Why cant...
- Thread starter bushmins
- Start date
Interface is the main issue, a pad just isn't suited to them. If they were to port WOW to the PS3 with keyboard and mouse support (which is possible), it'd run it just fine.
It a psychological thing, i could explain but your face would melt.
Ive played a few mmo's and with my play style (definatally not elitest) i very rarely use the keyboard. Maybe space to jump and obviously letters to communicate, but thats a bit old hat with microphones.
Caporegime
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I'd say it was a combination of interface problems, people not wanting to pay a subscription for one game on consoles and perhaps the interest not being as strong on consoles.
Soldato
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Age of Conan was always developed to include a console version, last time I heard they were still working on it but I doubt we'll ever see it, not sure if they are planning the same for their new mmo.
There *are* MMORPGs on consoles - for example, DC Universe Online is a PS3 subscription based MMORPG.
There's nothing to stop consoles from running MMORPGs, but the keyboard/mouse combo is a much better interface for this genre due to spell/skill casting and the inherent Point&Click navigation.
If the console people were capable of manipulating a keyboard and mouse at the same time, then MMOs would be fine on the consoles. As it is, they can only use the 15-button abominations with twiddly bits.*
Having played a few MMOs in my time I can safely say it would be a nightmare with a controller! The last MMO I played wasn't particularly complicated in terms of the UI, but you still needed all the number keys and the numberpad [20 keys] just to use various skills without resorting to clicking. There are a multitude of other handy key combinations too - such as different types of chat [whisper, all chat, party etc]. Any MMO written for the console would have to have either a very simple UI [limiting what you can do] or find a very novel way of using various skills and items. Though having said that, there is no reason why there needs to be a thousand and 1 skills and items to do battle.
*warning, this may have been tongue in cheek!
Having played a few MMOs in my time I can safely say it would be a nightmare with a controller! The last MMO I played wasn't particularly complicated in terms of the UI, but you still needed all the number keys and the numberpad [20 keys] just to use various skills without resorting to clicking. There are a multitude of other handy key combinations too - such as different types of chat [whisper, all chat, party etc]. Any MMO written for the console would have to have either a very simple UI [limiting what you can do] or find a very novel way of using various skills and items. Though having said that, there is no reason why there needs to be a thousand and 1 skills and items to do battle.
*warning, this may have been tongue in cheek!
Well, DC Universe is on PC and PS3 so exceptions are out there.
However, the reason why you won't see MMOs on console as a general rule is because Microsoft (and to a lesser extent, Sony) place extremely strict controls on what goes in and out of their networks.
Microsoft are very much "our way or the highway" regarding games that use Live! and developers would have to relinquish control (and probably pay lots of money) to Microsoft. Cryptic Studios were writing Champions Online to be an Xbox 360 title as well, but they said it's impossible because of Microsoft's business model, not because of hardware limitations or anything else.
Secondly, as has been said, the interface for most MMOs only works with mouse and keyboard; I would dread to think what it would be like trying to play WoW with a joypad.
However, the reason why you won't see MMOs on console as a general rule is because Microsoft (and to a lesser extent, Sony) place extremely strict controls on what goes in and out of their networks.
Microsoft are very much "our way or the highway" regarding games that use Live! and developers would have to relinquish control (and probably pay lots of money) to Microsoft. Cryptic Studios were writing Champions Online to be an Xbox 360 title as well, but they said it's impossible because of Microsoft's business model, not because of hardware limitations or anything else.
Secondly, as has been said, the interface for most MMOs only works with mouse and keyboard; I would dread to think what it would be like trying to play WoW with a joypad.
Soldato
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mouse and keyboard
/thread!
/thread!
Soldato
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Mouse and Keyboard. That and they'd probably try to charge us for interface addons as DLC...
Soldato
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FFXIV is on it's way too. It's terribad though 
