what do you guys think is the most immersive game to date? One that makes ya feel like your actually in a different world while playing. This could be due to graphics...community...player based things like crafting..etc...
Great question, something to me that is the most important issue in an MMORPG. A few mentioned SWG pre-nge as the most immersive. That is my favorite mmorpg of all time. However, I do not feel it is the most immersive. SWG was the most open game to date. SWG allowed you to do anything and, sometimes I was immersed in the game as a world, but mostly it was a game I was controlling not a world. Same with WoW a solid evenly detailed world, but the none rpg style most players used in WoW kept it from being immersive. The static cartoon world also hindered the feeling of being in the world of WoW.
I can say for me without hesitation the most immersive game I have ever played is EQ2. When I play EQ2 I am totally immersed into Norrath. EQ2 feels alive to me for a number of reasons. First the graphic style. EQ2 uses a more realistic yet stylized art direction then other games. The quality of animations in the game are fantastic. All the creatures move in a realistic manner even the wild fantasy ones. They use believable physics in all aspects of the game. The 3 dimensional sound if you use a 5.1 sound system are fantastic. They work better then in any other mmorpg I have played. You are truely surrounded by sound. The ambient sounds as well as ambient world detail are fantastic. Wonderful smoke, clouds, and fire effects are everywhere. Dogs will come up to you and growl or wag their tails. Flocks of birds with fly past, all this adds to the feeling the world is alive. Without question EQ2 has the best water animations in a game. LOTRO has great looking water but it has no dimension. You even leave a 3d wake as you swim in EQ2. As you cross different zones you see so many creatures that seem to move with purpose. Weather effect creep up on you and are different all the time. Not every storm looks the same. The sublte change of light as the day/night cycles progress are beautiful. Many of the npc actually talk to you. The developers used actors for the voice work so it is wonderful. The chat channels add to the immersion you do not get a lot of useless chat in EQ2. In general EQ2 has a more mature player base then most games which helps.
There are many great mmos that are fun to play. Many do a great job of pulling you into their world. Also many players need to slow down and look at the true art behind the design of these games. Some even need to be taught to see with better eyes. I try to teach this to my students in my art appreciation classes. Not an easy thing to do. There are many reasons to support your favorite mmo but that does not make it the most immersive. EQ2 tops the list for me as the most immersive (even with the zoning it uses). I log into the game to watch and direct my characters in the wonderful world of Norrath. I hope to see developers take what EQ2 and Saga of Ryzom (also very immerive) do with their living worlds and go farther. I hope that future games continue to make the game world more immersive. You connect great fun game play and immersion you will have a game that makes the subscription number of WoW look small.
EQ for me. It was my first. Though I can see why EVE could be immersive. I wish there were more sandboxes out there lke EVE. Really sick and tired of the cookie cutter crap that's out now.
Serious death penalties makes every close call an adrenaline rush, and every minor achievement a major victory. This alternative rule-set should be in all MMORPGs.
I'd have to say SWG when it was first released cause it was my first MMO, but now that I have gotten into RP a bit I'd say Ryzom because the community is great and environments are so well done! It's cool to just walk outside of town during the season change and watch the herd animals migrate, look up into the sky during a thunderstorm a see the violet lightening and the accompanying thunder crashes for it, or to be walking or riding down the road and hear the carnivores growl at you just before they come after you and they don't care what level you are! I forgot about seeing the predators actually hunt the herd animals!IMO these things make me feel like I'm apart of the beautiful and savage world of Ryzom! There are also some gorgeous vistas in this game as well!
Asheron's Call 1 by a long shot. In all my years of playing these games, I have never felt a sense of awe and wonder like I did back in Asheron's Call. The overworld was staggering in size to the point of hopelessly overwhelming. I loved how the random loot was, you always felt like you never knew what you find in a trip out into the wilderness. Wilderness truly had that feeling of being hopeless out in the middle of nowhere. Some might complain that there wasnt enough points of interest, but I liked it. The real world isn't full of points of interest. Sometimes you need a vast expanse of sprawling forest and mountains to give you that sense of being out in the middle of nowhere, and when you did find some dungeon out there, it made it all the more worth it. I remember running from Glendon Woods all the way to Stonehold up north, and it was like an hour journey to get there.
