Fun Free MMO Games
Posted by: remotay2 on: November 8, 2009
I’ve been trying to get myself to play a lot of Free MMOGs lately, note that I did say ‘MMO’ and not ‘MMORPG’. For those that don’t know the difference – an MMORPG is a massively multiplayer online role playing game while an MMOG is a massively multiplayer online game. The key distinction is that an MMOG does not have to be an RPG. For example, a shooting game like Battlefield Heroes is an MMO rather than an MMORPG – because even though it’s multiplayer it doesn’t have the core RPG of elements that games like World of Warcraft and Runes of Magic have.
The first free to play MMOG I played was BattleForge – a fun 3D fantasy themed real time strategy MMO where players use cards to summon units. I know – the whole card thing may sound like a ‘turn off’ for a lot of people – but I strongly urge everyone to give BattleForge a try – as it’s an extremely good game. I don’t really like ‘card’ games very much – but I ended up loving BattleForge. I guess it’s because the game is faster paced than most other ‘card games’ I’ve played before. Anyway, BattleForge is completely free to play and it’s published by Electronic Arts. I guess EA is really putting a lot of effort into the free to play industry as BattleForge was released shortly after Battlefield Heroes. Players can either play through the game’s ’story mode’ campaign or fight against others online. The game does have a co-op feature as well – so players can work together with friends online in completing the campaigns.
Another interesting MMOG I played recently was Tales Runner. It’s a 3D racing MMO by Gpotato – the folks behind Luna Online, Fly For Fun and Rappelz. What made Tales Runner so interesting is that the game is a ‘track’ racing game – meaning there are no vehicles. Players actually sprint across the level on foot. It’s a pretty novel concept as 99% of racing MMOs involve either cartoony ‘karts’ or fast ’sporty’ cars. Being an ‘anime inspired’ game though – Tales Runner has some very interesting courses and game modes making the game. Racing across icy mountains and fire pits is pretty interesting and unique to boot. The actual core gameplay itself isn’t that great but it’s a game well worth checking out simply because of the novelty – and it’s not a bad game.
Lastly, I played a neat little fighting game called Rumble Fighter. It’s a 3D anime inspired fighting MMO by OG Planet (Folks who made Cabal Online / Lost Saga). The game plays a lot like Super Smash Brothers – but MMO style with some RPG elements. The goal is to basically beat up the other team through multiple game modes. Personally, I felt the controls and overall gameplay to feel a bit too slow paced for me – but it’s definitely an interesting game – as it’s pretty unique. The only other game like it is Splash Fighters.
Latest Wave of Free MMORPGs
Posted by: remotay2 on: November 5, 2009
As most free MMORPG gamers already know – more and more free to play games are being released every month. This isn’t too surprising though – as more and more game publishers are trying to hit it big by releasing a blockbuster game. What is surprising though is that the quality of these free to play MMORPGs is improving… quite fast. Perhaps the most impressive free to play game I played recently was Dungeons and Dragons Online. The game has drop dead gorgeous graphics some interesting gameplay that isn’t too ‘grindy’. The fact that Dungeons and Dragons Online is a top notch game shouldn’t be too surprising – as it used to be pay to play. It’s actually one of many pay to play games gone free over the last few years. Games like The Chronicles of Spellborn, RF Online and Archlord are other examples of pay to play games gone free to play.
On the Browser Game front – Earth Eternal just got released and it’s one of the best looking browser games out there! It looks a lot like Runes of Magic which is neat because it’s entirely on the browser. I Really don’t know how these game developers do it – but the graphics on Earth Eternal are easily comparable to any client based game. So if you’re looking for a top notch browser game – give Earth Eternal a try!
Another game I played recently that’s quite good is Alliance of Valiant Arms. It’s a 3D MMO shooter by IJJI. It plays a lot like Combat Arms, Wolfteam and K.O.S. Secret Operations – but graphic wise it’s superior. Alliance of Valiant Arms has some of the best graphics I’ve seen in any free to play game. Content wise though – the game is lacking. That’s probably because it was released recently though – so the developers haven’t had much time to release new maps and features yet.
