GamePro's 2007 MMO Report Card
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Category: News ArchiveHits: 830
The level of cynicism surrounding Hellgate's community of players is astounding. It becomes easier to understand these embattled gamers when you consider that Hellgate was very buggy when it launched. The game's performance was rough and the servers were quite idiosyncratic. Factor in some mega-drama overseas, and a subscription model that left players wondering exactly what they're paying for and you have a recipe for disillusionment. As such, it's no surprise the Hellgate community's (virtual) world weariness has given birth to an internet meme so disparaging that it hearkens back to the darkest days of SOE hate. Yet it spawned in record time. You've officially been "Flagshipped!"
Basically, Hellgate seems like it's still trying to recover from its launch. This would explain the slow clip at which content is being delivered to subscribers, and the game's puzzling lack of essential MMO features (i.e. an auction house and a robust PvP system.) Unfortunately the developers aren't very forthcoming regarding plans for the game down the line. Indeed, the fact that Hellgate isn't an MMORPG by the strictest definition of the term is a valid point, but that doesn't excuse the game's shortcomings. It's as if the designers pretend that nothing's happened since Diablo 2 launched. Hellgate exists in a void and the only people who aren't crying foul are the purists. But even these people have to admit that content-wise, Hellgate has a long way to go before it can approach the quality of its spiritual predecessor.
Is it silly to have faith in Hellgate? Probably not. While Flagship may have damaged the cred attached to its legacy the company still has enough juice to continue building the game. In the meantime Flagship needs to do something to stoke the good faith of its community. At this point there really isn't much reason to be a subscriber.