Back in the day when you had to learn your spells by mixing components before every website spoiled it all. I remember one of my first days at some small roadside town in the desert running into another player, and trading spell recipes. I remember the first time I saw an elemental weapon. I remember when Arwic got destroyed, or when one of the stories villains played by a dev attacked a crowded gathering place leaving bodies everywhere. I remember the fear of doing quest and being scared to die because there was no rez or fast way back. I remember the politics of the PvP server where guilds claimed towns as their own turf.
The only game in the future that has a chance of restoring this wonder is Darkfall. I pray to the Gods of MMOs that this game sees the light of day and doesn't end up being a bust.
Not really an MMO, but "Shinning Force" was the best, and most immersive game I've ever played. WoW would have to come next, because after two years I'm still playing it.
EQ1 I thought was immersive, but it was my first MMO and I learned it was MMO addiction. Time leaked away while I got hemmoroids from butt fatigue trying to either get that uber item or level. I had no idea what it was like. As long as gamers can understand the difference between immersion and addiction, this thread could be a very intereasting read.
When I thnk immersion, I feel my avatar is a part of the game. What I did meant something and perhaps the repurcussions of my adventures were experienced or felt. Immersion and roleplay to me are one in the same. I do not mean Old English speak and emoting in cities or bars. I do mean what single player games give you. If a MMO can squeeze that single player game experience into its system, there would be have to be another Fort Knox erected next to your company because all the money you would receive.
The problem is, how do you give thousands of players such an experience? MMOs, by design, are geared for thousands of players. Content has to be repeated, rewards and gear are the same. Adventure areas never change despite an onslaught of raiding players and parties.
So, in this light I must say the only game that actually gave me a semblance of some immersive quality was Guild Wars. Having experienced LOTRO this past weekend. This game may join that position. Only reason i say Guild Wars is because of the cut scenes. When you engaged in an adventure, the cut scenes involved you. The first few times I could see and hear what my character did for the mission. The Interesting thing was I didn't do much of what the main goal of the game was - PvP. I was too busy going through the storyline and trying to watch what role my avatar would play in the scenario. Guild Wars also removed the need for level, grind and "gopher" tasks which serve little pupose for a real adventurer.
We had 'regulars' there, people who would spend some time there night after night. Everyone from hardcore entertainers, to part-time partyers, to hardcore grinders who like to stop in from time to time and flirt with the dancers. We played music and told jokes, shared stories, and travel experiences. This was after BF and other forced options. Just a group of people who liked being there.
We shared real-life emotions while being part of the game.
- How can you talk if you haven't got a brain?
- I don't know, but some people without brains do an awful lot of talking, don't they?
I'm in Lotr beta but i find the community is lacking as of right now...i started out in AC and found that the most immersive so far..but that could be because it was my first mmo.
EverQuest back when it was top dog and for one very major reason: conflict roleplay. That is something that is majorly missing in todays games. Ever since DAoC made it popular to not be able to talk to people of an opposite faction it seems that conflict roleplay has died off. Even WoW stole that irritating tidbit when they really didn't need to.
Origional EQ1 by far. If they re-did the graphics of origional and released classic servers it would still be the best game on the market.
Why? you could talk trash, kill steal, train mobs, and in some cases (pvp servers) kill / loot other players. I remember clearing out entire zones out with my monk FD training everyone...good times. Even better when you duel box a cleric outside and charge those same people for a res.
I've played most MMO's worth playing and the most immersive for me would be DAOC. Not because of graphics but because of the perfect balance between pve and pvp. Also might be because it was the first MMORPG I played. Other nice games are EQ1 and 2, they have loads of content and lore.
Im searching for a new MMO myself now, been trying loads of games but nothing is as interesting as daoc was back in 2001. Might be because I'm older or just the fact that games have more graphics than gameplay these days, I don't know.
