Comments on: Great Expectations: 2008

By: Tipa

Tipa — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 12:06:37 +0000

Well, the shattered moon is Luclin (the unshattered one is Drinal). So if you’re talkikng about the moon, well, we’re talking about the same thing.

Velious is another continent, like Kunark. If that were sudden;y “rediscovered”, I believe it would doom EQ2 to be nothing more than a replay of EQ1. It should be a different game. In EQ2, Luclin is way different than it was in EQ1, it is something the devs could make absolutely from scratch.

By: Montu

Montu — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 06:36:50 +0000

Velious will return to EQ2!

If you watch the eliptical of the shaterd moon, it now forms a solid state just before dawn.

Hint at that which is to come?

By: Tipa

Tipa — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 12:36:15 +0000

Well, the Plane of Time didn’t really change the world. The only world changing event in EQ1 that I can remember was waking the Sleeper, and even that changed the world in a scripted way. I don’t think the current round of games really invites creativity, but it’s something I truly believe will come out fairly soon. Now, should EQ2 come out with something that changes the way we think of the game, well, I would be overjoyed. I want to play a game whose devs are unafraid to take chances. The EQ1 devs took chance after chance, and sometimes they fell on their faces, but other times they soared. Let’s see more of that.

By: Wydow

Wydow — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 02:06:06 +0000

> I want MMOs that make people SMARTER and INVITE CREATIVITY. And so I dream of a future where MMOs will open doors in your mind instead of seal them shut.

I completely agree. Its an interesting thought that we would be able to interact with the world in EQ2 that leaves a lasting footprint, I believe it is highly likely. In a way that idea is similar to EQ1 where you were able to kill the gods and seal the fate of Norrath for EQ2 when the gods left us.

By: JoBildo

JoBildo — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 18:47:11 +0000

AA coming back to life is merely wishful thinking on my part. I’m actually betting it will be something entirely new, or more likely some casual pseudo MMO. Not that Exteel or Dungeon Runners are doing fabulously, but something tells me NCsoft will want to test the console waters with something very cheap and console friendly without the need of a keyboard and mouse. I expect it’ll be something silly and cute. Maybe along the lines of KartRider?

By: Tipa

Tipa — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 18:10:38 +0000

If I were a game developer with a PC property I wanted to put on a console, I’d put it on the Xbox 360, since it is basically a Windows machine sans keyboard. Second choice would be to replace the mechanics with some stupid weird Wiimote movements and release it for that console (“I know! We can put the Wiimote into a plastic STEERING WHEEL! GENIUS! And the users can make little vroom vroom and firetruck noises!”). I (as a probably eventual PS3 owner since I don’t have the testosterone for the Xbox) would rather people wrote for the PS3, did it ‘right’ there, and then ported it to Windows/Xbox, but given the relative popularity of the consoles, I can’t see that happening.

Oh, I misread your comment. NCSoft is developing a game for the PS3? Auto Assault? I don’t think so. I would guess City of Heroes/Villains. Release it before DC Universe Online and cut the legs from it ahead of time. That’s what I would do, and it is a very natural fit for a console. So was AA probably, but if there’s one thing consoles have gluts of, it’s those damned racing games. I fear for the future of any console MMO that requires a monthly fee, anyway. We already pay for Xbox Live.

By: JoBildo

JoBildo — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 17:35:44 +0000

Here’s another prediction, or really question about 2008. What game is NCsoft readying for the PS3? Is it possible that Auto Assault’s engine and code will see a rebirth as Twisted Metal Online? Any guesses?

By: JoBildo

JoBildo — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 17:15:21 +0000

Oh! And sorry for the 2x Post, but I also responded to your response if you’re interested. It’s turned into a slow day from a busy one at work so… yeah. I’m bored.

By: Tipa

Tipa — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 17:15:15 +0000

All the SOE MMOs I know of are *now* being developed for the PS3 and possibly the PC. The Agency and DC Universe Online are both for the PC and PS3; I’m less sure of Free Realms. All the actual kid players (my three nieces) I know get their MMO fixes through web browser games. Wherever they are, they surf to their game and start playing. Unless Free Realms is also web based, I can’t see the appeal to kids. They hate to be locked to a single computer. They also have zero loyalty to any particular game — they play what their friends play, and when that changes, they leave without a thought.

The next generation of MMO players is going to look a lot different than us first and second wave-ers.

Games like we play are dinosaurs, too cumbersome to survive in the gaming world to come. If I were Sony, I’d be dropping these old PC-only games as fast as I could. Tying future releases to the PS3 makes sense for them. Non-PS3 games like EQ, I believe, will be sold off. It could be that SOE will remain in some form with Sony, but I do believe they will sell off a good portion of it, if not all.

By: JoBildo

JoBildo — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 17:10:47 +0000

@Tipa:

Excellent reply! I love it when we bloggers actually disagree on something… makes the discussion so much more entertaining. Looking forward to your post.