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Wildstar Wildstar & Learning From EQN

Korova

New member
Hi

I've just finished watching the EQN reveal from SOE Live's stream and well, I'm in a maelstrom of emotion and curiosity right now.

The presentation started off relatively weak - despite the impeccable talent of the 'sand artist' - and the first game-utilized portrait of a human face took me down a few echelons, but once the presentation started moving I became enchanted with it. I mean I am completely in awe at the moment and it's hard for me to write down anything.

The whole lot of it was gorgeous!


***SPOILER***

QUICK OVERVIEW
  • Emergent gameplay, dynamic world and AI - everything is constantly calculated and changing, permanently : there is no static environment - think Cataclysmic-esque changes 24/7.
  • There are meaningful consequences - an example given was the nature of Orcs and Goblins and their world perspective: they hate guards, cities, love plundering and looting and beating up lonely wanderers. The game seems to be able to calculate everything from when to tell the Orcs to move out of camp and set up elsewhere to sending waves or armies headfirst into cities and everything in between.
  • Stylized, beautiful and surrealistic art direction. Pure realism has its diminishing returns, which is why differential art is a good step - think Wildstar meets Peter Molyneux (Black and White)
  • Multiclassing, constant exploration, finding 'new and undiscovered' classes (I believe it was mentioned that there are 8 primary classes, and from there you find other class 'paths' in the world by exploring)
  • Facial recognition is built into the game for a more immersive experience - I've never seen anything like that come to any game, it's just stunning.
  • Crafting details not revealed, developmental tools given to the player in EQN: Landmark - EVERYONE will be able to make and craft buildings, arenas, dungeons - Neverwinter but much more beautiful.
Having said that, I'm concerned about what will mean regarding P2W and capitalizing off of preconceived, manipulated, minimalist experiences - *Very, very* concerned.

So, what can Wildstar take away? While not much was shown, it's evident that the EQN world - in its current state - will be more dynamic than what *has been* displayed by Wildstar. Dynamic in that the world is always changing, the AI is changing, the landscape is changing all the time. The combat seems more fluid and more realistic (that's an opinion). It really is the first Minecraft-esque RPG. Really, really mean that. lol

When I look at Wildstar now, I think that it'll be a good game, but when I think EQN, I'm thinking I want to live there, somewhere deep in Antonica.

Optimistically, Wildstar has something going for it that EQN will never have...and that's Carbine. Carbine has done such an amazing job communicating with the player base and getting ideas. It's the developers who ultimately mold the game and if they listen to the community as attentively as they have been, I think a lot of progress can be made between now and release - oh, and yes...you can expect a push back to analyze what they need to do to move their game, or if they should...

And, really, I want to stress it's not that they need to. Wildstar is still shaping up to be a good game and if they decide that what they have right now or over the next few months is fine, then I accept it because it's already a wonderful AAA standard 'post-wow' experience... or I'm sure it will be!

Last, I highly recommend anyone interested in experiencing what's known about EQN, to head over to the /r/eqnext sub reddit or their website everquestnext.com and check it out for yourselves!

If you've watched the EQN reveal, what did you think? Reading up on what we know about it now, is there something you're glad Wildstar has and EQN doesn't - or Wildstar has forgone and has entrapped EQN?
 
From what I have read about EQN, yeah it sounds good, but so did archeage on paper. I learnt long ago not to judge a game until I play it, and expect them to not deliver on what they say.
 
From what I have read about EQN, yeah it sounds good, but so did archeage on paper. I learnt long ago not to judge a game until I play it, and expect them to not deliver on what they say.


Your caution definitely has merit.

I know that I am still deeply ...well, troubled that they (SOE) are going ahead with an RMAH feature with player generated content. Although I mentioned that some of it may be P2W, I've not really seen any hard evidence that that will be the case - only that it seems very plausible considering the botched history of SOE.

It seems to me that the development tools for the players (EQN: Landmark), are going to end up generating some kind of pseudo-static edifice for players to vote on and be put into the actual game and some of it will be put into the SOE Marketplace for players to buy - the strong revenue source for EQN (since it's going to be F2P).

And, since we all only know a sliver of what *might* be it is definitely too early for me to say that one game is better than the other - haven't experienced the games and I haven't observed enough content of either game.

That said, I'm am left feeling amazed by what I've seen this afternoon. Surely, Wildstar and EQN have an excellent shot of holding their own - at the top - of the MMO market share....unless of course, something drastic happens (and it can).
 
Not really sold on EQN.. Only read a little bit so far about it though. It looks pretty and the dynamic / destructible world sounds cool. Just never been a fan of the games where you can multi-class and I read there will be no levels in EQN. They want you to just explore the world and discover new classes / abilities. Sure, sounds fun on paper but I can see that getting old quick. What happens when you explore the entire world would be my question I guess.
 
Not really sold on EQN.. Only read a little bit so far about it though. It looks pretty and the dynamic / destructible world sounds cool. Just never been a fan of the games where you can multi-class and I read there will be no levels in EQN. They want you to just explore the world and discover new classes / abilities. Sure, sounds fun on paper but I can see that getting old quick. What happens when you explore the entire world would be my question I guess.