Lastly, another great MMORPG that I started playing recently and still do play is Dragonica Online. It’s a fun 3D side scrolling MMORPG by THQ Ice that plays a lot like MapleStory / LaTale – but with MUCH better graphics and gameplay. Honestly, it’s one of the best free to play MMORPGs out there – so if you’re a fan of side scrolling games – give Dragonica Online a try. It’s amazing 
.
New Free to play MMORPGs Rock
Posted by: remotay2 on: September 17, 2009
After playing two of the most recent free to play MMORPGs to hit the market, Dragonica and Dungeons & Dragons Online, I am yet again impressed by the quality of free to play games. Free MMORPG games are just getting better and better. A long time ago – the term ‘free to play’ was usually associated with low quality poorly translated games, but today that stereotype is largely gone. Games like Dragonica, Atlantica Online and Runes of Magic feel just as ‘high quality’ as pay to play games like World of Warcraft and Eve Online both in all aspects from gameplay to the soundtrack. Anyone that has had a chance to play Dungeons & Dragons Online or Dragonica Online will agree with me here.
Heck, I would argue that some free MMORPGs like Atlantica Online have superior graphics and gameplay than some pay to play MMORPGs. Older pay to play games like Final Fantasy XI and Ultima Online are a lot weaker in terms of content, graphics and gameplay than newer free to play titles. Heck it’s also quite easy to argue that pay to play games like City of Heroes and Pirates of the Caribbean Online are ‘worse’ in terms of overall content and graphics than free to play titles like Shaiya, Twelve Sky 2 and even Last Chaos.
Basically, what I’m trying to say is that the days of ‘free to play’ MMORPGs being labeled as ‘crap’ is over. The free to play revolution is quickly taking the industry by storm. Even companies like Electronic Arts have jumped on the bandwagon with Battlefield Heroes and BattleForge. It’s just a matter of time before more developers and publishers ‘go’ free to play. I wouldn’t be surprised if pay to play MMORPGs like Age of Conan, Warhammer Online and Vanguard go free to play – as these games haven’t done as well as expected commercially, so they may try going all out free to play.
MMORPGs Need Better Quests
Posted by: remotay2 on: August 27, 2009
MMORPG developers have gotten way too lazy when it comes to designing quests. Almost every single quest in any MMORPG involves either role playing as a FedEx driver [Take this item and give it to an NPC named John Thunderhoof across town!] or a genocidal maniac [Kill 50 Baby Gnolls, 20 Mother Gnolls and 10 Gnoll Brutes]. Personally, kill quests in MMORPGs are an excellent distraction from mindless grinding, but I feel that quests should add a little more variety to the game. MMORPGs like Runes of Magic, Fiesta Online and WindSlayer are genuinely good games, but they have rather dull quests. To be fair though, 95% of MMORPGs have this same issue, I just used the three games mentioned as examples.
There’s nothing wrong with delivery and kill quests, but there’s no excuse for developers to use only these kinds of quests. Games like MapleStory and Dragonica Online for example, really take questing to the next level because they have a lot of unique quests. MapleStory has a boat load of ‘plat forming’ quests which require players to make it from one end of the screen to the other by dodging obstacles, sort of like a stage in Super Mario. Keep in mind MapleStory has the generic ‘go kill X amount of Y monsters’ and ‘fed ex’ like quests, but the fact that it also has other types of quests makes the game a lot more enjoyable.
Third person vs. First Person MMO Shooters
Posted by: remotay2 on: August 26, 2009
There are quite a bit of MMO shooters on the market, most of them first person, some of them third person. Everyone has their preference, but I feel that third person shooters require more skill, mainly because players have a lot more to focus on than just a cross hair. Using the camera effectively in a third person shooter is extremely important and can be the difference between a kill and a death. This is especially true in games like Battlefield Heroes and GunZ where players are given such flexible control of the camera. The ability to control and use the camera effectively adds another layer of gameplay to an otherwise simple genre.
