Comments on: Barnett: “We’re Led Zeppelin” http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2008/08/19/barnett-were-led-zeppelin/ Sun, 22 Nov 2009 21:00:39 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Emily http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2008/08/19/barnett-were-led-zeppelin/comment-page-1/#comment-82217 Emily Tue, 26 Aug 2008 20:45:55 +0000 http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/?p=2336#comment-82217 The music analogy is better than aruging who's "best", for certain. It is more similar, as old 'bands' like Ultima Online still have a following, or vanilla EverQuest. Some of it is due to investment - time in MMOs. Currently, I play WoW, multiple 70s, and have been a 'hardcore' raider since before AQ existed, my guild is currently in Sunwell (M'uru) and I log on each raid night to farm those bosses and raid mats. Before WoW, I played: UO, DAoC (4 yrs), E&B, EQ2, Shadowbane (1 yr), CoH, SW:G, CoV and probably a couple others I don't remember now. I used to be a hardcore console RPG fan as well, and gaming since I was 6 (sega master system). Was in BC and now WotLK beta, WAR beta from pre-order. WoW is going to continue strong due to its high accesability level, friendly play options, smooth/simple graphics/cartoon style and time-based rewards. What it doesn't do, is innovate beyond its initial offering in the PvE arena of MMOs. It does PvE spectacularly, for certain. However, vehicular/seige combat isn't new, DAoC had destructable buildings, vehicles and seige weapons years ago. WoW is hedging itself against people who aren't sure about WAR and will stick to WoW because they're offering something 'similar' to the flashy features and becuase they don't want to lose their time investment into the characters. I'm moving to WAR, 3 years is long enough for WoW since nothing is truly new. Another 3 years with WAR will probably be enough when that time comes. Game companies don't design games for the market that constantly craves entirely new features/gameplay though, its both a smallish market, though a loud one, and too expensive. They have to design for the 'fans', those people who've loved their favorite band for 20 years and have posters, keyfobs, custom license plate holders, import albums, etc. People with an investment they're willing to hold onto. I'm willing to sell my entire collection when a new innovative band hits the scene. The music analogy is better than aruging who’s “best”, for certain. It is more similar, as old ‘bands’ like Ultima Online still have a following, or vanilla EverQuest. Some of it is due to investment – time in MMOs.

Currently, I play WoW, multiple 70s, and have been a ‘hardcore’ raider since before AQ existed, my guild is currently in Sunwell (M’uru) and I log on each raid night to farm those bosses and raid mats. Before WoW, I played: UO, DAoC (4 yrs), E&B, EQ2, Shadowbane (1 yr), CoH, SW:G, CoV and probably a couple others I don’t remember now. I used to be a hardcore console RPG fan as well, and gaming since I was 6 (sega master system).

Was in BC and now WotLK beta, WAR beta from pre-order.

WoW is going to continue strong due to its high accesability level, friendly play options, smooth/simple graphics/cartoon style and time-based rewards. What it doesn’t do, is innovate beyond its initial offering in the PvE arena of MMOs. It does PvE spectacularly, for certain. However, vehicular/seige combat isn’t new, DAoC had destructable buildings, vehicles and seige weapons years ago. WoW is hedging itself against people who aren’t sure about WAR and will stick to WoW because they’re offering something ’similar’ to the flashy features and becuase they don’t want to lose their time investment into the characters.

I’m moving to WAR, 3 years is long enough for WoW since nothing is truly new. Another 3 years with WAR will probably be enough when that time comes. Game companies don’t design games for the market that constantly craves entirely new features/gameplay though, its both a smallish market, though a loud one, and too expensive. They have to design for the ‘fans’, those people who’ve loved their favorite band for 20 years and have posters, keyfobs, custom license plate holders, import albums, etc. People with an investment they’re willing to hold onto. I’m willing to sell my entire collection when a new innovative band hits the scene.

