Howdy, Stranger!

It looks like you're new here. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons!

Casuals hurting gaming/MMO's?

245678

Comments

  • AmatheAmathe Member LegendaryPosts: 7,630
    observer said:

    anyone else miss the old forum emoticons?
    Yes. 

    EQ1, EQ2, SWG, SWTOR, GW, GW2 CoH, CoV, FFXI, WoW, CO, War,TSW and a slew of free trials and beta tests

  • AxehiltAxehilt Member RarePosts: 10,504
    xpowderx said:
    Considering most players of games are casual players.  I would disagree.  There are many more casual players than hard core players.  If not for casual players many gaming companies would go under.  Now as far as mmo's go.  I can see how casual players can make the mmo experience less than fun.  That said, most gaming companies are not mmo companies.  But rather, actually cater to those casual players  this you tube guy harps on.
    Agreed.

    (Although the last part seems a bit weird.  Most game companies aren't MMO companies because most games aren't MMOs.  But all companies making MMOs are MMO companies.)

    "What is truly revealing is his implication that believing something to be true is the same as it being true. [continue]" -John Oliver

  • vandal5627vandal5627 Member UncommonPosts: 788
    Axehilt said:
    xpowderx said:
    Considering most players of games are casual players.  I would disagree.  There are many more casual players than hard core players.  If not for casual players many gaming companies would go under.  Now as far as mmo's go.  I can see how casual players can make the mmo experience less than fun.  That said, most gaming companies are not mmo companies.  But rather, actually cater to those casual players  this you tube guy harps on.
    Agreed.

    (Although the last part seems a bit weird.  Most game companies aren't MMO companies because most games aren't MMOs.  But all companies making MMOs are MMO companies.)

    It's not weird at all, not all companies that make MMOs are MMO companies, they may have one MMO but a plethora of other types of games, doesn't make them an MMO company.  It just makes them a company that makes games.
  • CrazKanukCrazKanuk Member EpicPosts: 6,130
    edited June 2016
    CrazKanuk said:
    I actually thought it was a pretty good video. What I would tack onto that, is that core gamers are having just as much impact as casual gamers. The problem with core gamers is that they have been spoiled. It used to be that you had one option, maybe 2. Now it's all the exceptional logic. Oh! I'd LOVE WoW, except I want nicer graphics. Oh! I'd love ESO, except I won't play a game with instancing. Oh! I'd LOVE Wildstar, but it's like Space WoW. 

    If you don't think this is a problem, it totally is. Essentially, it allows casual gamers steer the ship. Why? Because core gamers no longer factor into even the feature discussion. They're so hyper focused on what developers AREN'T doing that they just walk away in a huff and end up in this limbo state, just complaining about all the current offerings. So then we get developers chasing their tail in circles, trying to figure out what they could do to secure that core gamer market. The answer is, nothing. So I think what really needs to happen for the genre to survive is a little less, "What have you done for me lately?" attitude and a little more "What can I do to help you?" attitude. However, I know how much people feel entitled these days, with all the "...we should be getting paid to test their games..." hoopla. Sort of indicative of how things have changed. 
    Whilst I agree that core gamers like myself are also a problem and we can certainly be a fussy bunch (I'm gonna sound like @Kopogero here, but I've not paid anything for an MMO since Feb 2013 and I don't play F2P games either), its not an attitude problem. 

    We play games for fun. Given how much time core gamers dedicate to gaming, fun becomes even more important because if it isn't fun then we're wasting a lot of our free time. Years of experience has given us a good idea of what we find fun so as time goes on we can make more accurate predictions as to what we'll find fun. When it comes to MMOs, for example, I've boiled down my requirements to four:
    • Objective-based, open world pvp (i.e. keep fighting)
    • Interesting / deep combat - trinity doesn't cut it, its too boring. Give me support classes, or classless
    • Horizontal progression at endgame - "comparable incomparables"
    • Strong IP - I just can't cope with generic fantasy anymore. 
    Now, in every MMO I've ever played, I've always tried to provide constructive criticism via official channels (usually official forums) in an attempt to say "what can i do to help you?". However, it rarely helps. Despite my best efforts, developers usually go the opposite way, resulting in losing more of the core market and having to rely more and more on high casual churn. 


