01/23/13

MMO Radio: Episode 5 – The Fall of F2P?

Guest starring: Sister Julie and Sister Fran from No Prisoners, No Mercy!

Is a 5th episode an anniversary? Not quite, but it’s certainly a special one. This week we’re pleased to be joined by Sister Fran and Sister Julie of the No Prisoners, No Mercy podcast. It was an absolute pleasure to have them on, especially since Adam and I have been longtime fans of their show. Considering the recent news about (F2P) Allod’s Online offering a subscription option and Julie’s enthusiasm for the model, we decided to look at exactly where the MMO business model might be headed. It’s certainly on people’s minds. Is F2P still the saving grace for the industry or is it unsustainable in its current incarnation? More importantly, if that’s the case, what will come up to replace it: Buy-to-Play, the revivification of subscriptions, or some refined version of the cash shop model?

We would once again like to thank Julie and Fran for joining us. It was a wonderful time and the resulting show is something we’re proud to add to our library. What’s more, they had us as guests on their show as well for a lively discussion on violence and video games, so stay tuned for when that goes live!

Sister Julie and Sister Fran’s Links: Virgin Worlds, No Prisoners, No Mercy Website
Chris’ Links: Hooked Gamers, Game By Night, Vagary.TV
Adam’s Links: Epic Slant Press

Subscribe via iTunes
Subscribe via RSS
Download the Show

01/23/12

Does anyone appreciate scale anymore?

Just a quick post to say the following: I love that SWTOR is so effing big. I love feeling like I’m part of a huge zone or inside a massive structure. A lot of people don’t. The cynics will tell you that it’s all an artificial way to keep you playing longer (because tedium = retention, right?). I read a comment from someone just yesterday saying, “you don’t have to look beyond the too-big space stations and empty hallways” to see that Bioware is milking you.

I have to ask, what is it exactly people want? We complain when things are too big; we complain when they’re too small. We complain when zones are too linear; we complain when there’s poor flow. We even complain that they’re not doing enough with the hallways.

When I first started playing MMOs, what spellbound me was the idea of connecting to a virtual world. I have always, always felt that tiny zones, unenterable buildings, and the “look how big we seem to be but actually aren’t!” window-dressing did as much to destroy the virtual world as the quest progression system. So when it comes to TOR, it’s almost refreshing to see a game finally bring back the sense of scope we’ve optimized out these last few years. There are moments where you can’t help but to stop and appreciate how grandiose everything is. When you see a pyramid, it looks like a pyramid, rising high into the sky above you. When you enter a headquarters, there’s multiple floors, bunches of rooms, and lots of “extras” playing out all over the place. It’s atmospheric.

I find it so odd that people would want to strip that from the game. Isn’t Star Wars all about the infiniteness of space — being a part of a tapestry much larger than yourself or any other one player? Can you even approach that going small? I understand that running between objectives gets boring, but when that starts to get to me, I ask myself: would I change it even if I could? And the answer is no.

Scale is one of those things that might annoy players in the moment but that sparkles in the memory. It’s also a passive means of drawing you in and forcing you to appreciate the world you’re running through. Artificial slowing? Maybe. But then again, it’s like we tell our kids in school, it’s better to do too much than too little. Bioware opted to go big or go home. We received the many worlds and space stations of SWTOR a result. The other approach we’ve already seen. It’s the Cryptic model; release early, expand later. If that’s what people are asking for, to take a step down, then I suggest waiting here until something better comes along.

01/13/12

SWTOR PvP: From awesome to pointless to ‘is it patch day yet?’

If you’re not already 50, don’t bother PvPing until next week’s patch. There’s no point. In the last two weeks, enough of the playerbase has hit 50 to make the leveler a moot point in warzones. If you catch a 50 alone, you might have a chance. Might. If there are other players around looking for a kill, which there will be, that chance evaporates like last week’s science experiment. Or if they have any of the set-gear, you’re also taking a big piddle toward the wind while they obliterate you.

Believe it or not, I actually think this shows how well Bioware knows their playerbase. The PvP situation has gotten progressively worse every day since launch — a bracket is desperately needed now to keep things balanced — but had it been in at launch, all we’d hear are frustrated powerlevelers with no one to fight. Releasing the bracket with next week’s patch comes at just the right time to prevent the all-too-common ragequit from the less dedicated majority. Once it goes in, we’ll be rosey.

PvP in SWTOR works with a bolstering system similar to that of Warhammer Online and RIFT. When a level 10 enters, they are given a boost to their stats making them roughly equal to a max level character. The level 50 — let’s say a fresh 50 with quest greens — may hit a little harder, but the real benefit comes from the extra skills at their disposal. If they play smart, they can and will beat a low-level in perpetuity. After they’ve been at the cap for a spell, they’d have to be AFK to lose in a 1-on-1.

