The Daily Grind: Do you want more console MMOs?

by Seraphina Brennan Dec 13th 2008 at 8:00AM

Filed under: Business models, MMO industry, Opinion, The Daily Grind

MMOs are primarly a PC business. They started here, and they're certainly dominating the PC gaming industry, one hard drive at a time. But why must we limit the MMO to simply the PC machine? What about the untouched masses of the console market? Why must we keep our games to ourselves when we should share freely with the others?

Ok, ok, controller vs. keyboard issues aside, what do all of you think about console MMOs? We already have Final Fantasy XI and Phantasy Star Universe on the Xbox 360 and PS2. We also have The Agency eventually making a debut on the PS3 and the rumored Age of Conan release on the Xbox 360, but 4 MMO games is nowhere near the many many games we have on our PCs.

Do you want to log into Xbox Live or PlayStation Network and boot up your favorite MMO? Would you rather sit on your couch and raid instead of your computer chair? Can cats and dogs live together in harmony? Readers, we need your opinions!

Tags: console, console-gaming, console-mmo, ffxi, final-fantasy-xi, pc-gaming, phantasy-star-universe, playstation-network, psn, psu, square-enix, the-daily-grind, xbl, xbox-live, xbox360

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

david said on 8:20AM 12-13-2008

I played a few console MMO's (phantasy star, final fantasy) they were pure garbage. The only way to make and play an MMO is on a PC. With a console, you will never get any good updates because they have to let people without harddrives play as well.

Console MMOs are a bad idea... PC MMOs are the best...

DanPez said on 11:40AM 12-13-2008

Both my girlfriend and I have been playing FFXI on both our PS2's (and now our 360's) for nearly 5 years. So yeah, I would love to see more console MMO's. Not because we don't have a good PC, but because we don't have TWO. Much easier and cheaper to play together on our 360's, or to buy another PS3 when the time comes.

david said: "With a console, you will never get any good updates because they have to let people without harddrives play as well.

Console MMOs are a bad idea... PC MMOs are the best..."

People w/o hard drives would be left out, just like people on PC without updated memory, old graphics cards, etc. All PS3 and almost all 360's have hard drives, so there goes that argument. As for the way people play MMO's, both 360 and PS3 have USB ports for keyboards and the controller will be used for movement and some actions, like a mouse. There... all issues acknowledged. Now give us our console MMO's.

John P said on 8:24AM 12-13-2008

Oh hell yes. I recently starting playing around with FFXI again and one of the big reasons was because I could play in the living room or on my computer.

As long as all the different platforms can share the same space and no one is segregated just for being on a certain system, then I say bring it on!

Anonymous said on 9:30AM 12-13-2008

I think not, unless you can actually play with consoles online(crossover kind of thing), If companies start making mmo's for consoles, they might eventually like the idea of being able to charge extortionate rates to them, and not release the game on PC until a year later.

I doubt it would be a good idea though, seeing as blizzard haven't branched onto a console/pc mmo yet, and i would of thought either them or Eve (probably with most money) would of attempted it by now.

darkness said on 10:09AM 12-13-2008

i say its all fine with me. if they get them combined with pc and console, or not. it would be nice to have a bigger crowd taking a look and or trying some mmo's, and that needs to happen with the Xbox360 or ps3.

Parallax said on 10:18AM 12-13-2008

I would like to see some sweet MMO action on the console since I am a Linux user and wine does not cut it for my gaming needs.

Oh, and as a quick rejoinder, neither does EVE's native Linux Client.

Bring on Champions Online for the 360!

Lennoko said on 11:05AM 12-13-2008

There's Supposidly another Console MMO coming out, called Huxley, and it looks pretty tight tbh.

uneducated763 said on 11:07AM 12-13-2008

oh yea it would be great not to have to worry about graphics cards or if your pc could handle the game

thats why im desperately waiting for age of conan and DC universe online on consoles

Nick said on 12:43PM 12-13-2008

@Parallax:

Dual-boot your computer with windows and linux, you can set it up so that when you turn on your computer you can choose windows or linux to boot with, that way you have both.

