Post by Morreion on Dec 29, 2018 13:14:37 GMT -5
Perfect Ten: The biggest MMO surprises of 2018
Trion Worlds closes, sells off its MMO library
There are some closures that you could see coming from a mile away, but the rapid collapse and dissolution of Trion Worlds was not one that most fans predicted. The studio had been a fairly strong tentpole within the MMO community, fielding a wide range of games that should have kept the studio afloat due to its diverse portfolio. But the still-unknown saga of financial woes going on behind the scene apparently contributed to a fire sale to Gamigo back in October, sending shockwaves through Trion’s communities.
Diablo Immortal. Just everything about it.
Speaking of missed opportunities, Blizzard drummed up hype and expectations for a massive Diablo reveal at BlizzCon — and then completely misread its core audience by bounding out with a mobile game that PC players clearly did not want. While it might be a smart financial move in the long run, Blizzard walked away from the convention with a black eye and a whole lot of regret. At least we got a couple fun memes out of it.
Lord of the Rings Online opens up not one, but two progression servers
Middle-earth inhabitants craving something new to do were (by and large) delighted when Standing Stone Games announced that it would be opening up a pair of progression servers that would foster a community of players that wanted to go back through the entire game together. While a massive initial success, the servers have since calmed down as players await the next unlock.
There are some closures that you could see coming from a mile away, but the rapid collapse and dissolution of Trion Worlds was not one that most fans predicted. The studio had been a fairly strong tentpole within the MMO community, fielding a wide range of games that should have kept the studio afloat due to its diverse portfolio. But the still-unknown saga of financial woes going on behind the scene apparently contributed to a fire sale to Gamigo back in October, sending shockwaves through Trion’s communities.
Diablo Immortal. Just everything about it.
Speaking of missed opportunities, Blizzard drummed up hype and expectations for a massive Diablo reveal at BlizzCon — and then completely misread its core audience by bounding out with a mobile game that PC players clearly did not want. While it might be a smart financial move in the long run, Blizzard walked away from the convention with a black eye and a whole lot of regret. At least we got a couple fun memes out of it.
Lord of the Rings Online opens up not one, but two progression servers
Middle-earth inhabitants craving something new to do were (by and large) delighted when Standing Stone Games announced that it would be opening up a pair of progression servers that would foster a community of players that wanted to go back through the entire game together. While a massive initial success, the servers have since calmed down as players await the next unlock.
Massively OP’s 2018 Awards: Best MMO Trend of 2018
Progression Servers
Brianna Royce (@nbrianna, blog): Progression servers. I felt like this was a really easy call this year because so, so many games got them, from RIFT and LOTRO to Age of Conan and even a rumor of one on the way for DDO. And let’s not forget WoW Classic is still cooking! I realize this isn’t an old idea at all; Ultima Online and EverQuest have had oddball servers like these for ages, but I’m thrilled to see developers both figuring out ways to keep these games going and tapping into older-school aesthetics to do it. For a lot of gamers, these servers are their only opportunity to peek into the games of the past, while for others, it’s like going home.
Brianna Royce (@nbrianna, blog): Progression servers. I felt like this was a really easy call this year because so, so many games got them, from RIFT and LOTRO to Age of Conan and even a rumor of one on the way for DDO. And let’s not forget WoW Classic is still cooking! I realize this isn’t an old idea at all; Ultima Online and EverQuest have had oddball servers like these for ages, but I’m thrilled to see developers both figuring out ways to keep these games going and tapping into older-school aesthetics to do it. For a lot of gamers, these servers are their only opportunity to peek into the games of the past, while for others, it’s like going home.
Massively OP’s 2018 Awards: Best MMO Player Housing of 2018
EverQuest II and RIFT
Brianna Royce (@nbrianna, blog): Here’s the thing: A lot of big MMOs have housing now. But most of them treat it as a vanity toy, an achievement thing, a cash shop cow, a farming zone. Older games still have the best MMORPG housing, the kind where the housing is super intricate and meaningful and creative. I couldn’t decide between RIFT and EverQuest II, so I’m happy with either one winning. My runner-up is Trove, more for its club islands than its actual individual player houses. I’ve had so much fun building in there this year.
Chris Neal (@wolfyseyes, blog): EverQuest II and RIFT. I have not personally experience the housing systems in either of these games, but the footage I’ve seen shared and the creativity on display is definitely something to behold. Few things make one feel as connected to a game world as owning a small piece of it, and these two titles make sure your carved-out piece is able to stand out.
Eliot Lefebvre (@eliot_Lefebvre, blog): For all that I make fun of EverQuest II having the artistic direction of a kid filing off the serial numbers on Tolkien-esque fantasy, the game sure does have a heck of a housing system. For that matter, so does RIFT. Considering the woes of both companies running these games, I hope to heck these games are both still here next year.
Brianna Royce (@nbrianna, blog): Here’s the thing: A lot of big MMOs have housing now. But most of them treat it as a vanity toy, an achievement thing, a cash shop cow, a farming zone. Older games still have the best MMORPG housing, the kind where the housing is super intricate and meaningful and creative. I couldn’t decide between RIFT and EverQuest II, so I’m happy with either one winning. My runner-up is Trove, more for its club islands than its actual individual player houses. I’ve had so much fun building in there this year.
Chris Neal (@wolfyseyes, blog): EverQuest II and RIFT. I have not personally experience the housing systems in either of these games, but the footage I’ve seen shared and the creativity on display is definitely something to behold. Few things make one feel as connected to a game world as owning a small piece of it, and these two titles make sure your carved-out piece is able to stand out.
Eliot Lefebvre (@eliot_Lefebvre, blog): For all that I make fun of EverQuest II having the artistic direction of a kid filing off the serial numbers on Tolkien-esque fantasy, the game sure does have a heck of a housing system. For that matter, so does RIFT. Considering the woes of both companies running these games, I hope to heck these games are both still here next year.
