Carrot on a Stick
Binds when picked up
Trinket..................Miscellaneous
Equip: Increases mount speed by 3%.
May 29, 2007
just a short WoW rant
/who World of Warcraft
Carrot on a Stick
Binds when picked up
Trinket..................Miscellaneous
Equip: Increases mount speed by 3%.
Carrot on a Stick
Binds when picked up
Trinket..................Miscellaneous
Equip: Increases mount speed by 3%.
May 22, 2007
gold farming
Well this is interesting. The table in the middle claims that another reason for the demise of Sigil was their bug-handling concerning gold farmers. While Sigil started with a zero tolerance strategy, it states that as they couldn't get rid of a dupe-bug (cloning items by a caused zone crash oder zone server reboot), prices for gold farming services were minimal, and the game and crafting economy collapsed.
Blizzard is now even considering to sue gold farmers (y'know, they don't like them Chinese, only them Koreans).
So yeah, gold farmers are evil. Nothing new. What about a different approach?
What the gold farmers do is exploiting existing game mechanics, nothing more. If a MMO publisher wants to avoid gold farming, it has to make sure it doesn't implement the according mechanics. Or introducing mechanics that make it hard for gold farmers to do their job.
Blizzard is now even considering to sue gold farmers (y'know, they don't like them Chinese, only them Koreans).
So yeah, gold farmers are evil. Nothing new. What about a different approach?
What the gold farmers do is exploiting existing game mechanics, nothing more. If a MMO publisher wants to avoid gold farming, it has to make sure it doesn't implement the according mechanics. Or introducing mechanics that make it hard for gold farmers to do their job.
May 19, 2007
Starcraft II
So... it's, surprise, surprise: Starcraft II.
I won't comment on the title but rather talk about certain decisions Blizzard made. And there are PROs and CONs.
PROs
First of all, they continue a successful brand and develop their own IP further – nothing you can really blame them for. It has worked before, the setting, units, and characters are recognizable,... Second, Blizzard will provide tools that enable the players to customize their UI, which was already a smart move on World of Warcraft: it enhances sub-communities, learning (scripting languages, UI design,...), and adds additional player-driven game-depth. They are re-using code, e.g. the Protoss stalker will be able to blink (Warden spell from Warcraft III). It'll be released when it's „fun, balanced, and polished“. They'll overhaul battle.net for an even better multiplayer experience. Multiple cinematics incoming, yay. Starcraft II will be PC-only, no more console experiments [1]. The engine will be very scalable so that the game runs on a wide range of computer systems.
CONs
Starcraft II will be a „fast paced real-time strategy game“ and „fast-paced“ results in stress and strive for perfection when you want to be successful on battle.net. It's about being quick, not necessarily being smart / strategic / tactical. The description of the Protoss units sounds tactically promising, though. Ingame-ads might be introduced – at least the techniques for it seem to be implemented. The Protoss look like the Draenei [1]. No new race, just new units and abilities. Overall, I haven't found anything new yet, nothing innovative. Which again is nothing new since I don't know of any innovation that Blizzard introduced.
[1] thought contributed by Tzirrit
I won't comment on the title but rather talk about certain decisions Blizzard made. And there are PROs and CONs.
PROs
First of all, they continue a successful brand and develop their own IP further – nothing you can really blame them for. It has worked before, the setting, units, and characters are recognizable,... Second, Blizzard will provide tools that enable the players to customize their UI, which was already a smart move on World of Warcraft: it enhances sub-communities, learning (scripting languages, UI design,...), and adds additional player-driven game-depth. They are re-using code, e.g. the Protoss stalker will be able to blink (Warden spell from Warcraft III). It'll be released when it's „fun, balanced, and polished“. They'll overhaul battle.net for an even better multiplayer experience. Multiple cinematics incoming, yay. Starcraft II will be PC-only, no more console experiments [1]. The engine will be very scalable so that the game runs on a wide range of computer systems.
CONs
Starcraft II will be a „fast paced real-time strategy game“ and „fast-paced“ results in stress and strive for perfection when you want to be successful on battle.net. It's about being quick, not necessarily being smart / strategic / tactical. The description of the Protoss units sounds tactically promising, though. Ingame-ads might be introduced – at least the techniques for it seem to be implemented. The Protoss look like the Draenei [1]. No new race, just new units and abilities. Overall, I haven't found anything new yet, nothing innovative. Which again is nothing new since I don't know of any innovation that Blizzard introduced.
