Hunting for a New MMO

I’ve made no secret that I’m a bit of a diehard LOTRO player. I’m not a hardcore raider, or anything like that, but I certainly enjoy the game because it visually realizes Middle Earth in a way that really appeals to me. Places like Weathertop, the Trollshaws, the place where Durin’s Bane met his end — all these and more make the game addictive and appealing to me. After all, that’s why I’m building a new gaming rig.

But time marches on, and there are other massive multiplayer games that might spark my interest.

Game of Thrones: Seven Kingdoms

I’m a huge fan of George R. R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire. It’s spawned a successful HBO TV series, and despite long waits between new installments and ever-lengthening word counts, it still is a fantastically realised world, with relatable, human (if somewhat inhumane) characters.

Unfortunately, the game is browser-based, which is probably not a good thing. I also have reservations about how one would bring a setting steeped in politics and innuendo to a market that is obsessed with DPS and heals. I’ll watch that space, but won’t hold my breath.

Star Wars: The Old Republic

TOR is the long-awaited MMO from computer role playing giant, Bioware. I played a 7-day demo and was mildly surprised by the effect that a fully-voiced interaction can have on one’s play experience.

Gameplay was a bit run-of-the-mill, and at it’s heart it’s still very much a themepark MMO. Also detracting from my enjoyment was the piss-poor graphics engine. I had to set the game to “low” quality, and we still struggled on. LOTRO is now five years old, but the texture details are much better, and that’s all I really ask for in a game.

Nonetheless, TOR has gone free-to-play up to level 15, and my new rig will be able to give me a prettier experience, so I’m willing to give it another shot.

Elder Scrolls Online

Like many, I have a love-hate relationship with Bethesda games. The settings and stories are great, especially the sidequests. Skyrim is a breathtaking wonder. And buggy as a beehive. Just this evening, I started a new game, which crashed in the opening sequence! I have a great character in Fallout 3 that is unrecoverable because I’m in the middle of a mission and can’t go back, but moving 10 metres forward hangs the game.

Needless to say, I’m dubious and apprehensive. The above trailer is pre-rendered and gives away nothing. I’m sure the writing will be good, and the visuals fantastic, but you couldn’t persuade me to pay an ongoing subscription for a game of unpredictable stability.

Guild Wars 2

I’ll admit that I don’t know a whole lot about this franchise. I’m a little embittered by it because it is partly to blame for the collapse of my old LOTRO kin. I’ve moved on, and am willing to give GW2 a try. The visuals look awesome, with the science-fantasy feel that reminisces of Fable. If the developers deliver on everything in the above video, and keep it free to play (I presume the game itself is an upfront cost) then it might be worth checking out.

Pathfinder Online

I’m afraid I don’t have a screenshot or a video for this one. Pathfinder Online is still in the early stages of design and development. It’s a combined sandbox/themepark MMO based on the tabletop RPG, Pathfinder. I’ve played a few sessions of PF, and while I find the organised play geared towards the lowest-common-denominator hack ‘n slash, I think the setting is both broad and deep enough to sustain a good game. And to be honest, there aren’t enough sandbox MMOs.

The Goblinworks team recently raised a stunning $300k on Kickstarter, easily exceeding their $50k goal to build a tech demo, with which they will be wooing investors to further development. Whether or not it goes ahead, I’m pretty excited.

What’s your poison? Does Diablo 3 count as an MMO (it’s a very clicky third-person fantasy game)?