Isn’t it Time for a Planetside 2?
Filed under: MMORPG Related, Opinion
There is one MMO that no matter how many times I unsub, I always end up returning to it a few months/years later. It’s not World of Warcraft, or Everquest; I have absolutely no desire to ever return to either of those games. The game I am talking about is Planetside. Time and again I have returned to the game to find new vehicles and features awaiting me and even now, as I just resubbed, I have found even more fun to be had. So when is the sequel coming out?
Unfortunately, probably never. As much as I hate to admit it, Planetside was never really a success story for Sony. Despite holding adequate subscription numbers for a decent amount of time the game just failed to generate any real profits, as can be seen in the poor early mismanagement of the game (updates we very few and far between, bad expac), but this doesn’t mean that Planetside doesn’t deserve a sequel. Despite having some gameplay quirks and questionable goal orientation it was actually a lot of fun and a sequel would be able to fix/build on to those gameplay elements.
Today, the FPS genre is more popular than it has ever been before. Last year Halo 3 sold more than 9 million copies world wide, and Call of Duty 4 sold over 7 million. With this re-invigorated market I don’t see it completely unjustifiable that a PS2 would be considered. After all, everybody likes being part of a huge battle, and certainly Planetside achieved that. Now if only there was an updated website that continually added new fix and gameplay suggestions for the game to help focus the commuity in an effort to improve the game so said developers would know where to start with their new Planetside…
May 23rd, 2008 at 9:47 am
I totally agree. The game was one of the best MMORPG’s I have ever played, and I’ve played alot.
Currently I play World of Warcraft, however I played Planetside for about a good year. It was great.
However, one thing that was very huge in Planetside that I think had to do with it’s downfall is the hit detection. Most of the time, my hits would not register.
Other than that, it was an awesome game, and I hate to see it fall over such a little thing that could have been fixed.
Hopefully something comes out with a similar concept, or they improve on the basis of this game. Until then, I sit here waiting.
May 26th, 2008 at 8:07 pm
It’s funny, I absolutely agree. No matter how many times I’ve unsubbed, I come back.
The bugs are incidental, I mean next to any other MMO PS had its share. Though admittedly PS bugs are a little more noticeable and repeatable than some others in other games. Hit detection (to respond to the comment) is more of a computer performance issue or just you. I’m a 5 year veteran and I played beta for over 4 months before release so I think I know what I’m talking about when it comes to this game ;).
I have to ask the community.. what could replace planetside, what is like it? what is even near the same dynamic that planetside provides?
Nothing, nothing at all. There is nothing like it and it seems nothing will be coming out to meet it. Huxley was a thought, but we have seen the Koreans bow out with Huxley truly being mmo and turning it into just a MMO of instanced play, ala other RPGs that wouldn’t do the server thing.
Planetside is a travesty of bad marketing, no plan for support, and just a simple lack of faith on the part of Sony.
It seems bizzare that they would pump so much money in a project and then just leave it out to dry. It created its own buzz and would have created so much more had marketing take hold of it.
But we all know this.
You’ve either heard of Planetside and played it, or simply have NEVER even heard of it, ever. It’s def. a game I can count on people saying “Huh?” when I say it’s name. Even MMO players. It is still a simply fantastic, fun game, and I really really realllllly hope someone takes it to the no. 2 level, that or someone take on the MMOFPS with some real vigor soon.
June 23rd, 2008 at 7:19 pm
I quit PS probably 2 or 3 years ago adn I agree. Nothing new coming out even looks like it compares. The idea and gameplay of this game was some of the best I’ve ever played. I loved playing as a team and the huge battles.
Huxley looks to be the closest, but it even doesn’t look that great.
July 16th, 2008 at 11:50 am
Max Gaming seems to be working on a world that will offer similar gameplay as Planetside called Dark Horizons.
I have to admit I am a fanboy in their beta test of their new mech game Lore Aftermath, but if they work with the community like they did with Lore should be good.
With that said I have unsubed and resubed to planetside 3 times myself
currently I am unsubed. The giant battles were just awsome.