RIFT - Will it be big, or just another flop?

[twistedheat15]

I don't see it pulling that many ppl in. Looks like it'll be another flavor of the month "lol this is gonna kill WoW!" before ppl get bored and go back to WoW in 2 months, but thinking they'll topple WoW is unrealistic, overall it just doesn't look like it has much to offer other then the generic fantasy mmo setting. If they can pull around 200k regular players it might be a success to them, seems it's just only players who are always screaming WoW killer these days.

Yea people do scream that for every new MMO these days. The difference here is that RIFT actually shares enough in common with WoW that I can't understand why the whole user base wouldn't just transfer over. Well, I can, because of a set routine and established community content, but speaking strictly as an individual player, RIFT is a very similar gameplay style with some added extras.

Yeah but by being so similar it'll just feel like it's being unoriginal knock off to most. Lots of WoW players will prob take a break and play it for a bit since it'll feel comfy to them, but in the end they'll wanna stick with the one that has a stronger backing behind it. And with it being a new game it'll have a lot of kinks to work out, ppl aren't gonna wanna keep playing it when a better version is already out.

 

[Sixcess]

My first impression is that it'll go F2P inside of a year. It's better looking than WoW (the art style reminds me of Requiem) but so far it just isn't drawing me in. Comparisons, though unfair, are inevitable for a fantasy MMO, and really if I want to swing a sword around while picking up gradually less crap pieces of armor why play this when I can play the far more polished WoW?

So, not actually bad, but what makes it distinctive? Nothing I've seen so far.

 

[Pyro Paul]

the only thing that is going to kill WoW is either WoW2 or some game that has a force feed back cod peice.

for the most part, this is going to be like that Warhammer game. may take a few people away but ultimatly once very one figures it out they'll go back to wow.

it is only when MMOs offer a diffrent experience will they acctually pull people away from the WoW fanbase. MMOFPS, MMORTS, MMO-Sim... when the genera diversifies is when you'll see a 'WoW killer' emerge.

 

[viranimus]

Im thinking flop. I dont look at WoW as this unkillable behemoth, but honestly the name is non existent, word of mouth about it would be slow. It might be cheaper than standard MMOs slightly, but its still going to have entirely too much in the way of WoW mechanics and do very little original after all is said and done.

However I do root for it. I know I couldnt play it, but at least its a more local dev house, and like to see them gain support.

 

[Nimcha]

It feels very familiar to anyone who has played WoW for a substantial amount of time, so it's got that at least. What I got from the story so far is quite interesting as well. All of this is speaking in its favour but there's one problem. The endgame. Nobody knows how that's going to be. If they can somehow recreate how WoW used to do PvE endgame (in the original and the first expansion) it could potentially draw away people who are disappointed by the route WoW has taken in the last two expansions.

But that's going to be really hard and they'll have to manage to keep everyone interested until endgame.

 

[Zakarath]

I don't have anything bad to say about RIFT other than that it's simply not compelling in any way.

I second this.

 

[Nimcha]

Just logged in to the new beta and I must say it's improved by a lot. The atmosphere is better, the animations are now actually smooth and it looks great on both my stone age laptop and my new PC. I'm impressed, though I still don't think I'll buy it and I don't think it'll be any kind of a succes I must admit they've made a good effort so far.

 

[KhaoticOne]

I hope it Flops, so it can go F2P for everybody. I mean if its going big then it may do the EQ solution, which works imo but is unsavory.

And the only reason i would want currently is for the TF2 Items, that will end at March.

 

[2xDouble]

WoW-killer? absolutely not. Nothing is going to "kill WoW" except WoW itself. I refer you to Extra Credits for more on that.

Exhibit A: The Future of MMOs [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/extra-credits/1906-The-Future-of-MMOs]
Exhibit B: The Skinner Box [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/extra-credits/2487-The-Skinner-Box]

Is the game going to have an impact? Well, that remains to be seen. A lot of people seem to be having fun with the betas, but are not quite blown away by it. RIFT has potential, and from a fledgling studio that's saying a lot. A great many new ideas (supposedly) are implemented, and an effort to break the mold of "WoW-clone" (or Ultima-clone). Unfortunately, nearly everything I've seen about RIFT has it completely outclassed by the upcoming Guild Wars 2. Sadly, I'll be buying that instead.

RIFT is an excellent first try and, if they're not ruined by lackluster sales/subs, I expect to see great things from Trion in the future. They have as good a chance as any to succeed, and I hope they do.

 

[therandombear]

I hope it Flops, so it can go F2P for everybody. I mean if its going big then it may do the EQ solution, which works imo but is unsavory.

And the only reason i would want currently is for the TF2 Items, that will end at March.

their both going to be craftable

Indeed, they wouldn't give weapons to only people who bought that game when they are gameplay changing weapons. If it was only reskins it wouldn't matter, but when they have unique effects, they are going to be craftable.

 

[AlternatePFG]

I just started playing the beta today, and it seems pretty good. The opening is pretty damn compelling for an MMO and the class customization is quite cool.

 

[rockingnic]

If you make a game, don't try to make it to take out the leading competitor when the whole genre is broken or at least hasn't progressed over the past 6 or 7 years. EVERY MMO out today is way behind the curve when you look at how normal RPGs, FPSs, action adventure games had advanced over the recent years. MMOs need to break away from their limited structure of grinding just to get the max level just so you can participate in the end game content where even there, you're just trying to get the best items and equipment. The game should never have to make you feel like you're grinding, it should be enjoyable and grinding should at least not be noticeable. Also the game should have you feel immersed when going through any story line and not just some text or dialog that in the end you just have to kill this, this many times, collect that, that many times or talk to this other guy just so you can get the reward. The reward should be the story and the reward you get once you complete the quest or mission should be more of a pleasent surprise.

 

[Ashcrexl]

i'm hoping it'll fail just so i wont feel bad about skipping out on sun-onna-stick.

 

[CrankyStorming]

I don't think it's going to have any major impact on WoW at all. It'll be like Warhammer all over again. A bunch of players defect for a month, 2 tops, then go right on back to Azeroth. At least I haven't heard RIFT trying to claim themselves as the WoW-killer like some other games.

I find that hard to believe when the tagline in the web ad strips is "We're not in Azeroth anymore."

And what is Rift supposed to be based on, anyway? All the MMOs that have had success in the past have been based on an existing franchise, and I've never heard of anything called or related to Rift before. It doesn't really have much of a chance.