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MMORPG's - will they ever be as good on consoles as they are on PC's ?

September 21, 2008 in Blog comments 22

An interesting article on the success, or not of MMORPG's on consoles. There is a heavy push of late for MMO's into the console world, and this article touches on some areas many find frustrating about the switch. Slip along and check it out, it's sure to raise some hairs on the back of your neck.

Lets face it massive multiplayer role playing games, or MMORPG's for those tech savvy among you, are sort of a big thing right about now. MMO's such as Blizzard's World of Warcraft are converting people into gamers faster than you can say "Illidan has bitch-tits." The genre is very quickly making gaming not only culturally acceptable, but a mainstream pass-time.

Console gaming is also very much on the rise. The current generation of consoles have managed to appeal to gamer and non-gamers alike. Regardless of the fact that the console's library is more limited than your Grandmother's sex appeal, the Nintendo Wii is selling like hotcakes. (Raises the question of exactly how well hotcakes do indeed sell. If you know please do drop me a line. Thinking I might be in the wrong industry.)

It is perfectly logical that attempts to merge these two beautiful creations into some sort of frankenstien-like monster would take place. So far all attempts have not achieved any level of what we, industry-types, would call "success."
XboxOZ360 via xboxoz360gamer.com »
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  • 0
    tekmosis Sep 22, 08
    In my opinion there are two genres that should be left alone to PC's. MMO's and FPS. You need to do quite a bit of micromanagement and typing in MMO's so consoles aren't the best choice here. FPS require precise aiming and auto lock is just a barrel full of fail. You can get much better results from an FPS with a mouse and keyboard.
    • 0
      Onvacation Sep 22, 08
      If you'd just plug in a simple mouse and keyboard there'd be no problem, And there are a hell of lot more people who have decent mouses and keyboards then PCs good enough to play the newest games.
      • 0
        kspiess Sep 22, 08
        For the price of Xbox 360 Elite you can build a gaming PC that would be very capable of playing all the newest games. And a PC can do more.

        The belief that you have to spend $1000+ to get a decent gaming PC just is not true.
        • 0
          Onvacation Sep 23, 08
          Well, Maybe it is true to keep one that won't totally suck for playing games in about a years or so's time at least.

          Fact is PC's outdate incredably fast, and with the 360 and ps3 you know that whatever games that will come out during its lifespan will work perfectly without any problems and at the best quality.
    • 0
      Dio Sep 23, 08
      Call of Duty 4 is one of the best controlling FPSes, and its for 360.
    • 1
      Seeker X Sep 23, 08
      Honestly, why do people make such a huge deal about FPS's on Consoles? It works just fine, yeah it's not as precise, but it's not exactly the failure you people make it out to be...being a little TOO melodramatic for your own good. To add insult to injury you also never fail to mention "They should only be on PC's", which by itself is just like a shameless fanboy comment that should be banned from the face of the gaming world.
      • 0
        Koloth Sep 23, 08
        Probably because the majority of us saying it grew up in an era when FPS was only on PC. And when tey migrated over last gen they didn't work just fine. The controls were sloppy and imprecise. And frankly the PC just worked better.

        And it still does. Saying something works fine is not the same as saying it is good. And some of us would prefer not to sacrifice the excellent controls offered by the KB/mouse combo for the slow sloppy and imprecise controls of a controller with auto aim enabled so that we don't get blown away in a matter of seconds.

        Maybe the "only on PC" comment should be banned. But there is no denieing that FPS are just better on PC. And so long as that remains true there are going to be people that out right refuse to play them on consoles. And of course some people that refuse to acknowledge that they even work at all on consoles. Personally I hate console FPS, and I refuse to play them because I haven't found one yet that impresses me. If more of them had mouse support I might change my mind on some of them. But to each their own.
        • 1
          Seeker X Sep 24, 08
          How is it YOUR concern what Console players do?? You don't like it? You don't play it, but for SOME, OBSCURE REASON PC gamers just need to pound their chests, and just like console fanboys, decide to bash on the other systems because THEY don't feel it's adequate.

