What Makes the Game

What Makes the Game

When I first began to write this column I wanted to discuss MMOs on a philosophical level (I bet you couldn't tell at all!). My past columns have covered many aspects on MMOs on this sort of level with my own thoughts and philosophies on them. By looking at different features such as individuality, meaning, problems, and change within MMOs, I feel that a lot has been discovered about these games.

For this article however, I would like to explore something a bit different. I would like to look at more of a psychological aspect than a philosophical one.

What is it about these games, these "Massively Multiplayer Online Games", which draws players in as much as they do? How is it that people can spend so much time playing these games, willing to spend a monthly fee just to access them? What compels people to enjoy these games so much? There has to be something about them that appeals to the human psyche, something that touches us on a deep level to draw us in. There has to be something about these games that is truly remarkable and is deeply connected with human life, wants, and needs.

All forms of entertainment touch upon some need in human life. Many tap into us on an emotional level, some of them tap into our draw for competition, instincts, and more. Perhaps MMOs appeal to people on some of these levels. Yet, there are many other games out there that appeal to people on them, and people usually don't spend the sheer amount of time playing other genres as they do MMOs. There has to be something else there, something that draws people in, something that enhances these other appeals.

I have often wondered why these games could draw me and so many others in so much. For many people these reasons will surely be varied as no two people are identical. However, I have come up with one major reason as to what makes these games so very captivating. It was something I realized a few years ago, after playing MMOs so much, although it was a reason I lost for some time... Yet, after a recent interview that Yahoo released with Brad McQuaid and Jeff Butler, it seems as if those two have reached the same conclusion as I have-a conclusion that they gave me a strong reminder of.

So, what is this remarkable feature that separates MMOs from other games? Uh, well, that whole "Massively Multiplayer" thing. I feel that the biggest aspect that MMOs use to draw people into them is with other people. It is the community that is the true foundation of the game.

MMOs allow you to fight together with other people, to share adventures and experiences with others, or to do battle with them. MMOs allow players access to communities that they do not have access to in any other genre of games. MMOs allow players to interact with a huge variety of other people, numbering into the thousands, and the ability to interact in an environment as this is what draws many players into these games.

Even those who play for advancement, for recognition, and to be among the most powerful players in a game play for this aspect. One certainly can not stand out among others if those others do not exist after all. Thus, the ability to play within a shared environment allows them to truly enjoy their accomplishments so much more than they could in a single player-or even a normal multiplayer-game.

The simple fact that people are able to interact with each other is a big reason as to why these games are so popular among those who play them, even if they are not necessarily social gamers. The ability to group with other people, to meet them, to participate in economies with them, to do battle with or against them, to form bonds and ties between others, and so very much more, is the true driving force behind these games. It is what makes them special, it is what makes them meaningful, and it is what truly adds so much playability and enjoyment to them.

That simple factor of interaction and shared experiences is what truly makes an MMO stand out and become something great.

To use Brad and Jeff's words, it is the concept of, and draw towards, a shared experience that makes MMOs captivating. A shared experience is prevalent in humans when dealing with entertainment and is represented by expanding on the enjoyment from simply experiencing the game, book, movie, etc... by being able to interact with other people and share that enjoyment with them. When people are able to share their experiences that form of entertainment is often greatly enhanced in enjoyment.

When looking at the ever changing face of gaming in the world, you would easily notice a rise in online gaming. Most games anymore tend to offer the ability to play online, or at least some form of multiplayer. Shooters, Strategy, Fighting, Racing, RPGs, etc... Most games have that feature in them to allow a shared experience between people playing them. Even games that are totally single player can show off this tendency in humanity, as people will find ways to share their experiences with other players. Don't believe me? Check out the forums for the Elder Scrolls series of games.

Humans are naturally a social species. We tend to enjoy sharing our experiences with others and having them with others. The ability to interact with other people is essential in our lives, so when a game can incorporate that, it is little wonder that it becomes more likely to be popular. When a game can incorporate social interaction at the level of an MMORPG... Well, it is little wonder why they can be as life-sucking as they are!

MMOs offer a virtual world for people to interact with others in. They offer a world ripe with the ability to have shared experiences with others no matter how they play. They take the online and multiplayer aspect, the ability to provide shared experiences, and truly run with it, creating a unique atmosphere that gamers can be drawn into and love.

Games that can be played online, in general, benefit greatly from the ability to allow people to play with each other. It allows people to come together, to participate in something that they enjoy. It allows them to talk with each other while enjoying a game and it gives them topics to talk about after their game. Friendships can form simply by playing games with other people online-something that is commonly seen in MMORPGs. Communities can forms, people can come together, bonds can be formed and great things can happen.

This is what makes an online game special. The scope and ability that an MMO has with this is what makes them simply awe inspiring.

-Arrakiv