TOG - The Older Gamers

Reoh · 19th March 2009, 11:04 PM

When using the term "wowclone" I would presume that what was implied was gameplay mechanics. If the game plays and feels similar to wow (or a whatever Xclone). Has similar mechanics like the pve raiding, or arena system. quest hubs and so forth. It should be taken into account however that many of the features people attribute to "wow" occured in some if not many other games prior.

sschrupp · 31st March 2009, 02:45 AM

Yeah the whole "WoW clone" attribute people throw around annoys me to no end. It's like calling every car a "Ford clone" because they all have wheels, and windows. But even that's not accurate because WoW wasn't the first game to have Humans, Elves, magic, swords, quests, etc. Let the morons feel smart by calling everything a WoW clone. WoW is fun. It's big. It's popular. So what?

My usual response? "Yeah, because WoW invented the fantasy MMORPG."

If you really want to stick it to him, show him The Realm Online, Meridian 59, Ultima Online, Asheron's Call and Everquest. And even those aren't the creators really, but probably the best examples of graphical MMORPGs that came way before WoW. Or blast him away by telling him about the first MUD (Multi-User Dungeon) game created all the way back in 1978. And when people complain about $15 a month you tell them about "Neverwinter Nights" (not the Bioware one, but the one that was on AOL) that would cost $6 an hour! Or better yet, "Island of Kesmei" on CompuServe that cost $12 an hour!

Bah humbug!

Drac · 31st March 2009, 04:47 AM

But why is WoW so big fun and more popular than all of the others?

All MMOs follow similar trends, but the reson WoW outshines so many in terms of popularity is in the clever way it was designed. You can take almost any element of WoW and deconstruct it to find rather solid and well researched design at it's core. One small example is it's classes which to many might seems like your standard mix of fantasy classes, but if you dig a little you'll see they're almost a carbon copy of Jung's list of character archetypes:

The hero: Rescuer, champion
The maiden: Purity, desire
The wise old man: Knowledge, guidance
The magician: Mysterious, powerful
The earth mother: Nature
The witch or sorceress: Dangerous
The trickster: Deceiving, hidden

Jung is a Swiss psychiatrist famous for deconstructing the nature of storytelling back in 1919 and his theories are still at the forefront of modern teachings because these archetypes resonate within all of us. I do not think it meerly concidence that these are reflected almost word for word in WoW's class design.

There are examples of this kind of compelling and seductive design in many aspects of WoW. All MMOs before this naturally gravited towards similar ideals but I think WoW was one of the first to knowingly weave so many indearing techniques into their game from the outset. Also, many MMOs since WoW still haven't picked up on a lot of these things or don't use them quite as effectively.

As large any annoying as WoW can seem you have to admit there's some truly fasinating concepts lurking under the surface.

Reoh · 31st March 2009, 10:49 AM

What WOW did best, was take elements from a number of older generation mmorpgs and bind them together, along with some solutions to problems that were uncovered. They did that pretty well. Now the reason everyone gripes is because they're waiting for the next evolvement which will do the same thing. Sure, gaming sites are always talking about 'next generation' of mmo's, but the truth is most of them are still more of the same of the second gen crop with few innovating out the problems of prior - and not necessarily succesfully.

[edit]

New Runes of Magic overview at Massively,s peaking about whats coming in the future.

http://www.massively.com/2009/03/30/...more-in-store/

Judas · 1st April 2009, 09:05 AM

Hi Ive just picked up this game & started playing it never really played WOW but i like the feel of rune of magic

Just asking does anyone here play this game ??

Reoh · 1st April 2009, 01:05 PM

I haven't played this one myself.

sschrupp · 1st April 2009, 01:24 PM

I played it a little bit and did find it pretty fun. I'm just currently floating around different games until something really snags my attention or I get enough free time to really invest in one.