Your MMO is a Joke
- Thread starter Shamus Young
- Start date
I think the issue here is that it seems like the game is trying to blend epic ("We Need A Hero!") and wacky (Evil Singing Robotic Cowboys). While either works, I would think it would be challenging at best to try to combine them in a way that pleases fans of either type of story. I mean, people who like the ESRCs probably find other parts of the game deadly dull.
Well I like some element of serious events going on in my game like anyone, though one thing I notice in the video games coming out today is that there is too many serious events in them. The only game I played recently which would qualify would have to be "Prototype", and that game is filled with emo drama (in my opinion, but it is a fun game).
What is wrong with a game making fun of itself 24-7? The only games I can think of that throw in some humor are JRPGs and even that is being thinned out by the "Let's be more like FF7" games. Even then the serious "JRPGs" can throw in a funny moment or two, like in "Persona 4" with the curry eating scene. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GsOIo50MBZc]
What is wrong with a game making fun of itself 24-7? The only games I can think of that throw in some humor are JRPGs and even that is being thinned out by the "Let's be more like FF7" games. Even then the serious "JRPGs" can throw in a funny moment or two, like in "Persona 4" with the curry eating scene. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GsOIo50MBZc]
Nail on the head Shamus. I have been playing CO since closed Beta and Im done with it I think. It just does nothing to make you feel connected to the world and the nonsense flavour leave a bad taste in the mouth of someone who enjoys the worlds as much as I enjoy the gameplay.
Good article, good call.
Good article, good call.
What a damn shame. I keep thinking this MMO is amazing and revolutionary, but then something else comes along that proves it's not very different from any other one. Right now all it seems it has going for it is the character creation.
I tend to agree with you--it's much more fun to make your own humor in a world that's relatively serious by default. That's why it's such fun to read Living in Oblivion or similar gaming blogs and the like. But in a game that already tries too hard to be funny, what's the point? That's one of the things that really bugs me about a lot of MMOs--they constantly break the fourth wall and try to shoehorn in unnecessary humor.
I guess I've just restated what you said in your article, but I'm definitely of the same mind.
I tend to agree with you--it's much more fun to make your own humor in a world that's relatively serious by default. That's why it's such fun to read Living in Oblivion or similar gaming blogs and the like. But in a game that already tries too hard to be funny, what's the point? That's one of the things that really bugs me about a lot of MMOs--they constantly break the fourth wall and try to shoehorn in unnecessary humor.
I guess I've just restated what you said in your article, but I'm definitely of the same mind.
This sums it up perfectly. Champions is a game from the old superheroes, before they were dark and gritty, but just after they were pulp. Back when every superhero was forced into spandex and had to have at LEAST three catchphrases. You also notice that a decent number of the organisations are acronyms - V.I.P.E.R., U.N.I.T.Y., U.N.T.I.L., A.R.G.E.N.T., D.E.M.O.N. Yeah, it's proper old school superheroes.Fearzone said:
I'll take my Joker with meticulous face paint and a song and dance routine, thank you.
FF7 had, in my opinion, one of the funniest moments in all of gaming. Also in aion quest-givers tend to try to kill you from time to time. AoC is the only mmo I can think of that tried to avoid humor whatsoever and it made for a pretty dull game world (well that and the brown).WhiteTiger225 said:Heh, I don't know, ToonTown did decently enough with it >.<SultanP said:I hate being the one aswell. How long did you try the trial for? It isn't so bad in the beginning of the game, but you get too much of it. Besides, things don't have to be taken to the extreme. It doesn't have to be "you're the one" or "look at us, all our characters have pants on their heads", it should be somewhere in between. Zaney humour is funny, in small doses, but when you get enough of it, it's just annoying.WhiteTiger225 said:I tried the Trial of it, and honestly, I see nothing from. It's silly, it's zaney, and it's very reminiscent of 80% of the comic books out there.SultanP said:I don't think you get it. Humour is ok, there is nothing wrong with that, in moderation. But when game developers overdo it, the game suffers. It's about finding a balance that works, and Champions Online doesn't.WhiteTiger225 said:Kool-Aid comic book anyone? Or how about batman taking down the largest evil of them all..... Rock & Roll...The_root_of_all_evil said:Oh Shamus, I so [http://www.hyperborea.org/flash/races.html] beg [http://superdickery.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=161:showdown-at-gotham-city&catid=28:superdickery&Itemid=54] to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X-Babies] differ [http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_v1QOWAfK7O0/SS-Srk99A9I/AAAAAAAACR8/dUuO4u6lQT0/s1600-h/1.jpg].
This is a REALLY shat review that acts like WoW doesn't have it's HUGE share of retarded whoopie cushion humor (Eat the seed, then the next part of the quest you go into a loo and shit out the seeds, then loot your shit for the pooped out seeds to return to collect the quest) Or how about Night-Elves? Talking about their "1337 skills". Face it man, if you can't stand humor in an MMO go play shadowbane. Yuo will get a realistic experience.... Like level 100's ganking a level 20 who spent hours collecting 30k cash and stealing all their cash and loot drops. People with no sense of humor. And boring straight forward quests and gameplay. Sounds right up your lane mister bad reviewer.
