Howdy, Stranger!
It looks like you're new here. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons!
Quick Links
MMO's Are Meant To Be Played In 1-3 Hour Stints Per Day
nate1980
Member UncommonPosts: 2,074
Below is my reply to a post in the STO forum concerning people reaching level cap within a week of release and complaining about a lack of content. I created a thread for it in The Pub, because my opinion is relevant to every MMO.
When MMO's were new for me, I was able to play DAoC and SWG all day long. However, once I mastered the skill of MMO playing, which to be honest doesn't take long, any MMO I play becomes boring if played for long periods of time per day, because MMO's are repetitive. In fact, anything done for a long stretch of time feels repetitive. Even the things I love most would become repetitive if I did them for 8-16 hours a day: sex (this ones iffy), golf, games, movies, tv, whatever.
Episodes in the game (STO) last about 30-60min, just as the developers said they would to replicate the T.V. series. If you play 1-3 episodes a day, it hardly feels repetitive. In fact, it's pretty easy to get immersed in the game at that pace. When you finally do reach rank, which will take a while at that pace, you'll feel like you earned it.
It hasn't been officially confirmed by any notable source, but I firmly believe modern MMO's are designed to be played in 1-3 hour stints. If a person analyzes the time it takes to complete a quest in any MMO, they'll see it doesn't take more than that long. If a person analyzes how long it takes to complete a group activity, such as a dungeon, or group quest/mission, it doesn't take longer than 1-3 hours. If a person analyzes how long it takes to properly down a boss or raid, they'll find that it can be done in 1-3 hours. Even a game like WoW, whose raids last several hours can be completed over the course of a week. So you could beat 1-3 bosses a night and by the end of the week, you'll have completed the raid.
So if MMO's are designed to be played in 1-3 hour stints, no one can complain when they play more than that and end up getting bored, burnt out, or reach the level cap before the developers intended you to reach level cap. I also think a game being designed for 1-3 hour stints per day is an ethical choice by game companies. That way players don't feel like they must play more in order to keep up with content releases. This allows them to both play the game normally, stay competitive, and have a healthy real life all at the same time. What makes this game design ethical is that it promotes healthy play, rather than obsessive, life neglecting play.
Comments
Sorry but that's stupid why should people play it only 1-3 hours a day just because the devs didn't create a big game?
It's not people's fault that games nowadays are becoming shorter and/or incomplete.
yep op!its the vast majority that play like you (at least those that the corp want in their game since its a big crowd)
It is never enough, for we are hardcore. Furthermore, as it just so happens we are also the voice of the internet, the voice of gaming, devs better listen.
- Shijeer
Well, this is a topic that is often brought up when weighing the value of 'real life' to your 'hobby life' and it usually boils down to what each individual feels is proper for them within some rather broad boundaries. Health and generally accepted standards for social interaction included.
While hardcore (I use the term in this instance to describe the several-hours-a-day clients) players will almost always outpace the content, especially in recently released mmos, it is rather obvious that some offerings cope with the rapidly leveling player better than other game worlds. A complete lack of endgame at launch is inexcusable from a design standpoint these days.
It should also be noted that the very players that play to extreme hours are usually the most vocal on the forums and gaming sites. They tend to be critical of anything that doesn't support their playstyle (naturally) and have the tools to express that in a variety of ways. So, it is in the interest of a gaming venture to cater at least in small ways initially to the pacesetting crowd while also understanding how they actually impact the game.
It is a balancing act
I always love how, in threads like this, when anyone suggests moderation, you always have the people coming out of the woodwork screaming "we are hardcore, we are pathetic, we have no lives!" like it's something to be proud of.
In all likelihood, the OP is entirely correct, MMOs are best played 1-3 hours a day, a couple of days a week. They are not a substitute for real life, they are a hobby, nothing more.
Now try telling that to the losers who live vicariously through online games.
Played: UO, EQ, WoW, DDO, SWG, AO, CoH, EvE, TR, AoC, GW, GA, Aion, Allods, lots more
Relatively Recently (Re)Played: HL2 (all), Halo (PC, all), Batman:AA; AC, ME, BS, DA, FO3, DS, Doom (all), LFD1&2, KOTOR, Portal 1&2, Blink, Elder Scrolls (all), lots more
Now Playing: None
Hope: None
ok heres real life!you see drug addict!you see drunk!you see sport junky,etc etc etc
so your telling me real life is better then the virtual world.good for your then !grats!
but the average people isnt that lucky!i think itslike everything else it needs a balance
And I always love it when people that play casually can't take critsim from those that play more then them and and call them no lifers and such, hah truly patetic.
Just because more people nowadays are playing like 1 hour a day and some less doesn't change the fact that games nowadays are coming out incomplete and plain short.
Sure, I see those people and you know something? THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG WITH THEM! THEY NEED HELP! The idea that some people are screwed up junkies that need a fix and we ought to give it to them is idiotic.
