Poll: Should the MMORPG genre continue to evolve from tab-targeting?

[Shia-Neko-Chan]

This is basically just a poll to see where a small sample-size of the gaming population stands on this issue. I'm pretty curious about how this will turn out.

It seems like the mmorpg industry is finally (but slowly) moving forward with Tera (which survived longer than SWTOR on a subscription based payment system, solely because of its combat), Blade and Soul, DC Universe, Elder Scrolls Online and other games. And it's great, too, because with this recent evolution, I'm finally able to enjoy MMORPG's again.

I enjoy the smoother gameplay, higher skillcap, and general feel that I couldn't have before (unless the mmo was a room-based game, but those don't count at all).

The poll only has two options, no grey area. Answer truthfully.

Factor in everything, from ranged classes to close-range classes.

Even medic classes if you want, even though I don't think they would feel any different whether they are or aren't in a tab-targeting game.

 

[BloatedGuppy]

Yes.

TERA/TOR is not a good example mind you. TERA bombed BADLY. TOR is the #3 western MMO in terms of active player base.

Basically any combination of "MMO" and "Evolve" is good by me. Sadly, the massive cost involved in creating these games ensures we'll get more safe retreads than innovative risk takers.

 

[Tuesday Night Fever]

Voted yes because I think game developers should always be striving to evolve. Some will succeed, some will fail - but either way, gamers benefit from the trial and error.

Granted, in MMOs I tend to play healers... so this wouldn't really have a significant impact on me anyway.

 

[Shia-Neko-Chan]

Yes.

TERA/TOR is not a good example mind you. TERA bombed BADLY. TOR is the #3 western MMO in terms of active player base.

Right now it is, but at the time of going free to play, where was SWTOR in that list?

 

[Sixcess]

The genre should continue to evolve, but not to the extent that every new game should have to embrace it, for that reason I voted no as I feel that a yes could be interpreted as saying 'classic' MMO gameplay is bad, and I don't think it is.

The only MMO I play that uses manual aiming is Fallen Earth, and that game has almost entirely gun focused combat and minimal use of hotbars. Melee is a different story, and most MMOs have a strong focus on melee combat.

I dislike twitch combat - I tried it in DCUO and it felt imprecise and button mashy, and was far less interesting to me than running even a mid level character with a good build and a nicely tuned attack rotation in WoW, LOTRO, City of Heroes or The Old Republic.

 

[Shia-Neko-Chan]

I dislike twitch combat - I tried it in DCUO and it felt imprecise and button mashy

I'd just like to point out that DCUO did twitch combat very badly. I understand why you didn't enjoy it.

 

[BrotherRool]

Yes.

TERA/TOR is not a good example mind you. TERA bombed BADLY. TOR is the #3 western MMO in terms of active player base.

Right now it is, but at the time of going free to play, where was SWTOR in that list?

Still higher than Tera as far as I can work out. SWTOR went from 2 million subscribers to 1 million ish before switching. Tera had 800k.

I don't know if it's really fair to compare them though. One had the Star Wars name and a huge focus on writing, one had a combat focus and a reputation for stupid clothing. One doing better than the other doesn't really say much about combat

 

[felbot]

sometimes i wonder how many people have actually played vindictus, seriously its a straight up action game, like devil may cry met guild wars, its fucking awesome.

on topic anyway, dont see why tab targeting is a bad thing, pretty darn effective thing control scheme and some games benefit greatly from it.

if you're talking about the million wow clones coming out then yeah we can probably do without them, but then we wouldn't have any game failures to laugh at when they proclaim they're the "wow killer" and then they go free to play.

 

[Shia-Neko-Chan]

Yes.

TERA/TOR is not a good example mind you. TERA bombed BADLY. TOR is the #3 western MMO in terms of active player base.

Right now it is, but at the time of going free to play, where was SWTOR in that list?

Still higher than Tera as far as I can work out. SWTOR went from 2 million subscribers to 1 million ish before switching. Tera had 800k.

I don't know if it's really fair to compare them though. One had the Star Wars name and a huge focus on writing, one had a combat focus and a reputation for stupid clothing. One doing better than the other doesn't really say much about combat

I suppose so. The thing is SWTOR had everything except good combat (story focus, Star Wars name, High budget, etc) and still its numbers were around the same as Tera's, which had good world design and good combat, but was otherwise lower quality (monotonous questing, low budget, bad voice acting, no end game, GUI was CPU focused, so it created low FPS issues on all systems, etc). That's why I think the difference in combat systems is a very important factor, but I can see where you're coming from.

