Khal

The more I read, the more I like. MWO will be the first F2P MMO that I actually spend money on.

To have AAA sandbox FULL MMO made based on a sci-fi setting where the developers don't try their best from day 1 to turn it into a themepark.

@Allegos

It may very well have the opposite effect. I'm in the same boat as Sean D in being in a guild of 8 or 9 people (with more than 15 characters). Even if counts alts toward the 15, the $600K is still a sizeable chunk of change. It certainly wouldn't push us to raid or "endgame", two things us older gamers (mid 30s) have zero interest in.

If anything it push us away from the game period. It's not like there are a couple of solid looking replacement choices of MMOs coming up.

Was there when the doors opened for both Ultima Online and Asheron's Call. Enjoyed both. I'd have to (and did) choose Asheron's Call, though, knowing what I know today. The industry chose EQ and SOE (Verant).

These days looking at the crop of EQ themepark based MMOs and SOE's shattered reputation just cements for me that I would have been a much happier MMO gamer if the industry had of chosen AC's (or even UO's) forumla nad ran with that. Either way at least the focus would be on creating open worlds with equal non-combat and combat systems as opposed to the "just a game" themepark MMOs of today that are combat focused and push you to an "end-game".

"End game" is when I cancel my account.

@Jayle
Nowhere in the following snipit does it suggest that the things you can buy equate to "paying for power". Indeed they expressly say that that intent is not apart of their system in the last paragraph. So, until factually proven different, and factoring Paizo's strong strength of character about "their word", let's not assume the worst based on the lies we've seen from other companies.

"You'll use Skymetal Bits to purchase four kinds of things:

Enhancements to your account: Things like having multiple characters, paying for skill training, and other premium services
Convenience consumables: Things that your characters might want to use in–game in lieu of relying on always having specialist characters with you while you adventure, or as a way to recover from an encounter that goes horribly awry
Bling: Visual displays that have no in–game mechanical effect, such as specialized clothing, decorations for buildings, and interesting–looking mounts.
Theme park adventure content: In–game modules that you can unlock for yourself and your friends

From time to time we may offer a variety of other things that are linked to Skymetal Bits—things like access to Pathfinder Online conventions, real–world apparel, or other such merchandise.

The Skymetal Bits store will not sell much in the way of items with in–game mechanical benefits. You won't be able to use Skymetal Bits to purchase awesome arms and armor, or magic items, or the ability to summon powerful entities to slay your foes. In other words, you won't be able to bypass the need to play the game in order for your characters to become more skilled and powerful over time."

The thought of developers trying to bring the table top experience of dice rolling and world creation to a computer. That is what drew me to Ultima Online. Followed its progress for months until it launched and made sure I was there day 1.

Unfortunately the industry has, for the majority, turned it's back on those ideals and shifted away from sandbox. You see a few games here and there touting their "sandbox qualities" or "sandbox elements" yet none, I stress none have yet to match the quality and level of those first generation games. And that's even counting the bugs and problems those games had.

Loving this game more and more every two weeks with each new Blog. Oh, and for those who don't/can't read up to the periods, the game isn't only MT. It will have a full fledged SUBSCRIPTION model too.

So if you don't want buy Skymetal, don't! Having a regular sub will get you access to the vast majority of things buying Skymetal will according to their plan. That said, from the sounds of it nothing that can be purchased with Skymetal will give a mechanical advantage in-game anyway, so big whoop!

As others have mentioned, alot of us, myself included, stuck up for Bioware in respect to them being able to keep putting out quality STORY...as in main storyline elements, not repeatable typical quest "endgame" fodder. People said they couldn't do it because of the voice requirement, Bioware said they had people on contract and ready to go.

I expect a continuation of the main story lines and I expect it soon. Afterall the main STORY, their vaunted missing element of past MMOS, is the ONLY thing keeping me playing. I am getting every close to finishing out the stories of the 3 or 4 classes I wanted to see.

If they haven't either instituted the next few chapters or have announced said chapters for all classes by the time I'm finished with the 3 or 4 classes I'm interested in, then I'll end my subscription and I do not intend to renew past that point. Even if they subsequently announce such content.

With the Mechwarrior MMO coming out this summer as well as Mechwarrior Tactics...BIoware is going to have to step it up a notch or three as far as "STORY" with their themepark game...

I have in the past 13 years of my computer gaming two or three times bought a new system for a game. Most times my specs are more than capable of handling game software as I try to keep my system relative to the times.

That said, I don't think I would, in this modern day, buy/build a new system for a specific game. Developers, specifically of MMOs, haven't enticed me enough by building the type of MMO I'd like to play to do so.

Oh, and I most certainly wouldn't buy a Sony product. Haven't for 7 years and we've managed well.

Not if it's going to be the same old same Themepark trailer trash. I could n't give a daaaaaaaaaaamn about "action combat". It's getting old these days that when players say they want more the only freaking thing developers can think of is trying to add more/change combat.

*buzzer* Wrong!

Generic fantasy is generic fantasy. The only other themepark fantasy title I'll even remotely take a look at is the one coming out from Bethesda. Even there we don't know that it will be themepark as they have experience with decent sandbox creation.

Themepark Fantasy FTL!