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The Downfall of MMORPGs....
thecandide
Member Posts: 101
I'm in the military and I'm about to have to deploy for 6 months..... I'm just wondering is anyone else out there feeling that MMORPGs favor those collecting unemployment? During my normal workweek there are only so many hours that I can devote to MMORPGs and despite how well I play I know that I will never be a great hero... and I will never have the time to run a guild....
Unless I divert time from college and military advancement in "real life" I know that I will never become a great leader in the world of MMORPGs. My fantasy will never get fulfilled in a MMORPG. I'm a great leader in the "real world" why can't I be one online?
I'm just wondering.... Is anyone out there feeling that MMORPGs only benefit those with the most disposable time?
Comments
A true fact about this is:
Real life > Computer Games
And no, I don't see a large number of mmorpgs being shut down any time soon.
Of course experience based games will always favour those with the most time. If you prefer it otherwise, you will have to play WW II Online, or Jumpgate, or some other skill based game out there. Do consider though, that even in that scenario the person that trains most are often best at it.
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1338 - One Step Above
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1338 - One Step Above
its not a feeling, its a fact... the highest level player with the biggest and baddest gear will more then likely be an unemployed hermit...
there's not too much that can be done with it in MMORPG's... a couple games have managed to tone it down a bit (such as EVE), but you can never completely level the playing field for both the "unemployed hermits" and "casual gamers"...
just have to learn to deal with it...
why is this called "The Downfall of MMORPGs" though?...
--------------------------------
Games Played - Too many to list~
Games Currently Playing - City of Heroes
Favorite Game So Far - Lineage 1 ^^
Waiting For - WoW (OB is gonna be hell T_T l337 d3wdz everywhere =_=)
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Matters little cause as long as you play no matter if's you play at all the game would probably exist... they need your money not your presence in the game for it to exist... so unless people see not playing 24/7 is bad then it is up to the person playing if they are getting their money's worth and in most cases they do.
Former Stress Tester of the guild Stress Tester.
Realmreaver formally of EQ, SWG, FFXI and WoW.
Malis/Pirotess of PSO.
Some named of Diablo 1 and 2
Grendel Kinguard of GW.
This cold dark and tormented hell is all i'll ever know so when you get to heaven may the devil be your judge.
~Flogging Molly~
Jelliousy isn't very decomming. This is a very shallow assumtion you have made.
Most people that play MMO's are young and male, or old and female. I know a number of retired peoples that play MMO's a fair amount. And why not? Some may be self employed, they have worked very hard to get to a point a where they can "take off" time just to play.
In acutallity neither is often the case. Playing Smarter > playing allot. The people that play MMO"s are generally people using the game as a chat interface.
"A multiple regression analysis using age, gender, motivations and personality traits revealed that the motivation to socialize and find group affiliation were the best predictors of hours of play per week. Even though the contribution coefficients seem small, for comparison note that between the lowest and highest scoring players on the Social motivation is a difference of about 8.5 hours played per week (from 17.1 to 25.5 hours)." - http://www.nickyee.com/daedalus/archives/000758.php
Short Version:
Achivers play on average 17.1 hours a week, Soicalizers 25.5.
If you want to do well, in a short amount of time, do a little footwork and learn how to better utlize the game.
-=-=-=-=-
"We're a game that's focused on grouping and on solo play, you know, more group oriented, more solo play..."
John Blakely Senior lead for EQ2. Link
Bartle: A: 93% E: 55% S:3% K: 50% The Test. Learn what it means here.
-=-=-=-=-
Achievers realise that killers as a concept are necessary in order to make achievement meaningful and worthwhile (there being no way to "lose" the game if any fool can "win" just by plodding slowly unchallenged). -bartle
Bartle: A: 93% E: 55% S:3% K: 50% The Test. Learn what it means here.
The glove states a good case here.. wow.. nice graph..
Im prob in the 10-20hours myself and i feel like i get enough achieved, couple o hours or more after work is enough..
