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Aion: A simplistic MMO wrapped a AAA box?
JudgeRoyBean
Member Posts: 43
(First...a point of reference: I've played WoW 4 yrs, with 8 mths in Warhammer, and EQ2. Old school EQ1, and other short term MMO's. I'm done with WoW, Warhammer was a end game disappointment, and EQ2, while really good and deep, does not provide valid PvP. Also, I recognize that creating a MMO must take great effort from many people.)
Is Aion a simplistic MMO wrapped in a AAA box? ("AAA" = of highest quality)
Aion appears to be very linear.
With the factions of Elyos vs Asmodians, there really is only 1 race to play on each server. Because of this, there is no diversity in leveling. Lets say you start by choosing to level a warrior class. When you create an alt to level, you are forced to go through the very same starting point and quests. This lack of options within each faction could potentially burn out a player and impact the replay ability and longevity of Aion. This is great news for the developers of Aion, and could be considered an easy task compared to other MMO's like WoW, Warhammer or EQ2. Unlike Aion developers, the developers of other MMO's have to juggle multiple races with specific starting points, quests, stories and lore.
Aion classes are perceived as being shallow.
Aion is showing 8 classes which each faction share. WoW and EQ2 also share classes between factions. Warhammer actually has different classes in each faction, but do have "mirrors" of each (example: Slayer/Choppa). Even with the mirror, there still are differences between each. As for Warhammer, being a developer and trying to class balance makes things much more complex. The difference between all these MMO's and Aion is each class also have "talent trees". The talent tree allows the player to customize their chosen class. For example, in WoW, you can have a priest that specializes in healing or one the specializes in melting faces, as most of you know. This approach seems to be a standard in the "AAA" MMO industry, yet Aion chose not to take this approach. Also, There are racial abilities for the developers of other MMO's to consider. Aion developers choose not to manage racial abilities. Class balancing with WoW, Warhammer and EQ2 (among others) is very complex, where Aion lacks this complexity that creates uniqueness to character. To compensate for talent trees, Aion uses stigmas. The problem with this approach is that these stigmas are universally used by each class. As a developer, class balance issues can be much easier resolved in the Aion world compared to other MMO's. Good news for the developers, but bad news for the player who misses out on the customization of class, and having depth and uniqueness of abilities. As for stigma use, this is not unique. WoW uses gems to add into slots, and Warhammer uses talismans, which produce the same universal effect for all classes.
In the examples above, to balance the classes, developers of AAA MMO's need to manage the complexity of: class abilities / deep talent trees of each class / and racial abilities.
Aion: class abilities only.
(gems, talismans, or stigmas/stones are universal items used for effect)
Aion appears to be very linear with no diversity to the leveling process.
Aion's approach, in regards to class depth, seems to be shallow and simplistic.
Aion developers seem to have wrapped what appears to be a very simplistic MMO inside a tight little package, of proven WoW type game play, with flashy graphics and gimmicks (ooh, look at those wings!). Have we been blinded by what lies underneath? Does the "packaging" take away from the reality that the developers of Aion took the easy road with their (preceived) simplistic creation?
After stating all above, you need to know that my entire exposure to Aion has been from websites, message boards, and with Open Beta. I very well could not have complete understanding of how "stones" and stigmas work, among other things, and gladly accept any correction.
This is not a flame of NCsoft or Aion, as I intend to play when released. Aion is my new hope for great PvP.
But, as a long term MMO player, is there any validity to my perception?
Comments
Perhaps you should have taken some time to understand how stones and stigmas work before you started such a worthless post? How could there be any 'validity' to your 'perception', when you acknowledge your ignorance and decide to do nothing about it.
This entire post "seems to be shallow and simplistic"
Sure.
Is not designed to be a world, but a themepark, and people don't live in themeparks, make a visit, give some dollars, and return home. Same with AION. People will pay a visit ( about 300.000 wow players will do ) and once have see everything the game ahs to provide (that is much) will return home. On the case of wow players, will return to wow.
I don't see a problem here.
if the dev's want players to stay, best make a world and not a themepark, but It seems making a world has lost his prestigue after failed attemps, like Vanguard.
