Your MMO is a Joke

[Chipperz]

Then you're prolly looking forward to SW:TOR. I know I am. Hah, be the centre of your own multiplayer movie? Right on.

See, it's exactly this that worries me. They're going for far out of their way to make sure that everyone is "THE ONE(tm)" that the stories are either going to be so watered down and generic that they could fit any possible choice the player can make, so railroaded that everyone you talk to has a 50/50 chance of having the same story you do, or so short that it's over before you've really got into it.

Also, don't forget - full voice acting is a LOT of finance that could have gone to the writers instead...

 

[Voltano]

Very good point, but you failed to mention the scene where the guys dress as girls. Disappointing lol. I do like humour in MMO's but in my opinion the story needs to be more on the serious side, so that you appreciate the funny bits more.

I didn't play Persona 4, so I only saw that scene when my Brother was playing it. I'll admit for JRPGs, the voice acting in the game is very well done and I found it hilarious with the curry scene. Just seeing the protagonist cough and collapse like that is funny for me.

There are games though that are pure silliness and quite fun to play, granted the only two that come to mind are "Sam & Max" and the "Monkey Island" series, but the only other game I seen released lately that could rival their silliness would have to be "The Bard's Tale".

Though it is a matter of opinion on how everyone prefers their games. I think it would be nice if there are more games with a sense of humor in them, though I know it's not for everyone.

 

[Fearzone]

See, it's exactly this that worries me. They're going for far out of their way to make sure that everyone is "THE ONE(tm)"

Not sure about the Star Wars MMO but I've heard this issue come up a couple of times re: Champs and the only time where this really happens, I've seen, is at the end of the tutorial zone, and I thought it was more of the tongue-in-cheek humor than anything to be taken seriously. I mean it makes clear later that though you may be a super-hero you are NOT one of the Champions, not yet anyway. Maybe one other time during a Nemesis mission at level 27 this sort of thing happens, again in a humorous light, but the AoC comparison I don't think applies.

 

[DiePingu]

An odd review, anyone who has read or is even dimly aware of (in the sense of being in the same galaxy as) golden and silver age comics can see the theme they are going for (which as an aside is entierly consistent with a pen and paper game).

In terms of inconsistencies, every MMO in existence is riddled with them, it's the price of packing content together. You just have to get past that.

Bottom Line: If you want gritty superhero antics play Batman - Arkham Asylum, if you want a randomly fun superhero game which doesn't take itself too seriously then play Champions Online.

 

[Chipperz]

See, it's exactly this that worries me. They're going for far out of their way to make sure that everyone is "THE ONE(tm)"

Not sure about the Star Wars MMO but I've heard this issue come up a couple of times re: Champs and the only time where this really happens, I've seen, is at the end of the tutorial zone, and I thought it was more of the tongue-in-cheek humor than anything to be taken seriously. I mean it makes clear later that though you may be a super-hero you are NOT one of the Champions, not yet anyway. Maybe one other time during a Nemesis mission at level 27 this sort of thing happens, again in a humorous light, but the AoC comparison I don't think applies.

Nah, I'm talking about The Old Republic. They've already talked about having the Bounty Hunter starting area as a huge and rare Bounty Hunter contest that your character will win. Yes, you won the amazing and hard Bounty Hunter Contest! So did every other Bounty Hunter that you see outside of the starting zone.

Champions more or less averts this (apart from the starting area), and even then the only bit that you really do on your own is the battle with Black Talon. Thanks to the game's more tongue-in-cheek story telling, I don't feel like I am "THE ONE(tm)" at any point in the game, so it's not such a big deal to me.

 

[KarmicToast]

you understand that Lackluster PvP is pretty much the definition of good compeditive play for any RPG?

find me an MMO other then Planetside with real compeditive multiplayer that doesnt care about how you are doing in the storyline or how your equipment is set up

Guild Wars.

still relies on equipment and build setup

Did you just say that lackluster pvp is the definition of good competitive play? Maybe you needs to look up the definition of lackluster. www.dictionary.com

 

[toapat]

you understand that Lackluster PvP is pretty much the definition of good compeditive play for any RPG?

find me an MMO other then Planetside with real compeditive multiplayer that doesnt care about how you are doing in the storyline or how your equipment is set up

Guild Wars.

still relies on equipment and build setup

Did you just say that lackluster pvp is the definition of good competitive play? Maybe you needs to look up the definition of lackluster. www.dictionary.com

for MMOs, sub par is as good as it can get if its not Planetside because there is more then just the skill variable.

 

[KarmicToast]

you understand that Lackluster PvP is pretty much the definition of good compeditive play for any RPG?

find me an MMO other then Planetside with real compeditive multiplayer that doesnt care about how you are doing in the storyline or how your equipment is set up

Guild Wars.

still relies on equipment and build setup

Did you just say that lackluster pvp is the definition of good competitive play? Maybe you needs to look up the definition of lackluster. www.dictionary.com

for MMOs, sub par is as good as it can get if its not Planetside because there is more then just the skill variable.

Sounds like a sad world you live in. I think you need to try an MMO other than WoW...

 

[toapat]

you understand that Lackluster PvP is pretty much the definition of good compeditive play for any RPG?

find me an MMO other then Planetside with real compeditive multiplayer that doesnt care about how you are doing in the storyline or how your equipment is set up

Guild Wars.

still relies on equipment and build setup

Did you just say that lackluster pvp is the definition of good competitive play? Maybe you needs to look up the definition of lackluster. www.dictionary.com

for MMOs, sub par is as good as it can get if its not Planetside because there is more then just the skill variable.

