Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Microsoft Announces Vanguard MMORPG

Posted by simoniker on from the the-next-ever-generation dept.

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.

6 of 43 comments (clear)

  1. Wow Just what we need! by ru-486 · · Score: 5, Funny

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

  2. Re:Third Generation? by lambent · · Score: 5, Funny


    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.

  3. I'm surprised and impressed... by EarwigTC · · Score: 4, Interesting

    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.

    --
    Promote civility: mod down any post starting with 'ummm'.
    1. Re:I'm surprised and impressed... by Cosmik · · Score: 5, Insightful

      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.

  4. Re:Hidden code? by Morgon · · Score: 4, Informative

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

    --
    [DISCLAIMER: This post is a work of satire and should not be misconstrued as a holy text upon which to base a religion.]
  5. MMO Combat by MMaestro · · Score: 4, Insightful
    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.