MMO creator coverage and project credibility

The recording also examines MMORPG coverage from the perspective of creators who report on the genre. The main issues raised are the lack of distinctive new MMOs, the difficulty of sustaining coverage, and the importance of credibility when dealing with early-stage projects.

Difficulty of covering modern MMOs

A recurring complaint is that too few new MMORPGs are worth covering in depth. Many upcoming games are described as visually and mechanically similar, with repeated fantasy or post-apocalyptic formulas and little innovation. This makes both news coverage and gameplay coverage harder to sustain.

For gameplay-focused channels, the lack of meaningful new releases leads to repeated coverage of older games. For news-focused channels, the problem is that many announcements concern projects that look interchangeable or offer only minor updates.

Limited long-term coverage value

The discussion notes that even when a newer MMO is covered once, there may be little reason to revisit it later if the game has not meaningfully changed. A single new dungeon or small update is not always enough to justify a full new feature, especially for creators who specialize in deeper reviews.

Scam detection and audience interest

One participant identifies scam exposure and critical investigation of suspicious MMO projects as a major source of audience interest. This is attributed partly to the entertainment value of watching troubled projects fail, but also to the frequency of questionable MMO crowdfunding and early-access pitches.

Scars of Honor is discussed in relation to that environment. The project had initially been followed with uncertainty, partly because many indie MMO projects prove unreliable. Its willingness to show real development progress and permit unscripted criticism is presented as a factor that distinguished it from projects that appear deceptive or insubstantial.

Why Scars of Honor appeared credible

The game's credibility is linked to direct access, visible work in progress, and the absence of restrictive promotional scripting. The creators describe being invited to see the project more openly than is typical for indie MMOs, including the expectation that they could speak bluntly about what they saw.

In that context, the project is treated as notable not because it is finished, but because it demonstrably exists as an active game in development. The discussion presents that alone as increasingly important in a genre where many announced MMORPGs never materialize in a convincing form.

Source

• Recording: What we LOVE and HATE in MMOs with @CallumUpton and @MMOByte | Scars of Honor
• YouTube: Watch on YouTube
• Published: Friday, November 17, 2023 at 1:20 PM UTC