          Koloth, you don't have a SINGLE reason to shut down Console FPS games. NOT ONE, In fact, I want you to come up with at least 2 reasons why FPS games should not be on consoles. A LEGIT REASON WHY CONSOLE GAMERS SHOULD BE DEPRIVED THE PRIVILEDGE OF PLAYING THE GENRE. I'll tell you...there is NONE. NOT ONE.

          Secondly, Just because you actually do better on mouse/kb doesn't mean everyone else does. I *bleep*ing hate FPS games on PC...I despise KB controls as well, AND I choose controller over Mouse/KB. Of course, my (and MANY OTHERS) opinion(s)/preference(s) does not count because PC gamers are obviously the only ones who can spout fanboy comments and feel like justifying it because "they fall short compared to PC's".

          I'm really just surprised this kind of thing has been going long enough as it is. I mean, maybe it's just me but PC gamers are no different than console gamers (aside from the obvious). Honestly, "FPS should only be on PC's", doesn't that sound familiar? "Final Fantasy should only be on the PS3"...Oh my, it DOES sound familiar. Maybe we can move on now?
        • 0
          Koloth Sep 24, 08
          Jump to conclusions much? Where in any of that did I ever say the FPS shouldn't be on consoles? All I said was i don't like them and explained why I and others like me don't like them. Just because we don't like them doesn't mean we care if they are on consoles. We just don't buy them. Now why don't you think before accusing me of saying things that I clearly didn't.
        • 1
          Seeker X Sep 24, 08
          You don't need to say it, you've already been there, you're defending the very notion...THAT alone speaks a million words. And your whole rant "It's not good enough"...like I said, being melodramatic, nothing more and nothing less. You don't like it...it's best to leave the topic be...why do people have to bring it up?
        • 0
          Koloth Sep 24, 08
          You asked a question and I answered it, nothing more. If you want to make assumption then go right ahead.

          Frankly I don't care what games are released on what. I just won't play the ones I don't like.
  • 0
    redneonfish Sep 22, 08
    MMO's that have compulsory headsets? No headset, means you can't play. That's how you'd talk. But, if WoW was on PS3 or 360 it would be awful. You couldn't have all the spell things you have at level 70. No macros or whatever. FPS work well on consoles though, imo.
  • 0
    Arcaida Sep 22, 08
    I think they'd work fine if keyboards and mice were required. But it's hard to say "Hey, you can only play our game if you spend a hundred dollars on accessories."
    • 1
      Koloth Sep 22, 08
      Why not? Rock band and Guitar Hero do quite well doing exactly that. And MMOs could do the same by selling Z-Board type keyboards. Or being open ended and letting you use any keyboard you want.
      • 0
        Final Blade Sep 23, 08
        I agree, if Rockband and Guitar hero can do it, why not others?
  • 0
    kspiess Sep 22, 08
    I think it'll be a while yet before MMORPGs get decent on consoles. Maybe the next generation of consoles -- probably the generation after that would be my guess.
  • 0
    Big Willie Sep 22, 08
    There would definitely have to be some type of interface change. I've tried to play WoW on my television screen using before, but I couldn't make out anything text wise because of the extreme differences in resolution. I'm seeing the same thing happen with 360 games. I can't play GTA across the room because the text so small. Granted, I'm playing on the highest resolution, but you'd think you'd be able to see it on a 30" television.
  • 0
    Sith Lord Jim Sep 23, 08
    I dont think there is even a keyboard and mouse that is compatible with the 360 atm.
    • 0
      kspiess Sep 23, 08
      I'm not sure if one is available or not, but it would be really easy for them to make the Xbox compatible with PC keyboards.
    • 0
      BlackLabel Sep 23, 08
      Then play them on the PS3, problem solved.
  • 1
    aphex Sep 23, 08
    It'd be interesting to see if WoW or games alike could be ported to the 360/PS3. Thing is, there's such a need for a keyboard/mouse I wonder how'd they work with that.
  • 0
    redneonfish Sep 23, 08
    At the end of the day though, if keyboards and mice came out for consoles, we'd just have PCs. Assuming more devs decide to factor it in their games.

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