Mass Effect 2

[TheCorpulent1]

What, splitting you off into separate arenas tailored to your level when you leave towns? That's one method, but it makes the game feel very disjointed to me. If it's an MMO, it should embrace that genre and be one contiguous world (or galaxy, in The Old Republic's case). Splitting you off for a private arena when you're doing actual story missions is one thing, but half the fun of MMOs is running across other people and sharing the world with them--playing in a world that feels very lived-in, basically, to differentiate it from the tailor-made worlds of single-player games. Guild Wars' method makes it seem like you're stepping through a portal to some parallel universe whenever you leave town.

 

[Why Are You Crouching Spock?]

What, splitting you off into separate arenas tailored to your level when you leave towns?

No, I was referring to Guild Wars skill cards, you can have one or two hundred per a profession (including secondary profession) but only take 8 out at a time. This is primarily what dictates how you play, your chosen build. Not playing 250 hours to hit level 50, as you can max out to level 20 in about a day. Not gear either as the elite loot has a subtle boost than a major one, at least in comparison to games like World of Warcraft. You can buy skills like World Of Warcraft but it's nowhere near as time consuming or difficult, you can also do quests to acquire skills. There are also "elite" skills which, rather than grinding hoards and hoards of mobs or saving up thousands of gold, involves killing a "elite" and capturing it with a "signet of capture" skill card almost like a Pokeball. Only one elite skill in a 8 bar at a time can be used with all 7 other skills being normal ones. You can grind if you really want too but for the core PVE game it's not a necessity. Any resources required for crafting tend to come naturally as you progress through the story.

Guild Wars' method makes it seem like you're stepping through a portal to some parallel universe whenever you leave town.

To be honest I still find this more convincing than World of Warcraft zones. Rather than getting a loading screen the land and music immediately morphs. Likewise with other MMO's such as Lord Of The Rings Online. It doesn't feel natural at all. More like a theme park going from attraction to attraction. Playing Guild wars alone can get that felling. However with the scripted sequences and story telling (however bad) via cutscenes and progression from area to area it tends to feel a lot better for my preference.

 

[zenith16]

well the only reason I've gotten into MMO's of late is because these new set coming out like old republic , the Agency and DCUO are story driven and are adding some thing new to the table in game play and other things . plus the added fact with what the Agency added to the table that you don't need to play 24 7 to progress. the new thing to is 15 minutes now to an hour. and you have AI agents and operatives that do missions your character send them on and you can come back when ever you feel like or when you have the time to and you still get points for it. that was smart move. Any way i'm still looking into 3 this year and when ever the new marvel( yeah it restarted) one get's started due date 2012 according victor Lucus of the Electric play ground and Reviews on the Run. and no it's not super hero squd I'm talking aboth here.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

I'm not really interested in any. If TOR offers a free trial, I may try it. Otherwise, I'll continue my MMO-free existence in peace.

 

[Erzengel]

Yeah I'm happy running around the backyard chasing the dog with an f/x lightsaber.

 

[zenith16]

I'm not really interested in any. If TOR offers a free trial, I may try it. Otherwise, I'll continue my MMO-free existence in peace.

Well most new MMo's have a beta to see if you want to play it or not, before games release. And in the case of DCUO, were getting a
Beta and a possible open Beta after words and 30 day of free gaming after the game comes out.

so that's more then enough of free game play for that particular one there.

But I do respect your reasoning. But the way things are now thing have changed compaired to how things used to before this genre of gaming. I used to think the same before they changed the format. and you don't have spend a heavy amount of time on it or as long any more. you play when you want and when you can have time limite set now. 15 to 20 minutes now. or and hour. if they see you play 24 7 going beyound the new thing to play time limite wise they make you take a break. they'll make sure now.

Any ways it's all good.

 

[Soapy]

Yeah, I don't really understand the "You have to play 24/7 to make any progress" argument.

Anyway Corp, I'm sure like all MMOs The Old Republic will a free month of play when you buy it, and I imagine that would be more than enough time to work through the story.

 

[zenith16]

Yeah, I don't really understand the "You have to play 24/7 to make any progress" argument.

The point of what their doing for this MMo and the agency is that people that are casuals and those that don't want what wow requires is to enjoy these two games with out spending insane hours on them. it's cause of what happend in wow. Cause if you didn't always show to when you clan or guild was playing it would cause trouble for some players for lame reasons. So the thing became a chore or work.

