VirginWorlds MMORPG News Host: Brent VirginWorlds is a weekly news podcast covering Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games (MMORPGs) such as World of Warcraft, EverQuest, Guild Wars, City of Heroes, Eve Online, Vanguard, Lord of the Rings Online and many many more. The VirginWorlds MMORPG Podcast is the flagship podcast of the VirginWorlds MMO Podcast Collective found at http://www.virginworlds.com
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Finally. A normal week. One host. MMORPG news. A clinking headset. Crickets. Raw info. Here are the topics: -Auto Assault Ends -EverQuest 2 GU 38 -Second Life Documentary -Tabula Rasa release date and first impressions -NC Soft and the PS3 -WoW and Southpark Win -Gordon Walton on post-WoW MMORPGs -Profile of the Week: Damion Schubert
'Gordon's Audio' by Brent Submitted on 2007-09-18 02:44:00 CST The audio for the discussion I speak of in this podcast can be found here, but it isn't free.
"Speaker: Gordon Walton (co-Studio Director, BioWare)
Track: Online Games - Business & Management
Experience Level: Intermediate
This session will cover the conventional wisdom lessons that Blizzard's WOW proved out, along with some new lessons that can be derived from their amazing success. Specifically, each element which contributed to WOW's success will be covered, along with some opportunities that Blizzard may have missed. Finally there will be a discussion of what market opportunities might exist in this post-WOW world followed by an extensive Q&A session."
'TR, WoW, and Walton' by hallower Submitted on 2007-09-18 15:02:45 CST TR graphics: It's a good idea to prevent players from seeing what they're missing. I'd definitely be one who wants to see the graphics I can't play on. I've also been known to choose a high graphic setting that makes my game lag but I prefer anyway at times. But overall, it's a good idea that will curb a lot of frustration and miscontent.
I agree Blizzard's mistaken expectations before WoW's release doesn't mean they didn't learn from past games, but I generally agree with Brian on the other points. A lot of WoW's success is due to circumstances unique to Blizzard.
Blizzard made a lot of smart moves with WoW, including the graphics and solo play. I'm not as resistant to the solo play as a lot of veteran MMO gamers, but I do think player interdependence needs to be encouraged in new ways.
Thanks for the Walton summary.
'Good show!' by LealaTurkey Submitted on 2007-09-18 23:56:43 CST And thanks for the plug! =)
'Tabula Rasa' by Foodstuff Submitted on 2007-09-19 03:26:59 CST You didn't mention the character cloning system, thus almost invalidating your class dilemma to me. You might want to clean that up.
'cloning' by Brent Submitted on 2007-09-19 11:29:19 CST The cloning system doesn't invalidate the fact that the classes were not immediately appealing. all it means is that if I choose wrong, i can back track and try another while 1)repeating content I already completed and 2) losing my identity as a character in the game world. Sorry, but I'm not going to go back and re-edit the podcast.
'I Need My Ears Checked' by James Submitted on 2007-09-19 13:19:00 CST Due to a combination of Brent's accent and my compromised hearing from a youth misspent in front of loud monitors at music venues, I was totally confused by the opening segment. I kept wondering what the heck Brent was referring to when he kept mentioning, "Ottawa Salt, Ottawa Salt." Was this some rare seasoning harvested exclusively in the Great White North?
It was only when he used the term in context that I realized he was saying "Auto Assault." I am a moron.
Canadian Podcasters: 1
Half-deaf New Yorker: 0
Another excellent episode.
'laugh.' by Brent Submitted on 2007-09-19 15:38:15 CST Who you calling Canadian? Darren is the resident Canadian, not me. Unless you consider the fact that I grew so close to Canada that I could probably hit it with a rock. Ok, not that close, but damn close. And yeah, Minnesota folk have a similar accent, sorta. The funny thing is, Ottawa Salt and Auto Assault woul dbe pretty much identical in our dialect except for a very slight change on the opening vowel. Very slight. The rest of the phrase would be identical. In 'New Yawk' I'm sure it sounds more like : AAAA-TOE AAA-SSAAAALT With those A's being the kind in the word mad, bad, sad.