The bracket is skipping even this slight chance and are relegating 50s to their own warzones. 10-49s will fight alone now, without the “instant win” hardcores that dominate today. And that is fantastic. The bolstering system isn’t perfect but it’s better than anything MMOs have presented so far. When a level 10 faces off against a level 49, sure, the 10 will be at a disadvantage — but it’s only a disadvantage. Play it smart and there are no more guaranteed wins. The level 10 has value beyond being cannon fodder. 10s, 20s, 30s, and 40s are all deadly if played correctly.

For some reason, the PvP in SWTOR has me more enamored than any game in the past (MMO-wise). It is just a hell of a lot of fun to have skill and strategy rule the day and gear be an after thought. That’s why these 50s need to go. Their competition is all about gear, and it turns the PvP paradigm on its head.

So until the bracket goes in, I’m out working on class quests.

How about you, have you had much luck in PvP?

03/24/11

The Multiverse – Season 02 Episode 02 – I Got the Chicken PAX!

Hi Guys,

Season 2, episode 2! This week Adam and I are joined by Jeremy of the MMO Voices podcast and one of my partner’s in crime over at Rift Watchers. We have some great conversation on PAX re: MMOs here and more, including:

The MMO “big wig” panel, featuring just about every studio head you can imagine
Bioware condescending to the other devs? “Not everyone has $300 million to make a game”
The Trion party — I was sad to have missed this
TOR – developers on one-year contracts?
Chris gets prank called by Scott Hartsman

Plus:

Enjoy!

Vagary Homepage
Subscribe to the Show
iTunes Feed
Download/Listen Here

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

10/20/10

TOR Might Wind Up a “Clone”– Why Is That Bad, Again?

It’s been interesting to watch how the public interpretation of The Old Republic has changed since it was announced. It went from godsend, to F2P (oh noes!), to godsend, to the current point of “It’s a WoW clone” disappointment. On one hand, I empathize with people that want something new and are tired of the same, rehashed diku tropes that have dragged the industry into the Great Stagnation of 2010. Then again, I have to wonder if people really know what they want at all. The cattle call is “different.” As in, “give us something different” and “I already played WoW, I want something different!”

Yet, the majority of MMO players began their MMO careers with WoW and have only fleeting tried other games, if at all. These players, bitter as some may be, expect new MMOs to be like WoW, if not in form than in function. I hate to generalize like that but it’s human nature, isn’t it? We compare to what we know. If we like one MP3 player, we expect our next to be pretty much the same with a little extra shine.

But, that expectation isn’t necessarily a bad thing. I mean, WoW is a little basic, but can we really argue that it’s a “bad” game? What’s not worth copying there? Alright, a carbon copy wouldn’t be a good idea – there’s always room for improvement, after all – but there is a core of a very good, addictive experience there. Copying the WoW formula would be the smartest decision Bioware could make if they want a successful game.

Say what you want about the endgame, but how many hours does the average player spend chasing that eternal carrot through instance and raid dungeon? 100? 1000? You don’t get to be the market lead – and stay there for five years – by making a bad game. I understand that people get bored and sometimes feel burnt when it’s time to move on, but most of us can admit to having enjoyed WoW at some point. Could it be deeper, look better, stand a change of pace or a few more options at the level cap? Of course, but that doesn’t negate the hundreds of hours and millions of XP we’ve earned over the years.

So, when people knock on TOR for coming off as a WoW clone with an added fourth pillar, I can’t quite say I agree or would be upset if that turned out to be the case. If TOR turns out to be half the game WoW is, it will be doing alright. That means quality PvE, fun dungeons, and a long life past the level cap. That’s exactly what a PvE game needs to be.

Let’s not forget that even if it takes its cues from WoW, it’s only a starting point. Add in story, add in depth, add in all of the originality and polish that’s given Bioware its name, and you can see the Blizzard Approach in practice: take what works and make it great; make it your own, and add to it. The playstyle of WoW may not be what every MMO player wants, but it seems to be what the mainstreamer enjoys, and that’s what Bioware is after.

I don’t know about you, but I don’t need SW:TOR to reinvent the wheel. I need it to be a fun game with a great story. I think they’re on track with that. Maybe you don’t like WoW. If the millions of hours we’ve spent there, and the millions more others will spend there, say anything, it’s that most people do. It’s easy to forget that the playerbase of WoW more than likely outnumbers those of every other major MMO combined. Building from there, targeting the highest density of players, and expanding on the familiar, how is that a bad thing?

