Originally posted by retrospectic As you can easily see in this thread, this is the wrong forum to ask your original question. A large portion of people who use this board no longer play MMORPGs or are in the same boat as you. I always find it really disappointing that most threads on this forum degenerate into bashing games rather than coming up with ways to enjoy them. In my opinion, if you've already found ways to prove games are useless in a few months, don't play games. Would save those of us who enjoy games from having to group with you.
I think you are taking things out of context. I wonder how people can stay so long in games and really what motivates them. Yes I bash lineage 2 . . . i mean i'm so biased that i can't even stand my own venom concerning that game (but everything I say about it is true). I'm not saying games are worthless i'm in reality trying to see what motivates others so I may inspire to use that as a goal to keep enjoying games. I was just shocked that I saw a person who played SWG for 4 years, my corp leader in EVE had been playing for 4-5 years and i wonder what keeps motivating him to play. I just wonder what motivates, then again, I wish i joined a game early and not late. Every game i've ever played I joined late. Perhaps I need to join a game early and then that may hvae staying power. It's weird that i can't addict myself to a game these days and i'm trying to find out how other people do it. Perhaps i've gone past hte point of no-return.
Cryomatrix
Catch me streaming at twitch.tv/cryomatrix You can see my sci-fi/WW2 book recommendations.
As you can easily see in this thread, this is the wrong forum to ask your original question. A large portion of people who use this board no longer play MMORPGs or are in the same boat as you. I always find it really disappointing that most threads on this forum degenerate into bashing games rather than coming up with ways to enjoy them.
In my opinion, if you've already found ways to prove games are useless in a few months, don't play games. Would save those of us who enjoy games from having to group with you.
I think you are taking things out of context. I wonder how people can stay so long in games and really what motivates them. Yes I bash lineage 2 . . . i mean i'm so biased that i can't even stand my own venom concerning that game (but everything I say about it is true). I'm not saying games are worthless i'm in reality trying to see what motivates others so I may inspire to use that as a goal to keep enjoying games. I was just shocked that I saw a person who played SWG for 4 years, my corp leader in EVE had been playing for 4-5 years and i wonder what keeps motivating him to play. I just wonder what motivates, then again, I wish i joined a game early and not late. Every game i've ever played I joined late. Perhaps I need to join a game early and then that may hvae staying power. It's weird that i can't addict myself to a game these days and i'm trying to find out how other people do it. Perhaps i've gone past hte point of no-return.
Cryomatrix
I am fairly sure I understand exactly what you are saying. From some of your other forum posts you seem to power level characters, and seem to enjoy leveling faster than other players. That is a recipe for burning out in a game very quickly. You basically play a game as fast as you can, disregard the end game content, and then find the game lacking when you reach cap.
I understand that. A lot of people rush. The problem that I brought up is that you won't find many good ideas on this forum. Most people in this thread have just derailed it to gripe about whatever aspect games don't have or that no MMORPG has come out that fulfills some wishlist they have.
Honestly, if you play games the way you seem to be, you will burn out fast. My only suggestion is that you find other grinds after the level grind that seem worthwhile.
For me, the motivation to keep playing is tied directly to the amount and variety of activities in which I can participate in-game and whether there is replayability to the point that levelling an alt is fun. As soon as you cannot think of something to do when you log in, you are probably done with the game.
Hedonismbot: Your latest performance was as delectable as dipping my bottom over and over into a bath of the silkiest oils and creams.
I was thinking something now and that perhaps my problem is I confuse goals with challenges. I guess I need a challenge and I tell you why.
I played LIneage 2 for 6 months and I actually played the market (the little there is of it) because i was determined to afford my gear legitimately. Once I became super rich the game had lost its appeal to me. My real grind in L2 was for adena and not my character, once i achieved it, i had lost my challenge and what was left for me in the game was just to level up and i didn't care for it. I felt leveling at lvl 10 was the same at lvl 65.
In WoW my challenge was to get to 60 (not much of a challenge) and i refused to raid because that's just slave labor and not a challenge.
In EVE my challenge was becoming rich and when I got there i felt my desire to play wane. RL got in the way but RL usually takes a backseat to games so the game was weak on me in the first place.