To truly analyze it you need to go in much deeper detail than that. (e.g. - combat mechanics).
I found the mage class to be rather boring. However, the scout class was surprisingly engaging due to the fact bonuses from direction of movement mattered and skills that deal massive damage based on the direction the enemy is hit from.
However, overall, I doubt it and other MMOs currently on the market are much different from each other. Next Gen MMOs are coming next year...
So, is this post based on the level 1-10 beta? If so, all I can say is. This post is premature and uninformed.
If this is based on playing the Korean or Chinese full version of Aion (assuming you can actually read those language and not just playing it without an idea of what is in it) Then I'll give some credibility to your opinions of Aion.
All MMORPG are simple in design because it is not theoretical physics, the only MMORPG I played with extreme complex systems are FFXI (Just look through the wiki of it you will see how much formulas, modifiers, and others are worked into it)
Basically, what I want to say is this. Are you sure you are not jumping to conclusions from a beta lvl 1-10 preview with a plethora of contents still not applied yet? Lets just state the facts without assuming something we don't even have access to yet.
Truth be told WoW is the the most themepark MMO I have ever played, the difference is the fact that WoW is just a bigger themepark so people gets lost sometimes and believe they are home.
Wrong approach imho, OP. In PvP oriented games, balance comes first, choices later. I recommed you reading 1.3 patch notes, however, and notice how they are improving the stigma system. Nowadays, the ammount of stigmas to choose from is similar to the ammount of skills available on War's talent trees, but, there's no "unlocking" limitations.
There are also socketing items such as manastones and divine stones (I refuse to call them godstones). Manastones, as you know, go deeper into the customization, to the point where a character can get 1950 HP extra, 450 crit extra, or a mixure of them and many others, there are up to 30 sockets for you to fill if you use abyss gear.
Then, the divine stones add to it by applying an rng effect to the weapon, there are more than 20 of those, including paralyze, extra damage, slow, silence, etc.
So, while devs keep going further into characters customization, the game is pretty balanced in most of the situations, which is, imho, the first thing I want, customization comes second.
There is no such thing as a next gen MMO. It's a marketing ploy they use to gain attention. Trust me, those next gen games will play the same, because they are the same. MMORPG's will always play the same as long as they follow by RPG standards. And going off that path will not make them next gen. There really is no solid definition for what next gen means, because it means nothing other than trying to be different. Now there is next gen tech, which is tech created that surpasses it's predesessors. But once other tech matches it, it becomes this gen tech. Games don't get that luxury because other than graphical modifications, you can't really do anything next gen unless your talking about applying tech that is not standard. You know, like Virtual Reality. Please quit using the statement, its not going to happen. And when it does, it won't really be next gen.
To Ephimero:
Excellent reply.
I appriciate your well thought out response. Understand, as I stated, my original post was not to flame NCsoft or Aion. I want this to succeed (for my own personal PvP reasons). My concern was what I preceived as a lack of depth in the creation of classes and race/races. This preceived lack of depth could also impact game play. Also, I placed my limited experience with Aion as a point of reference for the post. I needed more information, which Ephimero help provide.
As for another individual stating that I should not post unless ive played the full version on a China or Korea server: These forums are intended to be able to interact with other to help gain understanding. If not here or other forums... then where?
The fear of many Korean Aion fans has always been that in the West people are used to very deep and elaborate RPG, while in Korea they're not really good at this. I say Korea, because Japan has delivered tons of very stimulating RPG's both on console and PC. Square, Sega, Konami, these are massive and very compelling worlds....Korea...I can count the immersive RPG from Korea on one hand. It hinders replayability, it hinders immersion and leaves you with a shallow game. Aion is both.
Don't you think its unfair to compare a game that's only been out for a year in one country and 5 months in another to games that have been out for several years. When Aion is launched in the US it will already have more content than WAR.
Compare Aion with other games that are less than a year old. Not games that have been out for many years and went through several expansions.
Like Everquest which had 10 classes and like 30 starting zones....10 races and starting zones no one had even seen? I spent more time figuring out which zone I wanted to go next in Everquest than actually playing, it had that many, which made it fun.
