Age of Conan

EVE is the only one shard game in the market. Everything else has multiple shards, multiple server farms, each with a separate name and some with different rules. Vanguard is not a one shard game.

Originally posted by Thillian

Nevertheless, WoW still has instanced dungeons, in addition the zones are very obvious, the transition from one zone to another is usually made of a narrow path and extreme change in terrain.

I know.

It's better then loading screens.

I'll take 10 yards of transition terrain between "extreme changes in terrain" over a 10 second loading screen into extreme changes in terrain any day.

The point is...

Subbing graphics for the "MM" part of MMORPG is not a good idea, in my humble opinion.

1. 20 people in one instanced zone and uber sweet graphics

vs.

2. 200 people in one un-instanced zone and stylized, artistically sound graphics that fit the IP

I'll take door number 2 every time.

Sure, it's not completely open 1 game space like EVE, but I'd rather have content then grind just to get to the "good stuff" i.e. PvP ganking, more grinding, lag-crashing in large battles etc.

:)

It's a bit of a travel back in time, but I remember a similar argument about Diablo and whether it was a real RPG or not. The bottom line, it didn't matter. The game was fun and a huge success for the company.

As long as AoC is fun for those who play it, definitions are irrelevant.

if only 4 people can play a game then no that would not be a MMO (console coop/FPS game)

if over 10 can play a game then i still think that is not a MMO but close (big LAN Party or console gaming)

if 50 can play a game then i would have to say that is a MMO but small (most FPS are MMO console/pc)

if 100+ can play a game then i would have to say that is a MMO (most PC MMORPG and now comming to console)

and if hellgate london is called a MMO and its 99% instance then yes a full instanced game can be called that

Originally posted by Redline65

So I guess there's 3, maybe 4, types of MMOs as far as instancing is concerned?

1. Private/small group instances - DDO, Hellgate, Guild Wars

2. Zoned player-count limited instances - Tabula Rasa, AoC

3. Single open world, group adventure instances - WoW, LOTRO, DAoC

4. Single open world, zero instances - are there any? (EVE?)

Tha'ts a nice classification by the way. I only would change a bit the titles for simplification, just a suggestion (i finally added another, for what WAR seems to be aiming at, not sure though):

1. Closed World, all instanced.

2. Instanced zones and dungeons.

3. Instanced dungeons.

4. Instanced bosses.

5. Open World, zero instances.

Not reading through pages of possible crap and lv1-20 people.

For those who have gone through Tortage and into Stygia etc, you would see that its not like GW. Just yesterday I did levels 22-29 with only zoning twice (group instance) and that was 5-6 hours of play while still interacting and playing with 80ish people in the same zone (grouping for quests so no waiting on spawns).

Oh and its also very worth it to group with people as there is no XP loss like WoW. When grouped with people questing and grinding becomes 2x productive a with 3, 3x etc.

If only people could understand the concept of zone mirroring (I'll give you a hint, the main reason is in my post).

Oh and player Housing, Keeps, and Shops wont be zoned/instanced.

Originally posted by Xasapis

real mmo players ... hilarious

 

Massive (it is, server population is as big as any other MMO out there)

Multiplayer (It certainly is)

Online (That too)

Role Playing Game (Character advancement, world, lore, the RPG element is there)

 

So yes, it is an MMORPG.

The only massive in Conan are the loading screens and massive absence of promised materiel like the massive sieges.

well i would have to think it reduces 'graphical' lag people get when there are 47562349572 people chilling in the same area waiting for a single mob spawn....(new WoW servers ftl).

i for one am looking forward to playing AoC when it arrives within the week.

Oh and why do people get hung up on if its really a MMORPG or not? Enjoy playing the game? then play it, if not go play something else. pretty simple imho.

Originally posted by Zorndorf

 

Originally posted by Xasapis

real mmo players ... hilarious

 

Massive (it is, server population is as big as any other MMO out there)

Multiplayer (It certainly is)

Online (That too)

Role Playing Game (Character advancement, world, lore, the RPG element is there)

 

So yes, it is an MMORPG.

Cities with 40 men instances limits are NOT massive. Nor are the closed up worlds loaded with minute long loading screens.

 

The only massive in Conan are the loading screens and massive absence of promised materiel like the massive sieges.

 

Stop pulling your "facts" out of your a*se!