I guess most gamers can't go about an MMO without being told they are the epic srs hero of the land 80 times while ignoring the fact there are 1 million + other heroes of the same land killing the same main bad dude over and over again.
And I only played for a few days. I didn't want to get TOO sucked into it while I have other games to concentrate on. Yes sillyness can be too silly. But honestly, Champions Online has my respect for either going all silly (Making it more of a cartoon superhero world) instead of trying to be srsbsnss while punting dwarfs and catapaulting gnomes XD Champion Online I would definetly recommend though.. as long as you start it with the right mood. If you are expecting "FF7 srs emo chronicles" style stories, then go to Aion or something. If you are looking for a game thats just a game you can play with your friends, laugh, relax, and have fun, go for Champions Online.
MMOs try to create the life of a different person in an extraordinary circumstance and you can't have life without humor. But when that humor becomes unreal then you're not really creating a life, you're creating a parody.
The game is what it is meant to be (campy superhero) , it's good at that, it has it's own style. I understand that doesn't appeal to you.
Well, I can understand that. But it's not that it's trying to be serious and failing. It WANTS to be the game it is.
Well, I can understand that. But it's not that it's trying to be serious and failing. It WANTS to be the game it is.
A review is a judgement of a game as a whole. An opinion column can be, in this case, Shamus ranting about a part of a game that really bugs him and why he thinks it's a letdown, but he still overall really enjoys the game.Credge said:
And I'm just going by what Shamus says about the overall tone of the game. A game that doesn't take itself seriously SOME of the time vs a game that (from what he says) never does.
You know, I usually love reading Shamus's articles, as I usually find them interesting, but this one was short and ranty.
It's like asking a friend you haven't seen for a week "What's up?" and they all of a sudden they just start complaining about something, rapid-fire, I might add, and you can't get a word in edgewise. It's not even morally outrageous this time around, like it was with the various DRM articles Shamus has done, or the one about EDGE games. It's just "I really hate this. :| It just sucks for all of these reasons." It's not like this is a huge problem in games or anything, it's a few games.
Admittedly, I haven't played either of the MMOs, mentioned, but still...
It's like asking a friend you haven't seen for a week "What's up?" and they all of a sudden they just start complaining about something, rapid-fire, I might add, and you can't get a word in edgewise. It's not even morally outrageous this time around, like it was with the various DRM articles Shamus has done, or the one about EDGE games. It's just "I really hate this. :| It just sucks for all of these reasons." It's not like this is a huge problem in games or anything, it's a few games.
Admittedly, I haven't played either of the MMOs, mentioned, but still...
Well, I have mixed opinions on the subject.
To an extent you (the article writer) are absolutly correct about Champions Online and the style, but I also suspect that a lot of this comes from current pressure on the gaming industry over content like violence, sex, and gore. Champions Online has ultimatly become the anti-thesis of such things, and honestly I think it did that by intentionally staying away from things like playable super villains and a lot of the dark hero motif. Please note that I would like a lot more "realism" and "gritty" type comic stuff, but I understand why they didn't go in that direction.
It's also noteworthy that one of the problems MMORPGs in general suffer is the need to pack interactive content together. For example, in World Of Warcraft something like "Elwynn Forest" or "The Blasted Lands" would be huge, not something you can traverse in length in a couple of minutes. Not to mention the tens of thousands of people who would live in Stormwind. However the reality of game design, not to mention fun (ie not travelling through an empty world for an hour or three for the sake of a realistic portryal of how things would be) requires a bit of leeway.
I think it's an unfair criticism to point out that for example Snake Gulch is right next door to both an Atomic wasteland AND a terrorist base. No that isn't even remotly sensible, BUT by the same token it's no worse than how content is arranged in every other MMORPG to date. Sure seperating the Atomic Wasleland fromt he Amusement park by a substantial distance would make sense, but is it really gamable?
I do tend to think that with the depth of the liscence they chose too much silly to be honest. Though again I think they did that for a reason. Truthfully Foxbat (the guy with the foam sign fanboy bots, and the pingpong ball gun) who is a giant send-up on Batman is overused. He is however no worse than many similar humor-themed characters in existing comic universes which tend to be used in doses. Like say Marvel's "Arcade", "Madcap", or "Brother's Grim", or well... quite a few people in the DC universe especially in the Batman rogue's gallery (and allegedly he's Mr. serious story himself).
Now yeah, Snake Gulch is a bit much at times. What could have been a very interesting concept, inspired by the movie "Westworld", does get a bit out of hand. But still you find that villains like Mechanon seem to be fairly serious concepts, compared to say Foxbat or even the GI Joe inspired tech terrorists (Viper = Cobra, even some of the constumes are the same).
