Lord British inducted into Hall of Fame

[bean19]

Recently, Richard Garriot, aka Lord British of Ultima fame, was inducted into the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences (AIAS) Hall of Fame. Gamespot (http://www.gamespot.com/) has an interview (http://www.gamespot.com/news/6143760.html) with his Lordship regarding the award.

GS: Looking at the previous inductees to the Hall of Fame, pretty much all of them are still very active. At the same time, though, the Hall of Fame induction in most fields is kind of a career retrospective. I'm wondering if you worry or concern yourself at all that maybe your largest impact upon the industry has already been made.

RG: That thought has at least crossed my mind, and, interestingly, I don't think so. And the reason why I don't think so is because Ultima Online wasn't that long ago. You could have made that argument previous to Ultima Online.

I substantially believe that Tabula Rasa, the game I'm working on right now, is a dramatic departure from all other [massively multiplayer games] that have come before and will revitalize this segment again.

If you look at all online games up until the most recent big ones like World of Warcraft, they are fundamentally in the same model as Ultima Online and EverQuest were in the earliest days. It's just that World of Warcraft is really nicely done. The user interface is expertly crafted, and the visuals are expertly crafted, but the model of its structure is not unusual even after seven years of development since Ultima Online.

I personally find that kind of disappointing and am a bit dumbfounded that people have strayed from that first model so little. Tabula Rasa does not feel at all like one of these current online games. My criticism of all online games to date is that they are all very slow. They're all a level grind. They all reward extraordinary devotion to the game and not much else. And so, even though the segment is still growing at about 100 percent per year, and has since the day Ultima Online launched, I still think that they have only touched on the smallest beginning of a threshold of where it can [exist] as an art form. I hope to prove that with the release of Tabula Rasa.
Browsing the AIAS Hall of Fame (http://www.interactive.org/awards/halloffame/inductees.asp), Garriot is in good company with many of the greatest developers of all time, including Shigeru Miyamoto, Sid Meier, Will Wright, and Hinorobu Sakugichi (just to name a couple).

Congrats to Mr. Garriot. The Ultima series and Ultima Online were revolutionary and genre defining, but it will be really great to see if this old timer's blank slate (Tabula Rasa) will be as ground-breaking and fun.

Who would you nominate to next year's Hall of Fame?

[dotbomb]

Congrats to Garriot. Well deserved.

[gawaintheblind]

Thats a tough one. I can't decide between John Romero or Derek Smart.

[Heretic Machine]

Garriot... the man who has the life I dream of. He lives in a castle, works as a game designer, and goes on adventures. Not only that, but his name begins with "Lord"...

[Qoz]

wtf!

If you look at all online games up until the most recent big ones like World of Warcraft, they are fundamentally in the same model as Ultima Online and EverQuest were in the earliest days. It's just that World of Warcraft is really nicely done. The user interface is expertly crafted, and the visuals are expertly crafted, but the model of its structure is not unusual even after seven years of development since Ultima Online.

Ultima Online is nothing like Everquest! WOW is everquest done for the masses, but Ultima Online was a completely different game when it came out. It was 2D, no lvl system and PvP was superb. It had no group tactics like buffs and debuffs in WOW/EQ. It was also non-item driven and an economy/social simulator. EQ/WOW is an item collection simulator with endless PvE grind. They made no attempt to create a living breathing world simulator, but made threadmills for people to run around in.
I cannot believe he does not acknowledge the fact that UO was something unique and special as he made it (or did he?). When EQ came along it become the model for every MMORPG and all have since been boring lvl grinds.

The only thing they have in common is the fantasy setting and alot of people online!

Personally I think Richard Garriot is a jerk after he blatanly lied and made me buy Ultima9. I love the guy for doing UO, but every statement I read from him about the game reveal that he knows nothing of why it was good and what the problems were. I'm left thinking it was pure luck.

[Pumped'Up]

Who would you nominate to next year's Hall of Fame?
is Bill Roper there yet? he definitely gots to be.

re: Garriot, good for him - although his final Ultima was a complete disgrace to his name and reputation. His earlier work was revolutionary in driving the RPG genre.