[1] thought contributed by Tzirrit
May 16, 2007
Ex-Sigil Interview on F13
Epic interview. This explains just about everything concerning what went wrong with Vanguard / what can go wrong concerning MMO / game development.
In short: during the Microsoft years, they handed over fake demos to their investor. As the investor (Microsoft) found out, they got out ASAP. Management was apparently quite... unsensitive regarding funding („Oh well we'll get it done and financed somehow...“). So was SOE. When they took over, they just put some money in. They weren't really involved, meaning they seemingly didn't really care to find out why Sigil was looking for new funding midst in development. This may be due to Brad McQuaid being „one hell of a salesman...“.
The producer thought WoW was a bummer – he didn't really KNOW it though cause he never played it. McQuaid didn't communicate important (any?) news to his colleagues. Overall, every decision maker behaved like an arrogant monarch, didn't really care about the opinions of those who were actually making the game, and didn't dare to help in any kind. For example they didn't see a need for a scripting language tool even though everybody demanded it thus severly hindering game development. And resulting in 9+ months crunch mode.
Problems were ignored. Not fixed. Because the one in charge was „one hell of a salesman...“ and „passionate“, but not rational and realistic, he didn't even know about the actual state of the game. When he played the beta, he realized what was going on – and ran away like prey. And the new management was scared to make decisions.
After all this mis-management, people were told to gather at the parking lot after work by email (!) – and then emotionless told that they were all fired, with some having the chance to be re-hired by SOE. Brad McQuaid wasn't there.
Right now, Vanguard has around 90,000 subscriptions and sold 200,000 copies of the game. That is 6,000,000€ out of sales and about 1,100,1000€ / month. The development of Vanguard cost Microsoft about $30,000,000, I'd suggest Sigil probably paid round about $10,000,000.
Well, let's end with a legendary quote:
In short: during the Microsoft years, they handed over fake demos to their investor. As the investor (Microsoft) found out, they got out ASAP. Management was apparently quite... unsensitive regarding funding („Oh well we'll get it done and financed somehow...“). So was SOE. When they took over, they just put some money in. They weren't really involved, meaning they seemingly didn't really care to find out why Sigil was looking for new funding midst in development. This may be due to Brad McQuaid being „one hell of a salesman...“.
The producer thought WoW was a bummer – he didn't really KNOW it though cause he never played it. McQuaid didn't communicate important (any?) news to his colleagues. Overall, every decision maker behaved like an arrogant monarch, didn't really care about the opinions of those who were actually making the game, and didn't dare to help in any kind. For example they didn't see a need for a scripting language tool even though everybody demanded it thus severly hindering game development. And resulting in 9+ months crunch mode.
Problems were ignored. Not fixed. Because the one in charge was „one hell of a salesman...“ and „passionate“, but not rational and realistic, he didn't even know about the actual state of the game. When he played the beta, he realized what was going on – and ran away like prey. And the new management was scared to make decisions.
After all this mis-management, people were told to gather at the parking lot after work by email (!) – and then emotionless told that they were all fired, with some having the chance to be re-hired by SOE. Brad McQuaid wasn't there.
Right now, Vanguard has around 90,000 subscriptions and sold 200,000 copies of the game. That is 6,000,000€ out of sales and about 1,100,1000€ / month. The development of Vanguard cost Microsoft about $30,000,000, I'd suggest Sigil probably paid round about $10,000,000.
Well, let's end with a legendary quote:
f13.net: How was QA treated through the course of development?
Ex-Sigil: QA?
f13.net: QA.
Ex-Sigil: QA was one person up until about November... ONE.
f13.net: What.
Ex-Sigil: 100% serious.
f13.net: What? How? This is an MMOG.
Ex-Sigil: Vanguard had one internal tester for probably 95% of the design cycle.
I have been wii'd
I just played "wii-sports" on the Nintendo Wii console. Wii has one main weakness. Which is that the avatar's actions aren't predictable.
Example: if I, the player, physically imitate a backhand, I demand from the game that it executes a backhand. In my play, many of my actions weren't performed as I demanded.
