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Finally someone just came out and said it!!
Jimmy_Scythe
Member CommonPosts: 3,586
I'm copying and pasting this from another site. The quote is the author of an article responding to people defending a shitty game. Since the game in question is really just a parody of MMORPGs, the author is also responding to the enraged defenders of the genre. I agree with the author of the article, but I probably would have been more diplomatic...
"I played an MMO for twenty hours (Runescape or something to that effect.) This twenty hours of playtime could equate to me beating both Super Mario World and Shadows of the Collossus; something I did just last weekend. Again, just because I haven't spent literal weeks of gametime in these shitty systems doesn't mean I do not comphrend them and their inner workings. Over the years my WoW friend has relayed the healer tank and DPS triumvirate, the grinding process to lvl 80, the so called intricacies of PVP, etc. Only a fucking idiot would have a problem playing this game; character creation is only simple min/max optimization, boss fights consist of a few simple steps that could be read on a readily available FAQ, and gameplay is nothing more than spamming keybinded abilities."
And then he goes on to say:
"I myself play beer-and-pretzel games and the occasional tabletop RPG, so I can understand playing a game for social reasons. Since my village is so isolated and small, my friend found it hard to find people to discuss Jungian psychology and mathcore, so it's natural he looked for a social outlet. However, this does not excuse Blizzard from providing a chat function in lieu of a good game."
While the guy targets World of Warcraft specifically, a lot of what he's saying can be applied to the entire genre. I'm not trying to start a flame war here. But these issues have been brought up on these forums before and these games have been defended with the same empty, canned responses over and over again. Hell, just look at all the threads on this site bemoaning how bad the genre has become. I think it's time for the more honest among you to admit that the genre was never very good to begin with.
You can read the whole article and comments here.
Comments
pretty much.
it's sad.
the official MMORPG.com deadhead
Riiiiigght...
Current: None
Played: WoW, CoX, SWG, LotRO, EVE, AoC, VG, CO, Ryzom, DF, WAR
Tried: Lineage2, Dofus, EQ2, CoS, FE, UO, Wurm, Wakfu
Future: The Repopulation, ArcheAge, Black Desert, EQN
I agree that MMOs were never in the same quality zone as good single-player RPGs but I'm hoping TOR rectifys that. If anyone can meld the awesome of SP RPGs to an MMO frame it's Bioware.
Alltern8 Blog | Star Wars Space Combat and The Old Republic | Cryptic Studios - A Pre Post-Mortem | Klingon Preview, STO's Monster Play
Meh....I can't lump some of the older games in that refuse pile. I've played some fucking gems in the MMORPG industry.
I guess it's also a matter of personal taste.
I read that article earlier...all I can say is I really hope he doesn’t get paid for his craft....people who admittedly hate wow are even blowing the guy crap.
What I can’t understand is why the OP is acting like this anti-WoW troll is some sort of epiphany on the gaming industry?This sword here at my side dont act the way it should
Keeps calling me its master, but I feel like its slave
Hauling me faster and faster to an early, early grave
And it howls! it howls like hell!
More anti-WOW bashing.
< shrug >
You know if I took the time to strip everything down to its simplest form I'd think life itself was probably a total waste. Tell your friend to slit his wrist all ready.
Exactly. There is nothing that revolutionary in what is said, regardless of what you think of the eloquence. MMO's have been doomed since birth, if you ask the right person.
I just don't see that. Now give an SRPG a $65,000,000 budget? Yeah maybe some good things could happen, but honestly I see this genre as a mover. Wasn't there just an artice today about potential from Jon Wood? I thought it was a pretty decent read.
A "whats wrong with MMO's" thread is created daily on this site. Your welcome to put in your two bits like the rest of us, you don't need to quote someone else.
I haven't read one post of this forum defending a game, so I have no idea what you are talking about.
The genre used to be good, at least in the SWG I stumbled into quite a few years ago, and enjoyed so much before it was stripped away. Haven't been able to find a game since then that is as good. Maybe you think the genre has never been good, but it doesn't matter. I know that it used to be better.
Tried: LotR, CoH, AoC, WAR, Jumpgate Classic
Played: SWG, Guild Wars, WoW
Playing: Eve Online, Counter-strike
Loved: Star Wars Galaxies
Waiting for: Earthrise, Guild Wars 2, anything sandbox.
What made the genre so good was the social interaction and community of any given game. I am NOT talking about grouping.
When you have a good friendly community that interacts well, that is what causes an MMO to shine. Hell even forums can have good communities and entertaining ones with no digital effects whatsoever.
Games are being designed that are anything but community building. Once again I am NOT talking about grouping.
Loot Whoredom,, lack of realm objectives, crafting being a stepchild, player housing or other social hotspots are being phased out. ( I say player housing because it's generally tucked away from any real traffic or social hotspot on its own)
Without community you're better off playing an SRPG, whether you are a soloer or a grouper, because at least an SRPG will offer you better graphics, faster gameplay, and cool ass CGI movies every chapter.
The problem is that developers really aren't taking risk with mmorpgs than the developers are with games that aren't mmorpgs.
We have hit a slump, but never fear everyone! It seems like the future may be holding some gems for us (considering they end up good).
Earthrise: Just reading the parts about crafting being important and a player controller community sounds awesome (although it could end up like that one Star Wars game, so GM "government" involvement to stop monopolies might be a good idea).
