Was that TOO harsh? Oops, sorry (heh). Well, I was trying not to be TOO negative, but I was royally bugged by a few things in the game and TV show description. I’m just saying that this is a massive risk for Sony, SOE, Trion Worlds and the former Sci-Fi Channel (yes, I still refuse to use that illiterate new spelling they paid someone far too much to change a few years ago). Sure, the game looks great so far (and has a way to go before its complete), but what if the vastly hyped upcoming TV show is less Battlestar: Galactica and more Terranova?  Oops. For a few potential players, that would doom the game, especially if they have memories of The Matrix Online or a few other MMO’s that promised the world but gave up the ghost somewhere along the line.

UNLESS Defiance is out of the gate stellar, could pull people away from WoW, SWTOR, Rift or whatever hot new MMO is eating their time and money, I’m going to be one of those peeking over the fence to see if it’s any good and how long it’s actually good once the usual MMO launch issues are worked out before even going near it.Well, I don’t play MMOs these days (not enough time in the day, lousy PC, horrible internet, too many better single player experiences to write about), but I’d bet real money that some core MMO fans are expressing similar doubts. Hey, maybe I’ll be completely wrong and have to eat a show shaped crow pie or something. But I’m one of those folks who wanted to see The Agency get released and tweaked to perfection, but that time and talent went down the toilet after a GREAT deal of hard work that I saw (and played a demo of) a few years back.

Sure, the thought of thousands of players online shooting it up is great for those folks who love the genre, but I keep thinking of Huxley (where did that vanish to again?) or a few other games that promised something massive and didn’t quite deliver.  Also, no offline modes for single player of co-op play? Hell, if the show is supposed to have a big important story, I for one, want to PLAY that big important story. Or at least see that the game is more than a run ‘n gun free for all that’s going to be forgotten if it doesn’t score quadruple digits on MegaCritic or whatever that stupid aggregate site is called. Whatever. Sometimes I wonder who thinks up these “epic” game ideas and why they’re not splashed with a bucket of water to cool them off before they get these projects funded, pointed to a stack of better things to do and sent on their merry ways. Anyway, my eyebrow is up in the air, Sony and Trion Worlds – prove me wrong and I’ll be waving the surrender flag.