Bernkastel
Ask me about my fanboy energy!
He has worked on WoW,Guild Wars,Warcraft III,Starcraft and Diablo. With Microsoft's funding he can make a proper MMO that everyone wants.
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Why is Microsoft not funding Jeff Strain and Undead Labs to create a AAA MMORPG ?
- Thread starter Bernkastel
- Start date
Yes because we've seen how well all the other ex-Blizzard staffed MMORPGs worked out.
WOW was lightning in a bottle. Its success can't be duplicated. You also have the problem that it's basically impossible to compete with because it's got 14 years of content built out for it already. No new game can launch with even a tenth of the content it has.
WOW was lightning in a bottle. Its success can't be duplicated. You also have the problem that it's basically impossible to compete with because it's got 14 years of content built out for it already. No new game can launch with even a tenth of the content it has.
Luffytubby
Member
MMORPGs are very risky. Very expensive, and many people get their hands burned. EA and Ubisoft have massive massive MMO AAA Projects that went down the drain and became failures. Sony (SOE) too. Microsoft has also tried various MMO attempts including Halo. Undead Labs latest launched with a fair shair of bugs, limitations and gameplay problems, and I don't think it showed they could tackle something much much more complex like a MMO. At least there needs to be a better engine, a more streamlined and polished direction and they need to have a faster output.
Generally speaking, I agree, but ArenaNet? GW is a massively successful franchise. Along with WoW and FFXIV, it's probably the most successful western MMO ever in terms of reach and staying power. GW2 has a massive player base still, and had sold 7-8 mill before going F2P years ago.
Jeff Strain is pretty accomplished in his own right. A lot of the tech WoW later adopted to streamline all its problematic infrastructure was pretty much GW1s unique tools. He was a key player in the success and development of BattleNet. GW1 was a super unique concept that went against stats based RPG in favor of a focus on skill, tactics and decks inspired by card games like Magic The Gathering. Under his leadership, Guild Wars became a home for millions of people who hate The EQ/WoW model of MMORPGs in favor of skill based gaming, but with a casual and social PVE element.
Generally speaking, I agree, but ArenaNet? GW is a massively successful franchise. Along with WoW and FFXIV, it's probably the most successful western MMO ever in terms of reach and staying power. GW2 has a massive player base still, and had sold 7-8 mill before going F2P years ago.
Jeff Strain is pretty accomplished in his own right. A lot of the tech WoW later adopted to streamline all its problematic infrastructure was pretty much GW1s unique tools. He was a key player in the success and development of BattleNet. GW1 was a super unique concept that went against stats based RPG in favor of a focus on skill, tactics and decks inspired by card games like Magic The Gathering. Under his leadership, Guild Wars became a home for millions of people who hate The EQ/WoW model of MMORPGs in favor of skill based gaming, but with a casual and social PVE element.
Bernkastel
Ask me about my fanboy energy!
State of Decay was originally an indie game and Undead Labs is still only a 50 member studio. I mean a large big budget MMO(now that they are a part of Microsoft) with a proper team headed by Jeff Strain. Look at how Playground Games is hiring for there open world RPG.
A new IP ofcourse.
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IbizaPocholo
NeoGAFs Kent Brockman
Announcement from Undead Labs - Undead Labs
Today we are excited to announce that the Undead Labs Studio Head and Founder, Jeff Strain, is launching an exciting new initiative.
undeadlabs.com
Bernkastel
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Dont know why someone reopened this old thread but
Apparently, Undead Labs hired a lot of ArenaNet(Guild Wars dev) staffs after they were laid off as NC Soft wants to focus on mobile. They increased heads from below 40 to around 100 in a few months. So, will they make a MMO? I think they have a team capable of that.
Apparently, Undead Labs hired a lot of ArenaNet(Guild Wars dev) staffs after they were laid off as NC Soft wants to focus on mobile. They increased heads from below 40 to around 100 in a few months. So, will they make a MMO? I think they have a team capable of that.
IbizaPocholo
NeoGAFs Kent Brockman
Announcement from Undead Labs - Undead Labs
Today we are excited to announce that the Undead Labs Studio Head and Founder, Jeff Strain, is launching an exciting new initiative.