Hmm, haven't come across anything confirming a level-less experience..but yes there is multiclassing (revealed @ SOE Live),

You also raise the penultimate existential crisis of any maximizing orientation and sentiment - and that is simply what happens when it's all over? That question has so far been answered in most MMOs by adding more and more expansions and updates to content, new places to explore and of course, PvP and dueling (what is left to conquer but ourselves, right?). A twist more than an innovation has come from older games and Neverwinter with player generated content - that way, it's thousands of minds molding and networking, instead of a few dozen in some dark room some place in silicon valley.

This is largely the same as it will be with Wildstar.

In this regard, I don't think EQN will completely break new ground, but they might have a few more tricks up their sleeve and so may Carbine.[DOUBLEPOST=1375483667,1375482673][/DOUBLEPOST]Oh well, ok I was wrong. There are no levels, confirmed by tentonhammer. It seems as though you'll have to find your two multiclass skills and improve the skills in some way - that seems to be one of the major progression points.

I'm not sure how I feel about this.
 
definitely more excited about Wildstar but this game looks fun so i will at least give it a chance and try it out
 
I tend to try all the big MMOs, even if it ends up being the week long trials. I will be keeping an eye on EQN too, see if it merits a playthrough. Wildstar and ESO are the two that are keeping my attention however.
 
definitely more excited about Wildstar but this game looks fun so i will at least give it a chance and try it out


I'm still very anxious to see more from Carbine, too.

To me, it's the developing entities that are the wedge-advantages in game creation cycles and...even if SOE gave me everything I wanted (or most of it), they'd still be some dirty, low life greedsters and that would not change the fact that they'll have their imprint all over EQN.

But...people learn...maybe Smed and crew have this time.

HOWEVER, I've also just considered that another advantage Wildstar may have is release. EQN is next year for sure - I'd even go as so far as to say that it's coming March 16, 2014. If they can do some good work in beta and get this game (Wildstar) out before Christmas...all the better for them, also wouldn't hurt to get one of their adorable cinematics made for TV before the holidays.
 
I've always been a HUGE fan of EQ so I am pumped about the next version. The graphics look amazing and it feels like they are trying to build a true sandbox game.
 
From what I have read about EQN, yeah it sounds good, but so did archeage on paper. I learnt long ago not to judge a game until I play it, and expect them to not deliver on what they say.

This is how I felt about GW2... I got in on the huge hype train, watched Tales of Tyria for a solid year before release, and got the buy in of all my friend gamers and within a few months felt stupid for having gotten them all excited about it and the PvP never turning out as advertised which I know is subjective. We just couldn't get into it. Well and then the mists died and that was it. I tried and wanted so hard to love that game. I don't think I'll ever get that crazy about a game again... well... then Wildstar got me. lol
 
Ive been excited about it since the rumors started flying a while back. Watching the presentation now actually. I am looking forward to seeing more of it.
 
Sounds interesting, I'll definitely have to check it out. I still think we are pretty far off from a true sandbox with true dynamic content. AI has come far but I think we still have a long way to go

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EQN does at least catch my interest, unlike ESO which hasn't impressed me at all. Definitely going to keep an eye on this one but isn't it going to be more like 2015 release?
 
EQN does at least catch my interest, unlike ESO which hasn't impressed me at all. Definitely going to keep an eye on this one but isn't it going to be more like 2015 release?


Although they've stated they're still early in development...I can't imagine the subsequent processes that would lead to release taking more than eight months to a year from today. These guys take time working on their game, but they're a half-and-half Blizzard (probably more like a quarter) and are known for 8 month expansion releases (averaged throughout franchise).

The community's getting the Landmark development 'kit' (game) in a few months (this winter) which will be one of the first turn-ins to the developer-player game cycle SOE are looking for this time around. I believe I remember hearing Georgeson or Smed mention a 'sixth month' time frame (and from the way it sounded, six months is the upper limit) that players would have to create content - I'm not sure what would come after that, except sooner or later a finished product ready to ship.

After or coincidental to the release of Landmark, the actual EQN beta should start, so it's possible we may see the EQN beta begin as early as December* (not confirmed/fact ... just based on what I remember).

On the other hand, EQN is most likely heading to the PS4 as well...and if that is the case, depending on a number of different factors, an EQN PS4 model may not ship until 2015, but again, I can't fathom why it would take SOE a year from now or more to release EQN.

I actually think it's possible we may see it as early as March 16th next year (just me being optimistic for the 15th year anniversary lol).
 
Well as excited as I am about Wildstar now I'd just like to give it a solid year to see if it ends up being something I play for 5+ years or end up jumping to whatever comes next which looks like EQN. Although I will say I tend to like more Fantasy theme but then I'm a huge fan of 40k IP too. Although it's waaay darker and grim than Wildstar will ever be. Either way I can't wait to get in Wildstar and check out the combat in PvP and then to see how challenging(I hope!) PvE will be.
 