Looking forward to WAR and perhaps LOTRO (few others aswell), might be fun.
I just started eve online to see how it is, as I have been looking for an immersive game and eve is supposed to be that.
I am concerned that it is too micromanagment orientated for me. But I'll have to explore it for a while to see.
I play a game the is called gokrida that is very immersive and like a simpler Eve in playstyle but with very good RP, and even pvp done better than I have seen to date. It is overall waht I would call the most immersive I have ever seen and it is completely web based with no graphics. I would say it is an excellent model for immersive MMO's. I have never seen an MMO that competes with it in style or pllayability.
I do have to say I am looking forward to the eve company's version of World of Darkness but hope they do a better job than eve online and make it more fun to play, weather you start from game inception or years later in the overall sense.
Only two games have stood out that give me the feeling of actually being part of the world. They are very different of each other but the storyline, environment, events and RP of the community have made these games feel real.
1)MxO-Now, I know that this game is wack to play because of the grinding to level and because it hasnt really been developed to its potential. For the most part MxO has been ignored. But this doesnt mean that when one enters Mega City you dont get the sense of being part of the game and storyline. Another plus of this game was the RP of the community. So many plots and events run by players made this game come to life. And then of course the Live Events team that constantly pushed the storyline forward. It was a nice feeling, as a fan, to interact with leading characters from the Matrix Trilogies. (At least this is how I felt when I played it two years ago). The immersion feels real but the game it self is an abandon project with no hopes for the future.
2)Ryzom-This game is so unique and challenging. A real sandbox with huge potential. The world is immersive for the PvP player to the casual PvE and Rp players. The community is incredible, but most communities are in the games we love, however Ryzoms community is refreshingly mature. The alien habitats of this game do make you feel like you are watching a national geographic special. What makes this game so real for one is that there is no music while playing; you actually hear the environment react to your avatar. The plants talk and rattle amongst themselves (sort of speak) and the animals will growl and attack or run from you. The fact that the mainland is not quest driven and there are no classes to choose from has always appeal to me and does make one feel like actually living on this strange planet. Ryzom is my favorite game, has been for almost 3 years. It unquestionably qualifies for the topic being discuss here.
I'd suggest eve-online. Find a good corporation and some people you enjoy playing with and they'll turn into good friends in no time. Great community that plays and it really is the people that get you caught up in the game.
The problem Im having with every other games is that theyre too linear, and offer no PvP or inferior PvP to the above games I listed. I tried DAoC, and although its PvP was incredible, I still felt it to be too linear so it never captured me.
As for SWG, I was too busy playing Anarchy Online and to me SWG was a major ripoff of AO and I was a complete fanboi for Anarchy Online
Im starting to find my attention span growing shorter for giving newly release MMO's a chance. I think Ive finally came to the conclusion that if:
A. The game offers no decent PvP system, I will not enjoy it
B. If the game is linear, ie. run from one floating glowing ! or O I will not enjoy it. (actually, a caveate to this is WoW has perfected the linear MMO system in almost every way in my opinion. So if I want a linear game, I'll play that and it also has PvP)
C. If the game is just another fantasy MMO and makes zero attempt at something original in its world and races, I wont like it.
yes, im becoming jaded. im also becoming extremely tired of fantasy/quest MMO's that have you going from point A to point B.
I think MMO developers need to rinse their memory of all MMO's to have come out in the past and go back to the roots of roleplay gaming and design a real persistant and dynamic world. Just like when Origin created Ultima Online
"If you want a picture of the future, imagine a robot foot stomping on a human face -- forever."
Some really interesting replies here. #1 for me was the original UO, #2 would be SWG at release, # 3 is LoTRO. UO and SWG for the freedom and the sand box design, LoTRO is much more linear but Turbine has really paid attention to all the small details, if it just had player owned houseing it would be in the #2 slot.
Original SWG did it for me. I believe it was the fact that you could have such diverse interactions between the imps and rebs... the ability to talk to the opposing faction was great. Bring on the hate mongering you dirty imperial bastards!!!!
