While we draw closed the shades on 2010, our gaze falls upon the future
landscape of the MMOG industry and we wonder what next year might
bring. Of the many games currently undergoing development and beta
processes, which noble contender will come out on top? And how will
next year's
biggest releases impact the games already hogging the limelight of the
industry?



Even
though this market can turn on a dime, every gamer has their own
opinion of how it'll all shake out. Those of us with our fingers on the
pulse think we know where the tides will take us in the year to come.
Join us as we lay down our predictions on what will be the Biggest
MMOGs and Expansions of 2011.




style="width: 462px; height: 178px;" alt="dc universe logo"
src="http://www.tentonhammer.com/image/view/92711">

DC Universe Online

Holding
the precarious honor of being the first major MMOG to launch in 2011
would usually be a risky prospect. You've missed the holiday season and
are launching in a period of uncertainty, where gamers may still be
enjoying their Christmas presents and financially reeling from their
outpouring of holiday generosity, and not be on the lookout for a new
gaming experience. To further compound this, you're also following on
the heels of what could be the biggest expansion ever for the biggest
MMOG ever.



Despite the odds, I don't see SOE breaking a sweat over it. Maybe they
know something we don't know?



Well, let's take a closer look at just what DC Universe Online has
going for it...



alt="i'm batman"
src="http://www.tentonhammer.com/image/view/92712">It's
a superhero game, first and foremost. And while this subgenre doesn't
typically pull in the big numbers of it's cousins of the
elves-and-magic variety, it's also not in direct competition with those
heavy hitters. Most notably of course, it's not likely to be going
after the same audience as WOW. More then likely DCUO will be pulling
its subscribers from the existing fanbase of City of Heroes and
Champions Online. Both of these existing games are going to have to
work extremely hard to keep their players on board when such a shiny
new toy lands. Cryptic Studios has thrown down the gauntlet first,
announcing CO's impending move to a free-to-play subscription model,
but not a peep has come from NCSoft. Perhaps they think their aging
title, now more than six years old, has run its course? It'll be hard
pressed to stay financially viable when such a large portion of its
active players jump ship to team up with The Superfriends (or Justice
League, if you prefer).



But DCUO is not limiting itself to
existing fans of superhero MMOGs. This title is also going to feature
an active combat system that will interest a whole new type of gamer in
the online experience of being a superhero. Such an action-oriented
brand of combat is almost never seen in our industry, and the few times
its come it has not been well-received. But reports from beta gamers
are praising DCUO's combat system thus far, and my hopes are high that
this may establish this game a role model which other ActionMMOs can
follow in years to come, solidifying this niche form of gameplay within
the MMOG industry as a whole.



Furthermore, the content itself
may find an audience with gamers that just flat-out aren't interested
in other MMOGs. Fans of Christopher Nolan's reboot of the Batman
franchise may dive into this title for no other purpose than swinging
alongside the Dark Knight. And with Thor, X-Men, Green Lantern and
Captain America films due out in 2011, superhero hype is going to be
high outside the gaming industry for just about the entire year. If SOE
plays its advertising cards right, this could translate to a great big
infusion of brand new subscribers.


style="width: 640px; height: 292px;"
alt="superfriends i need help"
src="http://www.tentonhammer.com/image/view/92710">



And last, but certainly not
least, DCUO is going to be available for the Playstation 3. You may
scoff at MMOGs on a console, but none have featured such a
controller-friendly form of combat mechanic prior to this title. I
predict sales of DCUO on the PS3 will not be outlandish, but will also
make enough of an impression on the industry as a whole that developers
willing to take such a risk on their own projects will sit up and take
notice. Blizzard, BioWare, NCSoft and NetDevil should be watching the
launch of DCUO with interest, as this could alter the landscape of
MMOGs in significant ways.

(Up next:
 TERA Online)





tera logo src="http://www.tentonhammer.com/image/view/92718">

TERA Online

Remember all that
stuff I said about fantasy genre being a tough competitive market?
Well, poor old TERA Online just can't get a break. It's currently
slated to land in Spring of 2011 but I'm anticipating a delay into the
Summer caused by the overwhelming and long-lasting effect that
Cataclysm will have on the MMOG market. Despite being very different
than WOW in significant ways, my bet is that your average gamer doesn't
know enough about this title to make that call.



