ON MovieTome: BLADE RUNNER 2? Unfortunately, yes…
CNET Networks Entertainment:
GameSpot: TGS 2008
GameFAQs
SportsGamer
MP3.com
TV.com
Metacritic

Trio of MMOGs raid retail

Pirates, demons, and aliens all go massively multiplayer as Pirates of the Caribbean Online, Hellgate: London, and Tabula Rasa launch this week.

Once upon a time, gamers had the choice of either high fantasy or alternate fantasy if they wanted to play a massively multiplayer online game. And although it is certainly the case that the fantasy genre still dominates the MMOG market, several new games released this week aim to add a bit more spice to one of the fastest-growing sectors of gaming.

On the family-friendly front, Disney Online has released Pirates of the Caribbean Online. Inspired by the Jerry Bruckheimer-produced summer blockbusters, which themselves took root from the classic Disney theme-park attraction, the MMOG lets aspiring swashbucklers captain a ship, steal booty, slay undead, and otherwise build a legend as the most well-intentioned knave on the Seven Seas. The game is available for both the PC and Mac. Players can play for free in a limited-access, ad-supported version of the game, with full access being granted for a first-month fee of $4.95 and a $9.95 charge each month thereafter. It is rated E10+ for Everyone 10 and Older.

Playing off of the ghoulish frightfest that is (or at least used to be) Halloween, Flagship Studios has opened up Hellgate: London this week. Hellgate seeks to join first-person shooter gameplay with role-playing game character building. The M-for-Mature-rated game, which experienced a degree of technical difficulty with its online servers initially, is playable in both single-player and multiplayer modes after its initial $49.99 purchase (a $59.99 collector's edition is also available). The game can also be upgraded to an elite subscription account at $9.99 a month for further massively multiplayer functionality. A free trial of the single-player portion of the game is currently available for download.

The launch sequence for Richard Garriott's "blank slate" sci-fi MMOG Tabula Rasa also engages this week. Not unlike Hellgate, Tabula Rasa seeks to marry the fast-paced action of shooters with the complexity of RPGs, while indiscriminately laying waste to hordes of invaders. Available in both $49.99 standard and $69.99 collector's editions, Tabula Rasa requires a recurring monthly subscription fee of $14.99 after the first 30 days.

44 Comments

  • tron563

    Posted Nov 19, 2007 2:17 am PT

    well i play lots of kinds of MMO but this one i play 3 of this games already

    • Login to rate this comment
  • Azurewrathhal

    Posted Nov 5, 2007 7:52 am PT

    MetalZombieII, your argument pretty much fails because you reference Guild Wars as an MMO, and if you knew anything about MMOs you would know what's wrong with that statement.

    But I'm sure ex-employees of a company are pretty reliable as far as giving an unbiased opinion of where they used to work.

    • Login to rate this comment
  • MetalZombieII

    Posted Nov 5, 2007 2:36 am PT

    OriginalSenn "They have to charge for these games, because they have so many employees constantly working on them and in them"

    Actually that is what they have everyone thinking, but it's not true, the only people who are always on are GM's and a large number of these games don't even employ GM's. The the development team only works when there is an issue expansion or update. Ex-employees from Sony outed them on EQ and EQ2 a year ago, saying that keeping the servers running and paying the dev team to constanly be working was an excuse that was used when large numbers of gamers started to complain about subscription fees.

    There was even an artical not to long ago where the head of development on Guild Wars, some of whos employees come from other MMO dev teams, said flat out, that companies like Sony and Blizzard say things like their games are in a constant state of development and they need to keep the servers running, as excuses to get people to pay a monthly fee and it is untrue.

    • Login to rate this comment
  • rokkuman09

    Posted Nov 4, 2007 6:11 pm PT

    Oh, gosh there are way too many MMOs already on the market. We don't need more flooding the market, there just isn't going to be enough players to keep all these games running.

    • Login to rate this comment
  • Merl57

    Posted Nov 4, 2007 7:14 am PT

    JESUS 10-15 bucks a month NO WAY I dont care how good a game is that is just so completely unreasonable, Xbox Live is the only thing I'm paying for, I'll never EVER buy WoW for this reason or these other games, its B.S and they don't need to do it. Look at Guildwars selling 4 mil copies

    • Login to rate this comment
  • linkthewindow

    Posted Nov 3, 2007 2:25 pm PT

    Another reason for me to take up MMO's.

    • Login to rate this comment
  • MasterChief725

    Posted Nov 2, 2007 9:34 pm PT

    TOO MANY MMOS!!!

