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Happy Happy Hyperviolence (and not)
Ah, the joys of being a college student at a liberal arts institution. Where else can you pass off your end -of-semester final assignment as the study of "the social code of virtual communities", and play MMOs to do it? NOWHERE. It is in the aid of this happy truth, ladies and gents, that I humbly request your assistance.
I'm looking for an MMO - a pair of MMOs, really - that each exemplify differently polarized aspects of MMO play genre. My final assignment is looking at how a new player is accepted into virtual communities in these different game settings; aka, how each game treats its newbs either similarly or differently from, oh, Hello Kitty Online versus Conan. Unfortunately, I've been out of the scene for a while (only app I currently have is to Asheron's Call *gasp*), and so I could really use your help in determining which two games most easily meet these criteria.
For Game #1, I'm looking for:
- A game that emphasizes cooperative play over competition
- An emphasis on crafting/farming/homesteading and the like over outright combat (though combat can be included) - however, combat should work to some end other than simply making you more effective in future combat
- A large emphasis on personal character creation and individualization
- A very slight, if not entirely absent, PVP component
- Perhaps even a game with heavily moderated chat channels and rules, meant to either protect newbies, or else, 'keep the peace'
For Game #2, I'm looking for:
- A game emphasizing competitive play between players, though perhaps through cooperative ends
- Definite emphasis on fighting and combat as an advancement tool, while other aspects of the game focused on making you more effective towards these ends.
- A tremendous emphasis on PVP combat
- Largely unmoderated chat channels, 'anything goes'
Both games should preferably also meet the following:
- Free to play, or at least free to start playing (a trial, microtransaction model, etc.) [Beta games are okay too!]
- Ease of entry, insofar as you can jump right into the game and start killing/crafting/whatever
- Some manner of actual playerbase? Doesn't need to be huge, so long as there's someone to talk to...
- Some function to monitor or log in-game chat; this one is just a nice possibility, and I know Warhammer Online did this for you, at least...
Any suggestions you all could give me would be awesome. I can even keep you updated with the results, which may be surprising - or else, may totally...not. =P Thanks everyone!
Comments
I think game #2 HAS to be Darkfall. I can't think of any other game that will be the polar opposite to whatever you choose for game #1 based on your description. Darkfall is the full out anything goes PvP game. I haven't personally played it, mainly because the terrible forum community pushed me away immediately, but I'm sure it'll be a perfect fit for your game #2.
I'm not sure about what to suggest for game #1. I think Lord of the RIngs Online fits a lot of your description. So does Everquest 2. These are both PvE focused games with smart, mature communities. Vanguard has a much smaller population but besides adventuring experience (killing mobs to level up so you can kill harder mobs), there's also diplomacy and crafting, both of which have completely separate leveling systems.
There should be free trials for all the games I mentioned except darkfall.
Try Holic & Requiem: Bloodymare