Will Darkfall be important to the genre?
by Shawn Schuster 
Dec 9th 2008 at 1:00PM
Filed under: Fantasy, Darkfall, Culture, Game mechanics, Opinion
This seems to be the sentiment of most Darkfall enthusiasts, as the reality of the game's announced launch date has set in. It's no secret that the wild success of World of Warcraft has changed how studios develop games for the last 3-4 years, but is it about time that we went back to how MMOs were originally created?
Darkfall boasts a sandbox-type freedom and the return of the once-hated ganking and player killing found in earlier MMOs. It boasts innovation (then again, who doesn't) and a death penalty that makes you actually fearful of dying. These factors, and many more, are what drive the game's loyal fanbase for over seven years.
So to answer the question posed in the title, yes Darkfall will be important to the genre. If this niche game succeeds, it will show that innovation is not dead and we're collectively ready for a change. If it fails, it means that we're not really as ready for something different as we all claim.
[Via WorldIV]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Bam! said on 1:43PM 12-09-2008
God I hope so. I loved taking peoples stuff after I killed them in Asheron's Call. I hated it when people did it to me. It made guilds actually important instead of a chatroom. I need to know my guild mate will work with me to stay alive.
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JP said on 1:54PM 12-09-2008
I think its impact on the genre will fall heavily on 2 things:
Expectations and Implementation.
So far, the DF creators have done a great job of not allowing the hyperbole and propaganda mongering of gamers to effect their overall goal. Considering all the games that have come out in the last 2 years, and all the hyping they did, I’m thinking this could be a plus for them. Still, there’s little info about a game that comes out in a little over 2 months. It could also hurt them, initially. In the end though, word of mouth is a much stronger advertisement then any 4 page spread in Game Informer. So, I’m watching DF w/ optimistic intrigue, although I think the day of the “we want perma-death” player is long gone. With such a large “casual” presence in MMOGs, DF will not be the new … you know… top earner killer ;)
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Jack said on 1:44PM 12-09-2008
I have high hopes for this game but also think its a step back wards. death penalty bullshit and ganking and player killing are things I like to keep out of my mmos and get more pve in there.
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vidarr said on 1:46PM 12-09-2008
Important to the niche market it's aiming at, but not important to the genre. It's a refuge to jaded and hardcore gamers and while they may enjoy that refuge with relative success, the major mmo's will still be enjoying their majority of the overall market and know that there's very little they need to change to keep them.
The success of darkfall (which is the only thing worth worrying about atm) will only have an impact on smaller, independent developers shwoing that they can succeed by utlilising the majority of the minority.
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Vulturion said on 1:57PM 12-09-2008
I totally agree with Vidarr ; important to the niche, not to the market.
Since every single hardcore aspect trumpeted completely repels me, I don't much about the innovations side... but even if it is in fact just an old school MMO with current generation graphics then that still sounds like a lucrative little makret to tap.
I don't like the WorldIV article finale though ; biggest playerbase & profitability ever is hardly the MMOs industry's "feudal dark ages", and I'm skeptical that reviving features previously eliminated by natural selection constitutes shiny new thinking.
Lethality said on 1:51PM 12-09-2008
I think Darkfall will be very important. My worst fear is not the design of the game itself... but rather that its technically sound.
The last thing we need is a Vanguard-esque failure in that area, that will keep the game from every being truly adopted.
My hope is this is a gem that will shine through though.
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Animagnum said on 2:15PM 12-09-2008
"If it fails, it means that we're not really as ready for something different as we all claim."
Really? This statement makes the assumption that the game will actually be good. What if the game is no fun? If it is a total flop, does that mean players weren't ready to embrace a game that wasn't fun?
Let's wait and see what the game is like before we place the blame on stubborn players for its (potential) failure.
Darkfall is and will most certainly be an important game just as any ambitious project is important to the genre.
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Hades said on 2:21PM 12-09-2008
I'm going to give this game about 3 or so months before I play it. I have done 2 major mmo launches with my guild i the past year, and its quite exhausting. AOC and Warhammer failed to live up to the hype, so I'd rather not move my guild again until I know this is a solid title.
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scopique said on 3:01PM 12-09-2008
I don't know if Darkfall will be that important. It's not getting that much notable press, except to point out that it's been in production for almost a decade. Combine a lack of visibility outside of MMO geek circles with the "features" like ganking and MAYBE Darkfall will garner critical acclaim like EVE Online does, but it won't redefine anything.
Remember, UO had open PvP, and it was removed because people got sick of it. It will undoubtedly find a niche, a la EVE Online, but calling a game "innovative" because it does what the first modern MMO did (and got slammed for) is either ignorance of ancestry or plain old unwarrented hubris.
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Temploiter said on 3:22PM 12-09-2008
I doubt their claim to being innovative is having open-PvP.