[Thenetcase]

I'd nominate me. Working behind the scenes as part of the Gaming Illuminatti, I have single handedly changed and influenced the world as you gamers know it-- FOREVAH.
So therefore I should be nominated... but secretly so no one knows for sure. Because I am the hidden hand, it can't be made public knowledge!

-TNC-

[flinxz]

How on Earth can you say that Garriot ruined Ultima 9? That has the Electronic Arts handy work written all over it. The Ultima’s Mr. Garriot created from 1979 to 1994 never shipped with a txt file called “known bugs”. Just with EA (electronic arts) do you see that kind of trash.

[Serapth]

Garriot... the man who has the life I dream of. He lives in a castle, works as a game designer, and goes on adventures. Not only that, but his name begins with "Lord"...

So, you have always dreamed of being a crazy narcissist?

He, dont get me wrong, I grew up on Origon games, and U4 is still one of my all time favorites. That said, Rich Garriot is truly a loon!

[Serapth]

How on Earth can you say that Garriot ruined Ultima 9? That has the Electronic Arts handy work written all over it. The Ultima’s Mr. Garriot created from 1979 to 1994 never shipped with a txt file called “known bugs”. Just with EA (electronic arts) do you see that kind of trash.

You know what, people bash on EA all the time over this incident, but frankly both parties were guilty. EA wouldnt have pushed the game out the door if it wasnt what... 2 years over due and way over budget. EA may be heartless bastards that care only about the bottom line. That said, Origon was a HORRIBLY run company.

Blame em both for U9's suckage.

[Qoz]

Richard got messed up really bad by EA. They slowly ruined UO, canned UO2 and destroyed U9. I'm sure he was manipulated and overruled in many cases.
But that doesn't change the fact that he claimed U9 was ready and very good a few days before it was released. And that game was probably the worst release of a game ever. It did not work! And no patch could fix it. After they released it (and RG hyped it) the forums were filled with angry customers. So they closed the forums down, released a patch (fixed a few serious issues but the game still crashed and lagged) and withdrew support for the product in the future. Talk about going for the quick buck and then getting the hell outta there.

How can a game designer write such things a few days before releasing a major bugfest? He must have lied intentionally. You can only ponder as to what the motive was. To boost sales? Personally I don't think he is such an evil person. I just think he got pushed into it by a corporate guy and never really knew how bad the game was. Either way he seriously screwed up. Everyone was waiting for him to deliver and he used that last bit of credibility to screw the fanbase. I don't care if it was unintentional - he did it.

[Pumped'Up]

How on Earth can you say that Garriot ruined Ultima 9? That has the Electronic Arts handy work written all over it. The Ultima’s Mr. Garriot created from 1979 to 1994 never shipped with a txt file called “known bugs”. Just with EA (electronic arts) do you see that kind of trash.
If you actually followed U9's development through those years before it was finally released, Garriot was touting the game to be THE greatest Ultima/CRPG ever. All them (video) interviews speak for themselves.... shameful, dishonest, and a damn crook to his fanbase.

[Lutheran]

Its ORIGIN

And I nominate STEVIE CASE'S KNOCKERS to next years hall of fame.

[dotbomb]

I would bet dollars to donuts (mmmm... donuts) that Garriot's compensation package as part of the Origin/EA deal included performance metrics for all unreleased Ultima titles in Origin's stables. Hence his bold faced lies regarding the state of the game.

Either way, lesson learned is do not trust game publishers when they tell you their game is good.

[Serapth]

Either way, lesson learned is do not trust game publishers when they tell you their game is good.

Or producers, or developers, or for that matter, gaming press. And sure as hell dont trust that dweeb behind the counter as EBGames.

