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In game events really that good?
whilan
Member UncommonPosts: 3,472
Okay so we know game companies make in game events like find the GM to keep things interesting. Well I saw an ad on this website for wizard 101 about their halloween event and i got to thinking.
Do we really want these types of events? do they make the game play fresh or would it be better to keep the game the way it is and save those dollars they use on in game events for making more content?
I'm either way on this so i'm going to let you guys discuss and see where it goes.
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Comments
in-game holiday events go a long way to making the game's feel more like interactive virtual communities than simply multiplayer video games, so I really enjoy them.
I like them as something different to do, but when games focus on these special events and call them actual content, its pathetic, WAR was big into making these events that had all this special stuff involved, like a new Scenario that was available only during the event, that was time wasted on a game that already didn't have enough in it.
a fledgling game doesn't need to worry about it IMO, but if its established, yeah start making some yearly events to help break up the monotemy. Good point is brewfest, Brewfest is an awesome event. doesn't disrupt the game at all just gives you something else to do for a little while.
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I love in game events, both player ran and GM ran. Most mmo's need more of both.
Sadly in many games, such as EQ2, there was little room in the game mechanics for player ran events.
True. In-game events are still necessary since it keeps other players from getting bored and lets them have something new to do.
Played: Runescape, Adventure Quest
Currently playing: Aika Global, Atlantica Online
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in game event= more content
personally, I'd love to see tons and tons of original, one time, in-game events instead of having the dev release a 30 minute dungeon that you're expected to do 100 times and calling it content.
Brewfest for example is happening in WoW as we speak. I enjoy that event but not my whole gameplay depends on these events, but it sure does add the extra spice to the game if your joining and one of these holiday or special game events are occuring.
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In game events, be it GM or player run, are a good thing for games. While not everyone might bother with them, it does add life to the game as well as something different/new for a change.
I mean most events take little to no development resources (specially player run events), so it's not like it really impacts the game in a bad way.
There are 3 types of people in the world.
1.) Those who make things happen
2.) Those who watch things happen
3.) And those who wonder "What the %#*& just happened?!"
In my opinion, in game events are the next step in the evolution of the genre. I believe that once the developers (or dedicated Game Masters) start to get more involved with the day to day workings of the players and their social dynamics, the communities will start to improve. Give players a reason to care about the world other than just to get more stats or exclusive content.
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Awwwww that's so deep.
But I agree. Perhaps one of the reasons why Aika Global's community is so dynamic, and perhaps one of the best, is because the GMs are so active. They are always there and they are very friendly. If people around them dance, they dance too. They also chat with people.
Played: Runescape, Adventure Quest
Currently playing: Aika Global, Atlantica Online
Waiting for: Cardmon Hero, Dynasty Warriors Online
I approve of anything that makes the game world feel more dynamic. Doesn't have to be in-game holidays, but anything that causes the game world to vary from month to month (or even week-to-week.)
Personally I think GM-run events aren't financially viable nor particularly compelling (in their current state at least...maybe someday down the line someone'll figure out how to make them work well.)
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As Palebane says, it's a slider on the evolution of MMO worlds becoming more interactive and dynamic: Either GM led events, Timer-based content or player driven content all serve to add change, more interactive and dynamic content.
There are examples where it feels like the devs see events as PR/marketing, substitute to a interactive shortcoming of the game but they are all good for community-building exercise ('99) (Flight of the concords anyone?!).
Overall a good thing.
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In game events are really nice thing in MMO's, there are always some cool prizes to win, fun, and way to get your guild up and simply have some fun beside regular schledule. But personaly, I never liked them
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Events represent additional content so players are naturally going to be in favour. If you have to decide between events and additional permanent content it becomes a more difficult choice but kind of impossible to evaluate without knowing how much development time each requires.
In my opinion the best kinds of events are those that advance the game's storyline (eg opening the gates of Ahn'Qiraj) or bring a community together (eg some of the GM led events early in DDO).
