All Posts by Koltrane

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Originally posted by zarish

I'm no fan of the slippery-slope reasoning and the conspiratorial ideas it brings to mind. However, it's good to recognize when you are on a slippery-slope. With the deletion of any game from the list for any reason other than the discontinuation of the game or it's production; you can not help but feel the wheels slip a little. As I have said before I don't care that a forum was removed. It's the incomplete list and the questions it brings to mind about what other reasons may arise in the future that could cause a game to be removed from the list that bothers me. After all, today it may be extreme issues, next year it may be a game that someone just doesn't like (extreme and unrealistic examples there but for point making only).

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Your point is well taken and I understand your concern regarding the slippery slope.  However, you can rest assured that this action was not taken lightly or capriciously.  As En1Gma stated, I'm not at liberty to repeat the actual content of the discourse here, but one thing that needs to be underscored is that the messages in question were directed as much at this community as they were at the staff. 

The staff and admins here are doing everything they can to keep this a free and open discussion of MMORPGs.  We do have rules...it's not anarchy here, but we tend to give the posters more than enough rope to hang themselves before we pull the lever. 

I honestly do not foresee another game being given the same treatment.  It would truly have to be an extreme circumstance, just as this one was.

Just be certain that the actions taken by this site were done out of respect for and protection of this community, not out of pettiness.

As I said in my diary, War/Mon is arguably the most powerful PvP combination.  These are purely my opinions based on my experience in the game.  I'm not saying that Necros and Mesmers are not valid in PvP, I'm just saying that the other classes tend to have an advantage, primarily because the Mes & Nec (& even the Elementalist) classes require a more nuanced touch.  One reason it may seem that the War/Mon crowds are so much better is because few people have become truly proficient with the Mesmer or Necro hybrids during these short weekends.  It may be that a well played Mesmer will be the ringer for a PvP or GvG team.

Ultimately, what is really the most powerful PvP player is one who is a member of a cohesive team.  Much like in CS or another FPS team game, the squads that work together and practice together and learn each other's moves will dominate in the GW PvP arena.

I didn't play with any friends this weekend and was mostly playing pickup in PvP, so I regularly got smoked.  I still think that the size of some of the arenas makes it tough on ranged players such as casters and rangers.  When the arenas get bigger, the ranged players have a better shot.

As far as raids go, there are many people who enjoy large scale raids.  The beauty of GW is that is lets you do nothing but small group short term missions if you so choose.  I understand that there are some lengthy crawls as you progress into the higher levels of the game.  I think such diversity is good and will suit GW well.

Bottom line, this is a great game and it will do well, mark my words.  Plus, you can't beat the monthly fee!

Ever wanted to speak directly to Morpheus or go toe-to-toe with the Merovingian?  You may soon have the chance.  Monolith has announced that their new MMORPG, The Matrix Online, will employ a team dedicated to specialized role playing events.  These people will take on the roles of well known matrix characters and play them out through events that will involve players within the game. 

For more information on The Matrix Online, visit the official website at this link.

PC Gamezone has published a Q&A with Funcom's Terri Perkins.  The topic is what it takes to make a successful MMO, especially in today's market.  She discusses the market in general and touches on some AO/Funcom specifics. 

The piece may be read in its entirety at this link.

Jenni,  Glad to see you're a member here.  I think you bring up some interesting ideas and many roleplayers would agreed with a lot of what you have to say, if not all of it.  I play WoW on a PvP server and while it can be a hassle at times, especially when a group of 50+ characters camp out Tarren Mill and gank everyone that flies in, for example, the element it adds keeps the game fresh and interesting.

PvP is not for everyone, but it does add a spontaneous and unpredictable element to the rote of kill - quest - kill - quest.

Great piece!  My hat's off to you.

In a rather interesting piece posted at KillerBetties, Jennifer Gundlach explores roleplaying in World of Warcraft and the MMO genre at large.  Although coming from a woman and posted to a woman's gaming site, the piece echoes the feelings of roleplayers of both sexes.

The article is an interesting read and poses some questions that developers should at least be thinking about.  To read it in full, visit this link.

The Storm Riders Online open beta has come to an end! The server has been brought down for a patch and the play-to-pay account update. We thank everyone who participated in the open beta, and we hope to see you all during pay-to-play. Because of the relatively short time of open beta, your open beta characters will not be wiped from the database. To continue playing, you will now have to subscribe to the game. You can subscribe via paypal account, with a major credit card, or with a debit card (as long as it says visa or mastercard). We will be adding further payment methods during the course of the next week, as well as expanding the functionality of the account management system (so you can change your details and information). For details on how to complete the subscription process please check the article on our forums. Keep an eye out for the P2P launch event, "The Curse of Ming Ue"! Thank you all, we hope you enjoy Storm Riders Online.

Visit the official Storm Riders Online website at this link.

IGN has posted details on the next expansion for Star Wars Galaxies.  The next chapter will be entitled Rage of the Wookiees and will open up the Wookiee planet of Kashyyyk as part of the universe.  Other new features will be included, such as asteroid mining.

Not a lot of details at this moment, but the expansion is currently slated for a May release.  It is also reported that two products will hit the shelves:  the expansion and a combo pack that includes Rage of the Wookiees bundles with the original game and the Jump to Lightspeed expansion.

You can click this link to read the article.

Vuaar, lead game designer for Dark & Light, has been answering questions over at the official website.  Follow this link to read his latest answers.  Here's a sample:

Also, you can find regular bestiary updates on the official site.  The most recent update is an overview of Zlubs:

Visit the official Dark & Light website by following this link.

There will be a sneak preview for The Matrix Online starting this weekend.  The event will run from noon on Saturday, March 12 to 9pm on Tuesday, March 15 (all times Pacific).  The following announcement was sent out to publicize the event:

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and SEGA are unveiling a Sneak Preview event for The Matrix Online on Saturday, March 12 at 12:00 p.m. PST. The Matrix Online Sneak Preview is the final phase of the beta testing schedule before the game's scheduled launch on March 22, 2005. During the Sneak Preview, which will end at 9:00 p.m. PST on Tuesday, March 15, players will get a chance to see the newest version of the game, including many storyline elements from the continuation of The Matrix trilogy. Also, major player achievements and events that take place during The Matrix Online Sneak Preview will be published in the next issue of The Official Magazine of The Matrix Online. This is a unique opportunity for players to become a real part of Matrix history.

This image cracks me up   

Would you tip Lucan D'Lere if he were your pizza boy?

"Eat this deep dish pepperoni or suffer my WRATH!
That'll be $13.42, ma'am."

I don't really have an opinion on ads in gaming, because I see both positive and negative in it, but I do think it's kind of weird that EverQuest II, a fantasy-themed sword and sorcery game, has a link to Pizza Hut or any modern business.  It kind of kills the immersive nature of the game.

These are role playing games, after all, and even though few people truly roleplay, at least the theme is there.  It wouldn't surprise me a bit to see other online fee services integrated in.  How about a /ebay feature so you can auction off that rare drop?  LOL  what a nasty can of worms that would be.

What's next...spam in your WoW mailbox?