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The Daily Grind: Have MMOs gone as far as they can go?
Do you ever feel like MMOs have gone as far as they can go? I don't mean to be a downer, especially on a Monday, but occasionally I'll play a single-player title that knocks my socks off and -- as an incurable MMO fan -- the first thing I think of is could/should this be made into an MMO? And usually the answer to that question is no, it can't be done because of technical limitations, latency, or lack of gamer interest. Over the weekend I played Mirror's Edge, a first-person platforming thing that I missed way back in 2009. I fell in love with the free-running, the expansive environments, and the vertigo-inducing perspectives and I realized, sadly, that all of those things and many more simply aren't in the cards for MMOs. I know that not everything has to be an MMO, but I'd love to experience Mirror's Edge with a persistent world behind it, as well as share it with my MMO-playing buddies. What about you, Massively readers? Do you think MMOs have gone as far as they can go, or do you think we're in store for anything new and exciting beyond continual refinements to the existing formula? 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!
This Halo 4 trick jumping video is everywhere at once
Most think of Halo 4 purely as a shooter, but this "trick jumping" video might turn your world upside down. The video comes from Jumprs.org forums user ReiKo, who recently recorded a number of baffling ways to traverse the game's environments and land on previously-unreachable spots."I just wanted to create a video that showcased some cool jumps in a video that I hope everyone can at least enjoy as 'something to watch,'" the video's creator wrote. "If you enjoy it, I will be very humbled." We're pretty sure some of the jumps here are what we'd call humbling.
Black Desert Facebook page hints at parkour system
Black Desert is rapidly approaching too-good-to-be-true territory, at least for this sandbox-starved gamer. While there are still a ton of unanswered questions regarding the newly announced Korean import, we have seen some spectacular visuals and an interesting twist on player housing. Today the Pearl Abyss Facebook page has updated with a look at the game's parkour system. Steparu.com reports that players will be able to "run up on walls, jump on obstacles, climb balconies, and stuff." There's no video as of yet, but there is a screenshot montage that shows a free-runner vaulting over ground-based obstructions and climbing onto a balcony.
Hume: the bipedal 'Parkour' robot (video)
A future threatened by wild robotic rottweilers with no humanoid dog-walkers to keep them in check? That must not happen. Fortunately, we'll have a fleet-footed droid named "Hume" to keep us safe: he's the work of engineers at Meka Robotics and the University of Texas at Austin, who want to be the first to build a bipedal robot with Parkour skills, aka rough terrain free-running or "Human-Centered Hyper-Agility". Sure, they still have some way to go, but watch the video after the break, then imagine it without the wobbly coat stand, and then re-imagine it from the POV of an angry pup.
ArcheAge parkour video shows off city architecture
It's been a while since we've seen an ArcheAge video, and AAportal has come through with an interesting clip that was recorded during the closed beta test at the end of May. The three-minute jaunt is heavy on urban exploration -- or what passes for urban in a fantasy context -- and the protagonist engages in a bit of free-running to see the sights in and around one of the fantasy title's huge cities. There's a bit of lag on display, as well as a lack of real danger given that the player character walks away from several high falls, but the clip is worth watching due to ArcheAge's gorgeous architecture. Check it out after the cut, then head to AAportal to join the discussion.
Mirror's Edge DLC, PC version coming early 2009
Now that Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 owners are busy practicing their finger parkour with this week's launch of Mirror's Edge, Electronic Arts has confirmed the PC version is coming January 2009 (as was previously listed by online retailers). According to the press release, downloadable content for the title will also be available "at the beginning of the year." No indication whether it's multiplatform DLC or the previously mentioned "exclusive" PS3 content. EA also offers no clues on what the content would be, but we're going to take a leap of faith here and say it won't be a weapons pack. Update: Gamecycte has confirmed that it's "downloadable content for both platforms," according to an EA spokesperson.
Urban exploration in Hyboria (part two)
Hyboria's other cities may hold more interesting finds. Despite its failings, one thing Age of Conan did well was providing breathtaking landscapes. When I got bored with quests and monsters, I looked for ways to make my own fun in Age of Conan.
