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What defines an mmorpg?
Darktania
Member Posts: 805
I'm constantly hearing from people that games like Guild Wars arent mmorpg's. If it isnt then what defines an mmorpg? I though it was self explanatory when you broke down the acronym. Okay lets use Guild Wars for example and break down the acronym.
"MM" = Massively Multiplayer. Means that there's a large number of people that play it. Well arent there alot of players in Guild Wars? Sure they're only in the city but you interact with them, group up, and then go off into an instance.
"O" = Online. Nuff said about that one.
"RPG" = Roleplaying Game. In Guild Wars you chose a class and play that role. Be it a Healer or Tank you're playing the role. Now as far as acting out the role then thats another thing but there isnt much RPing going on in other games either.
Now if it's because all the adventuring is done in an Instance setting then that means other games like DDO and PSO arent mmo's either. So wadda ya think?
Comments
I think some folks don't consider GW an MMO because the whole thing is instanced.
Now don't get me wrong, I think it is an awesome game.
But I just wish they had mixed instanced content with some non-instanced content.
If you break the acronym down, it is an MMORPG, but I think since it is missing that random player encounter element, some would say otherwise.
"But I just wish they had mixed instanced content with some non-instanced content."
Yeah I feel the same way. I'd like DDO more too if it had more non-Instanced content as well.
The reason I started this thread though is because it seems people get their feathers all ruffled when the words "Guild Wars" and "mmorpg" are used in the same sentence.
Quoted from the dragons mouth itself
If massively multiplayer simply meant that a large number played it, nearly every single online game in existance would be an MMO.
The distinction is, a large number of people playing together simultaneously in a single world.
In other words, not split up into otherwise empty instances with 4-8 others, all on the same team.
And no, I for one would not consider DDO an MMO either.
Note: I don't personally give a damn what they are called, all that matters to me is how it plays.
No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main. any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind, and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.
Hemingway
A game that has a persistant world and can host more than 10 or so ppl at one time.
Notice PERSISTANT world. Guild Wars does not have a Persistant World.
A Work in Progress.
Add Me
Technically speaking it does have a common graphical area that can host many people...
A Work in Progress.
Add Me
The definition has been broadened at this point, in my opinion, both in the industry and among most gamers. The site's definition, one which calls for a "graphical common area" doesn't really help clear things up, though. Guild Wars is considered a MMORPG by most gamers not only because of the huge common areas but because of the leveling scheme, the skill system, the way loot is handled, the setting, and other factors.
Taxonomy is a tricky thing, though, for games as much as anything else. Even among biological taxonomists, there are heated debates on how to classify certain organisms, and that is a community of scientists with rational minds. If you're expecting hardcore MMORPG players in an internet forum to come to a reasonable consensus on such an issue, you might have another thing coming.