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It's a good thing that they are so committed...

Good times. =D

A long, long time ago in the world of MMO's there was a man Named Brad McQuaid. Mr. McQuaid was in charge of a little project called Everquest, some of you might have heard of it. Well, Brad left Everquest and formed his own company, Sigil Games, to start a new project. Vanguard: Saga of Heroes ( http://www.vanguardsoh.com/ or http://www.joinvanguard.com/ ) I suggest the first link. This game has been in development for several years now and is slated to come out this winter. Will it beat WoW? I don't know, maybe not in subscriptions, but I can almost guarantee it will be it in terms of artistic quality, content depth, character development, story line, and almost every other worthy category out there. To me, and this is only one man's opinion, I don't think there is another MMO currently, or in the near future that will be able to touch Vanguard in the categories I described above... Take a look at the sites I provided and see for yourself

WoW is a horrible game.

The vast majority of endgame play revolves around endless rep farming, honor farming in BGs, and doing yet another instance run.

So many PVPers played WOW, only to find out how bad the PVP system really is. Risk free pvp. Nothing remotely comparable to UO during the tank mage era. Instead, overgeared dimwits burning cooldowns. != skill. This led to a huge PVPer exodus from WoW.

Soon, there will be a huge exodus of the sheep out of WoW, I'm not sure to which game yet though.

Promising candidates include:
http://www.darkfallonline.com/
http://www.vanguardsoh.com/
http://www.warhammeronline.com/english/home/index. php

All of this is very reassuring, and sounds reasonable. But the way it's being presented by Sigil sounds too good to be true. I'm not saying that it's not completely true, I'm just saying that I've read thousands of press releases from MMOG developers before, and when something sounds too good to be true, it makes me nervous.

Now that we're done with the reasonable reactions, can I give my gut reaction? Ready? Plug your ears:

WHAT IN THE BLOODY SIXTH CIRCLE OF A CRAWLING, UNIMAGINABLE HELL HAPPENED?

What happened to all of those thinly veiled (and not so thinly veiled) comments from Mr. McQuaid about SOE? The constant, subtle (and not so subtle) implications that yes, SOE is the devil, and yes, SOE did ruin their game? The winks and nods? The soft caresses?

No matter what, being associated with SOE is a black eye for them. For years, the company and game have been basically sold to the players with one statement: we're not with SOE. It's not an exaggeration to say that a lot of their fanbase exists because of that one fact.

I don't think they're going to lose all of those people, or even many of them, but what they will lose is the trust of many of them. This is bad because the game is already being directed at a narrow audience. The audience is narrow for a hundred reasons, some key ones being: a) it's a subscription game, b) it claims to be a return to the unforgiving game mechanics of old, c) many people will have to upgrade their hardware to play it.

To upgrade your computer for a single game takes faith, and faith is what they're losing with this move.

-Eric

I think the reason it reads like a re-hash is that the previewers kept writing in things that were in old EQ like they were new ideas. I don't know why, maybe they never played EQ.

The *new things* Vanguard is doing are truly ground breaking. The combat system is exciting and new, crafting will be far more varied, valued and protected from mudflation, and there's an entirely new sphere called Diplomacy, which will operate something like a first person MMO RTS - you will influence and even control NPC's.

Then there's the new game mechanics. Music tracks, more than 30 hours of them, each one changing according to the time of day, combat or no combat, party health etc. Dynamic music you wont want to turn off. The zoneless world - anything you can see, you can walk/ride or sail to. The *hugeness* of the world. *Nineteen* character classes expected to make release, all unique but able to perform their primary functions on equal terms and in different ways.

As for the artistry, check out the official screenshots. I don't know what you mean by 'poser-built', but I'm sure they give a far more detailed impression.

Actually the character generation system is one of the most detailed, if not the most detailed, ever written. Character visuals are extremely customisable. The graphics are excellent, check out the offical screenshots. If they look bland to you, it's because they're realistic and more immersive, not cartoony :P

Furthermore, the gameplay is looking far more varied than anything else. New, more complicated AI. *Entirely* new and interesting combat system. Sailing on player-made ships to new continents! Interesting travel instead of travel removed as a mechanic.