Aion has 2...or 1 if you count the Elyos and Asmodians as 1 zone since they just copied all the quests.
Aion is ok for a F2P game, uhm..P2P?..no way.
I'm sorry, but what mmo isn't simplistic? Every one of these games is designed to keep you on a leveling treadmill and forking over your monthly sub. They all delay gratification, they all feature time-sinks, and they're all basically the same game, with occasional exceptions for non-linear titles like UO, AC, original SWG, etc.
If Aion is a simplistic mmo, so is every other theme park game ever made. They're all very similar.
Stat grinders and min/maxers will no doubt disagree, as they're entertained by crunching numbers and coming up with efficient builds. That doesn't equal complexity however. Anyone can pick up an mmo, spend a couple of weeks learning the basics, google to find out best gear/stats/specs, and become an expert.
Once again all I see here are personal preferences and opinions presented as facts. IMO all the rpgs I have played or been exposed to from japan are shallow games that provide nothing but grinding mobs in between cutscenes, and with this narrow simplification, so is Aion. Everyone's mileage will vary, Aion plays, to me, and in my opinion, like WoW with a much better focus on pvp, which I enjoy.
Cheers!
MMO Vet since AOL Neverwinter Nights circa 1992. My MMO beat up your MMO. =S
There's a difference, Diablo didn't try to portray an elaborate story or environment, Diablo didn't come out and say "our story is awesome, bla bla bla....bull". NCsoft does, all the trailers NCWest brings out are about the "story" which is as shallow as Hello Kitty. All the movies from gametrailers which are used as promotional material also try to suggest the game is from the West and that somehow the West influenced the game or had Western designer, it didn't, it was a total Korean project, I think that's quite unfair and dishonest,..whatever.
If that were Aion's only problem, if only..the world is full of empty spaces and the cities are just empty everywhere, shallow, unfinished and missing life. It doesn't deserve to be an AAA title, because it isn't.
I have been looking for a new mmo the last two years. What I have found is just Wow clones with some minor vairations. Some focus on pvp more while others focus on pve more. Many seem to ignore crafting for the most part.
What I see from all the reviews and forums is this game is no different then any other clone of the last few years except it seems to have more polish. But what do I know I have yet to play it. 0_0
Like Everquest which had 10 classes and like 30 starting zones....10 races and starting zones no one had even seen? I spent more time figuring out which zone I wanted to go next in Everquest than actually playing, it had that many, which made it fun.
Aion has 2...or 1 if you count the Elyos and Asmodians as 1 zone since they just copied all the quests.
Aion is ok for a F2P game, uhm..P2P?..no way.
Do you even realize the tech involved in making the classic EQ compared to games these days? Just take a glance at EQ's interface at launch day. EQ was a great game by far, but let's be real here. By the way, go play EQ now. It's rather refreshing, but it took a lot of work to get to where it is at. And going back to classic eq, interface and gameplay and all, would just be plain bad.
Do you even realize the tech involved in making the classic EQ compared to games these days? Just take a glance at EQ's interface at launch day. EQ was a great game by far, but let's be real here. By the way, go play EQ now. It's rather refreshing, but it took a lot of work to get to where it is at. And going back to classic eq, interface and gameplay and all, would just be plain bad.
You are saying Aion has only 1 race (2 twins) because the technology is more advanced. Yes,you're making a lot of sense....zzz
EQ had a much lower budget and most EQ designers had to work overtime next to their normal job to make EQ if you didn't know. So your "a lot of work or tech" is kind of not true, they just did it, NCsoft not really did much at all.
Do you even realize the tech involved in making the classic EQ compared to games these days? Just take a glance at EQ's interface at launch day. EQ was a great game by far, but let's be real here. By the way, go play EQ now. It's rather refreshing, but it took a lot of work to get to where it is at. And going back to classic eq, interface and gameplay and all, would just be plain bad.
You are saying Aion has only 1 race (2 twins) because the technology is more advanced. Yes,you're making a lot of sense....zzz
EQ had a much lower budget and most EQ designers had to work overtime next to their normal job to make EQ if you didn't know. So your "a lot of work or tech" is kind of not true, they just did it, NCsoft not really did much at all.