    The only thing we can really do is vote with our wallets. If a developer ever releases a game that genuinely appeals to core gamers then I'm sure many of us will play it and stick with it which should (hopefully) promote better development in the future. However, I suspect that the core gamer MMORPG demographic is smaller than we'd think and we probably can't support more than a few games at a time. 

    I won't hold it against you if you don't hold it against me that I have paid for WoW for the past 8 or 10 months and not even logged on :)

    I don't want you to take what I was saying the wrong way. It wasn't intended to come across as "Nope! Core gamers are the problem!" It was more a generalized statement about how fickle core gamers can be. There's nothing particularly wrong with that, it's just very difficult to establish an identity for a game that caters to any sort of significant segment of core gamers. 

    For one, there are many times where someone would say, I have 4 criteria and if those are not met, then I won't play (because I'm talking with my wallet). Secondly, there are those who create a list of criteria for a game for which there is no precedent. So their expectation is of a game which has never been done before. So this compounds the issue to one where they are unwilling to compromise on what they will play AND what they want to play has never been tried. PLUS, since they limit what they will play, they significantly impact their voice.

    Honestly, the greatest voice for gamers to date has been the Nostalrius servers. I mean the fact they had 800k users shows a demand. So Blizzard will need to (or should) react. On the opposite side of things, DBG essentially told swgemu to continue what they're doing, essentially, "We don't give a fuck because nobody else does, so you can have the IP." 

    The real way to vote with your wallet is not to withhold money, but to throw money at what you do want. For instance, the Nostralius server petition was great. 300k signatures or whatever was awesome! However, there is a huge delta between that and getting 300k users to sign up for 2 years, minimum, for the guarantee that they will release vanilla servers. By the way, if they did such a thing, I would totally be on board with it. I'd totally set up a petition calling for a crowdfunding campaign from Blizzard to do vanilla servers.......but I'm lazy. I think it's about action over reaction and right now gamers are very reactive. 

    Crazkanuk

    ----------------
    Azarelos - 90 Hunter - Emerald
    Durnzig - 90 Paladin - Emerald
    Demonicron - 90 Death Knight - Emerald Dream - US
    Tankinpain - 90 Monk - Azjol-Nerub - US
    Brindell - 90 Warrior - Emerald Dream - US
    ----------------

  • AxehiltAxehilt Member RarePosts: 10,504

    It's not weird at all, not all companies that make MMOs are MMO companies, they may have one MMO but a plethora of other types of games, doesn't make them an MMO company.  It just makes them a company that makes games.
    If you make an MMORPG you're an MMO company.  The alternative is a bunch of subjective garbage of whether people consider a game a "true" MMO or not.

    "What is truly revealing is his implication that believing something to be true is the same as it being true. [continue]" -John Oliver

  • vandal5627vandal5627 Member UncommonPosts: 788
    Axehilt said:

    It's not weird at all, not all companies that make MMOs are MMO companies, they may have one MMO but a plethora of other types of games, doesn't make them an MMO company.  It just makes them a company that makes games.
    If you make an MMORPG you're an MMO company.  The alternative is a bunch of subjective garbage of whether people consider a game a "true" MMO or not.
    No, they're just a company that makes games.  It has nothing to do with subjective garbage.  You can say they make MMOs but you can't just say they are an MMO company because they are not JUST an MMO company.
  • ThevoicefrominsideThevoicefrominside Member UncommonPosts: 11
    edited June 2016
    People should just concentrate on actually playing together...
    And companies should concentrate on offering a place in their game for anyone.

    For example:
    + You can't find a place in a raid? That's fine. Go ahead and get into crafting, and you will get something decent too in time.
    + PvP isn't your thing? That's also fine. Stick with PvE and you will have your fun ingame too.
    + You don't have much time per day, but you still want to support your clan/guild/organisation? Ok, here are a few small quests, that will give you something for yourself and your clan/guild/organisation.
    ... and so on.

