Darkest of all MMORPGs?

The Fallout MMORPG had me inspired, because the IP on which it is based is solid in concept and previous execution (well, aside from the console derivatives). Now, however, a rumour is spreading that CCP, along with recent symbiont White Wolf, will bring the latter’s World of Darkness (WoD) to the realm of MMORPGs. This is partially unsurprising since CCP is an MMORPG developer, though their expertise in not in typical MMORPGs, but rather in massively-multiplayer space games.

If the rumour is true, it raises an interesting conundrum, because the WoD was a superb gaming universe with at least three great campaigns (Mage, Vampire, and Werewolf). As is often the case, however, capitalism can ruin a great thing, and after three editions of its core rulebooks, the WoD went to hell (pun not intended).

Nonetheless, the old spirit of the WoD may retain some glimmer through White Wolf’s ridiculous revisions over the past year or two. More importantly, years of WoD-based multiplayer roleplaying games (in the fashion of MU*s) have set a strong example for what a WoD MMORPG should be like, in part because many such games have a significant non-combat emphasis. Perhaps, then, if CCP and White Wolf play their cards right, a WoD MMORPG could be the solution for the MMORPG question of evolution. Time will tell, but for now, the possibility alone makes the future MMORPG library that much more enticing.

Tagged as: mendax.org