MMORPG Overload

The article has some great points regarding the hack and slash levelling atmosphere of all current MMORPG's. I played UO for only about a year. Played Everquest at its launch. Tried AC for about a month. I'm now playing DAoC. Of all of those, UO, in terms of role-play, is my favorite, just because you could do absolutely original things.

For example, I remember one time when my bard was in one of the cities. He walked into a theater area (because UO actually had theater areas) and noticed a bunch of people setting up a stage (as in actually moving chairs and furniture around). He soon found out that they were soon going to start a play, so he grabbed his drum and ran around the city announcing that a play was going to start soon and hey, everybody should go. By the time he got back to the theater, a crowd had formed. He sat himself near the front and watched as the play commenced. Just for the effect of it, he punctuated key lines of the play with his various instruments. At the end of the play (which, admittedly, fell prey to theater griefers!), he offered up his appreciation and a few coins.

I have not seen that repeated in any other game since. Control over environment, ability to contribute to a relatively uncoordinated group activity in a sane manner (reading chat windows is too much like being in IRC), and the occasional visit from the Lord's of the land all worked to make the environment more fun. This is sort of what Wright is talking about when he mentions giving players the canvas (though his concept goes even beyond this minor example).

Compare this to DAoC - characters can't even sit on chairs properly, let alone make their own and move them around in the world. The only 'progress' has been the change to a 3D environment, but at what cost? The interactivity of the environment has dropped, the ability of people to work and play in the world is decreased. I don't think SWG will fix this, but I do think Sims Online, if it delivers on its promises, will finally say to gamers, "Now is your chance to PLAY a ROLE."

I'm tired of the stat game. I was hoping that with DAoC's source material, a great community of actors, not levellers, would come forth and present themselves, but that's just not the strong point of the current 'hardcore gamer'. What's strange is that it *does* seem to be the strong point of MUD players. But then, MUDs rely on imagination and draw that kind of a crowd.

Recent MMORPG's seem to either squelch the realization of imagination through the limited mechanics of the game or simply attract too many people who lack imagination.

SWG will not be different in this respect. Sims Online might. I wish DAoC had.

lost in the cybreviations..... what the hell is a MMORG or whatever ?? -Menacemasters on role (playing) games maybe?

GTA Online \m/

SWG and Sims OnlinSOL?] are both a license to print money. I play AC but won't be playing 2, why? Same shitty network, its still MS, and it still Turdbine with a pretty engine.

I don't do any MM games, but I could se myself getting into one. I could NOT see myself doing two of these at the same time though, that would be a total waste in my opinion.

I figgure I'll be in Planetside, and if it's no fun that EVE game looks cool...

I personally like the direction these games could go, but dumbing them down for the masses isn't the way IMO. I can see having a Barbarian class for ease of play, and telling the noobs that's a good option for them. Personally I prefer a class with more options like 4 school mages in AC. I dont see a reason why these games can't have both.

I think a lot of developers are going to push to make their games "internet only" and subscription based for the reason that they prevent a lot of warezing, and they get a steady revenue stream from the montly players. This will happen even when the design doesn't justify it. EQ, AO, SWG, and their like I can understand, becuase they're supporting thousands of players, and providing new content. But I CAN'T see Motor City Online and other such games.

What I'm looking forward to:

Star Wars: Galaxies
Asheron's Call 2 (I was addicted to AC1 for a while)
World of Warcraft
Planetside

The MMO genre has more problems with overcrowding then other genres. People don't mind shelling out 40 or 50 bucks each for a FPS game...and they wouldn't for MMOs either but the added monthly fee makes a difference IMHO. If you're subscribing to 3 or 4 MMOs that's an extra $40 that could be spent on a completely different game. That and the fact that they are such a time committment, people can play SOF2, CS, and AA:O on and off and still have fun but to really have fun with one of these games you need to put some time in.

I have yet to play one of these games, especially after playing so much Morrowind. Are they worth the investment?

I'm waiting for GTA online.