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Mark: As with any genre, we've our fair share of odd ducks in the world of MMOs. Where many
developers try to mimic World of Warcraft, the men and women responsible for the creation
of these titles have, in many cases, strayed so far off the beaten path one has to wonder
if they're even on the trail anymore.
Bethany: While it's admirable that they were striving to be different from their peers,
one has to wonder if they may, perhaps, have taken things a bit too far. These absurd examples
of MMOs are so niche that even those few who've heard of them consider them strange.
Mark: Of course - and this is something of a distressing thought - it's certainly possible
that at least a few of the developers featured today never really intended their titles to
be unusual. That's simply how they turned out; it's how they felt their game should
look. In other words, their creative vision was akin to an ecstasy-addled acid trip.
Bethany: It's really a shame Glitch never got off the ground. The browser-based MMORPG
actually had some very cool, very creative ideas regarding what to do with the genre.
Instead of focusing on combat, developer Tiny Speck instead placed an emphasis on collaborative
crafting and gathering. The world, too, was quite unique, with an emphasis placed on 'imagination.'
The game space itself was set in a realm 'imagined' by eleven godlike giants, each of which pertained
to a particular aspect of nature. Donating items to the giant's shrines would eventually
win a player favor, gaining them an emblem which gave them a number of in-game bonuses.
What's more, players could make lasting, persistent changes to their surroundings through quests
and the like. Unfortunately, the game failed to garner enough interest, and shut down back
in 2012.
Mark: Here's yet one more example of a game that's strange in an amazing way. Created
by Eskil Steenberg, there are a few things that make the sandbox MMO LOVE unique - and
a bit odd, to boot. There's the graphics, which strongly resembles an 1800s oil painting.
There's the environment, which is 100% procedurally generated and changes randomly (no small feat
for an MMO). There's also the gameplay, a blend of first-person action and co-operative
world-building. Players must embark into the wilderness from their settlements in order
to seek out tokens which will allow them access to better tools, defenses, and abilities.
Bethany: I would've quite enjoyed being present during developer NetDevil's moment of inspiration;
the point at which it decided it'd create Auto Assault. The premise of the title is
that basically...you drive cars. Okay, there's a little more to it than that. The best description
I can give is that it's Mad Max meets science fiction as an MMO...though perhaps a better
analogy would be World of Warcraft meets Pixar's Cars. Players can choose from one of three
races, and each race can choose from one of four 'classes.' Your class doesn't actually
change anything about your character, it changes what your vehicle does and how it functions
in combat. The only time you actually see your character is when you're wandering around
town. Otherwise, you're on the road, creating carnage wherever you go.
Mark: Now we're starting to get into the head-scratchers. Dungeon Party is basically what you'd get
if you mashed Diablo and Dota together, then vomited a bunch of off-the-wall comedy into
the pot. Its strangeness stems from the fact that it doesn't take itself even remotely
seriously. It's still a complete oddball of a game, but in a unique way. While just acting
strange doesn't necessarily mean the game is strange, the fact that there is no experience,
no leveling up, and a lack of progression makes the game almost pointless for MMO fans.
Bethany: I'm sure I'm going to catch a bit of flak for this, but if you really stop to
think about it, Second Life is probably one of the weirdest MMOs even made. At this point,
it barely even fits the classification anymore. It's like it's become some sort of educational
video game/social media chimera, based almost entirely around wish fulfillment. You can
be - and do - whatever and whoever you desire. I'll just let that statement hang in the air
for a moment, and mention what usually happens when a bunch of people on the Internet are
given absolute freedom - nothing good. Stories abound of skeezy individuals, destroyed lives,
and ruined relationships. Still, for all the wretched hive of *** and villainy, it's still
not the most messed up MMO on the list. At the same time, though, you've gotta admit...it's
a pretty weird concept.
Mark: Now we're starting to scrape the bottom of the barrel. If any of you are familiar
with the Queen's Blade anime series, you already know what's coming here. Queen's Blade - Scarlet
Blade in North America - features primarily oversexualized, anime'd-up female characters.
In this case, the developers have made no secret of what most of their fanbase will
be here for. See, Queen's Blade Online is a free to play...and one of the items in the
cash shop unlocks the ability to remove your character's lingerie. Basically, it's a game
designed to let you ogle nude anime girls.
Bethany: Deeper and deeper down the rabbit hole we go. The rather short-lived action
MMO Pangaea boasted itself as an "adult MMORPG, based on the themes of women, gambling, and
war." It featured full nudity, though that in itself doesn't make it terribly unusual.
On the surface, it actually seemed like a fairly well-made, if somewhat derivative MMORPG.
Then, on digging a little deeper, things get worse. So very, very much worse. Giant dung
heaps as enemies. Opponents that lose their clothing as you deal damage to them. Enemies
that attack you with milk. Gratuitous nudity and *** references. Naked were-cows. The
game became worse and worse the more one played it. Nowadays, it's fairly difficult to find
much information on Pangaea online. I think most people genuinely just want to forget
that it existed, truth be told.
Mark: Utherverse - which styles itself as an "adult social network" also serves as the
backend for an adult MMO by the name of Red Light Online. Think of it as another version
of Second Life, but with more of everything that makes Second Life creepy. Just a quick
walk through anywhere in the game will lead you to a warped, twisted wonderland the likes
of which you'll never see anywhere. Desperate, frightened, and alone, you will wander the
winding, labyrinthine streets trying to make 'real friends' and make that 'special' connection.
This 3D social center for adults is just too strange for me.
Bethany: So...speaking of Second Life Clones...Socialotron is the quivering abomination born of an unholy
union between Runescape and Second Life. This one actually crosses the line from bizarre
to...more than a little disturbing. The game takes place in post-apocalyptic London, allows
for user-created content, and allows you to upgrade your genitalia and sexually assault
other players. And i'll just leave it at that.
Mark: What are some of the weirdest and strangest MMOs that you've ever played? Maybe it was
just a random moment in a 'normal mmo' that causes you curl
up in a fetal position.
Bethany: Whatever the case, let us know in the comments below.