Anthem-What do you predict, hopes?

[Merlin]

After EA totally blowing Star Wars BF 1 & 2, then making Battlefield 5 so poorly and unpopular, how do you expect Anthem to be? When I first heard it, the game sounded amazing. By the time E3 2018 rolled around I was already certain it was going to be a terrible game. I expect it to end up like Destiny(the first one) with a botched story. I then expect it to have lots of MTX or l00tboxes. That or they will hastily rebalance it without them since so much controversy, but the balance will be thrown out the window I would imagine. I don't have much faith that it will draw me in. I suspect it will strattle the line between MMORPG and FPS in a way that makes it feel barren like Fallout 76, though I expect fewer bugs(though I do expect at least some bugs).

What I hope it is, is a wonderful game with a core single player story, that expands into a fun co-op experience similar to how borderlands was. Very easy to play with and without friends at any point without ruining the experience. Though these days the AAA experience has been that of, invest billions, get a game that felt like it was from an indie studio in beta.

[MakeGamesGreatAgain]

While I have to say, it is just about the holidays, so they probably should have some time off and I shouldn’t be so dismissive of their attempts, but here is a bunch of BioWare Devs hard at work.

[Merlin]

I have a feeling they may know their studio is going to get EA'd and so are embracing oblivion with a grand revel of indifference and hedonism.

[Gray]

I have zero hopes for it. I just... Could not care less about it. My prediction is that it will be an average selling game at best, and it will be the beginning of the end for BioWare.

[TheMightyWyvern]

I hope anthem is good and successful for biowares sake, if it isnt bioware will join eas graveyard of dead game companies

[Ivlr.Club]

Destiny/Warframe hybrid hard pass for me

[TheSHEEEP]

I hope anthem is good and successful for biowares sake, if it isnt bioware will join eas graveyard of dead game companies

Isn't BioWare a husk of what is was anyway?
EA already did its deed, seems to me that their "incorporated" studios are held together by necromancy for a while until they fall apart.

Well... I'm interested in this game (I did like Warframe), but there's no way I'll ever give EA money, so...nope.

[Hopeless Wombat]

I guess my only real interest is seeing how well implemented the jetpack mechanics are. I'd hate for it to just be a travel mechanic. If had a strong fluid mesh with the actual combat, that would be very, very nice. Not even just hover shooting. Being able to charge in, grab, fly up, fly down, slam to death, bug out, fire missiles. Then get another guy, fly up, sling shot throw them into a wall some distance away. Stuff like that.

[Sorain]

I guess my only real interest is seeing how well implemented the jetpack mechanics are. I'd hate for it to just be a travel mechanic. If had a strong fluid mesh with the actual combat, that would be very, very nice. Not even just hover shooting. Being able to charge in, grab, fly up, fly down, slam to death, bug out, fire missiles. Then get another guy, fly up, sling shot throw them into a wall some distance away. Stuff like that.

From what I have seen, melee isn't a major factor (exception the Interceptor) and I've not seen any grappling at all. That being said, there does appear to be a lot of design around flight/hover in combat, gear, ability, enemy and area design.

To address the topic however:

I can see two likely futures worth discussing for Anthem and I'm going to be verbose so grab a drink. (or stop reading, I don't own you.) Both futures assume that Anthem as a game is good, if the game is garbage? Then it is garbage and not worth discussing.

If EA, in it's greed, acts with financial wisdom, they may hedge their bets of future profitability. EA is staring down the inevitability of losing their core source of growth and profit (or, Grofit if you like) in the form of Lootbox legislation in multiple countries. Their defiance of the Belgian government sent a signal to governments around the world that they did not respect their authority, a deadly mistake. In history, the closest thing to a cyberpunk style mega-corporation was the British East India Company, and it was ultimately crushed by its 'nominal' government over this same basic reason. Governments insist you respect their authority (or appear to in public at least.) If EA see's this inevitable hammer blow coming, then they know the time where they could ignore their PR situation with any but their core audience (FIFA and other sports game lootbox targets) is effectively over. At least potentially.

Thus a wise EA, motivated by their greed, will seek to secure a new stream of income not 'tainted' by lootboxes and thus untouchable in any legislation to come. Their new 'Bioware' team is an option for this. By simply backing off on pressure to monetize in this manner, letting this 'Neo-Bioware' team do as they will, EA gets a free PR benefit (for doing nothing) and income. If they should win their hopeless war, they have demonstrated their willingness to add in lootboxes later, so there is little pressure to do so when the outcome is not yet decided.