Played: UO, EQ, WoW, DDO, SWG, AO, CoH, EvE, TR, AoC, GW, GA, Aion, Allods, lots more
Relatively Recently (Re)Played: HL2 (all), Halo (PC, all), Batman:AA; AC, ME, BS, DA, FO3, DS, Doom (all), LFD1&2, KOTOR, Portal 1&2, Blink, Elder Scrolls (all), lots more
Now Playing: None
Hope: None
Gaming is a way of life IMO, so who cares if I would play 6-8 hours a day or 1-3. I say to each their own, and I wish more people would think that way. Who cares what other people do, just care what you do and live how you want to.
But its true games now days are ment to be played 1-3 if you want to not get to cap in a few weeks. If I would have played that many hours in FFXI I would have never gotten anywhere in that game.
And you know what? I don't consider anyone who plays an hour or two a day a gamer. If that's all the time you have to invest into a game then I suggest you pick up a Wii.
Huh. This is one of the few times that I've read a thread and agreed with it 100%.
20 hours a week is about right; I can't imagine how people can possibly expend 40, 60, even 80 hours a week playing an MMO. No slight intended against the "hardcore" crowd, but you've gotta be neglecting other elements of your life to be able to play that much.
Playing: EVE, Final Fantasy 13, Uncharted 2, Need for Speed: Shift
that and it completely burns you out on this genre making every game seem like garbage.
And you know what? I don't consider anyone who plays an hour or two a day a gamer. If that's all the time you have to invest into a game then I suggest you pick up a Wii.
lmao....hahahha...bwhahaha...
I give your post a 10/10.
"Pfft....wannabe alcoholics, only drinking 2 drinks a day" When your about to pass...looking back at life....I'm sure you'll cherish those 80-hour gaming weeks....
I think they are listening. I am currently sub'd to EQ and L2. I play each about 3-5 hours max per week. Some weeks less. So, thats $30/month from a casual gamer. And I do agree completely with the OP. When EQ first came out (my frist MMO) I would play all night and usually into the early morning hours (4-6 am was typical on non work days). Now, meh, few hours here and there and I am good.
Also, it goes without saying, the most casual - noob, kiddie inspired, soccer mom casual, easy mode MMO in the world has millions of active subs and they cater to people who run an instance or two a week and maybe a few BGs. So, ya, I do think devs are listening.
Oh, and I am sure the devs were listening when Vanguard tried for the hardcore crowd and as a result crashed and burned. Where were all the hardcore types then ? Devs most certainly took notice there as well.
i feel the time spent in game weekly shouldnt be more then the time you spend at school,work etc!
so if you go to school or work 38 hour a week you should limit your game time to 38 hour a week!
LOL !!!
All kidding aside, I would hope there are plenty of quality games out there for us all -- hardcore, casual etc. No reason there shouldnt be if there are enough people to play all the various styles.
I had a reply ready on the same topic at STO forums but this will be better place to post.
The problem is elsewhere, I think.
Here is the issue:
How do you measure amount of content?
This is not easy to answer. You can have a game that takes hundreds of hours to reach end but does that mean it has more content?
I am quite sure it does not.
The same way you can have game with lots of content and achieve the cap in very short amount of time.
Fact is, extreme actions bear extreme results and you can expect extreme consequencies
how can anybody spend 8 hours a day playing a video game? um if i go to work until 5 and get home at 5:30 or 6:00 and then eat and shower. its 7:00 by then. so then i am suppose to stay up till 3:00 am and go to work the next day? outside of that, what about things like friends, gf, wife, kids, etc. most people have these things involved in their life. it just blows my mind on how people can do this in today's society unless you make a living off playing video games.
Don't worry, when some of you grow up and realize you spent more time playing a videogame as most people WORK per week, you'll come to regret all the time you've essentially thrown into a big black hole=) Your childhood memories or college memories will exist of videogame fantasies because you'll barely be able to tell the difference between time spent gaming and time spent living. But don't worry, the odds of you having anyone else to share those memories with is probably zippo anyway, hehe. How could you have a relationship with someone if 1/2 of your waking hours are spent glued to a KB or controller? j/k
I don't even play WoW, but I hate these stupid comments.
WoW is what you make of it. If you're a soccer mom and you want to play casually, it does that. If you're a hardcore PvP fan, you can get into the single most competitive and difficult PvP of any MMO in high level arenas (2200+ ratings to get started). If you're a hardcore PvE fan, they offer a ton of difficult boss encounters, that are more complex and difficult than any other game out there.
All of the so-called 'hard' MMOs are JUST as easy to level to cap as WoW, with the exception of FFA PvP games. They just take longer. A lot of people confuse the length of time it takes to do something with the difficulty.
------
Played - UO, FFXI, WAR, WoW, EVE
Currently - Bored.
