One reason no game will ever be able to match your first

Zindaihas · April 2008

No matter how good a game is, I don't know if it's possible to capture that sense of amazement you felt when you entered your first MMO and saw for the first time some of the astounding creatures that populated that world. Even if the graphics weren't that great, it was still something new and different that took you by surprise.

I've mentioned several times that I started with EQ, which had very advanced graphics when it was released, but are bland by today's standards. Yet, I'll never forget the first time I saw a hill giant in the Commonlands. The thing towered above all the players who crossed its path. Fortunately I saw it from a distance and was well out of its range. It was pounding on some poor soul didn't even see it coming. Another time, also in the Commonlands, I had joined a group and none of us except the group leader had seen a griffin in the game before. The group leader asked us if we wanted to go see one. Everyone eagerly said "yes". So he took us over to an area where they spawned and saw one flying over a hill. I just gasped in awe.

Now that I've become desensitized to those images, it's very difficult to have any other game make you feel that way again. But I'm not prepared to say that it's impossible. My brother who was also an EQ veteran said that he was blown away the first time he saw a dragon in WoW. There's also other areas of the game besides graphics, like new ideas for fighting, that can make future games even more fun. That's why I haven't given up hope yet that there may still be a future game that is as good or maybe even better than the first. Even though it won't be the same.

thaihouse · April 2008

It's called Decrease in Marginal Rate of Return.

Coman · April 2008

Not really, WoW was my first MMO....wasnt really hard to match it...or even to top it :P

UsualSuspect · April 2008

Originally posted by Zindaihas
Now that I've become desensitized to those images, it's very difficult to have any other game make you feel that way again. But I'm not prepared to say that it's impossible. My brother who was also an EQ veteran said that he was blown away the first time he saw a dragon in WoW.

I was like that just wandering around in LOTRO. I started playing MMO's with EverQuest 1, pre-expansions, so I've gone through almost all of them since. But nothing has given me that 'wow' reaction since EQ1 until LOTRO turned up. When I walked past the Forsaken Inn in the Lone Lands and looked up at the sight of Weathertop in the distance, my jaw dropped and I started giggling like a schoolgirl. I spent an hour just walking around it and seeing it in different times of the day.

Then there was the Shire, which looked incredible, and going up the levels to see all the other sights, then the raids in Helegrod, especially with that HUGE giant that my characters head barely made it above the top of his shoe..

So that wow factor can be restored with the right approach and the right look, but I suppose it depends on each person to how they react to the new MMO's.

safwd · April 2008

While you are mostly right i still say that the whole First Game/First Kiss theory is only as good as the First Kiss.

I bet Meridian 59 players werent missing it after games like UO, AC and EQ came out. I bet if my first game was Horizons i wouldnt be missing it.

My first game was EQ, and yes i think it was the best, I still think it was the best but not from nostalgia. EQ kept me interested far longer then any game has to date because it was a much better game (too me).

I played EQ almost from launch and for a few years straight, DAOC came out and i jumped ship over. I really liked DAOC, almost everything about it, I liked EQ better so back i went to EQ.

I left EQ for Horizons when it came out, i liked nearly nothing about Horizons so back to EQ i went.

EQ2 was being made and i was so jacked about it i pre ordered. I loved EQ, how could i not love EQ2. I could not, so back to EQ i went.

Then it happened, i found a game that i really liked playing. It was WoW. It was a little different and fresh, the graphics were cartoony but vibrant i and really liked them. WoW was the game that got me off EQ.

Two months later i was forcing myself to log on because i was SOOOOO Bored. Shortly after i cancelled, and you guessed it, back to EQ.

Sadly by that point i was really burned out on EQ, plus the game had changed in ways i wasnt so fond of so i finally gave it up for good (at least so far).

I didnt go back to EQ because it was my first game, i went back because i thought it was better.

I would still rather play a game based of early EQ rules then any game that is out or is coming out in the near future. Even with the so called Timesinks of Camping, Medding, Eating, spell components, boat rides, slow leveling, etc etc i would play that game in a new world the day it came out.

Tecknic · April 2008

My first MMORPG was Maple Story.

Oh, it's been matched.

Adamantine · April 2008

My first MMO was Lineage 2, and if you cannot imagine a better game, then you really suffer from a serious lack of phantasy and imagination.

Its better than one would think beforehand, but it really sucks in many respect.

