General Discussion

Just wondering what makes you guys play an mmo ?

Well, I play MMOs because of being able to meet people, progress a character, and try and have some fun.

I used to only play FPS until my brother got me playing World of Warcraft; and I have been hooked to MMOs ever since.

I have mainly stuck with World of Warcraft because - for me - it was easy to pick up and play and more-or-less learn where a lot of the important stuff was. I have also played several other MMOs -- EverQuest 2, Voyage Century Online, Eve Online, and several other -- and the main things I have always liked in them was being able to progress a character to get new spells and abilities.

Most of time I don't mind playing MMOs alone, or at least not having people I regularly hang out with,but I think that's another reason I have only stuck with certain games; because I have found a group of people to hang out with and spend time with.

That's my two cents.

I'm sure there are some other reason I tend to play certain MMOs versus others, but those are the main points.

I play MMOs, because of the community. Maybe that is why I have been MMOless, since the collapse of EQ and DAoC.

Originally posted by TheGreyMan

Just wondering what makes you guys play an mmo ?

The fact that I can laugh at role players in games performing cyber sex out in the open like it's normal. No really I'm serous. 

i think friends are the main factor..i never thought before i would play games..however, when my friend let me play one game with them together, they said that game was what what what..how how how..strong..beautiful..nice..and so on..just quickly i downloaded it..- -|| and then started my game life..never stoped now..

1- The amount of progression.  Must be all available to my gameplays (grouping and soloing...could endure some tradeskilling but not much).

2- Multiplayers component.

3- World, yet centered on the players rather than on the world itself (instancing is an important feature which shouldn't be overused, yet an abuse is better than a absence).

If the game lack a proper progression, you just lose my interest, totally.  I am an achiever.  If that progression isn't in my gameplays, you also lose my interest, totally, but I will bitch and moan, because you have all you need to make me happy playing your game and you ruins it like a *&%/*!  If the game isn't "multiplayers" enought, my motivation may dwindle faster, I will be less resilient to anything aggravating, yet the multiplayers component wouldn't compensate a serious flaw, it would just delay it impacts and give time for the devs to adjust the game.  The world part can mostly be put back into point 1 & 2, but accept this 3rd point as something linked with my evil side, my ego...yet it must not be crippling to any player; no matter what.  Praise a few geeks, but don't hurt the casuals or other geeks.

Few games can compare to Civilizations games and propose as much/more progression.  MMORPGs are such games.

economics. Single player games are a $50 investment that keep me entertained for about two days.

MMOs are a $15 investment (per month) that keep me busy for months.....in some cases years.

So, if I buy 4 sp games per month, that's $200, and a lot of space taken up on the bookshelf. Just makes more sense to play one or two MMOs.

Plus, they tend to be a richer experience, and grouping with others is a blast.

I also like a game where everything doesn't revolve around me. Too many SP plots have you made out to be "the chosen one" or some kind of unkillable super-man able to wade through thousands of enemies.

In an MMO, if I want to feel superior, I have to work my ass off to be the best I can be at my toon's profession, work on getting the best gear, etc. I much prefer this feeling of accomplishment.

Economy and phat lootz, which is why I really hate bind on pickup or other controls that restrict economies in MMOs.  Don't even get me started on the people who want to bind money to the character to prevent RMT.  Might as well play a single player game at that point...

Naturally, with economy comes progression, which I can do either solo or with friends.  I hate games that force you to group, and in the reverse I hate games that don't have enough optional grouping.  This is why I feel that raids and solo play can easily co-exist.  Just make it so that raids are an occasional thing, not a nightly chore.

Finally, meeting new people and participating in adventures with them provides good enjoyment as well.  I like working on a variety of different tasks with many different people, and I like being able to meet up with some friends and run a dungeon from time to time.

All in all, it's about the wealth of diversity in activities that make me enjoy good MMOs.  Thus the reason why I don't find wow to be a very good MMO, because all you do is raid or pvp.  Good MMOs need crafters, and socializers, and builders, and fighters, and merchants, and a variety of other occupations that can suit many different playstyles.  Without this mass variety in playstyles, the game just becomes boring because all you can ever do is the same thing day in and day out (e.g. raid in wow).

In the end, one word rings true to me.  Variety.

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Originally posted by TheGreyMan
Just wondering what makes you guys play an mmo ?

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Socialization, and not those in-guild cliquish kind of socializations either. In Tabula Rasa, I'm the typical CP junkie, constantly retaking CPs or defending them, whether it's armor/health repair or blasting away with my leech gun and 'decaying' mobs (EMP + decay on Kael = done and done) it's all fun. :)

-- Brede