    Anyway, just saying, it's up to the gaming industry to give any player, no matter of being "casual" or "pro", a place in their games.
    And that shouldn't be a problem anymore in these days...
  • firefly2003firefly2003 Member UncommonPosts: 2,527
    Eadan1 said:
    There are no PvE only MMOs. Just doing raids with the same players from your guild and occasionally trading with other players using the auction house isn't enough interaction between players to call the game an MMO. Don't care what they call themselves, games like EQ 1/2 and to a large extent WOW aren't MMOs.
    You mean MMORPGS or just MMO's?


  • LacedOpiumLacedOpium Member EpicPosts: 2,327
    edited June 2016
    I am not sure of the intended purpose by the OP to link the video but by subtly changing its title on this thread from the title provided by video, whether intended or not, he deceivingly places casuals on the defensive which was not the intended purpose of the narrator of the video.

    There is a difference between the wording in the title being " Are Casuals Hurting MMORPGs and Gaming?" and "Casuals hurting gaming/MMO's? " It may be a subtle difference, but nevertheless impacting as evidenced by the defensive stance by those who identify as casuals in this thread, particularly since there is nothing to disagree with in the video.   

    While not necessarily making a case for pro or anti casuals in the video, what the narrator of the video actually rationalizes is that regardless of whether you are anti or pro causal, there is a reason for the necessity for developers to cater to the casual gamer, and one that can not be ignored or avoided.  At its very core, common sense tells us that, if anything, it is the hardcore gamer who is hurting the industry since it is them who make up the minority of the MMORPG/gaming population.  Particularly since it would stand to reason that developing MMORPGs/games around the needs of the minority would be more detrimental to the viability and future success of an MMORPG/game than developing a game around casuals who make up the vast majority of the MMORPG/gaming player base.

    Whether one agrees with it or not, the narrator in the video is spot on with his narrative as he accurately and in an unbiased nature, accurately describes the dynamic that the causal gamer poses for the industry.  
  • AxehiltAxehilt Member RarePosts: 10,504
    No, they're just a company that makes games.  It has nothing to do with subjective garbage.  You can say they make MMOs but you can't just say they are an MMO company because they are not JUST an MMO company.
    "they are not JUST an MMO company", implying they are also an MMO company.

    Anyone who claims Sony isn't a music company (because they're also a console company and a TV company and a bunch of other things) is simply wrong.  They're all those things.

    "What is truly revealing is his implication that believing something to be true is the same as it being true. [continue]" -John Oliver

  • vandal5627vandal5627 Member UncommonPosts: 788
    Axehilt said:
    No, they're just a company that makes games.  It has nothing to do with subjective garbage.  You can say they make MMOs but you can't just say they are an MMO company because they are not JUST an MMO company.
    "they are not JUST an MMO company", implying they are also an MMO company.

    Anyone who claims Sony isn't a music company (because they're also a console company and a TV company and a bunch of other things) is simply wrong.  They're all those things.
    But when you call a company an MMO company you are implying they only make MMOs which clearly they don't.
  • MrMelGibsonMrMelGibson Member EpicPosts: 3,034
    Eadan1 said:
    There are no PvE only MMOs. Just doing raids with the same players from your guild and occasionally trading with other players using the auction house isn't enough interaction between players to call the game an MMO. Don't care what they call themselves, games like EQ 1/2 and to a large extent WOW aren't MMOs.
    You're drunk Mr. Lahey.  Go back to sunnyvale lol.
  • botrytisbotrytis Member RarePosts: 3,363
    edited June 2016
    Axehilt said:
    No, they're just a company that makes games.  It has nothing to do with subjective garbage.  You can say they make MMOs but you can't just say they are an MMO company because they are not JUST an MMO company.
    "they are not JUST an MMO company", implying they are also an MMO company.

    Anyone who claims Sony isn't a music company (because they're also a console company and a TV company and a bunch of other things) is simply wrong.  They're all those things.
    But when you call a company an MMO company you are implying they only make MMOs which clearly they don't.

    They are a multi-industry company AND A MMO producer. I think you have too narrow of a definition.

    Casuals do not hurt the MMO industry. In fact, I think the over-zealous players are the ones that hurt the industry, after all casuals don't play 10-12 hrs a day, they play for fun.


