This. Honestly, none of the innovations are really that big, each of them are things you expected would occur some time soon, they aren't mindblowing. They are innovative in the basic sense of the word: implementing something new or advanced for the time, but none are new concepts or that far advanced for their time.
I'm deciding between Pocket Legends and WoW, as they're the only ones that made me go: Cool.
I had to give it to WoW. To be the top dog and say, lets reinvent the game is risky as hell! It seems that, while you are on top, you have nowhere to go but down with a stunt like this....kudos to Blizzard for not being too in love with their 800lb. gorilla that they couldn't bring themselves to beat it up some.
Second place: Def EVE. their character creator is fantastic and really getting my juices flowing for being able to walk and Dust. now THAT's innovative!
Frank 'Spankybus' Mignone www.spankybus.com -3d Artist & Compositor -Writer -Professional Amature
There needs to be a "none of the above" option on this poll just like the game of the year poll.
IMO, there is nothing innovative about any of those games.
This really was a poor year for MMO's if this is the best we have to point to for innovation.
Well to be honest, the last 5 years or so have been like this. Remember what the "big huge innovation" was last year? Public quests... that's it. In fact, that's about the only bit of innovation a AAA MMO has done since WoW's launch. It's pathetic.
Meanwhile, indie MMOs innovate and pull off things AAA MMOs wouldn't dream of... and get NO notice whatsoever.
Hey, MMORPG.com, remember Darkfall? It redid it's entire world this year too, and beefed up all its monster AI, and further stabalized its engine so that its 500 man sieges run smoother. Oh but wait.. you're not really interested in innovation unless there's a million dollar ad campaign behind it.
How's the weather in your little world over there? Thanks for posting, now I know to never trust a word you say since you are filled with negativity and hate and not one objective fiber in your being, based on your vitriolic posts.
Darkfall still feels exactly the same and is a horrible game when it comes to controls and PVE content. If I could take the visceral flow of combat and UI from WoW and put it in Darkfall, and have permanent 3rd person view I would do it in a heartbeat. Hell, I would do that to EVERY subpar MMO that has come out in the past 6 years. None of the developers seem to "get" what makes WoW great, and it has nothing to do with ad campaigns. But whatever, you're going to reply to this with more vitriol and that's when I will choose the /block option. Farewell and adiue, mr. grouch.
Hmm, not sure if that was directed at me or not.
I don't really think my comment was particularly negative, I just didn't really see anything that would count as really innovative in any of the titles listed.
Oh well, to each their own I suppose.
Einherjar_LC says: WTB the true successor to UO or Asheron's Call pst!
I haven't played most of these, but I've heard of most.
1. Vindictus, I hear, is very instancey and unique, but can get boring fast without the right group of friends. In that case, I won't vote for it =/.
2. MMO's exist. FPS's exist. MMOFPS's do exist, just not on a grand scale. Although I enjoy both genres, I don't like the idea of it.
3. Introducing character creation customization is a nice step forward, but with little gameplay innovation, it seems an odd choice, though I don't know much about it.
4. WoW, I've played, like most people. I saw how the game changed and really liked what they did. They're trying very hard to alter to player complaints, and this aspect most likely pushes it for my vote. There's not much innovation regarding groundbreaking gameplay, but the ability to alter the world and continue to crank out new ideas is impressive in itself.
5. Pocket Legends sounds fun, but I don't have an iPhone and don't know anything about the game other than it's given 'more-cartoony-than-WoW' look and simple features. However, it does look like companies are expanding beyond regular platforms, which is cool to see.
Because most of these games have been out and none of the features they are introducing are really innovative, it's hard to vote for any of them. None are really groundbreaking. So I just voted for WoW, because I can. Oh well. One day we'll see something groundbreaking, just not right now.
Granted the character creation tool is new and not very innovative but early in the year, Tyrannis also had very innovative stuff included that changed how EVE is played this year.
World Of Warcraft for trying something new and different. isn't that what innovation is all about? this 'whole shattering your own world and rebuild it' is genius idea for a MMO.
Originally posted by SaintViktor
WoW and innovation mentioned in the same sentence ? Can I have what you guys are smoking ? Pocket Legends hands down.
Don't let your bias towards WOW , cloud your judgement.
It really isn't anything innovative though, when it comes down to it it's just a redesign of old zones, it's been done
I guess that for me, innovation is bringing new, unseen and most important, fresh ideas to the table, WoW does it's thing well but it's thing is making established features work and work well.
Somehow i knew when i seen this thread, that it was gonna have WoW in it. And when i seen it on the list i couldn't help but to laugh and eye roll at the same time. What WoW did reminds me of what GW did with Ascalon pre-searing/searing, doesn't matter if they revamped more zones or quests. Fact of the matter is, it's been done before, all Blizzard did, was do it all at once instead of over time in updates. If revamping in a larger scale is innovated, then the genre is in deep trouble, anyways, i voted for Vindictus.