The game was just so much fun on Bria with the constant fighting between player alliances and factions. I just wish the devs had a clue, they could have pushed the game SO much further
========== SWG - 1st Gen MBH (Closed) EVE (Closed) WoW (61 Orc Hunter - Blackwing Lair) GuildWars (Boring...)
Excellent replies on this thread, to a very interesting question
I agree with Fansede that one has to distinguish between addiction and immersion. Yet, because a product may contain immersive elements on the surface - EverQuest 2 has superb voice-overs, heavy focus on questing and lore, amongst other things - it does not automatically translate into an immersive experience. Again, EverQuest 2 grabs me as addictive and immersive, but spoils the latter through placing predators right next to what should be their prey, and they simply ignore each other for example.
EQ was my first MMORPG and I was stupidly addicted. Yet, it had charm and most importantly, character. It's NPCs felt real; adversaries such as Ambassador D'Vinn (spelling) felt like mortal enemies. The atmosphere of certain zones, in terms of look, feel, types of mobs and music, really wove together a rich tapestry that allowed the player-base to claim the game as their own. Torak is 100% correct with the observation that the genre has changed to become more stat min/max based. One's community is such an important factor in whether one feels immersed in one's game-world. EQ had that in spades.
I felt that AO had a distinct and unique style and feel. The whole look and style of the game created an immersive feeling. From the haunting notes of the opening music (still hands down, the best piece of music I have heard in ANY game - period), to the camera glare caused by the sun, the leets and not forgetting, the dancing ogre in one of the clubs.
An important element is how the game reacts to your presence. I remember Elite on the old C64. It worked so beautifully because the game allowed you an unusual amount of freedom to explore in different directions, and would react dependent on your actions e.g. I remember smuggling contraband and being escorted to a Space Station by a circle of Vipers around my ship. Sadly, a lot of games feel more like an interactive screen-saver where one's presence barely causes a ripple.
For me, immersion is a mood; a state of mind where I am magically transported from this reality to another reality, that becomes equally real and vibrant - if only until I /log. One of the best and most immersive games that I have played is Morrowind. When I get some free time I will have to re-install and add a load of player created content and plug-ins to create a truly immersive experience to what is already a compelling game.
Regards, Riotgirl
"If you think I'm plucky and scrappy and all I need is love, you're in way over your head. I don't have a heart of gold or get nice. There are a lot nicer people coming up. We call them losers."
SWG was Star Wars , then the bastards turned it into a pile of crap! And by Bastards I mean Jim Ward and John Smedley.
--When you resubscribe to SWG, an 18 yearold Stripper finds Jesus, gives up stripping, and moves with a rolex reverend to Hawaii. --In MMORPG's l007 is the opiate of the masses. --The absence of evidence is not the evidence of absence! --CCP could cut off an Eve player's fun bits, and that player would say that it was good CCP did that.
For me it has to be EvE online, i always felt that not matter hwo small and insignificant you may seem one person can change it all. I felt truly immersed because i had soo many possibilities before me.
Comments
Great topic.....Hmm let's see since there are some good ones here's Volt's top five.
1) EQI: Started in 2K when community was helpfull and still plenty of RP elements.
2) DAOC: First tried in 2002 great people and it had this aura about it can't explain it.
3) MxO: Yep you read it right MxO, this could of been a great title plenty of great ideas, but alas it never met it's full potential.
4) Guild Wars: a Great storyline and seeing how this game was on rails that says allot.
5) COH: The ability to create and customize characters that I've imagined since childhood.... priceless.
Dutchess Zarraa Voltayre
Reborn/Zero Sum/Ancient Legacy/Jagged Legion/Feared/Nuke & Pave.
Great question, something to me that is the most important issue in an MMORPG. A few mentioned SWG pre-nge as the most immersive. That is my favorite mmorpg of all time. However, I do not feel it is the most immersive. SWG was the most open game to date. SWG allowed you to do anything and, sometimes I was immersed in the game as a world, but mostly it was a game I was controlling not a world. Same with WoW a solid evenly detailed world, but the none rpg style most players used in WoW kept it from being immersive. The static cartoon world also hindered the feeling of being in the world of WoW.