Nice idea but the programm code lacks in precise execution of the players actions.
Still a nice idea in my head to play tennis in a large living room, with two TVs and two players each in front of a screen bashing an invisible tennis ball. ;-)
Example: if I, the player, physically imitate a backhand, I demand from the game that it executes a backhand. In my play, many of my actions weren't performed as I demanded.
Nice idea but the programm code lacks in precise execution of the players actions.
Still a nice idea in my head to play tennis in a large living room, with two TVs and two players each in front of a screen bashing an invisible tennis ball. ;-)
May 15, 2007
May 12, 2007
Hellgate: London
Did you like Diablo II? Remember the retarded search for inventory space, mules, and places to store your Gems and Runes? Well, the designers from the Flagship Studios found a solution! In their upcoming title, Hellgate: London, for only 9.95$ per month you can buy additional stash space!
You like socialising and communicating with other players in a social network environment? Go found a guild, it only costs you 9.95 HLM [Hellgate London Monnies] per month!
You like PvP, hardcore difficulty, or roleplay? Count to ten, spare some cents for soda and send the rest to Flagship!
You like your personal e-penis? Great, then transfer nine-ninety-five to get access to uber elite items. But don't forget to pay regularly or your rares will be frozen.
No. There are NO 2nd class players.
Oops, pardon me. My mistake. It's just "new content", nothing more. My bad.
You like socialising and communicating with other players in a social network environment? Go found a guild, it only costs you 9.95 HLM [Hellgate London Monnies] per month!
You like PvP, hardcore difficulty, or roleplay? Count to ten, spare some cents for soda and send the rest to Flagship!
You like your personal e-penis? Great, then transfer nine-ninety-five to get access to uber elite items. But don't forget to pay regularly or your rares will be frozen.
No. There are NO 2nd class players.
Oops, pardon me. My mistake. It's just "new content", nothing more. My bad.
May 11, 2007
Funcom
I'm starting to like these guys.
First of all, there's Age of Conan which looks and sounds great. A game I'm really looking forward to. I like the barbarian setting, the combat style and the PvP Features (Sieges!).
And then there was this interesting marketing campaign for their lately announced follow-up MMO on Age of Conan, 'the Secret World'. And yet another promising setting (real-world conspiracy theories).
Plus, they are using the AoC-Engine for 'the secret world' which is smart from an organisational point of view, using the powerful in-house engine a second time.
First of all, there's Age of Conan which looks and sounds great. A game I'm really looking forward to. I like the barbarian setting, the combat style and the PvP Features (Sieges!).
And then there was this interesting marketing campaign for their lately announced follow-up MMO on Age of Conan, 'the Secret World'. And yet another promising setting (real-world conspiracy theories).
Plus, they are using the AoC-Engine for 'the secret world' which is smart from an organisational point of view, using the powerful in-house engine a second time.
May 09, 2007
$econd Life
"Your World. Your Imagination."?
Something is missing... Let's see... 144,510 players had a positive monthly Linden dollar flow, 302,665 spent money ingame (April 2007). Thus, at least 158,155 players lost money within the last month playing Second Life.
"Your world. Your Imagination. Your Moneys."
Thank you. $incerely your$,
Linden Re$earch, Inc.
Something is missing... Let's see... 144,510 players had a positive monthly Linden dollar flow, 302,665 spent money ingame (April 2007). Thus, at least 158,155 players lost money within the last month playing Second Life.
"Your world. Your Imagination. Your Moneys."
Thank you. $incerely your$,
Linden Re$earch, Inc.
May 08, 2007
Impatience
"Mummy? I wanna know it NOW!"
Alright then. They are developing a game that will be hard to enter...
... but easy to hamster.
Happy Now? Great. Then get the hell back to business!
Alright then. They are developing a game that will be hard to enter...
... but easy to hamster.
Happy Now? Great. Then get the hell back to business!
Sanya Weathers leaves WAR
May 02, 2007
the hamster and the tomb
More rants incoming:
- I have to correct myself: WoW is not a hamster wheel, it's a hamster pyramid.
- Vanguard - R.I.P.. (additional info)
- Err... is that "next-gen MMO" the one you are planning to relaunch? A short hint for those who are considering to apply: you cannot set sail with a boat that doesn't have a mast.
- you better always stay in character.
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