Overdo it and u get square eyes, didnt ur mom tell u that?
"Who am I to blow against the wind?"
"Who am I to blow against the wind?"
You need physciatric help.
Since you gauge personal success based on your computer game success and self-worth, I am even more fearful of the well-being of the people you claim to lead in the military.
Its a game.
Well said.
I seen players playing close to 24/7 during weekdays. You could always see them online not matter what time you log into the game.
There is no way one could compete with these types of players, unless you are damn well loaded with no parents to nag behind you.
The Best thing about the future is that it comes only one day at a time.
The Best thing about the future is that it comes only one day at a time.
Get some common sense!! The game of football is best suited to people with no jobs. Why? Because they can practice all day, and kick your butt on game day. Crotcheting is best suited for people with no jobs, because they can sit in their rocker and knit all day - soon having a lot more knitted shawls and afghans than I ever can! Dog Training is best for unemployed people. They have so much more time to work with their dog that soon my dumb poodle looks like a chump next to all their tricks! MMorpgs are best for unemployed people. They have all day to look for prime hunting spots and get all the uber gear!
ANY FREAKIN SUBJECT IN THE WORLD is done better if you have all the time in the world to work at it. So quit freakin' out that someone has more time for a game than you do. It's the way life works! You probably have more time at that crappy job than the unemployed goober does! It's so unfair!
People with jobs have more money to spend on candy and cigarettes and chilidogs, but all I can do is sit and play this game! Man, I hate it! Why is life suited best to people with some money?
Why is everyone attacking this poster? I think those of you saying the original poster needs help need help. He plays, like a large population, to fulfill a fantasy or multiple fantasies in a game that he has. That is the whole point of an RPG, to take you away to another world to achieve goals one cannot in normal circumstances. What he is having a problem with is not that people who play more are better than him. (And I apologize if I am putting words into your mouth). However, as I read the post he is having a problem with not being able to fulfill his needs in an MMO because they are too time consuming. Which in a large portion of games I agree with. Many of them require way too much time invested. I don't care if those who put more time in get rewarded more...they should and there is no problem with that. However, I do believe that a MMO should fill my needs on my schedual or playtime. You might try WoW when you get the chance, it is a very easy game and has a very small grind making it easier to play instead of level.
"Feel free to hate me, but hate me for the right reasons."
"Your still ignorant if you believe the first thing you see when the blindfold is removed."
"Be smart enough to know I'm smarter than you."
1. It depends on the MMORPG. Some are made to cater more towards players who have tons of free time. Some are not.
I strongly suggest you check out:
- Anarchy Online. Missions can be personalized depending on how much free time you have. Or how little free time you have.
- Eve Online. You can train most of your character skills while you are offline.
- Star Wars Galaxies. You can do loads of things while offline. Sell items, mine resources, run a store, and more, all while you are offline. Or even at the same time while you are off adventuring. Also it is easy to get things done aka increase skills, in 1-3 hours of free time. Also each character can learn 3 1/2 proffessions at the same time. As well as unlearn then. So you are never stuck with a template.
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Yeah SWG is great....
You can macro everything and never actually play the game. I mean thats what its all about right? getting the most levels and being the most uber?
Get a grip people. Its about playing the game. Why does it bother you so much that other people are ahead of you? Does it really ruin your gaming experience to know that there are other people advancing faster than you are?
All it means is you will take longer to get to the top but its not really a big deal since once you get there everyone is the same. The biggest problem with games is once you reach the top there is often nowhere to go or nothing left to do.
Enjoy the game at your own pace. don't worry about other people. Your skill as a leader will be apparent in the wisdom with which you plan not in the level that you have achieved.
ROLEPLAYERS UNITE!!!!!
Critical thinking is a desire to seek, patience to doubt, fondness to meditate, slowness to assert, readiness to consider, carefulness to dispose and set in order; and hatred for every kind of imposture.