Your neglecting one fact, the cost of performance and employee's. You just stated EQ was made on a smaller budget, and there was a reason for that. Competition was really not there. Now compare that to today, and you will get what I stated. You do realize, as we age, the cost to employ goes up ten fold right? And in that lies tech, which also cost's more. Which is a the sole reason we can't just expect 30+ starter zones and 10 + classes anymore. The game would not only be limited, but would also take years to develop. Not every investor wants to pay for darkfall development time, nor will they take that into consideration. And no one wants to play a game now that looks like EQ back then just for the size.
Fair, if they can't make more than one race and don't have enough money then they should have made it F2P. Blizzard and Lotro, huge companies and IP can afford P2P and I think it's cool if they charge a monthly sub.
Small Korean company which charges full price for a year old game in the West = ripoff sorry, has to be said.
The game is 59 EURO here in the store..hello?..insane.
Wasn't this clear from the start?
I think you should really refrain from posting your opinions as facts. 59 Euro for an MMO is not crazy, and is rather normal. The fact you think NCsoft hasn't done much is astounding. Do you know how long Aion has been in development for? Do you know the original vision they had for the game? I doubt it , you are just another random person talking down about a game they would of never played in the first place.
Why do people like you feel the need to spew such hatred for a game, a GAME... If you don't like it, feel free to post why, but don't take your shortcomings out on other people because you can't cope with it.
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1 year... this game was announced like three + years ago and was in developement years before. Myself and my guild are loving every moment.(far from what can be said for other games). My recomendation? Try it for at least 30 levels then come and tell us you don't like it.
But then if you don't like it after 30 levels, come back aftger you make it to fifty and THEN tell us you don't like it.
And after that, play the expansion when that's released, and THEN tell us you don't like it.
But if you still don't like it after an expansion is released, play it until the servers close, and THEN tell us you don't like it.
Replayability of new characters is a valid point, the story is linear, but as Aion is now it isn't focusing on multiple characters, in fact, the amount of characters you can have is pretty limited I believe. It's a different focus, you have the two races set apart and you have the Abyss that is the combat zone, they want you to go there and fight.
Simplicity sometimes is good, however you can't really say Aion is simple, especially if you try to compare to other MMOs at release. Refining stones, manastones and godstones make the customization in your gear and there are a lot of options to choose from. Together with it you have the Stigma system, that are your class specializations. Yeah, they could have gone and made something similar to a talent tree, but they didn't (and it would be the easy way to go), yet we see people calling each other games "clones", when the OP points are pretty much based on what other MMOs have instead of what Aion has, which means Aion succeeds in not being a "clone', if you want to call that lack of content, feel free to be an ignorant and not give the game a try because there are many features that weren't brought up here, such as:
- The character physical customization, you hardly are going to look like someone else.
- The flight combat and how it adds a whole new element to the gameplay (where applicable), heck, it's a new axis.
- The Campaign quest storyline that tries a different approach, and maintains the course of the story (which they presume you start with no knowledge of, something completely different from any major IP MMO around in which they expect you to know enough a lot of the lore already)
- The PvPvE region (Abyss) and the racial regions (you will still have PvP, but it is very limited due to Rifts, the game takes a new approach on this by eliminating the need for PvP/PvE servers without exposing PvE players to the usual gankfest "PvP" servers/games are, I like this)
Anyway, I feel more confortable with a smooth, polished release in which they didn't attempt to provide an overwhelming amount of content and unbalanced, bugged, you get the idea. Expect major patches every 3 months, that's how they've done and the game is much improved than it was in 1.0.
I've enjoyed Aion as it is, I don't see a need to compare mechanics with other games when games have such a simple concept to keep you playing: fun.
By the way, F2P would be a major fail. Imagine a PvP-oriented game in which you have an item mall with your usual unbalanced items that take in account how much money you spend into them to make yourself stronger. It would be a major fail, saying Aion should be F2P is like saying SC2 should be F2P with an item mall, yeah RTS with scalable strength based on your credit card, that would be sooo competitive.
Why did you make this thread?
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