Comments on: The tough choices http://www.epicslant.com/2010/03/mmo-tough-choices/ MMORPG design, raiding, and guild leadership Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:50:02 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Ferrel http://www.epicslant.com/2010/03/mmo-tough-choices/comment-page-1/#comment-2997 Ferrel Tue, 23 Mar 2010 12:58:32 +0000 http://www.epicslant.com/?p=2080#comment-2997 Haha no not really. That is more of a "reality" vs "ideal" argument. In the ideal I'd like games to take a slower pace and have a lot in the middle. The problem is I don't actually see developers switching back to that mold. That is why when I look at reality I just say "screw the middle" since we're just suppose to plow through it anyway. Contrary sounding I know but it is more of a situational argument. A "well I can't have it my way" sort of thing! Haha no not really. That is more of a “reality” vs “ideal” argument. In the ideal I’d like games to take a slower pace and have a lot in the middle. The problem is I don’t actually see developers switching back to that mold. That is why when I look at reality I just say “screw the middle” since we’re just suppose to plow through it anyway. Contrary sounding I know but it is more of a situational argument. A “well I can’t have it my way” sort of thing!

]]> By: Green Armadillo http://www.epicslant.com/2010/03/mmo-tough-choices/comment-page-1/#comment-2996 Green Armadillo Tue, 23 Mar 2010 12:19:28 +0000 http://www.epicslant.com/?p=2080#comment-2996 Actually, I think it's relatively easy to make the decision to shut down a single feature that is breaking the rest of the game. Middle hard is chronically delaying a feature, like Shader 3.0, that just isn't ready. The really hard part is getting the priorities right in the first place. P.S. Minor tangent, but here's a hard choice for you: I was backlogged on podcasts and just got to the latest episode of the Multiverse over the weekend. You mentioned your post about <a href="http://www.epicslant.com/2010/03/ten-mmo-release-features/#more-2024" rel="nofollow">things a new game needs</a>, where you advised "Let the middle be thin! You can fill that in later and it is transitory. Start strong, end strong." I'd forgotten about that little tidbit, in a week where you went on to talk about how games should be redesigned to <a href="http://www.epicslant.com/2010/03/bringing-back-the-grind/#more-2048" rel="nofollow">keep most players in the middle content</a>. Guess there's no pleasing Uncle Ferrel? ;) Actually, I think it’s relatively easy to make the decision to shut down a single feature that is breaking the rest of the game. Middle hard is chronically delaying a feature, like Shader 3.0, that just isn’t ready. The really hard part is getting the priorities right in the first place.

P.S. Minor tangent, but here’s a hard choice for you:
I was backlogged on podcasts and just got to the latest episode of the Multiverse over the weekend. You mentioned your post about things a new game needs, where you advised “Let the middle be thin! You can fill that in later and it is transitory. Start strong, end strong.”

I’d forgotten about that little tidbit, in a week where you went on to talk about how games should be redesigned to keep most players in the middle content. Guess there’s no pleasing Uncle Ferrel? ;)

]]> By: We Fly Spitfires http://www.epicslant.com/2010/03/mmo-tough-choices/comment-page-1/#comment-2979 We Fly Spitfires Mon, 22 Mar 2010 20:25:09 +0000 http://www.epicslant.com/?p=2080#comment-2979 I love EQ2 and always considered it the best themepark style MMORPG there is. However, if I could change anything about the game, it would be it's stability and performance. EQ2 just feels buggy especially compared to something as slick as WoW which will run on anything. EQ2 ran badly when it came out 6 years ago and it still doesn't run well on modern PCs. It's a real shame. I love EQ2 and always considered it the best themepark style MMORPG there is. However, if I could change anything about the game, it would be it’s stability and performance. EQ2 just feels buggy especially compared to something as slick as WoW which will run on anything. EQ2 ran badly when it came out 6 years ago and it still doesn’t run well on modern PCs. It’s a real shame.

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