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POLL: "Left-wing" vs. "Right-wing" MMORPGs (not political)
Waffleton
Member Posts: 41
As an avid MMORPG gamer, I have played many MMORPGs on the market today, and have since developed my own way of identifying them based on their content and design. I have seperated MMORPGs into two catergories, "Left wing" and "Right wing."
Left wing MMORPGs are heavily player-driven. The economy is player-driven, the society is driven by the community, and player interaction is important for success. These games can be defined as a social simulation of sorts. Left wing MMORPGs usually have complex crafting systems, player housing, and relatively little NPC dependance for content and achievement. "Ultima Online (Pre-R)" and "Star Wars Galaxies" can be defined as "Left wing". Left wing games allow for a greater range of goals and experiences, however their implications tend to ward off potential buyers because they can be frustrating, confusing, or difficult to comprehend.
Right wing MMORPGs, on the other hand, are more linear than their left-wing cousins. There is often a simple goal, such as to max your level. Although social interaction is usually beneficial, these games attept to appeal to a broader range of players, and as a result right wing MMORPGs are more solo-friendly. Right wing MMORPGs incorporate a heavy amount of rules and restrictions to ensure everyone's experience is met with as little inconvienience as possible. The economy, although possibly influenced by the players, is heavily regulated and kept in check by developers. Right wing MMORPGs usually have underdeveloped trade and crafting systems, as they are a relatively minor aspect of the game. Everquest and World of Warcraft can be described as "Right wing".
I am personally partial to "Left wing" MMORPGs, because I find the social aspects of an MMORPG most appealing. Right wing MMORPGs tend to bore me quickly, as to me they are almost single-player games with a chat client, and it upsets me that there are so few quality "left wing" MMORPGs on the market today. I prefer MMORPGs with complex societies and economies, rather than "kill creature to level up for phat loot" style games.
But now, I ask you for your opinion. Based on the descriptions of the two catergories, which one appeals to you?
Comments
So basically the question is: Do you like SWG and Ultima or all the other ones?
Can you name some more 'left wing' mmorpgs?
No, that isn't the question at all. I won't deny that the industry consists of a mojority of Right wing MMORPGs. The question is which design/philosphy most suits you.
DnL will be "left wing", not sure what guild wars would be.
Make of it what you will.
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I think beating peoples qualify as ''doing new things'' (refering to peoples).
So PvP, in theory, is left wing according to original poster. But the original poster encompass it to be far more then just PvP, it may be PvE and still be left wing...PvPers share the same room as EQ2 lovers on this poll.
- "If I understand you well, you are telling me until next time. " - Ren
i wouldn't classify it as left or right if we're comparing them to political terms. a better classification would be communism vs. libertarianism (or sometimes anarchism).
communist games are the ones that always require a group for activities, very little pvp, meticulous focus on class balancing, predetermined quests and enemies, no freindly fire, usually no twitch combat, soft death consequenses, constant guidance and direction.
libertarian/anarchist games allow much greater player freedom in areas of pvp, little or no "safe zones", harsher death consequenses, less focus on questing and more focus on player clan rivalry, a capitalist economy run by players where the best or the biggest succedes and the sky is the limit.
i personally prefer an anarchist type of game with plenty of freedom. i like to be able to do anything i want in an MMO, and i enjoy intense player rivalry.
"We feel gold selling and websites that promote it damage games like Vanguard and will do everything possible to combat it."
Brad McQuaid
Chairman & CEO, Sigil Games Online, Inc.
Executive Producer, Vanguard: Saga of Heroes
www.vanguardsoh
I understand that there is a difference in the types of games you are talking about. However, I am not sure your description is accurate nor meaningful.
UO and SWG have 'player-driven' economies. The economies on those games are horrible. I really could not stand the SWG economy. Some good ideas, but either SOE screwed it up, or it is one of those nice ideas that simply won't work.
Further, although there is not a 'level' system in SWG it is still the same grind as any other SOE game. Crafter grind, Jedi Grind, Level Grind, Mission grind, etc. You skill up in something and then do it again and again. I admit there are more grind options, but that is about it.
So what I am saying is that there are games that seems to have options, but in reality they are just as limited as the "right-wing" games. You can be a crafter in those right wing games. You can acquire skills or level.
To me the only difference between those games is some force players not just to group, but to need other people and often in annoying and stupid ways (sitting in a Cantina watching a dancing wookie? Does like get worse than that????) and some games have completly player driven economies. Other than that I think it is all smoke and mirrors.
I will say that the ideal of your left wing game in terms of more player options, more ability of players changing the enviroment, and maybe a break from the grind will be occuring in future games (DnL), but for now I fail to see any real difference.
What I worry about more is that the consumer drive is more for WoW and EQ2 games and this will stifle creativity and drive more inovative games from the market.
me- Mom... can you get me a game?
mom- you can have this instead you dirty basterd!
*mom takes cigar and puts out the light on my forearm*
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Credit card declined eh? well let me just give you one of my many YAH!!!
*throws hand full of credit cards in waiters face*
Guild Wars is about as far right-wing as you can get.
Far left-wing games would be Second Life or The Sims Online.
I'm a right-wing gamer myself. I just don't have the time to invest in a left-wing style game.
SWG is, contrary to popular belief, a VERY left wing MMORPG. It attracts LOTS of social interaction, (something that surprises some people) due to the fact that you can get no item of use off an NPC. The economy is player driven.
I love your way of describing MMORPGs, by the way, waffleton, i think it well defines what an MMO is in the most basic sense. WoW has no player shops or houses, and can be played alone entirely through easily, while SWG's playing experience is almost entirely based on the participation of other players. Great observation.
You forget legendary and exceptional items
From the topic starter:
Yes, we could tell from the way you introduced the two sides ^_^Not that there's anything wrong with that. Just sayin'