8 MMOs that Emerged from Popular Movies
Movie moguls are always seeking to spread their franchises to new arenas in order to cash in on a hit film. The most recent trend has been the creation of massively multiplayer online games or MMOs based on popular movies.
A number of these ventures have devolved into quick money-making schemes that fail to draw in the crowds. However, some developers have successfully ported the essence of a good movie to the MMO format and thereby expanded the fanbase for their movies.
Here are a few examples of good and bad MMOs that were inspired by famous flicks.
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Based on the famous Matrix trilogy, this short-lived online MMO was the result of a joint-publishing effort between Warner Bros and SEGA. Officially released in 2005, it maintained a small devoted fan-base which declined in number over its four year life span.
The game was officially shut down in August 2009. Its biggest problem was maintaining user interest in the game, a problem that was exacerbated by a change in ownership in 2005. In this case, Sony's acquisition of MxO was soon followed by numerous in-game changes which did not stem the tide of user defections from the MMO.
While the game might have received negative reviews from gaming sites, it did have a number of positive features that were lacking in its peers. The highlight of the game was its immersive storyline.
MxO uses the end scene of Matrix 3 as a starting point and subsequently created an in-depth storyline involving various factions and classes derived from the movie. There was much care and attention paid to developing this main story arc through numerous missions, the introduction of chapter-style storytelling and live events.
Another noteworthy feature was MxO’s class structure. The basic classes of MxO were inspired by the game (Hackers, Coders and Operatives) but users could tweak their traits to form a hybrid class by either uploading new abilities or buying new traits. Many MMO players yearn for more customizable options, so this particular feature did win over a number of players.
However, MxO did have more than its share of flaws.
Firstly, there was the monotonous backdrop. A number of users got bored of the Matrix world's unchanging surrounds and abandoned the game.
Secondly, many players also complained about poor game maintenance. As a matter of fact, the game was rife with everything from simple textual errors to graphical issues which slowed down the game for many.
Thirdly, the combat strategies left much to be desired. While players, especially Operatives, could have numerous capabilities, this did not result in varied combat tactics. Therefore, instead of having different strategic maneuvers or a focus on particular abilities (e.g. Team Fortress), the winning moves were usually a function of having the largest group.
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Pirates of the Caribbean Online
Derived from Disney's popular pirate franchise, this particular MMO catered to the same target as the movie series – younger consumers. It was launched by Disney at the end of October 2007 and was received with mixed reviews.
The game’s features and content are heavily geared towards a family-friendly setting. The game was perfect for a child, with its minimal gore, colorful graphics and pick-up-and-play capabilities. It also worked well for adults who were casual gamers since the story was not in-depth enough to require constant attention. Lastly, being a simplistic MMO, the game had a scalable engine which ran on low-end hardware.
The biggest challenge faced by this MMO is retaining its audience over time. It is catering to a particular market segment and while this helps them target the content, the game will be in danger of losing users as they grow older. The attractiveness of the game is not the gameplay nor its characters but, rather, its link to the Pirates franchise. And when the hype of the movies die down, the publishers might have trouble expanding and even maintaining its userbase. Furthermore, when current users grow older and tire of a casual game, there is not enough level building to retain their interest in the game.
Another negative aspect of the game is its use of ads on the free version. Many users have already noted gameplay disruptions and errors which are largely due to long upload times related to these ads. This might well deter potential players from diving further into the game and signing up for the paid package.
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Lord of the Rings Online is a fantasy-based MMO based on the famous movie series of the same name. The game was created by Turbine and released in 2007. It was well-received by both critics and gamers. The MMO’s highly immersive environment and storytelling features are probably its biggest strength and weakness at the same time.
LoTR Online has been praised for a number of reasons. It offers an in-depth storyline which stays true to the famous books. The character creation is flexible, allowing players to take varying roles within the unfolding of the story. This feature pleases both the dedicated fanbase, as well as gamers who are not Tolkien fans per se.
Another key feature of the game is the nice balance between exploration and the main storyline. The fact that players are able to investigate the world outside of the main storyline and still be part of the quest flow appeals to many fans. An additional factor that works in LoTR’s favor is the way it stays true to the RPG genre as a whole, thereby reeling in more hardcore gamers.
Perhaps the biggest complaint about LoTR Online has been its similarity to World of Warcraft. Admittedly, many prefer the sleek graphics of the former, but the gameplay itself has sometimes been called a rehashing of an existing system. Many users are not willing to pay a subscription fee for a game that is quite similar in gameplay aspects to a game they have already played.
Speaking of graphics, that is also another concern for a certain number of gamers. LoTR is graphics intensive, so many users find that their PC hardware is insufficient to run the game..
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Dragon Ball Online was one of the most highly anticipated MMO games of 2009. Published by Namco Bandai Games, it is draws heavily from the well-loved Dragon Ball manga series. A film based on the series, Dragonball Revolution, was released in March 2009.
While this game contains certain RPG-style side quests like exploration and interaction with other players, the main feature of Dragon Ball Online is tournament style fighting against other players. This may end up being the biggest problem faced by this game as many users are already complaining about a lack of features vital to tournament fighting.
Dragon has a lot going for it. There have been several positive reviews about the overall look of the game, and the game’s numerous panels and shortcuts offer a variety of options for interacting with the environment and other players. Plus, the amount of attention Namco Bandai paid to races and class development will appeal to Dragon Ball fans.
