Are MMORPG's a "fad?"

Eric-GCA

Banned
I never played an MMORPG until WoW. And while WoW is indeed a great game to play online, I question whether this genre will be able to stand the test of time. Playing WoW has made me think about how future games can improve the whole concept of MMO's in general. I for one see MMO's being held back by the very concept that the world is online only and therefore the content is only limited to "questing" for NPC's. Sure you got your PVP free for alls, but how long can those keep interest?

In my opinion, unless MMO's get a major workover in the next generation, I don't see them becoming something other than a fad.
 
Here to stay. A lot of people go from MMO to MMO. Just look at the recent migration of a lot of gaffers from DAoC to WoW. The base conceps of exploring a world and building a character with a ton of other people is compelling to a lot of gamers and MMOs have exploited that sucessfully to establish itself as a stable genre.
 
MMORPGs have been around for ages so no, it isn't a fad. MUDs are the predecessors to the current day MMORPGs and those have been around much longer than the stuff we see now =P.
 
Hmm, so it is mainly the pull of creating a character and building them up that is what keeps most people involved in MMO's. Well, I guess I can see how that keeps people coming back to different games. Although for myself, I don't see how the genre itself can be profitable when it becomes too saturated, which is what I see happening now with so many companies coming out with online games.
 
nubbe said:
Nintendo has been saying this all along and people just won't listen... Online gaming is a fad.

Nintendo never said that. They said that it's not economically viable for them to get involved. Yet.

And MMO games are definately not a fad. They're only going to get bigger and bigger IMO.
 
"fad" implies that it's going to be something short lived. I think calling them a "trend" is more likely. I don't think the genre will die out at all, but I also don't see there being a lot of competing major MMORPGs several years down the line.
 
Eric-GCA said:
Hmm, so it is mainly the pull of creating a character and building them up that is what keeps most people involved in MMO's. Well, I guess I can see how that keeps people coming back to different games. Although for myself, I don't see how the genre itself can be profitable when it becomes too saturated, which is what I see happening now with so many companies coming out with online games.

Not really, people want to play on MMOs that have a healthy number of people playing along with them. So any successful MMO will have a dedicated fanbase. This sets the bar for a MMO success farily high, not only do you need to attract gamers to an initial purchase, you need them to stick around for a while. If an MMO doesn't have a healthy enough dedicated fanbase it'll die. If it does, it'll surivive and maybe thrive.
 
There's also quite a number of people that go for the glam-factor in an MMORPG. There's definitely some satisfaction to be had, running around with ultra high-end armor that no one else has, and see people drool when they do an /inspect and see your gear's stats.
 
The glam factor is kinda neat. I like how low level people /kneel, /bow when they see you.
The anoying part is when they beg for money... :p
It iss also fun to be recognized as the best tank or such on the server. But it is kind of annoying to have people sending you tells all the time begging you to join their group or help with things.
Not easy being Mr Popular. :/
 
With the technology it will come more epic games that will be able to let you interactive with the world much more. The characters will be more unique, the actions much more diverse. I´m sure it´s a genre full of potential.
 
No but there are "fads" with mmorpg themselves us. Currently we are in a "quick and easy" phase where games only offer quick rewards, easy gameplay like console game while sacrificing some of depth, immersion and community.
 
MMORPGs aren't a fad as long as they keep improving. World of Warcraft is a fad though. Give it a year or two and the only people left will be b-net kiddies with 20 level 60s each.
 
Currently we are in a "quick and easy" phase where games only offer quick rewards, easy gameplay like console game while sacrificing some of depth, immersion and community.

Must be MMRPGs for everyones. I enjoy WoW, that I´m sure it fits in your description and I can´t spend a lot of time in a very deep community focused MMRPG, so it´s nice for me. Of course I suppose that the best deal is something that let everyone happy, but the design of the games must change a lot and hardware and tools must be more capable. With experience in MMRPGS, developers will be able to diversify the content so much to get everyone happy and adapt to their needs.

I play WoW not because I want to become the master of the universe, or have a lot of virtual social life. I enjoy it as a huge game that let me explore a lot, I love the feel of wonder of arriving a new place, to look at the details of the world, or the experiece of flying in a bat over the reigns. I love as well having the possibility to interact with some human beings for something more that killing each others and in the future I hope to participate in huge battles. WoW let me do it without asking too much time.

I played City of Heroes, my first MMRPG, until I get bored but I enjoyed a lot the time I pass there. I Will stay at WoW until I get bored. I don´t want to feel too attached if I´m not getting fun.
 
Razoric said:
MMORPGs aren't a fad as long as they keep improving. World of Warcraft is a fad though. Give it a year or two and the only people left will be b-net kiddies with 20 level 60s each.
:lol :lol :lol
 
Razoric said:
MMORPGs aren't a fad as long as they keep improving. World of Warcraft is a fad though. Give it a year or two and the only people left will be b-net kiddies with 20 level 60s each.

That's still a year and eleven months more then most other games last. ^_^;
 
I don't get the feeling I'm living in a fantasy world when I play them. I just feel like I'm working to become more powerful, or have the coolest items. It got very boring for me.
 
Razoric said:
MMORPGs aren't a fad as long as they keep improving. World of Warcraft is a fad though. Give it a year or two and the only people left will be b-net kiddies with 20 level 60s each.

:lol :lol :lol

It's funny because it's true.

Lindsay said:
That's still a year and eleven months more then most other games last. ^_^;

Ultima Online and EverQuest say you're wrong. Hell DAoC is still going and Mythic says they'll keep it going as long as it has a community that supports it.
 