I guess the challenge that remains for me is to start some sort of guild/clan in a game. I've never been able to do that nor have I ever come close. I guess I should do that. Nonetheless thanks for being respectful during out little argument. Plus I rush because i'm an addict and can't get enough so by default I rush, but for me the process is more enjoyable than the result. Once I reach the result i get bored usually lol.
Cryomatrix
Catch me streaming at twitch.tv/cryomatrix You can see my sci-fi/WW2 book recommendations.
Retrospectic, I was thinking something now and that perhaps my problem is I confuse goals with challenges. I guess I need a challenge and I tell you why. I played LIneage 2 for 6 months and I actually played the market (the little there is of it) because i was determined to afford my gear legitimately. Once I became super rich the game had lost its appeal to me. My real grind in L2 was for adena and not my character, once i achieved it, i had lost my challenge and what was left for me in the game was just to level up and i didn't care for it. I felt leveling at lvl 10 was the same at lvl 65. In WoW my challenge was to get to 60 (not much of a challenge) and i refused to raid because that's just slave labor and not a challenge. In EVE my challenge was becoming rich and when I got there i felt my desire to play wane. RL got in the way but RL usually takes a backseat to games so the game was weak on me in the first place. I guess the challenge that remains for me is to start some sort of guild/clan in a game. I've never been able to do that nor have I ever come close. I guess I should do that. Nonetheless thanks for being respectful during out little argument. Plus I rush because i'm an addict and can't get enough so by default I rush, but for me the process is more enjoyable than the result. Once I reach the result i get bored usually lol. Cryomatrix
It seems that regardless of your goals, you set the bar fairly low. Leveling and making money are two of the easiest aspects in most MMORPGs. I think you'd have better luck if you could come up with goals that can't be accomplished as easily and might have an aspect to them that is ongoing.
MMORPGs are not about starting at level one with one goal in mind. These games are set up to have lasting goals that are constantly expanded upon. Like I said before, the goals you seem to set for yourself right now are going to burn you out really quickly. Even the goal to start a guild seems easy. Perhaps your goal should be to start and maintain a guild within a game until you can run instances at level cap.
By starting a guild I really mean having it flourish and be known. In my opinion reaching level cap is a low goal. Becoming rich in games is not so much, it's not as easy as you would think. Try being rich in lineage 2 legitimately enough to afford the bot inflated A grade gear. Back when i played 3 years ago i couldn't see how anyone could do it legitimately.
By rich in EVE, i had over 30 billion in assets (20b in liquid cash). In reality by rich, I mean able to control things economically.
I however agree 100% with the ongoing goal. That's why I think starting and maintaining a guild is my next goal in MMO because it has staying power because it's an ongoing challenge. Thank you very much for the convo retrospectic. I apologize for not being always clear in my discussions.
Cryomatrix
Catch me streaming at twitch.tv/cryomatrix You can see my sci-fi/WW2 book recommendations.
To avoid sounding too pessimistic (but I think I'm too funny) I'll share what I used to help me stick to games longer. I'd have to agree the best way to stick into an MMORPG would probably be goals.
Whether it's a sandbox or a theme park MMORPG, give yourself some goals to work towards. Never make outrageous goals like being a server first, those tend to happen when they happen and usually within the first day of whatever new content was released. Pick goals that you can do, and pick more than one goal that coincides or can be attained along the way.
For example, if you're playing WoW:
Leveling - Make it a goal to get to a certain level. Use milestones like level 20, level 40, level 60, level 70, and level 80. Along the way you'll get rewards like the ability to use mounts at level 20 (when the 3.2 patch hits, that is).
Guild - Make it a goal to join a guild and actually help it achieve greatness. Some players join guilds that do well enough, but they become frustrated at the content they are equipped to do. Maybe you can make it a goal to push them harder.
L2P - Make it a goal to actually know what the heck you're doing. You are the special one out of group who doesn't rely heavily and cheap tactics or abused strategies in PvP. You want to be entirely independent when it comes to manning your character in combat. Nerfs to your class simply become "changes" to your gameplay.
Achievements - Blizzard added these with Wrath of the Lich King, and they are pretty simple to understand. Maybe make it a goal to push to completing as many achievements with a character (or multiple characters) as you can. Strive to complete harder ones, or seasonal ones.
Those are some examples of goals. Some like L2P are slightly more abstract, and abstract goals tend to be harder to achieve because it's hard to draw a definitive line.
