Initial Rant/Introduction

Ello folks and welcome to our little blog of doom.

The basic premise is simple: me and some friends/colleagues decide to pick random game topics (Maybe even some not), hop on Gmail and chat our faces off. I then post said chat into this little space and let the rest become history.

We're open for other individuals to join or give suggestions for topics if wanted, but further information will be posted later.

Also, these topics are openly our opinions and have more then likely been ranted on previously. If you feel like whining about it, please take it elsewhere. Otherwise read and enjoy the carnage.


Today's Topic: Portable MMO Gaming

Participants - Kenneth (My Blood-Brother)
Jeremy (Me)
Dustin (My Roommate)


First we decided to actually try and come UP with a topic.

Kenneth: Video Game Topics - Cookie Cutter Games, Absolutely No Damn Point Games, "Wtf Were They Thinking?" Games, Same Game New Face Game, I Can't Believe They Published this Load of Crap Game, Didn't I Do This Yesterday Game, Why not make MMO's carry over to portable devices to further enhance the delve into them?

I'm sure my capitalizing was way off during the edit, and I don't care.

Jeremy: Whether it's a good idea or what?
Dustin: I say bad idea
Kenneth: I would love to have a limited version of FFXI on the DS or PSP that I could update back and forth and enjoy the smaller yet helpful things.
Jeremy: I think it would work as long as you executed it right. But that goes for anything of course.
Kenneth: I.E. Small quests, item management, intercity communication etc
Dustin: They would try to put to much in it....and ruin it
Jeremy: Sony and Sega tried this with their little memory card handhelds, although that's not technically the same thing. They were popular, but didn't really last.
Kenneth: Well they can't put to much they are limited by the fact that they are indeed portable
Jeremy: Then again, these things were nearly beneath 8 bit.
Kenneth: Yeah and you can't deny they were fun. The reason they failed is because the Dreamcast failed
Jeremy: Now where they've really been fucking up is cellphone games.
Kenneth: Dreamcast brought that idea down with it.
Yeah I agree
Like holy shit
wtf
Jeremy: Something like this should be done on a ACTUAL portable, like PSP or DS.
Kenneth: Exactly
Jeremy: Both even have online capabilities.
So it's natural.
Kenneth: My point exactly
Kenneth: Both have the ability to go online
Thus you can update them and transfer data both ways.
So you could go play WoW then have to go on a road trip and take your PSP and do some item management and small PSP exclusive quests or something.
Nothing omg big, but enough to keep you occupied.
Crafting maybe...
Like you could upload your shit to craft and then on the road could craft with them at your leisure.
And even have the small chat ability to chat with those in a "Linkshell" (Final Fantasy 11 term)
Jeremy: I was thinking things like mini-games that add to your game as you play with them in your free-time.
Kenneth: Kinda like this little chat thing just ported to a DS or PSP
That would be nice being able to talk to guild while on road
Jeremy: Yeah, like a messenger only via your portable.
Kenneth: Exactly
Dustin: I'll admit that for sure
Kenneth: I mean hell, for FFXI it would be godly to play little mini-games to maybe make a small amount of gil (Another FFXI term).
Dustin: I can see like mini quest just to kill time, would be fun.
Kenneth: Yeah I mean casino-esque type things and what not.
Jeremy: Lol, but don't you think this would probably ruin MMO players' already addictive lifestyle?
Kenneth: type environment. Nah, but it would definitely add to it, that's no lie.
Jeremy: Lol
You'd never escape!
TOO. MUCH. FUN.

Also, at this time of the day I had already had a Java Chiller with espresso. Fair warning. :D