Parallax said on 2:37PM 12-13-2008

I know it is possible, but I have just never been a fan of dual-boot. I use my machine as a media server as well, so I am not keen on stopping that service when I feel like getting my game on.

MightyIdle said on 1:19PM 12-13-2008

I'd rather play a MMO on a PC. I'm not into console gaming. There's no way I'd trade my Zboard, Saitek Game Pad, and Gamer Mouse for an XBox controller.

Playing on a computer lets me play while surfing for information. The resources available on a PC are much greater than a console.

I'm also heavily into macros, modding, interface customization, etc. You don't get much of that on a console.

BookhouseBoy said on 2:01PM 12-13-2008

I hold a generally negative opinion of MMOs combining Console kids and PC users on the same realm, but... I do think it could be kind of awesome if someone launched a MMO that was made for... just the Wii. A MMO on the Wii could almost be like "virtual reality", which could be sort of awesome.

Having said that... I don't actually own a Wii. : P

John P said on 4:57PM 12-13-2008

Careful who you call "kids" Bookhouseboy. I'm a 31 year old dad who plays Xbox *and* PC games.

I can tell you that I've run into plenty of "kids" while playing MMOs that are PC only. Especially WoW. And don't even bring up the time I tried Runescape... *shudder*

On the other hand, FFXI has some of the most mature players I've gamed with. And it covers 2 consoles along with PC.

Platform does not indicate age. That's just a BS stereotype.

UltimateQ said on 11:35PM 12-13-2008

Good point. You have a compelling argument. My only quarrel for console MMOs would be controls. If they can make intuitive controls then it is game-on.

If you require a keyboard on your console to play the MMO, I might throw the argument out there, "Why not play it on your PC then?".

Though I hold nothing against console gaming, I think MMO's are largely reserved for the PC class, with a few exceptions.

Wjowski said on 5:15PM 12-13-2008

It doesn't matter if the whining PC elite 'wants' console MMOs or not. The market's too large and too lucrative for gaming companies to ignore.

MightyIdle said on 6:54PM 12-13-2008

Don't be hatin' because you're surfing on your Tandy 1000. 8)

Seriously, though. You're right. The market is huge and someone will address it.

UltimateQ said on 11:38PM 12-13-2008

Also a good point. and I love how you know where us PC Gods stand amongst the peasant weakling console gamers!

I agree though, I can see no reason why they shouldn't create some ports to the consoles.

ReijMan said on 10:19AM 12-14-2008

How about the numerous rumors of LOTRO comming to a console! Game would certainly fit on a console.
(wasn't it the x360?)

MrOpinion said on 3:28PM 12-14-2008

I dont think that console MMO's will be a big hit for the next few years, it something that will happen, maybe with the next generation consoles. This is because of what some people have already stated that not everyone has a console with hard drive. So its just a matter of time really, soon enough more than 3/4 of gamers will have hard drive consoles and you may start seeing some more MMO's on the scene.

Daraqueth said on 7:49AM 12-15-2008

Playing alot of MMOGs and also spending alot of time on my consoles - I would greatly value this.

However - I see one big problem.
By far the majority of games for consoles are 'reaction' based game - where you have 1-5 actions to take, and the challenge is then to take them - that is why the console controller works, you have 1 trigger, maybe a Zoom and 4 action buttons (jump, engange with, cancel, X).

Most MMOGs that I have played makes use of most of the number-buttons, as well as extra keys for targeting, jumping, potions etc.

Which means there are only really 2 options for MMOGs when they go to consoles with a hope to be succesful - either it will be a very Console-tailored MMOG, meaning it will be something where you have 2-4 actions to take in any given situation.

Or it will require the keyboard. With the 360 you have the little attachable-minikeyboard for the controller that you can get, which could make some of this possible.

But at this point, will the experience still be worth it, over sitting yourself up at the PC and playing it with proper-sized controls?

I see alot of challenges here - but would really love to see some MMOGs for the consoles, but I am not keeping my hopes up.