General Discussion

I wonder why are Horror MMO genres so non-popular? There are so many Sci-Fi, Medieval, and all in between MMo's out there, but what about Horror? When i say Horror I mean like vampires and werewolves and all of that stuff.

I think it has something to do with the fact that its a fine line between horror and cornball.  As we have seen with a few other games trying to fill the niche it just becomes waaay too corny to even take seriously.  Dev's need to learn its more then half naked chicks with huge swords cutting up demons that spray way too much blood.  Here's to hoping world of darkness has something up their sleeve. 

Yea you're right about that. The closest I've gotten to a good horror MMO is Dark Eden, and that....I won't even get into lol. But yea if they made something like an Underworld mixed with sorta like a Matrix feel, REALLY give it a since of horror, I think it would be pretty good.

I believe Horror MMOs will get more popular next decade as it looks like Funcom's The Secret World and CCP's World of Darkness MMO will release around the same time and clash .

Dark days Are Coming!

Originally posted by diricio1

I wonder why are Horror MMO genres so non-popular? There are so many Sci-Fi, Medieval, and all in between MMo's out there, but what about Horror? When i say Horror I mean like vampires and werewolves and all of that stuff.

This controlled storyline idea also affects the concept of the unknown, ie; controlling what information the player gets and when.  In a horror movie is the guy in the hockey mask with a knife scary, or is it the lingering question of whether he is JUST a guy in a hockey mask, and if not WHAT is he and how do we stop him?  Unless you are the first person thru a new horror mmorpg, all you have to do is look for the inevitable sites that have all the areas, creatures and loot listed in alphabetical order and crossreferenced by how best to kill it/ get it.

Originally posted by komarr

 

Originally posted by diricio1

I wonder why are Horror MMO genres so non-popular? There are so many Sci-Fi, Medieval, and all in between MMo's out there, but what about Horror? When i say Horror I mean like vampires and werewolves and all of that stuff.

As far as vampires and werewolves etc. are concerned, they are frequently used in fantasy mmorpgs such as WoW.  As far as a horror mmo, I think the primary issue is that two essential parts of "horror" are the lack of control of a situation and unknown.  The ideas of lack of control and of a person being swept along by events are more suited to single player rpgs, where the story and environment can be more closely controlled.  This is born out by the success of horror rpg franchises such as Silent Hill, etc.. 

 

This controlled storyline idea also affects the concept of the unknown, ie; controlling what information the player gets and when.  In a horror movie is the guy in the hockey mask with a knife scary, or is it the lingering question of whether he is JUST a guy in a hockey mask, and if not WHAT is he and how do we stop him?  Unless you are the first person thru a new horror mmorpg, all you have to do is look for the inevitable sites that have all the areas, creatures and loot listed in alphabetical order and crossreferenced by how best to kill it/ get it.

 

But I hope that Horror MMO's really do start becomming more popular, because thats the genre that I'm very good at immersing myself in lol. I'll have to look into World of Darkness and the other horror genre named in the post; I didn't know that some were going into development =). Thanks for your posts guys.