DaJoKeR · April 2008

The Good Old days...Haha i had a lvl 12 ogre warrior and everyone was talking about this armor chest that was god like armor for lowbies. so my group went looking for this armor. lvl 20's said we had to kill LockJAW. haha.. when we got to the spot where lockjaw pop. we saw so many dead bodys laying everywhere.. when everyone was looking at the bodys .lockjaw came out of the water and killed my group in mins. everyone from that group losted there things becuase they could not find the spot again. but with me ,i ran as fast as a fat ogre could run.maybe thats why my group got killed so fast becuase the tank ran away..HAHAHA good old days

est0nia · April 2008

Originally posted by Zindaihas

No matter how good a game is, I don't know if it's possible to capture that sense of amazement you felt when you entered your first MMO and saw for the first time some of the astounding creatures that populated that world. Even if the graphics weren't that great, it was still something new and different that took you by surprise.
I've mentioned several times that I started with EQ, which had very advanced graphics when it was released, but are bland by today's standards. Yet, I'll never forget the first time I saw a hill giant in the Commonlands. The thing towered above all the players who crossed its path. Fortunately I saw it from a distance and was well out of its range. It was pounding on some poor soul didn't even see it coming. Another time, also in the Commonlands, I had joined a group and none of us except the group leader had seen a griffin in the game before. The group leader asked us if we wanted to go see one. Everyone eagerly said "yes". So he took us over to an area where they spawned and saw one flying over a hill. I just gasped in awe.
Now that I've become desensitized to those images, it's very difficult to have any other game make you feel that way again. But I'm not prepared to say that it's impossible. My brother who was also an EQ veteran said that he was blown away the first time he saw a dragon in WoW. There's also other areas of the game besides graphics, like new ideas for fighting, that can make future games even more fun. That's why I haven't given up hope yet that there may still be a future game that is as good or maybe even better than the first. Even though it won't be the same.

Asheron's Call 1 was my first and nothing compared to it ever since... doubt anything ever will. I played it daily for 3 straight years.

Way too many memories in that game...

Classicstar · April 2008

asheron call's was my first it prolly will never be match by my feeling i had first time i eneter that game back in '99 at time it was awsome and it still is.

But i had some great times in lineage2 and asheron call's 2 also:).

Now my only hope is DARKFALL!

A.Blackloch · April 2008

My first online RPG was Neverwinter Nights. Played on Guardian Chronicles and Legends of Fehl -roleplaying servers and I believe the server cap was around 50 players that time? (So not exactly an MMO) Still the game was awesome, community and DMs were all great and the game itself very addicting.

After that I've played many MMORPGs but I still miss the good old days with my friends and from time to time we tend to browse through old ingame screenshots from different events etc.

Some of the features like casters need to rest every once in a while to be able to cast again and very well done multiclass rules would be welcome add into nowadays MMORPGs.

Technically and graphically the game has been already beaten, but I haven't really felt that kind of atmosphere in any other game or realm.

grimboj · April 2008

I've played about 100 games (varying from minutes to months) and I totally understand what you mean. For me, the way you can tell if a game is good is if your gut drops when you jump off a cliff Sounds weird but try it - jump off the waterfall in nek forest (EQ2) or jump off any of the ones in WoW I do feel a bit desensitised though, the rise when I see a new mob is very low and then when that model is repeated almost instantly I end up bored a lot quicker.

est0nia · April 2008

Originally posted by Zindaihas

No matter how good a game is, I don't know if it's possible to capture that sense of amazement you felt when you entered your first MMO and saw for the first time some of the astounding creatures that populated that world. Even if the graphics weren't that great, it was still something new and different that took you by surprise.
I've mentioned several times that I started with EQ, which had very advanced graphics when it was released, but are bland by today's standards. Yet, I'll never forget the first time I saw a hill giant in the Commonlands. The thing towered above all the players who crossed its path. Fortunately I saw it from a distance and was well out of its range. It was pounding on some poor soul didn't even see it coming. Another time, also in the Commonlands, I had joined a group and none of us except the group leader had seen a griffin in the game before. The group leader asked us if we wanted to go see one. Everyone eagerly said "yes". So he took us over to an area where they spawned and saw one flying over a hill. I just gasped in awe.
Now that I've become desensitized to those images, it's very difficult to have any other game make you feel that way again. But I'm not prepared to say that it's impossible. My brother who was also an EQ veteran said that he was blown away the first time he saw a dragon in WoW. There's also other areas of the game besides graphics, like new ideas for fighting, that can make future games even more fun. That's why I haven't given up hope yet that there may still be a future game that is as good or maybe even better than the first. Even though it won't be the same.