CyberPanda
Banned
Should be interesting what game they make.
Bernkastel
Ask me about my fanboy energy!
[removed]
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Bernkastel
Ask me about my fanboy energy!
Multiplayer Software Engineer
This position reports to the Engineering Manager. A senior individual contributor position focused on the creation of technical solutions for compelling multiplayer gameplay. As a member of the software engineering team, you will be accountable for designing and implementing systems to support...
undeadlabs.bamboohr.com
Zannegan
Member
I just did a quick wiki search, I had no idea how many MMOs use UE4 as their engine. Interesting.
Multiplayer Software Engineer
This position reports to the Engineering Manager. A senior individual contributor position focused on the creation of technical solutions for compelling multiplayer gameplay. As a member of the software engineering team, you will be accountable for designing and implementing systems to support...
Looking at your original post I was thinking that the reason they wouldn't do that is that MMOs just don't have the earning potential they used to. On the other hand, if they want content for game pass, an MMO is exactly the kind of thing that keeps people subscribed. And it might just be time for a new MMO to rise up in the endless cycle of gaming trends and become the "new WoW."
Do you still think an MMO is in the cards, or are you betting on some other genre for their ambitious project?
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Bernkastel
Ask me about my fanboy energy!
- New Studio for "ambitious project"
- Led by Jeff Strain, father of Guild Wars
- Hiring more ArenaNet devs(Guild Wars Studio)
Bernkastel
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So, the Head of Development of ArenaNet is now the studio head of Undead Labs
GeorgPrime
Banned
Dont know why someone reopened this old thread but
Apparently, Undead Labs hired a lot of ArenaNet(Guild Wars dev) staffs after they were laid off as NC Soft wants to focus on mobile. They increased heads from below 40 to around 100 in a few months. So, will they make a MMO? I think they have a team capable of that.
They always wanted to turn State of Decay in a MMO. Its still their big vision
Bernkastel
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Their are two Undead Labs now, like Playground Games and eventually Ninja Theory. Jeff Strain is in the new New Orleans studio.
Bernkastel
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The guys who made this have mostly made multiplayer games throughout their career.
Bernkastel
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Not SOD2 after the anniversary update.
Kenpachii
Member
What did it add that made it good? the game had zero content before so i kinda wanna know.
Bernkastel
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State of Decay 2 celebrates 2-year anniversary with new content pack
This update also includes a bunch of bug and gameplay fixes.
www.windowscentral.com
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diffusionx
Gold Member
I hope MS sinks major bucks into the next SoD and turns it into a AAA franchise. I know we're all tired of zombies but this series has a ton of potential.
Rolla
Banned
Outside of Halo, Gears, and Forza I honestly can't recall XBOX investing in anything AAA. And that's not to poke fun it's just a stark reality. In fact, now that I think about it...
Quantum Break (early 2016) might have been there last outing into the AAA space outside of their 3 main franchises.
Quantum Break (early 2016) might have been there last outing into the AAA space outside of their 3 main franchises.
Plus a lot of content added till the anniversary update.State of Decay 2 celebrates 2-year anniversary with new content pack
This update also includes a bunch of bug and gameplay fixes.
A mile wide and an inch deep. The game has no actual depth to it simply because the gameplay loop lacks substance, and the multiplayer is hollow.
You can have all sorts of wingdings, bells, whistles, and extraneous content. If it doesn't contribute to the core experience, it's no different than DLC outfits.
ScarletSpider
Banned
.
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Bernkastel
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That didnt stop Amazon from making one. This thread quickly drifted to State of Decay, when its about Undead Lab New Orleans studio led by Jeff Strain.
Hawke502
Member
fucking hell, you must be trolling
Bernkastel
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That wording is straight out of next gen speculation threads. Dont do drugs kids.
Ninja Theory is also making this
And they are also building a second studio in Cambridge
And they are also building a second studio in Cambridge
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Kumomeme
Member
this.
some people think making mmo is easer than single player game but apparently it otherway around..not anyone, despite being big name or big company can just come out with mmo and happened to be successfull like that
even square, had terrible loss with xiv 1.0
making and managing mmo is not easy unlike single player game
Bernkastel
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MisterBrimstone
Member
Because they did the math and it does not check out. Do not even for a second think that they are "stupid" or "missing out" by not doing it, they want nothing more than make money so if it's not happening it's because it is too risky.
