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The Daily Grind: Which MMO races do you detest?
My loathing of Elves is not only well-documented here on Massively, but stretches back to my childhood. I've just never liked them, period. Maybe it's because they're the preppie cool kids in my mind's John Hughes movie, or maybe it's their incredible haughty arrogance and froofy love of flowerwear. In any case, I don't like them, I don't play them, and I feel perfectly fine wishing all manner of humiliating harm upon them. After all, they're pretend and that makes it OK, right? So in the tongue-in-cheek spirit of imaginary racism, which pretend species makes your skin crawl in MMOs? Can you not abide by Dwarves no matter what? Do Gnomes irk you? Will your eyes roll out of your head if you see another humanoid cat race invade your gaming space? Let's get our hate on this morning! Whee! Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!
The Daily Grind: Are you pro-elf or anti-elf?
The pro-elf lobby will tell you of their deep wisdom, their abiding love of nature and their immortality. If you're not an elf, they reason, then you should deeply want to be one. After all, who wouldn't like a pocket unicorn and an innate ability to win the Olympic gold medal in archery? Elves are cool, which is why every fantasy MMO -- by sovereign law -- includes one. Elves are filthy blights upon the land and should be eliminated on site, the anti-elf federation declares. We've had enough of their haughty arrogance, their tree-hugging insanity, and their pocket unicorns that always get underfoot. They're like that popular kid in class who looks a little too good, and has a rotten-to-the-core personality to back it up. Elves suck. So which side do you land on: pro-elf or anti-elf? Let's hash this out, right here, right now! Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!
World of Tanks trailer roasts EVE
Game developers who can laugh at themselves are a lot of fun, but game developers who laugh at other games are a veritable barrel of monkeys. Enter Wargaming.net, the team behind the upcoming World of Tanks MMO. Their newest trailer, simply titled World of Tanks Teaser #3, spends the majority of its minute-and-a-half running time taking pot-shots at CCP's EVE Online. The trailer, sporting a decidely tongue-in-cheek style, shows the months of work ostensibly necessary to upgrade your EVE-like spaceship, all of which goes to pot in seconds as it enters combat for the first time. While unorthodox game marketing campaigns are nothing new (remember Global Agenda's No Elves?), it is rare to see a firm directly reference a competitor. Check out the new World of Tanks teaser after the cut or on YouTube.
Disillusionment with MMOs
Because I never studied nor considered studying psychology, you may doubt my words, but I will still tell you that many people go through a phase in life in which things become less shiny for them. What, there really is no Santa Claus? Those awesome space battles on TV are just tiny plastic miniatures hanging from fishing-line? World of Warcraft didn't invent Naga? Sooner or later the curtain will be pulled back on something you found new or fascinating in your life. Losing that sense of excitement from something you thought was different or new can leave a gaping hole of disillusionment. The short history of MMOs is not immune to providing plenty of room for players to become disillusioned. Like television, movies, and books, MMOs don't use 100% new content that developers invented out of thin air. I've been on many MMO forums and have seen players at different stages of disillusionment seemingly frothing at the mouth about being sick of elves in fantasy MMOs, and accusing one MMO of stealing a name or even a similar-sounding name from an MMO they would defend as "more original." The fact is that most concepts and ideas have already been done, and it can just be hard to deal with. Who doesn't get a little disillusioned when he grows up and finds out his dad or mom really isn't the smartest or strongest person in the world? If I haven't disappointed you enough then follow along as I spoil even more of your favorite MMOs -- but hopefully I can also show you that disillusionment isn't the end.
The Daily Grind: Do you have fantasy burnout?
Okay, a lot of us rolled our eyes after a while at Global Agenda's ongoing No Elves campaign, but there was a ring of truth in it. Other genres are definitely out there -- post-apocalyptic, sci-fi, and so on -- but the fantasy genre is still the king of MMO Land. If you look strictly at overall numbers, particularly in the free-to-play category, fantasy is easily the most dominant category. So does it get to be too much after a while? Do you need a break from wings, mages, and mythical creatures? There have always been alternatives lurking here and there, but with the growing popularity of alternatives such as Fallen Earth, Champions Online, and Star Trek Online it seems that maybe the industry is suffering from a bit of fantasy burnout of its own. So what about you? Hit that handy little button there and let us know: are you more than ready for a change?
