Areae's Metaplace announced

[QforQ]

This reminds me a bit of Little Big Planet, without the cuteness :P

[Zehn - Vhex]

I'm already making Furry world and Rape world. Anyone want to go halfsies with me on it?

[Goltana_R-Zek]

Abhorrent Taboo or Vile Anathema shall now have a field day with this site, creating an 'mmo' purely based on ageplay, bestiality, watersports, child birth and the like, with full levelling trees and scaling gameplay!

Edit: Damn it Zehn, stealing my thunder!

[Cuppycake]

Originally Posted by Plorkyeran

MMORPG 2.0 - You make the content, we make the money.

As a clarification to this - I want to make sure that you know of the revenue possibilities for the user as well. We will be using a virtual currency system which will allow you to create your own MMO, charge your users to play your game, and cash out your virtual currency for real money.

It's MMORPG 2.0 in the respect that users will be able to make their own games and earn money off them - all without a gigantic team to split the profit with and all within something as standard and commonplace as a web browser.

[findar]

Originally Posted by Mist

I plan on making an awesome game with graphics no better than FF3. Mark my words.

dont they have this already? i strangely remember playing a free asian mmo that looked like it ripped off snes zelda.

[QforQ]

Needs ingame screenshots imo, I wanna see how good the graphics are!

[Big W Powah!]

Signed up for Alpha. I'm very excited about this.

[Laerazi]

Sounds like a promising route to take; very interested in seeing how this turns out. It certainly gives up-and-coming designers a place to start, and provides an outlet for more niche themes/playstyles (good or bad).

[Zehn - Vhex]

More serious response:

As the tools for creating mods/worlds/whatever become easier and easier the potential for abuse becomes almost overwhelming. Second Life is a prime example of this but there are many other examples as well.

The truly talented individuals you need in order for projects like these to become beautiful and aren't already hired by some company that will pay them oodles of money are few and far between.

I see the following 3 outcomes:

1) This whole venture becomes a laughing stock as countless adult-themed worlds spring up and little else. Adult-themed content is inevitable and will probably be the most dominant form no matter what they do. It's fucking Internet 101. Rule 34 my friends. However, it does have the potential to grow beyond that and become...

2) A place for aspiring game designers who go to DeVry! and other such fine institutions crack their teeth. They fiddle around with it, make their own porn game, but the hobbiests/enthusiasts here and there make other little shits that grow in modest popularity. StarCraft, Counter-Strike, Oblivion and tons of other games benefited from people like this who used the tools at their disposal to do more then just plaster boobs all over the place. However, if this becomes a commercial success afterall then...

3) The big money will be made by 3rd party individuals who will create your world for you. In fact, I wouldn't doubt if this comes before number 2 even. You give them the design specs for what you want, 400 bucks, and 2 weeks later they shit out your world, complete with anthropomorphic mammals that you can wet your willy on.

Anyways...

What they're probably hoping for is ultimately the 'dream' design where you can freely move your character from a fantasy swords and sorcery mmo to a space faring fight mmo to a strategy based RTS, to whatever.

I don't see it happening. There might be a few well-intended individuals who will attempt this, but I doubt any will be more popular then the various flash games that we all get bored of after about 3 weeks.

[Duppin]

I can't wait to see what Makata's game looks like.

[Digo]

I think this will be huge in time. Think about how many amazing flash games, youtube videos, etc. get released by independent producers every year that don't have any financial incentive. Now they get the tools, hosting, and a potentially massive paycheck.

[Mist]

Originally Posted by findar

dont they have this already? i strangely remember playing a free asian mmo that looked like it ripped off snes zelda.

Ragnarok Online? :P

Originally Posted by Duppin

I can't wait to see what Makata's game looks like.

MANY HUNTERS, ZERO PILLARS.

[findar]

Originally Posted by Digo

Think about how many amazing flash games, youtube videos, etc. get released by independent producers every year that don't have any financial incentive.

i thought all the "good" youtube stuff was viral marketing or people pushing their own interests.

minus whatever is ripped from tv/etc.

Ragnarok Online? :P

thats what i thought too but i looked up screenshots and they didnt match up with what i remember.

[gnomad]

After reading that the parent company, Areae, Inc. is a brainchild of the infamous customer hater Raph Koster I have to say no thanks.

We’re venture-backed now, and run by our President, Raph Koster and John Donham, veterans of the whole “massively multiplayer” scene.

The only person that could screw up the crack of dawn worse would be Brad McQualude.

So now we know what Koster has been involved in for the last year. Nice to see that it wasn't any really important projects or MMORPG's.

Good luck Cuppy, you will need it with that sleezeball at the helm.

[Andric d'Regor]

could be very interesting.