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A Solo Game as a Counterbalance to 1337ism
Beatnik59
Member UncommonPosts: 2,413
Here are my thoughts about grouping.
If the game is designed around groups consuming content, then grouping no longer becomes a low-stakes affair. The stakes become considerably higher when you are only limited to a certain numbers of characters, that all have to "punch above their weight" in order to successfully navigate a quest chain.
As a result, we saw patterns--like in WoW--where guilds and groups would be picky...they'd reject players who played certain classes, they'd reject players who couldn't boast of quantifiable measures of their prowess (DPS). They'd also reject players they didn't know, personally, or that could not submit to requirements imposed on them, like TS/Vent hookup.
Some of this got so absurd that guilds would make players fill out application forms...and who could blame them? When a game is built around the functionality of the group to grind through MOBs, there are more reasons to reject a person than to group with a person. When we put in the risk of loss into the equation, like in EVE, the vetting process gets pushed to its extreme.
This is why I understand--and in many cases endorse--a healthy solo game. Frankly, I think it saved WoW, or at least eased the decline. Because you have got to give the guy who no group will take something to do for his time and money, and when the high-stakes game is so picky, the solo game might be the only game a person will have.
Also, you'll need a robust solo game as a way to counter the kind of 1337ist exclusivity that can pop up in games that emphasize high-stakes, high-reward grouping. Because when there is no solo game, there is no incentive for the hardcore, powergamers to ease up a bit on their exclusivity, and there's no incentive to make the game accessible to the vast majority of players looking for something fun to do. When the solo game is good, people are less inclined to be so picky in their grouping choices, because potential group members have choices. Without those choices, however, players are simply at the mercy of whatever standards are imposed on them by the needs of the über.
In short, a group-centric or guild-centric game creates conditions that are outside the ability of the publisher to correct. Because the publisher can't guarantee that a player will find a group or a guild, the publisher has to give something to those no guild or group will want. That's why I understand the need for a strong solo game; it's the thing you do when there is nothing else for you to do.
__________________________
"Its sad when people use religion to feel superior, its even worse to see people using a video game to do it."
--Arcken
"...when it comes to pimping EVE I have little restraints."
--Hellmar, CEO of CCP.
"It's like they took a gun, put it to their nugget sack and pulled the trigger over and over again, each time telling us how great it was that they were shooting themselves in the balls."
--Exar_Kun on SWG's NGE
Comments
Have you played the LFR and Flex content? It was pretty much made for the casual players. It gives the ability of seeing the end content without actually being any good.
WoW also has the brawl which is nice to test your skill. Havent really seen any other MMO try a single player experience though.
A solo game though is just an RPG though isnt it? A game that can be as hard as you want with the ability of changing difficulty. Better story, better combat system, etc.
Yes, and no one says an MMO cannot contain a solo RPG inside. In fact, LFR is a good response to that elitism the OP points out.
Make raiding too much work and commitment for players, and some may not like that. You can let them leave, or put something like LFR into the game to retain them.
I was in a progressive raid guild for a while, and it simply too much work/commitment for a mere game. Sure, i can hack it .. but why should i if it is not that much fun? If it is not for LFR, i would have left Wow much earlier.
If you find that game let me know
As of right now there are no MMORPGs that exist that offer "meaningful solo content" at end game. I think that's a distinction that needs to be clarified. Pretty much every MMORPG will allow you to solo...up to a point. You are able to solo all the way to the point where you then need to start grouping, which is totally asinine. So not only are you doing the player a huge dis-service by not teaching him the mechanics of group play, you are also deceiving him into thinking his preferred method of playing will be viable throughout the game's content. Somehow along the way solo got tied to casual, which is ridiculous. There is nothing that says solo content can't be hard. If anything I would think making a very difficult solo challenge would require even more skill as you couldn't let 39 other raiders carry you.
Let's take WoW for example, as I feel like they have at least attempted to try to cater to some solo play options. What can do you at max level? Well there are pet battles, which offer cosmetic items. There is crafting, which makes mediocre gear at best except for one or two slots. Then there's.....exploration? Achievements? Credit where credit is due there is the LFR system which is a huge step forward, but it isn't solo content. It just takes a solo player and forces them into a group. Too many development teams these days are afraid to design out of the box so we get the same old stuff from companies that are trying to see a ROI on a game. They know the formula....invest X amount of dollars on a WoW/EQ clone, and receive X+y amount of dollars in return. They don't care if they make a good or bad game, they just care about X+y.
I totally agree with you that we need a strong solo game at this point. I am not saying it would have mass appeal, but with how many games are getting cranked out every month in the MMO space you would think at least someone would attempt to try that model, but as far as I know it hasn't happened. I know there's a niche market for it. Maybe I am totally oblivious to some awesome game out there that totally fills this purpose. If so someone let me know.
Diablo 3 .. some may not think it is a MMO, but close enough for me.
Marvel Heroes.
That's funny that you say that, because that's what I am currently playing
I probably won't stick around for much longer though because the loot is still pretty poor and they won't admit that there is a problem. Might check it out again 6 months down the road if they fix that, but for now I will have to keep searching.
What are you talking about? You have already play D3 for more than a year and that is a long time for a game. Personally i will play RoS and i like the game very much .. but everything is going to get boring at some point, and I don't expect to play it more than a few months at most.
Even good games don't monopolize my time.