Hellgate: London Really a MMORPG

[ForumBot 0.8 beta]

Hellgate: London Really a MMORPG

Hellgate: London should be on shelves this summer.  However, read and despair, Diablo 2 fans, at some stuff I stole from GameSpot.

Roper explained that the cool thing about Hellgate: London is that you can play it as a single-player game, but there will also be an option to turn it into a subscription-based multiplayer game if you want to play with others and enjoy lots of new content.

It's like when you take that hot chick from the bar up to your room, then she asks you if you can "talk business".

[Samwise]

I feel like I should be pointing and laughing, but I'm not sure at whom.

[geldonyetich]

Asked if he felt good that Hellgate's release is on the horizon, he explained that Flagship won't have much time to rest because the company plans to create a steady stream of new content for subscribers in the form of monthly and quarterly updates to the game.

Well, at least they wouldn't be turning our free online multiplayer into subscription-fee multiplayer just to sit on the money. 

Thanks loads, Phantasy Star Online/Universe, for showing the way.

[LK]

I'd really like to know more details about the multiplayer setup, since that's the biggest piece of news, for me, to come out about this product.

I'm not sure I would pick this game up if it had a monthly fee.

[Sky]

The pay-only content is troubling. I was already getting a bad vibe from Hellgate, it looked like very old-school fps (a bad thing in my book, I like the 'new school' tactical way), with hordes of enemies pouring at you as you back up through the level. Maybe that's hot for the diablo kids, but it's tired for fps.

And rpg? "Hey mister, a demon stole my prosthetic leg!." Really? Who writes that tripe?

[Yegolev]

And rpg? "Hey mister, a demon stole my prosthetic leg!." Really? Who writes that tripe?

That was pretty funny, if you ask me, mostly because he was a real bastard and I often wished they had taken more than his leg.

[Murgos]

I'm not that surprised.  Battle.Net looked to be going this way some time ago then that all quieted down.  Apparently because the people pushing that idea moved on to start their own company.

It looks like a great alternate revenue stream but what it really does is limit participation.  There is no way in hell I am paying for a game connectivity portal for an FPS.  Maybe if the games were actually hosted on their servers so that I had guaranteed latency and responsiveness I could see paying out some cash.  But not for a matching service which is what this looks like to me.

[schild]

They've been hinting at MMORPG content for about 4 months. But like this? Pay to play content on their server? This is not what was hinted at.

I can't be mad though. I still want a massive piece of that if they don't fuck up the item system.

[Murgos]

I can't be mad though. I still want a massive piece of that if they don't fuck up the item system.

I am Jack's complete lack of surprise.

[schild]

I can't be mad though. I still want a massive piece of that if they don't fuck up the item system.

I am Jack's complete lack of surprise.

I am Jack's giant chunk of Diablo love.

[Nonentity]

To be perfectly honest, I'm not surprised.

One thing they brought up in the Flagship podcast a while back (June/July of last year) was a fan asked about alternate revenue models to keep content going after the game had shipped, and they said they had definitely not ruled that out just yet.

I'm so used to paying for MMOs anyways, so if this is any good, I have no problems paying for it.

I've played it two E3s in a row, and I loved it  both times. If it continues to deliver, I'm a happy man, and would be willing to throw down cash.

I'm interested in what sort of content they'll add to support this, though.

If there's raiding, I will stab someone.

[LK]

If there's raiding, I will stab someone.

I actually look forward to a "40 vs. 1 big mofo" type encounter if it was in an FPS.  It didn't sound like there were healers or anything in this game, and that it was being designed around a single person powerhouse.  So, we'll see what happens, but I played it at both E3s as well and so far haven't seen anything super magical yet that makes me want to crap my pants and play it.

[Samwise]

They've been hinting at MMORPG content for about 4 months. But like this? Pay to play content on their server? This is not what was hinted at.

I can't be mad though. I still want a massive piece of that if they don't fuck up the item system.

Ah, there he is.

HA HA!

[Zetleft]

If there's raiding, I will stab someone.

Linky

Speaking to Shacknews at CES in Las Vegas, CEO Bill Roper noted that the game is a full scale massively multiplayer game, with genre trappings such as guilds, continually developed content, a full social system, and raid-type gameplay.

Drawing similarities to ArenaNet's Guild Wars, the Hellgate MMO is heavily instanced. Group and solo PvE is the game's main focus; PvP will exist in a small scale form, but is not a major element of the initial launch.

I'm only a messenger... I'm sure Schild will take a blade for the game though  :-D

[schild]

What?

Raaaaaaaaaaids?

Man, fuck them.

[schild]

They've been hinting at MMORPG content for about 4 months. But like this? Pay to play content on their server? This is not what was hinted at.

I can't be mad though. I still want a massive piece of that if they don't fuck up the item system.

Ah, there he is.

HA HA!

But they've said there's raiding.

So...

Ah, there he isn't.

HA HA!

[schild]

Whoa, wtf. stealth merge for the schild lose.

++

[geldonyetich]

I'd probably still play it just because raids done first person shooter with dual-wielded customizable pistols are probably more enjoyable than the alternative.

[Kail]

Drawing similarities to ArenaNet's Guild Wars, the Hellgate MMO is heavily instanced.

Hmm, y'know, I think I can probably think of one or two dissimilarities I could draw here, too (here's a hint: it starts with the letter "$").

Look, I know it's fun and all to grab me by the ankles shake me until money comes out, but KNOCK IT OFF ALREADY.

[stray]

I'd probably still play it just because raids done first person shooter with dual-wielded customizable pistols are probably more enjoyable than the alternative.

