[Each day, Worlds in Motion will be taking a closer look at individual virtual worlds. We'll start with a nuts-and-bolts overview, then move on to an in-depth tour, to be followed up with a conclusion-- all with the aim of bringing you all the essential info and details on each world in the rapidly-developing virtual landscape. You can view Part 1 of our investigation here, and Part 2 here.]
We've been trying to look at the most interesting "non-traditional" MMOs, and in our look at ForumWarz, one of the internet's most polished and popular browser-based RPGs, we have to ask -- is it an MMO at all? We debate after the jump.
It's a cop-out, but whether you think ForumWarz is an MMO or not really does depend on how broad you consider the category is. If you think Facebook games count as MMOs then it definitely is, but if you absolutely demand an integrated real-time virtual world, then it isn't.
My opinion? Any game/world that has a community built around common goals -- socialization, building, completing puzzles -- counts, so I think ForumWarz is an MMO. And on that basis I think it's a very good one.
The key lies in the way the game has been built. When I like to play through an RPG I tend to do it myself, and if I get stuck I'll refer to a guide. I don't consider that cheating (in all honesty, I subscribe to the idea that if your game requires a guide then it's your fault, not mine) and I'm often happiest playing games alone. In ForumWarz, that's totally possible.
On the other hand, if you like playing with people, you can. Either take part in ForumWarz Domination while you play, or get involved in one of the other community aspects -- playing with a Klan, the mini-game of Incit, or building new forums. These don't change the main game a bit, but each of these options is as valid as playing alone.
This isn't a game like World of Warcraft or City of Heroes where you are penalized for playing alone through making leveling slow without a group, or certain content being unavailable -- you can have as much as you want no matter how you play.
And the reason I compare it to the subscription MMOs rather than it's contemporaries (like Kindgom of Loathing) is that ForumWarz is a step ahead, with a gorgeous interface, clever cinematics and a very strong and balanced design.
If there's one problem, it's ForumWarz content -- being based around the seedy underbelly of the internet, it can be quite offensive to those with weak constitutions, and the community that has raised up around it can in turn be even more offensive. It's not a game for everyone (it really is adults only) but if you can stomach it, there is a lot to learn from ForumWarz, as a game just as good played alone as played with friends.
Comments (1)
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Posted by _wowmanjac_ | October 25, 2008 3:18 PM
Posted on October 25, 2008 15:18