Crafting protected from massive mudflation by:
* Localised economies, caused by the lack of instant-travel
* Crafters skilling up, often in groups, on 'workorders' for NPC cities. No more market flooded with 900,000 banded-wristguards :)
* More careful itemisation

Entirely new sphere of play called Diplomacy... seems to border on an MMO RTS!

Take a deeper look guys, there is so much more to Vanguard than these little previews.

Did you mean: " smedley is an idiot"

Fear not my core gaming friend. Vanguard, is out there, waiting just for you.

Bruce

The reason they can offer these games at such low prices is because these games are dieing. Are they good games? For the most part - but their times have passed and they are, to say the least, not the best out there. Vanguard is your best bet (2006) - http://www.vanguardsoh.com/

4.8 Will Vanguard: Saga of Heroes support voice communication?

Yes, through XNA and other technologies we hope to support voice communication natively (e.g. without the need for third party software).

Voice communication will be there to enhance group communication and will be totally optional. Current thinking is to design gameplay around both ways such that neither method of communication becomes an distinct advantage. Thus if you like voice chat you can use it, but if you do not you would not have to use it. We plan to have a "push-to talk" key and the option of muting, coinciding with the ignore option of text chat.

The vast majority of communication in the game will continue to be traditional and via a keyboard, as will some group/raid communication.

We assume, just as it is now with third party software, that players who already know each other will get the most use out of voice chat.

Additionaly, the use of voice fonts, etc. is being looked into.

Bruce

1.8 What is this XNA I keep hearing about from Microsoft and how will it affect Vanguard?

XNA is a growing group of software tools that allow developers to more rapidly develop their games. Additionally, Microsoft wants to share tools and technology between its different platforms (e.g. Win32, Xbox, future platforms).

Vanguard is one of the chief early adopters of this ever-growing group of software. For example, we will be using technologies from Xbox live, voice communication, and already have the ability to play the game via an Xbox-style controller with a tiny keyboard attached to it (a TID).

Bruce

I have an interest in Vanguard and I post occasionally on their forums (as the typical geek is bound to do), but I agree. This is kind of ridiculous, funny at the very least. Just look at all the fanbois that happened to register with /. just to post a response. Here's the thread where all the fanbois spawned from.

Heck, I wonder how this article even got posted, or why it was picked out of the list of 20. I don't think most slashdotters care about some game that's not even in beta. That's just plain stupid and can just lead to (bad) publicity for the game. Maybe because Vanguard is gonna be published by Microsoft? Meh...

FYI, although I'm a recent member to /., I didn't join to post here, but to post on a recent article concerning web standards. I may be a goddamn hypocrite, but that doesn't apply here.

Sir Bruce can't honestly make a call on a game he really didn't even see. He did not even mention any of its features. So allow me. Combat- A more detailed system. You will target body parts as well as make decisions on the fly. Lets say you are a warrior. You have the perception skill which is new in Vanguard. You are in combat and your perception skill allows you to perceive the enemy is going to attack your caster. You muct make a decision to either deal damage or intercept the attack. Thats just one example but the system is much better. Diplomacy- These guys are the diplomats. Being good in this sphere can allow you to negotiate an audience with certain npc's, parlay safe passage through dangerous areas, and even make you a key figure in Player made towns. The diplomat sphere is very impressive and offers an alterate playstyle for many people. Crafting- Very detailed system in which a player can actualy influence the finished stats of their product. Some people will eveen form groups when harvesting for this as it can speed up the process and even give you access to better material. In some cases there might be a dungeon that has a forge and that forge is the only way to make a given item. A group of adventurers will have to go with the crafter and hold back the hoards while he crafts the item. It is a promising system with much potential. The forum community is one of the best if not the best. The Devs are quick to answer questions and offer opinions. In closing I just want to say that thats my report on Vanguard brief but to the point. I think its a lot more detailed and with more information than our dear Sir Bruce took the time to get. So I hope this helps and clears a few things up. While it is not even close to everything It is a nice start. I suggest you all visit the forums and judge for yourselves. Take care. http://www.vanguardsoh.com/community.php

"Originally written by Sir Bruce - Also demoed at the ATI booth, V:SoH looks intriguing, but unfortunately their servers were down when I went to take a look at the title, so all they could show was a tour through some of the game world and dungeons to show off the artwork and level design. This title is highly anticipated by some of the MMOG hardcore, as it comes from ex-EverQuest developers Brad McQuaid and Jeff Butler, but aside from the graphics and the promise of in-game voice chat it does not seem to be very innovative over the original EQ1 design. The game is designed to be group-focused and highly challenging, which may mean it's too much of a time investment for the more casual MMOG player. If the game were coming out this year, I would have higher hopes for it, but I feel it may get lost behind the mass of other fantasy-themed MMORPG titles."

