Why have MMOs gone mobile?

somersaultsam

We had popular MMOs back in the day, we had (and still have) SWG, AO, WOW; and they were all designed around a subscription payment model.

Beyond these games we had the meteoric rise of the mobile market. First of all our mobile games were free. I remember buying a mobile that came with the likes of Tetris or Snake as a free bonus. Then the mobile market started to change, it became apparent that the casual market were prepared to pay to remove an invisible wall and progress, whether that be a time lock or a some other synthetic obstacle.

I place these payments in the same category as most advertisements... I honestly wonder in this day and age how people are seduced by them, these marketing or monetisation techniques are no longer a mystery to anyone... why are people still so stupid as to react? I genuinely see a billboard or watch an advertisement during a television programme, and wonder who the somnambulists are who allow themselves to be manipulated in such a primal and obvious manner. 

But this system of preying upon people's frustration, rather than profiting on people's enjoyment seems to be a trend that has spilled from mobile gaming over into the MMO genre. We have recently seen the announcement that gambling boxes will be introduced into ESO.

My real fear is that once a developer's attention turns from:

1. maximising profit by creating the best in-game experience for their players; to 
2. maximising profit by exploiting player frustration or those with poor impulse control. 

Then you have lost me as a subscriber. You are no longer working in my interests as a customer, you are now working in your shareholder's interests. 

So why is it that us, as MMO gamers seem to be a market that can be so easily manipulated by such obvious advertising or monetisation techniques? What is it about us that is so malleable? 

Please share your thoughts. 

Wizardry

A quality mmorpg takes time even for mobile but rest assured they are coming.

IMO the best title will be FFXi reboot,collaboration between Square and Nexon.It looks to be very similar to imo the best mmorpg ever FFXi and have heard promises it will possibly be even better.

None the less,i do not like mobile gaming,i feel it is taking games and putting them in an inferior setting only to cash in on the huge mobile market.
Mobile gaming is imo insane,you would be paying maximum subscriptions to be able to afford to mobile game everyday using up tons of bandwidth.I would also assume bandwidth is even more costly on mobile and likely has no unlimited use unless  at retarded pricing.

I know some people who spend 100+ a month on mobile,to me that is retarded.

Hariken

Vardahoth said:

People can't get their faces out of their phones these days. When's the last time you were able to have a conversation with someone without them checking their phone. Personally, I don't like playing games on a small screen and squinting my eyes (which is why i never got into gameboy, except when my friend bought the snes adapter and I could play them on the large screen and in color).

It's no surprise mobile is more popular. Wait till we have drones as personal pals to talk to and gather and record information for us.

I agree with this. And for my circle of gamer friends many aren't into the genre anymore. I used to play mmos with up to 15 RL friends but i think maybe two of them are into them now. They all game on a phone or a tablet now.

Scorchien

                                             

jmcdermottuk

I've said it for years and I'll continue to say it. People are stupid.

Nasa

Wizardry said:

Mobile gaming is imo insane,you would be paying maximum subscriptions to be able to afford to mobile game everyday using up tons of bandwidth.I would also assume bandwidth is even more costly on mobile and likely has no unlimited use unless  at retarded pricing.

That is why you use WiFi when you can, specially when installing and patching game.
In many parts of the world they have smartphone but no desktop computer.

Gaming and gambling are entertainment and it is up to you to decide how much you want to spent on it.
There seems to be a crusade to stop f2p as if its satans creation. But no crusade for stopping gambling at casinos.

SpottyGekko

Some developers are trying new ideas and directions. That's that just human nature, we experiment with different things.

MMO's have not "gone mobile". Just because a few devs are trying that market, it doesn't imply the "death of PC gaming". We have been warned about the imminent death of the PC gaming market for years. It's always going to happen "soon"...

Despite these claims, the PC gaming market has actually been growing. There's a market for MMO's on mobile. But then again, there's a market for almost everything on mobile. It's a different experience that caters to a different type of player. I hope they enjoy themselves, I'll not be joining them !

dreamsfade

It's a numbers game. That's all. People watch... People are always glued to their cell phone. I'm just as guilty to, I'm not hating. It's just a fact of life these days.

somersaultsam

SpottyGekko said:

Some developers are trying new ideas and directions. That's that just human nature, we experiment with different things.

MMO's have not "gone mobile". Just because a few devs are trying that market, it doesn't imply the "death of PC gaming". We have been warned about the imminent death of the PC gaming market for years. It's always going to happen "soon"...

Despite these claims, the PC gaming market has actually been growing. There's a market for MMO's on mobile. But then again, there's a market for almost everything on mobile. It's a different experience that caters to a different type of player. I hope they enjoy themselves, I'll not be joining them !

dreamsfade said:

It's a numbers game. That's all. People watch... People are always glued to their cell phone. I'm just as guilty to, I'm not hating. It's just a fact of life these days.

Can I just say that my point was never that mmo's are shifting to mobiles. If people had read the OP, it was quite the opposite. It was that mobile pricing techniques are shifting to mmos. 

I have honestly never understood why people partake in a thread if they cba to read the op. I mean I am glad for the input, but why just respond with some platitudes to something you can't be bothered to read? 

laxie

Mobile gaming taps into a very interesting market.

Someone mentioned in another thread, that only 1%-3% of PC players ever purchase cosmetic cash shop items. My guess is that those people aren't (for the most part) young kids. Similarly, those spending 5000$ on Star Citizen ships aren't teenagers.

Going mobile extrapolates this lucrative demographic. It allows you to reach wealthy adults who don't play PC games. A friend of mine is a top manager at American Express. He doesn't even own a PC at home, yet he plays mobile games daily.

Kyleran

somersaultsam said:

SpottyGekko said:

Some developers are trying new ideas and directions. That's that just human nature, we experiment with different things.

MMO's have not "gone mobile". Just because a few devs are trying that market, it doesn't imply the "death of PC gaming". We have been warned about the imminent death of the PC gaming market for years. It's always going to happen "soon"...

Despite these claims, the PC gaming market has actually been growing. There's a market for MMO's on mobile. But then again, there's a market for almost everything on mobile. It's a different experience that caters to a different type of player. I hope they enjoy themselves, I'll not be joining them !

dreamsfade said:

It's a numbers game. That's all. People watch... People are always glued to their cell phone. I'm just as guilty to, I'm not hating. It's just a fact of life these days.

Can I just say that my point was never that mmo's are shifting to mobiles. If people had read the OP, it was quite the opposite. It was that mobile pricing techniques are shifting to mmos. 

I have honestly never understood why people partake in a thread if they cba to read the op. I mean I am glad for the input, but why just respond with some platitudes to something you can't be bothered to read? 

Kopo, if you want good responses, you have to put a decent title on them, as many folks actually respond to the title only, and never read the text below. Clearly evidenced here, several are replying to your title, which asks why MMO's are going mobile.

As to the OP itself, the only example given is flawed, mentions introduction of cash boxes in ESO, and truth is, cash boxes were in MMO's long before anything similar in cell phone titles.

A better example would be the energy mechanic found in ArcheAge, that was clearly taken from the cell phone world and incorporated into a MMO.

But regardless of the platform, cell phone or MMO, maximizing revenues and profits is clearly the name of the game, especially with the larger houses, and yes, gameplay will suffer in some cases.

So we either get used to it, or stop playing and paying, not really any other options.

Scorchien

Wait .. wait one second.... the OP is Kopo ??

Kyleran

Scorchien said:

Wait .. wait one second.... the OP is Kopo ??

That's my guess, writes like him, about the same subjects, with a bit more edge which he promised he was going to do before he said his farewell.

Scorchien

Kyleran said:

Scorchien said:

Wait .. wait one second.... the OP is Kopo ??

That's my guess, writes like him......

    hmmmm              *strolls out of the room*   ....humming    "  The Wheels on the Bus go round and round"

somersaultsam

Kyleran said:

somersaultsam said:

SpottyGekko said:

Some developers are trying new ideas and directions. That's that just human nature, we experiment with different things.

MMO's have not "gone mobile". Just because a few devs are trying that market, it doesn't imply the "death of PC gaming". We have been warned about the imminent death of the PC gaming market for years. It's always going to happen "soon"...

Despite these claims, the PC gaming market has actually been growing. There's a market for MMO's on mobile. But then again, there's a market for almost everything on mobile. It's a different experience that caters to a different type of player. I hope they enjoy themselves, I'll not be joining them !

dreamsfade said:

It's a numbers game. That's all. People watch... People are always glued to their cell phone. I'm just as guilty to, I'm not hating. It's just a fact of life these days.

Can I just say that my point was never that mmo's are shifting to mobiles. If people had read the OP, it was quite the opposite. It was that mobile pricing techniques are shifting to mmos. 

I have honestly never understood why people partake in a thread if they cba to read the op. I mean I am glad for the input, but why just respond with some platitudes to something you can't be bothered to read? 

Kopo, if you want good responses, you have to put a decent title on them, as many folks actually respond to the title only, and never read the text below. Clearly evidenced here, several are replying to your title, which asks why MMO's are going mobile.

As to the OP itself, the only example given is flawed, mentions introduction of cash boxes in ESO, and truth is, cash boxes were in MMO's long before anything similar in cell phone titles.

A better example would be the energy mechanic found in ArcheAge, that was clearly taken from the cell phone world and incorporated into a MMO.

But regardless of the platform, cell phone or MMO, maximizing revenues and profits is clearly the name of the game, especially with the larger houses, and yes, gameplay will suffer in some cases.

So we either get used to it, or stop playing and paying, not really any other options.

Easier to argue the person rather than the argument? Nothing like a little Bulverism eh Kyle? 

Theocritus

Vardahoth said:

People can't get their faces out of their phones these days. When's the last time you were able to have a conversation with someone without them checking their phone. Personally, I don't like playing games on a small screen and squinting my eyes (which is why i never got into gameboy, except when my friend bought the snes adapter and I could play them on the large screen and in color).

