Do you play MMORPGs?

fable · #1 (**permalink**) 11-21-2003, 07:20 PM

If so, why? If not, why not?

I used to; I haven't in more than four years. They're simply too time-consuming, if you're going to do it right. It's impossible to pick up and put aside after five or thirty minutes; you have to play an entire organized session to get anything out of it.

...And you?

Stilgar · #2 (**permalink**) 11-23-2003, 02:36 PM

Well first: I don't want to pay for them, it's just not worth it for me.
And your right about the fact that it's to timeconsuming, but that's the case with most online-games (try playing Diablo2 pr Warcraft3 2hours a week and still stand a chance)

humanflyz · #3 (**permalink**) 11-23-2003, 07:55 PM

No, and I probably never will play a MMORPG.

Here's my reasons:

1) Value: I don't have a lot of time to play online games. I want games that will give some sort of instant gratification, not prolonged playing. If I can't dedicate time to a game, then there's no point to pay up to $20 a month.
2) Replayability: After a while, everything eventually devolves to mindless leveling. I mean, how powerful can you really become? It's what I call the Diablo syndrome.

However, I could see how MMORPGs can be a lucrative business, but it's just not my taste.

Tamerlane · #4 (**permalink**) 11-24-2003, 06:57 AM

I've always been wary of subscriber style games, due to the lack of replayabilty. Plus they tend to be ridden with power gamers who go around with either hacked characters or who tend to go on mindless killing spree's.

I'll log online for a quick FPS game but thats about it. I don't have the time nor the motivation to dedicate a large portion of my day to simply levelling up characters. Maybe thats why I can't get into that infernal Underdark on BG2

Xandax · #5 (**permalink**) 11-24-2003, 07:21 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by fable
If so, why? If not, why not?

I used to; I haven't in more than four years. They're simply too time-consuming, if you're going to do it right. It's impossible to pick up and put aside after five or thirty minutes; you have to play an entire organized session to get anything out of it.

...And you?

Uhh - deja vu? - Feel like I've answered this here before

I play MMORPGs - I almost exlusive now, play mutiplayer games, with a serious weight on MMORPGs.

The reason I play them is that I love playing with/against the human element. I play MMO. games solo and in groups with people, and some of the best online friends I have, I have met in MMO games (and here of course

).

There is much more possibility in MMO.games then there are in single player games, because they get deveolped much more. For instance I play DAoC now (again), and since I was in beta the game have evolved seriously - not much remains the same, except the fundamental princip of the game. And this is combined with being able to talk to people I know, or get to know new people.
One problem with MMO.games is balance - this is however a problem with anygame, it is just much more appearnt when you play with/against other people.

Futhermore I try to get into as many betas as I can, to keep up with what the market is - so this far I've been in betas with DAoC, EVE-Online and Star Wars Galaxies.
Besides this I've played DAoC on and off, since its release in Europe, wich is about 2½ years by now. I've also played EVE-Online in retail/Live for about 4 months, but I didn't get caught on that.

So basically - I think MMO.games are great in concept, and if you can find one you like (or some) - there are many many more hours of possible gameplay in them, then in single player games, especially because the game is more unpredicatble when playing against a human brain.

One problem in MMO.games, as many others online games, are the idiots (labled "griefers") that try to ruin others gameexperience, and thus enhancing ones own. But this is not a problem with the games, but with general online "culture" on the internet.

fable · #6 (**permalink**) 11-25-2003, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Xandax
Uhh - deja vu? - Feel like I've answered this here before

Not in Game Discussion, I think. But in any case, there are many different people around, now. I'm curious what the younger generation, meaning anybody who didn't live to see the Pyramids built, thinkf of MMORPGs.

Xandax · #7 (**permalink**) 11-26-2003, 12:38 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by fable
<snip>
I'm curious what the younger generation, meaning anybody who didn't live to see the Pyramids built, thinkf of MMORPGs.

I tell you .... Monkeys are toolusers.

Well - oookay, I know, I know

Zelgadis · #8 (**permalink**) 12-13-2003, 04:48 PM

I haven't played any MMORPGS in a while, I played UO but quit about three years ago. I've been thinking about getting back into one, but none of the ones that have come out since then seem all that fun. For awhile I was going to play Horizons, but then they cut that back so much it only has the name in common to what they were promising a few years ago. Right now I'm waiting for Lineage II, it looks good and it might be fun, but I'll wait and see what people are saying about it after its released before I decide to get it.

