SOE: NGP The “Perfect Machine” for MMOs
With DC Universe Online announced as Sony Online Entertainment’s “fastest selling game ever” and Free Realms having recently released on the PlayStation Network (in the US), SOE has managed to show that console gamers do have an appetite for MMOs. But as the NGP is set to be a fully integrated online mobile device, it may be even more suited for MMOs, with SOE believing that it could be ultimate device for such games.
Speaking in an interview with GI.biz, John Smedley, President of Sony Online Entertainment, explained that he believed the handheld was perfect for MMOs:
With the console, we’re selling to an audience that already has the PS3 obviously – and by the way not the just the PS3, but in the future I can other devices. Sony’s announced the NGP, and if that isn’t a perfect machine for doing MMOs on, then I don’t know what is.
Unfortunately, with SOE having made 205 staff redundant, and canceling several upcoming projects, including The Agency, its unlikely the publisher will be developing on the platform itself, despite recognising the fact that the NGP is well suited for MMOs.
Would you like to play MMOs on your NGP when it finally releases? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
14 Responses to “SOE: NGP The “Perfect Machine” for MMOs”
“SOE believing that it could be ultimate device for such games” lol what world were they born into, they’re kidding themselves. No one wants to grind away in an MMO on a small screen. Maybe when it gets display output but what would be the rez anyways.
Regarding the NGP itself and how even Sony thinks PS3 users will shell out more money for a handheld, that is only going to have a refresh/rehash of all old games with a price tag attached to each title, just in order to play a game on the bus…Big dreams….
At least in Japan, the top-selling games are consistently portable gindfests — the very “ginding on a small screen” that you describe above.
Monster Hunter, Pokemon, Dragon Quest, God Eater, and Phantasy Star Portable are all HUGE success stories in Japan, and they’re all about small-screen level grinds. So I don’t think that’s the aspect standing in the way of success here. ^^;
If I remember the introduction in January correctly they have a mechanism with the NGP so that you could play the console version rank up, then restart play on the portable rank up on lunch break get home and just continue on with your character ranking. With that kind of playability it would make it difficult for the next generation of workers to get anything done but at least when kids are on spring break they can go to the Mall and still play their games…
i think its a great idea. i mean really, to be able to take your game with you where you go and play anywhere is really cool. Especially when at families house spending the night hanging out. It just brings more things i can do when im on the move. At least you cant say you have no time to play an MMO cause of time.
Imagine if 3 or 4 years from now the NGP doesn’t have a single successful MMO
…heheh, I kid, I kid….
i actually wouldnt be surprised. look at the ps3, over 4 years in and it just recieved its very first mmo.
to be honest, im not a fan of mmo’s anyway, but the more genres they can cover, the more it will appeal to many different gamers.
mmo’s a possibility on a handheld. thats a definitely a first, and something only a company as ambitious as sony are daring enough to even tackle something like this.
well if they make a great port and u could play dc on your npg and its save your profile to your ps3 next time u logged on that would be great
Am I the only one seeing the Like and Dislike under comments. If I’m not, great addition to the site!
Oops, to stay on topic. Yes, I would like to see an MMO on the NGP. Maybe SOE or whoever chooses to do it will prove it to be successful, seeing how other MMO targeted devices (the Jungle) stopped development.
Well eventhough I’m not a big MMO fan this sounds like a great idea.
How can you not see the NGP as a great MMO device. The psp is the choice of RPGs. If you look at Android or Iphone there are such games in existence granted the graphics are far less than what the NGP will deliver but you do have a starting point to look at.
Man, I so wanna pick this game up, but do they have the same sort of monthly purchase packages that Free Realms had on launch? That you don’t have to go to the a seperate website to purchase more months but do it either straight through the game with PSN money and have no need to add a credit card to yet another site. But if I could drive to the corner store or walk better yet, and pick up a PSN card for 20buck and get an extra month on DC Universe when I’m ready to play.
You know I have to say, that rear touch pad feature on the NGP will make selecting moves etc.. for MMO’s just as easy as a computer… It might just have a shot at it.
MMO may work for some people but I’m not sure if I’ll use it though. Perhaps if its a good game I might