2008 Predictions

[Boomjack]

I made mine (http://loading.blogs.tentonhammer.com/).

Now you make yours!

[RadarX]

I pretty much agree with every single one of your predictions. Kids MMO games are definitely an emerging market (Pirates of the Carribean is actually kinda fun) and Stargate Worlds will most certainly not make it this year.

I also predict Jumpgate will finally release in some format!

[Cody Bye]

Jumpgate is on its way in 2008 - I'm not sure of the exact date but the developers have said as much.

[Ralsu]

Boomjack is right on all of these things, I think. I hope he is wrong about Vanguard, but I don't see it.

I'll also add that my first MMOG love, EverQuest Online Adventures, will likely close this year.

[Annatar]

Like RadarX, I pretty much agree with all of your predictions. All except this part;

Your child will now be better at your hobby than you are.
My soon-to-be-five-year-old got a damn webkinz for xmas (damn relatives *shakes angry fist* ), and so far it appears that he has inherited his mother's penchant for spending every cent that they have as soon as they get it. For this reason, he will never be better at my hobby than me, because ingame he will always be poor. :razz:

[Boomjack]

I pretty much agree with every single one of your predictions. Kids MMO games are definitely an emerging market (Pirates of the Carribean is actually kinda fun) and Stargate Worlds will most certainly not make it this year.

I also predict Jumpgate will finally release in some format!

I agree with your agreement and approve your post. Enjoy the rep!

[Boomjack]

Boomjack is right on all of these things, I think. I hope he is wrong about Vanguard, but I don't see it.

I'll also add that my first MMOG love, EverQuest Online Adventures, will likely close this year.

I never played EQO. It if closes it becomes the first EQ franchise game to pass on.

[Volamunn]

Hmmm...what will happen in 2008...My weight loss plan will turn out to be another 5 lbs gained by the end of the year.

On a non-personal note, WAR will not get the record for first week sales of a PC game...but it will do well. AoC will be the cause of more of the dreaded Red Ring of Death to the exceedingly poorly constructed XBox 360, but will be a successful MMO.

[ScottAdams]

Ok amazing, I am actually in agreement with most of your predictions! Some of them I don't have enough idea of what is going on to even guess so your guesses are also acceptable!

About the only thing I disagree with is EQ2 maintaining subscription base, I honestly expect it to grow as the word gets out.

All in all should prove to be an interesting year!

[Dalmarus]

Obviously, I have to disagree with the Vanguard prediction.

You're right in saying that SOE has made great progress with the game. That's why it's numbers are increasing rather than declining. EQ2 isn't stealing subscriptions because it's a different breed.

As for the three titles coming this year (assuming we're talking about AoC, Warhammer, and Stargate?), I don't think they'll have any effect on Vanguard at all.

AoC and Warhammer are both for a completely different type of crowd. We might lose players from the PvP server, but since those numbers are extremely low to begin with, I don't think it will make any difference.

And although I expect Stargate to be delayed until 2009 anyway, I think it's geared for a different group of players.

These are all guesses though, so we'll see :D

[Awenyddion]

I pretty much agree with every single one of your predictions. Kids MMO games are definitely an emerging market (Pirates of the Carribean is actually kinda fun) and Stargate Worlds will most certainly not make it this year.

I also predict Jumpgate will finally release in some format!


You are correct sir! Jumpgate Evolution will release this year. :)

[Ralsu]

Ask me about my Plushy Flux!
Ok. I'll bite. May I see your Plushy Flux?

[Boomjack]

Ok amazing, I am actually in agreement with most of your predictions! Some of them I don't have enough idea of what is going on to even guess so your guesses are also acceptable!

About the only thing I disagree with is EQ2 maintaining subscription base, I honestly expect it to grow as the word gets out.

All in all should prove to be an interesting year!

Make no mistake, I *hope* that it grows, but with two new AAA titles out there my concern is that people will leave to try the new games and then not return.

Bottom line, people will play what their friends play. If there is a large exodus from any of the current titles it will be because friends are leaving to play with each other in a new venue.

[Mikes]

2008 will not be the year that a big name MMO will be released on console. I'd give AoC a try if it was available on Xbox Live, I think I'll just have to wait.

[Shayalyn]

Boomjack is right on all of these things, I think. I hope he is wrong about Vanguard, but I don't see it.

I hope Boomjack's wrong about Vanguard, too. I've been encouraged by the number of posts we see from returning players saying, "Hey, this game is actually really cool, now!" Folks have come back, but my gut feeling is that it's too little; too late. It's a shame, too. Vanguard had incredible potential. All things being equal, it would still be my game of choice.

Although this really isn't a revelation, I would add that I think we're going to see a definite rise in both the number of free-to-play titles and the quality of those games. It won't happen this year, but I suspect the subscription model is on its way out and micro-transactions are on the way in. I'm pretty sure I'm not alone in that prediction. Call me Captain Obvious. :razz:

[Boomjack]

I hope Boomjack's wrong about Vanguard, too. I've been encouraged by the number of posts we see from returning players saying, "Hey, this game is actually really cool, now!" Folks have come back, but my gut feeling is that it's too little; too late. It's a shame, too. Vanguard had incredible potential. All things being equal, it would still be my game of choice.

Although this really isn't a revelation, I would add that I think we're going to see a definite rise in both the number of free-to-play titles and the quality of those games. It won't happen this year, but I suspect the subscription model is on its way out and micro-transactions are on the way in. I'm pretty sure I'm not alone in that prediction. Call me Captain Obvious. :razz:

My prediction isn't based on the quality of Vanguard. I just don't believe that they can reintroduce enough people to the game to make it the huge success it was supposed to be.

