I think there is something seriously, seriously wrong with me. Seriously. I’ve basically fractured as a gamer and am trying to gobble more than I possibly have time for — you’d think that Champions and DDO, with a side of Guild Wars, would be more than enough, and that’s true. That’s more gaming than I have time for, y’know, with the whole job/wife/seminary/baby lifestyle. But I’ve always had a severe weakness for wanting to try the new shinies, and this September is proving difficult to resist.
I lay the fault squarely at the feet of Pete, Werit and Massively’s Shawn, all for going on and on about how Fallen Earth is actually a captivating, engrossing experience — recommendations that I certainly did not expect. Recommendations that aren’t universal either, from some of the negative comments I’ve heard about FE (and expected, really, seeing as hot it’s a very indie MMO that keeps delaying launch on a weekly basis at this point). But I’m curious, I have a spare $50, and I figure that this might be a good time to try it out, seeing as how I can get the next couple weeks free plus the 30 days that came with the product.
I don’t really expect to be subscribing to it past the first month, not with everything else on my plate, but it’s nice to have the option (and seeing as how Champions is paid up, and DDO and GW have no fees, I’m all good on the subscription front).
*falls to my knees and sobs* Somebody help meeeeeeeee!
Fallen Earth is an interesting beast. I want a post apocalyptic MMO like crazy, but this isn’t it for me.
I played some of the beta, and really came away from it with the feeling that this was going to be EVE on land. It’ll have a great niche audience (and that’s okay!) and it will be one of those games I play three or four times, but I’ll quit every time because it’s just a little more work than it is game.
I am in the same boat, just too many games and not enough time. That is why I am going to give FE some time before I jump in.
Uhm…. unless you’re not yet sick of quest-grinding/mat-grinding, then FE is probably worth taking a pass on right now. I desperately wanted to like the game, but it’s just more of the same.
I do give them some credit for making the combat system a bit more engaging than most games – the hybrid aim-to-hit and hotbar system is a nice touch.
Keep in mind my new “focus on the positives” theme at Dragonchasers. There’s plenty wrong with Fallen Earth, too, but others are covering that.
That said, it’s a good time to jump in. The crazy-huge crowds seem to have moved out of the starting towns so you’re not constantly competing for resources. I expect those crowds to return at launch (though maybe not if anyone can still pre-order… though I don’t think the boxed version is on store shelves yet).
@Slurms comment that it is a little more work than it is a game is pretty accurate. Your mount needs fuel, your guns need ammo, so you’re always balancing income vs expenses.
It’s pretty old school and I wouldn’t want a bunch of games to throwback to the days of yore but it’s a nice change of pace for me.
It balances nicely with Champs, too, which is bright and colorful and pick-up-and-play, a nice offset to the rather drab irradiated desert setting and long-time crafting queues of FE.
I’m liking it so far, but I’m not claiming everyone will, not by a long shot.
I played the beta…a single night (in june) ! I really didn’t love that game at all….why ? It feels like 1999 game…nothing less ! Graphics are the worse I saw in a while for a supposed to be AAA title….and the controls….brrrr…horrible !
But well, that’s for me, maybe I should have tried it a little bit more….but I think Shadowbane was still a better game and it was out in like 2002 or 2003 ?
Anyway, I am interested in your future opinion, so buy it !
I have to admit that I’ve been tempted but with two MMO’s right now and a possible return stint to WoW with Cataclysm leading to possibly three MMO sub’s (times 2 for the wife) I don’t know if we can possibly take on another to start making tough decisions on what to cut.
Still, I’m watching all the blogs that report on it to see if the stories I hear will grow on me and warrant giving the game a go.
I’m enjoying it for what it is. A post-apocalyptic struggle. Even bugs in the game don’t seem to bother me, I mean it is post-apocalypse right? Not everything is going to work right. I’m just enjoying the simple evening of hopping on my horse and riding out into the nowhere looking for things to salvage. Later returning to see what I can make with all my scrap. Bonus: the music reminds me of Firefly so that makes me all kinds of happy. In fact, it almost feels like a ground based Firefly game to me. Sort of. Big Damned Heroes.
