MMORPG - The Good, the Bad and the Ugly!
If you are a long-time console gamer, or a hardcore single-player PC gamer, jumping into the massively-multiplayer online role playing game (MMORPG) genre can be quite a culture shock. While newer console platforms do support multiplayer interactions, the MMORPG universe is a place all its own. If you're thinking of buying one of the MMORPGs out there, here are a few observations of what is good, what is bad, and what is downright ugly about the MMORPG universe.
© World of Warcraft | Blizzard Entertainment |
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Content
MMORPGs provide a persistent world that is constantly being updated, improved and expanded. New patches not only fix bugs, but also introduce seasonal content and unlock new areas to explore. Game expansions maintain the base portion of the game, but add large areas of new content, character types, and abilities. As a result, the games can continually be played and enjoyed in new ways. In the "old days", once you beat the game, it was over. Not so with an MMORPG, where you can create new characters or bring old characters into new areas.
Friends
If you have a lot of friends who game, the MMORPG is a great way to play together. Guilds and chat channels allow for friends to either play together in groups, or do their own thing while chatting in the chat channels. Small groups can complete quests together, and larger groups can attempt larger quests and boss raids.
Fees
The majority of MMORPGs out there charge a monthly access fee. This fee does go towards continuous updates to the system, which is a good thing, but many feel the fees are higher than they need to be. Fees may prevent younger players without credit cards from playing, unless their parents are willing to fork over the credit card. More recently, some games have created a work around for the credit card issue by selling game time cards at game shops. These cards, much like a gift card, are good for a certain length of service time, such as 3 months.
Player vs Player (PvP) action
PvP in an MMORPG allows for one character to attack and kill another player in the game without the consent of the other player, unlike in a controlled and consensual duel situation. This is an area of controversy, since many people like the PvP environment in many games. However, some people take the PvP concept and use it to be annoying, randomly killing off other characters, particularly those that are far below them in level. In WoW, Blizzard remedied this by instituting specific PvP servers, and specific rules about PvP in other servers.
People
As in the real world, when you're in a public space, you have to put up with the people around you. An MMORPG is no exception. Add the "anonymity" of the online experience, and you will find that many people in MMORPG environments will become far more annoying, immature, and vocal. Thankfully, characters have the ability to leave public chat channels and not be exposed to the nonsense that often occurs.
Spam
Yes, spam has infiltrated the gaming universe. There are many organizations out there in the business of selling in-game currency, character leveling and other in-game services for real-world money. These organizations are generally operating in violation of the terms of service for any particular game. Characters set up by these organizations may shout their advertisements in the chat text, or in rare cases, send advertisements through in-game mail. Game companies have been cracking down on these organizations to the best of their abilities. In WoW, the appearance of these spam ads has dropped significantly over the last few months.
By S. Kristoff | VEESH Writer | MAR.13.08