It seems the detractors of the game are upset, for some reason, that the game isn't actually vaporware. Or are angry about the open-PvP full-loot nature of the ruleset. However, there are things to be happy about, a complete non-combat player can, within a city, begin a life of a crafter. With a 100% player-based economy where EVERY item is craftable and every item is lootable on death there will be a HUGE need for crafters. Fame and fortune will come to those non-combat players, as much or moreso than the combat-oriented players.
Another things to be hopeful about is seeing a skill-based progression system in another game. Alternatives to levels and classes should be in the marketplace, even if they are niche, for players to have a breadth of choices. Just EVE alone isn't enough.
Finally, if this game makes even a small profit it will give hope to maybe hundreds of small teams wondering if the days of a startup in this genre are dead and gone. Innovation comes from small teams taking big risks with different-than-the-norm ideas to hopefully make a place for themselves in the market. Stagnation comes from 1 proven model and clone after clone after clone trying to capture a piece of that pie.
Wufiavelli said on 5:10PM 12-09-2008
The game does show a lot of promise. And unlike a lot of games its features if done would actually be a major innovation. If it succeeds think it will be as innovative on the genre as eve.
I do kind of wish however it pursued its full loot and FFA in the way Eve did. Have a safe area that provides basic PvE, harvesting Crafting. But then have a massive sandbox zone for highend PvE, harvesting, crafting, that is free for all PvP.
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Jef said on 2:51PM 12-09-2008
All of these comments, particularly the ones about 'success' and 'failure' are completely subjective, and thus, rather worthless.
Who is to say what DF's developer defines as success? I'll wager its nothing more than making a return on their investment, which is very probable.
Will it compete with WoW and the rest of its clones that have taken over? Absolutely not, but that doesn't mean its a failure, except in the eyes of people who prefer the more common type of gameplay.
DF is really a blip on the radar screen of the common online gamer, and rightly so, its not designed for them and never has been.
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draive said on 3:36PM 12-09-2008
I'm one of those MUD / pre-trammel UO / SB players and I definitely don't consider myself a hardcore pk type. That being said, I would love to return to a sandbox mmo and I hope DF lives up to my expectations since today's pve focused gear grinds just don't do it for me.
As far as important to the genre... /shrug time will tell. But to say that if people don't like DF means we are not ready to return to more sandbox game play is not logical.
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Jess said on 3:52PM 12-09-2008
I think Darkfall will be important IF IT DELIVERS ON ALL THAT WAS PROMISED.
AoC and WAR would have been much bigger, badder and threatening had they launched with 100% of the promised content.
I hate FFA PvP with a passion (faction pvp ftw) but this game could be a milestone in the genre. While I plan to keep LOTRO my main MMORPG, I will be picking this one up for the sole reason that I believe it should be supported and given the chance to thrive.
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Arkanaloth said on 4:10PM 12-09-2008
Personally speaking I don't like FFA PVP & PK'ing.. so I'll be avoiding this one like the plague. While I won't disagree that it needs a chance to thrive, I'm not the target audience so it's not on my shoulders to help in that regard.
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Syena said on 4:28PM 12-09-2008
There is a reason why all these mechanics died out. BECAUSE THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE HATE THEM! Yeah sure it will fill in a niche and it will make a few players happy but it is not going to bring about a revolution in design sending us back to the "good ol' days."
Fact of the matter is most people do NOT like the open pvp "steal your stuff" BS associated with this. People work hard for what they have in an mmo and they don't wanna have it taken away from them because some twitchy ADD jerk with to much free time on their hands gets a wild hair up their ass.
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Temploiter said on 4:39PM 12-09-2008
What if you didn't work hard for what you had on you, would it be easier to swallow then? These types of games don't have levels separating n00bs from "twitchy ADD" kids with tons of time on their hands. They also don't have endless dungeon raids to obtain precious gear. They do have a local swordsmith with a ton of similar swords you can get on the cheap, however.
isanox said on 4:37PM 12-09-2008
How is going back 10 years innovation?
How is random player killing change?
I love it when I hear the old guardlamenting about the 'good old days'. That time is dead and nearly buried. Get over it. AoC... on life support. War... server consolidation.
Get over it, pvp/RvR can't carry a game.
Uber elite gameplay is not wanted.
You want different... You want innovative then try DCU, The Agency or Free Realms.
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Blake said on 5:46PM 12-09-2008
I think the best hope, in terms of success, they have is to eventually be on par with Eve Online. I think it's been proven that open world PvP means that the majority of the MMO player base will stay away, however, if they deliver a good, solid product they can surely fill a niche market.
Though, of course everything depends on them actually releasing a non-bug ridden, playable and fun product. Players have shown that they are unwilling to wait around while they fund a games development. This isn't 2000 anymore so there are far too many options out there for players.
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CM said on 7:39PM 12-09-2008
Darkfall is going to be a massive disappointment and I'm really worried about some of the DF fanbois who act like their entire lives are depending on this game. It's not going to be the answer to your prayers and it's going to be a very small niche title that struggles for subscribers.
It's not going to challenge WoW or any other mmorpg on the market.
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