Kenneth: But I mean how many times did you have absolutely nothing to do on a road trip and you were dieing of boredom
Jeremy: More times then I could count.
Kenneth: I mean it's an escape I'd pay for.
Jeremy: Ditto.
Kenneth: And no one is saying YOU MUST PLAY THE PORTABLE.
Jeremy: It's a side-advantage.
Kenneth: Exactly
Make it incentive enough to get but nothing too extravagant
Jeremy: But the question is could they find a company that wouldn't make the idea implode on itself?
Kenneth: I wouldn't mind a PS2 styled PSP version of FFXI with only access to cities and things of that such.
IF they found enough people interested they would...
The problem is the servers
They would have to add another thing to their list of systems to update
Adding to time in between updates and patches and slowing down the time to actually obtain said updates
Kenneth: I mean the problem with the portables is the compatibility and the time it would take to even develop
It's easy to say just downplay it and wa-lah!
They basically have to create a completely new game from the ground up that links to the current.
Jeremy: I don't think it'd take that long to implement, but it would be another hassle. That's usually why they fork it over to independent developers.
Kenneth: And that's with any game.
Jeremy: But that's when it all goes to shit.
Kenneth: Right and SE won't do that
Jeremy: Let's hope not.
Kenneth: I mean I don't know enough about WoW to say this, but I'm sure there are things that you could downscale and put on a portable that you would have no problem dealing with in a car while heading somewhere or waiting in a line somewhere. Or hell even when there was an update/maintenance etc going on.
I think what it truly boils down to though is people would like an offline version of MMO's and no one has really offered the constant swap well enough to be successful
Jeremy: I'm sure.
You'd just need to find someone capable.
Which I'm beginning to wonder if those exist anymore.
Kenneth: If there was an offline version of FFXI I'm sure a lot of people would play it.
Same with WoW
Dustin:: Offline I wouldn't like if its an online game I don't think it should be playable offline
Kenneth: How often does WoW update/patch?
Jeremy: More often then the sun burns out.
Dustin: Patch depends....Update every Tuesday
Kenneth: Ok let me rephrase...
How often are you unable to play due to maintenance.
Dustin: Bout 6 hours
Kenneth: Every Tuesday?
Dustin: Yeah
Kenneth: Damn O.o
Jeremy: He'd know better. Although I've always seen them do it at hours that not even I would be really doing.
Dustin: Usually early morning
Kenneth: Ok... an offline version would allow you do do limited things in the time they are doing patches/updates.
Then when it came back up you could then upload your status, etc.
Jeremy: Little offline/online tools and games to add to your gaming experience would be nifty.
Kenneth: Could be a hassle, but again it could have it's handiness
Dustin: I still don't agree with offline....I don't think an Online game should be able to be played offline
Jeremy: I'd rather be working on what could benefit my character rather then something else.
Kenneth: I have to say I would love to be able to do something small like craft and/or quest offline if need be.
I don't mean screw you guys I'm going offline, although I'm sure some would actually do that since it would be available.
Jeremy: And what exactly are you saying Dustin?
Jeremy: Explain y0.
Dustin: I just don't want to eliminate players simply cause you want a portable version
Jeremy: Eliminate players?
Dustin: Yeah, like the next big thing like playing without an expansion...
Kenneth: Not saying eliminate, just make available the offline version. What if your lights go out or something lol. Then you have a back up plan
Dustin: Lol thats a hardcore player
Kenneth: And hopefully your reason for not having electricity is not financially related lol
Do you have a portable device at all?
PSP
DS?
Jeremy: It could allow you to check on items, do some crafting, but it wouldn't let you like, actually hop on your player with no strings attached and quest like you do in-game.
Dustin: PSP
Jeremy: I gots a DS.
Kenneth: Any game you play on that is the same concept. Just you would take a game you've turned into a hobby i.e. MMO and added it to that system
Only difference.
Right
No EXPing etc
Jeremy: Unfortunately I don't think WoW would take the concept. But that's another topic.
Kenneth: Nothing to actually further your character to new hieghts really
Jeremy: Just something to kill time.
Kenneth: Not like ohh I'm going offline to become level 70 Hunter
Right
Jeremy: Lol, no kidding.
For games like WoW that'd almost be cheating.
Dustin: Yeah definitely on the server we are playing.
Jeremy: Lmao
PvP for the fail.
Dustin: No.
Jeremy: I'm kidding. Jeeze.

Just so you know, Dustin is the pro-WoW player and Kenneth is pro-FFXI. I bounce between the two when I feel like it, but have been more into WoW as of recent.