Global Agenda: shame on you, elf
Global Agenda's marketing has always been as much about what they are not as what they are. The fantasy genre is huge in the MMO market, and Global Agenda has always been very clear in their desire to offer something new to those players who are suffering from fantasy burnout. Beginning with the NO ELVES trailer last June and the introduction of their "tired of elves" site, Hi-Rez has put some time and effort into talking about what the game doesn't have: no mounts (jetpacks!), no tab targeting, and of course, no elves. The brand new trailer from Global Agenda continues running with that theme. Follow along after the jump for a look at the pointy-eared freak, and watch out for your sacred meadow.
The Elven Agenda: What Hi-Rez doesn't want you to know
"In Global Agenda, there are no elves." That's what we've been told for over a year now. Hi-Rez's Spy-Fi shooter has almost staked it's entire existence on the removal of Elven kind from the gaming scene, which has certainly earned them a nasty reputation with the Sylvaen-American equal rights camps. But we here at Massively have confirmed, through a diligent study of Global Agenda, that Hi-Rez may be deceiving its own player base. While the company may take a hardline stance against elves, their actions speak very differently. Take, for example, the Recon class... or should we say the Elven class? Follow along readers, for we have evidence to back up our claims!
Global Agenda early start and preorder bonuses detailed
You've gotten all the news and updates, and you've even gotten a handy guide to conquest mode for Global Agenda. If you're ever going to be ready for Hi-Rez Studio's high-action game, it's now. So it's no coincidence that we've gotten news on the game's pre-purchase options, as well as the early start details for all players and the chance to reserve your character name prior to the February 1st launch date. After all, if you've gotten the game via Steam, don't you want to just download and start playing right away? That little grayed-out name is mocking you. The latest newsletter details the early start, which will allow players to reach Level 10, reserve their character name, and unlock special pre-order items. It's also the only chance that pre-order players will have to claim their No Elves Flair and Commonwealth Helmet. Luckily, it's easy to hop in between January 28th and January 31st, and take a little time to start playing the game and forming Agencies. Beta players will also get the option to keep their character name during the transition to Live, although not their levels or data. Good news all around for Global Agenda fans.
Pro tip: Getting into MMO closed beta Mongbat style
We're sure you've heard about the No Elves! movement in Global Agenda by now. If you haven't, it all started with a hilarious machinima promotional video showing how Elven magic is no match for future technology and that players can be rest assured that no Elves will appear in the game.Well, a quick-thinking guild recently decided to capitalize on this movement and it earned them a spot in Global Agenda closed beta starting July 24, 2009. Mongbat, famous for other closed beta shenanigans, decided to gift wrap a couple bruised and bloodied plush toy Elves and send them off to Global Agenda headquarters with a note. Hi-Rez was so impressed they took a picture of Executive Producer Todd Harris and CEO Erez Goren welcoming the hostages to their new prison.This wasn't the first time Mongbat pulled such a prank. Back in June 2008, they marched into Mythic's head office and firmly planted their guild banner, claiming the development studio of Warhammer Online. They made it into a funny video podcast featuring a number of developers and earned quite a bit of community spotlight. So, the next time you want to get into a closed beta, you might want to ask yourself, "What would Mongbat do?"
MMO racism: the No Elves! movement picks up steam
To some it is unadulterated racial hatred; to others, pure marketing genius. Ok, perhaps I'm sensationalizing just a bit, but since its release, the No Elves! trailer for Global Agenda has generated quite a buzz. A recent newsletter announcement by Hi-Rez Studios details how they plan to capitalize on it.Those willing to show their support for the No Elves! movement can now buy a few different t-shirts from the Hi-Rez store, join a Facebook group, and download a media kit full of high quality videos and images. After launching the campaign initially, it appears Hi-Rez wants the community to take it over and spread the word. I believe the term is "viral marketing?"According to one of the developers, Hi-Rez first used the "No Elves" tagline on a staff recruitment banner 3 or 4 years ago. Another forum-goer pointed out a "No More Elves" promotion developed by Reakktor for Neocron 2 in 2005. It seems there is an abundance of pointy-eared hate because a number of MMO bloggers formed a No Elf Club recently as well. Come on folks, "can we all get along?"
Global Agenda trailer puts pansy elves in their place
We just had a look at some of the gameplay from Global Agenda at E3, but the latest trailer from Hi-Rez studios is a bit different. It's a more humorous look at the sort of characters that will be found in-game, or rather, the sorts that won't. Walking around in a flowing robe and attempting to fling fireballs won't get you very far in Global Agenda, as the trailer points out so clearly -- a Recon character makes short work of an elf trying to fill his cast-bar to attack, proving that technology is the key to victory in this particular world, and that other elves hoping to join the game's cast need not apply. Hit the jump to check out the full trailer.