Even though I feel that third person shooters demand more skill from players, there’s no doubt that first person MMO shooters also require some skill. This is especially true in tactical MMOFPS games like Sudden Attack and Soldier Front where players literally die in a single shot or two. Normally in these types of games, players with the fastest reaction times almost always win, making them extremely brutal for newbies. The only way for newbies to actually do well in a lot of tactical MMOFPS games is to fire rapidly towards their opponent’s general direction hoping for a headshot. Players new the MMO shooter genre should stick with games like Combat Arms and WolfTeam, because headshots are much more difficult to get, allowing newbies to stay alive longer and enjoy the game a bit more. WolfTeam is actually one of the most unique MMOFPS games out there because it allows players transform at any time into a melee oriented werewolf with superior speed and attack.
Are Free to Play games better than pay to play ones?
Posted by: remotay2 on: August 25, 2009
For a long time, pay to play games like World of Warcraft and Warhammer Online were considered untouchable, but as it stands the MMORPG market is evolving. More and more free MMORPG games are being released every week while only one or two major pay to play MMORPGs are being released every year. Just because there are a lot of free to play games though doesn’t mean any of them are really ‘great’, but I can safely say that the ‘latest generation’ of free to play titles are downright amazing.
New free to play titles like Atlantica Online, Runes of Magic and Dragonica Online can actually stand toe-to-toe against pay to play MMO juggernauts like World of Warcraft and Eve Online. These game’s aren’t ‘cheap’, as they have great production values. Heck, Runes of Magic looks just as good as World of Warcraft graphic wise. Those who have played Dragonica Online will vouch for me when I say that game is downright amazing for a free to play title. Heck, it’s a lot better than some pay to play games like EverQuest and Star Wars Galaxies.
The real question is, when will pay to play games die off? The free to play market is just growing way too fast while free to play games are only getting better and better. Games like World of Warcraft and Eve online won’t be able to charge $15 a month when there are literally hundreds of free alternatives that are equally as good.
MMORPG Rant – Give us More Unique Games!
Posted by: remotay2 on: August 6, 2009
Ever since the free MMORPG / MMO market exploded, the gaming market has been flooded with new titles. There is literally a new MMORPG coming out every month now, but even with all of these new games being released, only a handful are truly unique. For some reason game developers like releasing cookie cutter generic grind fests that most gamers are tired of rather than genuinely different games. Personally, I’m tired of playing generic fantasy games like Last Chaos and Dragon Sky. I’m not saying these games are bad, because they aren’t. In fact a lot of ‘cookie cutter’ fantasy games are quite good, but they feel too much like ‘the same old thing’.
There are only a handful of ‘fantasy MMORPGs’ that I would actually play and they are Runes of Magic, Atlantica Online and Fiesta Online. I personally love these games, but not because they’re unique, but because they’re incredibly polished. Sure Runes of Magic is a knock off of World of Warcraft, but it’s still a fun game. Now that I’m done playing these games though, I want something unique… something different.
Over the last year or so, there has only been three or four genuinely ‘different’ games to be released. The latest one being GhostX. For those of you that haven’t heard of or played it, I strongly recommend giving the game a download as it’s one of the most unique games of 2009, at least in my opinion. In short, it’s an action rpg with MMO elements. Another genuinely ‘different’ game that I’ve played recently is Battlefield Heroes, which is a 3D third person MMO shooter with Team Fortress 2 like cartoony graphics. Sure the game looks like Team Fortress 2, but it’s different, mainly because of its MMO elements. Battlefield Heroes is the first ‘free to play’ game in the now critically acclaimed ‘Battlefield’ franchise. Unfortunately though, there are very few games these days that feel ‘fresh’. I guess the point of this article is to urge developers to stop making cookie cutter fantasy grindfests and start making games that are different!
Multiple MMORPG Publishers publishing the same game?
