My understanding is that the game's cinematic content will make the leveling process feel as though it isn't even happening. We will be more focused on progressing through the story than we will about reaching level X. Peronally, I am very happy about this. After having leveled through so many other games, I find the classic MMORPG grind to be EXTREMELY boring and outdated.
This. Focusing on how much xp you get for any particular activity is so off the mark on this game.
If you think MMOs are all about end game, this isn't the one for you; it's all about the journey.
My understanding is that the game's cinematic content will make the leveling process feel as though it isn't even happening. We will be more focused on progressing through the story than we will about reaching level X. Peronally, I am very happy about this. After having leveled through so many other games, I find the classic MMORPG grind to be EXTREMELY boring and outdated.
This. Focusing on how much xp you get for any particular activity is so off the mark on this game.
If you think MMOs are all about end game, this isn't the one for you; it's all about the journey.
Yeah the fact is people haven't actually experienced a game that's like KOTOR but with other players running around and the possibility of teaming up.
For example, picture the situation: you've got to kill 10 rats but the quest is delivered with good VO that makes you feel more emotionally involved in killing 10 rats than you otherwise would be (either you want to help the quest-giver, or you particularly hate his mealy-mouthed guts ). Not only that, but picture the possibility that the VO is like other BioWare VO - generally, you do actually listen to it, it takes time, and it feels like being in a movie or something.
Hello? Can anyone say "clever time sink"? You see, a lot of the standard MMO tropes are about keeping people playing the game for a reasonable amount of time. Levelling, grinding, even skill-based systems - they're all about parting the schmuck, erm, sorry, player, from his hard-earned cash for a long time.
Of course, this will only work for certain types of players - uber achievers and powerlevellers won't be particularly concerned with the "story crap", and will fly to max level and start pissing and moaning as they always do.
I wouldn't say it's going to be some total cosmic revolution, but it will definitely scratch an itch that many people didn't know they had.
Also, while being immersed in the stories will be its own time sink, I'm not sure whether it will weigh the same on balance as all the time-sinkeyness the traditional MMO tropes create - but think of it this way, if BioWare take good advice from seasoned MMO folks, and ALSO put all the usual tropes in too (have some grind, loot, etc.), then they might actually be ahead of the game.
Plus also, if it's about the journey, then you've got 8 potentially quite long, immersive journeys (more if you think about taking alternative paths within a certain story).
Sorry, rambling a bit, but I think the story stuff will be sufficiently immersive to keep people addicted and playing (think about how many times people play through other BioWare games, just to see the different endings, try the different classes, etc.). If on top of that, BioWare have a reasonable amount of standard MMO grindey stuff too, then I don't think there's any reason to worry.
My understanding is that the game's cinematic content will make the leveling process feel as though it isn't even happening. We will be more focused on progressing through the story than we will about reaching level X. Peronally, I am very happy about this. After having leveled through so many other games, I find the classic MMORPG grind to be EXTREMELY boring and outdated.
This. Focusing on how much xp you get for any particular activity is so off the mark on this game.
If you think MMOs are all about end game, this isn't the one for you; it's all about the journey.
Yeah the fact is people haven't actually experienced a game that's like KOTOR but with other players running around and the possibility of teaming up.
For example, picture the situation: you've got to kill 10 rats but the quest is delivered with good VO that makes you feel more emotionally involved in killing 10 rats than you otherwise would be (either you want to help the quest-giver, or you particularly hate his mealy-mouthed guts ). Not only that, but picture the possibility that the VO is like other BioWare VO - generally, you do actually listen to it, it takes time, and it feels like being in a movie or something.
Hello? Can anyone say "clever time sink"? You see, a lot of the standard MMO tropes are about keeping people playing the game for a reasonable amount of time. Levelling, grinding, even skill-based systems - they're all about parting the schmuck, erm, sorry, player, from his hard-earned cash for a long time.
Of course, this will only work for certain types of players - uber achievers and powerlevellers won't be particularly concerned with the "story crap", and will fly to max level and start pissing and moaning as they always do.
I wouldn't say it's going to be some total cosmic revolution, but it will definitely scratch an itch that many people didn't know they had.
Also, while being immersed in the stories will be its own time sink, I'm not sure whether it will weigh the same on balance as all the time-sinkeyness the traditional MMO tropes create - but think of it this way, if BioWare take good advice from seasoned MMO folks, and ALSO put all the usual tropes in too (have some grind, loot, etc.), then they might actually be ahead of the game.
Plus also, if it's about the journey, then you've got 8 potentially quite long, immersive journeys (more if you think about taking alternative paths within a certain story).
Sorry, rambling a bit, but I think the story stuff will be sufficiently immersive to keep people addicted and playing (think about how many times people play through other BioWare games, just to see the different endings, try the different classes, etc.). If on top of that, BioWare have a reasonable amount of standard MMO grindey stuff too, then I don't think there's any reason to worry.
I agree with your post here and would add one thing, you forgot the scope of this game at start. By all accounts, this game is starting out much larger than basically any other MMO out there has started. So while many people do rush to the end and start complaining, I think in this game it may just take a bit longer to say "Been there, done that". On top of that they are already saying that there is already end game content at the start of this MMO where other companies don't bring that in until much later in the life of their games (even greater scope).
"If half of what you tell me is a lie, how can I believe any of it?"
Comments
This. Focusing on how much xp you get for any particular activity is so off the mark on this game.
If you think MMOs are all about end game, this isn't the one for you; it's all about the journey.
Yeah the fact is people haven't actually experienced a game that's like KOTOR but with other players running around and the possibility of teaming up.
For example, picture the situation: you've got to kill 10 rats but the quest is delivered with good VO that makes you feel more emotionally involved in killing 10 rats than you otherwise would be (either you want to help the quest-giver, or you particularly hate his mealy-mouthed guts
). Not only that, but picture the possibility that the VO is like other BioWare VO - generally, you do actually listen to it, it takes time, and it feels like being in a movie or something.
Hello? Can anyone say "clever time sink"? You see, a lot of the standard MMO tropes are about keeping people playing the game for a reasonable amount of time. Levelling, grinding, even skill-based systems - they're all about parting the schmuck, erm, sorry, player, from his hard-earned cash for a long time.
Of course, this will only work for certain types of players - uber achievers and powerlevellers won't be particularly concerned with the "story crap", and will fly to max level and start pissing and moaning as they always do.
I wouldn't say it's going to be some total cosmic revolution, but it will definitely scratch an itch that many people didn't know they had.
Also, while being immersed in the stories will be its own time sink, I'm not sure whether it will weigh the same on balance as all the time-sinkeyness the traditional MMO tropes create - but think of it this way, if BioWare take good advice from seasoned MMO folks, and ALSO put all the usual tropes in too (have some grind, loot, etc.), then they might actually be ahead of the game.
Plus also, if it's about the journey, then you've got 8 potentially quite long, immersive journeys (more if you think about taking alternative paths within a certain story).
Sorry, rambling a bit, but I think the story stuff will be sufficiently immersive to keep people addicted and playing (think about how many times people play through other BioWare games, just to see the different endings, try the different classes, etc.). If on top of that, BioWare have a reasonable amount of standard MMO grindey stuff too, then I don't think there's any reason to worry.
I agree with your post here and would add one thing, you forgot the scope of this game at start. By all accounts, this game is starting out much larger than basically any other MMO out there has started. So while many people do rush to the end and start complaining, I think in this game it may just take a bit longer to say "Been there, done that". On top of that they are already saying that there is already end game content at the start of this MMO where other companies don't bring that in until much later in the life of their games (even greater scope).
"If half of what you tell me is a lie, how can I believe any of it?"