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Golden Cog Awards Celebrate MMO Winners

Posted by simoniker on from the not-MMO-wieners dept.

Thanks to Stratics for publishing its Golden Cog Awards for 2003, honoring "the very best of 2003's Massive Multiplayer titles... chosen through the votes of literally hundreds of Stratics staffers." Interesting or unexpected choices include Codemaster's Dragon Empires as 'Best Beta' ("populated by creatures that thrive in their ecosystem by acts of migration and foraging"), eGenesis' A Tale In The Desert as 'Most Innovative' ("...a difficult game to classify because of its pioneering nature"), and overall, Final Fantasy XI as 'MMOG Of The Year' ("...attention to detail, and a great community.")

36 comments

  1. FFXI by Nutcase · · Score: 3, Insightful

    This is the best game I have ever played of any type. It is my first MMORPG, and I am severely addicted. I don't think I will ever play any of my other games again.

    Highly Highly Recommended.

    1. Re:FFXI by chrismcdirty · · Score: 2, Informative

      I played it and grew sick of it after a month and a half. After I got to LVL30 and started gaining advanced jobs, it felt like a chore to level them up. Trying to party up with noobs in Valkurm Dunes was hell, since none of them knew what they were doing. I know I was a noob at one point, too, but I wasn't half as bad as what I was putting up with.

      --
      It's like sex, except I'm having it!
    2. Re:FFXI by Dylan_t_p · · Score: 2, Interesting

      the best rpg I ever played was a free rpg out of korea named slayers great game but unfortunaly the closed the english version down since they more or less were using us as test subjects for the korean version.

    3. Re:FFXI by Nutcase · · Score: 1

      I can see that. I am still pseudo n00b. Lvl 16 RDM, still hanging in the dunes.

      That said, I have a linkshell with some friends, and we are all closing in on our final combo of jobs (some already have subjobs, but are going for advanced jobs) - I am aiming for a RDM/WHM combo, so when they get their advanced, we will all switch jobs and lvl the subs together. That way we will get back up faster, and get past that annoying "starting over" design. (and the n00bs)

      I agree that is a weird setup in it's design though.

    4. Re:FFXI by chrismcdirty · · Score: 1

      Part of my problem was my LS. I joined a friend's LS and this friend had been playing for a month before I started. He was already lightyears ahead of me. And most of the LS was lightyears ahead of me, too. So I couldn't rely on them to group with me. Occasionally, they'd help me out on a quest (Kazham Airship Keys, specifically), but that was as much as they could do without wasting a lot of time.

      --
      It's like sex, except I'm having it!
    5. Re:FFXI by brkello · · Score: 3, Interesting

      I feel your pain. I got my Paladin flag and had a tough time finding a good party in the Dunes. It is really hit and miss whether you can find an effective party or not. Whenever I had that problem and leveling became a chore, I just did something else. I had a lot of fun trying the crafts out. I got fishing up to level 26 and cooking up to 40. I completed a bunch of quests. That's the nice thing about the game, if one thing gets annoying, there are lots of other things you can do.

      Sorry it didn't work out for you. I know how it feels when your friends are way ahead of you. You feel you need to catch up and it isn't fun. The nice thing about this game is that your friend, if he wanted to, could just pick another job and start at level 1 (not losing his old job levels) and go up with you. Too bad he didn't go that route.

      I played a few MMORPGs (EQ and SWG) and got sick of those in a few weeks. This is the first one that has me hooked, I highly reccomend as well as the grandparent post.

      --
      Support a great indie game: http://www.abaddon360.com
    6. Re:FFXI by Nutcase · · Score: 1

      I can see that. Mine is the same way... they've been playing since November (most of em) - but we are all working to get to the same lvl. They are going for advanced jobs. I am going to stick with the jobs I have so I can drop back at the same time and keep pace.