Posted by: remotay2 on: July 22, 2009
Why is it that more than one MMORPG game publisher publishes the same game? It doesn’t make any sense. Games like Nostale for example are available in the United States through two different publishers. Players can sign up for the game on nostale.net or on nostale.uforia.com. Isn’t it weird that the same game is available on two different websites? On two completely different servers? I’m not sure what Nostale’s developers were thinking by licensing their game to two different companies in the same region, because as it stands the game’s playerbase is now divided. This really hurts the ‘user experience’ as a game’s community is a big part of MMO games, and having a game’s community split totally sucks for players. To be fair though, NosTale isn’t the only game that’s published by more than one company. La Tale for example is currently being published by the folks over at OGPlanet for North American users, but it looks like Aeriagames will also begin publishing the same exact game soon, as La Tale is currently in Closed beta over at Aeria. Another game, Luminary: Rise of the Goonzu used to be published by both Ndoors and IJJI, but luckily the folks over at IJJI merged their servers with the Ndoors game.
The question now is, why on earth do game developers license their games to multiple publishers? Heck, if I was OG Planet, I would be furious at La Tale’s developers for giving their game to Aeria, especially after initially giving it to OG Planet! Successful games like Atlantica Online, Runes of Magic and Fiesta Online for example don’t license their games to multiple publishers for a reason, so why do some people do it? I’m pretty sure this practice has a lot to do with greed. Developers are looking to milk their games as much as possible, but I feel that this practice will only end up hurting everyone, as a divided community will hurt the user experience causing some people to quit, less players will hurt the publisher and the less revenue publishers make the less the developers make. So, what’s the point of this article? To urge developers to stop licensing their games to multiple publishers!
Too Many Free MMORPGs
Posted by: remotay2 on: July 19, 2009
Honestly, I think the free to play MMORPG game market is growing way too fast. It seems like every month a n ambitious new game publisher opens its doors for the first time in hopes of making it big in a market overflowing with MMORPGs. Companies like Aeria Games that have multiple successful titles like Last Chaos, Twelve Sky and Shaiya are making money hand over fist in the lucrative micro-transaction based business, but other smaller companies like Uforia who only publish smaller less known games like Red War, Three Kingdoms and Nostale are in risk of going bankrupt. The fact is, there are far more online games out there than the amount of players needed to make them all profitable. What this means is that some of these free MMORPG publishers are doomed to failure.
Now, I bet a lot of readers are thinking, “where are the facts? The numbers?”, Well I don’t have any numbers in front of me, but I can say from firsthand experience that a LOT of MMORPG games are deserted. Stone Age 2 for example, only has a handful of players online at any given time. A HANDFUL of players. There’s no way the game’s publisher can recoup their expenses for the game with only a dozen or so players online at any given time. I’ve personally played dozens of games where the total number of players online were less than 100. Personally, I’d love to see every game bustling with activity, but with so many Free MMO games on the market, this isn’t possible. Surprisingly, there are very few major browser games with this problem, as almost every browsed based MMORPG I played had a healthy playerbase.
Why are so many MMORPGs using Bit Torrent now?
Posted by: remotay2 on: July 18, 2009
For as long as I can remember, Bit Torrent has been a tool used by pirates to illicitly ‘acquire’ music and movies. Just recently though, over the last year or so, Bit Torrent has grown to become one of the primary download methods for several big MMORPGs. World of Warcraft for example, uses bit torrent for patching while games like Project Powder, Fiesta Online, and GodsWar utilize bit torrent to transfer the entire game client over to players. Personally, I feel that even though bit torrent can speed up downloads on some occasions, it’s almost always slower than a mediocre HTTP direct download. For extremely popular games like Atlantica Online, a bit torrent based downloader could work, as the game has millions of players, but for smaller titles like Wolfteam and Angels Online I’d much rather prefer a reliable direct download than bit torrent.
As I mentioned earlier, bit torrent can be helpful in some cases, but in most cases it’s a lot slower. I can bet that the reason for implementing a bit torrent type solution has a lot more to do with saving bandwidth for the publisher than improving the user experience. I Have nothing against trying to cut costs, but I think publishers should use HTTP direct downloads for their games over bit torrent, as it’s almost always faster. This is sort of a pointless rant, as almost every game publisher offers both options. I guess my what I’m trying to get at is that publishers should make the ‘default’ download option the more familiar direct download method while having the bit torrent option there but secondary. As it stands, a lot of MMORPG games have torrents as the primary download method. At least browser games don’t have this issue!