Final Fantasy XIV (14): As long as it doesn't become too casual friendly and it sticks to the base mechanics of FF XI (focus on group play, harsh death penalties, role play), it seems promising. Actually, I"m really hoping that by the game being more "casual friendly" the developers really meant they were going to make soloing a little more possible to do but it will still suck majorly compared to group play inside the game, so as to draw in more casuals into a game that ends up being as hardcore as FF XI was.
Unfortunately, the future says that we have to wait until 2010 for these games...
Though I have heard of a possible open beta testing in December for FF XIV.
Actually, you're right. The amount of energy expended applied against the end result ( life ) is ridiculously high.
Well, I like mmorpg's far more than any other type of game. Even over single player rpgs. Just something about the whole concept and aspects of mmo's really makes we want to play em. Just like the movie industry, it appears there are maybe 1 or 2 gems and the rest are money making corporate ventures that end up sucking and aren't worth the hype. Looks to me like it's money that ruins things. Or love of that money. Go figure. Not like that isn't old news to the world, yet the world keeps on chasing the dollar/euro/whatever currency reigns supreme.
The min/maxing is the game. It's all about the growth of your character and achievements. The game mechanics are simple because they aren't the focus and can't be without taking the focus off of the achievements (i.e. gear/level centric games). MMOs cater to the obsessive personality and fuel the human desire to always get better and more powerful (even if it's all virtual). It's as simple as that. I'm fully aware of it and choose to embrace it, and you all do too or you wouldn't be here.
Yes.
Chemistry, biology, and physics are a total waste and contributed nothing to life.
Oops, sarcasm button was on.
Yes.
Chemistry, biology, and physics are a total waste and contributed nothing to life.
Oops, sarcasm button was on.
Well I guess I better get a new neon sign because mine was definitely on. ::runs over and checks the switch:: Hmmm...seems to be working just fine. ::shrugs:::
Yes.
Chemistry, biology, and physics are a total waste and contributed nothing to life.
Oops, sarcasm button was on.
Well I guess I better get a new neon sign because mine was definitely on. ::runs over and checks the switch:: Hmmm...seems to be working just fine. ::shrugs:::
Step back! I'm an Electrician! There might be faulty wiring involved here, I don't want you to get hurt.
When you think about it like Teala said, you reduce just about anything to it's base property and you'll always get the same result. If you didn't have to earn money to pay for a house, and food, and electricity people's greed would still drive them to amass whatever they find valuable or somehow make themselves look more impressive in the eyes of others. The sooner you accept this the better... even though ultimately it doesn't fix anything.
People play these games for various reasons. Some want a brain dead activity where they can butt stomp through AI controlled sprites, others want complex puzzle solving and mental challenge, all the while a different set of people want a social outlet to communicate with people across the world that they might never get a chance to see due to real life constraints.
What I don't get is why all these different people seem to flock to one genre and insist on making it their own, have it change to best suit their bidding? You want a mental challenge... there are plenty of puzzle games strewn across the internet for you to plow through and feel better about yourself. Want to feel smart? I suggest you give Trine a shot. It's got neat graphics and a nostalgic feel to it as well! How bout some mindless activity you say? No problem. I've played plenty of games in the last decade that let you go through stages and beat on AI sprites. Streets of Rage anyone? Now when it comes to social interaction while providing some common base to bring people together, I've always thought MMO's did this well. Now I know there will be someone crying "well why can't it be the way I want it?" and my answer is BECAUSE! Not everybody gets to be an astronaut or doctor, someone's got to man the cash register at McDonalds. Once the lot of you figure out at the very base level what it is that you want out of your game and open your eyes and look around I think you'll find exactly what you're looking for, only problem is you don't like the answer because it's not what everybody else is doing and you want to be one of the "cool kids"
No required quests! And if I decide I want to be an assassin-cartographer-dancer-pastry chef who lives only to stalk and kill interior decorators, then that's who I want to be, even if it takes me four years to max all the skills and everyone else thinks I'm freaking nuts. -Madimorga-
Ya well my friend told me of this game called super mario where you just jump on platforms, and enemy heads. Sounds like something an idiot can play so I've designed this game where it will exactly replicate it's shallow gameplay- just jumping around and killing goombas.
That being said, I think most people are familiar that mmos have low gameplay quotients due to the restraints of shoving so many people on a server that AI or anything can be added. The hook is the advancement, the will to improve your character, through abilities or items, as well as providing a basic pseudo social backdrop. But yes that is grindtastic, repetitive gameplay. It's interesting that WoW is mentioned incidentally with someone spending hours in the game, I've always had the impression it was a casual game and every player only played a couple of hours?
Hahahaha !! ;-)
Yes.
Chemistry, biology, and physics are a total waste and contributed nothing to life.
Oops, sarcasm button was on.
Well I guess I better get a new neon sign because mine was definitely on. ::runs over and checks the switch:: Hmmm...seems to be working just fine. ::shrugs:::
Step back! I'm an Electrician! There might be faulty wiring involved here, I don't want you to get hurt.
I'm not quite sure sticking your finger in the light socket counts for electrician certification.
WOW bashing, the easy way to look skilled when you suck at everything!
WoW, the easy way to look skilled when you suck at every other game!
Heheh, I just had to.
Missed a letter, no worries, I got it for ya.
curse you Zorvan!