The Daily Grind: MMOs at launch

Depends on what I'm playing. If I'm desperate then I'll grab a game on launch, but usually I don't. Same thought process with new operating systems. Windows Vista wasn't ready on launch so I didn't install. With SP1 I might think about it (for maybe a few seconds).

Jumped right into many of them. Some good: City of Heroes, Dark Age of Camelot. Some bad: Earth and Beyond. Some unplayable: Shadowbane and Anarchy Online. I drop such games after the free trial period.

For ones that didn't work at launch, well, it pretty much set the stage: bad launch is usually indicative of a bad game (to me, at least). AO could be the best game ever now, but it's too late to make another first impression.

I prefer launch. You can help build the community from the ground up. Sure, you can always start on a new server, but once the game has been out awhile, the trends are already there and people have a set way of going about things.

I bought Star Wars Galaxies the day it came out. Then Discovered that my old computer couldn't run it. Then bought a video card from circuit city, as an employee assured me repeatedly that it would work just fine. Discovered that it was in fact not compatible with my computer. And that it was not returnable. Eventually got a new computer. Played SWG constantly. Was in a continual state of pure bliss for several years. Then came the New Game Experience. Curse you Sony Entertainment Online. Curse you. For you took away the only MMO I've owned, and put me off from playing MMO's ever again.



Though I may make an exception for Guild Wars, it being free and all...