And others that didn't have face this cause they were online all the time got addiction instead. this is why/what the new model was made for to break away from these two problems. it get's ride of the fear people have of having to play 24/7. and whet these three are striving for.

The MMO Gamer: Where I was going with that is, it almost seems as if the age of the 5,000 hour, soul-sucking, life-consuming, quit your job and stay home to play it MMO is coming to end.
And now the “session” MMO, the bite-sized 30 minutes at a time MMO, is up and coming.
Do you feel that The Agency is the—I don’t want to use the word vanguard—the leader of the charge toward this new phase, if you want to call it that?
Lorien Gremore: We definitely try to deliver fun now with no waiting, that’s one of our mottos.

We definitely want to make sure that you have the option of jumping in, jumping out, having a quick experience, or a long-term experience if you’re looking for one.
There’s lots to do in The Agency, there’s lots of different varieties of game play available.
This is something we hope keeps people engaged, but also allows people to feel like they’re specializing, doing what they like to do, and able to do it fairly quickly.

As shown here.http://www.mmogamer.com/10/15/2009/lorien-gremore-the-agency

any way back to your regularly scheduled talked Mass Effect 2

 

[Soapy]

I understand what they're doing and why they're doing it. I'm saying that the argument that MMOs are a huge time-sink is a false one.

 

[zenith16]

I understand what they're doing and why they're doing it. I'm saying that the argument that MMOs are a huge time-sink is a false one.

Oh I know. That may be true.( for some any ways) But you still need to convince people that are scared of MMo's cause of those reasons and recurring events of people falling to that problem . Others wise you wouldn't hear talk like this from people like how "Erzengel" sounds. (oh yeah I for got to factor in the subscription fee thing which freaks people out too) He has good reason to sound like that though. But the point is to break away from the stigma that haunted the genre cause of all that.

But this is a Mass effect 2 thread so... I'm gonna drop this for now.

 

[Isildur´s Heir]

I know i´m late in the game, but when i read that Mass Effect 2 will going to the PS3, i just couldn´t stop laughing.
I really pray that Gears of War series is the next one to go.
I even hope that the upcoming Codename: Kingdoms, being it made by Crytek, goes to the PS3 few months after the 360 release.
But it´s cool, Mass Effect is an amazing Ip, so, the PS3 owners should be able to play it.

It´s just pathetic how Microsoft is falling.
Almost no exclusives, no new Ips, losing everything left and right, it´s borderline ridiculous.
March of this year, Kotaku ran a censos about everything video game related.
When the vote was "most beloved Xbox franchise", Halo got second place to Mass Effect, so, basically, MS lost their most loved franchise.
Sure, it never was theirs, but even so.....they should have bought Bioware when they had the chance.

How can a console live on Halo, Fable and Forza alone is beyond anyone guess.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

Probably because it's still the preferred console for virtually every shooter, exclusive or not.

 

[Crockett]

In terms of IP this is where Sony succeed, they take more chances while Microsoft is playing it safe with the very little franchises they have. But about Gears of War, even if Epic isn't own by Microsoft I don't think we'll see it coming to the PS3 anytime soon or ever since in the end is Microsoft that is publishing it. Same will probably go with Codename: Kingdoms.

 

[Soapy]

How can a console live on Halo, Fable and Forza alone is beyond anyone guess.

Don't forget Kinectimals.

 

[Isildur´s Heir]

In terms of IP this is where Sony succeed, they take more chances while Microsoft is playing it safe with the very little franchises they have. But about Gears of War, even if Epic isn't own by Microsoft I don't think we'll see it coming to the PS3 anytime soon or ever since in the end is Microsoft that is publishing it. Same will probably go with Codename: Kingdoms.

It´s very true, but Ninja Gaiden 2 was also published by Microsoft....
It all comes to down to the agreement between the companies.
I don´t believe that Gears of War will go to the PS3, but only because i see Epic as being a very loyal developer, but also because they have a great relation with Microsoft.
Also, Microsoft will do everything in their power for GoW stay exclusive, as it is their biggest franchise born this gen.
But the point still goes, Microsoft should have bought Epic a long time ago, they still can do it, but i don´t believe they never will.
MS needs to buy some 1st party studios, but the problem is, they just don´t care.

