Every genre can find its way to the PC one way or another, whether it be fast paced action, real-time and turn-based strategy, or casual flash games. One genre that was born on the PC and found safe haven for a very long time is the MMORPG. Ever since the old and early Ultima Online years, people have transported themselves into an alternate universe where they could become whoever they want. Along their adventures they would meet long lasting friends, explore vast landscapes and vanquish terrifying enemies, all on their PCs. Even though many of us PC gamers are already deeply involved in an MMORPG, lets take a look at the big name MMOs that are slated to come out (and have come out) this year.
Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures: In a genre filled with killing orcs and putting spells on angry oversized salamanders, it’s good to see a game that isn’t afraid to show some skin — and some insides when someone slices a blade through you. Developer Funcom came out with this bloody gem in May to a much better opening week than their previous big hit Anarchy Online. Not only was the performance above average, but the sales numbers were skyrocketing, having shipped over 1 million copies within the first three weeks of release. Never was there a PC game with such a phenomenal start in sales than the big brother of MMORPGs, World of Warcraft itself. Taken from the mind of Robert E. Howard and his world of gritty deceit, loathing, religious fanatics and backhanded treachery, Funcom managed to breathe life into a world not seen in many other MMOs.
Reasons why you should pick this up:
– Real-time pseudo twitch based combat. Perform abilities by clicking the taskbar and correctly inputting the right combos. Get lucky and score a fatality to give you a boost in combat.
– Build a guild city and protect it from invading player-based armies.
– A more realistic approach to a fantasy setting. No fairies and pixies here, only you and the cold hard steel in your opponents backs from you blade.
Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning: An upcoming MMO from the company who brought you Dark Age of Camelot is Warhammer: Age of Reckoning (WAR). Taken from book upon book of lore from the Black Library of Games Workshop, Warhammer has tons of lands, monsters, cities and mysticism to be based upon for a very, very long time. In a universe where war is constant, and waking up in the morning means kill or be killed, WAR offers the player a chance to look at a new RvR system (realm vs realm), where the difference races rally together to fight a common enemy, 24/7. Rich with fantastical magic and a plethora of classes to choose from, WAR could prove a very good adversary to the ever popular World of Warcraft (which is itself loosely based off the Warhammer universe).
Reasons why you should pick this up:
– TONS of quests and missions that progress your character from one part of the map to another without feeling like a grind.
– Seven different playable races, and 24 different classes to choose from gives you a whole lot of variety on the battlefield.
– RvR to bring players closer to one another to accomplish a similar goal, kill the opposing army or be killed.
– Interesting crafting system, siege warfare, territory control and tome of knowledge (achievement whore’s dream)
World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King: It was inevitable, and now it’s finally heading our way. The second expansion to the most popular MMO on the market is slated for release sometime in the late fall, a time where WoW enthusiasts save their money and won’t bother buying all the other great games coming out that season, but instead will stand in line and purchase the collectors edition of this behemoth. Set primarily in the lands of Northrend, the heroes of Azeroth march onward to level 80 and a chance to bring down the armies of Arthas, the Lich King. Featuring a new continent, profession and class (hopefully more than just one once the game comes out), this could be what WoW players need to keep them from falling off the wagon. With Blizzard doing such a good job at keeping players busy with large, free updates once every couple of months, it’s good to see another expansion that will add more to the plate for players to froth over.
Reasons why you should pick this up:
– Explore the lands of Northrend and battle your way up to level 80 to conquer all evil that lurks around every corner.
– Take part in an open PVP zone where siege weapons and tactical planning could help you win the fight.
– New Inscription craft which lets you augment spells to a higher degree.
– New Death Knight class. Melee or tank your way through one of the many new dungeons with dual wielding blades and the power to raise the dead at your will.
Unfortunately these are the only big MMOs that we know are going to be released in 2008 (unless something horrible happens and one gets pushed back — I’m looking at you, WAR). But here are a few MMOs that might be coming out in 2008 with no official word on release.
Star Trek Online – Players’ characters begin as Starfleet cadets and have the opportunity to advance in rank up to Captain and even Admiral. The game will mainly be played from a 3rd person perspective, though there were hints that it might be possible to zoom into a first person view under certain circumstances. Players are able to travel, explore space and the surface of planets, and engage in Player versus player (PvP) combat and Player versus environment (PvE) combat.
Jumpgate Evolution – The game will take place in the earlier seasons of the show, before the Atlantis expedition and before the Ori story arc. The game will revolve at release around the Milky Way Galaxy, in the fictional storyline of the ongoing conflict between the Tau’ri and Goa’uld. Playable races as shown at this time will include Humans, Goa’uld, Jaffa, and Asgard.
Aion: Tower of Eternity – The player takes the role of one of the leading characters of either the Elyos or Asmodians, starting out as lowly soldiers, eventually realizing their power and potential and becoming more and more powerful and rising in the ranks of their race’s military to eventually become Generals of the army they fight for in this three-sided war.
Guild Wars 2 – Guild Wars 2 will feature a number of new playable races besides humans, including the Charr, Norn, Asura and Sylvari. It will have updated graphics, and will continue the original Guild Wars tradition of no subscription fees. Players of the current Guild Wars campaigns and the expansion will be allowed to "port" achievements obtained in the original series into the Guild Wars 2 universe via the "Hall of Monuments" found in the Eye of the North expansion.
The Agency – An MMO for the PlayStation 3, the game will feature FPS-style gun fighting, with some driving and other vehicular segments as well. Skill will be the primary determining factor in the success of the player, though some RPG elements will come into play. Upon starting the game the player has the opportunity to join one of two agencies, The United Nations Intelligence and Tactical Experts (U.N.I.T.E) or The Paramilitary Global Operations Network (ParaGON), which will determine the style of missions they receive during gameplay.
