The Evolution Of Online Gaming
Even though WoW continues to dominate the MMORPG scene, the genre is growing steadily and developers are experimenting with a wide variety of settings and game mechanics, with mixed results. So far this year we've seen the launch of Star Trek Online and Global Agenda, but there are more to come.
Here are some MMORPGs we might be playing in 2010 or 2011.
Lego Universe
From Realtime Worlds, makers of the award-winning console game Crackdown, comes All Points Bulletin, a GTA-style criminal vs. enforcement battle, presumably with plenty of car chases. It will take place in the virtual city of San Paro, offering solo or group play with and against other players. Hard to say how they will make it all work, but it certainly promises to be something different. APB has seen some delays, and they are currently aiming for a fall 2010 release date in North America and Europe.
Guild Wars 2
The first iteration of Guild Wars very nearly dispensed with the rulebook on how to make an online RPG and moved away from many of the characteristics that define "massively" multiplayer games, with considerable success. The plan for Guild Wars 2, however, is to go for more of that persistent world feel while retaining a lot of the stuff that made Guild Wars so popular, like story-driven content and PvP tournaments. They also intend to stick to the same revenue model, which means no subscription fees.
Guild Wars 2
Building on the huge success of earlier Lego-inspired video games like Lego Star Wars and Lego Indiana Jones, Lego Universe will be a massively multi-player title where you can share what you create with hundreds of other players. You'll make your own Lego mini-figure and explore a large collection of your favorite Lego worlds and themes. There will be numerous ways to build with Lego blocks inside the game, and the trailer on the official site is definitely worth a look if you haven't seen it yet. Lego ninjas - how cool is that?
Final Fantasy XIV
Final Fantasy XI is around 5 years old now, and Square Enix has decided that the time is right for a new MMORPG in this franchise. Final Fantasy XIV will have slightly different races than its predecessor, and it looks like the Job System will be replaced by a more flexible Armory System, that will allow players to switch skill sets simply by switching weapons. It will still use a high fantasy setting, but players will be exploring the new lands of Eorzea rather than Vana'diel.
The Old Republic Star Wars
It's curious that no sci-fi MMORPG to date has really succeeded in becoming a smash hit. A few have arguably come quite close: notably Star Wars Galaxies and Eve Online, but sci-fi games just haven't managed to get the same sort of traction as their fantasy counterparts. If any game has the IP, funding, and development team to change that, it's Star Wars: The Old Republic. Although it is Bioware's first MMORPG, they have vast experience making both RPGs and Star Wars games. The force is strong with this one, but it's not expected to arrive until 2011.
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