This is a word that gets tossed around a lot here and I don't think it's entirely clear what people mean when they say it. From what I've read the two most popular definitions of this word are: A mindless repetitive task. and A tiresome, boring repetitve task. So is something a grind just because it's repetitive, or does it have to feel like drudgery to really be a "grind"? If it's the former, it means that grinding is a common part of MMOs that we're never going to see disolve away completely. If it's the latter, then the term grind is subjective, and only certain parts of certain games will be considered grinds to certain people. When I think of the word grind I think of a mundane, boring, repetitive task that feels more like work than playing a game. I don't mind if something is repetitive, in fact every once in a while I seek out something that is mindless so I can just relax and veg out for a while. But I don't like a game to feel like work. So what do you think?
For myself the "grind" is any mindless, repetitive task that takes away from the immersion factor of a game and that serves as nothing but a treadmill to the next minor power increase or item upgrade. MMORPG's., for myself, are supposed to be stories where we (the players) take on the role of the major players. Could you imagine reading the Lord of the Rings and every other paragraph is filled with Frodo goes to kill 100 spiders because Bounder Billy stubbed his toe? Normally these are nothing more than an attempt to fill in empty space with shallow meaningless excuses for content in an effort to get people to subscribe longer.
This was one thing I liked about SWG. They didn't try to hide the fact that you were grinding. You didn't have to run all over poorly laid out clogged cities to get your next quest. You just went to a mission terminal and took the two or so that paid the most money. Ran out killed the lair, and ran back and did it again. Everyone, including myself cried about the lack of content in SWG. In fact, it has just as much if not more content than any other mmo because of those random mission generators. If you think talking to NPC A is any different than talking to NPC Z on the far side of an ingame city then you are simply deluding yourself
well anything that is insanely boring. See many people didn't find WoW a grind- I did because I just found it dull. The PvP could be fun but you couldn't level up via that.
Yay a use for my sig. I agree with most of the comments in this thread. A boring/laborious repetitive task.. So 1 part is factual repetitive, the 2nd part is subjective so all games may or may not have grind depending on your point of view. Venge Sunsoar Edit: Doh forgot I changed my sig. Anyway the old one said, "Grind does not exist it is entirely your perception."
You're the one I was looking for
If you wish to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first invent the universe. - Carl Sagan
I enjoy the grind, so I would say a "repetetive action required for advancement" because it doesnt necisarrily mean leveling your char's level, but could also mean skills, crafting, etc.
If you enjoy it, then it's not a grind. The word you were looking for was "leveling."
No, because the repetitive action itself is boring.
You enjoy the process of leveling. You find the process of leveling boring. Got it.
whatever. The grind is the glue that holds a community together. lol
You keep thinking that. It's never been proven and there is no data to support it, but... whatever.
-- Whammy - a 64x64 miniRPG - RPG Quiz - can you get all 25 right? - FPS Quiz - how well do you know your shooters?
Life if full of repetition and grinds, it's not just limited to games. Until MMOs it wasn't ever in games, BD. In any other leisure activity or source of entertainment that people are paying for, most people will not tolerate a grind... AT ALL. The idea is simply preposterous to to anyone outside of MMO gamers. You wake up in the morning and go to work for the day... thats a grind. Thus the common phrase 'the daily grind.' It's not the same as going out into the virtual wilderness to kill 30 bears for their claws (just to collect 5 claws), but going to work each day is still a repetitive action and grind. Now I have to rethink my use of the word masochism, because some people really do have jobs they enjoy greatly. I look forward to going to work each morning.
-- Whammy - a 64x64 miniRPG - RPG Quiz - can you get all 25 right? - FPS Quiz - how well do you know your shooters?
Comments
For myself the "grind" is any mindless, repetitive task that takes away from the immersion factor of a game and that serves as nothing but a treadmill to the next minor power increase or item upgrade. MMORPG's., for myself, are supposed to be stories where we (the players) take on the role of the major players. Could you imagine reading the Lord of the Rings and every other paragraph is filled with Frodo goes to kill 100 spiders because Bounder Billy stubbed his toe? Normally these are nothing more than an attempt to fill in empty space with shallow meaningless excuses for content in an effort to get people to subscribe longer.
This was one thing I liked about SWG. They didn't try to hide the fact that you were grinding. You didn't have to run all over poorly laid out clogged cities to get your next quest. You just went to a mission terminal and took the two or so that paid the most money. Ran out killed the lair, and ran back and did it again. Everyone, including myself cried about the lack of content in SWG. In fact, it has just as much if not more content than any other mmo because of those random mission generators. If you think talking to NPC A is any different than talking to NPC Z on the far side of an ingame city then you are simply deluding yourself
http://www.speedtest.net/result/7300033012
well anything that is insanely boring. See many people didn't find WoW a grind- I did because I just found it dull. The PvP could be fun but you couldn't level up via that.
You're the one I was looking for
If you wish to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first invent the universe. - Carl Sagan
If you enjoy it, then it's not a grind. The word you were looking for was "leveling."
No, because the repetitive action itself is boring.
You enjoy the process of leveling. You find the process of leveling boring. Got it.
whatever. The grind is the glue that holds a community together. lol
You keep thinking that. It's never been proven and there is no data to support it, but... whatever.
- RPG Quiz - can you get all 25 right?
- FPS Quiz - how well do you know your shooters?
- RPG Quiz - can you get all 25 right?
- FPS Quiz - how well do you know your shooters?