WoW shouldn't be on the list for its massive destruction & update to 40% of their content. Many other older games could have just gathered all their updates from several patches and put it into one massive expansion - that is what WoW did.
However, i remember vanilla WoW with its tough boss AIs. Don't start flaming or arguing against me because not even 20% of the WoW population downed 4h men in naxx before TBC came out, let alone down lich. The dynamic of some of the boss fight were quite... "innovative". Also, the event to unlock AQ40/20 was a pretty sweet deal, it's been done before i know. Still, the massive scale of the event was to say the least...enjoyable. Innovation or not, deserves a mention.
Here's the defenition of innovation, it might help some people that aren't quite getting it.
>> innovation - the act of starting something for the first time; introducing something new.
Shh, don't point that out, it'd disqualify most of the things on the list. To be honest, Global Agenda, while not being a true MMO, is at least kind of unique. More so than WoW lmao.
Somehow i knew when i seen this thread, that it was gonna have WoW in it. And when i seen it on the list i couldn't help but to laugh and eye roll at the same time. What WoW did reminds me of what GW did with Ascalon pre-searing/searing, doesn't matter if they revamped more zones or quests. Fact of the matter is, it's been done before, all Blizzard did, was do it all at once instead of over time in updates. If revamping in a larger scale is innovated, then the genre is in deep trouble, anyways, i voted for Vindictus.
Did you just compare GW pre searing with cataclysm? wow..lol.
I'm going to vote for WoW. Partly because I think what they did is somewhat innovative (though not nearly as much as many people have been saying) but mainly I want WoW to win because I know all the WoW hating, "old school", "I'm way too cool for you" internet tough guys will have an epic collective grand mal seizure if it does win.
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.
As said before, GA is the $5 burger version of Planetside. While it may be dressed nicely, it cant compete with the scope that PS tried to envision, ahead of its time for sure, so GA is off my list already (fun don't always make it innovative). WoW is one of my favorites, and yes completely reworking what has been the foundation of the game for years is new, but aside from treading against he norms, its still WoW, and it brings nothing new to the MMO industry outside of sotry elements. Vindicus, well its your typical Asian style hack and slash/MMO hybrid with "some" physics thrown in, although its more of a gimick then a real gameplay changer. I cant speak for EVE's new character creation, since i have not played in years. My vote went to Pocket Legends. Not only is th multiplayer in PL very workable, even when on a 3G/4G connection as opposed to a WiFi connection, the blending of all these devices that generally explode when placed near each into one game environments is promising.
Here's the defenition of innovation, it might help some people that aren't quite getting it.
>> innovation - the act of starting something for the first time; introducing something new.
Shh, don't point that out, it'd disqualify most of the things on the list. To be honest, Global Agenda, while not being a true MMO, is at least kind of unique. More so than WoW lmao.
The only one it doesn't disqualify is Pocket Legends, unless someone knows another MMO on iphone etc...
WoW will take the trophy here, not because its innovative or does anything before anyone else, but because it is WoW and is being advertised on an unblockable background ad at the same time as the contest.
Not to be too technical about the acronym, but isn't GA an MMOTPS? (Third Person Shooter) I don't really see a method to get into first person with it. Nor would I want to! OK, I guess the zoom mode counts as First Person but you don't stay in that mode for very long...and live (Recon snipers aside).
GA's innovation comes in trying to blend elements of roll playing and semi-persistent territorial conquest with the UT style play. And it succeeds OK, I suppose. It's got a technological hurdle that can't be overcome easily though (TCP/IP) and you'll quickly notice the limits of team sizes no matter what "game" you're playing in it. No Warhammer sized battles here, that's for sure. And, as was mentioned above, GA isn't the first to try it either.
As for the others on the list, I just don't see where the innovation comes. Character developemnt in EVE? Well, sure, it's always been tops there, if for no other reason than there are just SO many skills. And if you've got the years to develop them all, great. But I don't think that really counts as innovation.
For my money, the last innovative attempt is Fallen Earth's attempt to blend standard MMO fare with FPS (yes, the F for First this time really does count...unless you melee). And they've run into some issues in PvP that they've been working at ironing out with a Combat Revamp (yeah, Combat Upgrade just brought too many people to that red haze of rage for the term to be used), but they're losing what momentum they had with the time it's taking. And that game only would count for 2009.
Really, from my pov, 2010 is a None of the Above year all the way around for the genre. And for gaming in general, I think.
Btw, where IS JA3? And did Sid Meier just retire?
-- Xix "I know what you're thinking: 'Why, oh WHY, didn't I take the BLUE pill?'"
Man, I had to go with Vindictus again. I really like the combat. To me, its innovative to place in MMOs...and I hope other games pick up on this and incorporate it further into the genre.