What does
the average gamer see in TERA? An eastern-inspired RPG with a fantasy
theme and highly-stylized art direction. To many, that sounds a lot
like Final Fantasy, and the MMOG market is still healing from the utter
failure that FFXIV has turned out to be. In fact, TERA will have to pay
close attention to FFXIV as the new year unfolds, because news of its
closure (which I feel is imminent) may translate to naysaying on TERA's
longterm prospects of success.



alt="is that armor?"
src="http://www.tentonhammer.com/image/view/92717">But TERA
is not FFXIV, and it's
definitely not WOW. After having the opportunity to get a hands-on
demonstration at PAX 2010, I can safely say that TERA stands completely
on its own as a well-made hack-and-slash Action RPG. It's difficult to
tell at this point how the online social aspects of the game will play
out, especially in light of potential language barriers and
localization issues, but the core mechanics of the game stand far
separated from anything else currently available in the MMOG market. In
terms of combat mechanics, which is the part of the game that you'll
spend the most time with, TERA has more in common with single-player
action/adventure titles than it has with other MMOGs. In fact, it may
end up in direct competition with DCUO based solely on the control
schemes and flow of combat that each game offer in the MMOG space.



The
best thing TERA could possibly do at this point to enhance its
prospects in 2011, is spend an insane amount of money on advertising,
and get its developers to make the rounds of the websites that gamers
visit doing interviews and dev journals. Make sure that gamers know
exactly why TERA is not like any other game on the market, and stop
just showing us pretty pictures of scantily-clad elves. Get down to the
meat of the combat mechanics and visceral gameplay, and show us how
different you can be from all the other derivitave gameplay available
in the bulk of the industry.
Otherwise, I anticipate a low turnout at the retail stores on launch
day, and a quick trip to the bargain bin shortly thereafter.

(Up next: Rift
- Planes of Telara)



rift logo src="http://www.tentonhammer.com/image/view/92713">

Rift: Planes of Telara

RIFT does not currently have a
published launch date, but most speculate that the title will be
landing in mid-2011 since limited beta access is already available. I
personally believe that they will attempt to catch the wave of folks
that have seen what Cataclysm and other early-year releases have to
offer and have decided to look
elsewhere for their online entertainment.


style="width: 546px; height: 222px;"
alt="gateway to the plane of water"
src="http://www.tentonhammer.com/image/view/92714">



And that's what RIFT
will be: a pitstop. The title has a number of unique features
that
may grab the interest of a portion of the current MMOG audience, but
little to draw in numbers from outside this source. Due to this title
being the only triple-A "western" fantasy MMORPG that's come out since
WAR, it's bound to be in direct competition with WOW and will need to
heavily play up its more stand-out content to distance itself from
being drawn in direct comparison. The public quest system and the
dynamic rift/invasion events, as well as the game's steampunk
influences, should be more heavily advertised in order to drawcrowds in
appreciable numbers.



Despite my naysaying, I actually predict that RIFT will sell
quite well at
launch. Trion Worlds has proven themselves to be willing and able to
advertise in effective ways, and most insiders say the game is solid
and interesting even if it lacks a whole lot of imaginative
innovations. I don't see
much longevity for the title however, as I feel most of its subscribers
will merely be treading water until something more interesting comes
along later in the year. 

(Up next: Star
Wars - The Old Republic)



swtor logo src="http://www.tentonhammer.com/image/view/92708">

Star Wars: The Old Republic

The Hype is strong with this one. You can't throw a rock in the world
of MMOG fandom* without hitting
someone that's anxiously anticipating every single nugget of info that
BioWare is willing to let slip through the rancor's bony grip.



*Ten Ton Hammer does not
condone the throwing of rocks at your fellow gamers.




alt="korriban"
src="http://www.tentonhammer.com/image/view/92716">The
hype around this title is so strong in fact, that I have a sneaking
suspicion that despite pulling in a huge number of box sales (we're
talkin' millions here, pal) SWTOR could be in for a shock when it
suffers retention rates that rival the drop-off experienced by past
disappointments like Age of Conan. Though I don't expect such a sharp
and sudden decline, I do foresee a huge number of gamers grinding
through the content available in their character's personal story
missions at a pace that BioWare doesn't expect, then suddenly finding
themselves with very little to do until more content gets released. And
therefore, no reason to continue subscribing. For several months after
launch, subscription numbers will steadily dwindle, raising suspicions
about the game's long-term viability.



