Monsters and Memories (Project_N) - Old School Indie MMO

I'm going be slightly hypocritical since it was brought up... I've always been a person that has really cared less about graphics as I'm a believer in a good game is a good game. Games like Minecraft, Valheim, and a ton of other games mobile and PC a like have proven its more about an artistic direction that compliments the style/feel of a game but I do feel like something is just a little off with their artist approach. Maybe its an attempt to capture a time and hit the nostalgia a bit but it feels stiff from an animation standpoint and bland. I hope it gets just a little bit of love but I don't think it looks worse than EQ or anything like that. I've seen a lot of criticism with "the look" of the game. I just hope it doesn't get in the way if its a good game. I have high hopes for them... more so than I do for Ashes.

I had someone ask me about MnM this last weekend and we spoke about both it and Ashes. I thought an interesting perspective was someone had said MnM is more like a remastering or a true sequel to EQ1 while Ashes is an evolution of EQ, more like an EQ3. I hope I get a MnM invite. I would really like to dive into it deeper than what I have in the stress tests.

Muligan said:

I'm going be slightly hypocritical since it was brought up... I've always been a person that has really cared less about graphics as I'm a believer in a good game is a good game. Games like Minecraft, Valheim, and a ton of other games mobile and PC a like have proven its more about an artistic direction that compliments the style/feel of a game but I do feel like something is just a little off with their artist approach. Maybe its an attempt to capture a time and hit the nostalgia a bit but it feels stiff from an animation standpoint and bland. I hope it gets just a little bit of love but I don't think it looks worse than EQ or anything like that. I've seen a lot of criticism with "the look" of the game. I just hope it doesn't get in the way if its a good game. I have high hopes for them... more so than I do for Ashes.

I had someone ask me about MnM this last weekend and we spoke about both it and Ashes. I thought an interesting perspective was someone had said MnM is more like a remastering or a true sequel to EQ1 while Ashes is an evolution of EQ, more like an EQ3. I hope I get a MnM invite. I would really like to dive into it deeper than what I have in the stress tests.

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I don’t think their graphics are BAD and certainly not worse than EQ but the game sure runs like total ass on my 2021 laptop for a game that looks like it’s from 2001

Yeah you're blind if you don't think this


looks better than this


Keep doubling down on your retardation. It's highly amusing.

Edit - More direct comparison.

The game is objectively awesome looking. Every uncanny-valley piece shit MMORPG with clownworld UI elements released in the last decade makes me want to fucking seppuku.

Muligan said:

I'm going be slightly hypocritical since it was brought up... I've always been a person that has really cared less about graphics as I'm a believer in a good game is a good game. Games like Minecraft, Valheim, and a ton of other games mobile and PC a like have proven its more about an artistic direction that compliments the style/feel of a game but I do feel like something is just a little off with their artist approach. Maybe its an attempt to capture a time and hit the nostalgia a bit but it feels stiff from an animation standpoint and bland. I hope it gets just a little bit of love but I don't think it looks worse than EQ or anything like that. I've seen a lot of criticism with "the look" of the game. I just hope it doesn't get in the way if its a good game. I have high hopes for them... more so than I do for Ashes.

I had someone ask me about MnM this last weekend and we spoke about both it and Ashes. I thought an interesting perspective was someone had said MnM is more like a remastering or a true sequel to EQ1 while Ashes is an evolution of EQ, more like an EQ3. I hope I get a MnM invite. I would really like to dive into it deeper than what I have in the stress tests.

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I actually really like the way that MnM looks at this point.

Sylas said:

I think you guys are blind as fuck if you think MNM graphics aren't demonstrably worse than eq. They absolutely are, and they lack the charm of even Minecraft. I hope this is all place holder art/models/animations and they realize they need to replace them entirely but who am I kidding, they'd rather collect 15 a month from 1k players than sell the game to 200k on steam, they'll never be able to afford a graphics overhaul

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I couldn't disagree with you more if I tried.

