The next gen console MMOs, all for the PS3

[UnSub]

The PS3 looks like it is going to have an interesting 2011 from the MMO perspective: it is going from none to possibly three in Free Realms, FFXIV and DCUO (and possibly The Agency, but      on that actually happening).

This is happening at a time when PC MMOs are increasingly under pressure to even find a viable audience and are all shifting F2P. Free Realms, basic as it is, at least starts free, while FFXIV and DCUO have to educate players about sub fees (and the fact that once you burn through the game, you can't return it to GameStop for store credit).

Given that we're looking at the best shot of this console gen actually getting some MMOs, how do you think they will go? Will they actually launch? Are they going to be able to retain players / collect subscriptions in the console environment? Or is it a perfect storm for a crash and burn (to mix metaphors)?

[Rendakor]

Well since FFXIV blows, I can't imagine it giving console gamers a good taste of what an MMO is like. I predict a lot of FF fans (and RPG fans in general) to be soured to the genre by the bad experience.

[sinij]

Who the fuck going to play mmorpg on a console?

Wait, don't answer. I don't want to know.

[Morfiend]

Personally, I think something like Global Agenda could do well on a console. Its already fairly mandatory you use the voice chat, and the gameplay could lend it self to a gamepad much easer than say WoW.

[jakonovski]

Personally, I think something like Global Agenda could do well on a console. Its already fairly mandatory you use the voice chat, and the gameplay could lend it self to a gamepad much easer than say WoW.

There's already MAG.

[Velorath]

I've said this before, but I think the main thing that holds back console MMO's is that it takes almost a full average console cycle to develop most MMO's, so by the time a developer gets an MMO released people are almost ready to move on to next-gen consoles, which may or may not be compatible with previous-gen software (and God help you if the console you decided to develop your MMO on ends up being in last place in terms of sales).

The other big issue right now is that Sony and MS seem to like to hold patches and DLC up in certification, so if you really need to release a patch for some major bug fixes or something, you might not be able to get it to the customers as quickly as you'd like.

[Kageru]

This is happening at a time when PC MMOs are increasingly under pressure to even find a viable audience and are all shifting F2P.

No, there's just a lot of shit being released, decent but aging and declining  and enough games around people won't keep paying for it.

Though if you'll link the reference proving that WoW is going F2P I will reconsider that.

[Malakili]

The other big issue right now is that Sony and MS seem to like to hold patches and DLC up in certification, so if you really need to release a patch for some major bug fixes or something, you might not be able to get it to the customers as quickly as you'd like.

This basically kept Champions Online off the xbox 360. I mean, CO hating aside, that thing is fully playable with a 360 controller and it plays (arguably) better than with the keyboard, and that was working at launch.  They couldn't come up with a business deal to make it happen though.  I don't know if it would've done well or even decent on a console, but I think it would've at least have been interesting to see how it would've panned out.

[Phred]

The other big issue right now is that Sony and MS seem to like to hold patches and DLC up in certification, so if you really need to release a patch for some major bug fixes or something, you might not be able to get it to the customers as quickly as you'd like.

This basically kept Champions Online off the xbox 360. I mean, CO hating aside, that thing is fully playable with a 360 controller and it plays (arguably) better than with the keyboard, and that was working at launch.  They couldn't come up with a business deal to make it happen though.  I don't know if it would've done well or even decent on a console, but I think it would've at least have been interesting to see how it would've panned out.

The only way it could work, afaik is if you could get Microsoft to punt connections to your servers which I'm betting they are way to dog in the manger over XBox live to do. Unless you could code your client to use regular internet protocols and ignore XBox live completely. But that's probably a breach of contract for devs developing for the XBox.

[Rendakor]

Isn't FFXI already on Xbox Live? What allowed them to launch there that prevented CO?

[UnSub]

This is happening at a time when PC MMOs are increasingly under pressure to even find a viable audience and are all shifting F2P.

No, there's just a lot of shit being released, decent but aging and declining  and enough games around people won't keep paying for it.

Though if you'll link the reference proving that WoW is going F2P I will reconsider that.

WoW isn't going F2P but it's the market leader.

There hasn't been a $15 sub-fee MMO launched since WoW that has found market success - LOTRO might have, but even that went the F2P option. Quality is one issue, but MMOS are generally the lowest quality they will be at release. Development over time typically means improvements over time. Where things appear to be heading is that players will no longer shell out $50 plus a $15 sub fee (plus RMT, which is increasingly common) and stick with a title to see it change.

'All' was an overstatement, so I apologise for that. Replace it with 'a lot'.

[UnSub]

Isn't FFXI already on Xbox Live? What allowed them to launch there that prevented CO?

I believe issues such as MS wanting Cryptic to guarantee a number of copies sold and also wanting 30% of the sub fee were key issues in preventing ChampO launching on the Xbox 360.

[Draegan]

The PS3 looks like it is going to have an interesting 2011 from the MMO perspective: it is going from none to possibly three in Free Realms, FFXIV and DCUO (and possibly The Agency, but      on that actually happening).

This is happening at a time when PC MMOs are increasingly under pressure to even find a viable audience and are all shifting F2P. Free Realms, basic as it is, at least starts free, while FFXIV and DCUO have to educate players about sub fees (and the fact that once you burn through the game, you can't return it to GameStop for store credit).

Given that we're looking at the best shot of this console gen actually getting some MMOs, how do you think they will go? Will they actually launch? Are they going to be able to retain players / collect subscriptions in the console environment? Or is it a perfect storm for a crash and burn (to mix metaphors)?

So three shitty MMOGs are coming to the PS3 and PC MMOs are increasingly under pressure to even find a viable audience?  What?

[Sheepherder]

WoW isn't going F2P but it's the market leader.

Blizzard has acknowledged that their end-game for WoW is to go F2P rather than to just pull the plug on the servers.  It's not happening anytime soon, but it will eventually.

[Velorath]

Isn't FFXI already on Xbox Live? What allowed them to launch there that prevented CO?

FFXI isn't on Live.  360 users play on the same servers the PC and PS2 users play on, and an Xbox Live Gold subscription isn't needed.  I believe that MS had made an exception to their usual policies to allow this, presumably because they thought it would be a big deal to get an FF game on the console that early on in its lifespan (even if it wasn't a particularly great game).  This apparently isn't something MS is willing to repeat these days now that they've more firmly established their position in the console market, which is why FFXIV isn't currently being made for the 360 even though the developers said they were interested in porting the game over.

[Rendakor]

Ahh ok, thanks Velorath. I knew it was on Xbox and always just assumed that Live was required.