Even in sandbox games can have goals, I developed some in Ultima Online:
Buy a Castle - Or any house, this is a major step in this game so it's a pretty good goal to have. The bigger the house you can land, the more room and stuff you can lock down. You can make these houses look very nice or use them for functionality.
GM a skill - This is another no brainer, get your skills to 100.0.
Become a Dyed Freakshow - Apparantly this is a popular goal for players in the game now, for some reason. Grab a neon dye tub, find various artifacts, and don't stop until you look like a rainbow threw up onto a neon sign.
Solo the Lethal Monsters with a Template not Suited for Them - I remember when taking on a dragon with a sword and board was considered suicidal, but kind of awesome. Now it's less of an achievement as anyone can do it, but there are plenty of things in the game that will murder anyone stupid enough to get close to it.
Those are just some examples. Sandbox MMOs tend to be far harder for players to get into because of the lack of an actual direction, so goals help.
Comments
I think you are taking things out of context. I wonder how people can stay so long in games and really what motivates them. Yes I bash lineage 2 . . . i mean i'm so biased that i can't even stand my own venom concerning that game (but everything I say about it is true). I'm not saying games are worthless i'm in reality trying to see what motivates others so I may inspire to use that as a goal to keep enjoying games. I was just shocked that I saw a person who played SWG for 4 years, my corp leader in EVE had been playing for 4-5 years and i wonder what keeps motivating him to play. I just wonder what motivates, then again, I wish i joined a game early and not late. Every game i've ever played I joined late. Perhaps I need to join a game early and then that may hvae staying power. It's weird that i can't addict myself to a game these days and i'm trying to find out how other people do it. Perhaps i've gone past hte point of no-return.
Cryomatrix
You can see my sci-fi/WW2 book recommendations.
I think you are taking things out of context. I wonder how people can stay so long in games and really what motivates them. Yes I bash lineage 2 . . . i mean i'm so biased that i can't even stand my own venom concerning that game (but everything I say about it is true). I'm not saying games are worthless i'm in reality trying to see what motivates others so I may inspire to use that as a goal to keep enjoying games. I was just shocked that I saw a person who played SWG for 4 years, my corp leader in EVE had been playing for 4-5 years and i wonder what keeps motivating him to play. I just wonder what motivates, then again, I wish i joined a game early and not late. Every game i've ever played I joined late. Perhaps I need to join a game early and then that may hvae staying power. It's weird that i can't addict myself to a game these days and i'm trying to find out how other people do it. Perhaps i've gone past hte point of no-return.
Cryomatrix
I am fairly sure I understand exactly what you are saying. From some of your other forum posts you seem to power level characters, and seem to enjoy leveling faster than other players. That is a recipe for burning out in a game very quickly. You basically play a game as fast as you can, disregard the end game content, and then find the game lacking when you reach cap.
I understand that. A lot of people rush. The problem that I brought up is that you won't find many good ideas on this forum. Most people in this thread have just derailed it to gripe about whatever aspect games don't have or that no MMORPG has come out that fulfills some wishlist they have.
Honestly, if you play games the way you seem to be, you will burn out fast. My only suggestion is that you find other grinds after the level grind that seem worthwhile.
Doktar - 70 Troll Priest - Perenolde
I vowed I would not quit WoW till my character has killed the Lich King.
For me, the motivation to keep playing is tied directly to the amount and variety of activities in which I can participate in-game and whether there is replayability to the point that levelling an alt is fun. As soon as you cannot think of something to do when you log in, you are probably done with the game.
Hedonismbot: Your latest performance was as delectable as dipping my bottom over and over into a bath of the silkiest oils and creams.
Retrospectic,
I was thinking something now and that perhaps my problem is I confuse goals with challenges. I guess I need a challenge and I tell you why.
I played LIneage 2 for 6 months and I actually played the market (the little there is of it) because i was determined to afford my gear legitimately. Once I became super rich the game had lost its appeal to me. My real grind in L2 was for adena and not my character, once i achieved it, i had lost my challenge and what was left for me in the game was just to level up and i didn't care for it. I felt leveling at lvl 10 was the same at lvl 65.
In WoW my challenge was to get to 60 (not much of a challenge) and i refused to raid because that's just slave labor and not a challenge.
In EVE my challenge was becoming rich and when I got there i felt my desire to play wane. RL got in the way but RL usually takes a backseat to games so the game was weak on me in the first place.