Not long ago there was the rumor that Zenimax, the mother of all FPS developers (Bethesda, ID and Arkane Studios), wanted to buy Epic.
If that happens, there is a big possibility that Gears go to the Sony console.

 

[Tron Bonne]

Doesn't MS have some type of ownership over Gears of War anyway? Didn't they help co-finance the entire franchise?

 

[Crockett]

I guess so, since Microsoft are the one that is publishing the series.

 

[Havok83]

Doesn't MS have some type of ownership over Gears of War anyway? Didn't they help co-finance the entire franchise?

I always thought MS owned the Gears IP....Epic, just develops it. I could be wrong though but thats not a series I ever expeced to see outside a MS console.

 

[Tron Bonne]

I'm pretty sure it's a co-ownership, Epic came up with the idea and developed it, and MS helped finance and published it.

 

[Fading]

I don´t believe that Gears of War will go to the PS3, but only because i see Epic as being a very loyal developer, but also because they have a great relation with Microsoft.

I don't think it will either. Tho at the same time the Gears trilogy ends in a few months, and after that Epic can always create a new multi platform game the same way Bungie is. Gears 3 and Halo Reach will be huge in sales, but what happens after their releases matters as well in the long run. While Uncharted may not sell like Halo, Sony can create infinite adventures for Drake if they want, Uncharted 7, or 18 if they and gamers truely want it. Where after Gears there's no more exclusive contracts for Epic inbetween it and MS, and the creators of Halo are now independant, so there's no guarantee for those level of quality games to see continued 360 releases as 343 studios and Firebird (I think that's the name) haven't really done anything to prove their quality.

Microsoft should have bought Epic a long time ago, they still can do it, but i don´t believe they never will.
MS needs to buy some 1st party studios

For Microsoft's own sake they should have, and they should have held onto Bungie, and probably done something to make sure Bioware games stay off of Playstation platforms. However they didn't, and I personally think it was a mistake on their part to hold onto that philosophy. That sales only matter those first 6 months, to purchase exclusitivity during that time and after that they don't care where it goes. Because now exclusive games are no longer exclusive, and their running low on future must have franchises. It's not often a gaming console exits a gen with less exclusive franchises than when they started. To top it off now that the PS3 isn't bombing in sales, less 3rd parties are going to agree to exclusive contracts with Microsoft.


As for the second point, yes for Microsoft and Xbox owners sakes, but IMO no for the gaming industry as a whole. Again this is just IMO, but I think Microsoft seems to treat it's studios like crap. It basically buys up hot properties cheap, and disposes of them when they're no longer useful, or puts them on crap jobs. While Rare might have been on a downfall before they got bought, ACES, Ensemble, and about 5 or so other studios have been bought and disbanded by Microsoft (tho supposedly they're reviving the Ages of Empire and Flight Simulator brands under new teams now...neither of which should have been killed off in the first place). While I think it's good for competition to see the Xbox have a healthy group of exclusives, I'd rather see Microsoft own the franchises rather than the studios that make them.


(Sorry if this is derailing the Mass Effect 2 thread, pretty much the last I have to say on this. Hopefully I'll begin to actually contribute to this thread and talk Mass Effect related stuff after I finally get my hands on it lol.)

 

[Isildur´s Heir]

As for the second point, yes for Microsoft and Xbox owners sakes, but IMO no for the gaming industry as a whole. Again this is just IMO, but I think Microsoft seems to treat it's studios like crap. It basically buys up hot properties cheap, and disposes of them when they're no longer useful, or puts them on crap jobs. While Rare might have been on a downfall before they got bought, ACES, Ensemble, and about 5 or so other studios have been bought and disbanded by Microsoft (tho supposedly they're reviving the Ages of Empire and Flight Simulator brands under new teams now...neither of which should have been killed off in the first place). While I think it's good for competition to see the Xbox have a healthy group of exclusives, I'd rather see Microsoft own the franchises rather than the studios that make them.

I don´t know about that, but if you´re right, maybe that explains why it doesn´t have many 1st party studios, no one wants to be bought by MS.
As for Age of Empires Online, is not really being done by a new team per se, but by Robot Entertainment, which is the new team created by the main guys from Ensemble, they are basically Ensemble II (the other team created after Ensemble´s demise was Bonfire Studios).