At least, that's how I see
it now. The truth is, I don't even know if SWTOR is going to launch in
2011. It wouldn't surprise me in fact to see a delay notice that pushes
it all the way out to early 2012, as a recent statement from BioWare
indicates that they are willing to spend as much time as they need on
this project to ensure that the game launches in a state that they feel
will meet their audience's needs. And they don't seem to be getting
much pressure from their publishers at EA, from what I can see.



However,
if SWTOR can manage to launch before Christmas of 2011, I feel the
market will be ripe for it. Very few other sci-fi MMOGs are on the
horizon, and none possess such a rich pile of history and lore backing
them up. And the current top dogs of the genre are not sitting
on
the most solid of ground.



And then there's the fans of Star Wars
itself you have to consider. BioWare made a brilliant move by setting
their MMOG so far removed from the atrocities of Lucas' prequel trilogy
that those films can be considered nothing more than a distant and
forgettable nightmare while enjoying this game's world. Additionally,
the fans of Star Wars have traditionally straddled the line between
fantasy and sci-fi, drawing from both sets of interests while leaving
neither out - a fact that vastly increases the game's potential
exposure by essentially doubling its audience.



I have no doubt
that SWTOR will be considered a success at the time of its launch, and
be well reviewed by the industry as a whole. But I predict it
will
be a disappointment in terms of longevity. Both for gamers, and for
BioWare and EA. Some have gone so far as to predict that the game's
lack of long-term financial success will result in EA swallowing
BioWare in its entirety by some point in 2012. Having been a fan of
BioWare's single-player RPGs for such a long time, I style="font-style: italic;">should
hold out hope for SWTOR's success if only for the sake of the Mass
Effect and Dragon Age franchises. But I just can't see this honeymoon
lasting forever.



alt="fight fight fight"
src="http://www.tentonhammer.com/image/view/92715">


(Up next:
Firefall and Tribes Universe)





firefall logo src="http://www.tentonhammer.com/image/view/92754">

Firefall

alt="firefall concept art"
src="http://www.tentonhammer.com/image/view/92753">Aiming
for a Fall 2011 release, Firefall is already building momentum since
its debut at PAX 2010 and is on its way to being considered the
next "must play" title in the free-to-play arena of MMOGs. The
game features action-based FPS gameplay that emphasizes team-based
combat in armies (this game's "guild" analog) as well as competivite
ladders and tournaments that allow friendly competition among players
on the same side of the war against the Chosen.



Free-to-play
MMOGs have typically existed in their own niche, largely separate from
the massive blockbuster that dominate the market with monthly
subscription models. However, 2010 has shown both gamers and developers
that success on a large scale can still be had in this market, despite
the differing financial models. The ongoing success of DDO and LOTRO
are testament to this and have already earned the attention of SOE and
Cryptic Studios which will be adapting existing titles to a F2P model
in early 2011.



If the market continues to expand to embrace
these alternative subscription models, Firefall is in a prime position
to dominate. Combining the award-winning talents of Mark Kern (former
project lead for World of Warcraft, and now founder of Red 5 Studios)
with the publishing clout of Webzen has the potential to leave a very
big mark on the 2011 landscape for F2P titles, and MMOGs in general.




style="width: 399px; height: 222px;" alt="tribes universe logo"
src="http://www.tentonhammer.com/image/view/92756">

Tribes Universe

The
buzz is already circulating over this title despite being
announced by Hi-Rez Studios less than two months ago. Fans of the
existing Tribes and Tribes 2 titles are salivating at the possibilities
inherent with translating the existing gameplay into a persistent world
that is rumored to be capable of supporting more than a hundred players
per side at a time.



alt="tribes" src="http://www.tentonhammer.com/image/view/92755">It
will not be a traditional MMOG in almost any sense, however. Aside from
the persistent battlefield, the bulk of the remaining mechanics are
being designed around the FPS mentality, and aimed at that audience
exclusively. In a recent interview, CEO Erez Goren stated in no
uncertain terms that TU "... is likely to find its core
audience
in harder-core FPS communities, and were building the game primarily
with that audience in mind."



No release date is currently
available for this title, but Alpha testing is said to be already
underway. Though I remain skeptical that this title will launch in
2011, it would be unwise to right if off entirely. The Tribes franchise
has a large and loyal fanbase to build from and is likely to have an
impact on the overall MMOG market regardless of its final launch date.

(Up next:
LOTRO - Rise of Isengard)




style="width: 579px; height: 193px;"
alt="rise of isengard teaser"
src="http://www.tentonhammer.com/image/view/92757">

Lord of the Rings Online:  Rise of Isengard
(Expansion)

You... shall not... PAY!