Sounds like a sad world you live in. I think you need to try an MMO other than WoW...

i have played other MMOs, their pvp all blows, only one that is good is Planetside because it doesnt care about what your armor, weapons, and build are, you are in the future, so you drop tanks where you need em and tear down walls

 

[Psepha]

"Cutscenes are usually out of the question both for reasons of budget and practicality."

Fair enough on the reasoning of budget, but practicality? In what sense does that mean? If you're talking in terms of development time constraints, then fair enough, but if it's from a gameplay view, I don't quite buy that. FFXI makes excellent use of cutscenes throughout, so it's definitely feasible in-game. Maybe it's not in this particular game, because admittedly I haven't played it, so I don't know what limits there are to the characters and NPCs.
But then again, like I said, if we're talking about it being impractical from a development point of view, well, I'm arguing a moot point, lol.

 

[Da_Schwartz]

Three words...

City. Of. Heros.

 

[Dannie]

Star Wars MMO will have voice entirely voice acted interactions and should have meaningful story lines.

Hopefully that doesn't turn into a joke.

I hope so too! But there will be a jedi class and a smuggler class, and because this is a MMORPG, they need to be equally good. So it will end up with jedies having hard to kill smugglers. :/

 

[tendo82]

I feel like Champions Online went for the mid 90's Warner Bros. Batman cartoon look and ended up as Adam West circa 1966. Maybe Champions Online will be the first MMO to tap into an audience of camp aficianados(gay men and old women).

 

[WillItWork]

Nah, I'm talking about The Old Republic. They've already talked about having the Bounty Hunter starting area as a huge and rare Bounty Hunter contest that your character will win. Yes, you won the amazing and hard Bounty Hunter Contest! So did every other Bounty Hunter that you see outside of the starting zone.

Admittedly I haven't played it yet, but I was under the impression that the whole Great Hunter Search (or whatever they called it) was essentially, the Bounty Hunter campaign? That is, it's a huge ass Macguffin. That sounds a lot more Bioware to me, esp considering that they strongly preach the narrative and "telling a story" dynamic.

Personally, I look at it similarly to WAR: there's going to be many proto-THE ONEs, and my job is to gain uniqueness, and make sure they don't make the cut. Of course, being the huge Spade that I am, I'm not often that successful or popular, but that's the theory.

Regarding story and plot, well I'm also concerned, but I have a feeling it'll be short (like lvl 20 or something) before it's weak. Plenty of time for added content after launch.

 

[WillItWork]

I double dog dare you to sword me through a wall. And I bet a double barrage would be difficult for even a master to deflect.

 

[Argol228]

2 words, monster island. there is nothing silly about a peace loving gorilla who takes a serum to help the heroes fight the bad guys to only end up becoming a giant king kong with flames coming out of him and turning savage. he is being nit picky he plays a few silly things and judges on that. The raptors are clones made by a man who is trying to create a race of perfect humans and the raptors are part of his army. Then there is all the criminals that break out of a super villain prison and you have to put a stop to them. There are plenty of quest lines that fall heavily on stereotype but have a serious nature to them.

 

[Cheeco88]

So sorry if you like your MMOs to make absolute sense and be so HARDCORE like teh bist gam evarZ, WoW, but it's a comic book MMO. Wait, do you see this? Wow, people actually having fun! *GASP* You know, fun, that thing you're supposed to have when playing video games.

And excuse me if I don't feel like being a fucking elf like everyone else who ends up in the same suit of armor as everyone else and actually wanted to make a totally customized character and fight crime as him instead of slay the dragon of the ancient temple with my ultmate god sword I quested for months to get.

 

[geldonyetich]

You can apply this critique to any MMORPG. Given a broader perspective and understanding of what you're really looking at here - a simulated world in which everything is, in fact, artificial - the choice of what is and is not realistic is really more a matter of delusion. All any MMORPG has is a set of props placed in what each individual will decide for themselves is a realistic portrayal.

To an extent, that one would find Champions Online's Snake Gulch scenario to be so very infeasible reinforces just how well they've been duped by the illusion. We don't question that Pac Man seems to be gobbling power pellets against the backdrop of an apparent infinity. How many fields of fiends wander about harassing good folk in plain sight of the guards in World of Warcraft?

That we would question Champions Online more than World of Warcraft sort of suggests that we've reached an uncanny valley of sorts. It's actually realistic enough that you care about what isn't realistic enough. For that reason, I think this little rant of yours has stained your soap box with a substantial injustice.

 

[Necrith]

as a person that is playing this game sins the beta:

no...
I have never felt like the superhero that was called into action to save every one.
just a hero that was passing along, falling over a rock, and said " who left this crime here"
followed by background comedy laugh

Tough, Foxbat (the bubblegum shooting hero/villain) is pretty funny.
and it is because he was designed to break the 4th wall, and should be the only one doing so.

On a side note, on the CO forums there is a topic over 45 pages about this article now.

 

[Valate_v1legacy]

Dear god. I am so not picking up Champions Online...

If you weren't really going to get it anyway then don't. But if you were going to get it then don't let this stop you. Tastes differ. I though Snake Gulch was brilliant fun. The cheesy B-grade humor sets this game apart; if they gave that up it would be flat and lose a lot of character.

If you like Batman with Adam West then you will appreciate the humor in CO. But if it HAS to be Christian Bale then maybe give it a pass.

AAAADAAAAM WEEEEEEST