If it's a fad it's a fad that has kept me and all my close friends entertained for years now.
 
Yes, MMOs are a fad that went by the name "virtual reality" in the '90s.

They're still developing, and what they'll eventually develop into is anyones guess, but I'm predicting:

More and more user created content, quests, areas, etc.
Actors taking the roles of NPCs.
 
ManaByte said:
:lol :lol :lol

It's funny because it's true.



Ultima Online and EverQuest say you're wrong. Hell DAoC is still going and Mythic says they'll keep it going as long as it has a community that supports it.


AHAHAHAHAHAHA DAOC still goin eh? www.camelotherald.com sorry buddy but its lookin like pre mordred/andred levels there.
 
It's not a fad, its just not evolved far enough yet. imo.

The problem is that like most RPG's, it gets repetitive after a while. And there is absoluty no reason to change the way you play either.


That said I want a Naruto MMO, where items and situation based strategies play a big role. :(






It's funny because it's true.

So you are saying that I made the wrong choice in getting WoW as my first MMO, no wonder I feel this way. :/
 
I've heard quite a few stories from people I know who haven't touched an MMORPG before...and they start playing WoW. They just aren't prepared for how an MMORPG can take over your life. One friend said he felt sick from not eating anything for a long time while playing, and yet he had this urge to level up just once more.
WoW is attracting the mainstream I think, or at least people who normally wouldn't play MMORPGs. I think it could open up the market even more for MMORPGs, thus making developers more interested in the genre (and developing it even further). And more lives will be ruined. :lol :(
 
DonasaurusRex said:
AHAHAHAHAHAHA DAOC still goin eh? www.camelotherald.com sorry buddy but its lookin like pre mordred/andred levels there.

The game is still running and people are still playing it. I never made any statements about how many people are playing, but people are. Hell people still play Meridan 59 (even though the publisher is out of business now - it used to be 3DO), just like people still play Ultima Online, EverQuest, and DAoC.
 
madara said:
No but there are "fads" with mmorpg themselves us. Currently we are in a "quick and easy" phase where games only offer quick rewards, easy gameplay like console game while sacrificing some of depth, immersion and community.

You want mmorpg to take up MORE of peoples time? The supposedly wow is the easiest to level mmorpg out there, and it's still taking up too much of my time. People who play the "harecore" mmorpg must have no lives whatsoever.
 
Tre said:
Manabyte: Weren't you the one bitching about EQ2 trolls?

Razoric made a funny comment about the game, I just laughed and agreed. As for the rest of my posts in this thread:

Lindsay said:
That's still a year and eleven months more then most other games last. ^_^;

I responded to that by pointing out how many MMORPGs are still going strong four to ten years since their release.
 
Tre said:
It's laugh-worthy when it's not for his game of choice, but you diss EQ2 and he raises all hell. Quite the double standard there. :-p

I have a 40 Warlock in WoW in addition to playing EQII.
 
Tre said:
And that's *really* irrelevant to anything I said.

Last I checked, this wasn't a WoW specific thread, it was a thread about the MMORPG genre.

Now, if the fact that UO, EQ, and DAoC still exist is offensive to you it's not my fault.

And what Razoric said was funny.
 
"Now, if the fact that UO, EQ, and DAoC still exist is offensive to you it's not my fault."

Honestly, what the hell are you talking about? Are you trying to baffle your way out of sounding like a hypocritical borkwad?
 
Tre said:
"Now, if the fact that UO, EQ, and DAoC still exist is offensive to you it's not my fault."

Honestly, what the hell are you talking about? Are you trying to baffle your way out of sounding like a hypocritical borkwad?

Ok, so laughing at what Razoric posted was wrong?

What about every non-WoW MMORPG thread (it doesn't have to be EQII) that immediately gets infested with WoW trolls saying "Gee, I'm glad I don't play this piece of crap, play WoW". Like MAF's last great DAoC thread where Drinky had to go in and ban the WoW trolls who wouldn't let anyone discuss any MMORPG without having to say how crappy the game looks and how great WoW is.

Or when sonycowboy made a post about EQII's Valentine's Day stuff and the first post in the thread was by Razoric saying:
http://www.ga-forum.com/showthread.php?t=35397
:lol :lol

keep tryin SOE... keep tryin.. :O

Or when Malakhov made a post asking for EQII advice from experienced players and Cerebral Palsy popped in just to troll:
http://www.ga-forum.com/showthread.php?t=34124
You guys are still playing EQ2? LOL
 
That's the point Manabyte. You whine about the trolling and then laugh at other trolls when it's not about EQ2. That's also why no one takes your complaints seriously. Because you go right around and do the same thing in the other direction. Do you understand? Do I need to make diagrams and pie charts?
 
Tre said:
That's the point Manabyte. You whine about the trolling and then laugh at other trolls when it's not about EQ2. That's also why no one takes your complaints seriously. Because you go right around and do the same thing in the other direction. Do you understand? Do I need to make diagrams and pie charts?

I laughed at what Razoric said, and then responded to what Lindsay said about MMORPG life spans. DonasaurusRex then trolled DAoC and I responded to his comment.

The WoW trolls go into other MMORPG threads and do nothing but bash the game. I fucking laughed at what someone said in this thread and you go all fucking crazy.

You know what Tre, you're trolling in this thread. I don't see any post about you in this thread on-topic. All you did was come in to attack me.
 
Mainly because you complain about the other trolling. Get it? [Manabyte] Wah, wah People trolling EQ2, wah wah. *someone trolls WoW* omfg, roofle [/Manabyte]
 
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