Right?
''Awe-toe Uh-sawlt,' I believe is how I'd say it.' by James Submitted on 2007-09-19 18:32:11 CST Three quarters of the co-workers at my old job were from the greater Minneapolis/St. Paul area so I have no legitimate excuse for not being able to identify my Great Lakes/midwestern accents better. My apologies. Since we're on the subject, I've always been amazed at the high concentration of MMORPGers that seem to hail from out there. I'm jealous of you folks.
'Tabula Rasa stuff' by Sente Submitted on 2007-09-19 18:33:11 CST The Tabula Rasa abilities does indeed not cause an immediate appeal for a number of them from reading on the website and the somewhat terse descriptions.
At least partially I think that is a problem with the descriptions, since they do not provide detailed info on what each do at the 5 possible levels of each ability. The in-game descriptions is a bit better, since they at least describe each of the five levels.
As for leveling speed, I cannot say that I thought it was particularly slow, rather on par with a number of other MMOGs. But this also depends when it was done, at some point it was a bit slow and they increased the "leveling" speed a bit as I recall - although one would probably not see too much difference at the very lowest levels.
Some missions give fairly good xp and if you get the xp multipliers up it can go fairly fast. One should pick an instance of the zone with not too high polulation though, otherwise one will end up competing with too many people for some mobs in some cases.
It would have been quite nice if SWG had made their interface more like Tabula Rasa's. Moving a around on Foreas reminded me a bit of SWG and some the planets and their terrain there, scouting around with my ranger/CH.
And the Xanx get me to think of Starship Troopers bugs ;)
'Thanks from the Channel Massive guys' by d1551d3nt Submitted on 2007-09-20 17:29:20 CST Brent,
Thanks for mentioning our podcast. I was not expecting to hear the nice pimping you gave us and nearly crashed (very slowly) into a parked car as I heard you describe the show. Thanks again and check your damned mail for my messages (comarkm@gmail.com) regarding WAR. :)
Thanks again,
Mark
'Thanks from the Channel Massive guys' by d1551d3nt Submitted on 2007-09-20 17:31:22 CST Brent,
Thanks for mentioning our podcast. I was not expecting to hear the nice pimping you gave us and nearly crashed (very slowly) into a parked car as I heard you describe the show. Thanks again and check your damned mail for my messages (comarkm@gmail.com) regarding WAR. :)
'Gordon's Audio' by Brent
Submitted on 2007-09-18 02:44:00 CST
The audio for the discussion I speak of in this podcast can be found here, but it isn't free.
http://store.cmpgame.com/product.php?id=2432&cat=65
"Speaker: Gordon Walton (co-Studio Director, BioWare)
Track: Online Games - Business & Management
Experience Level: Intermediate
This session will cover the conventional wisdom lessons that Blizzard's WOW proved out, along with some new lessons that can be derived from their amazing success. Specifically, each element which contributed to WOW's success will be covered, along with some opportunities that Blizzard may have missed. Finally there will be a discussion of what market opportunities might exist in this post-WOW world followed by an extensive Q&A session."
'TR, WoW, and Walton' by hallower
Submitted on 2007-09-18 15:02:45 CST
TR graphics: It's a good idea to prevent players from seeing what they're missing. I'd definitely be one who wants to see the graphics I can't play on. I've also been known to choose a high graphic setting that makes my game lag but I prefer anyway at times. But overall, it's a good idea that will curb a lot of frustration and miscontent.
I agree Blizzard's mistaken expectations before WoW's release doesn't mean they didn't learn from past games, but I generally agree with Brian on the other points. A lot of WoW's success is due to circumstances unique to Blizzard.
Blizzard made a lot of smart moves with WoW, including the graphics and solo play. I'm not as resistant to the solo play as a lot of veteran MMO gamers, but I do think player interdependence needs to be encouraged in new ways.
Thanks for the Walton summary.
'Good show!' by LealaTurkey
Submitted on 2007-09-18 23:56:43 CST
And thanks for the plug! =)
'Tabula Rasa' by Foodstuff
Submitted on 2007-09-19 03:26:59 CST
You didn't mention the character cloning system, thus almost invalidating your class dilemma to me. You might want to clean that up.