I can say for me without hesitation the most immersive game I have ever played is EQ2. When I play EQ2 I am totally immersed into Norrath. EQ2 feels alive to me for a number of reasons. First the graphic style. EQ2 uses a more realistic yet stylized art direction then other games. The quality of animations in the game are fantastic. All the creatures move in a realistic manner even the wild fantasy ones. They use believable physics in all aspects of the game. The 3 dimensional sound if you use a 5.1 sound system are fantastic. They work better then in any other mmorpg I have played. You are truely surrounded by sound. The ambient sounds as well as ambient world detail are fantastic. Wonderful smoke, clouds, and fire effects are everywhere. Dogs will come up to you and growl or wag their tails. Flocks of birds with fly past, all this adds to the feeling the world is alive. Without question EQ2 has the best water animations in a game. LOTRO has great looking water but it has no dimension. You even leave a 3d wake as you swim in EQ2. As you cross different zones you see so many creatures that seem to move with purpose. Weather effect creep up on you and are different all the time. Not every storm looks the same. The sublte change of light as the day/night cycles progress are beautiful. Many of the npc actually talk to you. The developers used actors for the voice work so it is wonderful. The chat channels add to the immersion you do not get a lot of useless chat in EQ2. In general EQ2 has a more mature player base then most games which helps.
There are many great mmos that are fun to play. Many do a great job of pulling you into their world. Also many players need to slow down and look at the true art behind the design of these games. Some even need to be taught to see with better eyes. I try to teach this to my students in my art appreciation classes. Not an easy thing to do. There are many reasons to support your favorite mmo but that does not make it the most immersive. EQ2 tops the list for me as the most immersive (even with the zoning it uses). I log into the game to watch and direct my characters in the wonderful world of Norrath. I hope to see developers take what EQ2 and Saga of Ryzom (also very immerive) do with their living worlds and go farther. I hope that future games continue to make the game world more immersive. You connect great fun game play and immersion you will have a game that makes the subscription number of WoW look small.
EQ for me. It was my first. Though I can see why EVE could be immersive. I wish there were more sandboxes out there lke EVE. Really sick and tired of the cookie cutter crap that's out now.
Serious death penalties makes every close call an adrenaline rush, and every minor achievement a major victory. This alternative rule-set should be in all MMORPGs.
Back in the day when you had to learn your spells by mixing components before every website spoiled it all. I remember one of my first days at some small roadside town in the desert running into another player, and trading spell recipes. I remember the first time I saw an elemental weapon. I remember when Arwic got destroyed, or when one of the stories villains played by a dev attacked a crowded gathering place leaving bodies everywhere. I remember the fear of doing quest and being scared to die because there was no rez or fast way back. I remember the politics of the PvP server where guilds claimed towns as their own turf.
The only game in the future that has a chance of restoring this wonder is Darkfall. I pray to the Gods of MMOs that this game sees the light of day and doesn't end up being a bust.
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Not really an MMO, but "Shinning Force" was the best, and most immersive game I've ever played. WoW would have to come next, because after two years I'm still playing it.
I must say I am interested in this topic.
EQ1 I thought was immersive, but it was my first MMO and I learned it was MMO addiction. Time leaked away while I got hemmoroids from butt fatigue trying to either get that uber item or level. I had no idea what it was like. As long as gamers can understand the difference between immersion and addiction, this thread could be a very intereasting read.
When I thnk immersion, I feel my avatar is a part of the game. What I did meant something and perhaps the repurcussions of my adventures were experienced or felt. Immersion and roleplay to me are one in the same. I do not mean Old English speak and emoting in cities or bars. I do mean what single player games give you. If a MMO can squeeze that single player game experience into its system, there would be have to be another Fort Knox erected next to your company because all the money you would receive.
