.//hack - The World - Why doesn't it exist?

[Zeromaeus]

This is something that perplexes me greatly. The .//hack games are all based around an MMORPG. A virtual reality MMORPG, but a MMORPG all the same. They have the basic layout, character classes, and everyhting already laid out for the main games. Why hasn't The World been made into a real MMORPG. I know the fan-base for .//hack is huge, too. Otherwise they'd have never gotten away with making five animes (I'm counting the movie) and separate game series.

If The World were a real MMORPG, would you play it? What class would you be?
Also, what would be your favorite part of the .//hack continuity? Not completely on subject, I know, but I never see conversation about it.

 

[Sygmist]

For the brief time that I had Infection... I basically lived through Kite. I'd sure as hell play a .//hack MMORPG, and I -never- play MMORPGs. I'd even get a job so I could pay for it, should it be subscription.

Unfortunately, this game goes down the same way my FF9 disk did. Loaned to a friend, jackass scratched it to hell... sadface. Never beat it, and I'm waiting until I get it and beat it to continue to the others, so I can't comment in good conscious about my favorite part of the continuity.

 

[Sol_HSA]

Possibly because MMORPGs are not games, but services, and not everyone wants to run a service. =)

The "game" part of MMOs is actually much smaller part of the whole business than it might look from the "outside".

 

[KarumaK]

I'd play it, Twin B or Lancer.

It was real for a bit but only in Japan. It didn't take.

 

[Flying-Emu]

Because God Giveth and God Taketh away.

He gave you a great game and took away hope for its subject matter to be real.

 

[Sygmist]

But making The World would be pretty complicated as is without the virtual reality shit they have going on there.

Probably a lot of repetition, and random variables which narrow in randomness pending relationship to other keywords, which basically narrow eachother, until there's a random selection of maps, and from there... randomness! I don't know, I've never tried to learn code, programming, or scripting.

OT: Twin Blade, for sure. ^.^

 

[Zeromaeus]

There was a .hack MMO in japan but limited customization and all around terrible design kept it from being successful even among .hack fans. As for a real .hack game, like they do in the games themselves, well we don't have the technology for it quite yet. But making The World would be pretty complicated as is without the virtual reality shit they have going on there.

1. I know about .//hack fragments. It was terrible as far as I understand. They made it like a spin-off instead of its own entity.

2. I'd be afraid to play a VR The World, to be honest. What with everyone who played it in the games and anime going into comas as a result and all. The only way I'd be content was if I was the one to encounter Aura and receive the special book that give you the Twilight Bracelet. Even then, I'd know I was fucked.

On a more serious not, I would not fear a VR version. I'd love it.

3. I know VR is a technology that the public will not have access to for many, many, many years. I don't really want VR. I want MMORPG. I dislike MMORPGs and I'd play The World.

For the brief time that I had Infection... I basically lived through Kite. I'd sure as hell play a .//hack MMORPG, and I -never- play MMORPGs. I'd even get a job so I could pay for it, should it be subscription.

Unfortunately, this game goes down the same way my FF9 disk did. Loaned to a friend, jackass scratched it to hell... sadface. Never beat it, and I'm waiting until I get it and beat it to continue to the others, so I can't comment in good conscious about my favorite part of the continuity.

Oh, wow, you haven't played .//hack G.U. yet? Ouch. Man... I haven't finished the first series either by the way. I rented the first one with the intent on finishing it and renting the rest to do the whole series. I didn't finish in the first rental, and having tired myself of the RPG genre for a while, decided to rent something else. When I returned that game, I noticed the first .//hack was missing. I asked about it and apparently they threw it out because it was over x years old.
I still played G.U. though. Fun game.

 

[Veldt Falsetto]

To be fair, I'm still waiting for a UK port of GU so even if "The World" was an actual game, I doubt it'd EVER come to the UK, Namco Bandai hates us...

 

[Feylynn]

I'm going to say the reasons stem from two very large problems.
I'll start by saying oh god I really want one and I've asked this question many times.
These are the answers I came up with.

1 - Theme
.Hack has always been about The World amounting to more then just your average game. It's about it having a real and dangerous impact on life and an almost sentient element about it.

It's perpetuated by inexplicable glitches and anomalies that send players into a coma.
It's also quite clear the admins can't touch the game.

Arguably you could leave that out, just go for the core of The World.
But why would you?
The theme MAKES .Hack
Without this real impact and mystery it's just another generic mmo with limited customization and skill sets.