I think it is fair to say that MMORPG in many cases turns to people who cant compete in the real world, and gives them a chance to compete in a virtual. It isn´t true for every character in a game, but in most cases you will find out that behind a godlike character in a MMORPG, is a rather pathetic human being.
Losers who have given up, usually have a lot of spare time and a strong wish to be respected by others. What to do? Play a MMORPG on the internet!
Exactly Starman999, I call that a disease called Grind Syndrome. Shees and they thought it is all because the game has levels. In the end it is how you see it all.
In a different topic I brought up about this problem and most think it is the game that is the problem when indeed the majority of the time it is the player with the Grind Syndrome disease. However, there are some out there where all you can do is grind or they being like SWG and promote this behavior.
In the end there are some MMO's out there steering players away from the GAME and leading them more into the grind. But what the heck, the Devs only making the game the way they want it.
As for the original poster. I don't think he has really caught the GRIND Syndrome bug yet. However, I think he just needs to find more time to play. I suggest getting a Day Timer or just have to do what you can with the time you have. I am sure after your education and when you have finished your tour up with the Military, you will find more time. Especially after you have been married a few or more years.
What most people don't see is if you prioritize your gaming. Work 8 hours, breakfast, enroute to work, lunch (take the 30 min one instead of 60 min) then Dinner = time with kids and wife 30+ mins (unless it is your night to cook 60 min). Time with kids on homework, split in half with wife so you have 30 mins more with kids. Time with wife before you sleep (don't lie, no more than 30 min) Sleep, atleast 7 hours (learned from previous games with only 3-5 hours...not good) So...lets total it up
Typical work week
Work 8 hours
Meals 1-2 hours
work route up and back 30-60
Family time 60 mins (1 hour a night) 30 total after dinner bonus already subtracted in meals. so 30
Intimate time with wife 30 mins (this is weekday evening)
Sleep 7 hours
Total hours 19 + 1 hour for odd thinkgs such as toilet time, phone calls and interuptions during game play, emails and etc......
so with all this interference you have 4 hours left of GAMEPLAY!!!!
So Monday - Thursday that is a total of 16 hours.
And everyone knows if nothing isn't going on on the weekends you will probably be playing both nights from 7 pm till 1 am. So just one weekend night that is an additional 6 hours. 12 or more for the weekend if wife is a gmaer or if you both agree kids go out for night and you both stay home...
Then you still have sunday. Which at my home it is a game night like a weekday night. 4 hours.
So in total of all we have approx. 22 - 32 hours a week for gaming.
However we all know things come up during the weekdays and even weekends so we still have a normal life and don't neglect our lives vacations and children. So on average I can say I game approx. 16 - 26 hours a week.
In the end I am one happy camper. No need to lead a guild , but I do play my role when needed. But just some of us don't have time to lead in these games since we have so much leading our lives outside of the gaming. So in the end it is a matter of priorities. If you really want to lead a guild that bad. I suggest you make some alterations in your life and maybe even think about finding a gaming buddy to take half the responcibility so you have time for it. Most guild leaders don't just lead in the game world, they host a web site for their guild, organise quests and much more. So being a leader of a guild isn't no easy responcibility if you want it to last. Most ones I know that make good Monarchs or Guild leaders or etc.. are ones that are set in their ways. They are either self-employed and have others or machines making money for them while they game and such. Or they are retired and or both husband and wife share the responcibilities. However you have the others, but most I have experienced is they aren't that good of leading and don't put enough effort in their guild. Not serious about the guild of course. Oh BTW, to the one guy that says most older people retired playing MMO's are female. Well I think you are incorrect or focus too much on the female ones. hmm LOL. Well anyway, I can say I have seen a lot of both male and female with the majority of them having both husbands and wives playing. I thnk you have to spend more time talking to them female retirees to know that the guy not to far away is the IRL husband
Oh and to Dystopium, I think you should look in the mirror and not use the mirror to project your own thoughts. Now your statement is the farthest from the truth I have ever seen. Most people I know that are Uber GODS of MMORPG's are people that more than likely make more money in a week than you make in a month. Trust me, I have met a lot of good people IRL that have a lot of time on their hands and their homes make my 280K home look like a summer home to theirs.
