Meaningful Multiplayer Online

So I was reading Penny Arcade today

 The blog, not just the webcomic -___-  

 " I think I've been completely rewired (that is to say, ruined) by Massively Multiplayer games. I want to convert my time   into  something lasting: enhanced capabilities, more options. When I'm done, I want to have more than I started with - more of  something" 

Though of course the lads at penny arcade are also correct.

So I was reading Penny Arcade today

 The blog, not just the webcomic -___-  

 " I think I've been completely rewired (that is to say, ruined) by Massively Multiplayer games. I want to convert my time   into  something lasting: enhanced capabilities, more options. When I'm done, I want to have more than I started with - more of  something" 

Though of course the lads at penny arcade are also correct.

The fact that when I get up for a wee at 3am and find you're still playing EVE blows my mind!
 
Although to be honest I'm done with MMOs for now. After recent ones have been an utter disappointment I'm pretty sure it's time to admit defeat and realise I'll never truly be the kind of guy who can devote years to an MMO like some folks can. Maybe DC Universe Online will change all that? I hope so.
 
But what needs to change in an MMO is how that online interactivity changes. The fact games like Fable among others let you have a family yet MMOs don't is somewhat mind boggling. For all intents and purposes the MMO genre is the ideal place to begin charging people a monthly fee so they can maintain and interact with their virtual wives/husbands and children.
 
I mean they clearly aren't doing it with their real ones if they're playing an MMO now are they?

Maybe the reason you enjoy MMOs is because you can do whatever you want?  Granted most MMOs nowadays are fairly linear in which direction they want you to go in.  Mainly  having each zone or tier have slightly higher mobs or quests.  But that is why I also enjoy EVE Online.  You can do anything you want.  Anything.  You want to pirate miners in 0.0 and steal their stuff.  You can do that.  You want to do missions while slowly building your skills and learning how to rat.  Can do that too.   You want to partake in espionage and roleplay, it is certainly available.
 
I find I enjoy most games that you can do anything you want.  Without the game hamstringing you into a selected amount of content.  The thing is, it is hard for me to play regular MMOs now.  Each one is basically the same thing, and I hold no amount of hope at all for ToR.  Story driven?  I'll believe it when I see it.   
 
There are very few actual games where you choices effect outcomes.  And even if it does, it is probably not a true sandbox game.  My favorite types of games are usually among these.  Mount and Blade and EVE Online are great examples of this.  As you make your own way, and things you do always effect those around you.  EVE Online for instance.  The way their market works, even if you are only doing kill quests.  When you sell your items and drops.  It effects the prices at that station usually. 

" The fact that when I get up for a wee at 3am and find you're still playing EVE blows my mind!  Although to be honest I'm done with MMOs for now. After recent ones have been an utter disappointment I'm pretty sure it's time to admit defeat and realise I'll never truly be the kind of guy who can devote years to an MMO like some folks can. Maybe DC Universe Online will change all that? I hope so.  But what needs to change in an MMO is how that online interactivity changes. The fact games like Fable among others let you have a family yet MMOs don't is somewhat mind boggling. For all intents and purposes the MMO genre is the ideal place to begin charging people a monthly fee so they can maintain and interact with their virtual wives/husbands and children.  I mean they clearly aren't doing it with their real ones if they're playing an MMO now are they? "

I enjoy MMOS quite a great deal, though I've never played one for more than  a year. The ones that have come out recently also don't really appeal to me, looking forward to Guild Wars 2.

One of the things I loved about Lord of the Rings Online was that I felt like something new was always right around the corner.  That's exactly the feeling I want when I play any game, and it's probably the best example that comes to mind.  However, I'd hate getting bogged down in one area for what felt like a dozen hours (and was probably around that, truth be told).  It's not so much the grind as it is that I wish there were many, many more sub-areas to grind in, if that makes any sense at all.

I've never been able to keep with an MMO. With every MMO I've played I do the same thing. I'll play it religiously for anything between a a few days and a few weeks, but I soon stop playing and cancel my subscription (assuming it's a pay to play MMO I'm playing). I thoroughly enjoy them while I'm playing them, and I play them a lot, but I guess I'm just not the kinda guy that gets addicted to MMOs for long periods of time.

CURIOUS.
 
I have a diametrically oppostie viewpoint which I was thinking about blogging on. Now I have to.

I could've been persuaded to buy APB if it lived up to the promise and more, but sadly it looks like it's got some issues from what I've seen. 
 