]]> By: Konky Dong VII: No Rest for the Witcher http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2008/08/19/barnett-were-led-zeppelin/comment-page-1/#comment-79624 Konky Dong VII: No Rest for the Witcher Tue, 19 Aug 2008 19:03:59 +0000 http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/?p=2336#comment-79624 I'm in the WotLK beta and actually, it is the same old, same old. Same tired dungeon design, same old boss mechanics, same old quest archetypes (with one or two exceptions). The new flying combat, siege weapons, and destructable buildings don't feel that fresh at all since they're really just slightly reworked old mechanics. I thought Burning Crusade was a huge leap forward for WoW, especially in terms of leveling and environmental design. WotLK, sadly, just isn't that fresh. Those of you who aren't tired of the old formula will have a blast but people like me, people hoping for something fresh and exciting, will be kinda disappointed. Now I haven't played WAR, but if the RvR is as good as I've been hearing, then their is a good chance that it will cut pretty deeply into my MMO schedule. We'll just have to see. I’m in the WotLK beta and actually, it is the same old, same old. Same tired dungeon design, same old boss mechanics, same old quest archetypes (with one or two exceptions). The new flying combat, siege weapons, and destructable buildings don’t feel that fresh at all since they’re really just slightly reworked old mechanics.

I thought Burning Crusade was a huge leap forward for WoW, especially in terms of leveling and environmental design. WotLK, sadly, just isn’t that fresh. Those of you who aren’t tired of the old formula will have a blast but people like me, people hoping for something fresh and exciting, will be kinda disappointed.

Now I haven’t played WAR, but if the RvR is as good as I’ve been hearing, then their is a good chance that it will cut pretty deeply into my MMO schedule. We’ll just have to see.

]]> By: Weylund http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2008/08/19/barnett-were-led-zeppelin/comment-page-1/#comment-79612 Weylund Tue, 19 Aug 2008 18:30:05 +0000 http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/?p=2336#comment-79612 I think... I think I have to buy this. I want this man to continue to be the beacon of happiness that he clearly is. Of course there's going to be a grind. Of course it'll be boring. It's an MMO... but if there's even a glimmer of fun it'll be better than half the competition. I just wish it were 40K. Why Fantasy gets so much more commercial love than 40K (while 40K, I would venture, brings GW itself far more hard cash) is beyond me. I think… I think I have to buy this. I want this man to continue to be the beacon of happiness that he clearly is. Of course there’s going to be a grind. Of course it’ll be boring. It’s an MMO… but if there’s even a glimmer of fun it’ll be better than half the competition.

I just wish it were 40K. Why Fantasy gets so much more commercial love than 40K (while 40K, I would venture, brings GW itself far more hard cash) is beyond me.

]]> By: eyemessiah http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2008/08/19/barnett-were-led-zeppelin/comment-page-1/#comment-79608 eyemessiah Tue, 19 Aug 2008 18:23:27 +0000 http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/?p=2336#comment-79608 Get ready to cast 'rune of striking' 8,364 times, folks. I'm not convinced mmo promos should ever involve actual gameplay footage. Get ready to cast ‘rune of striking’ 8,364 times, folks.

I’m not convinced mmo promos should ever involve actual gameplay footage.

]]> By: Nick http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2008/08/19/barnett-were-led-zeppelin/comment-page-1/#comment-79606 Nick Tue, 19 Aug 2008 18:14:46 +0000 http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/?p=2336#comment-79606 I always found most of Led Zeppelin's stuff to be rubbish on albums, but amazing in live performance recordings. Not sure what that says about Warhammer Online though. WoW sure as hell wouldn't be the Beatles in my music analogy. I always found most of Led Zeppelin’s stuff to be rubbish on albums, but amazing in live performance recordings. Not sure what that says about Warhammer Online though.

WoW sure as hell wouldn’t be the Beatles in my music analogy.

]]> By: Kanakotka http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2008/08/19/barnett-were-led-zeppelin/comment-page-1/#comment-79603 Kanakotka Tue, 19 Aug 2008 18:08:03 +0000 http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/?p=2336#comment-79603 So you're making a pact with the devil? Coo' So you’re making a pact with the devil?

Coo’

]]> By: zaibouglish http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2008/08/19/barnett-were-led-zeppelin/comment-page-1/#comment-79591 zaibouglish Tue, 19 Aug 2008 17:29:38 +0000 http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/?p=2336#comment-79591 <i>“We’re Led Zeppelin”</i> Were not Led Zeppelin's first two albums were just re-worked Willie Dixon songs - with no credit given? “We’re Led Zeppelin”

Were not Led Zeppelin’s first two albums were just re-worked Willie Dixon songs – with no credit given?

