Even though it is still 2011, there are quite a few MMO video games currently under development that are being avidly watched by fans. Here is a list of some of the upcoming MMORPGs video games that gamers expect to be among the top MMOs next year in 2012.
So it’s getting pretty close to 2012 and as I think over what great year 2011 has been, I thought to myself “which one of the video games have the most buzz?” What are the most highly anticipated upcoming MMORPGs? The MMO gaming industry is going strong and there are quite a few big-budget MMOGs in development right now that are expected to be released soon.
Star Wars: The Old Republic –
Star Wars The Old Republic
This is abbreviated as TOR or SWTOR, is one of the most upcoming massively multiplayer online role-playing video games based in the Star Wars universe. Currently in development by BioWare Austin and a supplemental team at BioWare Edmonton, the game was first announced on October 21, 2008, at an invitation-only press event. The video game got released for Microsoft Windows platform on December 20, 2011 in North America and Europe.
It is obvious why this is at the top of the list, it broke records for pre-orders and that is with a limited amount of pre-orders available. This video game is going to have it all… awesome looking fighting animations, space travel, companions, with fully voiced NPCs and conversation choices really put the player in to the storyline. Not to mention the subject matter is something that millions of people can get behind.
Guild Wars 2 –
Guild Wars 2
It is a massively multiplayer online role-playing video game in development by ArenaNet. Set in the fantasy world of Tyria, the game follows the re-emergence of Destiny’s Edge, a disbanded guild dedicated to fighting the Elder Dragons, a Lovecraftian species that has seized control of Tyria in the time since the original Guild Wars. The game takes place in a persistent world with a story that progresses in instanced environments. This amazingly artistic looking video game with its awesome fighting animations is bringing you a whole new level of MMO with their revolutionary ideas and it doesn’t hurt to be free to play.
Regarding gameplay, ArenaNet has announced that most of the game content can be played solo. The social gameplay, on the other hand, will also be encouraged. Group or cooperative PvE has been designed in such a way that people who work together to defeat an enemy will each receive 100% of the XP and loot for the kill, unlike in other games where xp and loot is shared so that everyone only gets a fraction of what they would have gotten if they had solo’ed the kill.
Also, while ArenaNet preferred to call GW one of the competitive online role-playing video games (CORPG), GW2 is said to be a full-featured MMORPG. The developers have promised an altogether different MMO experience with GW2.
“Titan” Blizzard’s Next Generation World of Warcraft (WOW): MMORPG
“Titan” Blizzard’s Next Generation World of Warcraft
Blizzard has already made it clear that their next gen MMO is code named titan and will be unveiled for the first time after they are done with the release of Diablo 3. Reps from Blizzard estimate that may be somewhere in 2012. Blizzard Entertainment is under pressure to deliver something big before the end of the year. It has plenty of options, but signs point to the company finally dropping details about its hotly-anticipated next online game, code-named “Titan.”
Titan will likely succeed — and possibly kill — the company’s most successful online video game, World of Warcraft. That game is the last of a dying breed, a subscription-based online video game with more than 11 million users that pay $15 each month to access the game.
The Secret World –
The Secret World
ecret World (formerly known under the working titles Cabal and The World Online) is an upcoming MMORPG from developer Funcom, the development of which has been officially confirmed on March 6, 2007. The final title of the project was confirmed on May 11, 2007.Ragnar Tornquist is the creative director of the game. The releasing date of this video game is April 2012.
Using a real world aspect in this game putting real world locations in to the game really helps the player relate to their character in this upcoming monster killing, vampire staking, werewolf shooting, demon slaying MMO. Coming in at a strong number four is Funcom’s The Secret World, a promising new MMO that is one of the most anticipated releases. Funcom is a well-known developer that gave us some great video games like Anarchy Online and Age of Conan.
The Secret World is set in the modern-day world, unlike most MMOs that are typically set in medieval fantasy worlds. This gives it a good novelty factor but it will still have that familiar feeling to it as players will be fighting creatures from myth and legend such as vampires, werewolves, metal golems, undead dinosaurs, etc. Part of the fun is from seeing such creatures in mundane settings like a parking lot or gas station.
World of Darkness MMO –
World of Darkness
As of January 2008, full production of the WoD MMORPG was scheduled start March 2009 after the Eve Online expansion was finished according to CCP. Official confirmation that the game is currently in development surfaced in Aug 2009 on the official CCP web site.
This video game will be based on Vampire: The Masquerade and “will have a focus on player politics and social interaction.” It is scheduled to launch in 2012 at the earliest.
Coming soon from Crowd Control Productions (CCP, the developers of Eve Online) and White Wolf, Inc., World of Darkness Online will be a dark, immersive MMO based on the legendary role playing franchise to be released Vampire: The Masquerade. It will possibly be for adults only as it has been reported to contain mature themes such as gore and nudity. Player politics and live-action role-playing (LARP) are expected to be part of the core gameplay.
In this video game it’ll be interesting to see how players treat their characters and each other when the option of losing that character forever becomes a possibility. It could wind up being the friendliest group of vampires you ever did meet.