I do like my over the top super hero game though (lifetime subscriber), and yes it has used so many jokes that it has become a joke. I still find it entertaining though.
It is NOT what it could have been, but I blame the industry for that. I think this game is what it is specifically because of fear of groups like Australian Censors. As things stand now Champions Online is a good product, albeit one that was not intended to push any boundaries.
To an extent you (the article writer) are absolutly correct about Champions Online and the style, but I also suspect that a lot of this comes from current pressure on the gaming industry over content like violence, sex, and gore. Champions Online has ultimatly become the anti-thesis of such things, and honestly I think it did that by intentionally staying away from things like playable super villains and a lot of the dark hero motif. Please note that I would like a lot more "realism" and "gritty" type comic stuff, but I understand why they didn't go in that direction.
It's also noteworthy that one of the problems MMORPGs in general suffer is the need to pack interactive content together. For example, in World Of Warcraft something like "Elwynn Forest" or "The Blasted Lands" would be huge, not something you can traverse in length in a couple of minutes. Not to mention the tens of thousands of people who would live in Stormwind. However the reality of game design, not to mention fun (ie not travelling through an empty world for an hour or three for the sake of a realistic portryal of how things would be) requires a bit of leeway.
I think it's an unfair criticism to point out that for example Snake Gulch is right next door to both an Atomic wasteland AND a terrorist base. No that isn't even remotly sensible, BUT by the same token it's no worse than how content is arranged in every other MMORPG to date. Sure seperating the Atomic Wasleland fromt he Amusement park by a substantial distance would make sense, but is it really gamable?
I do tend to think that with the depth of the liscence they chose too much silly to be honest. Though again I think they did that for a reason. Truthfully Foxbat (the guy with the foam sign fanboy bots, and the pingpong ball gun) who is a giant send-up on Batman is overused. He is however no worse than many similar humor-themed characters in existing comic universes which tend to be used in doses. Like say Marvel's "Arcade", "Madcap", or "Brother's Grim", or well... quite a few people in the DC universe especially in the Batman rogue's gallery (and allegedly he's Mr. serious story himself).
Now yeah, Snake Gulch is a bit much at times. What could have been a very interesting concept, inspired by the movie "Westworld", does get a bit out of hand. But still you find that villains like Mechanon seem to be fairly serious concepts, compared to say Foxbat or even the GI Joe inspired tech terrorists (Viper = Cobra, even some of the constumes are the same).
I do like my over the top super hero game though (lifetime subscriber), and yes it has used so many jokes that it has become a joke. I still find it entertaining though.
It is NOT what it could have been, but I blame the industry for that. I think this game is what it is specifically because of fear of groups like Australian Censors. As things stand now Champions Online is a good product, albeit one that was not intended to push any boundaries.
Kindof agree with you, alot of cheap puns and jokes in Champions, like ping-pong man.
You can tell they do have the energy to make things funny, I liked the goofyness of the ping-pong ball guns, I don't want every mission I do in a game to be Batman-serious, unless I'm playing Batman. I want something occasionally that is like, "What? Thats so stupid!" *laughs*,
but better story telling would pay for itself, it's like if you make a good book with adequate writing then you have the possibility that people will pay to read any sequels of the same level writing. But you can't make a mediocre cheap puns joke-athon and expect folks to stay with you til you reach your donation mark.
You can tell they do have the energy to make things funny, I liked the goofyness of the ping-pong ball guns, I don't want every mission I do in a game to be Batman-serious, unless I'm playing Batman. I want something occasionally that is like, "What? Thats so stupid!" *laughs*,
but better story telling would pay for itself, it's like if you make a good book with adequate writing then you have the possibility that people will pay to read any sequels of the same level writing. But you can't make a mediocre cheap puns joke-athon and expect folks to stay with you til you reach your donation mark.
I wonder if all the people here actually realize the champions online game is based off the pen and paper roleplaying game of the same name from HERO games.
http://www.herogames.com/home.htm;jsessionid=ayzcZIvyJmN4
So most of the stuff that is in the game is taken from the source material already.
I think if you were a fan of the pen and paper game and knew that it could be goofy at times then the game is not going to bother you.
But......
If you go in not knowing the background of the game then I can see how it can be offputting.
Though it would be nice to see rants with a little more knowledge about the product being ranted on since its not really based off comics books so much as it is based of a roleplaying game that is based off comic books.
http://www.herogames.com/home.htm;jsessionid=ayzcZIvyJmN4
So most of the stuff that is in the game is taken from the source material already.
I think if you were a fan of the pen and paper game and knew that it could be goofy at times then the game is not going to bother you.
But......
If you go in not knowing the background of the game then I can see how it can be offputting.
Though it would be nice to see rants with a little more knowledge about the product being ranted on since its not really based off comics books so much as it is based of a roleplaying game that is based off comic books.