The problem is, how do you give thousands of players such an experience? MMOs, by design, are geared for thousands of players. Content has to be repeated, rewards and gear are the same. Adventure areas never change despite an onslaught of raiding players and parties.
So, in this light I must say the only game that actually gave me a semblance of some immersive quality was Guild Wars. Having experienced LOTRO this past weekend. This game may join that position. Only reason i say Guild Wars is because of the cut scenes. When you engaged in an adventure, the cut scenes involved you. The first few times I could see and hear what my character did for the mission. The Interesting thing was I didn't do much of what the main goal of the game was - PvP. I was too busy going through the storyline and trying to watch what role my avatar would play in the scenario. Guild Wars also removed the need for level, grind and "gopher" tasks which serve little pupose for a real adventurer.
The cantinas in pre-NGE SWG.
We had 'regulars' there, people who would spend some time there night after night. Everyone from hardcore entertainers, to part-time partyers, to hardcore grinders who like to stop in from time to time and flirt with the dancers. We played music and told jokes, shared stories, and travel experiences. This was after BF and other forced options. Just a group of people who liked being there.
We shared real-life emotions while being part of the game.
- How can you talk if you haven't got a brain?
- I don't know, but some people without brains do an awful lot of talking, don't they?
Origional EQ1 by far. If they re-did the graphics of origional and released classic servers it would still be the best game on the market.
Why? you could talk trash, kill steal, train mobs, and in some cases (pvp servers) kill / loot other players. I remember clearing out entire zones out with my monk FD training everyone...good times. Even better when you duel box a cleric outside and charge those same people for a res.
Im searching for a new MMO myself now, been trying loads of games but nothing is as interesting as daoc was back in 2001. Might be because I'm older or just the fact that games have more graphics than gameplay these days, I don't know.
Looking forward to WAR and perhaps LOTRO (few others aswell), might be fun.
Tried: Most MMO's, Playing: EQ2
I just started eve online to see how it is, as I have been looking for an immersive game and eve is supposed to be that.
I am concerned that it is too micromanagment orientated for me. But I'll have to explore it for a while to see.
I play a game the is called gokrida that is very immersive and like a simpler Eve in playstyle but with very good RP, and even pvp done better than I have seen to date. It is overall waht I would call the most immersive I have ever seen and it is completely web based with no graphics. I would say it is an excellent model for immersive MMO's. I have never seen an MMO that competes with it in style or pllayability.
I do have to say I am looking forward to the eve company's version of World of Darkness but hope they do a better job than eve online and make it more fun to play, weather you start from game inception or years later in the overall sense.
Only two games have stood out that give me the feeling of actually being part of the world. They are very different of each other but the storyline, environment, events and RP of the community have made these games feel real.
1)MxO-Now, I know that this game is wack to play because of the grinding to level and because it hasnt really been developed to its potential. For the most part MxO has been ignored. But this doesnt mean that when one enters Mega City you dont get the sense of being part of the game and storyline. Another plus of this game was the RP of the community. So many plots and events run by players made this game come to life. And then of course the Live Events team that constantly pushed the storyline forward. It was a nice feeling, as a fan, to interact with leading characters from the Matrix Trilogies. (At least this is how I felt when I played it two years ago). The immersion feels real but the game it self is an abandon project with no hopes for the future.
2)Ryzom-This game is so unique and challenging. A real sandbox with huge potential. The world is immersive for the PvP player to the casual PvE and Rp players. The community is incredible, but most communities are in the games we love, however Ryzoms community is refreshingly mature. The alien habitats of this game do make you feel like you are watching a national geographic special. What makes this game so real for one is that there is no music while playing; you actually hear the environment react to your avatar. The plants talk and rattle amongst themselves (sort of speak) and the animals will growl and attack or run from you. The fact that the mainland is not quest driven and there are no classes to choose from has always appeal to me and does make one feel like actually living on this strange planet. Ryzom is my favorite game, has been for almost 3 years. It unquestionably qualifies for the topic being discuss here.
Anarchy Online, but that was years ago.
other than that, Eve and Ultima Online.
