... Or they'll understand that games like Civilization are quite successful for a reason and they won't mess with it. Not all publishers exist solely to ruin video games and everything you've ever loved.
Things like that probably happen more often than you'd think. I became fairly close to a woman back when I played Everquest (saying that really makes me remember how much of a dork I used to be). Anyway, after talking to this person on a daily basis for over two years, I found out through a mutual friend that she was, imagine that, a bisexual male.
Realistically it wasn't a huge deal, but it does leave a sour taste in your mouth.
* 800 MHz or higher CPU * 256 MB or more of RAM
* 32 MB 3D graphics card with hardware transform and lighting, such as GeForce 2 or better
* 4 GB or more of available hard drive space
* DirectX® 9.0c or above
* A 56k or higher modem with an Internet connection
This was my problem as well. I thought 512MB would be enough to play the game, but I wasn't able to go into the auction house either without unacceptable frame loss. Blizzard needs to either fix the problem or state in the system requirements than you need 512MB at the minimum and even more if you wish to access all of the content. 256MB is being very dishonest. I don't think you can do anything with that much.
The XP boost is pretty minimal - at least in WoW. Staying logged out for two days will net you the same amount of bonus exp as playing for an hour or so. It's hardly a balanced trade-off (and rightfully so).
If someone deprives a smoker of cigarettes for a couple of weeks, their "addiction" usually lessons as well. It doesn't make it any less of an addiction.
Furthermore, can we get past this stupid habbit of calling every apparant obsessive/compulsive behavior an "addiction?" It's not as if these people are going to go through withdrawl symptoms if they are deprived of their gaming "fix" for a couple weeks.
Have you ever played a MMORPG? I played Everquest for several hours every day for over two years back in high school, and yes, it was an addiction. I wasn't alone, either, or even in the minority.
If someone had deprived me, or most of the other people who played that game, of my gaming "fix" for a couple weeks, I would have had serious withdrawls.
I'm confused by what they mean by "potion belt." It's been a few years since I played, but I definitely remember being able to hotkey inventory items. This included setting up hotkeys to switch from one to two handed weapons.
Looking at some of the other features...
The regeneration thing is entirely worthless since you need to be at your guildhall to use it. It's not like you can use it to decrease downtime.
The "new" NPCs they have listed all existed in the game years ago. Lame.
It sounds like they're really searching for ideas these days. I'm glad I managed to break the habit when Luclin was released.
I can vouch for CNN, but I'm sure this applies to most news agencies. They've been showing a huge amount of footage over the last few days. Some of it is really incredible and definitely worth seeing.
Uh, yeah. I don't see how having a beautifully developed world and open ended gameplay doesn't apply to MMORPGs. They're the least linear games on the market, and the settings are probably more developed than the majority of non-MMO titles.
It bothers me to see these types of articles. People like this guy critique Everquest and other similar games for having no skill involved in gameplay. Sure, during the first ten or fifteen levels you're still learning the basics, and as a result, the combat isn't incredibly engaging, but once you're fighting monsters who actually pose a challenge, there's plenty of strategical decisions that need to be made. I remember my guild fighting the Avatar of War (I think, It's been awhile) in Everquest back when there was still a level 60 cap, and being in awe at the amount of planning and strategy that was used to defeat it. Tanks needed to be switched in and out of battle, the group of clerics needed to have a specific strategy set before hand to avoid gaining too much aggro and being killed, and other classes had their specific duties as well.
While I haven't played Planeside, from what I've heard, it sounds terrible. I'd much rather have to come up with a strategy for 60 people to kill an "unkillable" monster, than run around by myself fragging people. While the low-level game of Everquest might not necessarily involve much skill, it's completely ignorant to say that's the case for the entire game. There's no question what we did was more involving than shooting someone in the head over and over in an FPS.
This is not a problem unless you want PvP. It might not suit your tastes, but it seems that based upon past games, most people want nothing to do with full-time PvP. Sure, you can say "well just no games done PvP right". But I'm sick of hearing that. Just admit, no game will ever get it right. It just isn't natural in a MMORPG.
Right. I played on a PvP server in Everquest for two years, and there's no way I would have been there that long without it. Having to worry about being attacked when traveling through hostile areas, or having to compete with other guilds makes the game interesting. I can't imagine playing a MMORPG for longer than a few months when the only thing to do is kill NPCs.
People said the same thing about monsters being included in Warcraft III. Now that I've played that for some time, I can't imagine playing an RTS without it. Not being able to begin the game by rushing as fast as possible to the most powerful item because it's being guarded by difficult monsters makes the game rely more on skill and less on item abuse. I don't know how well the idea will transfer to the FPS genre, but if it's anything like its use in RTS, then I support it.
I'd say Deus Ex was an RPG, or at least pretty close to being one, and I believe that used the Unreal engine. Correct me if I'm wrong.
Regardless, I'm sure there are other games. This is just bullshit marketing.
While I didn't necessarily like the gameplay of Everquest after realizing I wasted two years on it, I think his "Crushbone Factor" makes a lot of sense. I remember when I was toying around with different classes and races in Everquest. The low-level gameplay may have been relatively boring, but having so many areas with actual story and interesting monsters to fight made it worthwhile.