How is revamping quest zones innovative? All mmos do that. The only difference is Blizzard revamped all the original zones and waited to release them in one expansion instead of overtime like other games.
It is not what they did , it is how they did it. Go ahead name any MMO which destroyed and rebuild its own world at this scale? i will be waiting......
EverQuest
EverQuest 2
Dark Age of Camelot
Ultima Online
and above all the others, more than WoW by far
Asheron's Call
Playing Everquest 2 for almost 4 years now. Never was the world shattered and rebuilt. Same goes for Everquest, DAOC and UO. I am not just talking about a simple revamp of quests here.
Um yes EQ2 did have one of its main hubs trashed....seems same as shattered to me...
What game really is the most innovative if you think it's none of the above?
You dudes are spoiled by that last vote that had the option. Anything to point out that "I'm mad, and nothing can console me", right?
Pick a game that's the most innovative in the list, then vote on it. Then quit asking for options that will just give you a smug sense of self-satisfaction.
Uhh... what's wrong with expecting a list of "Most Innovative" to actually have choices on it that innovated? Especially when there are games NOT on the list that are insanely innovative?
To answer the other question. Darkfall
What innovasion have Darkfall done this year?
Or ever?
Over Halloween GM controled monsters started attacking players in cities.
Then just recently a full scale story backed invasion happened to the racial capitals that involved hordes of monsters, and even some dragons.
GMs taking part in the world has been done plenty of times in other MMOs over the years. Although I'm sure it was fun for you it wasn't innovative.
Comments
This. Honestly, none of the innovations are really that big, each of them are things you expected would occur some time soon, they aren't mindblowing. They are innovative in the basic sense of the word: implementing something new or advanced for the time, but none are new concepts or that far advanced for their time.
I'm deciding between Pocket Legends and WoW, as they're the only ones that made me go: Cool.
-I want a Platformer MMO
I actually would have put Eve and WoW in the most improved category if anything.
-I want a Platformer MMO
I had to give it to WoW. To be the top dog and say, lets reinvent the game is risky as hell! It seems that, while you are on top, you have nowhere to go but down with a stunt like this....kudos to Blizzard for not being too in love with their 800lb. gorilla that they couldn't bring themselves to beat it up some.
Second place: Def EVE. their character creator is fantastic and really getting my juices flowing for being able to walk and Dust. now THAT's innovative!
Frank 'Spankybus' Mignone
www.spankybus.com
-3d Artist & Compositor
-Writer
-Professional Amature
Here's the defenition of innovation, it might help some people that aren't quite getting it.
>> innovation - the act of starting something for the first time; introducing something new.
Hmm, not sure if that was directed at me or not.
I don't really think my comment was particularly negative, I just didn't really see anything that would count as really innovative in any of the titles listed.
Oh well, to each their own I suppose.
Einherjar_LC says: WTB the true successor to UO or Asheron's Call pst!
I haven't played most of these, but I've heard of most.
1. Vindictus, I hear, is very instancey and unique, but can get boring fast without the right group of friends. In that case, I won't vote for it =/.
2. MMO's exist. FPS's exist. MMOFPS's do exist, just not on a grand scale. Although I enjoy both genres, I don't like the idea of it.
3. Introducing character creation customization is a nice step forward, but with little gameplay innovation, it seems an odd choice, though I don't know much about it.
4. WoW, I've played, like most people. I saw how the game changed and really liked what they did. They're trying very hard to alter to player complaints, and this aspect most likely pushes it for my vote. There's not much innovation regarding groundbreaking gameplay, but the ability to alter the world and continue to crank out new ideas is impressive in itself.
5. Pocket Legends sounds fun, but I don't have an iPhone and don't know anything about the game other than it's given 'more-cartoony-than-WoW' look and simple features. However, it does look like companies are expanding beyond regular platforms, which is cool to see.
Because most of these games have been out and none of the features they are introducing are really innovative, it's hard to vote for any of them. None are really groundbreaking. So I just voted for WoW, because I can. Oh well. One day we'll see something groundbreaking, just not right now.
Granted the character creation tool is new and not very innovative but early in the year, Tyrannis also had very innovative stuff included that changed how EVE is played this year.
Pocket Legends for bringing real, technical and undisputed innovation: MMO's on smartphones.
Feel free to use my referral link for SW:TOR if you want to test out the game. You'll get some special unlocks!
It really isn't anything innovative though, when it comes down to it it's just a redesign of old zones, it's been done
I guess that for me, innovation is bringing new, unseen and most important, fresh ideas to the table, WoW does it's thing well but it's thing is making established features work and work well.