[bean19]

Here are some of the developers that came to mind for future nominatons (I'm sure I'm missing some good ones but Romero and Smart are not on here because they wouldn't be on MY list. . . not that they aren't good, but just not "Hall of Fame" worthy in my opinion):

Tim Schafer - Grim Fandango, Full Throttle, Day of the Tentacle, and Psychonauts

Hideo Kojima - Metal Gear series

David Jaffe - Twisted Metal series, God of War

Warren Spector - Deus Ex series, Thief series, System Shock, Wing Commander, Ultima VII, Frequency

Yuji Naka - Nights, Sonic the Hedgehog, Phantasy Star Online

Rob Pardo - World of Warcraft, Warcraft III, Diablo II, Starcraft, Descent, Cyberia

Bill Roper - Many of the same titles as Rob Pardo. Pardo had the lead for World of Warcraft while Roper was the lead for many of the games that led to World of Warcraft. In the end, they are both influential, but I'd go with Roper first since Pardo should be able to get his ten years later after we get even more cool Blizzard titles out of him.

Gabe Newell - Half-Life series, Counter-Strike: Condition Zero

Mark Cerny - Ratchet & Clank, Jak and Daxter, Crash Boondicoot, Spyro the Dragon, Heart of Darkness

John Howard - Halo, Day of Defeat, Mech Commander, Crimson Skies (not sure of lead designer credits other than Halo)

I'll add the full list of previous Hall of Fame folks so they don't seem obviously missing:

1998 - Shigeru Miyamoto - All things Mario
1999 - Sid Meier - Pirates, Railroad Tycoon, Civilization
2000 - Honorobu Sakugichi - Final Fantasy series
2001 - John Carmack - Wolfenstein 3D, Doom
2002 - Will Wright - Sim City, The Sims
2003 - Yu Suzuki - Virtua Fighter, Hang On, Outrun, After Burner, Shenmue
2004 - Peter Molyneux - Populous, Theme Park, Dungeon Keeper, Black & White series, Fable, The Movies
2005 - Trip Hawkins - founder of Electronic Arts (I didn't know that suits could get in the Hall of Fame. Whatever.)

I guess the one that seems the most missing to me is Yuji Naka.

[Pumped'Up]

nice roundup bean19.

[Crabby]

wtf!



Ultima Online is nothing like Everquest! WOW is everquest done for the masses, but Ultima Online was a completely different game when it came out. It was 2D, no lvl system and PvP was superb. It had no group tactics like buffs and debuffs in WOW/EQ. It was also non-item driven and an economy/social simulator. EQ/WOW is an item collection simulator with endless PvE grind. They made no attempt to create a living breathing world simulator, but made threadmills for people to run around in.
I cannot believe he does not acknowledge the fact that UO was something unique and special as he made it (or did he?). When EQ came along it become the model for every MMORPG and all have since been boring lvl grinds.

The only thing they have in common is the fantasy setting and alot of people online!

Personally I think Richard Garriot is a jerk after he blatanly lied and made me buy Ultima9. I love the guy for doing UO, but every statement I read from him about the game reveal that he knows nothing of why it was good and what the problems were. I'm left thinking it was pure luck.


I think the man knows what Ultima Online is and isn't you crazy.

[bean19]

Ack, forgot Dragon Warrior creator, Yuji Horii. Bah.

I also think Cliff Bleszinksi will earn one ten years from now, but he just hasn't done quite enough yet.

[Liquidize105]

The only people worthy from your list to me are:


Tim Schafer - Grim Fandango, Full Throttle, Day of the Tentacle, and Psychonauts

Warren Spector - Deus Ex series, Thief series, System Shock, Wing Commander, Ultima VII, Frequency

Yuji Naka - Nights, Sonic the Hedgehog, Phantasy Star Online

Rob Pardo - World of Warcraft, Warcraft III, Diablo II, Starcraft, Descent, Cyberia

Bill Roper - Many of the same titles as Rob Pardo. Pardo had the lead for World of Warcraft while Roper was the lead for many of the games that led to World of Warcraft. In the end, they are both influential, but I'd go with Roper first since Pardo should be able to get his ten years later after we get even more cool Blizzard titles out of him.

