So yeah you can make the world as large as you want but if you have all the information one alt tab away you will never get lost.
Still MMO worlds are a lot smaller today than before. Take a game like AoC, you would not get lost their even if you killed every wiki and the minimap, it is just too small.
You are all right, it is the combination of minimaps, maps, Wikis and shrinking worlds that taken away a lot of the mystery and exploration of the genre.
Since the invention of minimaps, it's been tough to get lost.
Did EQ1 have a minimap? I can't remember anymore.
I actually think it has more to do with the advent of dedicated websites that tell you how to do every quest and exact locations of encounters and quest locations
You have a point of course, but when I played SWG I had access to complete maps with all the POIs and quests. I didn't get lost as much but you still had to get there and you still found about 10 other things to explore on the way. That was just on one planet about the size of one of wow's continenets, and there were I believe nine planets. SWG failed on linear content, but boy did they succeed on exploration and an awesome huge world.
Go play EQ1 today, don't download the optional map packs, voila. I guarantee you'll get lost plenty, and ask lots of questions about how to get from point A to B.
You can always play Vanguard. Despite its lack of support and low population issues it can still be a very enjoyable game. One of the best games out their right now when it comes to straight exploration.
What happened to huge zones where you could get lost and try to find your way for hours...
Most of the time a mapping system comes in handy, but i really miss this part of older MMO's....
The problem with this is that the "newness" of the zone can only last for so long. This idea would be great in a game where exploration is the main feature, but most modern MMOs seem to throw things at you instead of leaving you to find your own way.
EQ2 was really the best one for that in my opinion.
ummm Lotro zones are twice to three times as large as those tiny EQ2 zones and still lotro isnt one of those games "you could get lost in" that the OP is looking for.
OP try Vanguard, Ryzom or even Darkfall if you want a massive map to play on.
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Still MMO worlds are a lot smaller today than before. Take a game like AoC, you would not get lost their even if you killed every wiki and the minimap, it is just too small.
You are all right, it is the combination of minimaps, maps, Wikis and shrinking worlds that taken away a lot of the mystery and exploration of the genre.
I for one miss that part of the genre.
You have a point of course, but when I played SWG I had access to complete maps with all the POIs and quests. I didn't get lost as much but you still had to get there and you still found about 10 other things to explore on the way. That was just on one planet about the size of one of wow's continenets, and there were I believe nine planets. SWG failed on linear content, but boy did they succeed on exploration and an awesome huge world.
Go play EQ1 today, don't download the optional map packs, voila. I guarantee you'll get lost plenty, and ask lots of questions about how to get from point A to B.
EQ1-AC1-DAOC-FFXI-L2-EQ2-WoW-DDO-GW-LoTR-VG-WAR-GW2-ESO
Darkfall is a solid example of A huge game area. Just remove the minimap.
Torrential: DAOC (Pendragon)
Awned: World of Warcraft (Lothar)
Torren: Warhammer Online (Praag)
You can always play Vanguard. Despite its lack of support and low population issues it can still be a very enjoyable game. One of the best games out their right now when it comes to straight exploration.
Hello OP, did you miss Darkfall or something.
Funny, how people QQ about features, that these new MMORPG keep giving them.
QQ I Want Sandbox bah bah,, <Darkfall, MO, comes out> Nah DF and MO dont count!
QQ I Want Instanced World MORPG <DDO, VIn, come out> ah QQ they dont cound tho,,,!!!
Philosophy of MMO Game Design
The problem with this is that the "newness" of the zone can only last for so long. This idea would be great in a game where exploration is the main feature, but most modern MMOs seem to throw things at you instead of leaving you to find your own way.
I
ummm Lotro zones are twice to three times as large as those tiny EQ2 zones and still lotro isnt one of those games "you could get lost in" that the OP is looking for.
OP try Vanguard, Ryzom or even Darkfall if you want a massive map to play on.
Playing: Rift, LotRO
Waiting on: GW2, BP