Where are the non-fantasy MMO's?

Lyrical · 07-25-2006, 02:26 PM

A picture is worth a thousand words. Fantasy MMO's dominate the MMO market now. Personally, if I kill another moss snake, orc or gnoll, I am going to puke.

Will we ever see some decent non-fantasy MMO's that get decent subscriber bases? When will we see a higher market share for non-fantasy MMO's? Other than City of Heroes (and maybe Eve Online), I don't think any MMO in the non-fantasy genre is above 100k subs presently.

Lately, both SOE and Blizzard have spoken about the rising cost of MMO's. I think Smed said an MMO like Eq2 would run in the range of $40 million, and Blizzard has issued press releases saying that the cost of new MMO's is about $55 million (after the euro to dollar translation). Correct me on this if I am wrong, since I am remembering these numbers from memory.

I am thinking we are going to see less entrants in the non-fantasy genre, as the cost of MMO's keeps going up. Businesspeople (i.e., the ones with the funding for MMO's) tend to go with the herd. Why take a risk in a growing market, when games with large sub bases (WoW, Lineage 1 and 2 and Final Fantasy) have proven you can do well with the fantasy genre? Along the same lines, as MMO development costs go up, won't we start seeing less diversity in general? If I am funding a few million dollars, won't I be less risk averse than if I am funding $50 million for a product that won't hit the market for four years?

If you are a developer with an idea for a non-fantasy MMO, how do you convince the businesspeople to commit $40M to 55M on your new idea? You don't have too many success stories to point out. Those with the funds have a ton of projects they can choose from, but a limited amount of funds. They look at things like ROI and projected time to payback. How the hell do you payback $40M with under 100k subs? I know some people on this board seem to think that number of subs doesn't matter as long as you can pay your current costs. In the real world, if you consistently do not meet ROI or payback, you won't be working in the MMO industry for long.

Personally, I would like to see an MMO with just martial arts. Instead of classes, you get different fighting styles. I would love to see a good futuristic MMO with cyborgs, cybernetic implants and lots of lasers. Please don't say AO. I have an AO account, and every time I look at the graphics, I want to stab my eyes out with a rusty fork. Also, how about some twitch based MMO's? The list goes on and on about what can be done, but when you have new MMO's like Auto Assault being released (and rumored to not have reached 10k subs), it doesn't bode well for non-fantasy games imho.

Valorale · 07-25-2006, 02:44 PM

If Blizzard doesnt have anything in the works to make Starcraft into an MMO, then i'd say thats just more marketshare they could be dominating that they arent.
Take a game like Eve, cleverly put together space game, tweak it with your typical Blizzard polish and finish, add some large scale NPC targets, I think you could have a financially successful game on your hand.

Vorph · 07-25-2006, 02:51 PM

I hope that Blizzard does release World of Starcraft, because even if I play it and have zero interest in it just like WoW, at least it will a guaranteed success in a subgenre of MMOs that has never had any real success at all. Maybe then a company that is able to make a great game might be able to find other people with a huge budget willing to take a risk. Right now it just seems there have been too many failures in non-fantasy mmo's for anyone worth a shit to consider making one.

ZeckEQ · 07-25-2006, 02:54 PM

Think it has less to do with genre and more to do with just making a non-shitty/appealing non-fantasy MMO. The track record so far in this area is pretty sad. Several had a shot, but just fucked themselves with their launch (AO) or on going management (SWG).

Izuldan · 07-25-2006, 03:26 PM

Is Tabula Rasa considered fantasy or no? It has fantasy elements, but seems to also have a fair amount of sci-fi in it.

Exmonk · 07-25-2006, 03:28 PM

It will also be interesting to see if Bioware is making a Sci-Fi Kotor like mmo or fantasy.

Zehn - Vhex · 07-25-2006, 03:39 PM

Because pretty much the rest of the genre is dominated by games with free online play.

Cuppycake · 07-25-2006, 04:30 PM

I am not interested in any MMO games that aren't fantasy-based personally. *shrug* I'm just not interested in space or martial arts...I love me some elves, dwarves and gnomes!!!!

Yermum Onceme · 07-25-2006, 04:50 PM

I'd love a realistic genre.

No magic, no aliens, no bullshit. Maybe a medieval setting, ancient, renaissance, whatever... just fuck elves honestly.

Soygen · 07-25-2006, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yermum Onceme

I'd love a realistic genre.

No magic, no aliens, no bullshit.

Fuck that. That's called real life. Why would I want to play that when I live it?

Kuro · 07-25-2006, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yermum Onceme

I'd love a realistic genre.

No magic, no aliens, no bullshit. Maybe a medieval setting, ancient, renaissance, whatever... just fuck elves honestly.

Sims Online!

/dodge

Hatorade · 07-25-2006, 05:02 PM

Still waiting for the ninja pirates robots vampire and werewolf mmo

Cadrid · 07-25-2006, 05:03 PM

I think Red 5 Studios is working on a next-gen MMO that isn't fantasy-based. There are hardly any details (since they only recently aquired the engine they're using for its development) but I get the impression that they're going for a sci-fi MMO.

Blargius_FR · 07-25-2006, 05:20 PM

www.neocron.com

Unfortunately, I think the user base for the game is something like 1000 and that's being generous.

I love everything about this game. The fps almost-twitch gameplay, the very deep crafting system, GUNS and DRUGS, cyber implants, and truly frightening technological ideas and enemies. All of this is wrapped up in a delicious post apocalyptic wasteland seperated by two giant city-nations that hate each other.

