Quote:
|
Originally Posted by andargor If you go to the Eve Online forums, a common insult is "go back to WoW". This is simply because Eve Online is probably as far opposed to WoW as you can get in an MMORPG. Andur said it correctly: the death penalty is harsh, very harsh. It is so open-ended and full of possibilities that you can easily be overwhelmed into inaction. It is so player-driven, that you can get scammed blind and the developers will not interfere. It's that real. |
Well, that sounds an awful lot like you're saying that the game is a success for you because it really discourages casual players, is inaccessible to all but the most fanatical and that it's hostile to newcomers. Which could be a strength, I suppose, if you're not the newcomer. That
certainly jibes with
reviews I've seen of it.
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by andargor I have to show my colors and say that Eve Online, IMHO, is one of the most successful MMORPGs I've ever seen. If you define "success" as number of subscribers, then you will disagree. But it's the most rabidly fanatic player base I've ever seen. They like the game so much that they complain and moan about things that need to be fixed, but they keep coming back to the game. |
I can't name a single MMORPG that didn't have fans of that same stripe. There are still more people playing Ultima Online than Eve Online, for example. That's no measure of quality...but those are some dedicated fans, right there. I mean, even with the continual decline, they still have as many subscribers as they did in 1999. Everquest 1 has plummeted since WoW arrived, but they still command the same number of subscribers as they did in 2000. And those are some contentious fans right there...thanks to SOE's attitudes, they really have to be.
My point is, every MMORPG that I've played has a hardcore base that complains and moans but keeps coming back. Eve Online certainly has carved out a niche for itself that no one has even approached. But it's approach to gameplay is radically different than other MMORPGs in some respects and many gamers aren't looking for that experience. They're fundementally different in design and gameplay. It's a simple fact that fantasy games (whether electronic or otherwise) outsell science fiction games, generally. There are tons of folks who have no interest in spending hours searching an asteroid belt to mine some minerals in EO who would sit transfixed while looking for herbs while exploring a forest in WoW.
And yet another word from our sponsors
