Microsoft Announces Vanguard MMORPG

Thanks to GameSpot for its news story covering the announcement of Microsoft's new massively multiplayer PC game, Vanguard: Saga of Heroes, in development by "renowned designer and cocreator of EverQuest Brad McQuaid" and his company Sigil. The official Vanguard site is now publicly viewable, stating Vanguard's aim to "become the premier third generation massively multiplayer RPG", and an interview with Brad McQuaid over at GameSpot goes into more detail, noting the game's style is "generally what someone would label as high fantasy", although not discussing whether Vanguard's development is one of the reasons for Microsoft's cancelling of their internally-developed MMO Mythica.

Comments

Microsoft announces MMORPGNAA

[Anonymous Coward]

Thanks to GaySpot for its news story covering the announcement of Microsoft's new massively multiplayer PC game, Assguard: Faga of Heroes, in development by "renowned designer and cocreator of EverQuest Brad McQuaid" and his company Sigil. The official Assguard site is now publicly viewable, stating Assguard's aim to "become the premier third generation massively multiplayer RPGNAA", and an interview with Brad McQuaid over at GaySpot goes into more detail, noting the game's style is "generally what someone would label as nigger fantasy", although not discussing whether Assguard's development is one of the reasons for Microsoft's cancelling of their internally-developed MMO Pissica.

Wow

[the_other_one]

I am eagerly waiting for the Linux version!

Wow Just what we need!

[ru-486]

Man, the market was just begging for another fantasy mmorpg! *sarcasm*

Hidden code?

[nacturation]

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

Re:Hidden code?

[Morgon]

Continue through the teaser story - it's revealed what they are -- might wanna stick around one of the flash pages.

Re:Hidden code?

[nacturation]

Ah... looks like I didn't wait long enough at the last page. Thanks.

Bleh

[elasticwings]

Bah, another gigantic MMORPG to force addicts into upgrading all their PC components. Personally, I'm addicted to Ragnarok Online. Pretty graphics that will run easily on a medium grade computer. Plus the characters are more cutesy :D

Re:Bleh

[Anonymous Coward]

Oh noes, not another ragnaholic in Slashdot... 2 are too many... please, don't admit your addictions in public!!! :P

Third Generation?

[CaseM]

I'm just waiting for the coming of the supposed "second generation" of MMORPG's. Arguably, it hasn't arrived, even though there are some promising ones on the horizon.

Re:Third Generation?

[lambent]

What is the definition of the generations?

Re:Third Generation?

[lambent]

Ahh ... answered my own question. FAQ 1.4.1 http://www.vanguardsoh.com/faq.php

On a side note, check out the bestiary. Six whole monsters! I guess three generations were worth the wait.

Re:Third Generation?

[Cosmik]

The Second Generation is already here, but with MMORPGs coming out every year, rather than a few at a time followed by a longer period of waiting, the lines between the generations will probably blur now. Star Wars: Galaxies, Horizons, Final Fantasy XI, Dark Age of Camelot, Asheron's Call 2, Anarchy Online are all Second Generation. There are only 3 main players in the First Generation: Ultima Online, EverQuest, and Asheron's Call. How this MMORPG will be different from all of these past MMORPGs to warrant the cry of "Third Generation" will be interesting to see, but graphics are usually a main contribution to defining a Generation. I do wish (and hope) gameplay becomes more of a factor to base Generations on.

Re:Third Generation?

[MacBrave]

After reading a bit of the front page and FAQ this sounds like a combination of EQ and UO. I've never played EQ but was a UO player from 98-01.

Re:Third Generation?

[llefler]

Actually, all of those are second or third generation MMORPGs. Depending on what you consider your first generation. I personally look at MUDs as first generation, and those games defining the second generation. It takes more than a new GUI and a number after the name to make it a new generation. For example, I don't think anyone is going to say AC2 is an improvement on AC. We aren't going see a new generation for a while. We'll need to break away from the cookie cutter fantasy and licensed games first.

For a more detailed look at online gaming history:

Biting the Hand

BTW, something that makes it difficult quantify what belongs in a given generation is the fact that these are living games. The game I am most familiar with, Asheron's Call, would hardly be reconizable by someone who played it when it was first released.

