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Enter The AOL Matrix - Matrix Online Using AOL IM

Posted by simoniker on from the neo25m-trinity23f dept.

Thanks to Reuters for its report discussing America Online's embedding of AOL Instant Messenger in the forthcoming PC MMORPG, The Matrix Online. According to the story, which points out that "America Online and [game publisher] Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment [are] both units of Time Warner Inc", aliases will be created: "Players will be able to keep their in-game identities separate from their regular or instant-messenger personas, AOL said, by linking their in-game name to their instant-messenger screen name." It explains: "When players sign in to the messenger service, 'buddies' they have made from within the game will see their in-game name, rather than their regular AOL or AIM identity."

5 of 37 comments (clear)

  1. The Kiss of Death. by Roshin · · Score: 2, Insightful

    The Matrix MMORPG has DOA written all over it, but surely embedding AOL in it is the Kiss of Death. RIP

  2. Well... by Cebu · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I'm am Jack's complete lack of surprise. Really, who didn't see this coming? Most online games have been heading in this direction for quite awhile now, with several game development studios working on similar solutions (Valve's Steam, Microsoft's Xbox Live Tsunami, etc).

    I find it more surprising that no MSN Messenger integration occured in the initial offering of Xbox Live. Furthermore, it wasn't surprising, but somewhat disapointing that Xbox Live communication was performed on a per a game basis -- thus support varies per a game, while some games have no Xbox Live communications at all. I'm certain it alleviated a lot of software maintenance and OS deployment issues for Microsoft, but it has some obvious disadvantages.

    So what does this have to do with AOL's integration of IM with the Matrix Online? Well, I predict AOL's IM integration into the Matrix Online: the IM clients will be standalone applications. For example, when you launch the Matrix Online, it will force your current IM client offline then launch it's own custom IM stack. I have a hard time believing AOL has a nice clean portable IM stack, which they can simply throw over to Monolith Productions, or an IM service in the works.

    The more likely scenario is that they are making a slightly customized version of their IM stack, which places AOL in the interesting position of maintaining two stacks. Or, more likely, in maintaining their current IM client and occationally doing updates to Monolith's IM stack... until it slips their minds.

  3. These ideas come from management by superpulpsicle · · Score: 3, Insightful

    When you see ideas like this, you know the ideas came from people who don't play games. Or big management guns execs who are trying to make some dough.

    Listen, the only you give away your IM name is

    A.) when you want to join someone's clan

    B.) when you want to someone to join your clan

    C.) when you are really trying to know someone

    In all of the above, I wouldn't want my regular user name to be my AOL IM. As if I don't get enough spam, last thing I need is to be IM spammed by the people I fragged.

  4. 0MG! N0T T3H 3VIL! by nicksthings · · Score: 3, Insightful
    For what AOL instant messenger does, it does it rather well. So well in fact, that I'd venture to guess it's one of the, if not THE most used one on one messaging service today. Is it the best program? No. Is it highly stable and functional in every way that I expect it to be? Yes. Does everyone and their mother use it? Surely.

    But still, why am I not surprised that there are already a few messages posted re: having to install it. You know, being a nerd is one thing, but that doesn't mean you can't have and communicate with friends who aren't (ie, people who use AIM).

  5. I want to be an agent. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    The agents were the coolest characters in the movies. I didn't give a damn about Neo & Trinity. It was simply enjoyable watching the agents kick Keanu Reeve's ass.

    The first thing I thought after hearing about this game was "I want to be an agent".

    And you can't play an agent in this game. This is the exact same bullshit that they pulled in Star Wars Galaxies. The coolest characters are the baddies - the empire, Storm Troopers & Darth Vader, the characters that the sheep (aka "central characters") fear. And you can't play them. WTF?

    I seriously wonder if these "game designers" are brutally retarded for taking such a richly diverse world - and then denying players the ability to play the role of antagonist.

    Put it another way - imagine Battlefield 1942 without the ability to play as a German soldier. Players would have to stand around the campfire singing songs. Yeah, it would be absolute shit.