Category Archives: Mmorpg

NBA 2k Vs. NBA Live Vs. Reality

Now that the 08-09 versions of NBA Live, NBA 09, and NBA 2k are out, many gamers are wondering which game gives a more authentic and realistic experience. Most gamers have usually given NBA 2k the realism crown with NBA Live in second, and NBA 09 picking up the rear. Still, isn’t realism a personal opinion as compared to an actual fact? What’s more, what is video game reality?

What is realism in terms of a basketball videogame? Is realism being able to play as an entire team, in the style of that team, as seen on television a week before? Is realism playing as one player the entire game, and doing only what you, as a single player, could do?

To many hard-core basketball gamers realism is having your team play offensive and defensive basketball schemes the way he or she may have seen them run on television. These same hard-core basketball gamers like to use the press box or television visual presentation style. This camera option gives them the same view that they would have from the stands or from a television set. These same hard-core gamers will play as the entire team; mimicking the actions that they have seen over the course of a basketball season, but not mimicking the actions that the actual NBA players, themselves, may have seen or had.

Is this realism?

In my estimation, no. Neither of these gamer tendencies are realistic in any sense of the word. Basketball, in reality, is played by individuals that come together to form a team. For example, in reality, when I have the basketball in my possession, I am able to pass, shoot , or dribble. There are a few other actions that I may have at my disposal, but for this purpose we will just worry about the basic three.

Presentation wise:

My vision of the basketball court is limited to a three dimensional perspective that is very similar to the behind the back view of a traditional basketball video game. Now, in reality I cannot see my entire body as I play , but this view is the closest that we have to really being inside a basketball game as a player. Also, this perspective covers the visual aesthetic, and it mimics the actual playing visual that a normal person would have.

Game play wise:

In reality, I can only do for myself. I cannot tap my elbow and make the center on my team set me a pick. I cannot press my navel and make my point guard shoot the basketbball. You see, in our reality, we can only control ourselves. We can only do what we do. We can only control what we control. We can try to influence others through words or gestures, but we do not have a direct control over them or their actions. Which is why player lock is a must.

Player lock?

Player lock is when you, the gamer, control only one player. For years I have lobbied for player lock to be given more emphasis during game play. This year NBA Live 09 has a new mode called “Be a player.” This mode allows you to lock onto one player for the duration of the game. You are graded by your ability to play your position and do the things that an individual player would do in a real basketball game.

Still, the question remains: Is this reality? If so, why have players and gaming companies been so slow to react? Why is it that while popular with many hardcore gamers, this mode has been absent from many recent releases, including NBA 09 for PS3, PS2, and PSP?

If not, what is reality? What is realism?

MMORPGS: The Good, Bad and the Ugly

You jump out of a window right as it explodes, and then cast a spell to fight off the hordes of goblins right on your back. This is a common occurrence in the world of MMORPG’s (Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game). Hundreds of thousands of people play them, some even paying for them. While there are some well none ones like World Of Warcraft, and some lesser known ones such as Dark Ages, it seems like everyone wants in on the action.

Ever since the release of Ultima Online, it seems like hundreds MMORPG’s spring up every night. If you Google MMORPG, the number of results is in the thousands. The business model of these games varies greatly from game to game. Some use a subscription-based philosophy, i.e. World Of Warcraft and RunesScape. Others use an “Item Mall” system, where the game is free to play, but if you want to get better weapons for instance, you have to pay for them with real money. Still others use a money conversion system, in which you can spend real money for in-game money.

One thing that makes these games so appealing is the wide variety of settings you can play in. No matter if you like fantasy or sci-fi, or even a chance to live real life again, you can find a MMORPG to suit your interests. In fact, if you like pirates for example, you find 2 or 3 high quality games on that topic. Another reason that those games are so popular is the social aspect. Some games have thousands of people playing them at once, so you’ll never run out of people to talk to, no matter what time of day you play.

But unfortunately the amount of profit associated with the business has attracted a lot of attentions and has created a sort of stereotype. Many children find these games fun, and know how much money the makers are receiving. However, these children who want to create their own MMORPG have no idea of how much effort it takes to create one. Even with technologies such as Realm Crafter which make the process easy, many people will most likely need help somewhere along the way. Although one or two people asking for help on something isn’t very annoying, it’s when hundreds ask for help in creating “The best MMORPG ever that will be like WoW but better” that people start to lose their patience. The number of people doing this is huge, and often leads to communities collapsing because of the constant spam asking for help.

However, there are some promising serious indie MMORPG developers that keep people coming back for more. After all, the world famous RuneScape was created by a guy and his friends, so there may be hope for the genera of game after all.