Draephon · #9 (**permalink**) 01-08-2004, 03:31 PM

I have and do play different MPORGS (EQ,DAOC) the thing that drives these types is actually two different things. unlike Diablo which is linear and story based, but has multiple players in it. where as with EQ and DAOC, the story is what you make of it. there are thousands of quests that you can do over the course of your leveling, some take multiple levels to complete (epic weapons on EQ start at level 40 and continue to be worked upon untill well in the high 50s moreso if you dont focus on it) so they give you a goal to strive for, there is no "beat the game" in these types, you just continue to build your character. The reason people enjoy them, even if they charge a monthly fee (which in the long run is nominal, EQ and DAOC are both under $15 a month) is
a) no matter how big you get your character, there is always something bigger that you can fight, the programmers make sure of this.
b) noone can outright kill you (PKs) unless you either duel them or go into designated areas. unlike diablo, there is a constant watch for hackers and cheaters. anyone caught cheating in everquest is banned, their characters deleted.
"what about using bugs to their advantage?" you say? there are on average 2-3 'hot patches' (they dont bring the server down to do it) a month to correct bugs that either guides or players have found. if someone took advantage of the bug while it was out and about then its not punishable to that extent but they may roll your character back to a previous time frame (sorta like going back to a previous save point in IWD or BG)

being able to play and not have to watch my back against players is worth it to me, I quit playing Diablo after I had my ranger blown up one too many times in town by a player, losing all her stuff yet again because every time she respawned they blew her up.

as for time consuming, yes and no. it depends on which classes you play, some can solo from the get go, some cant. I personally play one of those characters that can.(bards in EQ, rangers in DAOC) so I can pick up the game for 20 minutes, or as long as I want, and not have to worry about waiting for a group. also, being in a guild helps with that, cause most of the time, if they are near and it is a good guild, someone will team up with you.

-=steps off the soapbox with a blush=- sorry for the length of the post, there were a lot of questions that were asked hehe

~Drae~
fire in my hand is good, fire on my sleeve is not.

fable · #10 (**permalink**) 01-08-2004, 04:09 PM

@Draephon, welcome to the forums. I hope you'll take regular part.

Though I have to tell you--there haven't been plenty of questions asked. Just those at the top of the forum, about whether you play MMORPGs or not, and either way, why. I think most of us are already very familiar with the type of game EverCrack is, as well as the other MMORPGs, because we keep track of 'em. Doesn't mean we play 'em, though. I worked part-time as a designer/DM for one MMORPG for four years, and others here have far more experience at programming than myself.

So don't feel you need to go into multiplayer 101, next time.

And once again, welcome. Feel free to investigate the other forums devoted to individual games, or SYM (Speak Your Mind), for those who are spam-inclined.

Xandax · #11 (**permalink**) 01-08-2004, 05:52 PM

The "public" Gamebanshee dosen't really seem to play MMO. games (or doesn't admit it

), but there are still some of us around

fable · #12 (**permalink**) 01-08-2004, 07:29 PM

But @Xan, there are four MMORPG forums on GB. Can't say they're well attended, but there's been more than a bit of MMORPG discussion in SYM back when games discussion was part of it.

smanifesta · #13 (**permalink**) 01-12-2004, 12:04 PM

I used to, but really, I don't really enjoy them as much as I thought I would. Despite being interested in looking at the development of recent MMORPGs (particularly Horizons & FF) I just...I don't know. I get on them and feel a) lost, b) at odds with other players (I want to play and explore and really get in depth in a world, not chat with others).

Also, keep noticing that the trend is to more online content. Do you think that we'll loose the one-player only RPG format in the future?

Draephon · #14 (**permalink**) 01-14-2004, 12:38 PM

if you are looking for a one player type rpg, then an MMPORG is kinda sketchy. you can play them solo without having to chat with anyone, but its not part of what the game is about. if you want to play by your onesies, then I dont think an MMPORG is right for you. as for if the way of a one player rpg, I think it will be around for a good long while, as there are times when I just want to go and blow stuff up for myself as well. hehe I just tend to be the quiet hunter on the MMPORG to do it. but thats my taste. when you like a game, you dont let other people ruin it for you. Like I said about some of them, other people can't force themselves on you like a rabid dog. other games they might be able to.

fable · #15 (**permalink**) 01-14-2004, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by smanifesta
I used to, but really, I don't really enjoy them as much as I thought I would. Despite being interested in looking at the development of recent MMORPGs (particularly Horizons & FF) I just...I don't know. I get on them and feel a) lost, b) at odds with other players (I want to play and explore and really get in depth in a world, not chat with others).

Yes, there is a certain impersonal quality to MMORPGs, unless you quickly find a small party of friends, preferrably with an veteran of the game who's starting up a new character. I watched one particular MMORPG go from a nightly height of 100 players (in DOS days) to 17000 players, and all sense of community was gone. Instead, most of the people you ran into were no longer RPGers, but simply 1) powerplayers, 2) daddy's little sociopath, looking to vent at people who couldn't ground him, or 3) chatroom folks who liked talking in nice environments.

If you want a sense of personal involvement, you could always try one of the many text-based MUDs and MUCKs that are still online. It might take a lot of time to find one suited to your needs, though; and why bother?

Also, keep noticing that the trend is to more online content. Do you think that we'll loose the one-player only RPG format in the future?

But at some point you reach market saturation; and at some point, too, the MMORPG experience degrades for the player who's used to singleplayer RPGs or P&P RPG group games. I don't see any indication that singleplayer games are becoming less popular--if there was, then KotoR would never have been developed.