 

[ProjectPat2280]

I don't think it will either. Tho at the same time the Gears trilogy ends in a few months, and after that Epic can always create a new multi platform game the same way Bungie is. Gears 3 and Halo Reach will be huge in sales, but what happens after their releases matters as well in the long run. While Uncharted may not sell like Halo, Sony can create infinite adventures for Drake if they want, Uncharted 7, or 18 if they and gamers truely want it. Where after Gears there's no more exclusive contracts for Epic inbetween it and MS, and the creators of Halo are now independant, so there's no guarantee for those level of quality games to see continued 360 releases as 343 studios and Firebird (I think that's the name) haven't really done anything to prove their quality.

Thats not really accurate. 343 is basically made up of ex Bungie ppl, so yea they've got experience, its called Halo 1, 2, 3 ODST and Reach. I think the quality isnt going anywhere. Halo is still going to be the hottest selling exclusive IP on the consoles. Thats not changing.

 

[Fading]

Thats not really accurate. 343 is basically made up of ex Bungie ppl, so yea they've got experience, its called Halo 1, 2, 3 ODST and Reach. I think the quality isnt going anywhere. Halo is still going to be the hottest selling exclusive IP on the consoles. Thats not changing.

How many of Bungie's ppl tho? Because Bungie is still an active entity with old members still on board. Is this an Infinity Ward situation where it's just a tiny amount of ppl while the bulk and key members went elsewhere, or is 343 some of the key talent (honestly curious as I didn't know 343 had ex Bungie ppl)?


As for the above, it's just my opinion on it, not necessarily backed up by statements made by companies and such. I've just noticed they do things like take Ensemble, which had pretty much the third most popular RTS game out there (I'd say probably just right behind Starcraft and Warcraft), and put them on Halo RTS duty, and then disband them for no reason, then rebuild them next year to do an online game. Or buy Rare, release a few of their old titles, then put them on avatar clothes duty (not saying Rare is capable of more than that anymore, but still). Or dismantle ACES, who made a very popular flight combat simulator, and do away with the series, just to bring it back later. One year they support PC like crazy as it's what their bread and butter runs on, next year they pull the plug on big PC titles, introduce a pay system for PC gaming when it's always been free, and give the PC crappy second rate ports. Then later on claim they've never been more behind PC gaming.

I guess they just seem wish washy to me when it comes to the treatment of their owned studios. They have a list of about 5 or more other studios they've dismantled as well. I'd imagine working for one of their dev studios would be nerve wracking as you wouldn't know if you'd be continuing to work on the titles that made your company popular, or even if your studio would still be active by the end of that generation.

Then again, maybe I just read too much into it. It just seems like it'd be more beneficial to these companies to merely have Microsoft help fund and publish their game rather than buy them. I can't imagine PC guys would have been too happy if MS owned Bioware. Atleast with Nintendo and Sony most of their owned developers seem to stick around for a long time, and atleast seem to enjoy their jobs and work closely with other owned Sony and Nintendo developers when interviewed. With Microsoft it seems like you only hear from the really big guys, so it's hard to tell how the smaller studios are doing, or if they work and help other Microsoft owned teams or not.

 

[Benstamania]

I'll still pretty much play every game that comes out on the 360. I pretty much only use my ps3 as a bluray player.

 

[Fading]

I'll still pretty much play every game that comes out on the 360. I pretty much only use my ps3 as a bluray player.

That's fine, everyone likes different things. I see all 3 (PS3, 360, and Wii) as good buys. While I may not personally want a 360 or Wii, it doesn't mean I think ppl shouldn't buy them. I get a ton of use from my PS3, but understand not everyone likes it's exclusives, in the same way that outside of Zelda, Pokemon, and to a lesser extend Metroid are the only exclusives that Nintendo has that I care for anymore, or how Microsoft's exclusives dont' really do it for me either.

Sry, didn't mean to help the derail, or sound like I'm really against the 360. Was just going with the conversation. At the least tho, I will say that I think Microsoft would have been better off having kept a better hold on it's exclusives, and focused on making more new ones. I don't think it's good for Microsoft or 360 owners to continually see it's best exclusives go to other platforms while not getting any new big exclusives in return.