MMO's in 2019

[Reoh]

Stop for a moment, take the time to think about the MMO and gaming markets a decade ago; now project the reality of today in that context with what you'll expect to see in another decades time. Thats precisely what this new massively article has done and I found it quite an interesting read.

My projection, mixed gaming. Think of this hypothetical. You have a Mechwarrior MMORPG, it combines rpg/fps style combat as players, the twist of also having Battlemech based more standard rpg combat, and then aerospace with its action combat. Its a game that could let you play lots of different games all at once. The new model of cheaper games comes out, but you only have access to the game chapters you have. So if you don't want to fly around in space or run around shooting people in person and want to focus on battlemechs you can do that, but if you want it all you can collect the whole 'set'. Thats my vision for 10years from now, with photorealistic graphics and worlds that adjust on the fly to player interactions to shape the fate and content of what people play with.

[Ariya]

The idea of being able to play a lot of different games all collected in one mmo is very exiting, especially at end-game level. I always dread end level a bit... usually one only gets to pvp a lot and do high level raids over and over again untill you have godly gear. But usually it also means getting bored quickly and starting an alt or looking out for a new mmo to play. I would love to be able to use my high level character to explore some game styles I never played before like fps or a space game.

[brohawk]

Heh, I would love a Battletech MMO with the ability to be anything from an Elemental to an Aerospace pilot, or even just an engineer, politician, or better yet a Solaris jock. Bring it on in 3D too!!!

[Sente]

I also think we may see multiple games being available for us, but not necessarily within a "master game" itself. Rather I think we may see more gaming environments/platforms emerge which will handle much of the common social communication aspects (voice chat, text chat, video chat etc, profiles, event calendars, guild type organisations etc).

The borders between what may be considered "proper" MMOs today and other types of games will increasingly get blurred. Perhaps even more blurred between games and other purposes for virtual environments.

I do not believe we will see much of photo-realistic graphics, at least not for environments/platforms that are mainly targeted for gaming. I think more focus will go into more accessibility through various devices and less static environments.

Although I am not holding my breath, I would not be surprised if we see a new form of game/virtual world company. One that does not make the games themselves, but sells access to a number of different games under their umbrella. They may not be hosting the games themselves, but rather provide an extra layer to provide additional value on top of each individual game.

In the beginning the game development companies themselves will try to do this, as F2P-style companies like Frogster, Aeria, Perfect World etc are doing for their games and companies like SOE and NCSoft also are trying to do a bit for their games.

It may take longer than 10 years, but I think we will see more diversified types of companies and offerings.

[Ash]

There will be great posibilities...It makes my head hurt thinking of all of them. I really hope for a beter virtual enviroment. I would love to see more game systems get merged with true movement style of game play. The Wii components are a great start but I want clip on sensors for the rest of the body much like they use in the movies. Of course this will lead to all new medical problems with people hurting themselves jumping around the living room.

[DragonLord]

I don't know about you all but I'm pre-ordering my 6 X 4 feet in a 180 degree circle hologram monitor.

[Reoh]

Originally Posted by Ash

There will be great posibilities...It makes my head hurt thinking of all of them. I really hope for a beter virtual enviroment. I would love to see more game systems get merged with true movement style of game play. The Wii components are a great start but I want clip on sensors for the rest of the body much like they use in the movies. Of course this will lead to all new medical problems with people hurting themselves jumping around the living room.

Things like Project Natal and the Sony PS3 version are more or less doing that, but using a camera to interpret your actions without the sensors stuck all over your body.

[roob]

Originally Posted by Ash

The Wii components are a great start but I want clip on sensors for the rest of the body

by the rest of the body do you mean "everywhere" ?

i can't think of how far ahead the new technology will take us. i can remember PCs , graphics and phones from 10 years ago and they seem ancient.

i'm thinking....

Cheaper and better VR headsets perhaps with photorealistic graphics, voice activation/thought controlled interface that are linked to the interweb and global mobile phone networks (all merged by then into one). You can talk to anyone, anywhere, anytime and get both online and offline information through your headset.

Fully intergrated into the latest online games that cover various themes into one package. Global Multyiplayer Online First Person Roleplaying Strategy Shooter Simulations....

GMOFPRSSS's would cover everything from shootem ups, flight/ground vehicle sims, roleplaying an avatar through adventures and base/colony/civilization creation and management.

All for a cheap and simple price to play .... pluss microtransactions once your there to get the good stuff


This is if we get past 2013 though. (my money is on a comet)


-roob

[Reoh]

Anyone wondering about photo-realistic graphics should google DX11. In ten years time we'll all be using that if not DX12 or later. If it wasn't for nVidia being a bunch of useless sod's then DX10 would have been DX11 to begin with.

[Ashin]

I believe the game lines of MMO vs FPS vs RPG's will be blurred to combine all aspects of each world. run around as a mage throwing a spell as you look on from a 3rd person view as the warrior and his crossbow/gun uses the FPS first person viewing to target and fire his weapons.

Objects and envoronments will be feel the full inpact of the weapons and spells used. Trees will fall, mountains will retain blast inpacts and creaters wil be left. Months later you can go visit the site you had an epic battle and still see the battle scares.

This is what I see coming...