      The only real issue I can see is that my subjob will be weaker than theirs is eventually. But that will be fixable with a few weekends of just going on my own lvling my subjob once I'm higher level.. probably wont fall behind much on main lvl cause of the xp reqs at high lvls, so it should work out.

      But yeah..

      Then again, I've made some in game friends at my lvl who started around the same time at me. Absolute worst case scenario would be to start a different linkshell. :)

    7. Re:FFXI by Nutcase · · Score: 2, Insightful

      I disagree. It definately has a chatroom feel to it. But it also has extensive quests and plotting involved, just like any other final fantasy game. You do quests to find items, which is definately not chat.. but does induce party based chatting.

      The thing is.. there are also missions. Missions progress you through the plot, and let you follow the various stories in the world (which apparently will change over the story of the plot and/or time)

      It seems to me that if developers release a game that I enjoy much much more than the so called "real games" I used to get, sending them a message that it's good would be the right thing to do.

      Besides.. what makes a game real? Having to play it alone vs. characters that are entirely computer controlled? Thanks, but I think its the human interaction that makes mmorpgs so much more fun in the first place.

    8. Re:FFXI by MMaestro · · Score: 3, Insightful
      FFXI is a glorified chatroom, just like Everquest and 90% of the other MMOs out there.

      FFXI and Everquest along with 90% of the other MMOs out there are MMORPGs. The whole point of them is to Role Play. They weren't designed to be a jump in, wack a couple things, piss off a buncha random people you don't know online, and then jump off laughing knowing you've wasted somebody's time type of game. You want a non-glorified chatroom online game? Go play Counter-Strike. Other than people spamming with macros and the occasional yellings of 'CHETAR!@!!!@!111!' EXTREMELY few people talk there.

    9. Re:FFXI by Pengo · · Score: 0, Flamebait

      Puzzle Pirates must be the most stupid looking MMO I have seen since Sims Online.

    10. Re:FFXI by Pluvius · · Score: 1

      FFXI and Everquest along with 90% of the other MMOs out there are MMORPGs. The whole point of them is to Role Play.

      Then why do you rarely see actual role-playing on MMORPGs?

      BTW, if you think that grandparent doesn't like role-playing in his games, then you've obviously never played Puzzle Pirates, which has more role-playing in it than all of the popular MMORPGs combined.

    11. Re:FFXI by Apreche · · Score: 1

      PLOT != GAMEPLAY!!!!!

      I repeat

      PLOT != GAMEPLAY!!!!!

      Just read my journal entry
      http://slashdot.org/~Apreche/journal/53559

      It's not directly relevant, but pretty much encompasses what I'm trying to say. There's another journal entry about Puzzle Pirates in there too. I just don't want to hurt my hands retyping it.

      --
      The GeekNights podcast is going strong. Listen!
    12. Re:FFXI by Danny+Rathjens · · Score: 1

      I was addicted also, but it only lasted two months. Not being able to group with friends of different levels and the too repetitious things and the amount of not very bright people were the frustrating factors. The world is beautiful though; I loved exploring and the danger, I'd often be the lowest lvl person in any given area because I was too lazy to do the repetitious stuff in easy areas. It was neat interacting with so many japanese people too. One of my favorite screen captures was from a group of these crazy dancing/clapping japanese tarus surrounding and circling my char(mithra whm/war) like a maypole.

    13. Re:FFXI by Warped1 · · Score: 1

      I had the same problem. I was a mithra whm and unlocked brd and leveled that up. Going back to the dunes was absolute torture.

      For me, the back-breaker was the grouping system. You actually feared a party member leveling up because it would destroy xp. If you had a set group (as I finally managed to get in) you had to wait until everyone was online so you could stay as in-sync as possible or you could ruin xp'ing. You surely don't want to be the highest level character in the PT as a bard - or any mage for that matter.

      There were many other things I didn't like about the game though. Same mob graphics all the way to atleast mid 30's just about. It wouldn't be as painful if I didn't have to hit all the content twice. The downtime with travelling wasn't fun. There wasn't enough space for a given level range of hunting; everyone within certain level ranges were usually in 1 or 2 areas only which lead to massive overcrowding when the game first lauched. etc, etc, etc.