Sounds, good eh? It's utter shit due to the fact the only servers are in Germany (good luck in PvP against the krauts), and the graphics look like a puked up Quake 2 mod. I played the shit out of it and got a capped character, but the huge ping is what made me quit for good.

I wish a real developer would just completely steal every one of thier good ideas and make a decent game out of it with servers in America.

Nevergone · 07-25-2006, 05:26 PM

I can't remember the name of the game, or the development ouse that is working on it, but isn't the a zombie vs. human game coming out? I remember seeing screenshots of it a while back, looked a lot like Resident Evil : Online...which isn't such a bad idea either.

I would do a search but since I'm on my Q - I'm too lazy.

07-25-2006, 02:44 PM	#2 (permalink)
Valorale Not an 05 Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 230 +0 Internets	If Blizzard doesnt have anything in the works to make Starcraft into an MMO, then i'd say thats just more marketshare they could be dominating that they arent. Take a game like Eve, cleverly put together space game, tweak it with your typical Blizzard polish and finish, add some large scale NPC targets, I think you could have a financially successful game on your hand. __________________ Valorale - 70 Rogue - Medivh Vindikael - 70 Ranger - Bertoxx Retired

07-25-2006, 02:51 PM	#3 (permalink)
Vorph Never Go Full Retard Join Date: May 2002 Location: Hell Posts: 5,710	I hope that Blizzard does release World of Starcraft, because even if I play it and have zero interest in it just like WoW, at least it will a guaranteed success in a subgenre of MMOs that has never had any real success at all. Maybe then a company that is able to make a great game might be able to find other people with a huge budget willing to take a risk. Right now it just seems there have been too many failures in non-fantasy mmo's for anyone worth a shit to consider making one. __________________

07-25-2006, 04:30 PM	#8 (permalink)
Cuppycake Plugged In Like Neo Join Date: May 2005 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 2,083	I am not interested in any MMO games that aren't fantasy-based personally. shrug I'm just not interested in space or martial arts...I love me some elves, dwarves and gnomes!!!! __________________ Metaplace - Nothing I say here represents my employer, legalblahdiddyblah.

07-25-2006, 05:02 PM	#12 (permalink)
Hatorade Cause its better then water. Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 6,675 +23 Internets	Still waiting for the ninja pirates robots vampire and werewolf mmo __________________ www.houseforsaken.com reopened recruitment.

07-25-2006, 05:20 PM	#14 (permalink)
Blargius_FR Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: YCS Bitch Posts: 100 +0 Internets	www.neocron.com Unfortunately, I think the user base for the game is something like 1000 and that's being generous. I love everything about this game. The fps almost-twitch gameplay, the very deep crafting system, GUNS and DRUGS, cyber implants, and truly frightening technological ideas and enemies. All of this is wrapped up in a delicious post apocalyptic wasteland seperated by two giant city-nations that hate each other. Sounds, good eh? It's utter shit due to the fact the only servers are in Germany (good luck in PvP against the krauts), and the graphics look like a puked up Quake 2 mod. I played the shit out of it and got a capped character, but the huge ping is what made me quit for good. I wish a real developer would just completely steal every one of thier good ideas and make a decent game out of it with servers in America. __________________ Love, Blargius_FR

07-25-2006, 02:54 PM	#4 (permalink)
ZeckEQ Registered User Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 204 +0 Internets	Think it has less to do with genre and more to do with just making a non-shitty/appealing non-fantasy MMO. The track record so far in this area is pretty sad. Several had a shot, but just fucked themselves with their launch (AO) or on going management (SWG).

07-25-2006, 03:26 PM	#5 (permalink)
Izuldan Registered User Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 213 +0 Internets	Is Tabula Rasa considered fantasy or no? It has fantasy elements, but seems to also have a fair amount of sci-fi in it.

07-25-2006, 03:28 PM	#6 (permalink)
Exmonk Banned Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 154 +0 Internets	It will also be interesting to see if Bioware is making a Sci-Fi Kotor like mmo or fantasy.

07-25-2006, 03:39 PM	#7 (permalink)
Zehn - Vhex Lord of the Dance Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 6,464 +62 Internets	Because pretty much the rest of the genre is dominated by games with free online play.

07-25-2006, 04:50 PM	#9 (permalink)
Yermum Onceme Banned Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: PA Posts: 1,523 +0 Internets	I'd love a realistic genre. No magic, no aliens, no bullshit. Maybe a medieval setting, ancient, renaissance, whatever... just fuck elves honestly.

07-25-2006, 05:03 PM	#13 (permalink)
Cadrid Registered User Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Acton, Massachusetts Posts: 1,671 +2 Internets	I think Red 5 Studios is working on a next-gen MMO that isn't fantasy-based. There are hardly any details (since they only recently aquired the engine they're using for its development) but I get the impression that they're going for a sci-fi MMO.

07-25-2006, 05:26 PM	#15 (permalink)
Nevergone Is Not A Happy Bunny Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 566 +0 Internets	I can't remember the name of the game, or the development ouse that is working on it, but isn't the a zombie vs. human game coming out? I remember seeing screenshots of it a while back, looked a lot like Resident Evil : Online...which isn't such a bad idea either. I would do a search but since I'm on my Q - I'm too lazy.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes	Rate This Thread
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode	Rate This Thread: