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MMORPG King of the Hill
eToyChest has a look at some current MMOG market leaders, and specifically takes a look at what they're 'good' at. If you've been thinking about playing an online game, this might be a useful tool to help pick the one game you'll enjoy most. From the article: "MMORPGs have evolved rapidly in terms of technology and gameplay, and with the continually growing number of gamers being pulled into these games, more and more titles have been shoveled onto retail shelves in order to keep up with the demand. Despite the fact that there isn't any one clear front-runner in the genre currently, the diversity and variety in MMORPGs today (both in the games available now and in the months to come) give many more options to most any gamer. However, here we will discuss those games that serve as the premier offerings for gamers today, as well as those set to be released in the near future, and we'll identify why these games are the Kings of the Hill."
1. World of Warcraft.
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What I want is a MMORPG that lets me solo and play for short periods of time. I normally drop out of an MMORPG about the time I *have* to start teaming to gain any experience. Don't get me wrong, I love to interact with others and enjoy team gameplay. But in all honesty I have a very busy life and more often than not I don't have several hours at a time to sit down, try and find a good group, wait while everyone stocks up on regeants or whatever, debates where to hunt, and then goes there to do their thing. It just takes too long. Its fun on the weekend when I've got more time, but I want something I can just log into for 30-45 minutes and actually make some progress/have some fun every night before bed.
Sure, WoW is at the forefront of selling its game... but does that mean its the best? Checkers is a fun game, but most would say Chess is a better game compared to Checkers. And I hear of many people that get bored with WoW and the lvl 60 grind.
Sure WoW is the frontrunner on sales and subs, but its also one of the few games that is sold in pretty much every continent. Its a game that has players Worldwide. Lots of other games don't get that.
Blizzard is also a well liked company by the players of their other games.
Take EVE online, I think they should be a clear frontrunner of MMORPG's, because they trully make the game MMO, 22k+ people on one server. No other server has matched that capability yet for an MMORPG.
If what you are reading sounds funny, or sarcastic, lame, or stupid
it is because it is supposed to be. just laugh
It's pvp is fucking SHITTY. It's class/level/gearbased, and like .3% of it is based on skill.
The #1 pvp game is/was Asheron's Call, the one skill (player and character skill) based game out there pvp wise. Since Throne of Destiny and the year or 2 leading up to it the game has become shittier and shittier, but it will always be the #1 pvp game to have come out so far. AC:Darktide was the pinnacle of MMORPG Persistant PVP Worlds, and the most dramatic and amazing fights/politics in the genre occurred on that server.
That you care more about the MM than you do about the G.
I'm sure this'll get blown off as 'corporate spin' too then I guess, and I absolutely hate sounding like a fanboy, but oh well...
:P
I like that I can actually play with some of my buddies from Australia, Europe, and other parts of the world in the same game environment. Not just know what they're talking about. *shrugs* I know that in some MMO's you can pick international servers and such, but transferring servers is generally a pain at the least - and usually costs. I gave EverCra^E^E^EQuest a try not too long ago, and I've still seen some things better done in a few MUDs. Well, except for the obvious graphics...
I think it just turns some people off due to a pace that's not quite as breakneck as, "signing on, turning off brain, kill, KilL, KILL!".
Each to their own I guess. I used to like first person shooters too before I got bored to tears and nearly a coma with them. I'll definitely agree with the GP's statement above of his "statement of bias". I just got sick to death of Elves, Goblins, and the fantasy motif too.
Only a few games has been able to hold my interest for longer periods of time. Two MUD's that I've played and still stop in at after more than a decade or so, and now this one that I've been playing for two years and having a blast (no pun intended).
In humble opinion there's a fairly good reason why it won MMORPG's Reader's Choice Best Game award though despite, how do you put it, it's (comparative) lack of player base. 100,000 registered active players is nothing to sneeze at, but it seems to have something, and getting bigger all the time. *shrugs*
PS: My only corporate affiliations are with the internet dept in a food company, and my Eve Online player corp.