      The auction system was cool. The graphics were sharp. The combat bursting was nice. But they made it so difficult to play with friends that I ended up dropping the game.

    14. Re:FFXI by UltimaL337Star · · Score: 1

      Actually I found that it was quite difficult to find parties at first for lack of a global or non-proximity chat, which is very helpful for socialization, would that be a spam problem with this sudden wave of noobs with the new releases? nah, just have the ability to turn channels off.

  2. MMO : good :: by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    a. shit : tasty
    b. buying Enron stock : smart
    c. conservative : compassionate
    d. $10 or more a month to ride a treadmill : fun
    e. all of the above

    With the exception of Puzzle Pirates (which is conspicuously absent, getting beat out by SWG of all games in the Best Gameplay category) and, maybe, A Tale in the Desert.

    1. Re:MMO : good :: by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      d.

  3. FF XI Best MMOG my ass... by blood_rose · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    While FF XI's gameplay is excellent, the reasons Statics stated it is the best ("...attention to detail, and a great community") are exactly the reason why I left the game after 3 months. The world is very plastic feeling (Many buildings can't be entered, no falling, or swimming) and the comminity is horrid. The pastic world I could deal with, as it's supposed to be a console MMOG but the community is only of the worst ever. High levels who know nothing about what they are supposed to do (30+ white mages who melee, ect.)and just plain out rude people.

    The folks at Stratics are either smoking something or the bar for MMOGs is getting lower and lower all the time.

    1. Re:FF XI Best MMOG my ass... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      (30+ white mages who melee, ect.)

      There's nothing wrong with that. FFXI gameplay isn't like most of the other MMORPGs on the market where if a Cleric/Healer tries to melee, they'll quickly become a dead punching bag.

      As well as increasing a WHMs club skill so they can solo when they need to, fighting in groups allows the WHM to contribute to both damage and renkeis. They can still get off their heals and buffs easily through the use of a macro without changing targets or fumbling buttons.

      One of the best WHMs I've seen in FFXI melees quite alot. Sounds like you haven't seen a really effective WHM.

  4. MMORPGs are the best thing that never happened. by Marc_Hawke · · Score: 2, Insightful

    As the guy above says about FFXI, "I'll never play any other game again." The promise of a MMORPG makes most other games seem like petty wastes of time.

    I've been looking for the right MMO since 1993.

    I'm in love with the concept, but hate the games. I love the message boards for these games. I spend hours and hours every day, reading about MMO's , writing about MMO's, arguing/dreaming about MMOs.

    However, once I get the chance to play them, they can't keep my interest for even a day, and I look for another game with a message board.

    In this contest, I was rooting for Dragon Empires. It's not release, and I haven't had a chance to play Beta. :) I think WoW is good still as well. :)

    --
    --Welcome to the Realm of the Hawke--
    1. Re:MMORPGs are the best thing that never happened. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      have you read about or tried a tale in the desert?

    2. Re:MMORPGs are the best thing that never happened. by L7_ · · Score: 2, Interesting

      This thing about Dragon Empires is that the premise of the game sounded EXACTLY like Shadowbane when it came out. I mean EXACTLY. I don't have the press release handy, but it was almost like the DE people copy and pasted GoD Game's press release and published it as thier own.

      Now, fast forward 2 years later when the Shadowbane implementation left a bad taste in alot of people's mouths, and you find that Dragon Empires hardly even mentions that they are going to be a full asset pvp/gvg/zvz game (unless of course, they did a complete 180 with thier game design).

      These next generation MMOGs need something to keep people interested, and that is mainly due to game play and its implementation. And it won't be the hyped up games like Horizon either, I think it will be something a medium sized development house puts out.

      Either way, we shall keep playing betas, reading message boards, paying thier monthly fees and we will keep being disapointed.