Somehow i knew when i seen this thread, that it was gonna have WoW in it. And when i seen it on the list i couldn't help but to laugh and eye roll at the same time. What WoW did reminds me of what GW did with Ascalon pre-searing/searing, doesn't matter if they revamped more zones or quests. Fact of the matter is, it's been done before, all Blizzard did, was do it all at once instead of over time in updates. If revamping in a larger scale is innovated, then the genre is in deep trouble, anyways, i voted for Vindictus.
WoW shouldn't be on the list for its massive destruction & update to 40% of their content. Many other older games could have just gathered all their updates from several patches and put it into one massive expansion - that is what WoW did.
However, i remember vanilla WoW with its tough boss AIs. Don't start flaming or arguing against me because not even 20% of the WoW population downed 4h men in naxx before TBC came out, let alone down lich. The dynamic of some of the boss fight were quite... "innovative". Also, the event to unlock AQ40/20 was a pretty sweet deal, it's been done before i know. Still, the massive scale of the event was to say the least...enjoyable. Innovation or not, deserves a mention.
Shh, don't point that out, it'd disqualify most of the things on the list. To be honest, Global Agenda, while not being a true MMO, is at least kind of unique. More so than WoW lmao.
Did you just compare GW pre searing with cataclysm? wow..lol.
Bite Me
I'm going to vote for WoW. Partly because I think what they did is somewhat innovative (though not nearly as much as many people have been saying) but mainly I want WoW to win because I know all the WoW hating, "old school", "I'm way too cool for you" internet tough guys will have an epic collective grand mal seizure if it does win.
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.
As said before, GA is the $5 burger version of Planetside. While it may be dressed nicely, it cant compete with the scope that PS tried to envision, ahead of its time for sure, so GA is off my list already (fun don't always make it innovative). WoW is one of my favorites, and yes completely reworking what has been the foundation of the game for years is new, but aside from treading against he norms, its still WoW, and it brings nothing new to the MMO industry outside of sotry elements. Vindicus, well its your typical Asian style hack and slash/MMO hybrid with "some" physics thrown in, although its more of a gimick then a real gameplay changer. I cant speak for EVE's new character creation, since i have not played in years. My vote went to Pocket Legends. Not only is th multiplayer in PL very workable, even when on a 3G/4G connection as opposed to a WiFi connection, the blending of all these devices that generally explode when placed near each into one game environments is promising.
The only one it doesn't disqualify is Pocket Legends, unless someone knows another MMO on iphone etc...
-I want a Platformer MMO
WoW will take the trophy here, not because its innovative or does anything before anyone else, but because it is WoW and is being advertised on an unblockable background ad at the same time as the contest.
Not to be too technical about the acronym, but isn't GA an MMOTPS? (Third Person Shooter) I don't really see a method to get into first person with it. Nor would I want to! OK, I guess the zoom mode counts as First Person but you don't stay in that mode for very long...and live (Recon snipers aside).
GA's innovation comes in trying to blend elements of roll playing and semi-persistent territorial conquest with the UT style play. And it succeeds OK, I suppose. It's got a technological hurdle that can't be overcome easily though (TCP/IP) and you'll quickly notice the limits of team sizes no matter what "game" you're playing in it. No Warhammer sized battles here, that's for sure. And, as was mentioned above, GA isn't the first to try it either.
As for the others on the list, I just don't see where the innovation comes. Character developemnt in EVE? Well, sure, it's always been tops there, if for no other reason than there are just SO many skills. And if you've got the years to develop them all, great. But I don't think that really counts as innovation.
For my money, the last innovative attempt is Fallen Earth's attempt to blend standard MMO fare with FPS (yes, the F for First this time really does count...unless you melee). And they've run into some issues in PvP that they've been working at ironing out with a Combat Revamp (yeah, Combat Upgrade just brought too many people to that red haze of rage for the term to be used), but they're losing what momentum they had with the time it's taking. And that game only would count for 2009.
Really, from my pov, 2010 is a None of the Above year all the way around for the genre. And for gaming in general, I think.
Btw, where IS JA3? And did Sid Meier just retire?
-- Xix
"I know what you're thinking: 'Why, oh WHY, didn't I take the BLUE pill?'"
Man, I had to go with Vindictus again. I really like the combat. To me, its innovative to place in MMOs...and I hope other games pick up on this and incorporate it further into the genre.
Boy oh boy. Innovation sure took a vacation for 2010 didn't it.
WOWs most notable innovation was the 'Sparkle Pony'. Because they got away with it now everyone is trying. A dark day for the MMO landscape.
Um yes EQ2 did have one of its main hubs trashed....seems same as shattered to me...
global agenda....again
GMs taking part in the world has been done plenty of times in other MMOs over the years. Although I'm sure it was fun for you it wasn't innovative.
There were pleny of other mmos that had already added cash shops with virtual pets before wow did.
Even when blizzard jumps on the already moving bandwagon, people have no problem revising history to place blame on blizzard.
Cash shops in subscriptions games still suck.