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Matt: Lastly, let's touch on MMORPGs. FFXI proved that you can bring this kind of game to both PC and PS2 users, and soon the Xbox 360 players will be in on the act as well. Is this going to be a continuing trend, and is that even a good thing?
Josh: I imagine it will continue, but depending on how the interface pans out, it may or may not be better for a specific system.
Josh: As of now, like I said before, you have to buy a keyboard to interact for consoles.
Josh: So, once you get that, you are on par with interface...
Matt: I've read plenty of writers say that if Microsoft wants a killer app for the 360, they'd better talk Blizzard into bring World of Warcraft to the consoles. That was the rumor back at Blizzcon, too.
Matt: But, on the other hand, Microsoft was so diehard to break the Xbox-PC comparison that they forbade any companies from making a game that could even use a keyboard in the first place. Have they finally gotten over that hump, I wonder?
Josh: I'm a fan of Guild Wars, not World of Warcraft, but I understand the theory. From what I've played of WoW, you definitely are going to need more buttons than a standard controller.
Josh: The issue with Microsoft is that they are going to be making a leap of faith if they port WoW to the Xbox.
Josh: Er...Blizzard, sorry.
Matt: I'm not sure they could be talked into it, but if anyone *could* do it, Microsoft would be the ones to do it.
Josh: But if Microsoft wants to introduce console owners to the capabilities of a PC-style system, they are going to have to introduce new devices for the MMORPG market. A controller just WILL NOT do.
Matt: But, don't forget that for a long while, people thought that the Xbox was getting True Fantasy Live Online, which didn't need a keyboard to work, so far as I know. They could bring that back to the 360.
Matt: It could be that you have to either limit the options for a gamer on a console-controlled MMORPG, or else you have to change the interface to support the lack of a keyboard.
Josh: Well, yes, I'm positive there are instances where you could create an MMORPG that is simplistic enough to not require a million hotkeys, but frankly, they are few and far between. They also are not as marketable as the current leaders in the MMORPG market.
Matt: But what makes those games so marketable in the first place?
Josh: Fanbase, as well as gimmicks.
Matt: The games are marketable because of their content, not because of how players play them.
Josh: Blizzard has a huge fanbase.
Josh: Guild Wars promised a challenging system of 8 skills, with a game based on balance rather than strength.
Josh: Other MMOs have their own reasons.
Josh: But just because they are marketable due to content doesn't mean they can be reproduced on other platforms.
Josh: Regardless of how you look at it, there are restrictions to both sides.
Matt: Agreed. But, if Square has done anything, they've shown that an MMORPG *can* exist on both a PC and a console, and I would be very surprised if more companies didn't make the jump themselves in the coming years.
Josh: I'm positive that there will be more attempts at multi-platform MMORPGs. But, since we are comparing consoles to PCs, the consoles will either have to make sacrifices or additions to keep up with the current status of PCs.
Matt: One option would be MMORPGs completely devoted to a console fanbase, which limits their audience. The other option is an interface that lends itself to both PC and console users, but until more companies are willing to take the risk, Square's the only company I know of to watch and see what they make of it.
Josh: And hopefully, they'll make the most of it.
Matt: On that, we agree.
Josh: Well, that looks like it's going to wrap it up for us.
Matt: We hope you enjoyed this as much as we did.
Josh: We need to do this again sometime.
Matt: Yes, why don't we? I'll bring the refreshments and the dancing girls.
Josh: And I'll bring the...um...ok, I'm cheap, I won't bring anything.
Josh: Please, tell us what you think!
Matt: Because if you don't, we're desperate enough to start emailing all of you! And you don't want that to happen, do you?
Josh: He'll do it, I've seen it happen before.
Matt: "She said she'd always love me!" *sobs*
Matt: He's Josh Martz!
Josh: He's Matt Sloderbeck!
Matt: So long everyone!
Josh: Take care! Bye!
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