Muligan said:

I'm going be slightly hypocritical since it was brought up... I've always been a person that has really cared less about graphics as I'm a believer in a good game is a good game. Games like Minecraft, Valheim, and a ton of other games mobile and PC a like have proven its more about an artistic direction that compliments the style/feel of a game but I do feel like something is just a little off with their artist approach. Maybe its an attempt to capture a time and hit the nostalgia a bit but it feels stiff from an animation standpoint and bland. I hope it gets just a little bit of love but I don't think it looks worse than EQ or anything like that. I've seen a lot of criticism with "the look" of the game. I just hope it doesn't get in the way if its a good game. I have high hopes for them... more so than I do for Ashes.

I had someone ask me about MnM this last weekend and we spoke about both it and Ashes. I thought an interesting perspective was someone had said MnM is more like a remastering or a true sequel to EQ1 while Ashes is an evolution of EQ, more like an EQ3. I hope I get a MnM invite. I would really like to dive into it deeper than what I have in the stress tests.

Click to expand...

Do you mean... Ashes of Creation?

How does it compare to EQ in a way that you're likening it to an evolution of EverQuest/'EQ3'? I've never played it or heard anything like this before.

Do you mean like... a man is an evolution of a primate?... or more like a whale is an evolution of some weird fucking bear thing?

I was super hyped to check this game out, and over the past few open testing sessions, I have seen the game get better with each iteration.

My only concern is that there wont be enough content when it does come out.

It's not anything I have seen in the game's testing that makes me worry about this though. In reality, it's just that every other MMORPG that has come out in the past decade or more has had an issue with having enough content. It always starts out great, and then little by little, you realize there isn't much to do as you get closer to the current level cap. Even the really big triple A MMORPGs that have had hundreds of millions of dollars thrown at them end up having a severe lack of end-game content.

How does a small independent developer overcome this hurdle? I honestly do not think they do. I think it's an impossible hurdle to overcome for any company of any size.

My suggestion is that companies going in to this industry recognize that you can NOT deliver enough content for MMORPG consumers no matter how hard you try, and instead, develop based on the idea of seasonal content releases.

From the very beginning, companies in this industry should say upfront, before their game is even close to release, exactly what the content cutoff is for the initial release of the game. Set a realistic goal, and let your customers know it ahead of time. Let them know that they are going to get 30 really good levels of content in the initial game's release, and then they have to wait until you put out the next expansion/model/whatever. Each expansion is specifically for X amount of content. The reality is that your customers go in to it knowing there is no chance of having enough content to play non-stop. The company is aware of it, the customers are aware of it, there is no bending to angry complaints about "nothing to do" on the forums. It just is what it is.

So yeah.. TL;DR... worried that I will get in to Beta and end up running out of things to do in the game before the game fully releases to the public.

**edited to say the following**
After re-reading through what I said, I am like, WTF am I talking about. These companies DO tell you exactly what you are getting before their game comes out. What I really meant was that they should set their goal lower. Maybe 20 or 30 levels and cap the initial release at that.

Sylas said:

Yes please keep posting landscapes when we're talking about character models and animations

You are a blind retarded faggot if you think thisView attachment 615366
Wasn't done by someone's kid cousin in a fucking etch a sketch for free.

Vs 27 years ago in 1999:

View attachment 615367
On phone can't really cherry pick Google image results, but we're all fam with OG eq models. Low poly yes but head and shoulders above visually art direction style and charm of that MnM garbage

Click to expand...

I like the character models. I find the crocadile to be weird looking, but I like the character models. And... I'm pretty sure I'm not retarded lol. Maybe my mother should have gotten me tested when I was younger. Apparently, I am retarded for liking a particular art style. DAMN THE ROTTEN LUCK! lol

Pharone said:

I was super hyped to check this game out, and over the past few open testing sessions, I have seen the game get better with each iteration.

My only concern is that there wont be enough content when it does come out.

It's not anything I have seen in the game's testing that makes me worry about this though. In reality, it's just that every other MMORPG that has come out in the past decade or more has had an issue with having enough content. It always starts out great, and then little by little, you realize there isn't much to do as you get closer to the current level cap. Even the really big triple A MMORPGs that have had hundreds of millions of dollars thrown at them end up having a severe lack of end-game content.

How does a small independent developer overcome this hurdle? I honestly do not think they do. I think it's an impossible hurdle to overcome for any company of any size.

