Post by Morreion on Feb 17, 2010 8:08:47 GMT -5
The Digital Continuum: 'Meh' to MMOs? (Massively)
The article continues, looking at such issues as:
Alternate payment models
Replacing the grind (a la SWTOR)
Having a fleshed-out world to explore
Technological progress
This was an interesting point:
Like Oat's article from yesterday, I think that there will be a new breakthrough game sooner or later that will refresh the genre.
While the MMO genre appears to be growing at a decent pace (at least for Blizzard) there's still plenty of room for growth. World of Warcraft clones can attract only so many interested players and turning to classic niche designs such as the sandbox MMO ala Fallen Earth won't do anything to pique the interest of people who otherwise have no interest in the genre.
So what will appeal to someone who has never felt a desire to play a game both massively and multiplayer?
First off, a lot of presumptions need to been tossed out the window. We need to take a step back and look at the strengths of the genre: persistence, community and creativity. We also need to consider some of the genre's crutches like repetition and subscription models. Most importantly, we all need to accept the fact that it's not all about innovation or even iteration but a fine balance between the two.
So what will appeal to someone who has never felt a desire to play a game both massively and multiplayer?
First off, a lot of presumptions need to been tossed out the window. We need to take a step back and look at the strengths of the genre: persistence, community and creativity. We also need to consider some of the genre's crutches like repetition and subscription models. Most importantly, we all need to accept the fact that it's not all about innovation or even iteration but a fine balance between the two.
The article continues, looking at such issues as:
Alternate payment models
Replacing the grind (a la SWTOR)
Having a fleshed-out world to explore
Technological progress
This was an interesting point:
A Tightrope Show
This is the part where I bring it all back around again. It's the part where I talk about balancing all these new ideas with some familiar ones.
The fact of the matter is that people like a certain amount of familiarity, but they don't want too much of the same old game. They want a game to feel fresh and comfortable all at the same time, like a new pair of underwear that seems like it's already been broken in just a little bit -- but not really because that'd be gross.
This is very likely the reason Blizzard takes ages to release anything new. Either that, or they're too busy swimming in their vault filled with gold coins squeezed from the blood, sweat and tears of nerds the world over.
This is the part where I bring it all back around again. It's the part where I talk about balancing all these new ideas with some familiar ones.
The fact of the matter is that people like a certain amount of familiarity, but they don't want too much of the same old game. They want a game to feel fresh and comfortable all at the same time, like a new pair of underwear that seems like it's already been broken in just a little bit -- but not really because that'd be gross.
This is very likely the reason Blizzard takes ages to release anything new. Either that, or they're too busy swimming in their vault filled with gold coins squeezed from the blood, sweat and tears of nerds the world over.
Like Oat's article from yesterday, I think that there will be a new breakthrough game sooner or later that will refresh the genre.