EQ1 blew compared to AC1 man

Tatum · April 2008

I think theres more to it than just the "first MMO" theory. I could jump into any MMO and get that feeling initially, but it goes away fairly quickly. Why? Dont know if anyone can answer that. Personally though, I think it comes down to the size and depth of the game world and also how "convenient" the game is.

When developers say that their MMO is designed for "casual" players, theyre basically saying that anyone should be able to jump right into the game and play through with out much confusion. What this means, for MMO vets at least, is that theyre going to have the game figured out really quickly. Why? Because everything has been made "accessible" for the ultra casual players. They don't want a big, confusing game world that takes time to navigate.

So, what we end up with is a themepark with bright neon signs that direct you from one step to the next. You have a map with GPS, in case you get lost. You have quests in one area that direct you straight to the next area, once youve finished them. You have a VERY segmented game world, where no dangerous mobs ever wander over into lower level zones. You have a character creation/advancement system thats watered down so that no one can "gimp" themselves. Basically, theres always some one there to hold your hand. You never get that shock of being dropped straight into the deep end and having to learn for yourself...

KaltesHerz · April 2008

My first MMO was UO and I liked it yeah, but it pales in comparison to my 3rd which is what I compare all others to in one form or another. Which was Earth and Beyond.

Your opinions about EnB mean squat to me so don't even bother with asking WTF. I loved that game.

shae · April 2008

Talk about subjective statements...

Whilst I agree that if you're the type of gamer that is likely to enjoy an MMO, your first MMO is likely to be a positive experience for you to some degree. But to say your first MMO will always be you one and only true "MMO -love" is hogwash.

My first MMO was Lineage1, followed by EQ, followed by Anarchy Online... I didn't find a true home in an MMO until I found SWG Beta and eventually into launch.

I think you find a connection when a game hits a chord, whether that's your 1st or your 5th. Saying nothing will be the same as you first game is purely personal certainly not fact.

Tiller · April 2008

EQ1 was mine, but I consider SWG my first long term MMO. I started back in early 04 and nothing has come close to that era of the game. I doubt any will.

Illius · April 2008

Dark Age of Camelot was my first game and it's what I use as the measuring pole when I compare other games and the experiences I've had. I have yet been unable to match the fun I've had with any other game. I don't play DAoC anymore because I have eventually burned out on it, but nowhere else do I still recall fond memories and good times with friends whom I used to play. Also, no other game has spawned friendships that spanned all this time. I still keep in contact with people whom I used to play with and was in the same guild with. WoW never did this, Lineage 2 never did this, and the short stint of EQ2 was too short to develop any meaningful interactions simply because I just couldn't get into it.

I think it all comes down to the people that inhabit the game of your choice and if they best reflect your personality and playstyle. If you're around like minded people then naturally you'll feel more at home and enjoy yourself.

airhead · April 2008

I must agree with OP.... the first is just tight; very nice. The excitement, the anticipation, the suspense that is there just because it's all so new. It really gets the adrenaline pumping and the mind racing. Granted, one can possibly find aspects of subsequent ones that are exciting, there is no way to recapture that newness and excitement that comes from the first. ....That's all I have to say to about that...

Alij777 · April 2008

For me it was Final Fantasy XI. Played it for 2 years. I still crave going back. Requires too much time though . WoW hooked me in soon after with its casual nature and kept me playing for 2 years. I've since stopped playing mmorpgs but the only one that keeps me looking back is FFXI ( Music, story and atmosphere).

Dookz · April 2008

My first mmo was Ultima Online. my 2nd mmo was SWG, I thought that MMOs after SWG would even get better, but no I was wrong, nothing else would match SWG, everything about the old pre-cu SWG was so awesome I thought it was advanced for its time in 2003. It even surpassed my newbie days of my first mmo.

blade55555 · April 2008

My first MMORPG was SWG and I loved it. It was soo fun. I still think its fun I don't see why people don't like it but hey not my loss :P. Its fun to me it was a great game. I remember eagerly waiting to get my lightsaber :P.

Kabon · April 2008

First one UO while i had fun in it for about a year i disliked free pvp (group of pvpers coming to kill you or at least try to wasnt a rare sight) thats when i stopped it and jumped to EQ when it started.