I haven't played Galaxies, but I can't imagine enjoying myself if his portrayal of "dungeons" are accurate. It's fun adventuring deep into an area and finding stronger, bigger monsters with cooler items. Worrying about turning a corner and seeing a horde of monsters that are ten levels higher than you makes the game interesting. If the entire dungeon was the same monsters and items, it makes things boring.
Slashdot Mirror
I stopped reading right there. It's kind of hard to criticize a service without actually ever using it.
... Or they'll understand that games like Civilization are quite successful for a reason and they won't mess with it. Not all publishers exist solely to ruin video games and everything you've ever loved.
Things like that probably happen more often than you'd think. I became fairly close to a woman back when I played Everquest (saying that really makes me remember how much of a dork I used to be). Anyway, after talking to this person on a daily basis for over two years, I found out through a mutual friend that she was, imagine that, a bisexual male.
Realistically it wasn't a huge deal, but it does leave a sour taste in your mouth.
Yeah. Limitations on the amount of time you can legally play a MMORPG is going to cause the general populous to topple the government.
* 800 MHz or higher CPU
* 256 MB or more of RAM
* 32 MB 3D graphics card with hardware transform and lighting, such as GeForce 2 or better
* 4 GB or more of available hard drive space
* DirectX® 9.0c or above
* A 56k or higher modem with an Internet connection
This was my problem as well. I thought 512MB would be enough to play the game, but I wasn't able to go into the auction house either without unacceptable frame loss. Blizzard needs to either fix the problem or state in the system requirements than you need 512MB at the minimum and even more if you wish to access all of the content. 256MB is being very dishonest. I don't think you can do anything with that much.
The XP boost is pretty minimal - at least in WoW. Staying logged out for two days will net you the same amount of bonus exp as playing for an hour or so. It's hardly a balanced trade-off (and rightfully so).
Neverwinter Nights isn't anything like Dark Age - or even a MMORPG. Your post is totally irrelevent since you're comparing apples and oranges.
If someone deprives a smoker of cigarettes for a couple of weeks, their "addiction" usually lessons as well. It doesn't make it any less of an addiction.
Have you ever played a MMORPG? I played Everquest for several hours every day for over two years back in high school, and yes, it was an addiction. I wasn't alone, either, or even in the minority.
If someone had deprived me, or most of the other people who played that game, of my gaming "fix" for a couple weeks, I would have had serious withdrawls.
Looking at some of the other features...
The regeneration thing is entirely worthless since you need to be at your guildhall to use it. It's not like you can use it to decrease downtime.
The "new" NPCs they have listed all existed in the game years ago. Lame.
It sounds like they're really searching for ideas these days. I'm glad I managed to break the habit when Luclin was released.
I can vouch for CNN, but I'm sure this applies to most news agencies. They've been showing a huge amount of footage over the last few days. Some of it is really incredible and definitely worth seeing.
You're in the wrong place.
That's funny, because my iPod came with a remote. I know because remotes for these devices are entirely useless and I otherwise wouldn't have one.
Wrong. They released the Nomad in 1995, which was essentially a portable Genesis.
Excellent story, on the other hand..
The search is over, folks. We've finally found the ubernerd.
While I haven't played Planeside, from what I've heard, it sounds terrible. I'd much rather have to come up with a strategy for 60 people to kill an "unkillable" monster, than run around by myself fragging people. While the low-level game of Everquest might not necessarily involve much skill, it's completely ignorant to say that's the case for the entire game. There's no question what we did was more involving than shooting someone in the head over and over in an FPS.
Judging from the cast, I would not get your hopes up.
Right. I played on a PvP server in Everquest for two years, and there's no way I would have been there that long without it. Having to worry about being attacked when traveling through hostile areas, or having to compete with other guilds makes the game interesting. I can't imagine playing a MMORPG for longer than a few months when the only thing to do is kill NPCs.
WHAT
I'm glad you got modded up because it was a really innovative and hilarious post!
According to an email I just recieved, there is something I can do about it. In 8 weeks, no less.
People said the same thing about monsters being included in Warcraft III. Now that I've played that for some time, I can't imagine playing an RTS without it. Not being able to begin the game by rushing as fast as possible to the most powerful item because it's being guarded by difficult monsters makes the game rely more on skill and less on item abuse. I don't know how well the idea will transfer to the FPS genre, but if it's anything like its use in RTS, then I support it.
I'd say Deus Ex was an RPG, or at least pretty close to being one, and I believe that used the Unreal engine. Correct me if I'm wrong. Regardless, I'm sure there are other games. This is just bullshit marketing.
I haven't played Galaxies, but I can't imagine enjoying myself if his portrayal of "dungeons" are accurate. It's fun adventuring deep into an area and finding stronger, bigger monsters with cooler items. Worrying about turning a corner and seeing a horde of monsters that are ten levels higher than you makes the game interesting. If the entire dungeon was the same monsters and items, it makes things boring.