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Will MMO Platform Segregation Continue?

Posted by simoniker on from the one-nation-under-a-groove dept.

Thanks to Stratics Central for hosting an opinion piece discussing whether MMORPG titles will stay segregated by platform, or whether (as in Final Fantasy XI's dual PC/PS2 release) the separate SKUs will "adopt salient features and begin to look alike." The piece points out that in-game controls matter: "In the world of MMOs, the PC is king for two of many reasons: Key binding, and the mouse-keyboard combo", and concludes that "The irony is, for most of the consoles to compete with the PC [in MMO titles] they must become more like the PC."

11 of 37 comments (clear)

  1. wrong #1 reason by Vaevictis666 · · Score: 5, Insightful
    "In the world of MMOs, the PC is king for two of many reasons: Key binding, and the mouse-keyboard combo"

    The real reason PC beats Console for this kind of thing is the keyboard alone - you know, COMMUNICATION being key for MMOs. Without a keyboard for chat purposes, you end up just doing canned pre-translated phrases and emoticons.

    1. Re:wrong #1 reason by Acidic_Diarrhea · · Score: 2, Interesting
      I would think that anyone who was serious about playing a MMO on a console would already have invested in a keyboard, they're even available at EB so the gamers don't even have to go to another store.

      The PC is king because the PC is a much more mature platform for these types of games. The online capability of consoles is still in its infancy.

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    2. Re:wrong #1 reason by JFMulder · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Well, if you owned an Xbox and had a MMO, you'd probably chat in the communicator headset. In fact, Phantasy Star Online for the Xbox didn't need the keyboard like the Cube and Dreamcast version did because people could just speak in the headset. Beats the hell out of typing.

    3. Re:wrong #1 reason by wynterwynd · · Score: 3, Insightful

      The problem there is many people trying to talk at once (the whole massively part of MMORPGs). And if there's anything like the number of tells, guild chat, and immediate-area chatting that usually goes on in MMO games it would get very confusing and hard to differentiate between the conversations. All in all, a keyboard is a better solution; voice chat works great in some games (shooters, action games, RTS) but with as many people talking at once as there are in MMORPGs it would be like roleplaying in a packed club.

      --
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    4. Re:wrong #1 reason by JFMulder · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Yeah, but don't you think that it would feel even more real? I mean, I always wondered if someone would finally implement distance as a factor for the volume of a player voice in a game. That would be really nice. And make pretty interresting srategies.

    5. Re:wrong #1 reason by Corporal+Tunnel · · Score: 2, Funny

      Yes, it would feel a lot more real to have some huge musclebound orc walk up to me and challenge me to a duel... in a little squeaky girly little kid voice.

  2. What about cell phones, browsers, etc? by bmyers · · Score: 3, Insightful
    My prediction is that to really gain mainstream acceptance MMOs will need ubiquituous access, including from cell phones, browsers, consoles, webTV, etc.

    Not always to actually *play* the game, but to give a touchpoint for seeing what's going on, chat, etc.

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  3. irony? by Corporal+Tunnel · · Score: 2, Insightful

    "The irony is, for most of the consoles to compete with the PC [in MMO titles] they must become more like the PC."

    How is that irony? The best way to compete with anything, in any market, is to do things more like the winners. When SUVs became big selling cars, what did other companies to do compete? They made their own SUVs! How ironic, eh?

  4. You can get a keyboard and mouse for the PS2.... by evil-osm · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Logitech has come out with one earlier this year. You can get them for the DC and XBox as well (AFAIK re XBox). Its not enough to make me want to go over to a console, but its a start.

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  5. Xbox Live can... by Iscariot_ · · Score: 2, Informative

    I think Xbox live can support a nice MMO game due to the fact that it has excellent voice communication abilities. I've found that playing a game, then stoping whatever action you're in to type is a horrid thing. It is difficult to communicate and battle at the same time. Even on PC. Gestures don't make it any easier.

    I have yet to see any MMO game attempt voice communication, but I think it would be a really cool thing to try. Sure there are things to work out, like who exactly hears you talk? Or how "loud" is your voice. But those are good problems if you ask me. I'd love to see someone take a shot at it.

    Anyone know if something like this is planned for True Fantasly online?

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  6. Right, It's Voice by zeasier · · Score: 4, Insightful

    In order for consoles to compete with PC in mmogs voice communication is essential. My brother learned to play online role playing games while he was learning to read and write. Given a choice at that time he would have gone with a voice game if it was availible. Unfortunatly for him he was forced to become literate.

    The first developer to make a good voice communication game and market it to young children stands to make some money. The only problem is that future generations of kids will be exposed the jungle that is the internet at an earlier age. For example, if you ask someone online if Santa is real they'll tell you the truth.