I'm so glad I just recently came back to this game (the free weekend ensnared me, and now I am a paying subscriber again). This game is so great on many different levels - and I can't help but think of them as I explore moria. I've been around the block, so to say, and have tried just about every major MMO, and this game continues to be a standout for a few reasons:
1. Epic feel. There have been moments where my jaw literally drops at the artwork and design of moria - I've had several times where I've yelled to my wife, "Come here look at this room!". The areas are beautiful, and the graphics engine is excellent. 2. Quests - as most people know, the quests are excellent, as is the story line. I love the voiceovers you get at most instances, as do I love the cut-scenes you get to "unlock" as you do the epic quests. I also love the instances in this game. It's so great when you come across a new instance, especially ones like where you get to play a Dwarf right before the fall of moria, and get to re-live the first encounter with the Balrog that they awoke! 3. Community - most people are just straight up good people that love Tolkien and this game. *standard disclaimer applies here, of course there's always going to be the idiots as well.
There are many more reasons why I'm very happy I came back, but those are the top three.
If this is what the expansion is, then I will not be re-activating for it. Not interested in going to the same old zones again (even if "re-vamped"), I want totally new stuff.
Wow. I've had the complete opposite experience. Not once since initial setup have I had to re-enter the wireless key. The HD movies/tv shows look awesome, and I don't understand your issues about syncing - set it to automatic sync and forget about it! And what is this crap about "getting something on the Apple TV". Even if it's not literally on the apple tv hard-drive, you can stream _anything_ from your iTunes on your Mac/PC and it looks just fine.
Wasn't that an NDA I agreed to when I was setting up my Aion account? How are articles like this done if NDA is effect?
Anyway...
Installed the game, played for 5 minutes running around. Graphics are nice for environments, but I really don't dig the "asian" style or whatever. Just my opinion though.
Since I realized I had 3 months free in CoH thanks to the TR cancellation, I've been playing that quite a bit.
Sounds like it's coming from someone who never participated in a "gank group" (again, i hate the name, as it's inaccurate) in daoc. Yes, buffed people had an advantage, but EVERYONE was buffed.
When people are talking about the "skill" involved, it's a fact. I played with 7 other people, and day 1 we got rolled. Weeks later after practice, we start taking out other 8 mans, and even bigger groups. Same chars - no gear changes.
So yes, people who did well in gank groups in daoc were "skilled" (i don't know about elite). And your assertion that most of the RP's came from single players fighting NPC's is just laughable. Most RP's came from 8v8 fights or 8vZerg, where if you triumphed, it was absolutely noteworthy and required skill.
I too, remember the great times in DAOC 8 man "gank groups" - although I don't know if this is the correct name, judging from all the confusion it generates. For those of you who didn't play DAOC during that time, people would form up at their realm's border keeps in 8 man groups, either PUG or with your guild and a set group of people, and run out to "emain" (the hibernia rvr area, which was popular on my server for rvr).
The goal was to work as a team. That was the best part of the whole experience, as you knew that your combat effectiveness exponentially got better as your teamwork improved. A team that cc'd the wrong targets, and primary targetted the wrong enemy first wouldn't get far, but a team that pulled it together and executed things right could take out 3/4 times their number with only small losses.
The best part was that skill and teamwork were way more important than button mashing.
I too, am still looking for this experience in todays "modern" mmo's....
PAX 2009: Turbine tells us all about Siege of Mirkwood part 2
Sep 8th 2009 9:47AM (Massively)1. Epic feel. There have been moments where my jaw literally drops at the artwork and design of moria - I've had several times where I've yelled to my wife, "Come here look at this room!". The areas are beautiful, and the graphics engine is excellent.
2. Quests - as most people know, the quests are excellent, as is the story line. I love the voiceovers you get at most instances, as do I love the cut-scenes you get to "unlock" as you do the epic quests. I also love the instances in this game. It's so great when you come across a new instance, especially ones like where you get to play a Dwarf right before the fall of moria, and get to re-live the first encounter with the Balrog that they awoke!
3. Community - most people are just straight up good people that love Tolkien and this game. *standard disclaimer applies here, of course there's always going to be the idiots as well.
There are many more reasons why I'm very happy I came back, but those are the top three.
World of Warcraft: Cataclysm leaked by MMO-Champion
Aug 15th 2009 11:43PM (WoW)Confession: I hate my Apple TV
Aug 6th 2009 11:32AM (TUAW.com)I love my Apple TV.
Hands on with the Aion beta: Becoming a Daeva
Jun 8th 2009 10:39AM (Massively)Anyway...
Installed the game, played for 5 minutes running around. Graphics are nice for environments, but I really don't dig the "asian" style or whatever. Just my opinion though.
Since I realized I had 3 months free in CoH thanks to the TR cancellation, I've been playing that quite a bit.
The Daily Grind: Are you excited by the Aion beta?
Jun 5th 2009 5:37PM (Massively)Warhammer: Where are all the gank groups?
Apr 28th 2009 6:15PM (Massively)When people are talking about the "skill" involved, it's a fact. I played with 7 other people, and day 1 we got rolled. Weeks later after practice, we start taking out other 8 mans, and even bigger groups. Same chars - no gear changes.
So yes, people who did well in gank groups in daoc were "skilled" (i don't know about elite). And your assertion that most of the RP's came from single players fighting NPC's is just laughable. Most RP's came from 8v8 fights or 8vZerg, where if you triumphed, it was absolutely noteworthy and required skill.
Warhammer: Where are all the gank groups (part 2)?
Apr 28th 2009 10:26AM (Massively)The goal was to work as a team. That was the best part of the whole experience, as you knew that your combat effectiveness exponentially got better as your teamwork improved. A team that cc'd the wrong targets, and primary targetted the wrong enemy first wouldn't get far, but a team that pulled it together and executed things right could take out 3/4 times their number with only small losses.
The best part was that skill and teamwork were way more important than button mashing.
I too, am still looking for this experience in todays "modern" mmo's....