I guess the challenge that remains for me is to start some sort of guild/clan in a game. I've never been able to do that nor have I ever come close. I guess I should do that. Nonetheless thanks for being respectful during out little argument. Plus I rush because i'm an addict and can't get enough so by default I rush, but for me the process is more enjoyable than the result. Once I reach the result i get bored usually lol.
Cryomatrix
You can see my sci-fi/WW2 book recommendations.
I look at better players and say damn then keep going.Other than that groups that have fun and friends someone to talk besides doing end game stuff.
Like pong i keep bouncing back and forth between games.
It seems that regardless of your goals, you set the bar fairly low. Leveling and making money are two of the easiest aspects in most MMORPGs. I think you'd have better luck if you could come up with goals that can't be accomplished as easily and might have an aspect to them that is ongoing.
MMORPGs are not about starting at level one with one goal in mind. These games are set up to have lasting goals that are constantly expanded upon. Like I said before, the goals you seem to set for yourself right now are going to burn you out really quickly. Even the goal to start a guild seems easy. Perhaps your goal should be to start and maintain a guild within a game until you can run instances at level cap.
Doktar - 70 Troll Priest - Perenolde
Hey Retrospectic,
By starting a guild I really mean having it flourish and be known. In my opinion reaching level cap is a low goal. Becoming rich in games is not so much, it's not as easy as you would think. Try being rich in lineage 2 legitimately enough to afford the bot inflated A grade gear. Back when i played 3 years ago i couldn't see how anyone could do it legitimately.
By rich in EVE, i had over 30 billion in assets (20b in liquid cash). In reality by rich, I mean able to control things economically.
I however agree 100% with the ongoing goal. That's why I think starting and maintaining a guild is my next goal in MMO because it has staying power because it's an ongoing challenge. Thank you very much for the convo retrospectic. I apologize for not being always clear in my discussions.
Cryomatrix
You can see my sci-fi/WW2 book recommendations.
To avoid sounding too pessimistic (but I think I'm too funny) I'll share what I used to help me stick to games longer. I'd have to agree the best way to stick into an MMORPG would probably be goals.
Whether it's a sandbox or a theme park MMORPG, give yourself some goals to work towards. Never make outrageous goals like being a server first, those tend to happen when they happen and usually within the first day of whatever new content was released. Pick goals that you can do, and pick more than one goal that coincides or can be attained along the way.
For example, if you're playing WoW:
Leveling - Make it a goal to get to a certain level. Use milestones like level 20, level 40, level 60, level 70, and level 80. Along the way you'll get rewards like the ability to use mounts at level 20 (when the 3.2 patch hits, that is).
Guild - Make it a goal to join a guild and actually help it achieve greatness. Some players join guilds that do well enough, but they become frustrated at the content they are equipped to do. Maybe you can make it a goal to push them harder.
L2P - Make it a goal to actually know what the heck you're doing. You are the special one out of group who doesn't rely heavily and cheap tactics or abused strategies in PvP. You want to be entirely independent when it comes to manning your character in combat. Nerfs to your class simply become "changes" to your gameplay.
Achievements - Blizzard added these with Wrath of the Lich King, and they are pretty simple to understand. Maybe make it a goal to push to completing as many achievements with a character (or multiple characters) as you can. Strive to complete harder ones, or seasonal ones.
Those are some examples of goals. Some like L2P are slightly more abstract, and abstract goals tend to be harder to achieve because it's hard to draw a definitive line.
Even in sandbox games can have goals, I developed some in Ultima Online:
Buy a Castle - Or any house, this is a major step in this game so it's a pretty good goal to have. The bigger the house you can land, the more room and stuff you can lock down. You can make these houses look very nice or use them for functionality.
GM a skill - This is another no brainer, get your skills to 100.0.
Become a Dyed Freakshow - Apparantly this is a popular goal for players in the game now, for some reason. Grab a neon dye tub, find various artifacts, and don't stop until you look like a rainbow threw up onto a neon sign.
Solo the Lethal Monsters with a Template not Suited for Them - I remember when taking on a dragon with a sword and board was considered suicidal, but kind of awesome. Now it's less of an achievement as anyone can do it, but there are plenty of things in the game that will murder anyone stupid enough to get close to it.
Those are just some examples. Sandbox MMOs tend to be far harder for players to get into because of the lack of an actual direction, so goals help.