MMOGology: The next big thing
I remember the excitement I felt back in 2001 when World of Warcraft (WoW) was announced. I greedily read early previews as new details were released in magazines like PC Gamer and Computer Gaming World (now Games for Windows). I savored each scrap of gameplay information and every gorgeous screenshot. It seemed so different, visually and conceptually, than all the other MMOGs I had played to that point. Yes, Blizzard was taking tried and true gameplay techniques from Everquest, Dark Age of Camelot, and other popular MMOGs at the time, but it was keeping the fun concepts and removing the painful ones. It was a somewhat foreign concept at the time to focus on making the fun factor the focus of the game. Some people will undoubtedly argue with me, but running naked while avoiding agro on a twenty minute corpse run in Everquest was not my idea of fun. Blizzard's game was also the only MMOG I knew of that promised it wouldn't discourage casual and solo play.
Apparently I wasn't the only one excited about World of Warcraft. Six years after WoW was initially announced, and on the eve of its three year launch anniversary, WoW has somewhere between eight and nine million subscribers. WoW is clearly the current king of the massively multiplayer mountain; at least in terms of populatiry. With one expansion under its belt, another set for release in 2008, and constant upgrades along the way, it's clear that WoW has a lot left to give. But there's always one thing you can count on when you're the king of the mountain; you'll always have a challenger aiming to steal your crown. Inevitably it will happen. Something will replace the WoW so many of us MMOG players know and love. It might be another Blizzard creation, a WoW 2.0 or a World of StarCraft. Or it might be something entirely different by another developer. It's a question that will continue to be asked until WoW is finally replaced. What will be the Next Big MMOG?
There are many interesting upcoming MMOG titles: Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning, Marvel Universe Online, Age of Conan and the recently announced Elder Scrolls Online, to name a few. Of those listed, Warhammer probably leads the pack in terms of hype. But what will these new games offer us that WoW doesn't? Since many of us have already invested heavily in World of Warcraft what will compel us to invest in an alternative, especially when Wrath of the Lich King (WotLK) will also be released next year? The next big game must not only live up to the level of fun and polish that WoW has provided us; but improve upon existing MMOG game mechanics in some way to make the game more compelling than current generation MMOGs. In other words, if an MMOG has shinier graphics and a new world to explore, but still forces us into the same old kill X wombats and report to Bob gameplay mentality; it's probably not enough to hold our attention for an extended period of time. Personally, I'm craving something new and refreshing, not a re-skinned retread of the same old thing.
Enter BioWare. For those of you that don't know, BioWare is the developer of some truly outstanding role-playing games (RPGs) such as the Baldur's Gate series, the Neverwinter Nights series, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, Jade Empire, and Mass Effect, the soon to be released space epic. These are games that typically score reviews around the 90% of 100% mark. BioWare knows how to craft excellent RPGs. Although there is little information available on the MMOG being developed by BioWare's Austin studio, I think it has the most potential to be the next great MMOG. This is of course assuming that BioWare's recent partnering with LucasArts means that it is developing what amounts to "Knights of the Old Republic Online (KOTORO)." It's possible, though very unlikely, that BioWare is developing an MMOG based on a different LucasArts license. However, I really doubt we'll be seeing Indiana Jones Online, Sam and Max Online or Grim Fandango Online (although a comedic MMOG might be a lot of fun). My enthusiasm for the BioWare MMOG is primarily based on two things. Number one: Knights of the Old Republic was one of my favorite games of all time. Number two: interviews I've read with BioWare developers regarding MMOG development lead me to believe that they understand what makes an MMOG great, and how the genre can be improved.
After reading articles on 1up and Gamasutra I suddenly got the feeling I had back when I first heard about WoW. It was that same level of excitement and rabid desire to know as much about the game as I possibly could. There were several tidbits I gleaned from these articles that give me reason to believe that BioWare's MMOG will be the next big thing. Here are my top reasons why I'm placing my money on BioWare as the developer of the next great MMOG.