MMO's appeal and cross all demographic lines. But to say that young males are not the most attracted to the genre is a fallacy.
Ulfaro
"Mature gamers from the Pacific"
http://www.californiagamer.com
TheCandide may I suggest a game to you which does not dedicate a large ammount of your time and has options that favor both the casual gamer and the hardcore aggressive gamer?
In World of Warcraft there is a guage which fills up when you place your character in an INN and log out. During the time which you are inactive that guage raises up slowly. When you come back for the length the gauge is extended you gain 200% experience off the common monsters which you normally fight rather than 100%. So basically, if your gone for a long period of time and you let your character sit in the INN logged out for a couple days you could bust out an entire level in half the time it would take someone who plays constantly for many hours a day. This feature was implimented into the game by Blizzard because they knew the concerns of the people who have responsibilities in life and who cannot dedicate their lives to playing their game so they put this feature in there for those who casually play it for a couple hours a day.
Some may think that this could be abused but I assure you the gauge doesn't fill up at a rapid speed so anyone who is collecting unemployment and sitting around doing nothing will not log their game out just to gain a quicker EXP rate. This is also good for those who have multiple characters and doesn't play just one char on a regular basis but switches to another to play once and a while. If you put the inactive chars in the INN when you log back in it'll have a quicker EXP gain rate for a certain ammount of time (Depending on how long it's been active in the INN).
Don't mean to type you a book here as a post but I recommend World of Warcraft bud.
It hasn't hit retail yet it's still in Closed beta phase but their website www.worldofwarcraft.comin the news has shown that Open Beta sign ups are going to be comming soon and I assume less than 2 weeks from now. You should give the game a shot I can almost bet you'll be hooked.
Beta Good!
Yeah i heard that WoW is for those who don't have 14 hours a day to play. I'm not putting anyone down who does grind all day, it's your life, live it as you see fit. Personnaly I'm going to get WoW beacause Im starting college classes soon and I wont have as much leisure time.
Just go to any Everquest Fan Faire, and you'll see the majority of players - the D&D type geeky people who spend the majority of their lives around computers and home in the first place..no going out, or partying, socializing, sporting events, concerts, etc. Great people, very nice, and of course not all EQ players are like that, but many of them are...take my advice, go a Fan Faire and you'll see what I'm talking about, or just go to EQ's website and look at the past photos from fan faire. What I found very interesting was seeing the types of people who are in the 'uber' eq guilds and how in the hell they could find the time to play eq's top content hours upon hours everyday
There are lots of folks that played the big long grind fest games that didn't play 24/7 and took a year + to make end game
Even in the newer round of games there are the casual players that some players may finish template in a few days or some players take 6 - 7 months to complete the "easy grind ones"
Though i do not have the ablity to sit at the pc for long periods of time due to pain issues and i have responsiblities to my family and home as well
When i look for a guild within these mmorgs i gravitate towards those that are adults have other things to do in their lives besides just play mmorpgs and that uber isn't end goal just goofing off in a game world having fun while i do it is
One of the main things i have learned is not to be in any hurry to get "there" since many mmorpgs do not have anything to do once you "arrive"
if you find a group of folks to pal around with that are also just trying to have a good time, it does make the game play more entertaining
does that mean ill never have the right armor, items gold, toys, trinkets, others do ? Yep but does it bother me ? na
However ,one thing that to me is dying within mmorpgs is folks are being more careful where they spend their time at, being more careful when choosing what they will commit to and not as readily as trying every singal game that comes out
Players aren't staying where to many bugs ruin game play so thus cometition has to have something that others do not decent response time to fixes, and a reason to stay
We use to argue our montly fee was for updates maintence on servers and new content
Now we see in most cases the montly fee is just maintence and expansions is cash cow
Well in order for current players to jump to expansion and plopping down extra money, the core game better be in decent condtion and add something to a game not a totaly separte play field for just a few players
so in that part i agree with you there needs to something worth while to do in the game that you are playing a montly fee for and much of it needs to be Working as Intended.......