Maybe you can enlighten me, though, as to why I’m wrong. The rocky reception of FFXIV can be attribute to a clunky interface, but I think another part of it is just that’s is so starkly different from what we’re used to. Is that the direction we’d want TOR to go? Action bars and well thought out dungeons are no reason to disregard a potentially fun game, IMO.

08/19/10

Sometimes, Being a Game is Okay

How does this NOT deliver a Star Wars experience?

Sometimes, being a game is okay, even if you’re an MMO. I’ve talked many times about how game worlds deserve more emphasis, but let me take a step back and say that having some “game” in your virtual world is a good thing. I agree with folks that wish TOR was coming packaged with fully explorable space. But, does that mean what we’re being given will be no fun? Absolutely not. MMOs are video games, plain and simple, and inasmuch as we want more from them, we should also expect good gameplay to be a default component. On rails space combat isn’t bad gameplay, it’s just not free-form– and, that’s okay.

Honestly, reading so much disappointment for TORs space combat is a bit of a surprise. I was under the impression that most players would be happy to get space combat at all. I guess I was wrong, beggars can be choosers. But, hey, that’s never bit anyone in the ass before, right?

If you’re worried that the ship combat we’re getting isn’t good enough, I’d ask you to take a step back. This is a Bioware game and an MMO at that. Are you really worried that there won’t be enough staple MMO fodder to keep you busy? This game is set to be absolutely packed with things to do and places to explore. Space combat should, and still, be low on your list of selling points. Remember, until recently, it wasn’t even part of the game. It’s there because Bioware tried to give us what we asked for. And for something so “tacked on” I think it looks pretty damn polished. Like I said, they’re set to out-fox The Fox.

I’d also point out that, for a starting point, we’re pretty well off. This is just what we’re getting on launch day. Bioware knows players want more to do in space. Consider this a baby step and a hint for things to come.

But, to return to the title point of this post, stepping back from the “grand story” and “breathing world” is okay if it means delivering fun game play. It might not be normal for the MMO-scene, but who said it had to be? From where I’m sitting, this has the potential to be a wonderful time waster, along the lines of Tetris, Afterburner, and the other great games we grew up with. If done right, it could also be one of the best mini-games we’ve ever seen in a mature, adult-themed MMO. Why is this bad?

08/18/10

Space Combat in TOR is a lot like Starfox; GW2 Gameplay Footage – a New Reason to Get Excited

Gamescom 2010 brings us two videos this week from the MMO big’uns: TOR and Guild Wars 2. Both of them have been met with some mixed reception but, from where I’m sitting, there’s cause to get excited. Let’s start with the space combat video from TOR.

Here, if you haven’t seen it yet, have a look:

Oh, wait. That’s not Star Wars, that’s everyone’s favorite Super Nintendo fox: Starfox! Seriously though, the space combat in TOR looks so similar, it’s not even funny. Now that you’ve seen the Fox, here’s the real combat video.

Pretty close, right?

Starfox was one hell of a game. It still holds up as one of the best lighthearted space combat console games out there. It’s definitely on rails in that the camera propels you along, but you have the freedom to maneuver around the screen to dodge and attack however you wish. Starfox offered quick, fun, and most importantly, very repeatable gameplay. For what seems like a late minute addition to the game, Bioware couldn’t have chosen a better model. Honestly, between the graphics and setting, that trailer looks like they’re going to out fox the Fox… which Nintendo itself has tried to do ever since. It may not add much to the world aspect of TOR, but it will definitely be a fun game — and there’s a lot of value in that alone.

The second video we have is a snippet of Guild Wars 2 gameplay.

Ravious handles the major criticism very well, so I’m going to focus on what excites me the most about this video: the combat is flashy! I know that seems like a small thing, but combat animations totally paint how you perceive a one of the biggest chunks of the game. What we’re seeing here is fast paced, colorful, over the top, and I love it. Compare it to a game like LotRO and LotRO will wind up looking dull by comparison. Hell, compare it to any other game than Aion and the competition will wind up looking dull. It’s just that good.

And, damn, check out the armor detail on that dev’s character.

So far, I’ve been “hypothetically” excited for Guild Wars 2. Everything Arenanet has been saying sounds great. The screenshots and trailers are excellent. This represents something real and it’s nice to have a tangible example of the game to get excited about. Even if they’d released no other information, this video alone would be enough to make me an 80% sell. Fun combat means a fun game (Aion), the rest just gives it the depth and longevity to be something great (not Aion).

Now, I’m off to edit Episode 24 of the Multiverse. I know, I’m breaking my resolution to do it on Mondays. I planned to, really I did, but my first spyware outbreak in more than a year has slowed me down a bit. I guess that will teach me for googling “blood elf pr0n” when I should be recording.