'cloning' by Brent
Submitted on 2007-09-19 11:29:19 CST
The cloning system doesn't invalidate the fact that the classes were not immediately appealing. all it means is that if I choose wrong, i can back track and try another while 1)repeating content I already completed and 2) losing my identity as a character in the game world. Sorry, but I'm not going to go back and re-edit the podcast.
'I Need My Ears Checked' by James
Submitted on 2007-09-19 13:19:00 CST
Due to a combination of Brent's accent and my compromised hearing from a youth misspent in front of loud monitors at music venues, I was totally confused by the opening segment. I kept wondering what the heck Brent was referring to when he kept mentioning, "Ottawa Salt, Ottawa Salt." Was this some rare seasoning harvested exclusively in the Great White North?
It was only when he used the term in context that I realized he was saying "Auto Assault." I am a moron.
Canadian Podcasters: 1
Half-deaf New Yorker: 0
Another excellent episode.
'laugh.' by Brent
Submitted on 2007-09-19 15:38:15 CST
Who you calling Canadian? Darren is the resident Canadian, not me. Unless you consider the fact that I grew so close to Canada that I could probably hit it with a rock. Ok, not that close, but damn close. And yeah, Minnesota folk have a similar accent, sorta. The funny thing is, Ottawa Salt and Auto Assault woul dbe pretty much identical in our dialect except for a very slight change on the opening vowel. Very slight. The rest of the phrase would be identical. In 'New Yawk' I'm sure it sounds more like : AAAA-TOE AAA-SSAAAALT With those A's being the kind in the word mad, bad, sad.
Right?
''Awe-toe Uh-sawlt,' I believe is how I'd say it.' by James
Submitted on 2007-09-19 18:32:11 CST
Three quarters of the co-workers at my old job were from the greater Minneapolis/St. Paul area so I have no legitimate excuse for not being able to identify my Great Lakes/midwestern accents better. My apologies. Since we're on the subject, I've always been amazed at the high concentration of MMORPGers that seem to hail from out there. I'm jealous of you folks.
'Tabula Rasa stuff' by Sente
Submitted on 2007-09-19 18:33:11 CST
The Tabula Rasa abilities does indeed not cause an immediate appeal for a number of them from reading on the website and the somewhat terse descriptions.
At least partially I think that is a problem with the descriptions, since they do not provide detailed info on what each do at the 5 possible levels of each ability. The in-game descriptions is a bit better, since they at least describe each of the five levels.
As for leveling speed, I cannot say that I thought it was particularly slow, rather on par with a number of other MMOGs. But this also depends when it was done, at some point it was a bit slow and they increased the "leveling" speed a bit as I recall - although one would probably not see too much difference at the very lowest levels.
Some missions give fairly good xp and if you get the xp multipliers up it can go fairly fast. One should pick an instance of the zone with not too high polulation though, otherwise one will end up competing with too many people for some mobs in some cases.
It would have been quite nice if SWG had made their interface more like Tabula Rasa's. Moving a around on Foreas reminded me a bit of SWG and some the planets and their terrain there, scouting around with my ranger/CH.
And the Xanx get me to think of Starship Troopers bugs ;)
'Thanks from the Channel Massive guys' by d1551d3nt
Submitted on 2007-09-20 17:29:20 CST
Brent,
Thanks for mentioning our podcast. I was not expecting to hear the nice pimping you gave us and nearly crashed (very slowly) into a parked car as I heard you describe the show. Thanks again and check your damned mail for my messages (comarkm@gmail.com) regarding WAR. :)
Thanks again,
Mark
'Thanks from the Channel Massive guys' by d1551d3nt
Submitted on 2007-09-20 17:31:22 CST
Brent,
Thanks for mentioning our podcast. I was not expecting to hear the nice pimping you gave us and nearly crashed (very slowly) into a parked car as I heard you describe the show. Thanks again and check your damned mail for my messages (comarkm@gmail.com) regarding WAR. :)
Thanks again,
Mark