WoW's seasonal events are a different thing altogether. They are a bit of fun but they just seem like low quality filler content to me and there is nothing dynamic or memorable about them.
In game events are always a nice distraction that can break up the tedium of grinding up levels, or dailies, or if you're capped give you something else to do besides the everyday grind whatever it may be. I like holiday and in game events just for those reasons alone. Also sometimes you get items or mounts from them that other people who may not have been around during that time won't have, so you can brag about it too
In game events ARE content. Done well, they can be the best kind of content.
Events = more possibilities/choices which could be the break you were looking for after a couple days doing almost the same thing. Also events usually have a community feeling which makes for a better community in the long run.
MMOs need a lot of different possibilities so players don't get bored. PvE, PvP, crafting, gathering, socializing, traveling/rescuing, newbie mentoring, minigames, well written lore/roleplaying, housing, a working economy model, GM events, player driven events - i want all.
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If game events are handled correctly then all they take is 30 minutes to an hour of someone's time and no extra money. If the game allows the admins to change stats on creatures, create/destroy creatures/objects, and modify the stats on a reward then they don't need to do any setup ahead of time.
In Asheron's Call they have done all kinds of events and given out rewards that are unique on the fly. I participated with one where they filled up an empty dungeon with creatures and made themselves a boss at the end and when players killed the boss they got rewarded. So it was a spur of the moment quest with no walk through available which is a blast and brings the server together. They've done big monster town attacks etc etc. Events can really help bring a breath of fresh air to the game.
Them there are the huge planned events. This is more debateable because obviously they are spending as much time/money on creating one as they would an epic quest but this event will only run once. I would say that yes it is worth it since it makes for a unique experience that people can experience without having it spoiled by people knowing exactly how to beat it etc.
So yes I think games need even more events. AC is the only game I've played that had a decent amount of events as it is, and I think even they need more of them.
Game events based on real holidays is kinda lame today. If they based them on things in the games lore instead it is fine.
X-Mas in a MMO gives me the same feeling as when santa shows up in the second Narnia book, it doesn't really belong in the world and kills the immersion.
On the other hand do events give some feeling that the world is dynamic and changing, and that time passes. That is fine but I wish they could invent their own holidays instead of just cloning earth holidays based on people and events that happened here and not in the game world.
Santa shows up in the second book of Narnia? Spoilers.
Haha not that i'll be reading it anytime though
Yes, I agree. It's more exciting when the game's story line is where they pick-up ideas for in-game events.
"The world's still the same - there's just less in it."
Events that follow the games lore are fine but I do not like Holiday events like having funfest during christmas or something like that.
The reason?
Christmas stuff is shoved down my throat wherever I go right after Thanksgiving ends . .. the music gets stuck in my head and I encounter christmas everyday throughout December. If it was reduced to one week than it would be fine but they over do it. I would like to get away from it somehow at sometimes so having it in the game can just rub it in even more . ...
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Totally agree. I'm tired of events that ride on the back of real world stuff.
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So general idea is, events are good but are even better if pertain to the actual game? hmm okay, cool. Now my second part of the disucsion, why do you suppose they put holiday events in? is it to make the game popular? add excitement or to hope to draw in the people they lost with a event and if this is the case is that really a good thing or not?
Help me Bioware, you're my only hope.
Is ToR going to be good? Dude it's Bioware making a freaking star wars game, all signs point to awesome. -G4tv MMo report.
I have to agree on this one. The GMs are really helpful to everyone. When I ask questions in-game they answer me immediately. Got to love their friendly and quick reply
In the days of Underlight or AC an in game event was a world altering roleplay and/or mass fight. Now days a GM turns up and makes everyone do Morris dancing or hands out crackers.
But everything in MMO's is better these days, just keep telling your self that and you will believe it.
I used to play an independent MMO called Eternal Lands. There used to be a lot of in game events but they mostly sucked. I guess they lacked the tools to make interesting events, it was almost always the same: one of the mods would log in as a super strong character and spawn tons of monsters.