    • Login to rate this comment
  • i_got_you60

    Posted Nov 2, 2007 7:16 pm PT

    my money is on hellgate online mmorpg and single player in one hell ya now thats what iam talkin about

    • Login to rate this comment
  • NandoSupes

    Posted Nov 2, 2007 1:36 pm PT

    Warhammer Online Age of Reckoning is the MMO to wait for in my opinion.

    • Login to rate this comment
  • dorohala

    Posted Nov 2, 2007 7:10 am PT

    At least we know now!!!

    • Login to rate this comment
  • londonrider

    Posted Nov 2, 2007 6:44 am PT

    Thanks for the news! /me back to Stalker

    • Login to rate this comment
  • boomboomkid

    Posted Nov 2, 2007 3:15 am PT

    Tabula Rasa seems fleshed out enough to pique my interest only of the three. I gave a try to Hellgate with demo, but it just seemed too generic and lackluster with drab designs and almost copy/pasted quest system from WoW. Pirates, on the other, hand would be great for my 10 year old niece.

    • Login to rate this comment
  • ryaz_weaponx

    Posted Nov 2, 2007 12:26 am PT

    still dont think any can beat WOW

    • Login to rate this comment
  • sw_and_wet

    Posted Nov 1, 2007 10:46 pm PT

    Hellgate seems good. Not sure about Tabula Rasa, and Pirates of the Caribbean Online??? Can't image what it's gonna be.....Really doubt about this game..............although I sort of like the movie..........

    • Login to rate this comment
  • NX75

    Posted Nov 1, 2007 9:15 pm PT

    Playing Hellgate, I have no idea how anyone can call it an MMO. When did society develop such a broad and loose definition of MMO that it could envelop that game? It's beyond me. Tighten up that definition again, guys, or it's a useless moniker.

    Since I'm the only one here who probably watches the show, I'll be the first to point out the coincidence here with Tabula Rasa being released this week and this Friday's new episode of Stargate Atlantis also being called Tabula Rasa. Err... what a bizarre coincidence!

    • Login to rate this comment
  • diesil

    Posted Nov 1, 2007 8:29 pm PT

    if any mmo thats not wow and guild wars gets a 9.0 or higher deserves to be played

    • Login to rate this comment
  • serge59

    Posted Nov 1, 2007 8:00 pm PT

    I'm thinking about getting on board with hellgate london, but I'm still waiting on the verdict from a couple of my trusted places. The demo was poor in my eyes, but I hear the real game is much better.

    • Login to rate this comment
  • ROXLYDE

    Posted Nov 1, 2007 7:41 pm PT

    I'm still undecided about Tabula Rasa...sometimes its fun..other times..not so fun.

    • Login to rate this comment
  • K_M82

    Posted Nov 1, 2007 6:39 pm PT

    How can they support ads in game like Pirates of the Caribbean? Where do they put the ads?

    • Login to rate this comment
  • LockdownLA

    Posted Nov 1, 2007 5:56 pm PT

    Hellgate is so very awesome! Tabula Rasa, not so much...

    • Login to rate this comment
  • nintendorocks

    Posted Nov 1, 2007 5:54 pm PT

    This isn't news. It's just the fact that 3 MMOs are being released.

    princeofshapeir- Guild Wars is not a MMO. Get over it.

    • Login to rate this comment
  • jknight5422

    Posted Nov 1, 2007 5:27 pm PT

    Man, there is a void for MMORPGs for the 360 & these guys all ignored it. The only thing I've heard is NCSoft is going to bed with Sony & PS3, I guess they like a smaller customer base or some bad blood developed between NCSoft & Mr. Softy. It's disappointing.

    • Login to rate this comment
  • runstalker

    Posted Nov 1, 2007 5:25 pm PT

    While ArenaNet is my favorite ex-Blizzard team, I think Flagship's going to have a nice game with Hellgate after about a month of tweaks and settling down.

    • Login to rate this comment

  • princeofshapeir posted Nov 1, 2007 5:08 pm PT (does not meet display criteria. login to show)

    princeofshapeir

    Posted Nov 1, 2007 5:08 pm PT (hide)

    Guild Wars = Best MMORPG ever.

    • Login to rate this comment
  • grafkhun

    Posted Nov 1, 2007 4:38 pm PT

    only hellgate london out of 3 are potential buys from me, personally i think its gonne be awesome and am going to go dl that demo right now

    • Login to rate this comment

  • Diernes posted Nov 1, 2007 4:27 pm PT (does not meet display criteria. login to show)

    Diernes

    Posted Nov 1, 2007 4:27 pm PT (hide)

    Number of subscribers does not a good game make. and neither does completely biased hype and review sites that probably have a hand in the publishes pockets.

