I have to disagree with you on the definitions of the acronyms. When it comes to "MMO" it means Massive Multiplayer Online. This means the game will be massive for multiple people. The games you mentioned: WOW, RIFT, SWTOR are categoriesed as "RPG" or Role Playing Games. These kind of games have typical - questing, looting, crafting, etc. But from what I understand the game is a shooter much like the game Planet Side. This means it will be your personal skill with a weapon that decides the hit or miss. Not the role of the dice, like in many RPG games.
Look, if I can't, as a Tzeentchian Sorceror, betray my allies for personal gain, then it's not an RPG. If I can? It totally is.
Seems to me its going to be more along the lines of a Planetside MMO than the traditional MMORPG games like Wow,EQ series,Rift,.
I hope their reference to Planetside is just to illustrate the shooter/vehicle aspect, and scale of battles, because in general I think PS2 is pretty bad. The fighting is meaningless. There are no resources to be fought for, and no consequences for losing territory other than colors on a map changing. I'm really hoping EC breaks the mold when it comes to these sorts of GvG based games. The risk/reward factor that was/is present in games such as Shadowbane or Darkfall could be a good source of inspiration. These games focused on player interaction, and guild vs. guild politics and diplomacy, that simply doesn't exist in more themepark style of MMOs, even ones that claim to be GvG oriented (cough GW2 cough) I want a 40k-war-sandbox. Where they give us the tools to wage war, and create our own story-lines, with each other.
Unfortunately you're right, this is the main issue with Planetside 2, even though it's one of my favorite games. Although it does seem like it's going to be similar to Planetside for sure.
^ This all over... "Massive Multiplayer Online" the other attachment acronyms are what matter as to if it's like WoW or other such MMO.
It is an MMO, true to the words in any medium. It's Massively multiplayer online, where the definition of massively is subjective based on numbers. 1000 people is considered massive in comparison to the 32v32 average multiplayer tack on for other games. This game is designed for multiplayer interaction from the ground up, with numbers that are supposed to be staggering and closer to actual warfare in this universe. The difficulty with a game like this, is making the base experience (which is likely pvp) as engaging and replayable as the standard street definition of MMO which has a strict structure and formula for PVE content with elements to keep people in game. (Earning a chance to get a loot drop off an item roll is similar to trying to win the jackpot at the slots with better odds.) In any case, I went off on a tangent there and I am very interested in seeing how they roll this game out.
This game is full of lore like the sub factions and the races but we really need to look at ourselves this is just the table top only like a first person point of view from a soldier's perspective.
What I gathered was that combat was going to be click combat like SWG NGE, DDO, etc. You have to click for your basic attack and hotbar for your additional abilities and whatnot. Was Planetside 2 mentioned in an official statement or just in comparisons by the OP's observation (best guess). Also.. clicking the button on your opponent (ie attacking like a FPS) does not automatically preclude you from randomization. It is still possible to add to your attack things like recoil (randomization on the hit), damage range (based on hit location and a random roll), and influences from armor (whether or not it effectively stops the hit/damage). These things are very much present in FPS and other games though having it tied to actual hitboxes and interaction does mean that latency and personal skill with that sort of genre are important and factor in.