    3. Re:MMORPGs are the best thing that never happened. by PurplePhase · · Score: 1

      Keep you interested... how?

      Are you looking for 1st person, strategy, or a real RPG or Adventure game? MUD-ish, text or graphics? Team-based, individual adventures, quest-laden, craft-embellished, player-built worlds, player-ruled worlds? Setting matter to you?

      Which boards are your favorites?

      I have similar feelings - no one has really approached MMO's in a way that *really* interests me, though I have tried the treadmills for a while. I like so many parts, but no wholes.

      I've wondered if making a more detailed naming/game-description classification system would help clarify which games I want to play vs. what is available - MMO and not - and if there's a way to use that list along with survey participants to influence game companies wrt making a game people actually want. Of course that could make Marketing Departments obsolete... Hey, that sounds even better!

      Curious,

      8-PP

  5. Yikes by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    That's because you haven't figured out what's really going on yet...

    Once it dawns on you that 90% of the things you're doing are: 1) take as much time as possible to keep you online, and 2) to addict you so you continue to pay the monthly fee, you'll probably be pretty pissed off at all the good games you passed up.

    Even well after the game's shininess has warn away and you're find yourself hating the genre entirely, the friends you've made online will continue to draw you back in (because otherwise you'll feel like you're abandoning a bunch of cool people you met), so you'll continue to log in simply to chat for months on end because the social aspect is a massive hook as well.

    Good luck man...

  6. planetside by wop9psu · · Score: 1

    Planetside didn't even get a mention for most innovative? A massive multiplayer FPS on that scale (thousands of people), separate squads, great vehicles, huge battles...... Nothing else that I know of has ever done anything like that before.

    1. Re:planetside by will_die · · Score: 1

      That is because it really was not that innovative.
      Compared to other FPS such as BF1942,UT it does not add anything to the battle except for larger numbers of people at once and with thoses others you can have upto 64 people, and world war II online had thoses large scale battles.
      If they really wanted to be innovative they would of created destroyable bridges/factories/building/etc and allowed it so that wars could be won; then switched to a new map.

  7. These awards seem a complete joke by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    I originally read these awards with interest, as it seems several of these games must have come pretty far from bad reviews early on (SWG), and Dragon Empires sounds quite nifty.

    Then I saw the runner-up for best community relations. Lineage.

    At that point, I realized these awards must suck completely.

    Lineage 1 support is a joke. They respond with form answers to queries after a day or two, even if you clearly outlined circumstances refuting those rote answers in your original support request. There are a number of outstanding issues which are simply ignored by the company; chat bugs and movement bugs (let alone disconnect spots!) being the two most widely complained about. The mac port is also completely ignored despite the high proportion of mac users within Lineage 1; the mac client suffered from major bugs for the whole of 10.2, and at one point was practically unplayable for several months for a high proportion of players.

    Problems are practically unavoidable, but the nonexistent response to these problems clinched the deal for me. Bad, bad support.

    How about in-game support, or "Monitors" in lineage parlance? These are a background presence and are CLEARLY not present for long periods of gameplay, allowing chat abuse and tens of minutes of pleas for help on global chat to go unanswered.

    The only time I consider community relations to be ok is their recent server outages while they moved servers. But on the other hand, they didn't tell the community they were moving servers until a huge-ass server crash meant they had to move the server transfer a day forward. The servers were unstable and simply not there for days afterwards, causing deaths and loss of items and pets. as for the official response? Well, they posted on the official boards they were sorry. No mention on the web site until after the event.

    If these guys really get the runners up, then the current state of community relations in MMORPGs is in a sad state indeed.

    Posting anonymously to save my account. Yes, despite all this I still play (there's still a community left, despite many players with shorter tempers than I abandoning ship), and people look like they've been banned for less - according to all the posts in the forums, anyway.

  8. I concur by Sentry21 · · Score: 1

    I traded in almost my entire game collection, in part towards FFXI and etc. needed for PS2.

