MMOs vs SPGs and keeping MMOs focused

[Hoofhurr]

If planetside has already achieved successfully what we're trying to achieve in an ideal game then simply superimpose the Aion (or favorite flavor of) game engine and combat model onto the planetside strategic and tactics map and viola.

To me there's still something missing and I'd contest that the aforementioned hybrid would still struggle to maintain a population long enough to build community in the EQ sense and have a staying power reaching into year long timescales. Is that something we want in a game? As a developer you surely do.

I thought the question was more of, "How do we obey the One rule?" and how do we build a sustainable and, dare I say it, engaging community. Additionally, I'd say the trouble with wargames is they 'don't' really tell a story and it's that feeling of progression that compells people to play for years. At least not how they are currently implemented.