Comments on MMOG’s and Predictability In Engagements article

Tangor · 11-21-2005, 01:45 PM

While I agree with much that was written in the article, I find it unlikely that a MMO would put that much complexity into encounters and expect the majority of their player base to embrace it. Those that would delight in that type of implementation would likely be in the minority (i.e. hard core raiders). My point is that after you strip away all the fluff MMO companies are driven by the bottom line period and that means they need a large player base to keep the lights turned on. They are forced to walk a fine line in making a game too hard, making it feel like a chore or on the other end of the specrtrum and even worse in my opinion, turning it into a WoW type of experience where pretty much a trained monkey can hit the level cap. Although WoW currently is enjoying an unprecedented subscriber base and is raking it in, I wonder what will happen when the Viagra wears off.

I know it can't be an easy issue to fix or it would have been done already. I truly hope Sigil finds a solution somewhere in the middle that allows them to meet their financial goals and satisfy the player base they need to survive.

Never forget the first rule of being in business, "It's all about the money".

Tang

Pirotess · 11-21-2005, 03:17 PM

I do think that WoW's Viagra is about to wear off especially if they dont get their expansion out before spring 2006. I like some randomness but not so much that the lessons you learned the first several times you encountered the boss are completely useless. I think they can keep the style of an encounter the same and still throw a little perception/reaction/counter into the fight to keep people on their toes.

Sho Pi · 11-23-2005, 02:11 AM

I do not think that the complexity Sigil is putting into the game is going to be a problem. I think Sigil is doing a good thing targeting a group geography that is currently not being catered to at the moment. Not much point trying to cater to a group that is already being catered to.

There are a lot of different group geographies out there and each one of them is a potential player base. I would also not say that the game will generally cater to hard-core raiders as Brad said he is not targeting them, he is targeting the core players. Linky here with a very long Aradune Mithara post about who he thinks the “core” player is.http://www.vanguardsoh.com/forums/sh...7&postcount=26

A lot of us want to find a challenge within MMORPG’S and just because another game has a lot bigger player base does not mean there wont be enough people to form a viable player base for Vanguard:SoH. Just think of variety.

Arctic_Slicer · 12-04-2005, 06:20 PM

I don't see any problem with how Sigil is going about their desing philosophies. Honestly I think alot of other companies could learn alot from Sigil as I feel Sigil has their heart in the right place. Even if some of their features don't turn out quite as well as they hoped they have proven to be a very open and honest company and I believe that they would do what ever they can to fix any issues that arise to make the game as fun as possible with out compromising the vision. This is why I follow "Vanguard: Saga of Heroes" and the endevors of Sigil Games Online. They know the importance of having a vision and sticking through which is something worth subscribing out of principle. That way the subscribers know what kind of a game they are getting when they pay for and don't have to worry about a surprise new game that other companies put their players through.

Greymain · 12-08-2005, 08:39 AM

Its strange but having followed Vanguard all this time I still have no idea how the game will play. I know a bit about content and melee, I know (most) of the classes and have seen a tiny bit of the game world. But it is the "Feel" of the game that is critical. Is it a world I want to devote a part of my life in over the next 5 years? Wow is pretty but oh so shallow. Take away combat and whats left? Eq2 was a bit better in this reguard but far to restrictive and those instances where a constant reminder that it was only a game.

For me success or failure does not revolve simply around how hard it is to kill a mob or recover a corpse, for me its how deep and engrossing the game world is. I must admit the lack of eating/baking, drinking/brewing and fishing do have me worried in this reguard.

Pirotess · 12-09-2005, 09:06 AM

Its probably best that we dont know how the game feels yet as Im sure given its current early beta state its going to change and feel much different as it matures.