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Square's Next MMOG For PS3/Windows
Gamespot reports that Square/Enix's next Massively Multiplayer Online Game will be a PS3/Windows Vista title. From the article: "While talking up Treasures of Aht Urhgan--the game's latest expansion--FFXI producer Hiromichi Tanaka commented that his team is now working on a new massively multiplayer online role-playing game for Windows Vista and the PlayStation 3. He also shared his thoughts on porting games to new hardware, including bringing FFXI to the PS3 as well as the PlayStation Portable." More details are likely at E3. Update: 04/20 14:03 GMT by Z : Link fixed.
Handheld MMOs are the future. As we begin to see more and more wifi access being readily available, what's really going to sell the handheld systems - especially in Japan - is going to be the wave of online rpgs coming forth. (I'm referring to the PSP and the DS, since those two are the only systems I am aware of with wifi connectivity). Yes yes, I am aware the DS is selling very well in Japan, but just wait untill something like pokemon the mmo comes out for the DS. You won't be able to stock the shelves fast enough. That is, of course, if they don't have any problems running their MMO servers...
Some of us quit playing World of Timesink and FFXI because both games had the capacity to eat our schedules whole. I got into a high-level raiding guild last college quarter, and I had to quit two weeks into the quarter because I realised that I wasnt going to be able to participate in everything they did and still go to all my classes.
The problem that I had with FFXI was their requirement of a 5-person party for everything. I didnt enjoy having to sit in zones typing "42THF LFP" for an hour so that I could spend 30 minutes getting crap experience before someone screwed up and wiped the entire group. Skilled parties in FFXI were so few and far between for me that I clearly remember what the party was composed of, and why it didnt suck.
There was also a huge problem I had with the subjob eliteists who would not accept me into their party without a specific job/subjob combination. It was really annoying getting invited, then removed because I was subbing Warrior and they wanted that extra 4 DEX from an offhand. Nevermind that my damage from Sneak/Trick was capped anyway, so even if I had more +DEX/+AGI gear, I could never actually break the cap.
Finally, I quit playing THF and started leveling WAR, then eventually I just quit because I realised that there was nothing I could do with less than an 8 hour time investment.
Both games have their problems. WoW's problem centers more around the complete lack of casual content. They say they're designing a casual-friendly game, then they turn around at endgame and dont release any dungeons for less than 20 people. When they do release small-group endgame dungeons, the equipment provided is not consistent with the rest of the endgame. Their solution to casual-friendly playing is to not give casuals any decent equipment. Then they dont seperate people into different battlegrounds, so the hardcore players grind casuals all day.
SRSLY.