All Posts by Xasapis

The problem with WoW expansions is that they effectively reset the game. That can have a positive effect with people starting alts and experiencing a different angle, or a negative when people find easier to leave than start over again.

AO has both a portion that is F2P and a subscription one. For those that played from the beginning, we have a normal subscription account. Apparently you can't use the same subscription account (at this point in time) to register AoC as well. Not sure why they keep the systems both separate and linked at the same time.

In the game with supposedly the worst of the worst game community (aka WoW), I managed to meet some amazing people and make friends for life, even after stopping playing.

Too early to know how the AoC community will evolve. I'd give it past the initial month for the novelties to wear off.

It sure beats spawn-camping, unless you're below the age where you have to support yourself financially.

Actually you were not attacking AoC, you were defending the "more of the same" mentality. In this sense, your affinity towards WAR is dishearting. The game is still long in development though, so hopefully it will become something more than WoW with RvR.

Lets also hope that developers will not assume that we're satisfied with the common denominator. If this happens then we'll keep on receiving carbon copies. Aren't you kind of tired at this point?

The trick with the graphics is not to dump them into such a level that a ancient (in computer years) machine can play it. The trick is to use as many of the current tools available possible while maintaining some scalability for the old machines. LOTRO seem to have the best balance between performance and looks from all the games currently released (including AoC). WoW is just outdated (the sad part is that WoW enthusiasts will have to wait for the expansion after the Lich King for an engine update).

Overall however, there is little innovation in terms of developing anything past fantacy (high or low), at least as 2008 is concerned. WoW will runinate it's previous expansion (any additions and improvements in WoW formula should be attributed to WAR competition, sadly). EVE will keep on growing steadily, especially after ambulation is launched. LOTRO solid PvE gameplay will keep it afloat and profitable. AoC PvP gameplay will keep it afloat and profitable. We'll see about WAR when it actually launches.

Whatever is to be produced by Blizzard (future project), CCP (Vampire MMO?) and Bioware (Mass effect MMO?), will take at least a year to even see the light of day as far as development hype is concerned.

Designers don't lose time investing in the "wrong" design. They lose money if their product does not have the appeal they expected.

Besides, there is no such thing as right or wrong design. It's all about what you're planning on creating and what your potential target group is. For those who hate a particular design, it is going to feel like it's "wrong". Just take a look at the various 'linear vs sandbox' threads popping up all the time on these boards.

Once upon a time there was a hero. As he was walking down the road, he saw a pile of manure.

"Hey, this pile must taste like shit. I mean I know my tastes in things and this pile will definitely won't be to my liking."

"What the hell, lets taste it."

... takes a big bite ...

"Yep, tastes like shit all right. I can now definitely confirm that this pile of manure is not to my liking."

Not saying that AoC is shit, but come on. You know you don't like the game from the get go and you have convinced yourself you won't like it. What's the point in paying for it? To prove to these boards that you actually played it and don't like it? Why care in the first place?

WoW was a great game. I really had great fun playing it, but more important, I've met some great people, that eventually became great RL friends. Unfortunately, due to various reasons, the scale of fun tipped against WoW some time ago and I left.

AoC is a good game, with elements that are different and refreshing enough to warrant a spot in the currently released MMOs.

Bottom line, they are both good games and they are not the only ones. Because one game is good, does not mean that another is not. Because one game caters to a group of players, does not make it bad. Belitling one game to promote another does not work for those with a basic ability of critical thinking.

So, keep on enjoying what you like and leave those things that you don't to be enjoyed by those that do.

(Right on these boards LOTRO was thrown to mud as a total failure by the people of the same mentality that can not acknowledge that if a game does not suit their tastes, does not make it crap.)

White Sand Isles and Isle of the Black Ones is on the same cluster as Tortage. Better open the world map to see exactly where they are located.

Khemi is a coastal town.

I've played the game to max, multiple times. If anything else, I'm past the honeymoon period. Give me some real problems and I'll concur. Making up stuff on the go won't cut it.

Oh, and you are making the same mistake others are doing from the beginning of time. Putting all your hopes for a good MMO on the next in line in development.

To HistoryBuff:

Actually that's inaccurate as well. Tortage is the only island, everything else is mountain ranges or coastal towns. It's clear that you haven't played the game, but just rehashing second hand (mis)information.

Ratings are unimportant as they are not a clear indication of anything.

I can't confirm or deny the resemblance to Guild Wars, since I've never played it. But you will find the zoning similar to EQ2, if you played that game. Or AO for that matter.

I think it will be more appropriate to say that the mainland is x4 (or x6, depending on level range) of what you've experienced in Tortage.

If you didn't like the game in Tortage (I'm not talking about repeated alt content), chances are that you probably won't like the rest of the game either. The game has certain elements that work only for some people, like the reliance on story-telling and the different combat system. These things are enchanced as players keep on playing. If you didn't like the combat system in the first 20 levels, I doubt it will grow on you.

Also pushing yourself to like the game due to lack of other options is not a good idea either.

On the other hand, if your stay in Tortage was enjoyable (forgetting for a sec any technical issues like loading times), chances are that you will enjoy the mainland even more (especially since said technical issues are minimised).

WAR is still a good 4-6 months away (if it doesn't get delayed again), so if AoC will not become your new home, some other games on the market will need to satisfy your needs.

The inability of the system to keep two games under one account seem quite unnatural. I've yet to receive an answer from FC, related to ability or inability to put both names under one roof. For now it seems that the only workaround is a new account.

There are quite different games, in the sense of people looking for different fun elements when playing them. In that sense, I don't think that the LOTRO population will be affected overall. Perhaps only for a month, assuming that people stop their active subscription to test new MMOs, which generally is not true.

I believe that LOTRO at this point in time has a lot more to offer to PvErs than the LOTRO at release. It seems that has also a lot more to offer than AoC in terms of PvE, as long as both games keep on uniformly expanding.

In general terms, those two games target two slightly different audiences, with the only common denominator the mature theme (I won't tap into maturity inside the game, it will take a bit more for some novelties to wear off in AoC). AoC's direct competitor (WAR's too) is WoW expansion. In this context, I don't think that the LOTRO crowd is really interested in WoW expansion, thus the differentiation.

It's an illusion to expect the next-to-be-released MMO to be better than what's already out there. At some point it will happen, but waiting for it is counter productive.

In a game that's been released for 2 days in the US and is yet to be released in EU, it's a bit premature to talk about class balance, or lack of.

No, it seems appropriate actually. It's not the first time in the history of these boards when a good game was dragged to mud by haters. Or a bad game was praised by the honeymoon crowd. Don't forget also that some people WANT all the games bar the one they anticipate to fail. Which in my belief is the case for the OP.

lol, that's subtle? haha

That video is not really a good basis for a comparison, if such a thing was meaningful in the first place.