Hump day!

06/28/10

Full Voicing Might Be a Bust

As a rule, I’m pretty skeptical of full voicework in RPGs. When it’s done right, it can be great and add to the immersion and storytelling. When it’s done wrong, though, it’s the exact opposite and the entire product winds up feeling cheap and under-produced. So, I have my reservations about SW:TOR.

The first, and most recent, comes with the news that every character will have their own voice. This just seems problematic to me. As a matter of fact, lead designer Daniel Erickson lays out some of the biggest concerns.

Daniel Erickson

“Our player characters were not going to be voiced because it’s a massively insane expenditure and hugely complicated to do. You have to cast 16 of the best actors ever and then hold them for eternity.”

Add to that the fact that your character, and thereby that voice, is your gateway to immersion and you have a pretty big risk. The worst thing a game can do is remind you that you’re playing it. Just like good literature, games are more fun when we can sink in and experience the game, rather than play it. There’s also something to be said for being an individual, which Bioware hasn’t spent much time focusing on (other than talent trees).

I’m not the biggest fan of Dragon Age’s voiceless conversation system but I like it better than Mass Effect’s. Mass Effect plays like a movie, Dragon Age plays like an RPG.

Second, and I’m surprised no one has mentioned this, is exactly how long will it take to release new content? If every quest has to be recorded and then re-recorded with the different conversation options, you’re adding a huge amount of development time onto each content patch. If it’s good, and big, maybe it will be worth the wait and keep people satisfied. If it’s rushed, then you risk having the patch fall flat on its face. It’s a tricky medium.

Like most of you, I’m excited for TOR. Believe me, I hope that this game is all that we’ve waited for and more. If Bioware can live up to their reputation, it very well may be. I’ll play it until I’m cheek to the keyboard asleep, if that’s the case.

One thing is for sure though, TOR will change how we perceive the MMO. The question is, will push the traditional MMO design forward or blend single-player RPGs into the online space? It’s an exciting time.

06/15/10

Cataclysm Cutbacks, My Thoughts and Hopes for E3, and Gaming Keyboards

I’ve been pretty busy managing games, work, and hardware upgrades this past week, so I’ve been a little behind on the news. Sorry for the lack of Monday update, but there’s a few big things I’d like to touch on, so let’s get started.

Cataclysm Cutbacks

Original ideas for Path of the Titans

Path of the Titans represented one of the most intriguing updates to them game since… well, ever. Alternate advancement. Can I tell you just how badly WoW needs this? I know a lot of people scoff at the idea, but let me just say that, compared to a lot of other MMOs, WoW is pretty limited. It’s standard “quest, level, dungeon, raid” MMO fare– and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. By the time most players have hit the mid-to-upper 4ks in their gear score, they’re burnt out on the repetitiveness of it all.

PotT was a great opportunity for Blizzard to do what it does best: take good ideas from other games and make them their own. And it could have been good. The idea that PvP balance could have been a key reason for its failure bothers me. That’s lazy and short-sighted. WoW is a PvE game, no matter how much Blizzard tries to push the e-sportiness of it all. If it doesn’t fit for PvP, turn it off during matches. End of story.

It could have been cool but now I’d bet on mediocre. Instead, players that take up archeology can get lore tidbits (a strange decision considering most players claim to not even read quests) and vanity gear. Vanity items and pets are neat, I’ll give them that, but not as neat as AA.

Okay, enough said on that.

E3 Hopes and Thoughts

To be honest, I didn’t realize E3 started today until Ryan from Vagary called me on six hour drive in. It was nice to see so much big news flashing on my feed reader, though.

Microsoft’s Kinect (does anyone else think of those construction sets, Knex?) looks interesting but no different than any of the other motion devices. I was surprised to see that they’re offering a 360 “thin,” though. Apparently, it will come with a 250GB hard drive and built in wi-fi for $299. Comparing that to Sony’s 250GB PS3 at $350 and it’s easy to see the undercutting going on. Competition is good, though, and the PS3 needs a price cut, so here’s hoping.

I’m more interested in what’s to come. The Nintendo 3DS has my hopes high. If Kotaku is right, it will be the most graphically powerful handheld gaming device on the market. Cooking Mama will never have looked so good, but I’m looking more towards a new Zelda. Or, perhaps, a remake of a certain Ocarina filled Nintendo 64 game? Please?

