Funcom’s Next Venture, Midgard

With most companies starting in the MMORPG market with just one game for awhile, Funcom has begun serious work on their next, although to classify it as strictly an MMORPG would telling only a half-truth. It’s based upon Norse legend and called Midgard and for some of the differences between it and Anarchy Online, read RPGVault’s interview with the game director, Ragnar Tornquist. But first, an introduction:

Q: What are the main similarities and differences between Midgard and Anarchy Online? Do you think they will appeal to the same type of player, or are you intentionally targeting different types?

A: We’re targeting a different audience, but I definitely think there will be some crossover appeal. I honestly believe people will want to play both, but then again I own stock and am somewhat partial. Midgard isn’t simply Anarchy Online sans ray guns, or EverQuest with lots of blond sideburns and longboats. It really is a different game, and you’ll have a lot more options in how you play. If you just want to walk around and bash troll on the head, you go ahead and do that. No one’s stopping you. But you won’t get to enjoy the really unique aspects of the game, like the professions and politics and social interaction and resource-management and building entire villages from the ground up. Playing Midgard will be like Christmas morning… every single day.