    After playing it for a week, I sold my gamecube and GBA and traded the rest in towards a PC version for my roommate.

    Addictive, social, exciting, fun, dynamic, and far-reaching. Best game ever.

    --Dan

  9. planetside by germ!nation · · Score: 1

    planetside is neither innovative or particually good in my opinion. if it had included half the things the developer had set out to do then perhaps, but too much got cut out. i have heard rave reviews of world of warcrafts gameplay, but the character progression is too limiting by all acccounts. i am playing Lineage2 beta right now and i am totally hooked. i started on the new Euro test servers on friday and am now a level 15 elf fighter...things are looking very promising and will get even better when clans are fully introduced. the problem i usually have is that all mmo games ive played in beta so far have been really fun, but by the time i buy them i have done most of what i wanted to do and thus i lose interest quickly. planetside, swg, everquest, ascherons call were all the same in that regard.

  10. I question these awards by fallingdown · · Score: 1

    I'll state the obvious - I question any type of "award" when the declared winner - Final Fantasy, the best MMORPG - has a big throbbing Final Fantasy banner ad right next to the article declaring it's "unbiased" greatness. Any "journalist" that can say Star Wars Galalxies is worth playing with a straight face has got to be taking some kind payoff. Here's a question for Slashdot readers - Are there any web based news and review organizations that you would consider a "trusted source" for information about games and the industry that creates them?

    1. Re:I question these awards by germ!nation · · Score: 1

      i actually think eurogamer is very unbiased. so is edge on the non-digital front

    2. Re:I question these awards by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      In fairness, Final Fantasy XI Online probably was far and away the most solid MMORPG release of 2003. Star Wars Galaxies had pretty horrendous launch-publicity and was, by all accounts, dire for the first few months, but those I know who play it seem to feel that things have improved a lot now.

      This is why reviewing or giving awards to MMORPGs is so difficult. The game can change its face completely over the course of a couple of months. Of course, even though I wouldn't necessarily say it's a factor in this case, the impartiality of the gaming press is a valid topic for discussion. I gave up on the printed gaming press a few years ago when I noticed that the scores for games seemed to be directly linked to the amount of advertising space. I think the defining moment for me was when they placed Starcraft over Total Annihilation, in an issue which contained dozens of adverts for Starcraft.

    3. Re:I question these awards by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Penny-Arcade...

      They don't really review every game as it comes out. But they make it clear what they enjoy playing and what they dislike.

      Havn't steered me wrong yet..

    4. Re:I question these awards by fallingdown · · Score: 1

      I like PA's sense of humor but it annoys me to no end that they plug their advertisers so heavily. THat being said I don't really consider them journalists or critics. They make it very clear that Penny Arcade's purpose is to satirize and to entertain. THey don't represent themselves as critics or jounalists. I would like a clear, ethical disconnect between advertisers and content from sites that represent themselves as "news" orgainzations. I find on many of the big gaming sites, you can take the critic's word if they hate a game. It's the ones that recieve a positive review that I've been burned on many occasions. You could say it's a matter of taste but when the critic never mentions game-stopping bugs or overly complex control schemes in their 5 page review of the newsest game from Electronic Arts, you have to wonder.

  11. your first MMORPG? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Wake up man. Those games are DESIGNED to be addictive so you keep paying that money every month.

    I wouldn't expect you to know that being that you're unfamiliar with previous MMORPGs, but I'll be nice and clue you in that they've all been addicted one after another. And you know what? Almost all MMORPGs are still running beacuse people like you get hooked on crack and just can't quit. Ultima Online? 250,000 subscribers and still strong. Hell, Dragon Realms, a text MUD, has been around since the beginning and they still operate and charge $13, $20, or $45 per month (based level of service).

    So yeah. MMORPGs are just addiction money machines. Why do you think everyone and their mother are making one these days?

    I respect Square and Blizzard a lot less for jumping on the 100 levels to the rest of your life bandwagon.