Gabe Newell - Half-Life series, Counter-Strike: Condition Zero

Mark Cerny - Ratchet & Clank, Jak and Daxter, Crash Boondicoot, Spyro the Dragon, Heart of Darkness

John Howard - Halo, Day of Defeat, Mech Commander, Crimson Skies (not sure of lead designer credits other than Halo)
Warren Spector and probably Gabe Newell for making not only good games, but influencial ones. Most made good fleshed out game, but are just too young, Newell included (who only has one original frachise title really).

So Warren Spector :)

[zyzyx]

I think it has to be Tim Schafer. Grim Fandango is the funniest game ever and Day of the Tentacle one of the out and out most intelligent. Psychonauts, from what I've played is one of the finest games of the last few years as well. Perhaps he needs another game under his belt first. His type, more than any other, needs to be encouraged right now.

Giving it to Warren Spector after the release of Deus Ex: IW would be a joke, he needs to redeeem himself with whatever the hell it is he's doing right now at Junction Point.

[S1n1star]

Here are some of the developers that came to mind for future nominatons (I'm sure I'm missing some good ones but Romero and Smart are not on here because they wouldn't be on MY list. . . not that they aren't good, but just not "Hall of Fame" worthy in my opinion):

Tim Schafer - Grim Fandango, Full Throttle, Day of the Tentacle, and Psychonauts

Hideo Kojima - Metal Gear series

David Jaffe - Twisted Metal series, God of War

Warren Spector - Deus Ex series, Thief series, System Shock, Wing Commander, Ultima VII, Frequency

Yuji Naka - Nights, Sonic the Hedgehog, Phantasy Star Online

Rob Pardo - World of Warcraft, Warcraft III, Diablo II, Starcraft, Descent, Cyberia

Bill Roper - Many of the same titles as Rob Pardo. Pardo had the lead for World of Warcraft while Roper was the lead for many of the games that led to World of Warcraft. In the end, they are both influential, but I'd go with Roper first since Pardo should be able to get his ten years later after we get even more cool Blizzard titles out of him.

Gabe Newell - Half-Life series, Counter-Strike: Condition Zero

Mark Cerny - Ratchet & Clank, Jak and Daxter, Crash Boondicoot, Spyro the Dragon, Heart of Darkness

John Howard - Halo, Day of Defeat, Mech Commander, Crimson Skies (not sure of lead designer credits other than Halo)

I'll add the full list of previous Hall of Fame folks so they don't seem obviously missing:

1998 - Shigeru Miyamoto - All things Mario
1999 - Sid Meier - Pirates, Railroad Tycoon, Civilization
2000 - Honorobu Sakugichi - Final Fantasy series
2001 - John Carmack - Wolfenstein 3D, Doom
2002 - Will Wright - Sim City, The Sims
2003 - Yu Suzuki - Virtua Fighter, Hang On, Outrun, After Burner, Shenmue
2004 - Peter Molyneux - Populous, Theme Park, Dungeon Keeper, Black & White series, Fable, The Movies
2005 - Trip Hawkins - founder of Electronic Arts (I didn't know that suits could get in the Hall of Fame. Whatever.)

I guess the one that seems the most missing to me is Yuji Naka.

I 'd add another Origin alumn Chris Roberts...sure he can't make a decent movie, but Wing Commander 1 and 2 were digital perfection only eclipsed by Privateer.

I'd also like to see the good Drs. Zeschuk and Muzyka of Bioware nominated long before sensasionalist hacks like David Jaffe and hypemonger Blezinski.

[Serapth]

Agreed, the two Bioware fellows deserve to be there for sure.

Of that list, I would definatly have to go with Spector. System Shock alone earns him a nomintation. Personally, I think Newell and the whole HalfLife thing are highly overrated. If anything, in the long run, his legacy will probrably actually be steam

Outside that list, what about Jon Van Caneghem? Creator of Might and Magic, and HOMM?

DOH....... where the hell is Chris Crawford on that list?!?!?

[bean19]

That list isn't official or anything guys. That was just my original thinking on it.

Chris Crawford has written a lot about game design, but he hasn't really made big industry titles. . . I'm all for professors getting their due, but how many developers have read "The Art of Computer Game Design"? I don't think it is canon to the industry.

