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I have a 12 week holiday coming up after my exams, during which i wanna do an mmo project which i hope to showcase here on indie resource. But as im only in the pre-production stages atm and im wondering about what engine i will use, i have RC standard which i am quite capable of using and i could produce my designs in RCS quite easily but i want things like realistic water and DX9 graphics which are only available in RC Pro.

So should i purchase RC Pro stick with RC Standard or can you offer an alternative?

RC Pro, as I understand it, is still a long way off from being complete. So as of right now, you could not finish a product in it. Of the completed engines out there (in no particular order):

1. Multiverse (I don't know much about MV, but I think it is complete)
2. Big World Tech (requires a lot of python scripting for almost all functionality, and as of right now only works with Maya and 3DSMax)
3. Torque MMO Kit (I am hesitant about adding this one, since the T3D kit requires a lot of custom coding, and I am not even sure if all the functionality is completely coded yet)
4. Modded existing games, such as Never Winter Nights PWs
5. The slew of free 2D MMO engines

Jackolantern wrote:RC Pro, as I understand it, is still a long way off from being complete. So as of right now, you could not finish a product in it. Of the completed engines out there (in no particular order):

1. Multiverse (I don't know much about MV, but I think it is complete)
2. Big World Tech (requires a lot of python scripting for almost all functionality, and as of right now only works with Maya and 3DSMax)
3. Torque MMO Kit (I am hesitant about adding this one, since the T3D kit requires a lot of custom coding, and I am not even sure if all the functionality is completely coded yet)
4. Modded existing games, such as Never Winter Nights PWs
5. The slew of free 2D MMO engines

You could also add:

6: Unity 3D. (This requires knowledge in any one of the following: JavaScript, C# or Boo. I use Unity and recommend it)

SpiritWebb wrote:

Jackolantern wrote:RC Pro, as I understand it, is still a long way off from being complete. So as of right now, you could not finish a product in it. Of the completed engines out there (in no particular order):

1. Multiverse (I don't know much about MV, but I think it is complete)
2. Big World Tech (requires a lot of python scripting for almost all functionality, and as of right now only works with Maya and 3DSMax)
3. Torque MMO Kit (I am hesitant about adding this one, since the T3D kit requires a lot of custom coding, and I am not even sure if all the functionality is completely coded yet)
4. Modded existing games, such as Never Winter Nights PWs
5. The slew of free 2D MMO engines

You could also add:

6: Unity 3D. (This requires knowledge in any one of the following: JavaScript, C# or Boo. I use Unity and recommend it)

For Unity, they'll need to completely write a server solution that can handle thousands of players at a time. There are some servers out there, and Unity has some built-in server code, but nothing for an MMO-scale.

It's possible, but requires a lot of work. Definitely not out-of-the-box MMO-ready.

I personally DO NOT recommend RCPro. It is not even complete. With Solstar's history I would stay miles away from them. MILES. Why pay that much for it when you can have Big World for just a little more?

Big World seems to be pretty rocking but will require some work.

Could find try the TMMOKIT 1.5 version . It has been updated quite a bit and nearly ready to go for a quick game. Yeah it takes some work to get it fully customized but what doesn't? If it is just a goof off game and you already own RC then use it.

Yeah, I would probably not add Unity as an MMO engine. It is a very nice general-purpose engine, but as far as I know, the server components to make it a viable MMO engine are not freely available online like they are for Torque. You would have to make it yourself, and is probably not what Rock is looking for.

As far as an MMO it will work...will have to look into the C# or JavaScript with SmartFoxServer Pro. Unity also has a built in networking, which I heard is good if it is done right.

I believe WolfQuest was done entirely with Unity's built-in networking. But WolfQuest was entirely done with Unity, game building wise. You can find WolfQuest here.

Thank you guys, definitely some food for thought.

It is definitely possible, but Unity is not a turn-key MMORPG solution. In my opinion, the requirements to be called an MMORPG engine is having server MMO-specific architecture readily available, as that is one of the hardest parts for someone to create. Even with FoxServer or the built-in networking, you would have a lot of work to get it MMO-ready. All the other solutions I listed either have built-in MMO architecture or an MMO solution tailored for the engine is readily available.

If a tailored Unity MMO server is available for download and use, than it definitely would need to be considered as an MMO engine.

Now, now children. I can tell this Unity topic is going to escalate Lets just say it CAN be a complete mmo solution with some work, same goes for other engines. Work is required with all.