]]> By: danarchist http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2008/08/19/barnett-were-led-zeppelin/comment-page-1/#comment-79588 danarchist Tue, 19 Aug 2008 17:18:41 +0000 http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/?p=2336#comment-79588 The hope I have for WaR is that their will be public dungeons with open groups much like the public quest system in the game works. The "hands on" in this months pc gamer goes into detail about this. The problem with games like wow is the learning curve for the end game is so incredibly high that casual gamers don't really stand a chance. Sure maybe you can get yourself into a "kara" run once or twice, but due to having no experience with raiding usually casual gamers will immediately be black balled after making reasonable noobie mistakes. This leaves only the hard core, guilded and geared players able to actually experience the end game. With war you simply go to the dungeon entrance, hit the check for local group button and join the closest one. Sure your going to pull a lemon or two, but at least even really casual gamers will have a shot at learning how to raid without having to spend there days getting verbally drawn and quartered. I myself was a "hardcore" wow player for a couple years. I quit playing about 4 months ago after hitting 70 with my 7th toon. My business took off and I ended up with a girlfriend (gasp!) about the same time so I did not have 8 hours every other day to raid hyjall. The simple fact about wow is if you can't raid then the end game is just battlegrounds and daily quests, which gets boring extremely fast. So you make a alt, work your butt off to get 70, and find yourself in the same pickle. I am hoping WaR can remedy this malaise for those of us with only a couple hours free on a average day. The hope I have for WaR is that their will be public dungeons with open groups much like the public quest system in the game works. The “hands on” in this months pc gamer goes into detail about this. The problem with games like wow is the learning curve for the end game is so incredibly high that casual gamers don’t really stand a chance. Sure maybe you can get yourself into a “kara” run once or twice, but due to having no experience with raiding usually casual gamers will immediately be black balled after making reasonable noobie mistakes. This leaves only the hard core, guilded and geared players able to actually experience the end game. With war you simply go to the dungeon entrance, hit the check for local group button and join the closest one. Sure your going to pull a lemon or two, but at least even really casual gamers will have a shot at learning how to raid without having to spend there days getting verbally drawn and quartered.
I myself was a “hardcore” wow player for a couple years. I quit playing about 4 months ago after hitting 70 with my 7th toon. My business took off and I ended up with a girlfriend (gasp!) about the same time so I did not have 8 hours every other day to raid hyjall. The simple fact about wow is if you can’t raid then the end game is just battlegrounds and daily quests, which gets boring extremely fast. So you make a alt, work your butt off to get 70, and find yourself in the same pickle.
I am hoping WaR can remedy this malaise for those of us with only a couple hours free on a average day.

]]> By: Nick http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2008/08/19/barnett-were-led-zeppelin/comment-page-1/#comment-79586 Nick Tue, 19 Aug 2008 17:14:45 +0000 http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/?p=2336#comment-79586 "That guy must take something to talk like that, doesn’t he?" Well, Brad McQuaid certainly did. ¬_¬ “That guy must take something to talk like that, doesn’t he?”

Well, Brad McQuaid certainly did.

¬_¬

]]> By: Erlam http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2008/08/19/barnett-were-led-zeppelin/comment-page-1/#comment-79577 Erlam Tue, 19 Aug 2008 16:43:27 +0000 http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/?p=2336#comment-79577 "Yeah, aerial and vehicular combat and destructable enviroments were so played out in the original iteration of the game and its expansion, weren’t they? Might want to do at least some research in future instead of making clueless statements, chief. I never quite understood the ‘I’ve hit the cap, time to stop’ thing. It’s only at that point the game really comes into its own, when you’ve got a wealth of abilities available to you and a world to explore, adventures to have. Certainly, life before 50 is like playing with one-arm tied behind one’s back." Aerial and Vehicle combat may be 'new,' but it will be the same played out thing. The alliance (on my server) have a 4 to 1 number advantage, so the 'neutral' zones are all Alliance owned. Try to walk into this new one as Horde, and you'll get fucked. Not to mention, the game <i>does</i> end at 70, if you're a casual person who doesn't raid. I have two 70's, a friend of mine four, and we can barely play them. Our side loses WSG 97% of the time for us (yeah, we actually kept a tally), AB 75% of the time, EOS 80% of the time, and AV 60% of the time. Not to mention, we have the 'season 1' gear that we bought for honour, and once we had it we were against people in tier 5, Season 3, etc, and got annihilated. In my gear at the time, I lasted, on average, 11 seconds against a Warrior, 10 against a Rogue, 15 against hunters, and I've never, ever killed a resto Druid 1 on 1. Ever. And I've had the game since release. So, if the 'world to explore' is the various graveyards around the world, then yes, I've been experiencing it a <i>lot</i> at 70. “Yeah, aerial and vehicular combat and destructable enviroments were so played out in the original iteration of the game and its expansion, weren’t they? Might want to do at least some research in future instead of making clueless statements, chief.