 

[BrotherRool]

I suppose so. The thing is SWTOR had everything except good combat (story focus, Star Wars name, High budget, etc) and still its numbers were around the same as Tera's, which had good world design and good combat, but was otherwise lower quality (monotonous questing, low budget, bad voice acting, no end game, GUI was CPU focused, so it created low FPS issues on all systems, etc). That's why I think the difference in combat systems is a very important factor, but I can see where you're coming from.

Thats a very fair point, Tera practically went toe to toe and it had nothing like the advertising budget or brand recognition to help it. I you're probably right, more innovative gameplay would have probably helped TOR a lot.

(Plus developing a really good lightsaber mechanic on an MMO? That would have been a license to print money)

 

[Lunar Templar]

sometimes i wonder how many people have actually played vindictus, seriously its a straight up action game, like devil may cry met guild wars, its fucking awesome.

you know, i wonder that to some times when every threads like these come up, i think its cause of Nexon, because ... Nexon.

which i understand completely, as awesome as Vin is :/ it's being handled equally badly

 

[Windcaler]

Tab targeting has a place for some games but honestly I think spatial combat like Tera online and Raiderz is the way to drive the MMO future forward. Even turning a game into a 3rd person shooter like Tabula Rasa was more engaging to me then just tab targeting.

So yeah I think more games that got away from that would be a good thing but at the same time I dont think every game should be like that since I dont think it'll work well with every game

 

[Aaron Sylvester]

Poll doesn't make any sense.
- World of Warcraft has both tab-targeting and mouse targeting...and it's been doing this since it was made back in 2002. I was almost always using mouse-targeting when I needed to target/switch between important enemies.
- Guild Wars 2 has the both mouse/tab, although the need to manually target is often needless because most abilities are directional/AoE/cleave.

What exactly needs "revolutionizing"? Am I missing something?

 

[ShinyCharizard]

Yes. I want an MMO with Dark Souls style combat. It would be awesome.

 

[skywolfblue]

The genre should continue to evolve, but not to the extent that every new game should have to embrace it, for that reason I voted no as I feel that a yes could be interpreted as saying 'classic' MMO gameplay is bad, and I don't think it is.

This sums up my feelings as well.

Tab targeting is a decent mechanism, there's nothing wrong with it. Therefore no need to "revolutionize".

 

[Fat Hippo]

Yes. I want an MMO with Dark Souls style combat. It would be awesome.

God yes, this. My problem with most MMOs is that progression is tied purely to your level and gear, while player skill gets left by the wayside. At least that's always how it felt to me. A simple yet deep combat system like Dark Souls could really make an MMO palatable for me.

 

[lechat]

i think a system like xenoblade chronicles would be perfect for a mmo
just be close to the mob to auto attack and strategically use your skills for a tactical advantage

 

[Glademaster_v1legacy]

I've got to be honest I've put well over 3k hours in some more Traditional MMOs and I don't think I've ever used tab to target something ever bar that one time I tried it and thought it was stupid.

 

[Apointicus]

I don't think its a stale mechanic, it depends on what the core games mechanics are honestly.

In most MMOs Tab-targeting was always a mechanic that you could use whenever you desired to or not. A person playing WoW and GW2 can play the game just as fine with clicking mobs as well as tab targeting them. As something pointed it out this poll doesn't make sense for this very reason. Quite frankly if an MMO can use this system well there's really no reason to not implement it because its "Stale."

 

[Strazdas]

Wait a minute, MMOs use tab-targeting? that sorcery is this? Play Tibia (no skill cap in this game. NONE), play other great MMOs, there are no tab targeting in them.
There is something similar in Eve, but eve is nto about targeting, its about if you fit your ship properly to do the damage. targeting there is far more complicated than manual aim.

God yes, this. My problem with most MMOs is that progression is tied purely to your level and gear, while player skill gets left by the wayside. At least that's always how it felt to me. A simple yet deep combat system like Dark Souls could really make an MMO palatable for me.

Play Eve then, the only progression there is tied to your wallet. and i mean an ingame one.