Noonian Soong, according to Lore, was referred to as “Often Wrong” for his mistakes in creating cybernetic life-forms. I decided today that I’m just as good at making mistakes. Even on this site, which is quickly becoming a repository for my half-baked thoughts, I’d like to think it’s important for me to try to be honest.

Specifically: I looked up from my computer on Tuesday night and realized I’d gotten it all wrong with Lord of the Rings Online . What I said about LOTRO in August:

“Boring. Boooooring. It’s five minutes of the same. damn. thing. as. every. other. game.”

In point of fact, in play LOTRO is very much like World of Warcraft. To my snooty, MMOG-connoisseur sensibilities ‘just like WoW’ is pretty faint praise. To a lot of the gamers I know ‘just like WoW’ is a detriment, a reason not to play the game.

Not everyone is me, though. Not everyone has played WoW. Not everyone is a giant dork who has played every Massive game. 8 Million people are playing WoW, and that’s based on a license that isn’t taught in grade-school English classes. That’s a game without iconic character like Legolas, Aragorn, Gimli, and hotty McElfpants to fire the imagination.

I, personally, am not enthused by this game. I’m not likely to play it much when it launches at retail. But … the possibility definitely exists that this WoWalike could be another runaway hit for the genre.

After all, success for any game in the genre is good news for everyone who likes Massive games. What’s good for the many is good for the few.

I may be “Often Wrong”, but it’s hard to go wrong with toasting to success. Good luck, Turbine. Here’s hoping it works out for you.

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