The
words of LOTRO's famous F2P advertising campaign from earlier this year
continue to be murmured with amusement throughout the industry as the
game celebrates its most populous times ever. Despite some community
backlash from veteran players, most gamers generally agree that Turbine
has a major hit on their hands with this title and its adaptation to a
"freemium" subscription model.



alt="orthanc" src="http://www.tentonhammer.com/image/view/92758">In
the coming year, Turbine is going to make a push to expand the world of
Middle-Earth by a substantial margin. The "Rise of Isengard" expansion
offers not just new areas to explore, but a whole myriad of new epic
tales to experience. It is also planned to include the unlock for
non-subscribed players to participate in Monster Play - a feature that
is currently available only to those that pay a recurring subscription
fee - as well as numerous upgrades to the existing MP features.



The
feature I'm personally looking forward to most with RoI is that for the
first time in LOTRO, players will not merely be playing as a member of
the mop-up team following in the footsteps that the Fellowship of the
Ring took before them. This time around, we'll be encountering Isengard
as its story at the top of the "Two Towers" novel unfolds, and
participating in the battles that shape what came to pass in Tolkein's
original novels and the eventual confrontation with Saruman.



I'll
be frank - the immediate outlook for LOTRO is not the best. Many
industry analysts believe that a large portion of their non-subscribed
audience is destined to return to WOW upon the launch of their
Cataclysm expansion. And although I remain optimistic at Turbine's
overall chances of success in this difficult market, such a potential
downturn in audience growth is never a good thing. Here's hoping
they've already factored this in and that LOTRO's future, and the
launch of this next exciting expansion, continue as planned.

(Up next:  EQ 2 -
Destiny of Velious)




style="width: 500px; height: 258px;" alt="EQ2DOV logo"
src="http://www.tentonhammer.com/image/view/92752">

EverQuest II:  Destiny of Velious (Expansion)

The
sequel to the forefather of the modern MMOG era will be earning its
wings this coming February, when SOE launches the seventh expansion to
EQ2 - the Destiny of Velious. Following the lore laid out in previous
expansions, adventurers will be attempting to restore the power of the
Twin Swords of Destiny - Soulfire and the Qeynos Claymore - before
their absence causes the universe to come to a destructive end.



In
addition to unlocking the continent of Velious and adding hundreds of
new items and quests, EQ2 players will be able to experience the game
world like never before - from the air! That's right, ladies and
gentlemen - EQ2 will be getting flying mounts! Oh, the freedom!



Reading
through players' reviews of the previous two expansions leads me to
believe that this may be one of EQ2's last shots at leading a long and
fruitful career in the same manner as its predecessor. Underwhelming
itemization, gated content that was tuned for hardcore guilds, and
questionable lore choices have plagued previous expansions in the eyes
of many players. The future of this MMOG may hinge on the successful
release of a well-received expansion, and I'll honestly say that DoV is
not likely to disappoint. Between the classic level of content and lore
SOE is able to draw upon to flesh out this continent, and the joy and
exhiliration likely to be felt by flying above it, I anticipate a great
response from veteran players.



alt="it's so cold in here"
src="http://www.tentonhammer.com/image/view/92751">



A
launch date has been announced as February 8th which will place this
expansion at the tail end of the shadow being cast across the industry
by WOW's Cataclysm expansion. But EQ2 has survived in that shadow for
years now by setting itself apart from the competition in important
ways, and catering to the loyal fanbase it has already collected. I
don't foresee any issues arising this time around, as they never have
previously.

(Up next:
 A couple reincarnated favorites)






alt="gods and heroes"
src="http://www.tentonhammer.com/image/view/89647">Gods and
Heroes: Rome Rising

This
once-abandoned MMOG set in the era of Roman mythology is under new
management and currently undergoing a limited availability beta.
Although originally swept under the carpet when previous developer
Perpetual Entertainment went out of business in 2008, this title once
more surfaced in February of 2010 when Heatwave Interactive announced
that they had obtained the property and assets.



A firm release
date is not available, but Heatwave has mentioned that development and
testing are proceeding according to their original projections of an
18-month launch window from the time of their Feb 2010 announcement. As
long as everything stays on track, we should see this long-lost title
finally land on retail shelves by Summer or Fall of next year.



