What you have to understand is that this game was not originally going in the direction of an mmo. It was being designed as an action – rpg with an online component, more similar to diablo 2 model than an mmo, and it was doing a damn good job. Unfortunetly, for whatever reason in the last year of developing this game, they decided to turn it into mmo by changing so many core aspects of the game. That is what unfortunely what led to it being what it is today, a bit of a mess, when it had the potential to become a real classic. :/

Here is a vid from e3 2006 that shows this game how it should have been. Notice Roper saying this is an “action rpg” not an mmo, also how there are not 6 classes (a last minute decision made to cater for an mmo) but rather 3 classes 3 skill trees of the split classes in todays hellgate london.

http://www.gametrailers.com/player/10726.html

Stabs says:

I don’t think every MMO needs to be the same game. So while I don’t agree that the bad outweighs the good I certainly could see myself playing a barter game.I don’t think, however, it solves the problem. If everything is barter then cheats can still illegally buy 1000 steel bars for £50 real money. I think in a barter system you end up with an item that is considered a currency by the player base as Stones of Jordan were in Diablo 2.I only half-remember his comment but I think what Ferrel was driving at was a no trade game. So you could still have Need Before Greed instance running but the only way to acquire good loot is to do group content with competent people. Which is a very Ferrel-like perspective. I’m sure he’ll set the record straight if I’m reading him wrong.