Massively OP’s 2018 Awards: Best Indie or Crowdfunded MMO of 2018
Project Gorgon
Andrew Ross (@dengarsw): Project Gorgon. If other games could run with their ideas placed under a better art style, the genre would probably feel like it was moving forward, rather than crawling at times. It’s “innovative” not in the sales pitch kind of way some readers may be used to from the media but in a “there’s some good humor behind making this weird mechanic feel like it adds something to a persistent world” kind of way.
Brianna Royce (@nbrianna, blog): Project Gorgon. If I could’ve whipped up a faction to feasibly call this one MMO of the year, I would have gone for it, but I’m settling for best indie. The breadth and depth of this game is mind-blowing.
Chris Neal (@wolfyseyes, blog): I have not played Project Gorgon in a very long time, but the fact that this title just keeps coming up now and again in generally appreciative and happy tones makes me consider taking a significantly closer look. Word of mouth is a powerful force and very obviously Gorgon has cultivated a following for very good reasons.
Matt Daniel (@matt_DanielMVOP): Project Gorgon. As many others have undoubtedly noted, Project Gorgon is a very unique creature in the MMO space. I challenge you to name even one other game that has a skill related to dying and the ability to play the game as a cow, should you so desire.
MJ Guthrie (@mj_Guthrie, blog): I can definitely get behind Project Gorgon for this award. What an interesting, ambitious little title that started with just two people! And you can play as a cow (among other things). This is just too unique not to give it a gold star. Right on the cow’s nose.
Andrew Ross (@dengarsw): Project Gorgon. If other games could run with their ideas placed under a better art style, the genre would probably feel like it was moving forward, rather than crawling at times. It’s “innovative” not in the sales pitch kind of way some readers may be used to from the media but in a “there’s some good humor behind making this weird mechanic feel like it adds something to a persistent world” kind of way.
Brianna Royce (@nbrianna, blog): Project Gorgon. If I could’ve whipped up a faction to feasibly call this one MMO of the year, I would have gone for it, but I’m settling for best indie. The breadth and depth of this game is mind-blowing.
Chris Neal (@wolfyseyes, blog): I have not played Project Gorgon in a very long time, but the fact that this title just keeps coming up now and again in generally appreciative and happy tones makes me consider taking a significantly closer look. Word of mouth is a powerful force and very obviously Gorgon has cultivated a following for very good reasons.
Matt Daniel (@matt_DanielMVOP): Project Gorgon. As many others have undoubtedly noted, Project Gorgon is a very unique creature in the MMO space. I challenge you to name even one other game that has a skill related to dying and the ability to play the game as a cow, should you so desire.
MJ Guthrie (@mj_Guthrie, blog): I can definitely get behind Project Gorgon for this award. What an interesting, ambitious little title that started with just two people! And you can play as a cow (among other things). This is just too unique not to give it a gold star. Right on the cow’s nose.
Massively OP’s 2018 Awards: MMORPG of the Year
Final Fantasy XIV
Eliot Lefebvre (@eliot_Lefebvre, blog): Final Fantasy XIV suffers from the Usagi Yojimbo problem. The game is not just good, but so consistently good that it’s hard to find new things to say about it. It’s a brilliant, beautiful, wonderful game, full of stuff to do, and I came back from this year’s fan festival excited to play it not just from anticipation but because the convention reminded me of how much I already like it. Seriously, this is another one not worth sleeping on, and it’s just been consistently delivering good updates the whole year through. When your biggest criticism of a game is that this year’s huge sprawling set of new zones in a new content style was more contentious than the last expansion? It’s going well.
MJ Guthrie (@mj_Guthrie, blog): As much as I can’t answer for our floppy/stormy outlook category, I also find it hard to answer Game of the Year for MMOs. Part of that is how dang disappointing MMORPGs have been over the last few (many?)years. That said, I am still impressed with how Final Fantasy XIV keeps trucking along, with devs and a studio head who take responsibility for actions and work hard to deliver a good product. And deliver they do! Without scandals, black-eyes, and nefarious shenanigans. That’s a huge plus. I may not play personally (though if there were a few more non-sub days to sneak in I would!), but the enthusiasm of staff who do is great. My one complaint would be the housing issues because I don’t want to get invested in a game I can’t get a house for, and I’d never get one there.
Eliot Lefebvre (@eliot_Lefebvre, blog): Final Fantasy XIV suffers from the Usagi Yojimbo problem. The game is not just good, but so consistently good that it’s hard to find new things to say about it. It’s a brilliant, beautiful, wonderful game, full of stuff to do, and I came back from this year’s fan festival excited to play it not just from anticipation but because the convention reminded me of how much I already like it. Seriously, this is another one not worth sleeping on, and it’s just been consistently delivering good updates the whole year through. When your biggest criticism of a game is that this year’s huge sprawling set of new zones in a new content style was more contentious than the last expansion? It’s going well.
MJ Guthrie (@mj_Guthrie, blog): As much as I can’t answer for our floppy/stormy outlook category, I also find it hard to answer Game of the Year for MMOs. Part of that is how dang disappointing MMORPGs have been over the last few (many?)years. That said, I am still impressed with how Final Fantasy XIV keeps trucking along, with devs and a studio head who take responsibility for actions and work hard to deliver a good product. And deliver they do! Without scandals, black-eyes, and nefarious shenanigans. That’s a huge plus. I may not play personally (though if there were a few more non-sub days to sneak in I would!), but the enthusiasm of staff who do is great. My one complaint would be the housing issues because I don’t want to get invested in a game I can’t get a house for, and I’d never get one there.
More awards can be found here.