Replace Guild Wars with Aion and I’m pretty much in your exact boat.
The only negative I have is that I don’t see any of these games being my main, one, single MMO over any sort of long-term level. Which is really, really what I want and am looking for.
But in the meantime, yeah, it’s still nice to have some stuff on my plate
You’ll get no help from me. I’m trying to play CO, WAR, and DDO all at the same time. All you’ll receive from me is empathy. Particularly since I’m in much the same boat lifestyle wise: Full time-job/Part-time School/Pregnant Wife/Baby Preperation.
Wow, how all of youmanage to get time to play 2 or 3 mmos at the same time ? I can hardly play one a few hours a week…is there more than 24 hours a day where you live ? If yes, I’m movign !!!!
Pingback: Wednesday MMO Reader « Epic Slant – MMO and guild commentary from veteran players
I look forward to hearing what you think of the game.
DDO + CO = busy Sven. A third MMO would be social suicide.
@JiPi – “Wow, how all of youmanage to get time to play 2 or 3 mmos at the same time ?”
We don’t play them all at the same time. Our machines would bog down if we tried
For me, during the week I probably average an hour/night of gaming. So I played FE last night. Tonight, if I get any time in at all, I’ll probably play Champions Online. Sunday mornings I tend to play LOTRO.
Weekends I play whichever strikes my fancy.
Probably difference between you and me is that I’m not driven to get to cap as fast as possible. I generally quit playing an MMO (or roll an alt) when I hit cap. So I’m never in a big rush to get there.
Damn you for bringing up Fallen Earth! – and damn me for having the irresistable compulsion to play every MMO that comes out!
I played Fallen Earth when it released Open Beta keys on Fileplanet, but with the state it was in at the time (and no features that made me want to play despite this), it didn’t last long on my hard drive. Logically I know that the chances of me liking it any better the second time ’round are slim, but I feel the urge nonetheless >_<
My biggest hesitation with this game is well, post-apocalyptic world. Is it all depressing sandstorm desertscapes?
Please tell me that somewhere in the game is a more lush zone or two?
Other than that it sounds fascinating. I’m gonna wait a bit (I just can’t play several MMOs at once, I barely play alts as it is) but I’ll probably try it down the road.
@Pete S : I am not a end gamer…when I hit cap, I play a bit of PvP and some dungeons then roll an alt too ! Pretty Altoholic !
Even with that in mind, I don’t seem to have time to play more than one MMO at a time…meaning more than on sub ! hehe Different playuers, different ways to play !
@Rog : Yeah, seems pretty depressing to me too ! :S
Iiiiit’s not that great.
Only enjoyment I got out of it was wearing a football helmet as armour.
Read around and it seems to have a lot of positive feedback – so I caved in and pre-ordered. Worst comes to worst, at least I’m supporting one of the small-fries.
I started Fe in beta and am still in it, I enjoy the Post Apoc setting, and while the landscape in sector 1 is far from lush, it does start to get greener in S2 then a full forest in S3,
and Like every other mmo out there they have there share of starter bugs and glitches,
one thing that is a major plus to me is the amount of involvement the Devs and Mods have with the players and community.
When a Gm say oh by the way if your having this problem send me a tell,
or yes we are aware of the problems with xyz, the fix is to do this. and all of this in live in game chat as well as forums,
to me this shows that they care and are acutely listening to the players ..
S1 may not be lush, but it’s far from completely barren. More like the kind of desert you find in the mid-southwest US. The kind of landscape you’d find in a cowboy movie.
I’ve been playing FE for a few days and I’m loving it. WoW obsessed friends have constantly pulled me back to that game, and I was frankly getting sick of it. Loving the sandbox feel of FE, it’s the kind of thing I’ve been missing since I stopped playing SWG.
Pingback: I blame Syp for my Restless Sleep « Stillwater's Blog of Games and Geekery