But, and here’s my big hope, rumor has it that Sony might be unveiling the PSP2 at the expo as well. I love my PSP but, I’ll admit, I pretty much only use it to reader Google Reader before bed. It’s long in the tooth. If they’re able to pack the power of a Playstation 2 into their handheld, port some classics over (San Andreas, anyone?) and get rid of that god forsaken UMD, it’ll be a day-one purchase for me.

Plus, the MMO news. SW:TOR announced that they’ll be doing player housing in the form of personal space ships. That’s cool, in theory. I’ll wait to get excited until we see how useful it is. Will it be a solo-instance? Part of the world? Customizable beyond simple exteriors? And then there’s FFXIV. Square-Enix has some major signage in place, so I’m hoping that means some big news.

Gaming Keyboards

As regular readers may know, I’ve done a lot of computer upgrading lately. Originally, it was a new motherboard, processor, RAM, and Windows version. It’s been fun getting into my favorite MMOs and seeing how much better (or worse) they all run. I’ve also installed a few single player games for comparison too, namely Dragon Age: Origins and Mass Effect 2. DA:O has more of my attention right now, since I’m not huge into sci-fi.

My new keyboard: Logitech G110

To top that off, I got my first full size paycheck from substitute teaching, so I treated myself to a new keyboard. You would be amazed at how in-depth things can get when you’re looking at gaming keyboards. I bought the G15 and returned it; the keys were too clunky (I’m used to low profile boards) and the LCD seemed gimmicky. I got the Razer Lycosa and returned it; without macro keys, it really offers very little to an MMO player other than its low profile. In the end, I settled on the Logitech G110. It’s much more powerful than the G15, the keys are nicer, and it’s more customizable in programming and color. I love it. Now comes the learning how to use it to its full effect.

That’s been my weekend. Now that I’m settled into my new hardware, I get to look forward to a fairly relaxed summer. This is the last week in session for the schools I sub at, then it’s summer break. I’ll work in between but not as much and not as frequently. Hopefully, that means I’ll be able to finally finish DA:O and gear out my Death Knight in badge gear.

Things look good. Now, how do I program MMO macros into this thing?

05/31/10

On Bioware and MMOs Having “No Point”

In a recent article in The Escapist, SW:TOR designer and writing director Daniel Erickson states that he thinks most MMOs out now have no point; that they lack a story to define our actions and, thereby, amount to a series of errands on the checklist of some faceless NPC.

This comment disturbs me.

Have Bioware been paying attention *at all* to MMOs other than their own? Almost every major MMO out there has a coherent story that they base the major quest lines around. WoW’s narrative evolves with every major patch. LotRO follows the single most well known fantasy story of our time.

It bothers me because they seem to be insinuating that every quest should relate to a larger narrative. Now, in theory, that’s great – if you don’t want that many quests. How exactly do you make every quest in a game relate to the main story? Come on, Mr. Erickson, let’s be real. If every quest in the game contributed to the main narrative, you’d wind up with one of the most diluted and convoluted stories in the history of video games.

Not to mention, people would simply burn through it no matter what. There is a reason for the amount of pointless tasks in modern MMOs: they slow you down and eliminate the need to grind. Yes, you might have a bunch of “kill ten foozles” or “deliver these candies” quests, but they are a necessary evil.

Okay, this really has nothing to do with the post, but, as a former computer science major, it amuses me.

There is an idealistic mindset that believes we don’t need chores in our games – and it’d certainly be nice if Bioware could create a totally all-encompassing story experience – but the fact is, without “chores” you have grinding or a breeze to the level cap; you get a content light game that will be derided as unfinished.

I’m going to predict right now that SW:TOR will have plenty of staple MMO quests. The only caveat may be that they try to veil them in a thin story veneer… like every other game on the market does. Sorry Bioware, just because you have a good reputation doesn’t mean that you’re perfect. These kinds of statements, while seemingly innocuous, set up an unreasonable expectation. There is no way they’ll live up to the bar they’re setting for themselves.

But, the more important point that these statements underline is this: there is a point to MMOs. MMOs are about character and social progression, plain and simple. They’re about chasing the eternal carrot on an unending adventure within the story-context of the game-world. I mean, the point of an MMO is evidenced in the entirety of the systems that make it up. I think a case could be made that the existing “point of MMOs” is more important than the fourth pillar. A game without a clear cut sense of progression, even at end-game, is a failure.

Will story cut it? Maybe once.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m looking forward to TOR as much as the next guy, but you have to appreciate the philosophical underpinnings to the statements they make about MMO design. Maybe they’ll hit it out of the park, but, in my opinion, they’re shooting themselves in the foot by proclaiming their utter awesomeness at every turn.

The best thing they could do right now would be to clam up for about two months. Give us nothing. Now, won’t that make us go stir-crazy for your game without actually telling us to?