At the same time, there are definitely a few complaints about the game. The biggest issue seems to lie with player killing capabilities. Player killing refers to the ability of one player to ambush and kill another player. This is a prominent feature in most RPG MMOs as well as action MMOs. Action game fans are stating that player killing should be more integral to a fighting game such as this one.
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Acknowledging the franchise's dedicated fanbase, Star Wars Galaxies is one of the few MMOs to successfully appease both the hardcore gamers and fans of the movie franchise. Developed as a joint collaboration between Lucas Arts and Sony Online Entertainment, this particular MMO was released in 2003.
The game was praised for various features that gave it an edge over its peers. However, it was some of these very features that led to changes in the game which probably contributed to user defections from the game.
The game received rave reviews for a number of reasons. Critics and players alike loved the detailed graphics of the game. This is one of the few MMOs which boasts intricately designed characters, surrounds and buildings.
Gamers were also won over by the customizable controls and characters, features that enhanced gameplay and group-play aesthetics. The fact that the game, with its in-depth economic system and tough skill development rules, was more immersive than other MMOs also reeled in hardcore gamers.
However, Star Wars Galaxies did have a number of critical shortcomings. As is the case with most MMOs, it had trouble pleasing different types of gamers. Some users complained about the stringent rules surrounding character skill development. Others were unhappy with the restrictions surrounding the Jedi class. When the game first launched, a user would lose a Jedi-class character for good after being killed off a select number of times.
When the publisher introduced major changes in response to the criticisms above, many of the existing users complained that the game was no longer challenging enough. While Star Wars Galaxies has fared better than most MMOs in retaining a dedicated user base, it has seen a decrease in subscriptions in recent years.
Star Wars Galaxies also has a reputation for being buggy. There have numerous reports of users losing in-game items and experience points due to bugs. Another common complaint involves the lack of quest material. However, critics usually concede that this problem has been addressed in recently released expansions.
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This particular MMO< is based on the hit science fiction series about interplanetary travel involving a gate-like portal. Similar to Star Trek, the show and subsequent movies revolved around interacting with new races and fighting battles against hostile aliens.
The yet to be released MMO draws heavily from the show and appears to focus on social interaction more than other MMOs in the same genre. Developed by Cheyenne Mountain Entertainment, this game is set for a late 2009 release. There have been a number of positive reviews about the game. The few negative comments are mainly about its payment system.
Stargate Worlds is frequently compared with Star Trek Online and will no doubt compete heavily for Scifi gamers' attention. Perhaps it is for this reason that the creators have developed the game from a slightly different angle than the Star Trek MMO. While the game also offers similar features like a more flexible character creation and skill development, the main focus is on interaction and socialization.
The developers have added in leveling and skill progression through non-combat methods, which could attract casual gamers or gamers who enjoy a puzzle-based approach.
There has even been talk of social network integration which has the potential for enhancing the multiplayer interaction aspects of the game. This could work in their favor as poorly developed socializing models within games are a major complaint people have with multiplayer games.
As with the other soon-to-be-released MMOs, the flaws of this game will only be obvious once the game has been released. Thus far, the biggest worry amongst fans is that the popularity of the Stargate franchise will wane before the game releases. Although the game is based on recent Stargate movies, the Stargate phenomenon was most popular when the Stargate television show was doing the rounds. Therefore, while there are still dedicated Stargate fans, there might not be enough of a fan base in terms of casual gamers.
The one other complaint – albeit a less common one – is regarding the payment model. Casual gamers have expressed displeasure with the monthly subscription fee that Cheyenne plans to charge.
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Next to Stargate Worlds, Star Trek Online is one of the most talked about science fiction MMOs in recent years. Developed first by Perpetual Entertainment and later on by Cryptic Studios, this MMO has been set for a 2010 release, following closely on the heels of SW. The game itself is based on the television shows and picks up the the Star Trek: Nemesis plot line. Sneak peeks of the game have revealed numerous features that have been well received by gamers. However, there has also been negative news surrounding this game, with a particular focus on its casual play capabilities and payment system.
Almost all of the known elements of the MMO have met with fan approval, including highly customizable ships and characters, as well as advanced exploration functionality. The game also stays true to Star Trek’s theme of space exploration. A lot of the game content focuses on discovering new planets, races or technology, something that will surely appeal to gamers who are also devoted Trek fans.
Another key feature of the game is the different combat systems. Players can opt for a melee-style fight in person or strap in for a space battle. These two types of combat require different fighting tactics, thereby enabling the game to appeal to different types of gamers. Perhaps the biggest factor in favor of the game is the dedicated Trek fan base. Not only is a Trek game timely due to the success of the recent movie, but it already has a devoted fanbase due to the continuing popularity of the television shows.
Since the game has yet to be released, it is hard to gauge its flaws. However, there are a few aspects which have received criticism from gamers. The biggest worry right now is the payment system. Creators of the game have not decided on the exact payment model and this has been source of much debate amongst fans.
Some casual gamers are hoping for free or grinding-based payment methods (i.e. paying off fees through skill development in game like in Dungeons and Dragons Online). Others prefer an affordable monthly subscription to ensure higher quality game maintenance.