Re:Third Generation?

[Cosmik]

True, if you throw MUDs into the equation, then my brief little outline on generations takes a new turn.

I specifically left out MUDs, preferring to to talk about MMORPGs, as I'm sure that is what Sigil Games is talking about.

While I agree that AC1 is a superior game over AC2, I consider AC2 a second generation game because it really can't be lumped in with AC1 as first generation. Along with game mechanics and graphics influencing what a generation is, so must time.

So....

[bluemeep]

What'll the newbie fodder be? Giant rats, giant bats or giant beetles?

Re:So....

[elasticwings]

I'm all for giant chickens. :D

Re:So....

[Xenkar]

Penguins and little red demon-like creatures. Both will increase faction with the Holy Church of Microsoft and Lord Bill of Gatestown.

Re:So....

[Grey_14]

Bah, Penguins I bet...

But can players buy in-game....

[Anonymous Coward]

....mutual funds? Link

hah

[Tuxinatorium]

M$ talks about innovation but all they ever do is re-implement other people's ideas. This MMORPG is going to be another shitty clone of Everquest.

I'm surprised and impressed...

[EarwigTC]

I'm surprised and impressed to see all kinds of interaction between Brad McQuaid, the Microsoft Lead Business Manager Jon Grande, and the community on the message boards. They are answering questions in a very straightforward manner.

I'm not highly involved in any other MMOs but I believe this is an unprecedented level of interaction between the higher-ups, coders, and people who will eventually play the game. The complaint I always hear about these games is that the company isn't listening or isn't responding. Very nice to see something different.

Re:I'm surprised and impressed...

[Cosmik]

Well, best to hold onto your horses for a little while yet. Quite alot of MMORPGs these days (and for the past 3 years or so) have a really great level of communication with the community in the developmental stages of the game. It's utopian stage of the MMORPG, where the each member of the community respects one another and the designers can do no wrong.

The real test of communication will come within the 3 months before release when the designers and coders are all working 18 hour days, and how the communication is maintained post-release when people are complaining about server crashes, login problems, and game imbalances, when all the designers and coders want to do is run away and sleep.

But I'm looking at the current mold of MMORPGs. I really do hope these guys can break that mold.

GNAA Ported to XBOX

[Anonymous Coward]

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Xbox (http://www.xbox.com/) is Microsoft's future-generation video game system that delivers the most powerful games experiences ever. Xbox empowers game artists by giving them the technology to fulfill their creative visions as never before, creating games that blur the lines between fantasy and reality. Xbox is now available in the continents of North America, Europe, Asia and Australia.

About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in software, services and Internet technologies for personal and business computing. The c

MMO Combat

[MMaestro]

Combat is a key component of the game, so there will certainly be hack-and-slash gameplay. But that doesn't mean combat needs to be mindless--it can be very exciting, involved, and visceral.

"Can be" meaning "it's fun for the first 5 times you unlock and use a new attack."

When oh when will we see some NEW ideas for MMO-type combat? Planetside did a fairly good job at trying something new, but the types/size of battles just don't fit correctly.

Re:MMO Combat

[AuMatar]

Because FPS style combat is even more boring, not to mention laggy, and possibly even more horribly skewed twoards those who have no life but gaming than the normal version, where most PvP games at least let groups of lower levels have a shot at beating higher ones.

Lol..is it just me..

[Voltiare]

They claim to want to cater to the hardcore gamers... the first line of their faq reads "what is a faq?" ...

Look interesting, but...

[CycoChuck]

Is MS going to charge for the game and to play the game? Most MMORPG look interesting to me and I would like to try some, but I don't like the idea of paying for the game in the store then paying more to play. If the game is a pay-to-play one, then I should be able to download it online for free.

Re:Look interesting, but...

[Anonymous Coward]

I hear this argument a lot, but I don't have much sympathy with it. While I can't say for sure, my guess would be that they need to charge for the games in the store to cover the game's development costs (which are generally huge with a mainstream MMOG) and to insure against the risk of a lot of players ditching the game when the free trial expires. The monthly fees then cover their ongoing costs, such as servers and the staff to support them and develop the game. The only other model would be to dramatically increase the montly charges, and I think most gamers would balk at this.