When the hammer inevitably falls, EA will have to scale back immensely and try to convince their investors that the company still has a future. Their sports titles and already 'tainted' licences and IP's are not going to do this. But a successful Anthem gives them a 'world class leader' development studio/team with a 'proven track record of success' and an 'ongoing recurrent revenue stream' already in existence. They can speak of their upcoming DLC and MTX cosmetic offerings and reassure investors that their older methods of profit and growth are still viable. In the long term, EA can view Anthem and 'Bioware' as an investment in the brand. An investment they will seek to cash in on with other products by 'Bioware' or in the IP for the long term.

They leave 'Bioware' to have their cute little game that fails to make 'all the money' but is still solidly in the black for them purely in money terms. The players receive a solid game and despite their weary eye for typical EA/Bungie style trickery find essentially nothing beyond a BS cosmetic store pricing scheme.

That is one future, one that would give EA the best shot at solvency and a continued market presence. But another, less pleasant future exists.

If EA, in it's greed, fails to see financial wisdom, they may decide to cash in on Anthem for whatever it is worth before the hammer falls. (or just after.) Seeing only the short term opportunity, they let the game launch in a solid state, acquire a player-base and get them some PR benefits. Then immediately try to cash in on that 'investment' or 'engagement' or whatever term for 'sunk cost fallacy' is popular with them at the time. Instead of waiting to strike when a sequel would be upcoming, they try the 'major DLC' gambit ala Destiny or to bring their Loot-boxes into the equation. 'Bioware' naturally protests in a manner that inevitably gets out to the public. (because it always does) The resulting negative press for a formerly praised game (Mind you it's all starting with 'Surprisingly, it's good') brings back up the support for legislation to destroy their core revenue stream or aids in speeding it's success.

Anthem abruptly is gutted, along with any brand value for 'Bioware' and the IP itself that they essentially sacrificed Andromeda to make. (or they simply realized that game was going to fail anyway and moved their assets to a project that might succeed, I don't think we'll have enough evidence to call that one definitively until a year from now or so.) Player-base implodes and it is shut down (along with 'Bioware') within a year of that.

In the end, EA can either restrain themselves for future profits, or burn that potential profit to chase profits that will not materialize right now. Either way, EA simply has bigger issues it needs to focus on, like a new business model to promise growth with a shred of credibility.

For myself, I am giving 'Bioware' which is essentially an unknown team with no prior projects under their belt as I see it, a chance to make a game worth playing. Maybe even a game worth buying cosmetics in. They appear genuinely motivated, enthusiastic and invested in making the best IP and game they can deliver. If EA can hold itself off, or they can hold their dark master at bay with solid sales, solid press and the promise of recurrent revenue stream? Then this new team might have a bright future of 1-2 expansions and perhaps 1 good game beyond Anthem as released ahead of them.

But EA inevitably destroys every studio it touches, for like taking a loan from the mob over and over, eventually you fail to pay up to the don's satisfaction.

[Merlin]

From what I have seen, melee isn't a major factor (exception the Interceptor) and I've not seen any grappling at all. That being said, there does appear to be a lot of design around flight/hover in combat, gear, ability, enemy and area design.

Yeah, I am kind of a sucker for laser swords, but doesn't seem its anything other than gun play. As you say, it appears that they are looking to make you feel free in movement, yet I wonder why I would stop to fight underlings if I can just fly away. Meanwhile the combat seemed really stiff in the trailer. They went from wild and fun and fluid flying/swimming to just an onslaught on an entrenched embankment against enemies will no real dodging, moving or combos. I guess they want to keep it simple to appeal to everyone, but going from fluid flying to traditional ground fighting seems like a yawnfest. I want to shoot from the air, rush the enemy, dodge around, use traps and special abilities. I guess I'd have liked if it were more action filled combat, not just flashy.

[Aerrae]

I expect it to be a functional, dull, drab, soulless entry into the generic armored prick with guns flies around shooting things cuz reason genre.

[Noobc0re]

I've never had any hopes for it. It will inevitably be an EA game.

Sorry, did I say game? I of course meant "live service".

[Borghir]

My guess is that this will be the last game Bioware makes for EA.

[Matcam89]

Will be forgotten like Titanfall

[Animusisters]

While I really try to be optimistic about it, I can't help myself but to think it will fail hard.