News: Massively Interviews Matt Higby - Page 2

Stardouser · 2012-05-26, 02:16 PM

Speaking of kick-starting the MMOFPS genre, I REALLY think that there is going to be plenty of market room for SOE to do both PS2(future theme) and a modern themed MMOFPS. In fact, the infantry combat of a SOE modern theme MMOFPS would not need to be any different overall from PS2. Just take out the MAXs, shields and jump jets, and reskin the infantry to modern theme, and change the vehicles to Blackhawks and Little Birds(Galaxies), F16 and F18(Mosquito), Apache(Liberator), and A10(Reaver). And then you'd have M1A2 tanks, LAV-25 and Bradley APCs/IFVs, whatever the current AA vehicles are, Humvees, etc on the ground.

Why shouldn't SOE double dip the marketplace if there's room and they can use the SAME engine? I would advise megacontinents though, not small continents.

Atheosim · 2012-05-26, 02:18 PM

I believe in this game very deeply but it's the fickle audience that I'm worried about. What supermassive publisher is going to focus group the shit out of their countless advertisements and sway the crowd to whatever their ripoff is? All it takes is a CoD MMO and it could be lights out for PS2.

Stardouser · 2012-05-26, 02:19 PM

Originally Posted by Atheosim

I believe in this game very deeply but it's the fickle audience that I'm worried about. What supermassive publisher is going to focus group the shit out of their countless advertisements and sway the crowd to whatever their ripoff is? All it takes is a CoD MMO and it could be lights out for PS2.

All the more reason to beat CoD to the punch and SOE do a modern theme MMOFPS as well. Surely Higbee can manage a second MMO team at the same time...

Atheosim · 2012-05-26, 02:23 PM

Originally Posted by Stardouser

All the more reason to beat CoD to the punch and SOE do a modern theme MMOFPS as well. Surely Higbee can manage a second MMO team at the same time...

Doing a single MMOFPS is a nigh insurmountable mountain to hurdle, doing 2 would be insane.

Gogita · 2012-05-26, 02:27 PM

You REALLY don't know if there is enough space in the market for 2 identical MMOFPSs with different models only. There is nothing to back up your statement with.

And as Atheosim said, running a huge MMOFPS isn't really child's play, let alone 2....

Stardouser · 2012-05-26, 02:27 PM

Originally Posted by Atheosim

Doing a single MMOFPS is a nigh insurmountable mountain to hurdle, doing 2 would be insane.

For one team, sure. I am literally suggesting that SOE invest in hiring a completely new team, the same size as PS2's team(less however many people they don't need since the engine itself is already done), to make the second game.

And besides, soaking up that many programmers and artists etc, reduces the number available for the other companies to hire to get such a project started.

Originally Posted by Gogita

You REALLY don't know if there is enough space in the market for 2 identical MMOFPSs with different models only. There is nothing to back up your statement with.

And as Atheosim said, running a huge MMOFPS isn't really child's play, let alone 2....

I don't know anything, no. But I've seen enough people with future theme hate that I still feel confident that there are a lot in the market at large who share that sentiment and who therefore won't want PS2, and won't play it, but would play a modern theme one.

But there's no need to just trust me, I'm sure SOE has the personnel who could do a feasibility study to find this out if they would only look.

Also, FOR EXAMPLE, I believe a modern theme MMOFPS would be more conducive to a victory condition, as well as the people who would play it would be more demanding of a victory condition, so it wouldn't be identical. Note that this was an example, NOT to start a victory condition thread.

Thomas · 2012-05-26, 02:29 PM

I don't think Activision would be able to bring itself to do a F2P MMOFPS. CoD makes them more money each installment every year, why do a free MMO with a playerbase that will decline each year?

Atheosim · 2012-05-26, 02:32 PM

Originally Posted by Thomas

I don't think Activision would be able to bring itself to do a F2P MMOFPS. CoD makes them more money each installment every year, why do a free MMO with a playerbase that will decline each year?