JareBear: Remastered
Banned
Seems like putting money into an MMO is kinda risky now. Don’t very few survive along with WoW? Or am I just missing a bunch of good MMOs?
Bernkastel
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Didnt stop Amazon. And they are describing the second studio's project as an ambitious unannounced game project and considering background of the people behind the studio and the recent hires, you would assume that to be the case. So, far
- Jeff Strain (creator of Guild Wars and co-founder of ArenaNet) left to create a second studio at New Orleans
- They hire more people from ArenaNet and people with similar expertise(like from Bungie), bringing the studio head count from slightly over 30 to around 100(mostly for the second studio).
- As Jeff Strain leads the new project in second studio, ArenaNet's Philip Holt becomes Studio Head. Original team is still doing State of Decay 3.
Kumomeme
Member
if anyone do it doesnt mean that because they guaranteed it will be done properly....Amazon actually willing to take risk.... thats all which is, something not to taken lightly of..even with all the money and the talent they had it still not guaranteed anything..it still and always risky..there still big chances that things could mess up..that kind bussiness of mmo as....
and consider how much money Amazon have, it makesense that the willingness to take the risk but it still not something that anyone could dive in just because they had money..
dont forget, their new mmo 'New World' also didnt have smooth sailing..lot of issue and things being critisized...devs currently doing their best to improved the game....making mmo is also not simply as developed it and done like that..there still lot more things to do once the server is up and how they continuously fare up since that moment is important...even wow also somehow can get screw up
not to mention how the market bussiness model trend changed from p2p to f2p model that going popular which is also played important role
but if they nailed it, it could generate lot of money which is probably why some company willing to take risk..but, if they screw up...the consequences is also worth considering for
its riskier than making single player or multiplayer game
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Bernkastel
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I mean why else would the creator of Guild Wars start a new studio for "an ambitious unannounced game project" and hire even more Guild Wars dev or devs with similar expertise ?
Kumomeme
Member
its as i said above..making mmo is risky...not saying it never should get made but its risky..not everyone willing to throw their money in it...and Amazon is one of those who want to take risk and let the gw creater to start his own studio for this purpose..so far they hiring right person but how the project will goes is different matter..mmo trend is constantly changing..failed to adapt will resulted to stuff like xiv 1.0...im not saying he gonna fail..i just give some example..it would be great if he success...
you can mention as many devs with mmo background start his own studio for supermega ambitious game project ever but it doesnt change the fact that making mmo is not easy and riskier than making single player game
it doesnt simply mean microsoft should join amazon just like that..even amazon, invest alot for this purpose for a reason...they also didnt simply hire just anyone
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Bernkastel
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Thanks for your input. To be frank this thread started in 2018 as a wishlist of mine, but now we are hearing things that just point in that direction. Phil also really wants to get MMOs like PSO2 and FF XIV(confirmed) into Xbox.
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Kumomeme
Member
no problem..if you had free time, you can do some research about how different developing mmo vs single player game...there surely a reason why lot of big name in industry doesnt bother with this much..as i understand its not about the technical or graphics issue but the larger content needed compared to single player game hence the 'Massive' multiplayer online rpg label is not there without reason, and how they need to keep managing new content release, economy, support system, player inventory, maps, UI, server maintenance, QoL improvement, communication/interaction with player/community, future roadmap and other stuff ..these things required lot of resource/money and they need to recoup the devs cost and need money to flowing to keep making content.. a good mmo always having new content patched but if they screw up things that resulted to less player imagine how it would happened....the server need to keep running and its not free...there pro and cons of p2p and f2p model....player usually play 30-40 hours (might goes hundred for those with bigger world) for big open world single player rpg but mmorpg required to have continuously content for player to play hundreds of hours without run out of content ......the genre itself is not easy to tackle
Even bethesda also struggled with Elder Scroll Online at beginning
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eastwood333
Banned
I do no want State of Decay turning into an online only mmorpg, games as a service model.
Bernkastel
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Lone Wolf
Member
Would love to see something from them. I loved State of Decay but hated the second one. With proper funding the next game should be awesome.
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