Newsletter Discussion: Instanced Content - Yay or Nay?

It's become the norm these days to shift MMO content and dungeons into individual "instances" for players and groups. While it's certainly convenient, some lament the older days when anybody could run into another player anywhere in the world - even in the middle of a dungeon. This week, we'd like to know:

How much content in an MMO do you prefer to be instanced?

Share your thoughts with us and post in the comment thread!

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I think instances are the "necessary evil" of MMO gaming. They do take away from the live world feel, and limit emergent gameplay and random turnouts, but on the other hand, they allow players to experience the game's preset story elements in a quarantined setting, and limit boss/mob camping by others, especially if the map/mission/instance is critical for your advancement.

Personally, I would prefer to abolish instances altogether and instead create a smart and dynamic system that allows for a unique playing experience without critical hindrance or devalue of the story elements. Create an illusion of an open world within an area, but still make it feel as "you-are-the-hero" of this mission at this area right now.

What you mentioned, guitar, pretty much sums up the biggest challenge MMOs in general encounter, versus single player games, and that is to make players feel as if they really make a difference in their world. It's definitely a big can-o-worms of a discussion in itself.