Research. BioWare has done their homework. They've looked at the reasons why WoW and other MMOGs are successful, made note of those things, and looked at ways to improve player experience. This is a similar approach that Blizzard took when developing WoW. They studied what worked and what didn't and delivered a better product as a result of their research.
Compelling storytelling. BioWare wants to bring the same level of compelling storytelling that they successfully implemented in their single player games into their online game. What does that mean? It means an emphasis on quests with a storyline so enjoyable that you want to experience the quest. It means feeling like your player is affecting his world. BioWare aspires to bring a level of story, character and emotion to an MMOG that exists in their single player games. They want to avoid what they call "NPC Pez Dispensers" that shell out random, boring, "quests" that don't move the overall story forward.
Player choice. Most MMOGs do not factor in decisions made by the player. In games like the original KOTOR, your character's actions affect not only yourself, but the NPCs you interact with. BioWare wants players to feel like their choices matter. Perhaps, given a Star Wars universe, there will points at which players make moral decisions that alter alignment to the light or dark side of the Force.
Accessibility. Marvel Universe Online will be XBOX 360 and Vista exclusive. Given the state of Vista and its current adoption rate among users, this seems like a mistake. BioWare understands that not all of its players have money to spend on a new rig just to play a new game. They've recognized, as Blizzard has, that reasonable system requirements reach a larger player base. Just because requirements are reasonable doesn't mean that the game will look awful. Take a look at Half Life 2. Valve developed a gorgeous game that runs smoothly on a wide variety of machines.
Support of solo and casual play. Although the game will utilize a class based system with predefined roles for grouping it will be possible to solo in BioWare's game. BioWare thinks that part of WoW's success owes to the fact that the game can be soloed by any class. This opens the door to more casual players. BioWare has also stated that, unlike the original Star Wars Galaxies, the intent is to create an entertainment experience rather than a simulation game.
A purposeful endgame. After reaching the highest level, BioWare plans to provide lots of purposeful content. They don't want players to get bored and roll an alt because there is nothing to do. They're promising plenty of fun once you hit your maximum level. We'll have to wait and see what that means.
PvP. The BioWare developers feel that a strong PvP component is essential to a successful MMOG. PvP obviously fits well in the Star Wars universe where the reigning Republic is splintering into what will become the Rebel and Imperial forces.
It's not high fantasy. As much as I love swords, dragons, and elves I am ready for something different. If you look at the crop of upcoming MMOGs, almost all of them (with exceptions like Marvel Universe Online) are set in a fantasy universe. Sure they all have elements that make them unique, but because KOTORO is set in the Star Wars universe it has a unique advantage of providing both a recognizable, licensed universe and a non-high-fantasy setting. Given the slew of fantasy MMOGs out there, I think this will work in BioWare's favor. Obviously the Star Wars universe alone isn't enough to pull off a great game; Star Wars Galaxies proved that point. The game must have compelling, fun, gameplay.
Timing. BioWare states that their MMOG has been in development since December 2005. Current estimates place the release of KOTORO in 2009 at earliest. WoW will be five years old at that point. Five years is a long time to play any game. I've left WoW several times over the past three years, but thus far I've always come back. In two more years, I think people will be ready to play something new in a new universe. If, by then, the max level in WoW is 100, but the gameplay is fundamentally the same, will people still play it if there's a more interesting alternative? I think by 2009 people will be more than ready to embrace something new.
Of course, my hunch that BioWare's next project is the next big thing might turn out totally wrong. With as many lofty goals as BioWare is striving to achieve there are many ways to screw up. Although BioWare has produced outstanding single player RPGs, they have not yet developed an MMOG. This could prove problematic. However, given BioWare's obvious passion for creating quality gaming experiences, I believe that they want to succeed in the creation of something special as much as we want to play something special. Even if KOTORO isn't the WoW killer I think it might be, you can bet it will still be an amazing game. That's my two cents; what do you think the next big MMOG is going to be and, more importantly, why do you think it'll be the next big thing? Post your feedback and let me know!