The problem Im having with every other games is that theyre too linear, and offer no PvP or inferior PvP to the above games I listed. I tried DAoC, and although its PvP was incredible, I still felt it to be too linear so it never captured me.
As for SWG, I was too busy playing Anarchy Online and to me SWG was a major ripoff of AO and I was a complete fanboi for Anarchy Online
Im starting to find my attention span growing shorter for giving newly release MMO's a chance. I think Ive finally came to the conclusion that if:
A. The game offers no decent PvP system, I will not enjoy it
B. If the game is linear, ie. run from one floating glowing ! or O I will not enjoy it. (actually, a caveate to this is WoW has perfected the linear MMO system in almost every way in my opinion. So if I want a linear game, I'll play that and it also has PvP)
C. If the game is just another fantasy MMO and makes zero attempt at something original in its world and races, I wont like it.
yes, im becoming jaded. im also becoming extremely tired of fantasy/quest MMO's that have you going from point A to point B.
I think MMO developers need to rinse their memory of all MMO's to have come out in the past and go back to the roots of roleplay gaming and design a real persistant and dynamic world. Just like when Origin created Ultima Online
"If you want a picture of the future, imagine a robot foot stomping on a human face -- forever."
I miss DAoC
The game was just so much fun on Bria with the constant fighting between player alliances and factions. I just wish the devs had a clue, they could have pushed the game SO much further
==========
SWG - 1st Gen MBH (Closed)
EVE (Closed)
WoW (61 Orc Hunter - Blackwing Lair)
GuildWars (Boring...)
Excellent replies on this thread, to a very interesting question
I agree with Fansede that one has to distinguish between addiction and immersion. Yet, because a product may contain immersive elements on the surface - EverQuest 2 has superb voice-overs, heavy focus on questing and lore, amongst other things - it does not automatically translate into an immersive experience. Again, EverQuest 2 grabs me as addictive and immersive, but spoils the latter through placing predators right next to what should be their prey, and they simply ignore each other for example.
EQ was my first MMORPG and I was stupidly addicted. Yet, it had charm and most importantly, character. It's NPCs felt real; adversaries such as Ambassador D'Vinn (spelling) felt like mortal enemies. The atmosphere of certain zones, in terms of look, feel, types of mobs and music, really wove together a rich tapestry that allowed the player-base to claim the game as their own. Torak is 100% correct with the observation that the genre has changed to become more stat min/max based. One's community is such an important factor in whether one feels immersed in one's game-world. EQ had that in spades.
I felt that AO had a distinct and unique style and feel. The whole look and style of the game created an immersive feeling. From the haunting notes of the opening music (still hands down, the best piece of music I have heard in ANY game - period), to the camera glare caused by the sun, the leets and not forgetting, the dancing ogre in one of the clubs.
An important element is how the game reacts to your presence. I remember Elite on the old C64. It worked so beautifully because the game allowed you an unusual amount of freedom to explore in different directions, and would react dependent on your actions e.g. I remember smuggling contraband and being escorted to a Space Station by a circle of Vipers around my ship. Sadly, a lot of games feel more like an interactive screen-saver where one's presence barely causes a ripple.
For me, immersion is a mood; a state of mind where I am magically transported from this reality to another reality, that becomes equally real and vibrant - if only until I /log. One of the best and most immersive games that I have played is Morrowind. When I get some free time I will have to re-install and add a load of player created content and plug-ins to create a truly immersive experience to what is already a compelling game.
Regards,
Riotgirl
"If you think I'm plucky and scrappy and all I need is love, you're in way over your head. I don't have a heart of gold or get nice. There are a lot nicer people coming up. We call them losers."
--When you resubscribe to SWG, an 18 yearold Stripper finds Jesus, gives up stripping, and moves with a rolex reverend to Hawaii.
--In MMORPG's l007 is the opiate of the masses.
--The absence of evidence is not the evidence of absence!
--CCP could cut off an Eve player's fun bits, and that player would say that it was good CCP did that.