  • KopogeroKopogero Member UncommonPosts: 1,685
    Casuals are people who do things in moderation or simply put people who like to do many other things at a same time. Sadly, in the MMO industry these people also want to be the best, have all the lootz, etc, etc for their "casual" participation in these MMO's and those who cater to these individuals chase away the rest because you can't have both.

    The best game is the type of game that will keep you busy and entertained doing meaningful, important things with your single character anytime you feel like playing it. This is only possible through more end game options and features. In a true sandbox game there is space for everyone both hardcore and casual play styles. After all the casuals do need hardcore players that will run their guilds, lead their raids and guide them through every step.

    image

  • LacedOpiumLacedOpium Member EpicPosts: 2,327
    edited June 2016
    Kopogero said:
    Casuals are people who do things in moderation or simply put people who like to do many other things at a same time. Sadly, in the MMO industry these people also want to be the best, have all the lootz, etc, etc for their "casual" participation in these MMO's and those who cater to these individuals chase away the rest because you can't have both.

    The best game is the type of game that will keep you busy and entertained doing meaningful, important things with your single character anytime you feel like playing it. This is only possible through more end game options and features. In a true sandbox game there is space for everyone both hardcore and casual play styles. After all the casuals do need hardcore players that will run their guilds, lead their raids and guide them through every step.

    I was in agreement with your post until your last sentence.  The belief by hardcore players that casuals need them to run their guilds, lead their raids and guide them through every step is misplaced.  This is where so called "hardcore" players need to get off their high horse.  As much as you might want to think casuals need you for the accomplishment of these activities, they don't.  I'd love nothing more than for my guild leader to be a laid back individual, you know a normal player like the rest of us, and to be able to fumble through raids without having some elitist schmuck yelling in my ear telling everyone where the rest of us should be/go, do, and/or how we should play, or some knucklehead elitist trying to guide me through every step. MMORPGs are about the adventure of failure and discovery. Hardcore players are only a legend in your own mind.
  • AxehiltAxehilt Member RarePosts: 10,504
    But when you call a company an MMO company you are implying they only make MMOs which clearly they don't.
    No, I'm saying they're an MMO company.

    When I tell you Sony is a console company, you don't tell me "no they're not."  You agree with me.  And you might also bring up the fact that they're a TV company and a music company and all sorts of other things.

    "What is truly revealing is his implication that believing something to be true is the same as it being true. [continue]" -John Oliver

  • DeivosDeivos Member EpicPosts: 3,692
    edited June 2016
    If they are a developer whose primary focus is production of games, then they are a game studio regardless of the type of game, not a "mmo company".

    Similarly, you don't call Sony a "TV company" or "music company". They are technically a conglomerate operating as a hardware manufacturer, multimedia studio, and financial service. No one says "TV company" because that descriptor is horribly inaccurate, same as calling the likes of Blizzard an "mmo company" because that horribly defines the actual scope of their business.

    "The knowledge of the theory of logic has no tendency whatever to make men good reasoners." - Thomas B. Macaulay

    "The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge." - Daniel J. Boorstin

  • CrazKanukCrazKanuk Member EpicPosts: 6,130
    Kopogero said:
    Casuals are people who do things in moderation or simply put people who like to do many other things at a same time. Sadly, in the MMO industry these people also want to be the best, have all the lootz, etc, etc for their "casual" participation in these MMO's and those who cater to these individuals chase away the rest because you can't have both.

    The best game is the type of game that will keep you busy and entertained doing meaningful, important things with your single character anytime you feel like playing it. This is only possible through more end game options and features. In a true sandbox game there is space for everyone both hardcore and casual play styles. After all the casuals do need hardcore players that will run their guilds, lead their raids and guide them through every step.

    The first paragraph is a slippery slope. You're basically asserting that casuals should not be allowed to participate in anything unless they have a significant time investment in the game, say 6 hours a day.

    What I find very interesting about that statement is the fact that core gamers talk a lot about making games harder and requiring skill in order to accomplish tasks in a game. However, you're talking about creating barriers based on time investment. That is the LAST thing that they need to concentrate on doing. What I think, sometimes, is that core gamers take offense to someone playing an hour a day and being better than them. I've been on both sides of the fence. I used to do all the theorycrafting for my guild and dedicate 4-6 hours a day to it. Now, I play for 1-2 hours a day, I have not a single spreadsheet, and my skill level is, actually, no worse or better than it was "back in the day". 

    What you did touch on that I felt was really important is end game content and making it fun. Honestly, there are games doing 20-40 hours of game content now with simple, but meaningful dailies that are just fun to play. Some of the more traditional MMORPGs make me want to shoot myself in the face. I think that the lesson that needs to be learned is games need to be built around having fun and, I think, the biggest problem facing MMORPGs today is that there are a lot of games out there which are NOT MMORPGs which do this much better. So, really, it's about giving people a reason to care. 

    Crazkanuk

    ----------------
    Azarelos - 90 Hunter - Emerald
    Durnzig - 90 Paladin - Emerald
    Demonicron - 90 Death Knight - Emerald Dream - US
    Tankinpain - 90 Monk - Azjol-Nerub - US
    Brindell - 90 Warrior - Emerald Dream - US
    ----------------

  • vandal5627vandal5627 Member UncommonPosts: 788
    Axehilt said:
    But when you call a company an MMO company you are implying they only make MMOs which clearly they don't.
    No, I'm saying they're an MMO company.

    When I tell you Sony is a console company, you don't tell me "no they're not."  You agree with me.  And you might also bring up the fact that they're a TV company and a music company and all sorts of other things.

    I will not agree with you.  Let's leave it as that.
  • sumdumguy1sumdumguy1 Member RarePosts: 1,373
    The sad reality is casual gamers make up the population in most games.  These days many of the changes are catered toward their desires.
  • Acebets70Acebets70 Member UncommonPosts: 269
    Short answer YES..
  • jesteralwaysjesteralways Member RarePosts: 2,560
    Horusra said:
    PvP'ers are what is killing MMORPG's....
    The term PvP is not applicable for mmorpg. PvP at it's core is competition, not mindlessly attacking people who can't defend themselves. Let's call it Player killing or PK in short.

    Boobs are LIFE, Boobs are LOVE, Boobs are JUSTICE, Boobs are mankind's HOPES and DREAMS. People who complain about boobs have lost their humanity.

  • AnirethAnireth Member UncommonPosts: 940
    Given that everyone enjoys different things, and that everyone spents a different amount of time on any game, where exactly is the line between "casual" and "core"?

    It's not like you get asked when you first start the game "do you want to play 1 hour/day (casual) or 10 hours/day (core)?", and as casual, you get booted automatically after one hour, and if you do not stay active (doing core stuff and so..whatever that might be) at least 9 hours and 45 minutes of these 10 hours, your account gets deleted and your computer blows up.

    Tl;dr: The problem is not "casuals" or "core" gamers, it's trying to fit people into boxes.

    I'll wait to the day's end when the moon is high
    And then I'll rise with the tide with a lust for life, I'll
    Amass an army, and we'll harness a horde
    And then we'll limp across the land until we stand at the shore

  • HatefullHatefull Member EpicPosts: 2,503
    cheyane said:
    I think in some ways what he is saying is true. I think companies who invest so much money are nervous of failing and having too few playing the game.
    I agree with you here.  At the end of the day games are business, and in a business if you aren't get a 30% return on your investment, then the suits step in and take it over.  Which is usually not good for the gamer.  Sad but true.

    If you want a new idea, go read an old book.

    In order to be insulted, I must first value your opinion.

  • AmatheAmathe Member LegendaryPosts: 7,630
    There are casuals, and there are EZ mode casuals.

    Casuals are just people who for any number of reasons don't play a lot, or who don't pursue a game's more challenging or time consuming content. But they still enjoy some aspect of the game. They are not hurting anyone.

    EZ mode casuals are people who want the game designed so that nothing is more challenging or time consuming than they are prepared to do themselves. So if they only want to spend a few days leveling to max, then that is how they think it should be for everyone. That actually isn't hurting anyone either, unless and until the game maker yields and oversimplifies the game for all in order to please them. 

    EQ1, EQ2, SWG, SWTOR, GW, GW2 CoH, CoV, FFXI, WoW, CO, War,TSW and a slew of free trials and beta tests

Sign In or Register to comment.