Comments on: New Zombie MMOZ (And How I Predicted The Future)

By: Gordon

Gordon — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 23:12:23 +0000

Yep. Gonna be a lot of console gamers who don’t like the idea of a subscription fee. Guess we’ll just need to wait and see how it turns out.

By: Duane

Duane — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 16:03:50 +0000

When will we get a shot at a good, FREE MMO?

I mean, they’re getting 60 bucks per copy sold, unless it’s an arcade game. But even then, the sales revenue alone will be phenomenal. I just don’t get the ‘You’re paying subscription fees.’ part. D:

By: Gordon

Gordon — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 22:29:02 +0000

I’ve got no problems with a MMO on a console and I agree that you just can’t port MMORPGs over to them and expect them to work. I think the idea of developing a MMO directly for a console is an interesting one because obviously it will be tailored to it and the useability will be far greater. But yeah… I don’t think the sub model will go down well with console gamers.

By: Gordon

Gordon — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 22:27:22 +0000

I didn’t know much about him before I heard about Undead Labs but he has a sound track record so I guess that’s important. And I agree about the overdose of innovation. Dunno if it will work but I’m glad someone is trying something other than a fantasy MMORPG.

By: Gordon

Gordon — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 22:26:09 +0000

I know Where’s my royalty?!

By: Gordon

Gordon — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 22:25:08 +0000

Just the fact that it’s about zombies has be sold already

By: Gordon

Gordon — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 22:24:44 +0000

I should just be employed by MMO developers to help brain storm ideas. My next MMORPG? Let’s just say it’s entitled “Project Awesome” and features extensive voice acting by Tim Gunn.

By: Good old Hammerfaust

Good old Hammerfaust — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 09:03:14 +0000

“…I just pee’d my pants little!” lmao!!

Seriously: Great info! cheers for sharing!! Looking forward to hear more about that project!!

PS: Shame you wont get any share of the loot after all toothy for having the idea!!

By: Scott

Scott — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 01:47:28 +0000

I for one welcome his idea. I’m quite unsure of the longevity or viability of a zombie MMOG but I’ve been saying for some time that studios cannot simply port a PC MMORPG over to a console. It simply won’t work. And as he notices, we expect different things from games on our consoles, and somehow I doubt typical Diku unresponsive combat would cut it. The subscription model concerns me, however. Assuming we’re talking console-only players, you already have the 360 owners paying monthly or annually for Xbox LIVE’s matchmaking, etc. features. Realistically, XBL and a MMOG are two separate services, but good luck convincing them of that. On the other hand, we are more accepting of premium DLC (what an MMOG would call an “expansion” or “content update”) than the PC-only crowd currently is. Also note that he never says his game will be an RPG either, we just tend to assume the “RPG” is silently attached to the “MMO” when we read it, but that doesn’t necessarily have to be the case anymore.

I’m rapidly becoming a console-only gamer, however. I’ve been on MMOG break for over 6 months (and MMOG’s is pretty much the only gaming I still do on PC’s) and the past few days tried to make a brief appearance in LOTRO and Battlefield 2142 and the RSI in my right wrist (my mouse-controlling hand) is already starting to flare up again. If someone can pull off a quality MMOG on the 360 with fun and compelling gameplay that ditches the tedium and… Diku-ness of what people keep buying into on the PC platform, I’m all for it.

By: Longasc

Longasc — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 00:59:25 +0000

Undead Labs is also in Seattle? I wonder if he still has dinner with his former ArenaNet co-workers there.

I am sure he is a creative guy, but it was not too long ago when he was talking stuff like “there can be only one major MMO” and basically telling everyone they have to beat WoW to succeed. This was on the Games Convention when it was still in Leipzig. Many people, according to journalists, just left the room after he started out like this.

Now he is creating a “niche MMO”. Seems he has found a new ecological niche for a new MMO that is not affected by his former “players can only play one MMO” mentality.

Still, long live Jeff Strain. He is a walking overdose of innovation in an industry where even space combat (read: STO!) borrows heavily from the stone-old and quite tired unholy trinity principle…!