    WOW is overated kiddy friendly rubbish, which stole many ideas from its predesessors and repackaged it in a brainless and accessible form for the majority of the casual game playing populace. There have, in fact been numerous "WOW killers" already many of which existed before WOW was but a glimmer in blizzards eye. I played the hell gate demo, and sadly was not impressed, the full version better be drastically better to hold my attention.

    Im sorry if I have offended any of you, but I am just one of those gamers that prefers my digital entertainment to have, you know... some depth.

    • Login to rate this comment
  • Ra-Devil

    Posted Nov 1, 2007 4:23 pm PT

    I'm tempted to get Hellgate London, but I'm a console gamer at heart, and Mass Effect is about to come out.

    Just one question: Is Hellgate London any similar to Diablo? I heard from someone it was like an alternative take on it.

    • Login to rate this comment
  • wiirdawgs

    Posted Nov 1, 2007 4:19 pm PT

    hell gate >>>>>>>>>>>>>>> WoW

    • Login to rate this comment
  • dead_god86

    Posted Nov 1, 2007 4:19 pm PT

    I agree with Red_Jester, it's gunna be a long time b4 any MMOG does better than WoW.

    • Login to rate this comment
  • Nepherate

    Posted Nov 1, 2007 3:58 pm PT

    Hellgate: London is not an MMOG.

    • Login to rate this comment
  • TH3_GAMBL3

    Posted Nov 1, 2007 3:49 pm PT

    Ryuketsu2043 :Hellgate Londonh friggen rocks and it should not be classified as an mmo at all ~

    yeah it does rock...but being classified as an mmo doesn't mean its a bad thing, its classified as an mmo because it is massively multiplayable.

    • Login to rate this comment
  • membernametaken

    Posted Nov 1, 2007 3:48 pm PT

    I'd rather watch Lazy Town than play any of those games.

    • Login to rate this comment
  • OriginalSenn

    Posted Nov 1, 2007 3:41 pm PT

    They have to charge for these games, because they have so many employees constantly working on them and in them, unlike a regular game, that gets sent out and the developers wash their hands, except for maybe a patch or two. These games require constant supervision and repair. Somebody's got to pay everybody who does it, and that someone's the consumer.

    • Login to rate this comment
  • LuffyTubby

    Posted Nov 1, 2007 3:38 pm PT

    HGL is so much fun. I LOVE IT. I freaking love it. It's... AMAZINGGGGG!!!))

    • Login to rate this comment
  • zgreenwell

    Posted Nov 1, 2007 2:20 pm PT

    Now I know no one has enough time to play all three of these.

    • Login to rate this comment
  • nate_n8

    Posted Nov 1, 2007 2:19 pm PT

    after 2 years of WoW, I'm done with MMO's.......hopefully

    • Login to rate this comment
  • A1B2C3CAL

    Posted Nov 1, 2007 2:11 pm PT

    I am having a blast in Hellgate London! Gotta love lifetime subscriptions. No monthly fee ftw!

    • Login to rate this comment
  • Ryuketsu2043

    Posted Nov 1, 2007 2:09 pm PT

    Hellgate Londonh friggen rocks and it should not be classified as an mmo at all

    • Login to rate this comment
  • PseudoFinrod

    Posted Nov 1, 2007 2:08 pm PT

    MMORPGs require way more time and energy than I'm willing to invest in a game.

    • Login to rate this comment
  • ZOnikJJ

    Posted Nov 1, 2007 2:08 pm PT

    Still no WoW killer.

    • Login to rate this comment
  • theclaw135

    Posted Nov 1, 2007 2:08 pm PT

    $14.99 a month? That's harsh. I could buy a PS2 game or 1-2 DVD movies...

    • Login to rate this comment
  • Mike_1511

    Posted Nov 1, 2007 2:07 pm PT

    STOP CHARGING FOR THESE GAMES

    • Login to rate this comment
  • Red_Jester

    Posted Nov 1, 2007 2:04 pm PT

    Three incoming games that will fail to capture a decent share of the MMO market.

    • Login to rate this comment
advertisement

Related Content

Matches based on text similarity.

Hot Stories

Newsmakers

Featured Stories

Latest Entertainment Headlines

TV News

More TV News »

Music News

More Music News »

Got tips? Send them in!

Related Game

Hellgate: London Boxshot
Hellgate: London

Game Stats

  • Rank:
    459 of 52,868
    (up by 22)
    PC Rank:
    145 of 10,479