Newsletter Discussions: More Virtual World Games?

In this week's discussion, we want to ask about the path the online game genre has taken and where you would like to see it head in 2008 and beyond.

The meaning of the word "virtual world" has changed over the last few years. It used to describe an MMORPG that had a less directed experience, while now it has come to be something not exactly a video game, like Second Life. In 2008, would you like to see a return to virtual world games, like EVE Online and Ultima Online or are you happy with the current direction the two split genres have taken?

Let's hear your thoughts in the comment thread!

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Yes RETURN TO VIRTUAL WORLDS!

I do not want to be lead around by the hand and I want real consequences for my actions both good and bad. I want to pulverize someone into dust and it to really hurt. Cause if your goin to have PvP make it actually mean something as a real reward or a real consequence. I want to feel that risk of doing something, well, risky and the elation of succeeding knowing that if i would have failed it would have been huge. Not that if i fail its no big deal at all. Etc.

I want to be proud of my accomplishments. I have people that join my clan say their greatest accomplishment in an MMO is reaching lvl 70 in WoW, and people, compared to many virtual worlds, that's nothing. Leading a corporation in EVE into 0.0, conquering star systems and carving out your own empire, now that is an accomplishment. Or creating a monopoly on a game's products or becoming a real estate baron, those are accomplishments.

Virtual Worlds appeal to me cause they simulate reality in ways and as we all know, reality is harsh and at times hard but also can be an extremely rewarding world. In fact the real world can be such a rewarding place that your typical game can really not compare. Unless it strives to as in the case of a virtual world.

A big YES

Is sad that after nearby ten years of MMORPGs only two can be really named "virtual worlds", and in the last years none of the main dev companys not even tried doing that.

A resounding yes. The freedom the player had in Ultima Online was great. MMORPGs since are much more restrictive in what you can do, where you can go, who you can be. I would absolutely love to see an MMORPG with a living, breathing world. Where you feel that NPC's are citizens of the world, not just idly standing around 24/7 waiting for someone to hand in a quest. A world where it is actually a world: not several areas of land stuck together. A world like Ultima where you could explore everywhere! Where the deep, dark paths of a forest are actually deep and dark and not a 2 minute run from a town.

I do, however, recognise that this would not be everyone's cup of tea and the MMORPG companies are making such games to make money and hence, want to cater to the largest market possible....But a man can dream...

I believe that this is why the players on Ryzom fight for the game as much as they do. The opportunity to use any skill that you want, without being restricted by anything (except for experience) is something that is lacking in a lot of the games that I have seen out there. And forget about the quests, the only ones in Ryzom are either on Silan (the starting isle) or for fame.

First, Second Life (the example given in the article) is not a MMORPG, there is no overarching story for the player to participate in. Second Life, There, and so on, are MMOGs, which is what pure VR has become in today's world and what it will continue to be in the foreseeable future.

I, myself, much prefer the pseudo-reality of games like WoW, Lineage II, and CoH/V. I do not enjoy the darwinian fight for survival of a game like Eve Online. For those who do enjoy them, that's fine. I don't agree, however, that we need more of them.

The MMO field has become pretty stable. I don't forsee any truly innovative games being publically announced these days, only multiple vendors applying the current model to new genres. This is not a bad thing. This is perfectly normal for a fully mature market where all of the major developments are in place and the scramble for niche markets has begun. If a person enjoys a more "hardcore" game world, then there are multiple worlds available to them. The hardcore market is quite small, very mobile, and completely lacking in any sense of loyalty (which is why so many of them are clamoring for more of the same but with a new label). I'm sorry, but there are barely enough hardcore players out there to support the existing games, so any developer attempting to make a new one will be in for a rude surprise when they go public.

Notice the recent failure of Fury. The day of hardcore gaming being a primary design paradigm is over. I, for one, do not mourn its passing in the least.

I prefer the older version of the virtual world, though I'm not crazy about those particular games. For me, the real issue isn't so much having more or less of a certain type, but having clearer definitions of what it is you're getting into. The terms MMO and virtual world are thrown around too loosely. One example that sticks out for me is Hellgate. So many people believed this game would be an MMO like WoW, when it was really just another flavor of D2, with lobby style play and limited encounters.

ive never really been into the virtual life games like second life etc.. as i prefer a total escape from real life into some fictional make believe world with more far reaching possibilities imagination-wise than an anonymous virtual world where i play myself albeit with the ideal appearance and no holds barred inhibition free virtual existance..

But this said i can certainly understood how some people would find it appealing and liberating to live this sort of virtual be who you really want to be existance that they may not feel capable or able to do in thier own real lives... and so long as there are those who fall into that bracket thier will no doubt be some deman for those kinds of virtual life games to exist.

As to whether i think their should be more... i dont really see the pertinance of the question as no doubt as with our kind of online games whether or not thier will be more or less will be determined by consumer demand. If more people cry out for them, thier will no doubt be more, whereas if thier are fewer people joining them and diminishing interest thier will inevitably be fewer of them.

NeoWolf73:
ive never really been into the virtual life games like second life etc.. as i prefer a total escape from real life into some fictional make believe world with more far reaching possibilities imagination-wise than an anonymous virtual world where i play myself albeit with the ideal appearance and no holds barred inhibition free virtual existance..

To be clear, the question was about "virtual world games", which means that the point is still a game. Second Life is a virtual world, simple. A virtual world game, is more of a sandbox MMO, like Ultima Online.

Absurd distinction, but I hope that clarifies.