The only real solution for this is to make The World on 2 levels.
The World, and at lack of a more fitting word The Twilight.
You need to convince the players that these things are real. Make Data bug enemies that have very severe consequences to facing. Make it so it feels out of control.
The problem here is the "Everyone's a Hero" symptom. Having thousands of hackers and bracelets and whatnot would ruin it in my opinion.
I'd almost like to see the Databug dealt with as a stealth aspect, with no real way to combat them outside of set pieces and quests with NPC aid.

2 - Technology

The World could be made without the voice recognition or the virtual glasses and it would likely be fine as long as you hammered Theme.
But Technology is very linked to the .Hack series and trying to build it with this handicap could be discouraging.

 

[randomrob]

For the brief time that I had Infection... I basically lived through Kite. I'd sure as hell play a .//hack MMORPG, and I -never- play MMORPGs. I'd even get a job so I could pay for it, should it be subscription.

Unfortunately, this game goes down the same way my FF9 disk did. Loaned to a friend, jackass scratched it to hell... sadface. Never beat it, and I'm waiting until I get it and beat it to continue to the others, so I can't comment in good conscious about my favorite part of the continuity.

FF9 is available to download on the Playstation store now as a virtual copy. Along with 7 and 8.

 

[Zeromaeus]

For the brief time that I had Infection... I basically lived through Kite. I'd sure as hell play a .//hack MMORPG, and I -never- play MMORPGs. I'd even get a job so I could pay for it, should it be subscription.

Unfortunately, this game goes down the same way my FF9 disk did. Loaned to a friend, jackass scratched it to hell... sadface. Never beat it, and I'm waiting until I get it and beat it to continue to the others, so I can't comment in good conscious about my favorite part of the continuity.

FF9 is available to download on the Playstation store now as a virtual copy. Along with 7 and 8.

Why does Sony keep giving me reasons to by the PS3? I'm poor enough as it is...

 

[randomrob]

For the brief time that I had Infection... I basically lived through Kite. I'd sure as hell play a .//hack MMORPG, and I -never- play MMORPGs. I'd even get a job so I could pay for it, should it be subscription.

Unfortunately, this game goes down the same way my FF9 disk did. Loaned to a friend, jackass scratched it to hell... sadface. Never beat it, and I'm waiting until I get it and beat it to continue to the others, so I can't comment in good conscious about my favorite part of the continuity.

FF9 is available to download on the Playstation store now as a virtual copy. Along with 7 and 8.

Why does Sony keep giving me reasons to by the PS3? I'm poor enough as it is...

If you don't want to buy a Ps3 it's downloadable on Psp too.

 

[Zeromaeus]

For the brief time that I had Infection... I basically lived through Kite. I'd sure as hell play a .//hack MMORPG, and I -never- play MMORPGs. I'd even get a job so I could pay for it, should it be subscription.

Unfortunately, this game goes down the same way my FF9 disk did. Loaned to a friend, jackass scratched it to hell... sadface. Never beat it, and I'm waiting until I get it and beat it to continue to the others, so I can't comment in good conscious about my favorite part of the continuity.

FF9 is available to download on the Playstation store now as a virtual copy. Along with 7 and 8.

Why does Sony keep giving me reasons to by the PS3? I'm poor enough as it is...

If you don't want to buy a Ps3 it's downloadable on Psp too.

Are you trying to make me angry/sad, because it feels like you are. Lol. No, I don't have a PSP or PS3. I have a 360, Wii, DS, and a crappy computer + a ton of retro stuff.

 

[Sygmist]

If you don't want to buy a Ps3 it's downloadable on Psp too.

How about on the Playstation 2? That's the only Sony console I have right now.

(Although if I can't I'll just mug my friend into letting me borrow his PS3... this is amazing. 7 too?! I've always wanted to play seven!)

Is this free? I know the Network is free, but downloads like this aren't free, yeah? Because that'd be too good for words.

(Sorry for the derail, guys! Just consider this a... uh... bump? ^.^)

 

[randomrob]

If you don't want to buy a Ps3 it's downloadable on Psp too.

How about on the Playstation 2? That's the only Sony console I have right now.

(Although if I can't I'll just mug my friend into letting me borrow his PS3... this is amazing. 7 too?! I've always wanted to play seven!)

Is this free? I know the Network is free, but downloads like this aren't free, yeah? Because that'd be too good for words.

(Sorry for the derail, guys! Just consider this a... uh... bump? ^.^)

No it's not free. It's Either £7 or £9 i think... I didn't think you could access network on PS2.