But not as enjoyable as completely avoiding it entirely.

[Lt.Dan]

If there's raiding, I will stab someone.

I actually look forward to a "40 vs. 1 big mofo" type encounter if it was in an FPS.  It didn't sound like there were healers or anything in this game, and that it was being designed around a single person powerhouse.  So, we'll see what happens, but I played it at both E3s as well and so far haven't seen anything super magical yet that makes me want to crap my pants and play it.

Yeah I can imagine the fantastic gameplay already. 10 guys to shoot the knee so that the next 10 guys can shoot the arm so that next 10 guys can shoot the chest so the next 9 guys can crack the head armor, so one guy goes for the kill, all while circling strafing and avoiding slack-jawed low-brow team killing 'tards.  But maybe that's too cynical.

[ahoythematey]

I was fully willing to dish a monthly fee for D2 had it meant keeping out the fucking riff-raff.  If they can replicate the D2 ding-gratz luv then I'm there.

[Moaner]

This is terrible news.  I was really looking forward to a FPS Diablo but it looks like this is going to be a pay to play expanded GW. 

And raiding?  /puke

[Simond]

Looks like the smart people stayed at Blizzard after all.

[Lantyssa]

So... can I play the "single-player" mode co-op with a friend over a LAN and avoid paying the extra content?

I'm interested in the game for a fun little thing to do with friends occassionally.  What I am not interested in is a subscription based service when plenty of other games are going to hold most of my attention.  Nor do I care to play this only by myself.

I'll wait and see, but it looks like I shall be passing on this one afterall.

[eldaec]

Looks like the smart people stayed at Blizzard after all.

Well, the smart marketing people anyway.

I have doubts that there would be this much fuss if HG:L had started out being described as "Planetside crossed with Diablo"

This raises the bar the team need to reach to justify the cost, that's all.

Based on the fact that most us have been willing to pay $15 a month to use auto attack to smash a million identical foozles at some point, that bar is still pretty damn low. All the wailing and gnashing of teeth seems a mite overdone.


Now open up, wallets!

[Ironwood]

Having seen the videos of all the demos floating around, I'm amazed anyone is still interested in this.  It looks total boaby.

[Samwise]

My Scots-English dictionary doesn't have "boaby" in it.  But I think I agree.

(edit) Urban Dictionary informs me that this means penis.

[Nonentity]

DAMMIT.

If they make raid things where we have to clear 'trash' to get to 'bosses', and only the raid bosses drop the best stuff in the game, I'm gonna cry.

[waylander]

Didn't Myst:URU sorta show that this concept sucked major ass? I dunno if I'll pick up the game now.

[Signe]

I can't believe even Ironwood said "boaby."

Ick.

[LK]

I think a better concept that would work for this game is to have multiple dungeon paths where smaller teams of a larger group go through and clear out the mobs as they make their way through to a final boss.  Could be fun.

[Nonentity]

It may not be an MMO after all, as Bill may have been misquoted. The HG:L CM Ivan did a short interview:

Scaper-X
You folks are the talk of the internet.

Ivan
Lots of hubbub over some Bill quote or misquote. I haven't even been able to follow up on just what he said yet. The directors still have not finalized what exactly our online component will be. So Moses didn't have the good lord blast a $500 a month price tag into stone or whatever.

Scaper-X
The phrase being quoted most of all is, "I think that just as Diablo and Diablo II started this religious argument over whether they're RPGs or not, I think that Hellgate willspark that same debate over whether it's an MMO or not."

Ivan
Well, that quote is more about the content. Since we're instance based and revolve predominantly on party gameplay and we're not technically a persistent state game. EA contacted Shack news? What'd they say?

Scaper-X
"Update: Since posting our original news item on the matter, Shacknews has been contacted by Electronic Arts, which is co-publishing the game along with Namco Bandai. EA noted that there has not in fact been any final decision made as to Hellgate: London's online pricing model, be it subscription-based or otherwise. We respect this situation, while maintaining that have reported fairly on statements we received. A full interview is forthcoming."

Ivan
Yeah, we haven't made a final decision. Seriously, the directors debate about this quite a bit. Basically, we want to do ongoing content. We don't want it to be like Diablo where we had a patch and an expansion and that's that. We really want to do ongoing content. So the directors have to just figure out how the hell we're going to pay for that. Could be anything. Really.

Scaper-X
Are continuing expansion packs still on the table in lieu of monthly fees?

Ivan
Could be the bonus dvd does it or subscription or real money transactions or auctions or micro purchases or lots of smaller expansions. Could seriously be anything. Which is why they still debate some. So... Until the reach a decision, whatever that is, and then print it across the web in a release, it's all going to be speculation and misunderstandings and odd quotes

[LK]

Surprise surprise.  So they don't really have any clue and haven't made a final decision.

[CmdrSlack]

So... can I play the "single-player" mode co-op with a friend over a LAN and avoid paying the extra content?

I'm interested in the game for a fun little thing to do with friends occassionally.  What I am not interested in is a subscription based service when plenty of other games are going to hold most of my attention.  Nor do I care to play this only by myself.

I'll wait and see, but it looks like I shall be passing on this one afterall.

If they really are making it pay to play multiplayer (at least for online play), I'm willing to bet that they won't make it possible to run it on a LAN out of the box.  My money is on them cockblocking LAN play, then coming down on the first person to release a mod that allows it.  They'll have some clause in the EULA that prohibits all kinds of stuff, and it'll be one of the things that the modder does.  The EFF will take the side of the modder, and C Net and other tech news places will cover it for a few days.