wizet
Latest
The Digital Continuum: Don't drink the casual koolaid
The word casual gets thrown around a lot in gaming these days. In particular, Massively Multiplayer Online Games have become a steadily larger genre to pump full of squishy casual fluff. Just recently the development studio Perpetual Entertainment was sold off to a company looking to insert said casual goo. The apparent word on the inter-street is that the new ownership is supposedly a media company that wants to use Star Trek Online as an entry point for the video game market. I believe the words "retargeting" and "more casual" were used to describe the change. The last piece of information given to us was that subscription fees could be dropped in favor of paying for optional in-game items. The only way I can honestly see the more casual bent turning out well is if Star Trek Online follows the Guild Wars model. Said model being; create a polished game for fifty bucks, and in a year or so people can buy the optional expansion for another fifty bucks if they're so inclined. Since STO will be following the "Korean" model, this boat is already starting to sink.Putting aside the fact that apparently many members of Perpetual have left the company in response; let's get a few things straight. The lifeblood of any of these games is grind. It makes the world go 'round and the sun go up and down. You can't have STO without grind no matter what model it's developed under. So what they effectively mean by "casual" is that we suspect they don't really plan on putting the amount of effort or polish you would expect from any MMO with a subscription fee. Instead what we'll most likely see burst from the chest of whatever space beast has laid its vile eggs within Perpetual Entertainment's chest is a cross between Maple Story and Star Trek Enterprise. You'll still have plenty of grind, it'll just be even less fun!We're gonna get half-naked, green, super-deformed alien girls -- well, only if we're willing to spend ten bucks for ten thousand in-game "Perpetual Points."
First MMORPG to hit the DS
Have you guys ever heard of this game called Maplestory? Apparently, clever as they are, developers Wizet have you in NO WAY acquiring syrup to generously cover shortstacks of buttermilk pancakes so that you may fill your body and soul with their warm, fluffy substance. As much of a crime as that is, their focus, which is a 2D side-scrolling MMORPG, isn't too disappointing in contrast according to some. Actually, if the grapevine is to be believed, it's a downright enjoyable experience more so than consuming pancakes (crazy, I know). If you're curious, you could just download it and find out for yourself or have a gander at the rather robust Wiki for some more information. [Thanks Zack McClelland and Joey!]