I guess they'll have to see how good SOE does with PS2.

Gogita · 2012-05-26, 02:33 PM

I just think it's a terrible idea for SOE to compete with itself by creating 2 games in the same genre. It is not the case that there are 2 completely separate markets when it comes to the setting of the FPS. Making a second MMOFPS will only result in the one draining players from the other.

Stardouser · 2012-05-26, 02:41 PM

Originally Posted by Gogita

I just think it's a terrible idea for SOE to compete with itself by creating 2 games in the same genre. It is not the case that there are 2 completely separate markets when it comes to the setting of the FPS. Making a second MMOFPS will only result in the one draining players from the other.

Well, what would be better? Have some minor inefficiency from competing with yourself, or compete with an enemy company and lose market share directly? And unless we're wrong and PS2 flops, there will be competitor MMOFPS's coming. When the next one comes and it and PS2 can both coexist, what then?

I also think you are far overestimating the potential similarities. How many different fantasy MMORPGs is SOE running concurrently now? At least 3? A modern theme MMOFPS might be in the same genre as PS2, but then, EQ1, EQ2, Vanguard, and who knows what else, they are all in the Fantasy MMORPG genre too.

Also, the fact that the engine is already done and can simply be copied for use in another MMOFPS, surely that counts for something.

I'm passionate about this because the last thing I want to see is companies like EA and Activision, who have no doubt had this idea suggested to them many times, sweep in at the last minute and steal SOE's thunder by presenting their own modern theme MMOFPS.

Gogita · 2012-05-26, 02:46 PM

EQ was released in 1999, EQ2 in 2004 and Vanguard in 2007. That is very different from releasing two similar games at the same time.

Also, what you are assuming is that if SOE releases a modern shooter MMOFPS, no other company will try to enter the market anymore. That's a big assumption to make.

Atheosim · 2012-05-26, 02:48 PM

So basically everybody who wants an MMOFPS will be forced to play PS2. Once they've spent money on their accounts and leveled up some and so on and so forth, the draw to competing MMOFPSs once (if) they're created will be diminished.

Stardouser · 2012-05-26, 02:48 PM

Originally Posted by Gogita

EQ was released in 1999, EQ2 in 2004 and Vanguard in 2007. That is very different from releasing two similar games at the same time.

Also, what you are assuming is that if SOE releases a modern shooter MMOFPS, no other company will try to enter the market anymore. That's a big assumption to make.

No, not assuming that at all. Of course, what I am assuming is probably just as big of an assumption, so you're not far off... and that is that if SOE makes it to market first with a modern one, that they will be able to earn loyalty that will trump Activision's brand loyalty when they finally bring one to market.

Gogita · 2012-05-26, 02:57 PM

While it is true that there might be some First-mover advantage, I think this will only blow right in the face of SOE.

We know that the developers have carefully looked at the current FPSs that are popular such as CoD and BF2, and therefore have adapted PS2 to the preferences of current gamers. SOE wants to pull in the players that play CoD or BF2 into PS2. However, if SOE would release a modern-shooter MMOFPS, it will be more likely that the players SOE initially wanted to pull into playing PS2 will instead go and play the modern-shooter MMOFPS, and that is a huge blow in the playerbase of PS2, therefore seriously hurting it.

That's my guess to it

Hyiero · 2012-05-26, 02:59 PM

For one thing undertaking a MMO is a huge undertaking that takes years to accomplish,and as of right now SOE is the only company that has a game out there close to completion. So no worries on someone coming in and sweeping out PS2 people as seeing the more people that get bite by the MMOFPS bug will no longer be satisfied by the normal small round FPS's. Don't get me wrong, I have played bf2 and 3 after planetside but the amount I spent in PS was double the time I spent in both of those games and if I had a game that could give me that MMOFPS feel back I would already be playing it. So PS2 will be big, there is no doubt,just need to focus on getting the game as ready as it can be for a solid launch and then maintaining a good audience by keep the game going in the right direction....stay away BFR's!!!!!!!