I don't think MT will replace subscriptions any day soon though. :)

[Ralsu]

My prediction isn't based on the quality of Vanguard. I just don't believe that they can reintroduce enough people to the game to make it the huge success it was supposed to be.
Yeah, that's the problem, isn't it? If there were no really good games out there, it might not matter so much. But with so many great choices, customers are likely going to be turned off after an initial bad experience and not return.

It's a lot like the restaurant that opened in my town last year. We went in the first month it was opened. My food my lousy, and I haven't been back. I can always go to one of the other restaurants in town.

[Shayalyn]

I don't think MT will replace subscriptions any day soon though. :)

Oh, I didn't mean to sound like I was suggesting they would entirely replace the subscription model--I'm sure our AAA titles are all going to remain subscription-based for a while. But I have a strong hunch that micro-transactions are going to make a bigger showing in the coming year and that eventually we'll see fewer subscription-based games and more MT-based games. And the MT games that will be introduced will be of better quality than what we've seen previously.

[Rocqu]

Pretty insightful predictions Boomer... er... Boomjack. I agree with you 100%. I like how you left out some of the more unpredictible MMO's like GW2, EVE, and DF.

What do you predict the genera will be for unannounced titles from 38 Studios and Bioware or will we even hear an announcement about these sometime this year?

[Boomjack]

Pretty insightful predictions Boomer... er... Boomjack. I agree with you 100%. I like how you left out some of the more unpredictible MMO's like GW2, EVE, and DF.

What do you predict the genera will be for unannounced titles from 38 Studios and Bioware or will we even hear an announcement about these sometime this year?

If you want predictions on the games you mentioned then here goes...


Guild Wars 2 - When it releases, will have some form of subscription model to supplement the current free-to-play system of Guild Wars.
EVE Online - Will hit 350k subscribers in 2008
DarkFall - Will ship, wait, no it won't, ever. Even if it the does ship, the community is so militant that it will eat itself crashing what little hope the game had.

As for 38 Studios and Bioware...


38 Studios - I'm grasping at straws here, but I'll guess given the personalities involved that it will be based in a fantasy universe. ;)
Bioware - Science Fiction or Star Wars or Science Star Fiction Wars.


How was that?

[Ralsu]

Science Star Fiction Wars.

I played that game in college while the other students were out getting laid.

[Cody Bye]

If you want predictions on the games you mentioned then here goes...


38 Studios - I'm grasping at straws here, but I'll guess given the personalities involved that it will be based in a fantasy universe. ;)
Bioware - Science Fiction or Star Wars or Science Star Fiction Wars.


How was that?

*laughs* Totally appropriate, but I'm guessing he was looking for a "bit" more. :D

[Shayalyn]

I played that game in college while the other students were out getting laid.

That explains a lot. :eusa_boohoo:

[Boomjack]

*laughs* Totally appropriate, but I'm guessing he was looking for a "bit" more. :D

I gave out the "Science Star Fiction Wars" part. Nobody else knows that!

[Cody Bye]

I played that game in college while the other students were out getting laid.

I was lucky. I did both. :laugh:

[Annatar]

I played that game in college while the other students were out getting laid.
What is this 'laid' that you speak of, and how does one get it?

[ScottAdams]

What is this 'laid' that you speak of, and how does one get it?

Be very careful I have heard it is a rare disease that attacks the nether regions.

It prevents one from being properly attached to the chair of life, that sits in front of the monitor of MOG, that we all attend to.

[SirRobin]

Be very careful I have heard it is a rare disease that attacks the nether regions.

It prevents one from being properly attached to the chair of life, that sits in front of the monitor of MOG, that we all attend to.

Actually it is a far more diabolical condition than that. Catching this disease makes you more vulnerable to other pandemics like matrimonitus "I did?" and parentus brokus eternum "I'm the daddy?"

Avoid at all costs!

[Cody Bye]

Actually it is a far more diabolical condition than that. Catching this disease makes you more vulnerable to other pandemics like parentus brokus eternum "I'm the daddy?"

Avoid at all costs!

I caught the last one.

[Shayalyn]

I caught the last one.

There's a Little Cody (or Codette) incoming? :twisted:

[Boomjack]

There's a Little Cody (or Codette) incoming? :twisted:

I'd like to name the new arrival. First name "Good"

That is all.

[Medeor]

Iron Clad Locks for 2008 Headline Stories:

Conan the Cultural
In a weird twist, AoC is heralded as bringing to life the art it depicts, not just a hack and slash bouncing boobies fest. From the press conference:
"Finally a game that showcases the author's true intent. The Conan books go to great length to describe the weapons and damage as well as the women and their....umm...well, their umm...next question from the back there?"
Mothers across the country applaud the subtle hues of mauve and chartreuse used.

WAR launches and Gamesworkshop locations close. Losing the need to leave the house for any reason, WAR miniature players hole up causing a huge fallout in the miniatures game arena. In a related story, Craigslist will no longer list miniatures due to over-saturation on their servers of tiny greenskins.

Bioware announces a new MMO based on Star Wars but with a different slant. Since SWG uses the word Jedi, Bioware is unable to do so, and as a result a new word for uber light-sabre wielding characters is born - enter the "Jalishercarterrazac." In the press release from Bioware PR, "the marketing department is especially proud of how the new sword slinger's name just rolls off the tongue. It was important for people to be able to say the name and say it reverently."
:duel: