I was just glancing through another thread where someone noted that a popular Youtuber was not by default an expert on the subjects of MMORPGs, etc. This is certainly true, but it got me to wondering--just who is an expert on MMORPGs? An expert being someone who knows the industry, can analyze games in the genre, and understands the methods of development behind them.
Or termed more loosely, someone whose opinion can be trusted in regards to the quality of MMORPGs today. Does anyone have any examples of such people whose opinions they trust?
Depends. If you're talking design theory, the study of population dynamics, game structures to enhance community building etc. Richard Bartle is one. Yee is another. Koster fits in there. Kawale's done some good modeling. And there are plenty more, but they're harder to find as MMOs are studied much more in Asia than in the US and Europe.
If you're talking programming, engines, that sort of stuff. You'd be better looking on the commercial side and you should to look a smooth-running, technically solid MMOs. Not necessarily popular. Being a great programmer and artist doesn't mean you can make a great MMO from the player perspective. But smooth running.
EDIT: Ah yes, I see the rampant it's cool to bash smart people/anti-intellectualism is running free... Experts make the world work. Without them, we'd all be living in caves trying to figure out that whole 'fire' thing still while dying before 30...
The word "expert" is a bit too strong, but someone I would value the input of concerning MMORPGs is someone who played more than just one type of MMORPG.
For instance, someone who only played EQ, then WoW, then LOTRO, then is definitely not an expert. Some people think they are MMO veterans who have seen it all when the only thing they have played is EQ clones.
There's the opposite too, the sandbox lover who bashes anything that isn't a sandbox, and we have quite a few bloggers/writers on this site who are like that. Actually, most of the bloggers/writers on this site and also most other sites are strongly biased and totally uninteresting to read.
I know several people around here though who have played almost all the MMOs since the very first ones, who know what a sandbox MMORPG is, who know that MMOs do not all have "end games", and who are also capable of talking about games they don't like for whatever reason in an unbiased and fair way. Those are the people who are usually interesting to read, and they are just regular posters, not officials.
This post contains important points. Even the people the development companies consider experts have laid eggs. Game companies often hire based on past achievements. However, because someone was behind or was involved a game that went over well is no guarantee they really understand all of the ins-and-outs of the industry. Look at the launch debacle of CO for example. Cryptic hired Bill Roper, who is touted as an expert, yet in a later interview, Jack Emmert said that they really thought they were producing a game people would react well to, and that he was really surprised when the majority didn't.
The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore, all progress depends on the unreasonable man. -- George Bernard Shaw
not really, because i didn't listen to him when he was boasting about how fabulous SWTOR was and i was right to do so. Experts do have hits and misses however he did come back and apologize to his community about having said those wonderful things about titles that didn't live up to promises. smh
An expert is someone who has a long history with mmo gaming, pays attention to that history when dealing with features and combat styles (IE when everyone was claiming TERA's combat system was new, showed the video footage of Tabula Rasa and other games that had that style of combat) and tries to keep an honesty about his work. There is always room for mistakes tho they are human after all.
There isn't a "right" or "wrong" way to play, if you want to use a screwdriver to put nails into wood, have at it, simply don't complain when the guy next to you with the hammer is doing it much better and easier. - Allein "Graphics are often supplied by Engines that (some) MMORPG's are built in" - Spuffyre
Nobody is an expert in the MMO industry. Why? Because the MMO audience (obviously not all) are full of self-centered and close-minded people. When an MMO expert who really knows a lot about the industry makes a review of a certain game and his/her ratings don't conform with what some people think, those people will simply label him/her as "not an expert." Just look here in MMORPG.com. Whenever someone makes a review of the game and some people don't agree with the rating, they always say the writer/site is paid, biased, etc.
Seriously, who could be an expert if you have such a self-centered audience?
There is a difference between a "Review" and an "All Hail The Glorious 8/10 Game"
When the majoriy of your paid staff votes a game in the high marks while the playing community barely gives it a 4, you know something is up with the viewpoint of the "experts"
Tried: EQ2 - AC - EU - HZ - TR - MxO - TTO - WURM - SL - VG:SoH - PotBS - PS - AoC - WAR - DDO - SWTOR Played: UO - EQ1 - AO - DAoC - NC - CoH/CoV - SWG - WoW - EVE - AA - LotRO - DFO - STO - FE - MO - RIFT Playing: Skyrim Following: The Repopulation I want a Virtual World, not just a Game. ITS TOO HARD! - Matt Firor (ZeniMax)
Comments
Depends. If you're talking design theory, the study of population dynamics, game structures to enhance community building etc. Richard Bartle is one. Yee is another. Koster fits in there. Kawale's done some good modeling. And there are plenty more, but they're harder to find as MMOs are studied much more in Asia than in the US and Europe.
If you're talking programming, engines, that sort of stuff. You'd be better looking on the commercial side and you should to look a smooth-running, technically solid MMOs. Not necessarily popular. Being a great programmer and artist doesn't mean you can make a great MMO from the player perspective. But smooth running.
EDIT: Ah yes, I see the rampant it's cool to bash smart people/anti-intellectualism is running free... Experts make the world work. Without them, we'd all be living in caves trying to figure out that whole 'fire' thing still while dying before 30...
This post contains important points. Even the people the development companies consider experts have laid eggs. Game companies often hire based on past achievements. However, because someone was behind or was involved a game that went over well is no guarantee they really understand all of the ins-and-outs of the industry. Look at the launch debacle of CO for example. Cryptic hired Bill Roper, who is touted as an expert, yet in a later interview, Jack Emmert said that they really thought they were producing a game people would react well to, and that he was really surprised when the majority didn't.
The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore, all progress depends on the unreasonable man. -- George Bernard Shaw
There isn't a "right" or "wrong" way to play, if you want to use a screwdriver to put nails into wood, have at it, simply don't complain when the guy next to you with the hammer is doing it much better and easier. - Allein
"Graphics are often supplied by Engines that (some) MMORPG's are built in" - Spuffyre
Duh! Someone who has been licensed and certified to administer MMO concepts from their state or federal government!
Your state doesn't have those?
Taru-Gallante-Blood elf-Elysean-Kelari-Crime Fighting-Imperial Agent
There is a difference between a "Review" and an "All Hail The Glorious 8/10 Game"
When the majoriy of your paid staff votes a game in the high marks while the playing community barely gives it a 4, you know something is up with the viewpoint of the "experts"
Tried: EQ2 - AC - EU - HZ - TR - MxO - TTO - WURM - SL - VG:SoH - PotBS - PS - AoC - WAR - DDO - SWTOR
Played: UO - EQ1 - AO - DAoC - NC - CoH/CoV - SWG - WoW - EVE - AA - LotRO - DFO - STO - FE - MO - RIFT
Playing: Skyrim
Following: The Repopulation
I want a Virtual World, not just a Game.
ITS TOO HARD! - Matt Firor (ZeniMax)