Yes, the Bioware doctors are an obvious oversite. Although I think I'd wait for them to produce something better than Jade Empire before handing them any additional accolades. ;) (Just kidding, their body of work puts them in the running despite Jade Empire).

Also, I think Jaffe has his place on the list. . . but you're right that he is too young for this and that his body of work isn't broad enough yet.

[Wombat]

How about an old one, now sadly deceased, Dan/Dani Bunten.

[bean19]

Warren Spector and probably Gabe Newell for making not only good games, but influencial ones. Most made good fleshed out game, but are just too young, Newell included (who only has one original frachise title really).

So Warren Spector :)

Yuji Naka seems like the most notable developer on the list by far, especially with Warren Spector's recent poor showings and Newell's narrow portfolio. . . then again, J.D. Salinger wrote like 4 books.

Naka's breadth and quality of work being overlooked so far seems wrong though.

[bean19]

How about an old one, now sadly deceased, Dan/Dani Bunten.

Unfortunately, she is more noteable for her (trans)gender than her works. Danielle Berry (http://www.mobygames.com/developer/sheet/view/developerId,8515/)

[dotbomb]

I'm down with Warren Spector getting nominated and Bill Roper.

[TrackZero]

Aweosme. Congrats to Garriot, I'm glad to see a worthy canditdate was inducted.

[Serapth]

That list isn't official or anything guys. That was just my original thinking on it.

Chris Crawford has written a lot about game design, but he hasn't really made big industry titles. . . I'm all for professors getting their due, but how many developers have read "The Art of Computer Game Design"? I don't think it is canon to the industry.

Yes, the Bioware doctors are an obvious oversite. Although I think I'd wait for them to produce something better than Jade Empire before handing them any additional accolades. ;) (Just kidding, their body of work puts them in the running despite Jade Empire).

Also, I think Jaffe has his place on the list. . . but you're right that he is too young for this and that his body of work isn't broad enough yet.

CC's earlier war games were definatly huge to the industry. But I think the biggest thing you can give to Chris are the following. 1) he is the first game book author 2) he started the game developer conference.

Both factors are huge.

[The Continental]

I'd also like to see the good Drs. Zeschuk and Muzyka of Bioware nominated long before sensasionalist hacks like David Jaffe and hypemonger Blezinski.

Preach on.

[MojoJojo]

Rob Pardo - World of Warcraft, Warcraft III, Diablo II, Starcraft, Descent, Cyberia
Never read this stuff after a couple of sleeping pills and a couple of screwdrivers... I thought Don Pardo was up for nomination.

[thecrazyd]

So, you have always dreamed of being a crazy narcissist?
Isn't that everyone's dream?

I say Tim Schafer should be on that list.

[drakkarim]

Lord "I like it in the britches" can kiss my ass. I'll never forgive him for shitting out U9. Like was said before, if he released the game and kept quiet about it at least it could've been said that he was under contract to keep shut or face fines/loss of payment, but he went around touting the game as if it was actually good. Either he spent the whole development process on vacation or he just really didn't give a shit about his fans anymore.

either way, hall of fame my ass, he's a douchebag. i haven't touched anything he's made since that day, and never will.

[Dr.Acula]

One of the all time greats. So good, I actually feel compelled to add a "me too" post that gives no further insight.

[Abdiel]

How about the one man that everyone who used to work at Looking Glass Studios (all alums should really get a nod for the hall of fame) including Warren Spector would say deserves a spot? Doug Church for the win.

If there's anyone in the industry that I wouldn't mind working with, it's Mr. Church. Actually, I'd settle for simply meeting him.

[t3g]

Who is this guy and what is this Ultima game you speak of?

[sTubbs]

Warren Spector simply must be nominated and accepted. He has been one of the driving forces behind many of the greatest games of all time. I mean the Thief games, the System Shock games, and Deus Ex - if this guy does not deserve a place then no one does. Most of the other people on bean19's list have maybe one quality franchise under their belt.

