Top 5 Worst MMO Launches in History

CraveOnline writes: "Time and time again developers release MMOs that simply aren't ready for launch. Whether it be server issues, game glitches, or account-related problems, customers are left wondering why they play online RPGs as they rush to hop into the latest virtual world and begin leveling."

[xX-StolenSoul-Xx]

Problems will happen, it really surprises me with the amount of alpha/beta testing these games go through.

[ftwrthtx]

Most seem to be released in an ongoing beta and are not really ready for prime time.

[Abriael]

Lol, this dude must have not played many MMORPGs...

First, do your homework, then write.

[pompombrum]

Well looking at the diversity of the list, I'd say he's experienced or at least done his homework.

[CaptainCamper]

LOL. Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn the 2nd worst MMO launch in history? That entry is only there to include the image and ride the FFXIV train..

[Abriael]

Agreed. And it's laughable that for instance Age of Conan wasn't included. The inability to keep a group going without having to relog, the chat not working at all, and all the many problems the game had are still history.

Most of the games included in the list aren't even in the top ten, let alone the top five.

[JonnyBigBoss]

1. Opinion.
2. Age of Conan isn't commonly placed in the top five. It was frustrating but more stable than any of the five on this list.
3. FFXIV is an absolute mess right now unless you stay AFK within the game. That's the truth.

[CaptainCamper]

He may as well just put Guild Wars 2 at the number 1 spot and admit to trolling. Like you, I can think of a huge list that are way worse than what he has featured.

By absolute mess you mean people can't login due to capacity problems. The game is fine, the mechanics are fine, the experience is great. That's not a total mess. In terms of MMO history, this is a tiny spec of a hiccup.

[pompombrum]

@JonnyBigBoss

I wouldn't take it personally.. seems to be fair few SE white knights going around trying to justify this mess and play down the severity of the situation.

[JonnyBigBoss]

Launch =/= game.

You can have a great game with a bad launch. Hence why CraveOnline gave FFXIV: A Realm Reborn a 9.0/10 in its review but highlights it as having a bad launch in this article.

[pompombrum]

It's the worst I've personally experienced. WoW was bad for a little while but at least had the excuse of they weren't prepared for it's popularity.

FF14 ARR wasn't prepared also but they set their expectations ridiculously low. Not only that "Sorry we're full, try again later" is a shambolic way of dealing with server congestion. Not to mention to not even have the foresight to implement an AFK booter system.. I have to spam A on my controller to log onto the servers at 11am this morning thanks mainly to the fact a quarter of the server just stay logged in and AFK all day. Their servers hold a maximum of 5000 players... I was in larger queues than that on SWTOR's launch. At least I had the option to queue though and go get other stuff done while I wait my turn to play.

I think server congestion and issues are inevitable in an MMO but when servers are full thanks largely to everyone enthusiastic to play, to turn people down and tell them to try again later alone deserves their spot on the wall of shame.

However, credit where it's due.. Naoki Yoshida has been very open about the problems and I think him and his team are doing the best they can do with their limited resources.

[JonnyBigBoss]

Thank you for your respectful and constructive comment, aiBreeze.

[aliengmr]

There is another side to server issues though. The cost of trying to support launch rush when inevitably the population will die down.

Doesn't excuse the complete lack of preparation but it does explain why no popular MMO will ever have a really smooth launch.

[dbjj12088]

I'm waiting to get on FFXIV, if I do at all. Hopefully there won't be issues with GTA V's launch!

[stamps79]

I would say from what I played was:

WAR- frezzing and crashing
GW2- client errors and overflow lockups
FFXIV both first release and second release, errors all over the place
SW Galxaries was pretty bad with client errors and frame rate issues.
EQ2, lol I would get stuck in the environment, frame rate issues and so on.

[pkb79]

The game is still in its launch. A little to early to judge for any top 5 list of anything. Just another FF hater.

[knifefight]

Anyone here remember Mourning? That was a disaster.

[dragonopt1]

I must admit that it's a joke people can afk to stay logged in all day and allow people to not get in.

[Saryk]

I remember AO being bad, but Vanguard was way worst!

[Defiantmac]

I have probably played 10+ mmos at launch and FFXIV has one of the smoothest GAMES at launch. The servers are a pain in the ass to deal with at the moment, but with relief coming Wednesday it shouldn't be much of an issue.

Not to mention Square is extending 7 more free days of play to its customers. I would rather have overpopulation and server capacity issues at launch then have to worry about getting credit for finishing instances, killing mobs ETC. So far the game has been extremely fun and addicting.

[Jessica_VazquezGR]

It was really painful watching my roommate deal with the open beta server issues for FFXIV. I really hope Elder Scrolls Online doesn't have any issues.