Well as excited as I am about Wildstar now I'd just like to give it a solid year to see if it ends up being something I play for 5+ years or end up jumping to whatever comes next which looks like EQN. Although I will say I tend to like more Fantasy theme but then I'm a huge fan of 40k IP too. Although it's waaay darker and grim than Wildstar will ever be. Either way I can't wait to get in Wildstar and check out the combat in PvP and then to see how challenging(I hope!) PvE will be.


Yes - I think most of us can empathize having invested into something...a game (D3, GW2, etc) and felt that it didn't match what was advertised.

However, if you can afford to *try* something initially (at least, something that's probably not going to hurt you or someone else), then I say give it a shot!

I fell asleep early this afternoon and my internal clock is skewed, but I was going to comment about the upcoming 40K mmo that's coming out sometime in 2015 - Eternal crusade. I've been a fan of the GW game for over a decade now, although I don't play the tabletop anymore. Like yourself, I'm also very excited about the possibility of maybe roleplaying a Necron overlord in turmoil about his past (somehow he can still remember/feel 'guilt' ... assuming that's possible) or playing a five thousand year old chaos daemon prince - somethings I've always wanted for the 40k universe.

So, as long as these games remain reasonably priced, I'm looking forward to trying out all (well, most) of them day one if possible. I doubt that means I'll end up sticking with them all - I have a set amount of time during the day (as we all do) for games and when it comes to a serious MMO, I can't imagine spending much less than half of my time a day on something I care about, hence why I'll have a two MMO limit at any point - 5 of the last 10 years I've had a two-MMO limit with EverQuest and World of Warcraft.

That said, it seems like there's going to be a LOT of MMO games coming out in the next year and half or so, so I may have to reschedule my times to play 3 lol!
 
Right now those MMOs I'm confidant I'll *try* at launch, but may not stick with: Wildstar, EQN, WH40k EC, TESO, Project Titan

Of that list, which will I most likely *try* AND stick with for a significant time?: Wildstar, EQN, WH40k EC.

FFXIV is out of the question for me...I just can't get into the lore of the FF series (I just don't care about the characters or historical context in those games) and while there are a number of other MMO options currently available and upcoming, those five are the ones I know about and will be looking forward to in some capacity.

TESO looked appealing at first - while I dabbled with Morrowind and Oblivion just a little all those years ago, what I'm seeing from them now is too much of an overlap and not a lot of illusive-innovation. I could be wrong and there are elements which still retain their attraction for me, which is why I'll probably give the game a shot.

Wildstar now knows where it will differentiate itself in the market now that EQN has revealed itself (well, there are a lot of sub-market audiences) and that is with sticking with a 'trinity' game. That still has deep seeded importance to me, and it's something that can work (EQ, WoW) - and the number of other characteristics that define Wildstar, really are shaping it to be a game of its own right now (contextually).

EQN as with WH40K EC are lore-favorites for me, and assuming EQN can solve the problem of modern multi-classing experiences while not selling its soul to P2W, I'll be there for the whole show this time around.
 
Yes - I think most of us can empathize having invested into something...a game (D3, GW2, etc) and felt that it didn't match what was advertised.

However, if you can afford to *try* something initially (at least, something that's probably not going to hurt you or someone else), then I say give it a shot!

I fell asleep early this afternoon and my internal clock is skewed, but I was going to comment about the upcoming 40K mmo that's coming out sometime in 2015 - Eternal crusade. I've been a fan of the GW game for over a decade now, although I don't play the tabletop anymore. Like yourself, I'm also very excited about the possibility of maybe roleplaying a Necron overlord in turmoil about his past (somehow he can still remember/feel 'guilt' ... assuming that's possible) or playing a five thousand year old chaos daemon prince - somethings I've always wanted for the 40k universe.

So, as long as these games remain reasonably priced, I'm looking forward to trying out all (well, most) of them day one if possible. I doubt that means I'll end up sticking with them all - I have a set amount of time during the day (as we all do) for games and when it comes to a serious MMO, I can't imagine spending much less than half of my time a day on something I care about, hence why I'll have a two MMO limit at any point - 5 of the last 10 years I've had a two-MMO limit with EverQuest and World of Warcraft.

That said, it seems like there's going to be a LOT of MMO games coming out in the next year and half or so, so I may have to reschedule my times to play 3 lol!

How many times has a WH40k MMO been cancelled? I had no idea there was another in development and you saying 2015 it must be really far along since most MMOs take 5-7 years? I'm going to check this out right now. =)
 
EQN does seem like it will be a nice game, but Wildstar definitely has my attention for now. Maybe if EQN becomes the next big things and really blows everything out of the water then Ill give it a play. I just don't like jumping from game to game anymore, and like sticking with what I am currently playing to see it through to the "end"
 
EQN does seem like it will be a nice game, but Wildstar definitely has my attention for now. Maybe if EQN becomes the next big things and really blows everything out of the water then Ill give it a play. I just don't like jumping from game to game anymore, and like sticking with what I am currently playing to see it through to the "end"

Agree, everything I learn about Wildstar makes me get all excited and tingly feeling. I have a feeling this will be THE game I play for a long time. I really hope so!
 
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