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What Would Excite You about MMORPGs Again?

My record with MMORPGs is such that when I start in one I usually stay for years – at least this was my experience with the first two I played.

Recently, however, I haven’t been captivated long enough to remain for more than a few months.

  • SWTOR: 6 months
  • Rift: 1 week
  • LotRO: 2 days
  • GW2: 1 day
  • TSW: 3 weeks
  • PotBS: 1 month

In truth, I don’t think any of the foregoing six are bad games; instead, I’m beginning to question if I’m simply burnt out on MMOs. And, though I’m certain the question has been asked here often, I wonder how much the “burn out” factor is reflected in our general antipathy towards current MMOs.

At the moment, I’m not playing any MMO, and I’ve been pondering the additional question: what will it take to really excite me again? I remember my first few months playing MMOs, when I simply could not stop playing them – I thought about them constantly, was totally enamored by their alternate realities. I haven’t felt that sense of excitement about any MMO in a very long time.

So, these are the two questions I want to pose to this forum:

  1. Do you feel you’re burnt out on MMOs?
  2. If so, what MMO features would interest you enough to reinvest in a new game world?

And for those who’ve answered in the affirmative to number one, who can also conceive of some game aspect(s) that would spin up their interest again, I’ll ask a third question:

  1. Is there an MMO slated for future launch that may return you to the fold? If so, what is it and why does it pique your interest?
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Comments

  • defector1968defector1968 Member UncommonPosts: 469

    SWG 6 years

    Tabula Rasa  1 year

    SWTOR 8 months

    Global Agenda 1 year

    i hate BoP and like to finish collections, only SWG gave that to me so far, dont know any other sci-fi game that i can do that

    fan of SWG, XCOM, Defiance, Global Agenda, Need For Speed, all Star Wars single player games. And waiting the darn STAR CITIZEN
  • Trudge34Trudge34 Member UncommonPosts: 392

    1. No, much more gaming left in me.

    2. Think the key words there would be "game world." I want a game that has more focus on the world and developing that allowing the player to develop their character as they see fit instead of focusing on these lame dev driven character storylines that (IMO) don't really belong in an MMORPG. Let me define what my character is through his actions and decisions, not discover what that is through poorly written and quested storylines.

    The next MMO I see me really spending a lot of time in will hopefully be EQN, as it's been said a few times that they will be getting back to the roots of MMO gaming more than this recent batch of MMOs since WoW.

    Played: EQ1 (10 Years), Guild Wars, Rift, TERA
    Tried: EQ2, Vanguard, Lord of the Rings Online, Dungeons and Dragons Online, Runes of Magic and countless others...
    Currently Playing: GW2

    Nytlok Sylas
    80 Sylvari Ranger

  • madazzmadazz Member RarePosts: 2,100

    Almost all the MMO's today share the same basic gameplay. The games you listed are no exception. The MMO community got what they asked for and are now regretting it. 

     

    What would get me excited is a truely new MMO. Sure, itll have somethings in common with other MMOs/Games, but no more of the same thing with minor changes and different graphics/setting. Sadly, everytime a post on here comes up with new ideas you have a few that come on here and say the ideas are bad because it doesn't revolve around THEIR play style. 

  • CuathonCuathon Member Posts: 2,211
    pretty much it would have to be incredibly similar to an MMO I once described in a series of threads on these boards to interest me. until then i will play me some city building and rts mmos.
  • sakinahsakinah Member UncommonPosts: 39

    Better gameplay.

    I would need a mix of Vinductus free manual combo mixed with the amazing looking skill animation of Blade and soul :P.without the game resorting to being a insane grind fest of any kind.

    So you basicly fill up a combo metter using  manual combos and BAM you hit them with intense animated action.

    Also the game would need to be hard enough so every dodge/block means something instead of the ususual ill just tank it approach.Hell id love a difficulty a la Dark Soul.:p

    Sure all the rest is important too but right now...gameplay in mmos is just really...boring...and that whats killing me..

    Thing is.. many mmo are coming with fairly good new ideas but they are scattred over many game.

  • sleepr27sleepr27 Member UncommonPosts: 102

    I'm currently enjoying SWTOR. But i would like a next-gen MMO to have these features:

    - Huge seamless world (no loadings). Not a sandbox but not a themepark either. A mix between the two! 

    - Open world PvP zones, something similar to warhammer online. No instanced PvP.

    - A new type of combat. It could be either an MMORPG with FPS elements, something similiar to borderlands and firefall. Or maybe something similitar to TERA but alot more polished!

    -  Meaninful crafting, were players would have to cooperate in order to get things done. With a market place where people would be able to rent buildings and then after create shops to sell their items, instead of an AH.

    - PvE with a mix of classic quests, dynamic events and open world dungeons. No more instances.

    These are some of the things i would love to have in future MMO's. Unfortunately nowadays, everything is instanced. And sandbox MMO's aren't fun for me either. Like i said a mix would be perfect.

  • BadSpockBadSpock Member UncommonPosts: 7,979

    I'm still waiting for the AAA PvE/PvP balanced sandbox MMO that is able to solve the current design limitations of the MMO genre and specifically sandbox sub-genre.

    I'm either going to be waiting A) forever B) for a long time.

    People think there is stagnation and no new ideas in the themepark space? Every sandbox MMO is like a copy-paste of UO pre-Trammel.

    Talk about lack of innovation!

    Even EvE has really stopped trying to innovate and advance the genre - they are just using their playerbase to finance Dust 514 and their other projects.

  • RaysheRayshe Member UncommonPosts: 1,279

    Build Customizeation and PvP that mattered.

     

    I will fully admit that i love the freedom in builds for TSW. sure there is a specific way to have the best DPS but you can potentially play it however you want. i bite a bit of a bullet on DPS to enjoy myself more. Other people seem to be quite whiny when they cant have Their build have the most DPS. But still the freedom from classes is something that needs to be kept around.

     

    PvP that matters. I have played afew games where PvP actually means something and they are the best experiances ive ever had. But PvP tends to constantly land on the back burner because in most games. its just a time waster, doesnt mean anything, Doesnt change anything.

    Because i can.
    I'm Hopeful For Every Game, Until the Fan Boys Attack My Games. Then the Knives Come Out.
    Logic every gamers worst enemy.

  • sakinahsakinah Member UncommonPosts: 39

    Oh yes build customization how i miss that.If you been playing mmo for a long time and remember the UO and asherons call era where you could select the skills you wanted to build your character with.

    I think i must have restarted My archer like 5 time in Asherons call  tweaking wich skills i wanted ot be specialized in to make the most of my character and hell it was fun!.having to actualy research your spell to use them that was so nice too haha.

    in the end my Archer was OP and i had fun finding my own way to make him so powerfull.

  • naljejanaljeja Member Posts: 94
    Originally posted by sleepr27

    I'm currently enjoying SWTOR. But i would like a next-gen MMO to have these features:

    - Huge seamless world (no loadings). Not a sandbox but not a themepark either. A mix between the two! 

    - Open world PvP zones, something similar to warhammer online. No instanced PvP.

    - A new type of combat. It could be either an MMORPG with FPS elements, something similiar to borderlands and firefall. Or maybe something similitar to TERA but alot more polished!

    -  Meaninful crafting, were players would have to cooperate in order to get things done. With a market place where people would be able to rent buildings and then after create shops to sell their items, instead of an AH.

    - PvE with a mix of classic quests, dynamic events and open world dungeons. No more instances.

    These are some of the things i would love to have in future MMO's. Unfortunately nowadays, everything is instanced. And sandbox MMO's aren't fun for me either. Like i said a mix would be perfect.

    You are pretty much describing Darkfall (Unholy Wars) in almost all the points

    on that note. I've played DF for over 3 years now and it's the most satisfying MMO that has come out the last 10 years

  • fenistilfenistil Member Posts: 3,005
    Originally posted by Simphanatic
    alternate realities.

    That is basically problem for me.   LACK of good quality alternate realities mmorpg's.

     

    I am bored of mmorpg's with gameplay that consist of 'completing series of maps'  in very fast conveniant way and quickly after playing matchmaking co-op game in instances.

     

    Mmorpg's are not worlds anymore and that's a problem for me.   Mmorpg world consist of zoned maps that look like carved out instanced part of bigger world where players are always self-sufficiant bubbles.   Game is filled with some abstract concepts like points, karma or tokens that seem to appear out of nowhere and I am given a task to get them like in some kind of platform game in Commodore where you collected crstals.

    Game server is not creating a world, weird pockets of terrain called zones and instanced dungeons and arenas connected through loading screens.    +  mmorpg's nowadays are all "combat combat combat" everything else is not existing or simple side mini-game.

    Worlds are not separated but connected to each other via LFG / matchmaking / AH and connected ro real world via cash shops or gold selling or rmah.

     

     

    So called "end-game" is not much difftent than playing a Battlefield or League of Legends.  Push a button and enter instances.

     

     

    That's why - I am just not interested and if my nostalgia get better of me and I try some new mmorpg in beta or buy new one (bought one in last 2 years recently) I get bored VERY quickly.

     

     

    "What would you excite about MMORPG"s again?"

    About whole genre?  Mmorpg's are insanely big genre right now, so about whole genre = nothing.

    What would me excite about an certain mmorpg?

    Basically return to virtual world idea, just do it better, cut old grind in about half not more not less,  get rid of macroing (was awful thing in UO / SWG) and solve some old prolblems like a good way to get rid of abandoned houses and cities. + no cash shop AT ALL, no currency selling and no rmah's and similar things.   Game would have to present at least average quality in terms of graphics, polish and support. Don't have to be cutting edge. Just no trash / tiny budget pls.  No underfinanced trainwrecks like Mortal Online.

     

    I imagine it might be very hard to do.

  • JWTunaJWTuna Member Posts: 23

    What would excite me is an mmorpg where I build my char from scratch, all stats start at zero and I allocate them as I level. No classes, just one bigass skill web and a heap of armour, weapons and craft that I can build whatever the hell i want out of. 1 hugely expensive skill/stat reset in entire game, screw up twice and you have to live with it or start over, and max level should take longer than a week. So people take pride in thier creations!

     

    Also, everytime someone says "pvp is unbalanced" in an mmorpg chat/forums, tech support should helpfully delete their charactor for them, and start them over at level 1 so they can create the "OP" build they are complaining about. Or maybe flag them for pvp, even in cities and safezones, and put a giant multicoloured tag on them saying "kill this tosser", so other players can teach them how to pvp.

     

    Good times. :)

  • VesaviusVesavius Member RarePosts: 7,908

    Truthfully?

    For the market to collapse, MMORPGs to fall off the radars of the super casuals and the entitled, and the carpet bagger VCs, and to return to the domain of the nerd.

    I love GW2, but I cannot pretend it is where I said I wanted to see MMORPGs in 2012. TBH, I would have been as happy with it if it had launched as a single player game with player hosted PvP servers. That dosen't mean it's a bad game, it simply isn't, it's a lot of fun, it just means that it isn't the invested long term PvE social experience I am looking for.

    I just do not give that much of a crap, when it comes down to it, about AAA production values, cutting edge GFX, or 'action' style ADHD combat. They are all good to start, sure, but they wear thin fast in my eyes. 

    I just want something more.... nerdy

     

    It might be why I am more interested in http://roll20.net/ then any upcoming MMORPG in all truth.

     

    I also need maybe the complete and utter awakening of the playerbase to the truths of cash shop 'gaming', but I suspect that's another thread :P

     

  • ste2000ste2000 Member EpicPosts: 6,194

    This "burned out" excuse is getting old.

    People are not burned out, simply the MMOs have become shallow, focus on instant gratification, they are too politically correct and they are anti social

    MMOs were born to be played by players with players, now people just play the game. Playing with others is just an option, sometimes an annoying option.

    All MMO pre-WoW were real MMOs, with all defects and faults, but they were very social, because no one felt like "the hero" but more like a member of a community

    Today MMOs is all about mememe, therefore they lose the MMO appeal, and it feels like people are playing a single player game.

  • QuirhidQuirhid Member UncommonPosts: 6,230
    Why do people always blame the games and not themselves?

    I skate to where the puck is going to be, not where it has been -Wayne Gretzky

  • ZhalikaZhalika Member Posts: 2

    No longer want an MMO but rather a stricter lean towards Forced Grouping Online Role Playing Game where death is acceptable practice and strict penalties are forced on the players who make poor choices - (nothing is fun about beating a game on easy mode anymore and we shouldn't have to wait until endgame).

    Problem is - need to convince others and myself to stop following the Hype of the MMO's and go with the games developed out there that offer this type of challenge.

    Recently came to the realization that EQ1 never had 10million subscribers but rather a much smaller subscribtion base during its best years of about 400k. WoW never felt as full of a game as EQ1 did, even with 10million subscriptions.  http://users.telenet.be/mmodata/Charts/Subs-2.png

    What made the MMO fun was the aspect of Challenge / Frustration / Community / Achievements. Not million of Subscriptions.

     

    until then - SWTOR has a great stories atleast

     

  • SicaeSicae Member Posts: 110
    • Do you feel you’re burnt out on MMOs?
    I feel burnt out on themepark games with tab-target combat
    • If so, what MMO features would interest you enough to reinvest in a new game world?
    Action combat, better crafting, open world PvP with objectives.
     
    • Is there an MMO slated for future launch that may return you to the fold? If so, what is it and why does it pique your interest?
    Blade&Soul because of the combat, archeage because of crafting, Elder Scrolls Online because of RvR.
  • sakinahsakinah Member UncommonPosts: 39

    It seems to me that games right now have hit some sort of plateau...  where every game is just a clone of another one bringing very little new concept, design,gameplay...(CoD anyone?).and when someone comes up a fair new mechanic it gets super cloned and milked right away.

    And sadly mmos are no  exception.

    How many more WoW clones do we need to see...

    In the recent years i can say that the only devs that are impressing me are the INDIE devs.

    And thats where the inovation is coming from right now...but thats another debate entirely :P

  • sleepr27sleepr27 Member UncommonPosts: 102
    Originally posted by naljeja
    Originally posted by sleepr27

    I'm currently enjoying SWTOR. But i would like a next-gen MMO to have these features:

    - Huge seamless world (no loadings). Not a sandbox but not a themepark either. A mix between the two! 

    - Open world PvP zones, something similar to warhammer online. No instanced PvP.

    - A new type of combat. It could be either an MMORPG with FPS elements, something similiar to borderlands and firefall. Or maybe something similitar to TERA but alot more polished!

    -  Meaninful crafting, were players would have to cooperate in order to get things done. With a market place where people would be able to rent buildings and then after create shops to sell their items, instead of an AH.

    - PvE with a mix of classic quests, dynamic events and open world dungeons. No more instances.

    These are some of the things i would love to have in future MMO's. Unfortunately nowadays, everything is instanced. And sandbox MMO's aren't fun for me either. Like i said a mix would be perfect.

    You are pretty much describing Darkfall (Unholy Wars) in almost all the points

    on that note. I've played DF for over 3 years now and it's the most satisfying MMO that has come out the last 10 years

    Maybe i'll give it a try when it comes out! Thanks. ;)

  • CuathonCuathon Member Posts: 2,211
    Originally posted by Quirhid
    Why do people always blame the games and not themselves?

    I would ask the opposite question. Why do people give shitty games a free pass?

  • StonesDKStonesDK Member UncommonPosts: 1,805

    More sandbox less pvp

     

  • SimphanaticSimphanatic Member Posts: 92

    The fact is, I’m not always in the mood for combat. I still want to engage in the virtual world, but I’d like other meaningful things to do.

    I think a lesson can be taken from the The Sims franchise (trust me, I’m burnt out on that too, but …) Give me a virtual world where combat is only one of the things I can do. Give me an opportunity to pursue other meaningful careers, with meaningful rewards and a progressive pay scale that improves commensurate with the time I devote. Let me have pastime activities, like casinos or gaming rooms where I have a chance to make more money. I want a more realistic experience, where my avatar has to sleep and eat. If I’m a mercenary or full-time member of a military unit, then fine, that’s how I make my living. But historically, in the real world, mercenaries and full-time soldiers were very few in number. Most of the combatants have been full-time farmers and tradesmen. If “winning” the game can be accomplished on multiple fronts – economic, militarily, politically, and professionally, or a combination thereof, a thriving in-game economy will be guaranteed, and the player population will remain diverse. And, as so much is based on social interaction, it will be an MMORPG in the truest sense.

