Lysandus2010-08-12 20:05:50
While browsing through the net and checking any updates in the Guild Wars wiki, I stumble upon this and it is an interesting read. Just wanting to share before I log out again and head back to sleep.
Edit:
Just to quote things from that page
Edit:
Just to quote things from that page
QUOTE
Don't believe you are making WoW 2.0 with a quarter of WoW's budget
Many recent MMOs failed because they were rushed to market, had less content, or were not as polished as established games. It's no secret that WoW has been a big success, and there is a reason for that success. While it may not be the most innovative product on the market, WoW offers a tremendous amount of content and is an exceptionally polished game. Everyone wants to duplicate that success, but I'm not sure that everyone is realistic about what that means. WoW was in development for five years, was built on an established and very popular game universe, and probably cost more than $40 million to create. Don't believe that there is some magic design element that you will add to your MMO that will allow you to steal all of WoW's subscription customers. If you find yourself saying, "It's like WoW, but...," you're in trouble. To reiterate an earlier point – go do your own thing, and let them do theirs.
Many recent MMOs failed because they were rushed to market, had less content, or were not as polished as established games. It's no secret that WoW has been a big success, and there is a reason for that success. While it may not be the most innovative product on the market, WoW offers a tremendous amount of content and is an exceptionally polished game. Everyone wants to duplicate that success, but I'm not sure that everyone is realistic about what that means. WoW was in development for five years, was built on an established and very popular game universe, and probably cost more than $40 million to create. Don't believe that there is some magic design element that you will add to your MMO that will allow you to steal all of WoW's subscription customers. If you find yourself saying, "It's like WoW, but...," you're in trouble. To reiterate an earlier point – go do your own thing, and let them do theirs.
Sylphas2010-08-12 22:53:32
Yep. I think the key to developing a new game, in whatever genre, is being able to afford your mistakes. If you pour everything into killing WoW, you'll more than likely fail, and that's it. If you make a smaller, more niche game, for a tiny fraction of the resources, you can afford to be a bust and keep trying. When you succeed, build on that.
Deyjah2010-08-12 23:32:56
Guild Wars has been my favorite graphical MMO, and I can't wait for Guild Wars 2. Their interest in their community and game balance is exceptional.
It wasn't as successful as, say, WoW basically due to a lack of addictive grinding elements. You could put GW down whenever you please, and pick it up again the same and it wouldn't hurt you due to power crawl, fluxes in the economy, or some number derived from an abstraction of a convoluted system draining over time. Also, WoW's playerbase has a nasty habit of being members of extremes; antisocial teenagers taught by their peers to hate things they dislike and to love things they enjoy. Though the previous statement is obviously an extreme stereotyping of the WoW playerbase, I generally find it to be true.
As Sylphas pointed out, making a "WoW killer" will generally see your profits fly south. GW focuses on making a good game, one that's fun to play above addicting and time consuming. You can have a max level character within three days of heavy play or a week of light play. With completion of the storyline you possess max armor and weapons that, though perhaps not the best looking, are just as functional as rarer weapons and armor. At this point you can explore, PvP, or PvE.
Well, after reading back on this post I guess it sounds a little dramatic. I did however get my money's worth out of the game and recommend to anyone who hasn't played it and is looking for a graphical MMO. Oh yeah, no monthly fees. That too.
It wasn't as successful as, say, WoW basically due to a lack of addictive grinding elements. You could put GW down whenever you please, and pick it up again the same and it wouldn't hurt you due to power crawl, fluxes in the economy, or some number derived from an abstraction of a convoluted system draining over time. Also, WoW's playerbase has a nasty habit of being members of extremes; antisocial teenagers taught by their peers to hate things they dislike and to love things they enjoy. Though the previous statement is obviously an extreme stereotyping of the WoW playerbase, I generally find it to be true.
As Sylphas pointed out, making a "WoW killer" will generally see your profits fly south. GW focuses on making a good game, one that's fun to play above addicting and time consuming. You can have a max level character within three days of heavy play or a week of light play. With completion of the storyline you possess max armor and weapons that, though perhaps not the best looking, are just as functional as rarer weapons and armor. At this point you can explore, PvP, or PvE.
Well, after reading back on this post I guess it sounds a little dramatic. I did however get my money's worth out of the game and recommend to anyone who hasn't played it and is looking for a graphical MMO. Oh yeah, no monthly fees. That too.
Unknown2010-08-12 23:43:41
EVE is an example of a good MMO by that metric. It's a very good MMO in my opinion overall.
