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Why MMO's Are Addictive

norse25norse25 Member Posts: 98
in The Pub at MMORPG.COM


All of at one time or another have had to take a second to back away from a game for a breath of fresh air.  I remember early game obsessions like Civilization and X-Wing that would keep me up all night, but these eventually ended.  MMO's seem to hold onto people longer.

I'm a bit of a social scientist and wanted to get some quick feedback on what others have thought.  If I were to look at my own desire to play MMO's, it would be point number 5 below.  My theories are:
  1. Easy Social Interaction - This was documented back when chat room addictions surfaced.  It is markedly easier to 'meet' someone, have deep discussions, and not be judged further.  MMO's do provide these 1 dimensional relationships that have big social rewards for little effort.
  2. Easy Goal Completion - Smart game designers have always given simple 'mouse-through-a-maze' goals with ever increasing rewards.  The dual rewards of leveling or developing your character while completing these goals is a very fun combination. 
  3. Shared Goal Completion - Feeling needed and wanted is a basic social need we all have.  Being a useful part of an MMO team as a healer, tank, or whatever gives a very real feeling of belonging and usefulness.  MMO's for the most part are designed to draw on the skills of all players (except hunters in WoW)
  4. Competition - Whether it's PvP or seeing who can get the most UBER gear, many of us are driven by competition.  The adrenaline rush of a well executed gank or getting your new mace is undeniable.
  5. Time Filler - With all this said, MMO's have been quite easy to log into and fill some time in our day.  This is a need for us all, but the controvesry comes when we are asked if the time should be filled with gaming, or with working out and helping old ladies accross the street.  MMO's have been a great at this, but 'raiding' kills this for most casual players.




Comments

  • BeboppBebopp Member Posts: 17
    Im not so sure I would call it "easy social interaction."  I would call it interesting social interaction.  Where else can you play and chat with people from all different countries/states, age groups and life experiences.  I  think thats the coolest part about mmorpgs.  
  • norse25norse25 Member Posts: 98

    Originally posted by Bebopp
    Im not so sure I would call it "easy social interaction."  I would call it interesting social interaction.  Where else can you play and chat with people from all different countries/states, age groups and life experiences.  I  think thats the coolest part about mmorpgs.  
    Very true.  The term easy was not meant to be derogitory, but rather compare it to other forms of interaction.  Some of the most interesting people I have met have been online.  I have even met some of them at LAN parties.   I also like how MMO's cross a lot of boundaries you mentioned like age as well as even race or even economic background.
  • Jimmy_ScytheJimmy_Scythe Member CommonPosts: 3,586

    I always figured that it was more similar to why people get addicted to gambling. You kill monsters and get rewarded every now and again. As you continue, however, the interval between rewards becomes less and less. once you've hit the level, the interval between rewards becomes almost totally random.

    Kinda like lab rats in a cage.....

  • DarthoriousDarthorious Member UncommonPosts: 70
    I can't really answer the question because the reason for me would be...

    That the sandbox (if it has one) gives the person the opportunity to say create their own shop selling a specialty item, laws of supply and demand, player created economy in some cases, ability to create a in-game buisness that has no red tape or requires loans like in real life. 

    At the same time You can create your combat toon to what you like and enjoy that in real life might take you several life times to learn.


  • newage2newage2 Member Posts: 39

    Shared Goal Completion for sure.

  • JoriJori Member Posts: 130
    At one time or another my reasons were every single one on your list. Now it is just Shared Goal Completion and Time Filler. It definately can feel nice to be wanted, but that seems to happen less and less nowadays. For me personally, I feel that the mmo community has changed a lot. Mostly I just play to fill up my time (I still have time to exercise and walk the elderly woman across the street).

  • 0UTL4W0UTL4W Member Posts: 21
    I remember my first MMO my brother introduced me into, Ultima Online that was like almost 9 years ago so my reasons for MMO addiciton best suited would probably have to go for Easy social interaction, heh its just like being blind when your talk to people in these kinda games... in UO I did no grinding if there was a skill in Communicating well call me Grandmaster Communicator or Grandmaster Chatterbox

  • norse25norse25 Member Posts: 98

    Originally posted by Jimmy_Scythe

    I always figured that it was more similar to why people get addicted to gambling. You kill monsters and get rewarded every now and again. As you continue, however, the interval between rewards becomes less and less. once you've hit the level, the interval between rewards becomes almost totally random.
    Kinda like lab rats in a cage.....
    You speak wisdom, sir.  The goal completion is nothing without rewards.  Only very devious minds make the rewards become less and less.  This is where the seperation from real life happens.  Most times in real life, one gets rewarded more and more and we become more skilled with time.  For example, it takes much less time to build your 40th house than it does your 1st; thereby allowing you to build more homes in less time.

  • norse25norse25 Member Posts: 98

    Originally posted by Darthorious
    I can't really answer the question because the reason for me would be...

    That the sandbox (if it has one) gives the person the opportunity to say create their own shop selling a specialty item, laws of supply and demand, player created economy in some cases, ability to create a in-game buisness that has no red tape or requires loans like in real life. 

    At the same time You can create your combat toon to what you like and enjoy that in real life might take you several life times to learn.



    I hear ya.  You would probably fit into the easy or interesting goal completion catagory.  Like you say, you can have your own business without the red tape and loans...and then you can kill a dragon or 2
  • norse25norse25 Member Posts: 98
    Shameless bump to see if there's more feedback.  SRY

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