What do you think about MMO RPGs

[JPWestmas]

I'd like to start a discussion about what you all think is the best aspect of MMO RPG games today. . . .what does it generate in you that makes you come back for more! Also ask yourself this. . .what would you  like to see in our game that adds to those strong points of traditional mmos or what would you like to experience in our game that goes above and beyond today?

Don't get hung up on small little nitpicks, think about what you want to experience as a whole. I would just like to know as maybe do others!

[Zutto]

I think the MAJOR issue with them is neglecting the Social side of design. I can't remember the last time I really wanted to log on to meet and hang with friends. Most all the Asian MMOs miss on this everytime. Vanguard really seperated you cross continents. EQ2 did this with Freeport and Qeynos in the beginning evil couldn't be with good, although it wasnt super far to run and changed that design flaw. Even WoW has a hard line with alliance and horde. As you can see splitting players and not having a common enemy hinders social lines which I think is a MAJOR reason why we play MMOs in the first place. If you always add social design in every system you add into your game the better off it will be in the long run.

 

[jir0]

I agree that having social interaction amongst all players is good, but I think that having two factions opposing is a great thing. Everyone likes to compete every now and then, most of us play a mmo to compete anyways- otherwise everyone would just stick to single player campaigns. My favorite aspect of an MMORPG would be developing a character avatar to participate and make a difference in the fantasy world I play in- whether it is a raid or simply pvp..I just feel like my avatar can command the power that you may not be able to command in RL. I think that's why a lot of people play MMORPGs.

[JPWestmas]

What do yo mean by your Avatar Jiro, how is that important to you as a player? Is that a way of establishing a reputation?

I really like the social aspect of MMOs as well. RPG mmos make that an even greater force for the enjoyment of the game imo. I really like the idea of having good and evil forces join together to fight an even greater threat, socially that is a great move!

For me RPGs in general have gotten a bad rap in the video game industry because game developers try to often to make it something it is not. That something (many things) has nothing to do with story telling or the human interest of making contact with other people who are intelligently real. Most RPGs feel forced, linear and unatural which is actually the opposite of what a person interested in RPGs is desiring to experience. For me a good RPG experience is something that is driven by a RPG experience but enhanced with visual aids such as animated graphics that make you feel more in tune with that RPG experience because you feel like you are there commanding the out come rather than rolling dice. It is  therefore the computer graphics and the control over the actions within the animations that is supposed to replace the "dice rolling" experience and change it into something much more than that. That does not happen traditionally in RPG video games. Quite often the RPG Story teller experience just gets tacked onto a game that really is only designed around an action based game. Therefore the dialogue that is necessary for Story Telling gets totally lost and becomes just a thin shell of paint that flakes off of the fascade of a foundation that really has nothing to do with story telling. . . Story telling is something much more than guiding a player through a sequence of events, it should and completely DRIVE EVERYTHING. This has not been done before as of today in video games. . .to be continued

[Foxman]

I don't have time to post my opinions right now, but I saw this discussion and thought I would link it in, as these people have some very good points about the current state of MMORPGs.

http://mmorpg.com/blogs/vajuras/042008/1478_Why-They-Say-MMO-X-Looks-Like-WoW

[Seregost]

  Honestly I think the main driving force for me is exploring a brand new world without a path set out for me....something more and more MMOs are actually starting to really fail on. I want to be able to log in and without being told where to go or what to do, set out and start seeing what is out there. There where many days when I first started playing MMOs that I would literally just turn on some music, set myself up with a nice drink and explore for hours upon hours.
  The other driving force for me is simply being able to play a game that "never ends" with friends and family. I actually miss the old days of spending time on a character and my advancement. Too many MMOs I feel rush you through actually PLAYING the game. There is too much emphasis now a days on "end game" and not enough emphasis on just GAME.

