Today, I received a link to a press release stating that LucasArts and BioWare have "entered into an agreement to create an interactive entertainment product."
What does this mean? Well, some have been speculating for more than a year that BioWare has been working on a Massively Multiplayer Online game with a Star Wars setting. While this press release was worded in such a way as to NOT provide details one can easily draw conclusions.
Let me just say that I am completely convinced of a Star Wars MMO being developed by BioWare. I couldn't be happier.
I will now wait for the official announcement, then I'll likely frequent their website (I just signed up through that link) and look to spread my opinions over there.
From reading a presentation that Gordon Walton made at the Game Developer Conference in Austin, I have a general idea of what the basic layout of the game might be. However, one of the biggest parts of any MMORPG for me wasn't mentioned in that article. That would be crafting.
A decent crafting system is needed in a MMO for me to really become involved with the game.
I'm already to the point in WoW where I barely log in anymore. My current goal is to get 4 more levels before their next expansion. After that, I plan on getting the Death Knight. After that? Honestly, after that I don't see any reason to keep playing the game. Leveling only holds so much of my attention.
Having the choice of spending my time working on an intricate crafting system or slaughtering tons of monsters is the best way of keeping me paying for a game. There are times when I want to create and times when I want to destroy.
Unfortunately, WoW does not offer any tools for my creative side. If you want to craft in WoW, you have to spend absurd amount of time killing creatures/npcs to get loot that drops only in small amounts and at irregular times. You need this to craft any item in the game, with the exception of the lowest level items in the crafting system (the items that are essentially worthless because everyone outgrows them in hours).
When BioWare officially announces the game, I will take a look at whatever information they publish then I will start my campaign. I WILL make my presense known to them. I WILL make them realize how important crafting and trading is to the long term success of MMOs.
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comments:
The following was removed with the Haloscan change:
Sweet, I will be right there in the new SW online game with you.
WoW is still holding me, probably because I like repetition sometimes and also sometimes I like the social and teamwork aspects. I get my creativity out in Sims 2 and in my blog. I miss the creativity involved in my previous MMOs, compared to them WoW is sort of a mindless clickfest, but I am enjoying it, it's number one in the market for a reason. Right now I'm doing sort of long term death knight strategy by making sure I have all the support classes maxed, so I'm ready for whatever they throw at us in the death knight quest.
Still I hope this KOTOR game comes out soon because I really miss living in a sci fi MMO rather than a stupid fantasy world with dragons, bleh.
EasterDurni | 10.30.07 - 7:20 pm | #
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Right there with you, Ken...for me, crafting was always the biggest part of the original SWG (and, in fact, most other MMO's I've been a part of).
Unfortunately, I'm afraid those of us that are SWG vets have been a bit spoiled when it comes to crafting. I had the same problem in WoW...and LOTRO...and you get the idea. My wife and I actually left WoW before BC came out; we had been in an end-game raiding guild, and enough was just enough.
In LOTRO, the crafting situation was beyond absurd...the raw materials you gathered sold for more than the finished crafted product on the auction house. And, of course, you still needed those elite drops to craft anything worthwhile.
Just let me know when to start screaming, and in what direction, and I'll be glad to add my voice.
(Even though I'm STILL rooting for Zak McKracken Online out of this.)
Inhibitor | Homepage | 10.30.07 - 11:59 pm | #
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trust me, if you are still logging into RLMMO at the time, you'll see me urging everyone to speak to BioWare about crafting and trading.
MMOs need to end their obsession with loot grinding for basic craftable materials and having so many non-tradable items in their games.
Kenshu Ani | Homepage | 10.31.07 - 1:25 am | #
Post a Comment