Off topic: You do know that Bethesda is working on a MMO? Possibly in the same world as Oblivion, or so the rumors say. I know this because they hired in people for a unnamned MMO 2 years ago.
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last I heard out of them was reading a preview of TES V: skyrim in a magazine a couple days ago. Looks awesome and definitely on my to buy list but only a single player. Not sure on latest rumour mills about their MMO though.
I have to agree with most of that, although there is always a bit of RP to be found somewhere. At the same time, I myself know I see an MMORPG as a computer game first and roleplaying game second. Wich means, I like to game and earn ingame money and skills and equipment and do quests and storylines, and occasionally I like to take time off and RP a bit. That is because RPing often gets in the way of game mechanics, meaning you can either roleplay of play eficiently, rarely both work together very well because of the rules. Also, I get my RP-fix with RL friends and dice.
But there are strong all-the-time RP communities, and a bit surprisingly to me, the strongest I've found are in EVE. The game where there is one single shard/server. Where all the different types of gamers live in the same universe, has also the strongest RP community I've yet found. The Minmatar/Amarr conflict has been a big focus point for example, with alliances like the Ushra'Khan and CVA maintaining a stable RP focused presence in strong numbers fpr years and years. The fact that EVE is just big and there is very little need to incorporate non-rp'ers into your play probably helps.
The old SWG (before the NGE) was full of great RP communities too, and the sandbox-style gameplay and the back then few and hard to build up cities made for great content, same as the crafting system and all that. But there is a big conflict between roleplaying and themeparkstyle games. The first needs as much freedom to act as possible, the latter tries by definition to route you through some predetermined attractions that are the same for everyone, most often with only one possible solution. You cannot be diverse there. So of you want to RP, play sandbox style games. There's not too much of them about, these days, but they are far from extinct. And I doubt they ever will be, because there will always be a market. It might not be as big as themeparks or even farmville-clones, but it is big enough to be served with a profit, and in the end, gaming is a business. If there is a profit to be made, someone will do it.
On todays MMORPGs roleplay is still very much alive, it just takes dedication and a willingness to create the scenes yourself, and it is my experience that given enough dedication, you can soon have people flocking to your banner. Don't log on and wait around for RP to find you. Create it yourself to find it and convert the unbelievers.
Now if only people would stop mocking us in game for our desire to create stories for our characters, online life would be easier.
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More Off Topic:
last I heard out of them was reading a preview of TES V: skyrim in a magazine a couple days ago. Looks awesome and definitely on my to buy list but only a single player. Not sure on latest rumour mills about their MMO though.
Into the breach meatbags
I have to agree with most of that, although there is always a bit of RP to be found somewhere. At the same time, I myself know I see an MMORPG as a computer game first and roleplaying game second. Wich means, I like to game and earn ingame money and skills and equipment and do quests and storylines, and occasionally I like to take time off and RP a bit. That is because RPing often gets in the way of game mechanics, meaning you can either roleplay of play eficiently, rarely both work together very well because of the rules. Also, I get my RP-fix with RL friends and dice.
But there are strong all-the-time RP communities, and a bit surprisingly to me, the strongest I've found are in EVE. The game where there is one single shard/server. Where all the different types of gamers live in the same universe, has also the strongest RP community I've yet found. The Minmatar/Amarr conflict has been a big focus point for example, with alliances like the Ushra'Khan and CVA maintaining a stable RP focused presence in strong numbers fpr years and years. The fact that EVE is just big and there is very little need to incorporate non-rp'ers into your play probably helps.
The old SWG (before the NGE) was full of great RP communities too, and the sandbox-style gameplay and the back then few and hard to build up cities made for great content, same as the crafting system and all that. But there is a big conflict between roleplaying and themeparkstyle games. The first needs as much freedom to act as possible, the latter tries by definition to route you through some predetermined attractions that are the same for everyone, most often with only one possible solution. You cannot be diverse there. So of you want to RP, play sandbox style games. There's not too much of them about, these days, but they are far from extinct. And I doubt they ever will be, because there will always be a market. It might not be as big as themeparks or even farmville-clones, but it is big enough to be served with a profit, and in the end, gaming is a business. If there is a profit to be made, someone will do it.
Thank you for your article. I like your points.
On todays MMORPGs roleplay is still very much alive, it just takes dedication and a willingness to create the scenes yourself, and it is my experience that given enough dedication, you can soon have people flocking to your banner. Don't log on and wait around for RP to find you. Create it yourself to find it and convert the unbelievers.
Now if only people would stop mocking us in game for our desire to create stories for our characters, online life would be easier.