Comments on: Why I don’t play MMORPGs

By: Michael Orton

Michael Orton — Wed, 08 Mar 2006 13:02:51 +0000

In the light of those comments, I will rephrase my wish. I would like the now extinct online world of “Lap of the Gods” back, with the same group of characters I used to play with, but using “Second Life” technology.

Using a MMORPG as a chatroom is fine, but there needs to be things to do.

By: Tim Hall

Tim Hall — Sat, 04 Mar 2006 20:11:16 +0000

>>And most of the participants are about as deep as your typical chat-room denizens.

There’s the rub. The problem with MMORPGs is that the people with the largest amounts of free time to spend in them are kids; most grown-ups have busier lives. And any MMORPG is only as going to be as good as the other players.

By: Amadan

Amadan — Fri, 03 Mar 2006 23:41:50 +0000

I tried “Second Life” for a month.

It’s pretty and kind of cool to fly around, but it gets old fast. At heart, it’s nothing more than a giant chat room with pretty 3D graphics. And most of the participants are about as deep as your typical chat-room denizens.

By: Michael Orton

Michael Orton — Tue, 28 Feb 2006 12:26:39 +0000

Indeed that would seem to be the style of a large proportion of such games, but there are worlds with other approaches. After all, what of “Second Life”?

I submit that “Second Life” is the way an online RPG really ought to be. Had I the time and money I would love to incarnate Conteck there in his “real” body.

By: Tim Hall

Tim Hall — Mon, 27 Feb 2006 18:56:03 +0000

I think text-based games engage the imagination in a way that graphical games don’t seem to.

The latter don’t seem to have evolved past adolescent DnD “Kill the monster and take it’s stuff”.

By: Michael Orton

Michael Orton — Mon, 27 Feb 2006 12:19:20 +0000

The main reason I don’t play these games is a lack of time. Over the years (IIRC the first incarnation of Conteck in one was in MUD2 in 1985) I have had a lot of fun in text based games and I have been happy to make financial contributions towards one or two.

I tried UO once and I didn’t like it.

I once visited a game where the mobiles only existed to be killed and when I asked about RP aspects my guide didn’t understand the question.

I currently monitor the development of Coffee Mud (a Java based system) and if I ever have the time I will develop a Mud myself using that framework. I doubt people will pay to play it though!

By: Tim Hall

Tim Hall — Sun, 26 Feb 2006 21:07:37 +0000

That’s a perfecly valid reason. Dreamlyrics isn’t free, but it still represents better value for money

By: Serdar

Serdar — Sun, 26 Feb 2006 19:57:45 +0000

Here’s why I never play MMORPGS:

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$