I wonder that Sir Bruce got any kind of an accurate representation of this game when the servers were down and he was unable to see many of the amazing qualities of Vanguard: Saga of Heroes. There are other videos that show a spectacular panorama of the game, as well as a visual look at the races starting on the three opening continents. Go here to see them and form your own opinions. (I can't post the direct URL, so be sure to click on SV's E3 coverage at the top to take you to the video links.)

Although I am a fan, I am first and foremost a reporter and feel my first loyalty in my news coverage is to the subscribing public. Having said that, I also have to say that this hardcore MMO group referred to in Sir Bruce's report has been following the game religiously since it was first a twinkle in Brad McQuaid's eyes. They have extracted as much as they could from the zealously guarded "sekret sauce" (an in-term for game developments).

In addition to videos, there is a seamless world, with little to no zoning, and it is HUGE. The crafting in this game is amazing, much more detailed and relevant than any other game I have heard of (with the possible exception of ATITD), and players can advance through crafting skills. The art of diplomacy, in addition to adventuring and crafting, rounds out the triumvirate of themes whereby a player can move ahead in levels.

All the characters are customizable with such lifelike appearance and movements that it is genuinely heart-stopping. Player-built homes will be a part of the game. PvP will be part of it as well, from the start, on special PvP servers, and although Sir Bruce is right about grouping being a major focus of Vanguard, there will be ample opportunity as well for the more casual player to solo. Instancing will be all but done away with in Vanguard and replaced by a mechanism that provides maps that drop from mobs and allow groups to move through exclusive pathways to treasured items and quests. Environment, NPC attitudes, skills acquired--these all impact on how the game plays for the individual. Grinding to level has been replaced by skill and knowledge.

Without writing an entire article myself, it is hard to tell you all the things I have observed and written about in the last year. I urge readers to check it out for themselves. And I respectfully invite Sir Bruce to take another look at what is available.

If you are actually interested in knowing about the game and what they showed at E3 I would suggest you look at any or all of the websites listed here:

http://www.vanguardsoh.com/news.php

The things posted here show a remarkable lack of actual knowledge of what the game is going to be as well as a lack of understand of why EQ was as successful as it was/is :)

I wonder if we'll see other PC MMORPGs coming to the 360

Vanguard: Saga of Heroes is rumored to be coming out for the Xbox 360.

I played it extensively in pre-release, but ultimately decided I am not interested in a rerun of the experiences of the past. Unfortunately, the major MMORPGs all seem to be converging on a set of features, which involve structuring the players experience to maximize the little mini-rewards such as experience and loot. This takes away from the original appeal of the virtual world, with degrees of freedom allowing the player to seek his own goals and write his own story. Some of the things I've heard about Vanguard have raised my hopes that this game on the horizon, designed by the original creators of Everquest, will both push the envelope in gameplay, and return some of the virtual adventure to the genre.

Neither is really revolutionary, unless you consider adding voice features (annoying and pervasive in EQ2, minimal and cute in WoW). Both follow the trend of decreasing the degrees of freedom available to the player, resulting in more of a disneyland ride experience than that of a virtual world.

I've got my hopes set on Vanguard to be the next MMORPG of worth. I might play WoW on live, but really more to hang with my guild than anything else.

The much antipated mmmorpg Vanguard is going to use XNA (as well as the Unreal engine). The devs (same guys who made Everquest, but left the company after Sony took over) have only good things to say about XNA. Sure, MS leaves a bad taste in my mouth, but if it helps good games get made, I'll sell my soul in a heart beat.

Check out the teaser pages. There's a sequence of numbers presented throughout the 15 or so pages. Any meaning to them?