Besides Spector, Tim Schaffer is also a must. His prowess during the height of adventure gaming will forever be untouched and with Psychonauts he has shown that he can still blow away anything else on the market. He is certainly worthy of such an honour.

[Qoz]

I think the man knows what Ultima Online is and isn't you crazy.

I think he knows it made him some money. MMORPGs are really complex to program, but they also have very complex dynamics that need understanding before you can balance and make the right decisions. Richard Garriot is the master of making single player RPG's when he is in charge of everything. Small scale development. But when team size grew the games got worse. More people to deal with for Richard = more shitty game. UO had some brilliant designers like Ralph Koster, who believed in the sandbox world with a dynamic economy. It had its problems, but the game was UO mostly because of this and not because the game graphics looked like an Ultima singleplayer game.

I spent hours in UO and even managed my own shard with 100's online. I read messageboards and fixed server scripting errors, balancing the economy etc.
I know what UO is all about. And it is nothing like EQ or WOW.
He is just twisting the facts to make his point - "all games are alike until Tabula Rasa comes along!" The same hot air hype from the master of sucking the most dollars out of the few fans left of his holy highness.

About the award? I think Warren Spector should win. He is not the media lying whore RG is and he actually delivers great games. I loved Deus Ex and System Shock 2. More than I liked any of the Ultimas. I think I liked the Ultimas because nothing else was around. But it's ok to give the guy an award for making the Ultimas, but the inscription should read - "For great achievements in game making up until UO. The rest is garbage."

[Heretic Machine]

I know what UO is all about. And it is nothing like EQ or WOW.

Preach on brotha'! UO was an entirely different experience, and it's something I would love to see happen again. But I don't think anyone will ever have the balls to do another MMO that can come close to touching it. It's not like I can go back to UO either, because it was murdered by EA, and now they trot around it's corpse in drag to try and squeeze a little bit more money out of it's fanbase.

[Crabby]

I think he knows it made him some money. MMORPGs are really complex to program, but they also have very complex dynamics that need understanding before you can balance and make the right decisions. Richard Garriot is the master of making single player RPG's when he is in charge of everything. Small scale development. But when team size grew the games got worse. More people to deal with for Richard = more shitty game. UO had some brilliant designers like Ralph Koster, who believed in the sandbox world with a dynamic economy. It had its problems, but the game was UO mostly because of this and not because the game graphics looked like an Ultima singleplayer game.

I spent hours in UO and even managed my own shard with 100's online. I read messageboards and fixed server scripting errors, balancing the economy etc.
I know what UO is all about. And it is nothing like EQ or WOW.
He is just twisting the facts to make his point - "all games are alike until Tabula Rasa comes along!" The same hot air hype from the master of sucking the most dollars out of the few fans left of his holy highness.

About the award? I think Warren Spector should win. He is not the media lying whore RG is and he actually delivers great games. I loved Deus Ex and System Shock 2. More than I liked any of the Ultimas. I think I liked the Ultimas because nothing else was around. But it's ok to give the guy an award for making the Ultimas, but the inscription should read - "For great achievements in game making up until UO. The rest is garbage."


Generalized press doesn't give a shit about the minutia of a game. Understand where his comments are coming from here. He's done enough to dissect the game in the past to more specialized audiences who care about getting that particular treatment (read: handjob). I think you're probably too bitter to be worth anyone's time. But, I really think it's cute that you've nurtured a superiority complex out of running a free shard and "reading message boards?" Reading message boards? Really now...

I'd also dispute your judgements of other key team leads for UO. Koster? Seriously, the man may be able to write a decent essay, but he doesn't have anything between his ears when it comes to practical application.

[bean19]

I really hate ad hominum attacks even when I agree with them.

It offends me as being a poor persuasion technique that is insulting to both the attacker and the victim.

[Galstaff]

Rob Pardo actually didn't have much to do with Starcraft. James Phinney was the Lead Designer and Producer of that game. Also according to Mobygames Pardo was only a tester on Descent and Cyberia.