I never quite understood the ‘I’ve hit the cap, time to stop’ thing. It’s only at that point the game really comes into its own, when you’ve got a wealth of abilities available to you and a world to explore, adventures to have. Certainly, life before 50 is like playing with one-arm tied behind one’s back.”

Aerial and Vehicle combat may be ‘new,’ but it will be the same played out thing. The alliance (on my server) have a 4 to 1 number advantage, so the ‘neutral’ zones are all Alliance owned. Try to walk into this new one as Horde, and you’ll get fucked.

Not to mention, the game does end at 70, if you’re a casual person who doesn’t raid. I have two 70’s, a friend of mine four, and we can barely play them. Our side loses WSG 97% of the time for us (yeah, we actually kept a tally), AB 75% of the time, EOS 80% of the time, and AV 60% of the time.

Not to mention, we have the ’season 1′ gear that we bought for honour, and once we had it we were against people in tier 5, Season 3, etc, and got annihilated. In my gear at the time, I lasted, on average, 11 seconds against a Warrior, 10 against a Rogue, 15 against hunters, and I’ve never, ever killed a resto Druid 1 on 1. Ever. And I’ve had the game since release.

So, if the ‘world to explore’ is the various graveyards around the world, then yes, I’ve been experiencing it a lot at 70.

]]> By: Ian http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2008/08/19/barnett-were-led-zeppelin/comment-page-1/#comment-79559 Ian Tue, 19 Aug 2008 15:50:04 +0000 http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/?p=2336#comment-79559 Wait, people still expect <i>any</i> games developers to live up to their own hype? Sad times. Wait, people still expect any games developers to live up to their own hype?

Sad times.

]]> By: danarchist http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2008/08/19/barnett-were-led-zeppelin/comment-page-1/#comment-79558 danarchist Tue, 19 Aug 2008 15:34:54 +0000 http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/?p=2336#comment-79558 I've been in 2 phases of beta now, the game absolutely rocks for a mmo. Although its not 40k its still pretty damn fun, and funny! The rvr is very very daoc'ish (including the huge realm population imbalances regrettably). Ironically destruction usually outnumbers order by 50%, whereas order's casters and healers are far more powerful than there destruction counter parts. Goes to show that min/maxer's don't outnumber those that choose there toons for flavor in this game. That's hopeful! I had the first bugs I have ever experienced last night (ironically the night before the nda lifts hehe) which shows lots of focus. My first suggestion to you all though is start your first toon in the orc or dwarf area. The quests there are absolutely hilarious and theres a boat in the dwarf area that really shows you what to expect from the game. Absolutely stunning. (yes i know I never use there,their, they're right. It's a curse) I’ve been in 2 phases of beta now, the game absolutely rocks for a mmo. Although its not 40k its still pretty damn fun, and funny! The rvr is very very daoc’ish (including the huge realm population imbalances regrettably). Ironically destruction usually outnumbers order by 50%, whereas order’s casters and healers are far more powerful than there destruction counter parts. Goes to show that min/maxer’s don’t outnumber those that choose there toons for flavor in this game. That’s hopeful!
I had the first bugs I have ever experienced last night (ironically the night before the nda lifts hehe) which shows lots of focus.
My first suggestion to you all though is start your first toon in the orc or dwarf area. The quests there are absolutely hilarious and theres a boat in the dwarf area that really shows you what to expect from the game. Absolutely stunning.

(yes i know I never use there,their, they’re right. It’s a curse)

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