Didnt anyone ever tell you, "Its the journey and the way you got there, not the destination that counts." ?
If they did, then they are full of it... lol
I agree that there are many types of players in the game some can play 24/7 and some just a few hours. I disagree that it is not the game that can be changed a little for all players to enjoy.
I am a casual player with only a few hours a day. I played EQ1 up until legacy of yakesha came out. I got up to lvl 52 but when I tried to go for my epic or any uber equipment, gear of any kind you needed more than just a few hours a night and most of it was spent getting the guild or players together to get the job done and by that time you were not able to play any longer for the night. Then it would repeat the next night wich was rediculas. Also when you have to sit for hours or days for a freakin mob to pop only to find out when you killed it this time it did not have what you needed so it was waiting again for it to pop until it dropped. Then when EQ got over populated most of the bigger guilds had everything camped forever so you couldnt get anything done.
So I feel that the game can be changed to accomadate everyone so it will be fun for all. It can have a camp time or it can put a limit not in days but in a few hours for mobs to pop again. Maybe there are games out now that do but they dont stand up to the quality of game Like EQ or now EQ2 or WoW.
I lost interest in MMORPGS since that time. I will play WoW or EQ2 just to see if anything has changed. If it has not then I may not play ever again which to anyone else it may be who cares but to me it was my hobby my something to escape from the real world for a while.
Ok now it is time for people to flame away
Have fun doing it
PS sorry if I mispelled anything
"Suddenly I heard a Tapping..as of someone gently Rapping..Rapping at my Chamber door". You heard me Rapping right?
"Suddenly I heard a Tapping..as of someone gently Rapping..Rapping at my Chamber door". You heard me Rapping right?
And..... how many people attend those fairs? How many are repeat attendees? Now compare that with how many accounts EQ has. Your argument and point moots itself out.
At most 5,000 to 10,000 EQ fans attend those fairs. Many are repeat attendees. There are how many players playing EQ? H0w many?
The majority of players do not attend the fairs. For many reasons. Work, location, not enough free time. BTW most of the EQ fairs are on the West Coast of the USA. That means only 1/3 of the country has a chance of having an easy drive there.
A better example is the Neilson ratings. Roughly 5 million people and viewers are supposivly representing over 100 million viewers and what they like. The TV series Star Trek was considered a bomb according to the supposivly accurate Neilson ratings. It got canceled and taken off air. ST fans everywhere engaged in a letter writting campaign. The rest is history. Turns out those neilson ratings in no way at all accuratly represented the MAJORITY. Just like you seeing 5,000 or 10,000 EQ fans at an EQ fair is not an accurate representation of the roughly 300,000+ EQ players.
-Personal Website (A Work in progress):
http://www.geocities.com/xplororor/index.html
-AC, AC2, AO, EQ, SWG:
http://community.webshots.com/user/xplororor
-More SWG:
http://community.webshots.com/user/capt_xplororor
-EverQuest II:
http://community.webshots.com/user/xplororor_eq2archives01
-EQ, Dungeon Siege, Diablo II, *UXO*:
http://community.webshots.com/user/xplororor_archives01
-EVE Online !!!
http://community.webshots.com/user/sica_xol_archives01
-Personal Website (A Work in progress):
http://www.geocities.com/xplororor/index.html
-AC, AC2, AO, EQ, SWG:
http://community.webshots.com/user/xplororor
-More SWG:
http://community.webshots.com/user/capt_xplororor
-EverQuest II:
http://community.webshots.com/user/xplororor_eq2archives01
-EQ, Dungeon Siege, Diablo II, *UXO*:
http://community.webshots.com/user/xplororor_archives01
-EVE Online !!!
http://community.webshots.com/user/sica_xol_archives01