Planeshift - What a game
I just tried the game Planeshift, which is a free online game with really good graphics. In the first minutes of running around, I fell from a roof and ended up in some kind of Death Realm, where you apparently have to escape from. This is seemingly because the game developers think that this adds to the role-playing flavor of the game. I ran around for an hour, found some hidden exits and ended up running in circles again. What a great experience.
I then looked in the forums, surely there must be a guide how to exit this thing. The only thing is that people are told: Look for the way, the first time is hard. Ask someone. Or: This is a role-playing game, it isn’t supposed to be easy. What a gigantic pile of shit. If you want me to play your game, then make me enjoy the first hour, or I’ll quit. I don’t want to hear your immensely arrogant explanations, I want to play. And I don’t want to hear that I am no customer because this game is free.
Overall: A game by people who have no clue that might be enjoyable but as it is, can only be played by people with a knack for self-torture. I’m out already. Too bad, looked promising, but even if I’d stay and find my way out of that Death realm, I don’t want to play with that kind of arrogant people who think they are better just because they play non-enjoyable stuff for hours and name it role-playing.
End of rant. Excuse me, had to vent.
December 21st, 2006 @ 15:46
This is the problem with systems that are too much into emulating bits of real-life — the tedious parts get included. Warcraft became wildly popular with casual gamers in part due to getting rid of tedium. Some other RPG that were mired in details never became popular.
February 4th, 2007 @ 21:51
I think it’s important to remember a couple of things: (1) the product is under development; it isn’t a full game yet; and (2) people who like this kind of game will play this kind of game. You found out sooner rather than later that it isn’t for you, and that’s a good thing. Some people do like tedious games, though, as long as there are redeeming qualities; as you say, the graphics are beautiful.
February 4th, 2007 @ 22:16
The graphics are beautiful for a free game. You can argument all you want, this game just has serious flaws that must be changed, but aren’t because of a wrong attitude.