Kenneth: Just simple crafting/small questing/ item management
Kinda like a PDA for MMO
Kenneth: Brb bio break :P
Jeremy: Wish I could have struck THAT from the record.
For those of you not versed in FFXI, that's short for, "I'm going to use the facilities."
Porcelain God, restroom, bano...
Kenneth: lol
Jeremy: Indeed.
Jeremy: Anything else we need to touch base on with the portables? I think we have the general idea.
Kenneth: Sounds good to me, but I would love to hear more detailed reasoning on the offside of it.
Jeremy: Concerning what?
Why it would be bad?
Kenneth: The offside of portable offline MMO
Yeah I mean there's more argument towards then against.
Jeremy: Agreed. Kinda uneven.
Ok, VERY uneven.
Kenneth: More "Don't Like" to (10 Pages long Like it), lol
Jeremy: Hm..
-Is thinking-
...Anyone able to help me out here, cause I can't think of much, lol.
Kenneth: Well I would hope Dustin could elaborate a bit more on his side of it cause I am for it lol. But I guess I could try and be objective... I did, however, place in some negative sides to it with my arguments, but then backed them up with reasoning as to why it's otay.
Dustin: I cant think of much more either
Jeremy: Also there's the whole lifestyle effecting part.
But still, more a personal dilemma as per usual.
Kenneth: But that truly boils down to the individual.
Dustin: I mean bliz (Blizzard) Would never do it simply cause they are all about the "Casual Player"
Jeremy: Freaks.
But I agree with them.
Kenneth: If a person plays on a portable device all we are suggesting is placing the MMO they play at home to be available in miniature fashion to that portable device.
Jeremy: Just for that added fun-factor on the go.
Kenneth: Nothing extravagant, just enough lol
Right,.
Not groundbreaking, but substantial.
Jeremy: Who needs Pokemon? I HAVE GIL/GOLD TO MAKE!
-Kicks on PSP-
If you need me I'll be in the basement. <3>Kenneth: lol
Ah...that brings to mind the idea of things that have the potential to be godly as MMO. Most likely would not though.
But we only have 20min til Tema must sign off lol.
Jeremy: Temagori, residential working man.
Dustin: I'll have to try FF (Final Fantasy) soon
Jeremy: Don't do it man!
You don't have the POWAH.
Kenneth: lol It is very daunting. There is a learning curve.
No doubt.
Jeremy: I tried balancing both and I failed verily.
Kenneth: For a beginner that is.
Jeremy: But it has a lot of common ground.
Kenneth: Really helps if you have RL friends to help you over those Early Level, Early Mission/Quest Humps.
Jeremy: You know, instances/dungeons, Bosses, events, yadda yadda.
Nearly impossible to stand for FFXI in my opinion if you don't have someone patting your back.
Otherwise you might contemplate suicide after killing 12,000 bunnies.
And getting killed by half of them.
Kenneth: I will say though FFXI has had some of the best organized things to date.
Kenneth: Their AH system is phenomenally user friendly and helpful.
Jeremy: No they didn't, shut up.
Their idea of organizing is kicking puppies.
AH's scare me though. WoW and FFXI alike.
Kenneth: how so?
Jeremy: Because you can get some scary-ass economy dips on the stupidest crap.
See this stick? It's 5k.
Some moron prices it for 40k.
It sells.
WHY?!
It's just frightening to see the economy at work.
Shifts can happen at the drop of a hat.
Dustin: Well you overprice things too
Jeremy: That's what's scary.
People will DO it.
And then the other idiots actually buy it!
Dustin: Yep thats how people make money
Jeremy: Fricking 12 year olds..
Dustin: Yep that and probably buying gold, so what?
Jeremy: Goldsellers.
Dustin: You get it
Jeremy: Ugh.
Anyway, Ken, you doze off?
Don't make me get the stick.
Dustin: He will
Jeremy: Srsly.
And it'll have nails and everything.
And I'll coat those nails with salt.
....I think he's probably getting ready to head out so I'll call this an END.
Kenneth: boo
You can't really bitch about the economy really..
I mean it's just like ours
Someone can buy a stick of gum for 50c and then sell it on eBay because Joe Ripken touched it for thousands.
Jeremy: For those of you who have read this blog I hope you've enjoyed it. If you would like to participate or have any suggestions for more topics, please e-mail me (Faceless.Otaku@Gmail.com) or Kenneth (Temagori@Gmail.com) with your suggestions. Thanks for your attention and happy gaming.

That about does it. Just so you folks know I realize a format change is going to have to be done with a lot of this, but I'm going to edit as we go along. So I'm sorry for the confusion in advance.

Later round people.