear it ^_^. Really, you know, I enjoy hearing about people having positive experiences, and I get kinda pissed off when I hear people being screwed. Must be all that empathy training us counsellors get lol.
The game sounds fun. With my long history of focusing on justice issues, however, I can just imagine how it will hit me if I detect the game company altering the mechanics to artificially increase the demand for RMT items. I'll start yelling about exploitation lol, guaranteed.
Really, I just want to pay a fee for a service that works, is enjoyable, and is not going to get pulled out from under me to attract a new audience. I guess I'd just like to be able to enjoy something and relax. I know, I'm crazy as hell lol -_^.
Really, EU is a game that I can play, for a while (usually 3 months to 6 months) and then I have to take a break, also.
I've thought a hundred times that if they'd let me pay 15 a month and have drops of the in-game currency, I'd probably play it forever.
Most of the "dev tweaks" are increases or decreases in drop rates. They are constantly tweaking the economy, in that game via the worth of drops. Most of these tweaks are designed to get you to deposit more, of course.
But, the game, has pretty much stayed the same since inception. (about the time SWG came out)
It's certainly not for ev1. Most of the "leet kiddees" are gone in a month or 2 when they find out just how expensive it is.
When I'm playing, I limit myself to 15 a month. 1 of the largest reasons, I'm not skilled up after being in- (off and on) game for about 2 years.