Post by Morreion on Apr 8, 2010 7:05:18 GMT -5
'PvP Games' are Making PvE Worse (Keen and Graev's Gaming Blog)
Have to agree with Keen here. If PvE is not good, an MMO is not going to succeed.
The problem stems directly form how PvE is being designed and then presented as something in the way. Usually the PvE in these games becomes something that must be overcome and done before getting to the PvP. It becomes more about putting in your time than it is about playing the game because the PvE is designed poorly or presented as such. Sometimes we’ll see a game where the PvE doesn’t get in the way, but it is added simply as filler. PvE just fills in the holes like putty and it is neither fulfilling or meaningful to the game. Thinking that all people want is their PvP is a sure-fire way to have horrible PvE and ultimately a horrible game.
Leaving out the PvE in these games means that PvP would have to stand on its own. Why is that a problem? If PvP had to stand on its own then people would quickly realize that the game has lost all of its meaningful investment and become more arcade-like since people often associate going through something, especially something they dislike, as having increased the value of what they earned. This is what happened to World of Warcraft in my opinion when they instituted Battlegrounds and Arenas where players could avoid the PvE side of the game altogether. Although WoW’s PvP does quite well for itself, can anyone honestly say that WoW would be a true mmorpg if it were simply a Battlegrounds and Arena game? Without PvE, suddenly the flaws in the PvP are apparent where they were once overlooked by something that was much worse...
People think they want a ‘PvP game’ but they really want a game where the PvP is meaningful, rewarding, and a fleshed out experience within a great whole. That isn’t accomplished by turning a blind eye to everything but PvP thinking that as long as you have this amazing PvP or special mechanic that all will either be overlooked or forgivable. Regardless of how important PvP is to a game, it never stands alone in a MMORPG. Developing a strong PvE core is probably the most important part of creating a successful ‘PvP game’ and until we start seeing the emphasis placed back on a balanced experience… well, we’re going to see more AoC, WAR, Darkfall, Aion, etc.
Leaving out the PvE in these games means that PvP would have to stand on its own. Why is that a problem? If PvP had to stand on its own then people would quickly realize that the game has lost all of its meaningful investment and become more arcade-like since people often associate going through something, especially something they dislike, as having increased the value of what they earned. This is what happened to World of Warcraft in my opinion when they instituted Battlegrounds and Arenas where players could avoid the PvE side of the game altogether. Although WoW’s PvP does quite well for itself, can anyone honestly say that WoW would be a true mmorpg if it were simply a Battlegrounds and Arena game? Without PvE, suddenly the flaws in the PvP are apparent where they were once overlooked by something that was much worse...
People think they want a ‘PvP game’ but they really want a game where the PvP is meaningful, rewarding, and a fleshed out experience within a great whole. That isn’t accomplished by turning a blind eye to everything but PvP thinking that as long as you have this amazing PvP or special mechanic that all will either be overlooked or forgivable. Regardless of how important PvP is to a game, it never stands alone in a MMORPG. Developing a strong PvE core is probably the most important part of creating a successful ‘PvP game’ and until we start seeing the emphasis placed back on a balanced experience… well, we’re going to see more AoC, WAR, Darkfall, Aion, etc.
Have to agree with Keen here. If PvE is not good, an MMO is not going to succeed.
