Fishing in a MMO. Whats to like about doing it, and what can be the gains from it?
Fishing seem to be a staple in the MMO genre at this point. Most MMOs have it. Guild Wars 2 is about to get it. But what do you all like about it in MMOs?
Another question I have is about the implementation of Fishing and the byproducts of it in MMOs. Other than maybe, "Cooking", what other unique ways have the byproduct of the fishing activity been done in a MMO?
Philosophy of MMO Game Design
Comments
In other cases, or in addition to resource gathering, it's just a skin for a minigame. It's an easily recognizable correlation to a real word activity that gives the developers an easily excusable time sink.
As for the question about "what's to gain"; In crafting, I imagine that answers itself. If minigame, then the answer would be some level of enjoyment. If you don't get that out of it, then no need to do it. I don't imagine that fishing is a universally loved mechanic and would be curious how many users of each game actually take part in the activity on a regular basis.
-mklinic
"Do something right, no one remembers.
Do something wrong, no one forgets"
-from No One Remembers by In Strict Confidence
Fishing is part of a festivals quests. (You have to catch some missing items that were thrown into the pond).
You can also get at least one title from fishing in all the major? areas of water.
And you can turn your catch into a housing decoration by having it mounted on a plaque.
SWG (pre-cu) - AoC (pre-f2p) - PotBS (pre-boarder) - DDO - LotRO (pre-f2p) - STO (pre-f2p) - GnH (beta tester) - SWTOR - Neverwinter
Other than that in every one Ive played it was just stupid.
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2024: 47 years on the Net.
New World has done a good job with theirs.
“Microtransactions? In a single player role-playing game? Are you nuts?”
― CD PROJEKT RED
I remember enjoying the fishing in Zelda Ocarina of Time when my kids were playing it
We’re blessed around here locally with great sports fishing although there is plenty of concern for the future.
"Be water my friend" - Bruce Lee
- Al
Personally the only modern MMORPG trend that annoys me is the idea that MMOs need to be designed in a way to attract people who don't actually like MMOs. Which to me makes about as much sense as someone trying to figure out a way to get vegetarians to eat at their steakhouse.- FARGIN_WAR
It's usefulness is entirely driven by game play. If you play an aoe/dungeon grinding meta mage, you likely can skip fishing because of your masterful exploitation of the game that was never intended.
If you play Hardcore (1 life challenge), and play the game like an actual RPG, then fishing becomes incredibly beneficial to your gameplay.
If you follow a meta bypassing game content, then both the game and the player removed the usefulness of a game system. Something like playing Hardcore (forced game play restrictions) can make otherwise ignored systems, very useful.
It's the game that allows you to make content meaningless, but it's the player who chooses to do it. Player's ruin games, and developers cater to the meta players allowing the game to be ruined.
If vision drives your game design, the game will have interactive and functional systems. If player meta drives game development, you end up with a game full of shortcuts and the vision is lost.
Fish tanks...why stop there? Use tanks for small fish, ponds for medium sized fish that you can watch swim around in, and trophies on your walls or table tops in your homes for large ones.
Shouldn't goldfish drop bunches of golden eggs?
Where's the mere folk? Shouldn't there be a chance, in certain lakes and seashores, to be attacked by water dwelling humanoids? Not all fishing spots, though. There should be plenty of peaceful and serene locations.
Alchemists should be able to devise and create an ale that helps with certain kinds of fishing.
Specific kinds of game play like this will never be for all the players. But it's good for a game to have lots of "get away" game play for a real variety, to attract more gamers and keep them.
Once upon a time....
Absolutely! When I go fishing down at the coast, our rule is: if the sun is up, you can start drinking!
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2024: 47 years on the Net.
Their tales would be smaller, no doubt.
This kind of humor is welcome, IMO. It reminds me of my old friends and D&D days.
Once upon a time....
Also the older you get, the bigger that fish was.......