My suggestion is that companies going in to this industry recognize that you can NOT deliver enough content for MMORPG consumers no matter how hard you try, and instead, develop based on the idea of seasonal content releases.

From the very beginning, companies in this industry should say upfront, before their game is even close to release, exactly what the content cutoff is for the initial release of the game. Set a realistic goal, and let your customers know it ahead of time. Let them know that they are going to get 30 really good levels of content in the initial game's release, and then they have to wait until you put out the next expansion/model/whatever. Each expansion is specifically for X amount of content. The reality is that your customers go in to it knowing there is no chance of having enough content to play non-stop. The company is aware of it, the customers are aware of it, there is no bending to angry complaints about "nothing to do" on the forums. It just is what it is.

So yeah.. TL;DR... worried that I will get in to Beta and end up running out of things to do in the game before the game fully releases to the public.

Click to expand...

I know how you play well enough and I know the breadth of content the game has to offer in its current iteration. Much less the content thatll be delivered by the time Beta starts - or Retail for that matter.

The only thing that will hold you or anyone else back is just how much time you will be able to devote to it. Games grindy, but thats what we asked for. The “journey”. But end game is here in spades, too. Looking at the loot, theres plenty to drool over.

The raids themselves are adding new depth to the EQ formula by having weather be a meaningful mechanic in a fight, etc. Rarely have I seen the environment make a difference in “perfectly balanced mmo” raid fight. But there are other mechanics that we’re familiar with from WOW, too. Looking forward to doing and finding all ofnthese fights.

My body is ready to leave alpha and play beta, though. Cant wait to play with the group as a whole.

Daidraco said:

I know how you play well enough and I know the breadth of content the game has to offer in its current iteration. Much less the content thatll be delivered by the time Beta starts - or Retail for that matter.

The only thing that will hold you or anyone else back is just how much time you will be able to devote to it. Games grindy, but thats what we asked for. The “journey”. But end game is here in spades, too. Looking at the loot, theres plenty to drool over.

The raids themselves are adding new depth to the EQ formula by having weather be a meaningful mechanic in a fight, etc. Rarely have I seen the environment make a difference in “perfectly balanced mmo” raid fight. But there are other mechanics that we’re familiar with from WOW, too. Looking forward to doing and finding all ofnthese fights.

My body is ready to leave alpha and play beta, though. Cant wait to play with the group as a whole.

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That's really good to hear. I have such high hopes for this game, and I love the open tests I have been able to be part of so far.

Sylas said:

Yes please keep posting landscapes when we're talking about character models and animations

You are a blind retarded faggot if you think thisView attachment 615366
Wasn't done by someone's kid cousin in a fucking etch a sketch for free.

Vs 27 years ago in 1999:

View attachment 615367
On phone can't really cherry pick Google image results, but we're all fam with OG eq models. Low poly yes but head and shoulders above visually art direction style and charm of that MnM garbage

Click to expand...

Why are you showing naked MnM models alongside the pinnacle of classic EQ modeling?

Who even cares about graphics? Are we five years old? Is the game fun or not. That’s all that matters.

I believe amongst the hundreds/thousands of hours of dev streams there were some murmurs of char models /animations being temp , not sure how much or for how long.
This is the problem with the current age; devs constantly fucking streaming while working and saying shit that you have no idea is gonna happen or you took it wrong or whatever else

If you do care about graphics, at least link models that are current. I dig the art direction of the game, very charming. Armor looks good, varying sizes of races makes silhouettes interesting and that's just character models. NPCs are pretty fantastic (if not needing a little variety) and the landscapes/skyboxes are incredible.

Sylas said:

Yes please keep posting landscapes when we're talking about character models and animations

You are a blind retarded faggot if you think thisView attachment 615366
Wasn't done by someone's kid cousin in a fucking etch a sketch for free.

Vs 27 years ago in 1999:

View attachment 615367
On phone can't really cherry pick Google image results, but we're all fam with OG eq models. Low poly yes but head and shoulders above visually art direction style and charm of that MnM garbage

Click to expand...

You're a retarded faggot if you think cherry picking screens from 3 years ago represents what M&M looks like today. It's very telling that every M&M screen you've posted today is years old with placeholder graphics. Here's character model comparison to show how retarded of a faggot you are about that too.



vs.