Urban exploration in Age of Conan
Free running and urban exploration in virtual worlds have both taken off significantly in recent years. Players can be seen clambering around buildings and jumping between the rooftops in games from World of Warcraft to Everquest 2 and Funcom's Age of Conan is no different. Like a lot of players, I found myself eventually having to make my own fun after a while. For me, that meant finding my way onto the rooftops and jumping between them like a maniac. In this visual article, I find myself on the rooftops and back alleys of two cities in Age of Conan and see things from a perspective that most players will never see first hand. Age of Conan Freerunning Gallery %Gallery-32334% Having fun in Conan's homeland? Make sure to check out all of our previous Age of Conan coverage, and stick with Massively for more news from the Hyborian Age!
Urban exploration in MMOs
Urban exploration and free running are activities normally associated with the real world. In recent years, however, MMOs such as Everquest 2, Age of Conan and World of Warcraft have become a digital stage for the arts. With entire new virtual worlds to explore, no risk of injury and no physical fitness required, it's understandable that many would-be free runners are going digital.In this article, I take a visual tour of the world of urban exploration and rooftop running in MMOs and explain how you can learn to clamber onto the rooftops in your favourite game.%Gallery-30295%
Free Running, where are you?
The team at Rebellion have released Free Running, based loosely on the principles of a French alternasport "Parkour," that Wikipedia defines as, "movement from point A to point B, as efficiently and quickly as possible, using principally the abilities of the human body." For local advocates, community fan sites like Urbanfreeflow.com are great resources for finding the latest, up-to-date Parkour activities in your hometown.Free Running garnered a decent review, but a release date is now strangely absent for fellow gamers across the pond in North America. Attempts to locate a U.S. release date on major retailers like GameStop, Amazon and GameFly, all bring up blank pages, whereas earlier reports showed a similar March release date. With a lack of alternative sports tittles currently available on the system, PSP owners in North America may feel the sting of drought for awhile longer.Japanese fan site PSP GadgetZ has been obsessing over the title, capturing more than half a dozen videos of the game. Watch for yourself and tell us if you think this violence-free Prince of Persia-styled game sparks your fancy.
Running beautifully in Free Running
Free Running from Ubisoft has you participating in the sport of free running, where one must "interact with their environment using movements such as vaulting, jumping, somersaults and other acrobatic movements, creating an athletic and aesthetically pleasing way of moving." (Source: Wikipedia)If that just sounds like baloney to you, you may want to check out this trailer. It's certainly an interesting concept for a game: but will it be any fun? The game releases March 30th.
Path to PSP, PS2 now clear for 'Free Running'
Free Running (the game) has seemingly overcome the obstacles, finding a publisher in Ubisoft and enough mainstream attention to warrant a UK release in mid-March. We first spotted Free Running in June 2005 when then publisher Eidos was showing off some footage of the Core Designs PSP title, which was also being called Parkour Freerun (note: parkour and free running are two distinct disciplines).Since that time, Core Designs was acquired by Rebellion, which eventually passed Free Running off to Reef Entertainment. Reef, now teamed with Ubisoft, has found an opportunity to finally turn out Free Running, which will also be released on PlayStation 2 (in addition to its original PSP format).The game release is timed with building commercialization of the 'free running' discipline, whose founder -- and star of the upcoming game -- Sebastien Foucan showed off some moves in the latest Bond flick Casino Royale. Ubisoft is a fitting publisher as both its Prince of Persia series and upcoming title Assassin's Creed feature elements inspired by free running. The publisher has no apparent plans to distribute Free Running outside of the UK.[Via PSP Fanboy]
Ubisoft brings PSP Free Running
Ubisoft and Reef Entertainment sent out a press release stating they will be bringing Free Running to the PSP (and other systems) in the UK in March. The game focuses on the alternative sport of free running that involves jumping across building tops, climbing over obstacles and generally using the city as your playground. Sebastien Foucan the creator of free running was recently in the Bond film Casino Royale and in the game you'll compete against him to become the greatest free runner of all time. Free Running will feature more than 60 challenges spread over 10 different levels in 3 distinct time zones, each with their own style of gameplay. 9 single and multiplayer modes like freestyle, time attack and ground zero. As you progress, you'll unlock characters, clothes, tricks videos and music. [Via DCEmu]