Been playing EQ for a good 7 years mostly on and sometimes off till expansions went out too fast and you kinda had no chance to ever reach close to the best gear out there , new and better items came into the game on a monthly basis and each new expansions best item had another 20hps more then the old expansion and there was no way to even go close to good equipped for me, without investing 6 hours a day raiding ..and thats alot of time to game. At the end i stopped eq because i couldn keep up with all the new expansions . It grew too fast giving no chances to gain some sort of peace.

While playing Eq i sometimes tried the new coming mmorpgs but always went back to eq like a previous poster. Till EQ was no longer intresting. Since then i played about every new Mmorpg coming out tested was in betas .. there some that keep me going back and i can say theyre pretty good , but in therms of long time Motivation they all lack something to do when you reach max lvl beside only raiding for new and better Gear.

Big Part to me a PVE player in eq was i liked to be good in what i do, thats why i been raiding to get better gear in order to Group in PvE and be a good as i could and gain AA Alternate advancment to get even better , the goal was to become one of the better players and i did kinda reach it but there was more to be desired ..and keep me playing EQ there have been special Quests (Epic) or some very intresting items hard to get like illusion items or a item with a scout eye effect a player could get ..

along with Alternate Advancment and the possibility for cool gear on Raids meaningfull gear actually when u had a raid wep ur dps increased by up to 30 40 % ...i had alot of fun at max lvl while getting stronger and stronger wich was my goal after all and i could do it in Groups in PVE and prove it in Raids.

Thats what most Mmorpgs lack today meaningfull gear Alternate Advancment interesting quests at the top lvl. And thats why ppls quit it. (if they even get to max lvl)

I did like EQ for its meaningfull advancment in game. Today your like a God to start of in most Mmorpgs you regen your mana in 10 seconds outside of combat along with health so you never have downtime damn i WANT DOWNTIME .. in eq i been coming to a point i didn have downtime actually beside i had the gear i and experience i went from a 1%strong weakling to a 10000% halfgod today i start as a 9000% Halfgod and evolve in a 10000% Halfgod in Vanguard for example i feel like i could solo raid content sometimes (sure in fact i cannot but it feels like i can solo most stuff in there)..Items dont mean much after a certain point ..and you can get to that point way too fast ..raiding at top lvl doesnt make sense with the lack lvl 50 stuff to to beside raiding ..big part missing i dont raid to raid more actually i dislike just raiding..if you can do somethign with the stuff you get at raiding thats a different story.

+ Id like to add there some good Mmorpg out there but they all lack something of the above points ..some i like or did like in the past are

Ddo Online,City of Heroes Villains,Anarchy Online,Shadowbane,Asherons Call,Guild Wars,Lotr

thoose all have some Intresting stuff but at the end lacked long time motivation, kinda. Thats to me a PVE player preferences of PVP oriented players seems to differ (theyre not all only pve btw but i never did actually pvp in thoose)

thats my sight on things replys would be nice as id like to know if theres somone that might agree to some degree..

Should there be any not so good english in this text keep in mind im a Swiss Guy english isnt my main its all learned by Computer Games (i just talk about if i sound like a 5 years in some parts of it for some of you who knows )

May i add to answer on the first posters post in short (I disagree i think there can be new games with that sort of amazement i had it a few times after but at the end there has been no newer gen Mmorpg that keept me going like EQ did ,and to me one the reasons is because of the todays no donwtime mentality i think start like a god become god v1.01 = no sense of accomplishment)

Illius · April 2008

The way I think a game should be so that it's fun for ME would be something along the lines of DAoC, like I've previously mentioned. They had PVP which I like, but it had a greater meaning to it then just personal gain. When you did things in the RvR zone it impacted your realm in multiple ways. The PvE was not very complex but I didn't mind it simply because I never really enjoyed killing AI controlled monsters. Sure I did it at one point or another but I did it as a means to an end, or to fill the slow times when the RvR was slow or most of the people were sleeping.

Devalon · April 2008

I had three mmo's where I had a blast playing. They all felt like new games and a different world to explore. They were Dransik, my first mmo, follow up by DAoC then off to WoW. I never like WoW as much as DAoC sieging but I did enjoy raiding for my first time.

I think. The mmos you play must make you feel that your in another world from your previous mmo. The three I mention did just that for me.

Arndur · April 2008

idc what yall say sadly i couldnt start SWG till 2 weeks after NGE and i loved the game. It was so different from what i had played and i was just amazed after i got out of the new player area i just ran around tat just looking.

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