[Seregost]

  Fox that link was actually a very good link. This is a problem I have seen in games over and over again. There are a lot of VERY good points there, that we, a team that is suppose to be bringing something fresh and exciting to the video game market, should ALL be aware of. Branden and I actually had a LOT of debates back and forth about some of these very same topics. What are we going to do to make MMOs better? People ARE tired of what is being put out. Does it still sell? Yes. But why? Because there is no game out there that is holding players for extended amounts of time, so as a new MMO comes out, everyone picks it up, being bored with what they are currently playing.

Star Wars Galaxies was my very first MMO, and though it had bugs and issues, TO THIS DAY it was still the funnest, most involved game I have ever played, as well as the longest running game I ever played. Games now a days.....1-6 months TOPS. I played SWG for 2.5 YEARS, and if they did not completely cookie cutter the hell out of it, would still be playing to this day.

  The reasons I thought SWG was so great is vast, but a big part had to do with the community and what the game had to offer. Since WoW, all it's been is combat/crafting. In SWG it was a completely different story, and it actually appealed (in my opinion) to a MUCH broader audience. Doctors would sit in medical centers, healing players and making money. Dancers and musicians would be in the cantinas, buffing players, chatting and making money. Architects would be creating player housing, which could be placed in a city and you could all elect a player to be mayor for that city. Get bored of those? They also had image designers, who could literally change every aspect of a characters avatar, making them fatter, skinnier, change hair, facial structure, eye color, you name it, all for a price. Bio-engineers who could go out, take DNA samples of creatures and create "captive bread" creatures. Smugglers who could take a weapon or piece or armor that you had and make it better! These are systems that promote community and interaction. Female players who didn't want to just sit and craft or fight all day had options. Some just like to socialize with others and have something to do in the meantime.

  I honestly think that these types of systems and ideas would be MORE than welcome these days, and I think we should all really take a step back and really look at ideas like these.

[PsyberMind]

Hey guys, New here, throwing my .02 in

Anyway, I agree with the consensus that with MMO RPGS, Player/Player interaction has been lacking, and in general, gotten a bad name. I jumped on the Blizzard Train with WoW as my first MMO, mainly because I've been an avid Warcraft Player since its inception a billion years ago (it seems) And while you have your guilds, and whatnot, which encourages teamwork (Lets face it, there are just some things you can't solo in WoW, no matter how hard you try) The faction gap, as well as the kiddies out there who think they are gods gift to MMOs is quite the downer. I've found myself having to actually wait for my guild to group up, because otherwise I get the typical "ZMOG Your Gear Sux!" or "LTPYC" B.S from almost any PUG I try and form. Shoot. I've seen guys who have been playing for a month, and are still stuck at like lvl 40 that I've run through things complain because I wasn't killing the mobs fast enough for them. That makes me just want to /i * (I wish I could) and just go farm on my own.

The biggest problem you run into with MMO Player/Player interaction is plain and simple. Egos.

[JPWestmas]

Hey guys, New here, throwing my .02 in

Anyway, I agree with the consensus that with MMO RPGS, Player/Player interaction has been lacking, and in general, gotten a bad name. I jumped on the Blizzard Train with WoW as my first MMO, mainly because I've been an avid Warcraft Player since its inception a billion years ago (it seems) And while you have your guilds, and whatnot, which encourages teamwork (Lets face it, there are just some things you can't solo in WoW, no matter how hard you try) The faction gap, as well as the kiddies out there who think they are gods gift to MMOs is quite the downer. I've found myself having to actually wait for my guild to group up, because otherwise I get the typical "ZMOG Your Gear Sux!" or "LTPYC" B.S from almost any PUG I try and form. Shoot. I've seen guys who have been playing for a month, and are still stuck at like lvl 40 that I've run through things complain because I wasn't killing the mobs fast enough for them. That makes me just want to /i * (I wish I could) and just go farm on my own.

The biggest problem you run into with MMO Player/Player interaction is plain and simple. Egos.

Yeah that's really too bad that those whom you have met on WOW believe that speed and upgrading your gear as fast as possible is the main purpose of a MMORPG. They should stick to RTS games.