http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/06/star-citizens-death-mechanics-to-create-a-sense-of-mortality-a/
Yeah I heard EVE online was similar to an MMORPG that I would enjoy playing, if I could get into the whole space/sci-fi thing. But I just can't see myself playing a space game like that. And this game seems somewhat similar to EVE Online.
Ultima Online had a lot of good things going for it that we don't get in modern MMORPGs (and even Ultima Online stopped doing a lot of what I thought made it so great).
*Criminal system - you can do anything you want in the game, but if you commit a crime you are a criminal for 2 minutes, meaning anyone can attack or steal from you in that 2 minute time without becoming a criminal themselves. If you murder "innocent" people, you become a murder.
*Some towns had AI guards that would auto-kill criminals or murderers (if you called for guards).
*Loot system - you die, most of your gear you had is lootable by anyone. If you steal from an innocent corpse, you become a criminal.
*Dungeons were not instances, you had to compete for resources (or work as a team to get said resources)
A criminal system was awesome, and something I'd like to see in another MMORPG, but I doubt it will happen. I'd settle for non-instanced dungeons and partial or full loot drop on death as well. The reason loot drop is so awesome, is because the game focuses on your skills rather than on the equipment you're using (although equipment is important too). You have to decide if you want to take the risk of using your best gear or not. It actually forces you to weigh risk vs reward. I don't ever see that in any modern MMORPG, because risk means rage quitting 13 year olds (which hurts your bottom line).