The Energon Pub

News Credits: 1 · by **Scatterlung** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 7:02 pm

I'm dying for any kind of MMORPG on the PSP, but I'm wondering how it would work if ever one were put out. I'm a bit of a gaming noob, see.

Basically, i just want to know how one would/could work? Would it likely be something you'd have to pay subscription for? Because I haven't seen any other Infrastructure games that require a subscription (but of course they aren't maintained and improved-upon regularly).
Would it likely have updates that could be downloaded for it or would it more likely just get sold as-is and left at that?
And how could speech be done? Is there a microphone available for the PSP? or some kind of hideously tiny keyboard for it?

Just weighing up the odds of there ever being one for PSP. I'd sure as hell buy it.

News Credits: 2 · by **Shadowman** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 8:01 pm

It MIGHT work. The problem is revenue. Nintendo and Sony have pretty much decided not to have any payment system for handheld games. I guess they figure that if you've got a wireless router, a good enough connection to be able to use their wireless without crashing, the system, and the game to use it, you're probably already selling an arm and leg.

As for a microphone-speaker system, I think they might already have one, but it's not available outside of Asia yet.

News Credits: 1 · by **Scatterlung** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 9:48 pm

Shadowman wrote:It MIGHT work. The problem is revenue. Nintendo and Sony have pretty much decided not to have any payment system for handheld games. I guess they figure that if you've got a wireless router, a good enough connection to be able to use their wireless without crashing, the system, and the game to use it, you're probably already selling an arm and leg.

As for a microphone-speaker system, I think they might already have one, but it's not available outside of Asia yet.

Hasn't the PS3/Wii got some sort of MMOG? The PS3 one is called Home (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PlayStation_Home), I think. The Wii has something similar, I've been told. Something like that for the PSP would be absolutely brilliant. Is there much of a possibility of anything like this available for the handheld, you think?

News Credits: 49 · by **Senor Hugo** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 11:36 pm

A psp mmo would require basic 32 bit graphics. With a mass amount of people playing the game at the same time, the PSP would be hard pressed to handle anything past that, graphic wise.

Then of course Sony would need dedicated servers for the game itself, and if the game is free, since Sony doesn't seem to be doing the whole monthly pay to play. The game would have to be very, and I mean very successful to make up for costs of servers, storage etc.

I doubt it will ever happen, but it would be pretty spiffy.

Although, I believe that the DS is getting Maplestory as an MMO.

So I would think that the PSP may have some hope yet for an MMO.

News Credits: 1 · by **Scatterlung** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 8:31 pm

So I hear a future PSP firmware will be carrying a new IM system with a new and improved keyboard system...

Bodes well for a future MMORPG, right?

Right guys?

Yeah?

Please?

:lol:

by **ashe5k** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 8:52 am

I think the PSP oculd handle a bigger MMO than having to go 32 bit with the graphics. There are work arounds, like instanced areas and splitting up the towns into districts based on how many people are on.

I just don't think there are any companies out there brave enough to give it a try.

News Credits: 1 · by **Scatterlung** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 11:47 am

ashe5k wrote:I think the PSP oculd handle a bigger MMO than having to go 32 bit with the graphics. There are work arounds, like instanced areas and splitting up the towns into districts based on how many people are on.

I just don't think there are any companies out there brave enough to give it a try.

Would they be taking such a risk, do you think?

If you're talking about whether or not it'd be successful, I'd say very much so. The genre's highly popular, imagine what theyd be like able to connect to a fantasy world on the go?

Well I'd certainly shell out for it..

by **ashe5k** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 12:39 pm

Sure the genre is popular, but therein lies the problem, it's also an over-saturated market. There are so many MMO's out there and all of them offer up something for your monthly dollars, some are even free of the monthly charge.

How many people who play MMOs also play or own a PSP? And how many of those people would actually shell out the money for a PSP MMO? I probably would but I'm cheap and would not be playing it if it had a monthly fee. Yes, I'm one of those freaks who plays Guild Wars because it was a one time cost for the game.

I think the risk is that even though there's a decent and established base of players on the PSP, I don't think alot of them would go for an MMO, or at least not one they have to pay for.

I would love an MMO on the go, but are you really on the go with it when you'd need a constant net connection to play?

News Credits: 1 · by **Scatterlung** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 1:10 pm

I don't know. I only got my PSP a little while ago. I'm still struck by the novelty of having something so powerful in such a small device.

And yeah, I wouldn't pay the monthly fee, but it sounds like that wouldn't happen by all these people saying Sony isn't going that route. If there was a fee... it'd have to be VERY cheap.

But evidence of it is already out there, isn't it. Monster Hunter Freedom has an online co-op mode that lets the game be completed by you and four friends. Apparently it CAN be done... though I don't think that was ever in question.

...Sigh. I'll go on dreaming..

by **ashe5k** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 1:23 pm

I thought Freedom was only ad-hoc. Is Freedom 2 infrastructure? There are quite a few games that have online that works with a bunch of people. The shooters are a bit more limited with the PSP though. Battlefront only allows 8 or so I think and Syphon Filter was the same way.

The PSP is a great and fun machine. I use it more than my console or my PC games now. Disgaea, Battlefront and Silent Hill are my current PSP crack. I've been using it quite a bit as my video machine as well since I have the new version that you can output to the tv, and my DVD player on the big screen died.

I'm not saying someone won't make an MMO for the PSP, but at the moment I think it mgiht be a few years off yet before we see one.