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Putting The RPG Back Into MMORPG

Posted by Zonk on from the that'd-be-nice dept.

Garthilk writes "In the last two weeks since E3 I've read at least three gushing reviews about an upcoming game by Simutronics, called Hero's Journey. MMORPG.com gave it their E3 best of show award. CorpNews said it blew their pants off. IGN even had a good interview with the CEO of Simutronics. Warcry even goes so far as to say that it will turn gaming world upside down. The question still lingers though, can a company who has focused on text based roleplaying games cut it in the graphical world?" From the MMORPG.com article: "In a year full of big budget, big company titles, Hero's Journey offered graphics on par with all the major players and an extremely exciting look at their game play. E3 2005 marked a show where several high profile games were touting very similar features (state based combat), and in swept Hero's Journey with their innovative group combat, highly cinematic missions, interactive environments and hands down the best character creation ever put into an MMORPG."

12 of 69 comments (clear)

  1. Role or Roll playing? by subl33t · · Score: 2, Interesting

    It sounds ambitious but I would really like to know how the method of character progression actually differs from any mmorpg already out there.
    Can the GMs award extra experience for clever solutions? Can they award a character extra experience for behaving as a particular character (priest, druid, etc) should? Can they subtract experience for a player acting out of character?
    Until/unless that happens the "R" in computer RPGs will stand for "roll".

    1. Re:Role or Roll playing? by The+Kow · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Purists will never be happy, I guess. You don't need a GM giving you cookies to make it a "true" rpg. Especially when all quests are instanced, you can progress through things in your own manner, interjecting additional content as you see fit. You are still forced at some point to come back to the game design, but that's the tradeoff of a game that you, and everyone like you, can play with all of your friends.

      --
      Moo
  2. A sure sign a character isn't in his proper role.. by TheSHAD0W · · Score: 3, Funny

    "Leeeeeroyyyyyyyyyy Jhhhenkhinsszzzzzz!!!"

  3. Of course a text-based company can. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    If you've been doing text-based games here and now in the 21st century- then it's fairly obvious you're probably focusing ONLY on the core mechanics of what makes a *game* fun. That's unique and a skill in and of itself.

    3D engines OTOH, judging by the amount of shovelware on Gamespot these days, seem to be pretty much a dime a dozen.

  4. Text based company in a graphical world by MrResistor · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I would think they'd have an advantage. After all, a text based game can't get by on pretty graphics, it has to actually be a great game.

    IANAGame Programmer, but it seems like it would be a lot easier to slap some pretty front end on an existing good game than to create a good game to go with your pretty graphics.

    --
    Under capitalism man exploits man. Under communism it's the other way around.
  5. The Website...in case you needed it. by Marc_Hawke · · Score: 2, Informative

    http://www.play.net/hj/

    --
    --Welcome to the Realm of the Hawke--
  6. Re:Old vaporware seeing new light? by Trespass · · Score: 2, Interesting

    While this is the old name, this is a totally new game.

  7. Re:Old vaporware seeing new light? by CeramicNuts · · Score: 2, Insightful

    HJ screenshots from '99: http://web.archive.org/web/20010501094458/hjvault. ign.com/screenshots/terrain/

  8. Screenshots Here: by Trespass · · Score: 3, Informative

    http://www.play.net/hj/gallery/

  9. The problem is the "masses" of "massive" by snorklewacker · · Score: 3, Insightful

    You can put all the thought and effort into writing intricate story, drama, and atmosphere into a world, make it as immersive as you can, fantastic or authentic, put life into your NPC's with detail, background, motivations, and aspirations, and create a world to enchant the player ...

    And he will have to share it with thousands of people who use the letter "u" as a pronoun.

    --
    I am no longer wasting my time with slashdot
  10. Re:Old vaporware seeing new light? by nsxdavid · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Yup, it is a totally new game. We started over. And we spent three years working on nothing but tools and design for the looming battle we intended to wage against medeocrity in MMORPGs. If nothing else, I hope we give the genre a much needed shove forward....

    --
    David Whatley
  11. Realism vs. Fun..ism by RaisinBread · · Score: 2, Interesting

    From one review:

    "For example, you may dress as a pirate, a knight in shining armor or any other of the amazing combinations they offer. The frilly pirate shirt will act just as well as the armor for protection. Obviously, this sacrifices realism, but it ensures that players get to look how they want and still effectively play the game."

    Somehow I think this thinking is a little flawed, especially if there is any sort of PVP... which isn't always 'fun.' For example, I want to look like a kick-butt world-owning mega warrior when I'm really a level nothing mage. Real is sometimes better, especially when real = believable.

    On the other hand, it really stinks to build up your super awesome frilly-pirate-shirt wearing character, only to have him permantly eliminated by the first baddie he happens to fall into. (which is probably more real)

    I think that the storytelling abilities text-based players have will aid this company but their who-cares-what-it-looks-like attitude probably comes from the same place.

    There's got to be a better balance, at least for me...