9 Lives - the mmorpg alive but alone and left to the mists

Sovrath

Quite a long time ago I came upon this game, "9 lives." I absolutely loved the art design and I enjoyed the small amount of time I played it as it was still in development.

I had decided to wait until it launched but since it was made by only two peopolev that was never to be. Still, a LOT was done and I recently learned that the game is still running for those who want to explore it.

I found this video and was somewhat astounded to how much was absolutely done. If you love exploring and love this type of art design (like I do) you might check it out.

ValdemarJ

So, what's the catch? This looks like a lot like what I hear people asking for. Almost zero hand holding. Gritty rich detailed environments. The combat looks as good or better than Pantheon, Embers, and Monsters/Memories. What am I missing from the video? Is it not really an mmo in the classic sense? Something else?

It's too bad these little indie games can't find a home on consoles. Both consoles seem very friendly to niche audiences and interests and make it easy to connect with others interested in the same games.

Sovrath

ValdemarJ said:

So, what's the catch? This looks like a lot like what I hear people asking for. Almost zero hand holding. Gritty rich detailed environments. The combat looks as good or better than Pantheon, Embers, and Monsters/Memories. What am I missing from the video? Is it not really an mmo in the classic sense? Something else?

It's too bad these little indie games can't find a home on consoles. Both consoles seem very friendly to niche audiences and interests and make it easy to connect with others interested in the same games.

While apparently the company still makes games, this game is was never finished. They decided to stop development. 

They did say they would leave the server up for people who wanted to play it and it does seem like there is a decent amount to do for those people who love exploration.

Kyleran

ValdemarJ said:

So, what's the catch? This looks like a lot like what I hear people asking for. Almost zero hand holding. Gritty rich detailed environments. The combat looks as good or better than Pantheon, Embers, and Monsters/Memories. What am I missing from the video? Is it not really an mmo in the classic sense? Something else?

Yep, watched about 10 mins of the video and narrator mentioned bank was selling additional inventory slots for currency that could only be obtained by spending real money, and was no longer available.

A lack of proper marketing probably didn't help either.

Brainy

Kyleran said:

ValdemarJ said:

So, what's the catch? This looks like a lot like what I hear people asking for. Almost zero hand holding. Gritty rich detailed environments. The combat looks as good or better than Pantheon, Embers, and Monsters/Memories. What am I missing from the video? Is it not really an mmo in the classic sense? Something else?

Yep, watched about 10 mins of the video and narrator mentioned bank was selling additional inventory slots for currency that could only be obtained by spending real money, and was no longer available.

A lack of proper marketing probably didn't help either.

So, I skipped a chunk of the video, but I landed just in time to catch the part about the lack of inventory... except for money. Classic. Naturally, I laughed because, wow, that’s peak game design right there. Makes me wonder, how many other “genius” mechanics are lurking in this masterpiece?

Also, never even heard of this game until now. Like, why bother promoting on gaming sites when you can just rely on vibes to sell copies?

But hey, someone out there enjoyed it! Props to the devs—don’t you dare compromise for the other 99% of your customers. Keep catering to that ultra-niche crowd. I’m sure that strategy will totally pay off in the long run.

Scot

As so often is the case art is not enough, I liked the look of the game and it is an real achievement for two developers. Maybe 9 Lives Unchained will come along one day, but such revivals don't tend to be that good.

There do seem to be a lot of games especially in the MMO genre that look like they could have made it, more now with Crowd Funding and Early Access. Considering how little innovation we get in gaming it is a shame.

xanthouscrown

Brainy said:

Kyleran said:

ValdemarJ said:

So, what's the catch? This looks like a lot like what I hear people asking for. Almost zero hand holding. Gritty rich detailed environments. The combat looks as good or better than Pantheon, Embers, and Monsters/Memories. What am I missing from the video? Is it not really an mmo in the classic sense? Something else?

Yep, watched about 10 mins of the video and narrator mentioned bank was selling additional inventory slots for currency that could only be obtained by spending real money, and was no longer available.

A lack of proper marketing probably didn't help either.

So, I skipped a chunk of the video, but I landed just in time to catch the part about the lack of inventory... except for money. Classic. Naturally, I laughed because, wow, that’s peak game design right there. Makes me wonder, how many other “genius” mechanics are lurking in this masterpiece?

Also, never even heard of this game until now. Like, why bother promoting on gaming sites when you can just rely on vibes to sell copies?

But hey, someone out there enjoyed it! Props to the devs—don’t you dare compromise for the other 99% of your customers. Keep catering to that ultra-niche crowd. I’m sure that strategy will totally pay off in the long run.

The game is free to download and play and there is no option to purchase anything. The last update was in 2019 and development is suspended with no plans of resuming (https://ninelives.smokymonkeys.com/). 

I don't think criticizing them for lack of marketing is fair. It was in early development and from a team of two people with limited resources. What they accomplished is actually quite impressive. It's more than what some other kickstarter mmos have offered. In particular, its atmosphere and music is quite nice.

Brainy

xanthouscrown said:

The game is free to download and play and there is no option to purchase anything. The last update was in 2019 and development is suspended with no plans of resuming (https://ninelives.smokymonkeys.com/). 

Oh, the moment I heard "lack of inventory," I knew we were dealing with a dream team of selfish, control-freak devs who clearly do not to care about their customers. Bravo!