I have yet to find an MMO that I could get behind. I've seen WoW turn people into zombies and the rest just don't appeal to my style. If Rockstar decided to make an MMO based on the Grand Theft Auto franchise and was great, that could win me over. Otherwise, meh to MMOs.

What's wrong with Runescape?  I'm sure tons of people cut their MMO teeth on it, especially the younger set since a lot of it is free.  I used to kinda play it and I'm not even into MMOs.

I really don't recommend Aion online, it may look like a all new awesome mmo but it's just the same old Korean grind fest with a new coat of paint.

All my hope is on Bioware with Star Wars The Old Republic actually.
 
MMO (pvp, pve, crafting, guilds, own base/home/ship) plus an epic storyline?
Yes please!

I really enjoyed WoW, but after I reached max level I got bored and stopped playing (I'm not complaining though, it lasted me for a couple years).  No MMO since then has been as good, and I don't think it's worth it to try out every new MMO that comes out; they always fail.  If you want to make an MMO in this day and age, you will have to put in an enormous amount of money, and shouldn't expect to make it back for a long time.  The game has to top WoW from the start, or else it won't hold peoples interest.  The next MMO I try will probably be from Blizzard because I don't think anyone else has the money and experience to do it.

Runescape isn't that bad.  It's just a different kind of MMO

"

"

Sweep, nice blog, as always, but do NOT WASTE TIME OR MONEY on Aion. You've been warned.

MMOs what a joke, I would rather spend my spare time trolling Giant Bomb.

" I really enjoyed WoW, but after I reached max level I got bored and stopped playing (I'm not complaining though, it lasted me for a couple years).  No MMO since then has been as good, and I don't think it's worth it to try out every new MMO that comes out; they always fail.  If you want to make an MMO in this day and age, you will have to put in an enormous amount of money, and shouldn't expect to make it back for a long time.  The game has to top WoW from the start, or else it won't hold peoples interest.  The next MMO I try will probably be from Blizzard because I don't think anyone else has the money and experience to do it. "

The thing about MMO's is when you play them, that's all you play. I'm only guessing, since I've never touched one myself, but I think that's pretty accurate. With that being said, I dunno why anyone would devote their time to grinding in some MMO when they could be playing other games.

thing about mmos are that they always ship completely broken, this is true for every mmo (even wow) so expecting consumers to stick with this game paying a monthly fee till they fix it instead of going with a supreme product (wow) is outrageous tbh.

" @DOUBLESHOCK said:

" I really enjoyed WoW, but after I reached max level I got bored and stopped playing (I'm not complaining though, it lasted me for a couple years).  No MMO since then has been as good, and I don't think it's worth it to try out every new MMO that comes out; they always fail.  If you want to make an MMO in this day and age, you will have to put in an enormous amount of money, and shouldn't expect to make it back for a long time.  The game has to top WoW from the start, or else it won't hold peoples interest.  The next MMO I try will probably be from Blizzard because I don't think anyone else has the money and experience to do it. "

You'd be wrong.  I think EVE is just as complex as WoW. In fact, I think EVE & WoW are the most complex MMOs to date & everything else feels unimaginative & repetitive. "

" MMOs what a joke, I would rather spend my spare time trolling Giant Bomb. "

" @Claude said:

" MMOs what a joke, I would rather spend my spare time trolling Giant Bomb. "

I think the problem I have always had with MMOs is that I just don't like being forced to work with other people, I always feel like a liability and that it is my fault. What I want from an MMO is the ability to play the whole game without ever having to play with another person if I don't want to. "

" @Lind_L_Taylor said:

" @DOUBLESHOCK said:

" I really enjoyed WoW, but after I reached max level I got bored and stopped playing (I'm not complaining though, it lasted me for a couple years).  No MMO since then has been as good, and I don't think it's worth it to try out every new MMO that comes out; they always fail.  If you want to make an MMO in this day and age, you will have to put in an enormous amount of money, and shouldn't expect to make it back for a long time.  The game has to top WoW from the start, or else it won't hold peoples interest.  The next MMO I try will probably be from Blizzard because I don't think anyone else has the money and experience to do it. "

You'd be wrong.  I think EVE is just as complex as WoW. In fact, I think EVE & WoW are the most complex MMOs to date & everything else feels unimaginative & repetitive. "

Well I did say no other MMO since WoW has been as good.  Eve Online is older than WoW.  I also think WoW is still the MMO to beat because of how easy to get into it is.  EVE Online may be excellent at what it does, but it's not for everyone.  "