Another MMO is leaving the fold. Cost of Gaming.

Another blog I read Ancient Gaming Noob points out the fact that even while F2P model is working for some companies. City of Heroes is throwing in the towel in November. It has survived where others have failed even being assaulted by Marvel for infrigement.

This reminds me of a quote that was credited to anonymous
"Linux is only free if your time is worthless."

It is so true; I mean how many games can you think of off the top of your head. I can name probably 15 without pausing ...some are gone, some are running.

Everquest for example; I was addicted to this game. I promised myself an account for finishing my MCSE and I never stopped playing it ..every waking moment was obessed with it.

Yet, I have tried to go back and play it and I just can't it hurts me to play it now. The fond memories I have are fond because of the people I played with not because fo the game itself. Even free I cannot handle it.

I am looking forward to what is ahead for MMO's ...it kills me because the cost of the game is no longer the issue (since everything is going free to play). It is all about YOUR time.

TIME = money

I enjoy entertainment; in fact, if you were to get to see my checking account I believe you would see about 60% goes toward enterainment. Dining, groceries, movies, video games, hardware all are entertainment to me. Yet the value is in the time spend.

Movies: 3 hours = $7.50

• I am (usually) entertained
• Great escapism
• Fun to attend as a group or watch solo

Dining out: 2 hours = $20.00 (x2 for 2 people)

• Good food
• Great Company
• Satisfies a need (usually in abundance)

Dining in: 3 hours (I am talking about cooking, eating, clean up) = $10 (per person)

• I enjoying fixing a meal especially with my wife. The more elaborate the more I enjoy.
• I enjoy the eating part.
• I hate the clean up.

Videogames: X Hours = $800

• Hardware (just upgraded everything about $500 total)
• Software (about $300 this year)
• I enjoy everything about it and I spend a minimum of 1 hour a day.

So to me the cost/value lies in the time I willing to spend. Every hour of my life has a dollar amount just as your hours cost you money to ...either making it or spending it. What value do you have in entertainment? What are you willing to invest your time in?

Current state of Mechs

From the wiki
BattleMechs (often abbreviated 'Mechs) are large walking war machines that feature prominently in the fictional universe of BattleTech. 'Mechs, which are generally either bipedal or quadrupedal in configuration, are controlled by human pilots and can thus be classified as mecha.

Now this isn't really useable by anyone but it is a step in that direction..

 

Not real but closer!

Real but not built anymore.

 

 

Burning man video ...who is the builder?

 

Slow and yet still.

Future MMOs and PvP

http://kotaku.com/5938199/somebody-has-already-hit-level-80-in-guild-wars-2

Somebody Has Already Hit Level 80 In Guild Wars 2


Its amazing the game is barely out (launched on August 28th) and here we are - a person at level cap. In a pvp game; the comments indicate that crafting levels you faster than playing or doing pvp.

I am personally burnt out on fantasy style MMOs - for years I have logged in and played with friends and people I had met. What made this fun was it was world wide and I thought it was uber-cool to be playing with them one night and the next day at work discussing it ...yeah my friends in Austrailia or Russia said (whatever they said) that was cool to me.

I don't roleplay so maybe I am missing out on that but its just not me. In fact, I secretly laugh at those who do roleplay its awkward to invite other people when you got a very plain American trying to act British ...yeah awkward.

WoW in one corner and Everyone else in the other. You could say well WoW is not the leader anymore and I would agree with you. Worldwide it holds the largest population but does that mean its the best ....I would say not anymore. The formula mmorgp is not working anymore - people want something different and this is splitting gamers in every direction.

Warhammer to me was the pinaccle of pvp, however, a few broken patches and server consolidations, hardware issues with so many people in one zone and a lack of a third realm killed the game for me.

EQ2 held my attention the longest - even with no friends playing if you are bored in EQ2 you aren't doing it right. There is so much to do and so much to see the world is expansive and the quest are endless. The graphics are better than any game I have ever played with everything turned up all the way up you will find yourself turning them back down because it is too much input for your eyes. Imagine if everything you did casted a spell which turned on police lights and strobes your eyes would hate you.

DDO great game. In fact so close to tabletop DnD I cannot play it - I would rather do tabletop. Unless you want to run the same dungeons over and over.

So what does all this mean:

It means to stand out you have to think differently, try something new. Who will step up? What company will hire a visionary, an artist that is willing to make the next best thing. Will it be PC, console or a combo? Will it be pve, pvp, crafting, solo or team based or guild based, f2p or p2p or p2w? How will communications be handled?

Don't tell me what I can't do.

In the middle of LOST rewatch. I am reading everything I can get my hands on concerning MWO and Battletech.
It is extremely difficult to not get excited about whats coming up.

I have a kindle and have added "BattleTech - 08602 - The Sword and the Dagger - Ardath Mayhar" to my list to read. May have to start before finishing "Life of Pi"

Every excited.

So many people play tabletop Battletech that I feel like I am missing out on some good background knowledge. So while during some research I discovered another game that is coming out called MechTactics ....now I know nothing about this game I think it is in beta right now too. It is just a browser game and tabletop.

Read this:
http://www.dotmmo.com/mech-tactics-6453.html
"Involve yourself in the futuristic battles to eliminate all opponents with the company of powerful and hulking behemoths, and control your combative robots to venture through any difficulties in the expansive Mech Tactics world.
Overview:
Built with Unity3D engine used in Battlestar Galactica Online, Mech Tactics is a 3D sci-fi browser game developed by the Norwegian game studio Artplant and published by DTP Entertainment. The game has a fairly satisfactory graphic presentation and jaw-dropping spectacle. Meanwhile, there is an extensive range of character customization options, which enables the players to forge an ideal and overwhelming unit of fighting giants.

As a commander in Mech Tactics, you should train your futuristic combat units and keep enhancing your tactical skills and overall planning ability in order to compete with thousands of other commanders.

With extensive customization options, each commander can make his personalized units and engage in the action-packed battles.

To survive in the game, you will have to tactically guide your troops to step on different maps, and adjust your fighting strategies according to conditions of the diverse environments.

Although only bits of information on the game is leaked right now, its release date is about to come. Just get ready to sign up for its closed beta test starting in mid-February this year."

 

9090909090909090990

So having read this I am going to be posting stats about MechTactics what is known, BattletechMWO. I am not going to release any info outside of what is currently available.