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Is the RPG part holding the MMO back?
FredomSekerZ
Member Posts: 1,156
I've been thinking about this recently. Could it be possible that the rpg part of mmos is taking to much priority? Every mmorpg today, including sandboxes that i myself like, seem so similar. I'm really excited for Archeage and The Repopulation, but i can't help but feel thy're the same as before, but with more "sand".
I think this is because developers keep looking at mmos from the past and the rgps of today to take inspiration. MMO is a greater genre that can inconpass multyple sub genres liek FPS, racing, TRS amd of course RPG. But i honeslty think that because every time the word mmo is used, it as to be "normal rpg".
To make my case, allow me to compare it to the, probably never going to be made, possible Pokemon mmo. Yes, the Pokemon mmo. Pokemon is an RPG actually, but extremely different from the standart mold. Now imagine an mmo version.
is there crafting? Nope. PVE? No quests, dungeons or story (well, you could make it, but it's no in the sp), only "mob" (wild pokemon) fighting and capturing. PVP? It's all duels or tag duels. And yet, look at the possibilties.
Pokemon social events, housing, exploration in any direction, become gym leader or a league champion or whatever. You can become a master of any type of pokemon and set your own path. Gym wars and Leagues from different regions challenging each other. All in a somewhat, territory controll type thing.
In the end, all this, and maybe more, sounds like an extremly sandboxy and player driven world IMHO. And again, i must stress that all battles are instanced duels.
Other examples: DayZ and Planetside 2.
DayZ isn't an rpg, but once more, it's a game driven by players affecting each other and sandpark like. PS2? Yes, it's a 100% RVR game, but, because only pvp exists, controlling different zones will grant rewards and there'll be consequences for defeat. And once again, while not RPG's, they're use the mmo part to better extent, IMO.
TL,DR: What i honeslty believe is that MMOs must stop looking at the rpg part so much. he MMO should come first and taking advantage of that part,mixing it with multyple mechanics beyond RPG is what a truly innovative game must do.
And before you say it, YES, i know devs can't risk it, but this is simpyl about the discussion.
Comments
Are you saying that Questing, Crafting and PvP are RPG elements? I dont understand
Well in the recent mmo's it seems like the MMO part is holding the RPG back, SWToR and TSW could have been pretty amazing SP games.
You knew you were going ot get this one I am sure. . how is Dueling in Pokemon an RPG? I have never played anything related so I am actually looking for you to answer this one . . no jab here. . .
Wa min God! Se æx on min heafod is!
i don't play an mmo if it is not rpg, so no, rpg is not holding mmo back. so what is holding mmo back? the comment " i can't help but feel they're the same as before" is actually holding mmo back. u want somthing new? then describe what kind of new stuff u want in an mmo. can u do that? many ppl can't, they just describe existing mechanics in a different way and calls it "innovation" like gw2. ppl don't exactly knw what they want, if we knew what we truely want we wudn't be playing games wud we? so if u really hav a new idea then turn it into a benchmark and claim copyrights, within 6 months it will become "old" too.
Well, it's not like many people in the active community RP, and it's not like Devs are giving people the game tools to RP, they rarely dedicate RP servers any more, and even when they do they don't actually RP enforce anything (player names, guild names, etc.).
What I see is companies picking a setting over and over again, a fantasy setting. But that doesn't make it RP. They are picking a genre that has proven itself to be popular, easy to work with, and relatively free from dispute. That's not the same as RPG. As far as quests, crafting, etc., again they are adding elements they know usually work for players. In a money driven world, very few publishers are going to take a chance on something totally new, unfortunately that's just the kind of world video games find themselves in now. That's not the fault of RPG, that's the fault of GREED.
This makes no sense.
The term RPG can be applied to almost every single game, not just games like Ultima or Elder Scrolls. In Mario, you are playing the role of Mario.
With no R in RPG, there is no game to make MMO because the player must play as something...unless you want developers to make a game that you play a stick, that lays on the ground doing nothing.
You really need to clarify your argument because while attacking RPGs, you are also supporting them with what you want in your...pokemon...mmo.
For me, a key element of RPG is character development and progression. Without them, I don't see any reason to have persistent characters. It would just end up being an online multiplayer aracade game.