    As for PvP – think about it – the real world is very much PvP. We pay policemen or armed constabularies to protect us, and sometimes the bad guys do takeover towns, thereupon becoming prey to other bad guys or groups of people who’ve united to make things right. Let the next great MMORPG reflect this kind of existence instead of clam-shelling us into some fantasyland that flies in the face of all logic.

    Others have already said they want a more open world, with fewer restrictions. I think this can best be achieved by modeling real world socio-economic circumstances (at whatever historic period) than by constantly trying to fabricate utterly improbable gaming universes, where hollow NPCs are the only “people” doing anything of substance.

    I agree with the people who’ve said they want a blend of sandbox and themepark; I certainly don’t mind a somewhat directed gaming experience, but I definitely want more control over where that direction takes me and I most certainly want the option to follow multiple directions without it handicapping my long term viability.

    As for the guy who said “burnout is an excuse,” I say BS. I really am burnt out on carrot and stick MMOs that offer me little incentive beyond rising to the next level or acquiring the next coveted piece of gear. Make me want to exist in your game world instead of only playing in it – then you’ve got a winner.

    John Muir said: “Most people live on the world, not in it.” There’s a huge lesson there for game developers. Give me a virtual world in which to live and you’ll have me hooked again.

  • DavisFlightDavisFlight Member CommonPosts: 2,556

    If they started making real MMOs again instead of WoW clones.

    Focus in immersion, socialization, dynamic player influenced content, a bit more complicated, a lot more unforgiving, no instances, no dumbed down, and for gods sake, some damn innovation again.

    At this point though? Anything without instances and with no quest based leveling/solo oriented gameplay has me interested.

    I love MMORPGs and I could play them forever. I do not love online RPGs like SWTOR, WoW, and Diablo.

     

    Oh, and good PvP, that is built in from the start, is always a plus. Notice how all the best PvP in MMOs are thought of from the start and not tacked on? Built around and integrated into the experience. DAoC, for instance, had probably the best PvP model there is.

  • FrodoFraginsFrodoFragins Member EpicPosts: 5,898

    Well, I'm job hunting and mostly burned out on MMOs.  My life is hectic and I can't even set aside time for half hour dungeons as I may be interrupted.  So I've been going through games much quicker than normal lately.  I played D3 for 150 hours and quit, returned to SWTOR for one month but barely played, played GW2 for 140 hours and got bored, and played TL2 for about 60 and got bored.

     

    In the past I played:

     

    WOW: off and on about 20 months since release.  Skipping MoP

    LOTRO: off and on about 12 months since release (lifetime sub)

    EQ2: About 1 week a year after release

    RoM: About a month

    Forsaken World: Until only way to level was by dailies

    AoC: About a month during F2P

    STO: 2 days

    SWTOR: 2 months

    GW2: 1 month - but will return

     

    Once my life settles there's only one thing that could really excite me with an MMO.  That would be if I could play progression servers in WOW.  Start in vanilla with just the content/gear before BWL.  Once I farm MC/ONY I then move to a server that has BWL then one with AQ20/40 then one with Naxx.  With the only modifcation being having with dungeon and raid finders from teh beginning and no lockout timers.  Obviously that will NEVER happen, but I would really enjoy doing that.

     

    Nothing else would excite me really other than a well made MMO in an IP I love that will never get an MMO, such as Farscape or Babylon 5.

  • azmundaiazmundai Member UncommonPosts: 1,419

    community, which unfortunately has to be forced upon the players or it will never exist.

    not going to happen tho as an AAA developer's first consideration is number of players .. even though all of the pandering they do actually has the complete opposite effect.

    LFD tools are great for cramming people into content, but quality > quantity.
    I am, usually on the sandbox .. more "hardcore" side of things, but I also do just want to have fun. So lighten up already :)

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