[MadSamoan]

I'd have to go with Warren Spector for next year's nomination for alot of reasons. He's genuine, even self deprecating, gives credit where it's due and helped influence the video game industry far more more than people will ever know in multiple genres such as cartoon games, car combat, WWI airplane dogfighting, cyberpunk, time travel adventure, fantasy rpg, etc.. He's also the consummate gamer even after several decades. He plays as many games on as many consoles as he can and was playing japanese imports before it was hip. Also, he played key roles in the pen and paper days at TSR and Steve Jackson Games. Find a vintage Advanced D&D Dungeon Master's Guide (http://tinyurl.com/doxku) and look up who the editor was. He's not flashy, controversial, he doesn't drive an Italian supercar or live in a mansion. He's just a dude making consistently good games.

Kudos to Richard, hopefully Warren will be up next.

[Murat]

I wonder if during the interview someone popped out of the shadows and tried to gank him with a fire spell hehe
:D

[Heretic Machine]

Generalized press doesn't give a shit about the minutia of a game.

Look, comparing UO to EQ is like comparing Civ IV to Age of Empires. They just aren't the same thing.

[Crabby]

He doesn't draw a direct connection aside from the fact that he uses both in the same sentence referring to chronology. I'm not going to fault him for that, he's perfectly correct.

And arguing for the present, I would propose that Ultima Online has been slowly morphed as close to EQ as it can get. As far as they have been able to shoehorn certain "expected" MMO features such as typical combat attacks and even another race. I realize that the mere thought of these things may make you spit venom. I'm right there with you, the game as it currently stands is a disgusting abomination to the original intent and form. But, I'm not going to make pressumptions based off of a few casually made news sound bites.

He didn't make any actual comparisons to the games, did he? I read the connotation of his remarks to be "from the time of UO and EQ" considering he was speaking of timelines.

[bean19]

First, I know I'm joining this line of the discussion fairly late. . . I kind of expected a bunch of people to say this stuff already.

There is a strong argument about how MMORPGs are fundamentally alike that can be made. They are class based games that reward killing monsters with xp and money or items that allow people to build their characters up over time.

Of course there are differences, but the differences are akin to those differences that can be found between games within the same genre for single-player games; for example, would you say that the gameplay in Super Mario Bros. is different from that in Crash Bandicoot? I'd definitely say that they differ greatly. . . but not fundamentally. They are close enough that they share the same genre.

It's a good point that he makes, although he might have made it better since he seems to be misunderstood by so many of you. Who said that massively multiplayer games are one genre? Why don't we have massively multiplayer games that exploit every genre?

However, Mr. Garriot really isn't completely correct about Tabula Rasa being the only MMO to break away from the fundamentals.

Planetside was the first MMOFPS, Jumpgate was the first spaceshooter MMO, Puzzle Pirates was the first MMO puzzle game, and Auto Assault is going to be the first MMORPG that focuses on car battles. So Tabula Rasa being an MMOFPS (or MMOTPS - isn't it third person - I don't think I've read up on Tabula Rasa since E3 of last year) isn't really breaking new ground. . . but I think that it's implementation probably will be revolutionary. . . at least if they deliver a tremendously playable and fun game.

That's also where he fails to explain himself well because I'm sure he knows WHY the industry was focused on MMORPGs. The reason is that doing other types of games with a huge number of users is difficult due to latency and pipeline issues. Now that most people have broadband and netcode and hardware have improved, I think that we are going to see MMOs increasingly expand into other genres.

His Tabula Rasa is one coming this year, but Auto Assault and Huxley will also expand the MMO market into fundamentally different gameplay experiences.

[riposte101]

2004 - Peter Molyneux - Populous, Theme Park, Dungeon Keeper, Black & White series, Fable, The Movies


You forgot his most important work...Syndicate!

[Nim]

Not that it means much, but I met Garriot in 1994, during my honeymoon in DisneyWorld. He was standing around waiting to get in with some folks from his company, and I decided to pester him a bit.

He was a friendly, personable guy and tolerated my interruption with good manners. He explained that they were there in part to see how Disney managed and entertained massive crowds. Didn't realize at the time he had UO in mind....