WildStar

[U4EA]

I've recently come across another MMO in development, WildStar. Given how much fun I had with SWTOR, specifically with it not being a "traditional" medieval fantasy RPG, this seems attractive as well.

http://www.wildstar-online.com/en/#page1

An official "what is WildStar" video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4_riSI7Ydg
A semi-in-depth preview by some guy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PeUbXJZPkd0

I haven't researched too much into this just yet, but it seems promising. I read the developer AMA about this on Reddit, and they seem like a cool bunch, with some good ideas.

http://www.reddit.com/r/WildStar/commen ... orking_on/

They are currently in closed beta, and I don't know what the release date is realistically going to be. But I'm keeping my eye on this. It's got a very distinctive visual style and a lot of sass. For example, check out the intro videos for the two factions.

Meet the Exiles
Meet the Dominion

Beyond the usual faction/race/class decisions, you can also select a "path" for your character. The two I've seen [from the semi-in-depth video above] are soldier and explorer. Your path reflects your general play style, and if you like fighting lots of mobs, the soldier path will give you random local area events that allow you to do so. In contrast, the explorer path will give you jump puzzles and secret areas [think vistas from GW2]. There are two more as yet unannounced paths.

Aside from this, it doesn't seem too revolutionary. It follows many of the precedents set by WoW and other subsequent MMOs. They haven't announced a subscription model yet.

[xer0s]

lol, well at least the "what is Wildstar" video is original. Looks interesting enough...

[Transient]

I played it at PAX East, and it felt like Ratchet and Clank on the PC, which I liked.

I think I'm in the Beta. Maybe they have friend keys or something...

[U4EA]

You *think* you're in the beta?

[Transient]

I've gotten into a lot of closed Betas lately. A bunch of the online games I had been looking into in the past started going into Beta around the same time and I got a bunch of invites, but I haven't been able to get to all of them with work and all. I checked and WildStar wasn't one of them, though.

[bitWISE]

Looks like a direct clone of WoW from the visual/design/animation standpoint. Lighting is a little better and the designs are a little more blatantly cartoonish, but I really can't get over how much it looks like WoW. The 3:14 scene could literally be replicated by a human sneaking over to Orgrimmar.

That being said, I'd still play it. Looks pretty cool if the gameplay actually doesn't suck like every other MMO.

[Transient]

Way too many WoW clones right now. The MMO scene has stagnated because every developer just wants to put out a safe game that's just a derivative of the established powerhouse, rather than take a risk on an original IP.

[U4EA]

Way too many WoW clones right now. The MMO scene has stagnated because every developer just wants to put out a safe game that's just a derivative of the established powerhouse, rather than take a risk on an original IP.

WAT?

There's a difference between game mechanics and IP. WildStar appears to be entirely new IP [or if it isn't, what is it derived from?]. It's fair to say all/most MMOs have same or similar mechanics, but I don't know what you mean about IP.

Even mechanics-wise, there has been some variation recently with the recent "action-RPG" paradigm, which makes combat feel very different to the WoW/SWTOR model. GW2 being the foremost example. Neverwinter is also an action-RPG, though very clunky, and has many other problems besides. WildStar is meant to be more action oriented than traditional as well, and you see this in things like being able to move while attacking.

Looks like a direct clone of WoW from the visual/design/animation standpoint. Lighting is a little better and the designs are a little more blatantly cartoonish, but I really can't get over how much it looks like WoW.

Yea, they talked about that in the video, and the company rep basically hummed and hawed over it. Evidently, they do have some ex-Blizzard hires, which could account for this. I don't necessarily mind, and I didn't mind the cartoony feel of WoW back in the day either, although it was a problem for many people. It makes things a bit different from the ultra realistic type games, and that can't be a bad thing.

[U4EA]

Great argument, you've got me convinced.

[U4EA]

This game is currently in open beta for about another week.

[seremtan]

wow, an MMO where you acquire buffs depending in what character type you choose

wow

[GoaGrrl]

Guilds Wars 2

[Ryoki]

Found myself being rather a bit bored the other day so i played this for thirty odd minutes, then came to my senses and uninstalled it.

It really is very uninspired, an underwhelming game on every level. There's much beter WoW clones to be had if you're still into that sort of thing, GW2 for instance. Though honestly i'm a bit surprised games like this still appeal to so many people, the whole concept is so goddamn dreary... go here, kill X of that, go there, collect Y of this... gah.

The whole genre desperately needs innovation.

[Transient]

Agreed. MMOs found a safe niche and haven't left it in over a decade. It's sad, really...

[Mat Linnett]

I think there's a gradual change coming thanks to the likes of DayZ, Rust and Planetside 2. I don't think the traditional MMO model will be able to persist in the face of games like these.

But then again, half the problem with MMOs is the damn community. They claim they want something different when they move on to a new game, but then complain like mad when it doesn't conform to their set-in-stone ideas of what an MMO should be. The end result is that most of the time, the developers fall in to the trap of catering to these guys driving everyone else away.
Hell, when these people talk about games, they're not talking about gaming in general. They are very specifically referring to MMOs and don't take into account anything they could learn from other genres. It's almost like they're not even aware that other types of game are possible.

[Transient]

Aren't DayZ and Rust still in Beta, though? I feel like they've been in a perpetual state of being made, and a lot of those style games seem unfinished or rushed in one way or another.

[Mat Linnett]

Yeah, I'm not saying those specific games are the future, but they're paving the way for other stuff like Sony's H1Z1 and the State of Decay team's MMO. These are games that break with the traditional baggage of MMOs and focus on more player driven systems and narrative, which to be honest is where I think MMOs should really be going.

I've enjoyed my fair share of MMOs, but at the back of my mind when I've been playing every single one, I've resented the scripted restrictions and the necessity for "balance".
The traditional MMO is very much the developer's vision, not that of players, and there's very little room for freedom of expression. I understand that EVE is somewhat different, but it's also about as thrilling as Excel.

That and even the subscription based games seem to have whole-heartedly bought into the gem shop concept, where desirable content is now locked behind a paywall.

[Ryoki]

I understand that EVE is somewhat different, but it's also about as thrilling as Excel.

Hah Played EVE for about two weeks a couple of years ago, mostly to see what all the fuss was about. Pretty intruiging game for a while i thought, it's ludicrously massive and incredibly complex - but god was it mindnumbingly boring. When i cancelled my subscription and the little box appeared that asked me to provide a reason i remember writing something along the lines of 'work makes me deal with Excel more than enough already, thanks'.

[GoaGrrl]

Tabula Rasa was both very good and very unique but too much unlike wow to really catch on.

WoW is still awesome

[Transient]

City of Heroes was the first and last MMO I truly enjoyed. Any of the rest I ever tried out only held my attention for so long before the fun went away.

[SOAPboy]

Tabula Rasa was both very good and very unique but too much unlike wow to really catch on.

WoW is still awesome

WoW died when arena died and went to shit.