Re:Look interesting, but...

[AuMatar]

Several of the older MMOs let you dl games first. And Lineage 2 is going to go into open beta in a few weeks.

Vanguard will SUCK ASS

[Cranx]

It will be tedious, anal and completely asinine. Just like Everquest was until McQuaid left and they started to actually put some FUN into the game.

Oh yeah McQuaid, Vanguard will be fun for that core gaming community that you originally built Everquest for. The ones who spent months getting level 12 and then losing it to a cyclops in east karanas while taking a quick piss.

All 18 of them.

Good luck with that.

Re:Vanguard will SUCK ASS

[Dot.Com.CEO]

Everquest was fun? Really??

Re:Vanguard will SUCK ASS

[Tarindel]

There have been many polls showing that the expansions created when Brad was still around (Kunark and SoV) were FAR more popular than LDoN and PoP have been.

People get tired of being a faceless DPS-machine on 72 person raids.

Re:Vanguard will SUCK ASS

[Cranx]

Assuming you're right (but I see no references liked, so you could very well be wrong), I would say that they were more popular because EQ was still new. Nevertheless, McQuaid was the primary person responsible for the VAST majority of what people DIDN'T like about the game.

From reading that interview, he really feels that EQ took a wrong turn after he left and he wants Vanguard to be more like the original EQ.

All I can say is: sign up and see for yourself. If that's your idea of fun, you go right ahead. I was SO happy when McQuaid left, and the game has been SO MUCH MORE FUN since he left. If you agree with McQuaid and think EQ's troubles started AFTER he left and weren't the result of his presence in the first place, go sign up for Vanguard when it's released. I'm sure you'll find out soon enough who's right and who's wrong. Me, I was there...I saw the change first-hand...I don't need to subject myself to that torture just to prove a point.

The only answer to all these MMORPGs...

[frenchgates]

...since they're so addicive and time consuming is obviously outsourcing to India.

What a blowhard site...

[Big Sean O]

My favorite quote from the site (referring to their concept art) is:

"Every masterpiece begins with a thought, idea, or concept."

I mean really, folks, it's just a game. It's not the Mona Lisa. Nobody's played it yet, you _may_ not want to oversell it.

Microsoft Announces a horrible website

[HomeGroove]

Horizontal scrolling? Just like Microsofts products their game websites are even bloated. I thought horizontal scrolling went out in the early 90's.

MS isnt making the game retard.

[Anonymous Coward]

RTFA dip shit.

that name sounds famaliar

[j-turkey]

When I saw the name Vanguard, it sounded really famaliar. When I googled for it, I realized that it was my all-time favorite arcade scroller. No wonder I was excited at first.

"Renowned EQ game designer" equals:

[liminality]

This game will have:

a) mandatory rat and zombie killing
b) no new ideas
c) cross-media tie-ins to cellphones ("for a small fee")
d) PK kiddy griefers
e) "a robust and dynamic" leveling treadmill
f) only two character classes: males, and males playing as females
g) all of the above

Re:"Renowned EQ game designer" equals:

[Tofino]

You forgot the utterly non-immersive combat. You know, where your character stands immobile in front of a monster, and swings his sword every 5 or 6 seconds, while the monster stands there and takes it, except for swinging ITS sword every 5 or 6 seconds. Remember that great Ali-Frazier fight where they just stood there in front of each other for minute upon minute, arms down, and occasionally one would raise his arms and throw a punch? Now THAT was fun!

Compare to Asheron's Call (the first one, not the second one that requires a monster PC and still has no content). Combat IS exciting and visceral. No wonder McQuaid got MS to dump the franchise when he came in. Good thing, as well, since AC now is run by the developers, Turbine, who are continuing to provide great monthly props full of content and upgrades, who plan an expsnion, and who are actually going to ADVERTISE the game.

Long story short, Vanguard will just be EQ.

Hmm...

[miryth]

Isn't it amazing how many Slashdotters can see the future and/or are on the development team? Good thing we have them to tell us that it'll suck, otherwise we might waste some time following its development.

SNK should sue!

[Stormwatch]

http://www.klov.com/game_detail.php?letter=&game_i d=10293