What part of an MMORPG is the "actual game" ?

mohit9206

 When it comes to MMORPGs some say that the "leveling process" is the actual game while some consider it as just a tutorial and for them the "real game" begins at the "end-game". I don't understand this reasoning why should only a certain portion of an mmo be the real game while the rest be either a tutorial or fluff ? Why not do the developers make the entire game as a whole the"real game".Only in mmo's do i see this game design philosophy.

To me if the levelling part is not fun but just a grind to the end why would i even bother getting to end-game if i am not having fun leveling ? While i do appreciate good end-game content,it should not come at the expense of the leveling part.Most mmorpgs are either good at end-game or at the leveling part but not both.I ask for a good balance between the two so that players who love the leveling experience get to have a good time while those who are more into end-game don't feel like the leveling part is just a hurdle to the end.This can be done by making the leveling part more fun by making quests more interesting and varied possibly through good story driven quests and activities that contribute and further the game's narrative and lore and through character development and progression or just anything that keeps the game from feeling a grind to the end.

So what are your thoughts on this topic and what do you enjoy more in an mmorpg,the leveling portion or the end-game portion ?

Reklaw

Unfortunaly when I hit end game in a themepark MMO it often means the end for me. Not so much because there isn't anything to do because there is. But to me end game in a MMO suddenly turns more into a regular multiplayer game and I enjoy multiplayer games more then what I get at end game. Because there is hardly a continuation of your virtual life. All you can do is get better gear by doing several arena's or instances over and over again. As said don't mind that in my multiplayer games but in a MMORPG it has to have more then just that.

That's not to say I don't understand rushers because I do. I understand they enjoy the way the game is at cap level more then it's journey. For them I do we hope we might see more games that focus on what many themepark games offer as end-game to be like that for the overal game. Perhaps Pantheon: Rise of the Falling is that game or maybe even Camelot Unchained.

To me it's the virtual world part that let's me continue pass cap level (end game) The community aspect, player run businesses, trading, crafting, still looking for great resources to help my craft. Housing where I might set up my work stations or decorate it to be viewed by other players (no not like The Foundry Neverwinter Online or Rifts dimensions) more like Star Wars Galaxies housing.

I am a solo social player as mentioned above those are my social feature's, the solo part mostly comes from lack of time to play so being online can be on odd hours which eliminates end game for me.

So to answer you question to me it's the journey and that is something that should never stop and is only possible if they make that MMORPG more virtual world.

But I aint sad when I reach cap level as for me it will mean if I actually reach cap level in today's MMO it has taken me months to achieve it. Which means I have enjoyed all those months else I wouldn't have played it. But do wish developer would do more with their MMORPG then be lazy and slap on the PVP sticker. Nothing against PVP but PVP should be excited from level 1 or atleast from level 10 and up.

Unknown

All of it should be the "actual game". A company can't really afford to ignore one aspect of the genre to focus on another.

 

Ignore the leveling content, people quit. Ignore the content after leveling is done, people quit.

Cephus404

The only part of the game is the leveling part.  As soon as that's done, I quit.

nariusseldon

There is no such thing for everyone.

Whatever the "actual" game is for me .. is the part i feel like playing.