Gaming: The Top Cloud Games Slated For Release In 2014
One of the coolest things about working in the cloud gaming industry is getting to examine the incredible games slated for impending release. Given that cloud games, also known in this capacity as MMOs (massively multiplayer online) or online games, are still in their relative infancy, new submissions always include exciting improvements and advancements on previous games.
So what does 2014 hold for us in terms of cool new cloud games? Let’s take a look!
Game of Thrones: Seven Kingdoms
With the incredible amount of hype that George R R Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire book series have garnered, as well as the wildly-popular television series that it resulted in, a cloud game based on it only makes sense. Granted, Game of Thrones: Seven Kingdoms is not the first time developers have attempted to make a successful video game based on the series. Cyanide’s development of an RPG based on the series was launched in 2012, unfortunately with dismal results.
(Image Source: Game Of Thrones Mo)
So what makes an MMO based on the Game of Thrones universe a better proposition than a standalone RPG? The answer lies in the “sandbox” aspect of the proposed game, allowing for a large amount of development and added content without ruining the continuity of the story line. Another contributing factor is that the game will be based on the books, rather than the television show. While the story and characters stay the same, this basis allows for a much greater degree of detail found only in the book series.
Elder Scrolls Online
In this author’s humble opinion, the impending release of the online version of the Elder Scrolls universe is one of the most exciting events to hit the world of cloud gaming in a long time. While the PC version was released on April 4th, the launches for Xbox and Playstation have been pushed back by about six months.
Aside from the fact that the Elder Scrolls universe is one of the most popular in the RPG (role-playing game) genre of cloud games, a number of new and groundbreaking features are the primary driving force behind its inevitable popularity. Among the most popular is the introduction of a “justice system” in the game, which allows you to steal from, and kill, NPCs (non-player characters) and brand new storylines for players to enjoy.
EverQuest Next
As one of the very first cloud games to arrive on the scene, Everquest has become an extremely popular franchise, which is virtually synonymous with the cloud gaming industry. EverQuest Next is designed to be a complete reimagining of the world of Norrath, the world in which the game resides.
Everquest Next will combine elements of other MMOs, such as Minecraft and Molten Core, promoting a system that supports building as much as fighting. In fact, it will be possible to build whole towns and dungeons that you can invite fellow players to come and compete in. These factors, in essence, pull EverQuest Next out of the realm of solely an RPG into something with a potential user base far in excess of what an RPG would bring.
By Joe Pellicone
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