So, the game is free—how generous—but now players are stuck with this glorious lack-of-inventory mechanic (plus others I am sure), with no way to opt out. Because who needs simple toggles for unwanted features? Nah, better to force-feed your "vision" to players and then act surprised when they didn't stick around.

Instead of giving customers what they actually want, these devs doubled down on their genius and just watched the whole thing implode. Honestly, they deserve every bit of the ghost town their game became. Great job, team! 

xanthouscrown

Brainy said:

xanthouscrown said:

The game is free to download and play and there is no option to purchase anything. The last update was in 2019 and development is suspended with no plans of resuming (https://ninelives.smokymonkeys.com/). 

Oh, the moment I heard "lack of inventory," I knew we were dealing with a dream team of selfish, control-freak devs who clearly do not to care about their customers. Bravo!

So, the game is free—how generous—but now players are stuck with this glorious lack-of-inventory mechanic (plus others I am sure), with no way to opt out. Because who needs simple toggles for unwanted features? Nah, better to force-feed your "vision" to players and then act surprised when they didn't stick around.

Instead of giving customers what they actually want, these devs doubled down on their genius and just watched the whole thing implode. Honestly, they deserve every bit of the ghost town their game became. Great job, team! 

You are very presumptuous (having no real knowledge of the team or their game) and unnecessarily hostile. I don't think there's any point in further discussing with you.

Sovrath

xanthouscrown said:

Brainy said:

Kyleran said:

ValdemarJ said:

So, what's the catch? This looks like a lot like what I hear people asking for. Almost zero hand holding. Gritty rich detailed environments. The combat looks as good or better than Pantheon, Embers, and Monsters/Memories. What am I missing from the video? Is it not really an mmo in the classic sense? Something else?

Yep, watched about 10 mins of the video and narrator mentioned bank was selling additional inventory slots for currency that could only be obtained by spending real money, and was no longer available.

A lack of proper marketing probably didn't help either.

So, I skipped a chunk of the video, but I landed just in time to catch the part about the lack of inventory... except for money. Classic. Naturally, I laughed because, wow, that’s peak game design right there. Makes me wonder, how many other “genius” mechanics are lurking in this masterpiece?

Also, never even heard of this game until now. Like, why bother promoting on gaming sites when you can just rely on vibes to sell copies?

But hey, someone out there enjoyed it! Props to the devs—don’t you dare compromise for the other 99% of your customers. Keep catering to that ultra-niche crowd. I’m sure that strategy will totally pay off in the long run.

The game is free to download and play and there is no option to purchase anything. The last update was in 2019 and development is suspended with no plans of resuming (https://ninelives.smokymonkeys.com/). 

I don't think criticizing them for lack of marketing is fair. It was in early development and from a team of two people with limited resources. What they accomplished is actually quite impressive. It's more than what some other kickstarter mmos have offered. In particular, its atmosphere and music is quite nice.

Thanks for mentioning that. The game was never launched. I think they added some transactions to help keep the server open but it's not like they are making bank.

So the important takeaway for people is that one can play around with what they've made, any purchases will go to keeping the server open but it's more for people who are fans of their gamea or what this game was and who want to just play around with it.

Given the art design and the lean towards exploration it can be a nice diversion.

Scot

I do like exploration in any game, it is something which modern MMOs have moved away from. Survival games are an odd bag there, they want you to explore and then penalise you for exploring, one of the reasons I don't play them. Step out of your cave "you have got exposure", no thanks.

We see too many of what I think of as tinyMMOs, not open world, very on rails, even larger MMOs can have that feel. I remember Rift was large but with little "unused space", if you have ever roleplayed in a MMO you will know the issues that causes.

Sovrath

Scot said:

I do like exploration in any game, it is something which modern MMOs have moved away from. Survival games are an odd bag there, they want you to explore and then penalise you for exploring, one of the reasons I don't play them. Step out of your cave "you have got exposure", no thanks.

We see too many of what I think of as tinyMMOs, not open world, very on rails, even larger MMOs can have that feel. I remember Rift was large but with little "unused space", if you have ever roleplayed in a MMO you will know the issues that causes.

I started actually playing it again last night. 

I'm determined to see all that I can see of it before "someday" the server is taken down. I did discover just a small thing, not really notable except that there's no reason a person would discover it given how the game opens.

As with many of these games, you awake on a shore after a shipwreck. You are partially in the water but ahead is a beach with bodies strewn about and a small chest. 

So, normally a player would just head to the beach. Well, it seems I missed a thing and had to go back to find it. I went back to the beach from the start and decided to see if I could go on the half submerged ship. That's where I learned I could not only swim but also dive. And what was down in the water was another body.

It came as a surprise and there was nothing to be done with it but just finding that one body made me think "what else could I find in this world?" So I'm willing to see though I'm aware the game isn't finished. When I first tried it, it was just a small bit, I think it was a farm or some such thing but now there seems to be a sort of city.

I absolutely adore the visual style, the lighting and the music. It's sad that a game that I am excited about is a game that will never be finished. 

kalepf22

I want to play this! can't create an account tho come to the discord group guys, let's talk. Letting games die shouldn't happen

Sovrath

kalepf22 said:

I want to play this! can't create an account tho come to the discord group guys, let's talk. Letting games die shouldn't happen

Hmmm I was able to make a new account quite easily as I couldn’t remember the password of the first account and there’s no way to reset the password.

Maybe try a different email?