It's no surprise mobile is more popular. Wait till we have drones as personal pals to talk to and gather and record information for us.

I cant get into mobile gaming at all, especially MMOs.....Im limited on space, have a restricted data plan, it jsut doesnt add up for me to even take a look at it....Also agree with you that I dont like gaming on a small screen.

Phaserlight

"Seduced" "preying" "real fear"... "please share your thoughts"

a) you are making assumptions about a market without providing evidence to back it up

b) your OP is peppered with snarl words, neatly wrapped up with an invitation to co-sign

I've been playing a mobile MMORPG since 2011 and I don't feel the least bit "preyed" upon. In fact, it's pretty amazing what mobiles can do these days. I use my mobile device not just for business, email, navigation, staying in touch with loved ones, etc., but also for exploring virtual reality. 

I think the reason the mobile market has grown so much in recent years is due mainly to the technology making drastic improvements.

VengeSunsoar

somersaultsam said:

Kyleran said:

somersaultsam said:

SpottyGekko said:

Some developers are trying new ideas and directions. That's that just human nature, we experiment with different things.

MMO's have not "gone mobile". Just because a few devs are trying that market, it doesn't imply the "death of PC gaming". We have been warned about the imminent death of the PC gaming market for years. It's always going to happen "soon"...

Despite these claims, the PC gaming market has actually been growing. There's a market for MMO's on mobile. But then again, there's a market for almost everything on mobile. It's a different experience that caters to a different type of player. I hope they enjoy themselves, I'll not be joining them !

dreamsfade said:

It's a numbers game. That's all. People watch... People are always glued to their cell phone. I'm just as guilty to, I'm not hating. It's just a fact of life these days.

Can I just say that my point was never that mmo's are shifting to mobiles. If people had read the OP, it was quite the opposite. It was that mobile pricing techniques are shifting to mmos. 

I have honestly never understood why people partake in a thread if they cba to read the op. I mean I am glad for the input, but why just respond with some platitudes to something you can't be bothered to read? 

Kopo, if you want good responses, you have to put a decent title on them, as many folks actually respond to the title only, and never read the text below. Clearly evidenced here, several are replying to your title, which asks why MMO's are going mobile.

As to the OP itself, the only example given is flawed, mentions introduction of cash boxes in ESO, and truth is, cash boxes were in MMO's long before anything similar in cell phone titles.

A better example would be the energy mechanic found in ArcheAge, that was clearly taken from the cell phone world and incorporated into a MMO.

But regardless of the platform, cell phone or MMO, maximizing revenues and profits is clearly the name of the game, especially with the larger houses, and yes, gameplay will suffer in some cases.

So we either get used to it, or stop playing and paying, not really any other options.

Easier to argue the person rather than the argument? Nothing like a little Bulverism eh Kyle? 

Well. I guess you would come to that conclusion if you didn't bother to read 4 of the 5 paragraphs he made. But that is seemingly your style.

Wait. That's pretty close to the same type of comment you made earlier against someone else. Pot meet Kettle.

Deivos

Phaserlight said:

I've been playing a mobile MMORPG since 2011 and I don't feel the least bit "preyed" upon. In fact...

To be fair though, your mobile MMO is a ported PC title, not a title that was developed specifically for the platform in use nor monetized in the same manner as those that have.

Aeander

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Eldurian

somersaultsam said:

Then you have lost me as a subscriber. You are no longer working in my interests as a customer, you are now working in your shareholder's interests. 

Corporations placing the interest of the shareholders over the interest of the customers isn't just something they tend to do. It's their legal obligation.

Not putting shareholder's interests above everything but compliance with government regulation can actually in many cases lead to criminal prosecution, and in all cases put the CEO at major risk of being removed by the shareholders.

If you want this to not be a case you simply cannot play MMOs owned by corporations.

Money is definitely the key. But you do have the power to vote with your dollar. If unethical practices are not supported through cash then screwing over customers will no longer be in the interest of the shareholders. And if people stop supporting corporations in favor of things like employee owned businesses then corporations and therefore shareholders will cease to exist. 

immodium

People were also 'stupid' back in the late 90's paying subscriptions for online gaming.

Eldurian

A subscription that gets you all the content and equal advantages as everyone else is well worth it. If a game isn't worth 15$ a month of my money, it isn't worth my time.

goboygo

Developers are chasing the market and can rehash the already rehashed MMO formula.  Otherwise they would have to develop something creative in order to hit their earnings on PC alone.

Darkcrystal

goboygo said:

Developers are chasing the market and can rehash the already rehashed MMO formula.  Otherwise they would have to develop something creative in order to hit their earnings on PC alone.

Being a gamer for 30 years and now a developer, this is funny ...... How games have you made??? How many business's have you run...If its none then  keep your  comments to what you know, clearly it is not game development  and business.....     I bet your one of those people who think making games are easy too..

Darkcrystal

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