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The Console MMO's Are Coming – Part II
In Part 1 of this article, we examined Star Trek Online, the Agency and Age of Conan three MMO's probably intended for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, or both, sometime in the future.
This week we look at some more games about to hit definitely consoles within a year, and along the way let's discuss what makes each of these games a good fit for the platforms that will be coming.
Free Realms:
Developer: Sony Online Entertainment
Release Date: 2010
What is this? There a new wave of multiplayer online games, a seemingly inexorable march toward free to play model.
It is a system that has seen great success in Korea and eastern MMO games in general, has not really been embraced or explored in the West. Sony Online Entertainment is at the forefront of a vigorous drive to change that way of thinking, and bring quality players in games West in a free form of the game.
For too long the status model of pay monthly fee to play was uncontested. Ultima Online, Everquest, Everquest II, World of Warcraft, Age of Conan, Warhammer Online, all these games and many more were executed successfully in this model. But it is sustainable in the long run?
There are two strong arguments against running the model to pay to play. The first is that the market can support only a finite number of these types of games. Players have only so much disposable income to burn on his hobby, at an average price of $ $ 14.99 a month, most players can only really justify paying for one or two entries, at any given time.
One advantage of this environment is producing the competition as well as any MMO charging a monthly fee must reach a certain standard if you want to survive. The disadvantage as I mentioned, is that it means gamers get a smaller set of games to choose from as few publishers are willing to risk crashing and burning in spectacular fashion by Richard Garriot's Tabula Rasa.
The second argument against pay to play, especially on islands, is that the console gamers simply are not conditioned to pay a monthly fee to play games, some might argue that never will be. It is simply a concept that is alien to them.
Type strategy of Sony Online Entertainment New MMO, which involves a high-quality programming free to play games, starting with Free Realms.
For a long time, when most Players heard the expression "free to play, more than likely that conjured up images of dark, poorly localized efforts Korean built less around constructive actual gameplay, and more around an eternal process of grinding and playing options limited force you to buy items from gameplay experience. Not more.
Free Realms was specifically built from scratch to be accessible to gamers of all ages, and to be an experience quality that makes a positive first impression.
In terms of pure Polish, rivals of the game for many of his contemporaries pay to play, and probably bests most.
Another thing that makes great example of how Free Realms, one for the model free to play is that unlike most games that follow the same model, you never really forced to buy anything to enjoy the main game. Any expenses that you make are accidental and only enrich the experience.
The chances of this happening: Except for a large and sudden failure in business model Free Realms, that's a blockage final and absolute. While SOE seems to be taking their time porting Free Realms for PlayStation 3, expected to hit sometime in mid-2010 season it is conceivable that the island would have benefited from a further reduction in price, making it a more viable offering for family audiences Free Realms proved so attractive to.
DC Universe Online:
Developer: Sony Online Entertainment
Release Date: 2010
What is this? By all accounts the Xbox 360 should already be at home for an MMO of superheroes in the Marvel Universe so Online, a game which was in development at Cryptic Studios (developer of Champions Online, City of Heroes / Villains, and Star Trek Online) before Microsoft quietly halted production and killed the project.
Meanwhile, Sony Online Entertainment had been quietly working on his own superhero MMO using rival publisher of licensed comics, DC Comics.
Though initially seem a little rough around the edges, the latest hands-on previews and presentations at recent trade shows indicate that DC Universe Online is coming together well.
You will not be able to choose a Batman or Superman, but you will be able to create your own superhero and inhabit the same world as the wonder and blue man-bat, fighting alongside them to keep the streets safe. So far we've seen screenshots and game images Metropolis location, but the concept art seen above indicates that areas such as Gotham City (including the Batcave and Arkham Asylum) will be available for players to explore.
The CC is potentially very lucrative one, SOE and seem determined not to let them pass through your fingers as you could argue what happened with Star Wars Galaxies. As a result, they are collaborating with the best talent in the comics industry, including veterans project Wildstorm imprint of DC, led by comic legend Jim Lee (aboard as Executive Creative Director), and writers Geoff John and Marv Wolfman, Justice Society of America, and Crisis on Infinite Earth fame.
In terms of minutes minutes game, expect something along the lines of Prototype, Infamous, or The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction, with an emphasis on fast action pass Quick and environmental, including flight, super speed, etc.
special moves and attacks will be mapped to the current press the button, as in games like Marvel Ultimate Alliance and X-Men Legends, rather than battle the queues seen in games like World of Warcraft and Warhammer Online, leading to a more action-oriented experience, based on ability. That said, the game will not be completely discarded RPG conventions, because there leveling and inventory management systems in place.
Sony Online Entertainment were also smart enough to suggest that the type of subscription fee Monthly is the one who will not use for DCUO, and since the game console ambitions, seems a wise choice.
The chances of this happening: As in other SOE MMO PlayStation 3 development, perhaps even more than the target demographics of the island, this is also a lock. DC Universe Online looks almost tailor-made for consoles, with its RPG-esque action game and a popular license. All signs point to a 2010 release.
Final Fantasy XIV:
Developer: Square Enix
Release Date: 2010
What is this? The Final Fantasy series really needs little introduction. Sids, Chocobo's, Moogles, breaks boundaries, calling, we are familiar with all the conventions of the series. That said, Final Fantasy XIV is something completely different.
In May 2002, Square Enix released Final Fantasy XI for PC and PlayStation 2 in Japan launch a North American would follow two years later and two years later, in 2006, the Final Fantasy series was coming to the Xbox platform for the first when the MMO found its way to Xbox 360 from Microsoft.
Despite achieving a modest level of success, especially in Japan where it is most countries played multiplayer online game, it's probably safe to say that Final Fantasy XI never made the impression many had expected, since it is un-End Fantasy-like look, gameplay and brutal ground off many longtime fans.
Seven years after its launch and Square Enix is ready to do everything again, as he prepares to release only their second time MMO, Final Fantasy XIV.
Although it may seem similar on the surface, it seems Square Enix be cheering the changes, with a series of systems to make renewed the game easier for new players to enter, and also do quests solo considerably more enjoyable for those interested.
There is also renewed battle systems work and to keep things fresh and, in general, developers seem to have attention to the advances made in the genre over the past five years.
In this year's E3, Sony's Jack Tretton made a big thing about Final Fantasy XIV and its exclusive 3, PlayStation words that are under some control, since it was revealed that there is no exclusivity agreement and that the main obstacle that prevents an Xbox 360 version comes in the form of Microsoft's Xbox Live policies.
One can not help thinking that Final XIV 's best chance of Fantasy success exists in the islands, while enjoying a dedicated following on the PC market is quite congested, with the likes of World of Warcraft, Age of Conan et al all competing for attention. The console battlefield, by comparison, is much less crowded.
The chances of this happening: Final Fantasy is simply too large a number of remaining restricted to the PC, the PlayStation 3 version is a given. Does the game come to Xbox 360? If Microsoft is truly serious about challenging the PlayStation 3 in Japan, it could be seen as a prerequisite, if they will be willing to drop their strict policies as they did when Xbox Live has made an exception for Final Fantasy XI on the island remains to be seen.
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