The "Generic" Criticism

[Kurik Lein]

Like Eidos said before the thread was more focused on critics and players stating Amalur was very generic. If we look at Warcraft or any other popular fantasy IP someone could come up with a legitimate argument about how they are generic but for the most part they aren't really viewed as generic. My main point was what can be done to quell generic being used as a negative criticism of Amalur in the future.

[Bossner]

Like Eidos said before the thread was more focused on critics and players stating Amalur was very generic. If we look at Warcraft or any other popular fantasy IP someone could come up with a legitimate argument about how they are generic but for the most part they aren't really viewed as generic. My main point was what can be done to quell generic being used as a negative criticism of Amalur in the future.

Educate them?

[eidos]

Like Eidos said before the thread was more focused on critics and players stating Amalur was very generic. If we look at Warcraft or any other popular fantasy IP someone could come up with a legitimate argument about how they are generic but for the most part they aren't really viewed as generic. My main point was what can be done to quell generic being used as a negative criticism of Amalur in the future.

The problem with people's opinions is that they are based on personal points of view, so there's really no general way to change them and some would simply refuse to. If you were trying to change someone's opinion, I would first advise to ensure that individual's opinion can be changed and is worthwhile to do so. Then, I would have them lay out for you all of the facts that have lead them to their conclusion and then proceed to counter each point in turn.

[Kurik Lein]

Educate them?

Sure but what would you do lol?

The problem with people's opinions is that they are based on personal points of view, so there's really no general way to change them and some would simply refuse to. If you were trying to change someone's opinion, I would first advise to ensure that individual's opinion can be changed and is worthwhile to do so. Then, I would have them lay out for you all of the facts that have lead them to their conclusion and then proceed to counter each point in turn.

I both agree and disagree I believe Copernicus is going to tap into a much larger market which includes people who have yet to play Reckoning. Anyways like Agra said back on the first page different forms of media and advertisement would help out I think. If they really want Amalur to be as big as they have stated in interviews I definitely think it's a concern that should at least be looked at.

[Bossner]

Sure but what would you do lol?

Oh I have no idea.

[Kurik Lein]

Educate them with love and peace!

[Malikai]

Educate them with love and peace!

The Bob Marley approach. Lets hope no one gets shot over it this time around.

[CrazyDaze]

People never fail to amaze me. Generic? What has ever started out as anything but generic? There's not one IP that didn't start that way until more "lore" was fleshed out through books and games. Maybe some people have just never been at the birth of a world. If your first exposure to Warcraft was with the MMO then upon comparison Amalur seems generic since Warcraft had been fleshed out for YEARS prior. You had vast amounts of knowledge available for you to consume when it started.

Even if you started with Warcraft RTS in truth it already had "lore" in place since it had been a table top PnP game for YEARS prior to that. For me to be at the birth point of a new world is like being at the birth of a child. They're very generic with subtle unique aspects. They all cry, eat, poop, sleep but need a lot of attention and you see just glimpses of what each can be. As they grow their individual personality grows and they become their own person, no longer generic. This is Amalur. While generic looking now I do see some unique aspects. As the world grows it will find its own personality and become an amazing unique thing that I personally will be happy that I was there from the beginning muddling through the "generic" nature of it's origin.

The last thing running through my mind is questions. Do the critics and fans that are voicing their opinions view the generic setting of Amalur as a bad thing that is turning them away? If so, do they still play fantasy games and read fantasy books or are they just bored with the setting in general? If it's the latter than it doesn't matter what is said or what Amalur becomes as they are walking a different path. If it's the prior then maybe they're not wanting change in the form of something new and are wanting what they are used to to change back to what it once was in their minds. For people that played WoW from the start that world was an amazing place that they loved and it has become something not all are happy with and I know some don't want to leave it but want it to return to it's roots which unfortunately it never can.

After derailing my brain this long I'll get back to answer the question put forth "Do I believe 38 Studios should do anything to try and combat the criticism for future products or is it a non-issue"? IMO, It's a non-issue. I love what I've been presented so far and even though I just learned of the MMO since I learned about Reckoning just months before it's release I'm looking forward to actually getting back into an MMO. TOR while interesting for the SW aspect didn't do it for me. For the MMO's that have been released to compete with WoW none have made me want to play them much less want to learn more about them. After being mainly a console player for the past several years I think 38 did a good thing by releasing Reckoning as an introduction to the larger world soon to be released.

*Now where's my coffee*

[Kurik Lein]

Good points CrazyDaze, while I have followed other games (mainly RPGs) with new IPs pre-launch, I've never actually followed an MMORPG that did so at least not one that advertised a universe so massive. Like a few people said earlier, I hope they release some different things before Copernicus hits the shelves to expand on the lore and so we can better understand the setting.

[Finneon]

It is a high fantasy RPG set in an imaginary universe. There is magic. There are good guys and bad guys.

From that standpoint, I guess you could call it "generic".

But to me, "generic" usually refers to something plain - black and white - boring - simple. The lore, races, combat and magic in this game are different enough from other fantasy games for it to at least be a little unique. The Well of Souls alone is a good idea that I've been waiting for (it will come in especially handy in the MMO - I tend to die occasionally).

But, people need to have something to complain about.

The truth is, I understand what they are looking for. Read one of Brandon Sanderson's novels (Mistborn or The Way of Kings) if you want to see originality in high fantasy. The magic systems alone are extremely unique. I'd love to play a game where I could be an "Allomancer".

Still, if you are interested in playing a fantasy RPG or MMO, you are likely to run across some familiar things. I actually sort of like it that way. Makes me feel more at home.