Comments on: Could this be the perfect housing MMO?

By: rmikealm

rmikealm — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 14:12:31 +0000

Sounds an awful lot like The Sims Online – although many would have argued with the ‘G’ part of calling that title a “game”…. But the “house” was, of course, the focus of the game and all its activities (skilling, making money, socializing, etc.). Now, to layer that on top of a more active game like WoW…. hm! sounds intriguing…

By: spinks

spinks — Sun, 31 May 2009 15:37:27 +0000

I agree, totally. We don’t really know how they’d expect players to interact in a game like this, and the downside to a permanent strategy based world is the risk that the losers eventually are run off because the winners keep getting more and more advantages.

But I do like that it’s a very different model from the standard DIKU/quest kind of thing, and I’m definitely going to keep an eye on it to see where they’re going.

By: We Fly Spitfires

We Fly Spitfires — Sun, 31 May 2009 10:22:05 +0000

Player cities are very cool but impossibly hard to do right. You need a hugely complex gameworld, mechanics and open PvP to make it work and be interesting.

Still, I love new ideas in MMORPGs and admire their vision! Looking forward to seeing more about it.

By: skarbd

skarbd — Sun, 31 May 2009 09:02:32 +0000

Interesting, one to keep an eye on.

By: Tesh

Tesh — Sat, 30 May 2009 14:55:14 +0000

I thoroughly enjoyed the Castle games a decade ago. There’s something very satisfying about running your own little fiefdom, complete with an unassailable fortress.

…and now I’m reminded of the castle deathtrap in Girl Genius. A game that gave me *that* sort of castle to upgrade and customize, complete with ruffians to attend to, would make me a happy camper indeed.

That said, they play very well as single player games. Would an insular game like a castle game really work as an MMO? What impetus is there for players to interact beyond tossing Monty Python insults at neighbors, hiding behind their walls? This may especially be a concern if location and space are issues; if you get plunked down next to a couple of jerk neighbors, what then?

I do think it could be interesting, but there are some very real design concerns I have. I’m curious to see what they will do. Thanks for the link!

By: Stabs

Stabs — Sat, 30 May 2009 11:12:51 +0000

Finally! Fantasy Eve. I don’t believe 2010 for a moment but when it eventually rolls along I think I’ll be giving this one a try. Hope it turns out as political as Eve is.