I think they are listening. I am currently sub'd to EQ and L2. I play each about 3-5 hours max per week. Some weeks less. So, thats $30/month from a casual gamer. And I do agree completely with the OP. When EQ first came out (my frist MMO) I would play all night and usually into the early morning hours (4-6 am was typical on non work days). Now, meh, few hours here and there and I am good.
Also, it goes without saying, the most casual - noob, kiddie inspired, soccer mom casual, easy mode MMO in the world has millions of active subs and they cater to people who run an instance or two a week and maybe a few BGs. So, ya, I do think devs are listening.
Oh, and I am sure the devs were listening when Vanguard tried for the hardcore crowd and as a result crashed and burned. Where were all the hardcore types then ? Devs most certainly took notice there as well.
There is a problem with your example. Vanguard released incomplete and extremely buggy, if it had it been complete mostly bug free it would have done better. If WOW had been in the state as vanguard at launch it would have lost tons of subs early on also.
I'm no fan of either of those 2 games, but the different states both were in at launch made a huge difference.
back on topic they are made for 1 to 3 hours at a time. If you played one 3 hours a day 5 times a week you will be at end game on most recent ones in 6 to 10 weeks. In my opinion that is still way too sort for an mmo as at most an expansion will come every 6 months to two years.
Nate, I agree... And I disagree, at the same time. True, if you do things for 8-10 hours straight, they tend to grow on you. But that only means, that you're not involved enough.
I won't post a long rant here, frankly, a lot of people have done better, than me already. But... You know... Something great should be hard to tear yourself from. I can always play 1-3 hours a day, that's usually how much time I have. But when I quit, I should still be thinking about it and wanting more, when I have time. That means, that something have caught my attention.
I hate WoW because it made my plush hamster kill himself, created twin clones of Hitler, punched Superboy Prime in reality, stared my dog down, spoiled my grandmother, assimilated me into the Borg, then made me into a real boy, just to make me a woman again.
I don't even play WoW, but I hate these stupid comments.
WoW is what you make of it. If you're a soccer mom and you want to play casually, it does that. If you're a hardcore PvP fan, you can get into the single most competitive and difficult PvP of any MMO in high level arenas (2200+ ratings to get started). If you're a hardcore PvE fan, they offer a ton of difficult boss encounters, that are more complex and difficult than any other game out there.
All of the so-called 'hard' MMOs are JUST as easy to level to cap as WoW, with the exception of FFA PvP games. They just take longer. A lot of people confuse the length of time it takes to do something with the difficulty.
I don't even really play MMOs atm but I hate stupid comments like this.
You can't be competitive in arenas no matter how skilled you are unless you and your friends are the appropriate 3 classes R M P. If your a hardcore PvE fan your not playing WoW, its a joke raiding is casual maybe 3 nights a week at most to stay on top of raiding. How do I know? I still talk to a few friends who play wow regularly and just yesterday my friend was saying how they should down arthas this week and they only raid 2/3 nights a week. No time =/= skill but a lack of effort and coordination =/= skill either.
Sigh have to post again..
The point of an mmo is to have a huge world to explore that SHOULD last you more then a week or 2 to reach end game and stop saying power level or life less kids this is starting to get stupid.
If a game like STO stated by cryptic itself said that you could reach lvl cap in 100 hours it means the journey is short! but those that play more hours then you still thought that since cryptic made such a short journey mmo there must be some stuff to do in the end game but no there's nothing apart of pvp.
So just because devs now are making short mmorpgs people that sometimes play more then 1-3 hours have to play less just because casuals keep on complaining they can't keep up with hardcores?
If i have to play a P2P game that is short like STO or something similar to reach cap then I demand a different payment because they don't deserve 15 $ a month on such a small mmorpg just let people pay like eastern and we'll see what profit they will get when they will sell hours of playtime instead of having a fixed monthly fee.
Ps. I don't play 10 hours a day just like you will probably try to flame me on because I disagree with your stupid excuses on letting these short "mmos" keep on getting developed.
Making up number of hours played per day is pointless. E.g. there are days where I can't play even for 10 minutes and there are these days where i dont wanna play even though i have a few hours to spare. It's more appropriate to consider hours played per week which can also vary depending on different stuff going on. I can't see how anyone can afford to play more than 20 hours a week. I mean seriously dont you go to school/uni/work? 20 hours is also a bit of an overkill having in mind that school/uni/work is not the only thing you have to take in mind. Watching movies, listening to music, physical exercises, hanging out with friends... where do these go? Atm for me it's like >
15 hours a week - college
20 hours or so - study time
20 hours > part-time job
reading mmorpg.com ( no idea why i do it tbh ;D) > 2-3 hours a week, no gaming mostly
watching movies + hanging out with friends, societies, sports clubs - rest
You also maybe have to consider how much time you sleep a day. I usually don't ned more than 7-8 hours tops.