Early
beta indications are favorable, claiming that the unique setting and
polished mechanics hold up well to competitors in the MMOG market. I'll
be keeping a close eye on this resurrected title to see how such a
departure from the standard elves-and-dragons fantasy can do in the
MMOG market.


alt="APB" src="http://www.tentonhammer.com/image/view/89176">All
Points Bulletin

By
all accounts, APB was a classic case of mismanagement of a business
nature causing the failure of an otherwise enjoyable product. It's not
a huge surprise to see the game sold off to a publisher with the
financial backing to carry it forward where Realtime Worlds
unfortunately fell short.



The key defining feature of the
relaunch of this game, will be the change in subscription model from
that set up under their previous launch. No longer will players have
the need to prepay for their game time, but will instead be offered a
modified Free-to-Play subscription model that will be funded through
the purchase of in-game items. No solid details are available yet on
exactly what will be available on the cash shop, but given APB's
overall emphasis on character customization I have a strong suspicion
that most of the content players will be asked to pay cash for will
alter the appearance of their character or personal vehicle.



K2
Network, the new publishers of APB, has an established track record for
hosting and localizing games published in Asia, and servicing them for
North American, South American and European markets. With nearly a
decade of experience, I'm anxious to see how they handle a
higher-profile game than they typically host. The new "APB: Reloaded"
is scheduled to relaunch in the first half of 2011.

(Up next:
 Extended Forecast of 2012)

Extended Forecast:  The Big Hitters of 2012

bgcolor="#232a34" border="1" cellpadding="3"
cellspacing="5">

Offline
Forecast

Multiplayer
titles worth watching in 2011

Lord
of the Rings: War for the North

Gorgeous
scenery, a truly epic story to follow, and intense multiplayer action.
that emphasizes teamwork and cooperation. Forge the tale of a small
fellowship of human, elf and dwarf, as they save Middle-Earth from
Sauron's armies.

Neverwinter

Return
to the great city of Neverwinter in this online cooperative RPG crafted
by MMOG veteran Cryptic Studios. Experience the virtual equivalent to a
table-top campaign and craft your own adventures to share with fellow
gamers.

Kingdom
of Amalur: Reckoning

Featuring
the creative minds of Todd McFarlane and RA Salvatore, the world and
visuals of this game are incredible.  This single-player title
is
said to be a prequel to an eventual MMOG set in the same realm, so keep
a close eye on it!

Guild Wars 2
continues to impress critics and gamers alike. Each new feature
announcement and class mechanic that gets revealed has folks salivating
to get in line for what could be a monumental MMOG upon release.
Arena-Net has not been shy with releasing information and holding
developer interviews this year, and we anticipate more of the same in
the year to come. We
don't have high hopes of seeing a retail launch during 2011, but keep
your fingers
crossed for beta access!



Fallout Online
released their beta/newsletter sign-ups at E3 this year and have been
soaking up excess hype from the release of Fallout: New Vegas. But how
far along is the game? What do the class and advancement mechanics look
like? Will it be a shooter like the new generation of Fallout titles,
or return to its classic roots with a more tactical form of gameplay?
Nobody knows just yet since the developers are being so tight-lipped
thus far. Next year will likely hold a lot of announcements about this
game, and I personally can't wait to hear more.



Dark Millenium Online
(aka the Warhammer 40k MMOG) was announced with a big splash this year,
including a video featuring in-game action interspersed with animated
cutscenes. This title has a rough road ahead of it though, given the
rocky road it's cousin WAR has traveled since its debut. Rumors are
also already circling about publisher THQ's long-term financial outlook
(or lack thereof). Let's hope they can keep this project afloat as few
established IPs have such a loyal following as this one. And I really
want to fly an Ork Deffkopta into the enemy lines!





-----



Got your own
predictions for the hottest titles of 2011? Don't like the pictures
we've painted for your favorite
upcoming titles and would like to share your counter-points? Leave us a
comment and join the conversation. Maybe next year we'll find out you
were right all along!


To read the latest guides, news, and features you can visit our World of Warcraft Game Page.

Last Updated: Mar 29, 2016

About The Author

A longtime fan of competitive gaming, Jeremy got his first chance to work in the field as a writer for eSportsMax. Now eSports Editor for TenTonHammer, he looks to keep readers aware of all of the biggest events and happenings in the eSports world, while also welcoming new fans who aren't yet sure where to go to get the most relevant information. Jeremy always looks to provide content for new fans and veterans alike, believing that helping as many people as possible enjoy all the scene has to offer is key to its growth.

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