The Loneliness of The Solo MMO Player | MMORPG.com

System · November 1

The Loneliness of The Solo MMO Player | MMORPG.com

Are you a solo gamer that prefers to play MMOs? Scott talks about being a solo player in a virtual world full of people.

Read the full story here

Slapshot1188 · November 1

I think the ability to "solo" most of the game has had a profound impact on reduced socialization which in turn results in faster and higher player churn.

That said, I have no problem with games catering to the solo player. Please just not ALL of them. Leave us with a few where we do need to band together to overcome epic challenges.

mitech616 · November 1

I agree with Scott here, particularly in the sense that most "group" content requires a large time dedication. And while when I was in college and might play my MMO(s) for several hours at once, I don't do that now. It isn't that I don't enjoy the games, but rather that I also enjoy OTHER things as well (including non-muktiplayer games).

So, I can see that some MMOs have done well to offer more content to solo players and increase the overall player base as a result. BUT, I do also see the complaints from other players where grouping of any kind has become more of an afterthought in certain titles. What I wonder is: why hasn't anyone worked to make grouping an easier experience then?

Why do raids need to last hours? Why can't they be compartmentalized into parts or something? Why aren't group-finding algorithms better so we're not sitting for 5-10 minutes doing nothing just because we wanted to group? And why isn't there more to group content than repeating dungeons/raids ad nauseum? Or the fact that now anyone from 12-70 is playing MMOs as the genre has grown, and different age groups might not have fun with one another?

Now, these criticisms don't apply to all MMOs by any means. It just speaks to the overall complaints people have when frustrated with grouping. I just think someone could have developed a better algorithm to solve these issues. I still like to group, but it's less often viable or even enjoyable as when I was in college.

slowz2secret · November 1

every mmo should have the option for solo playeres just like runescape, you can solo 99% of the game.

SKurj · November 1

same.... i find single player games lifeless, and rarely group for anything.

Wargfoot · November 1

I enjoy crafting/buying/selling, so I like the MMORPGs for that feature.
I don't mind raid content/PvP elements, as long as they don't gate keep what I need to craft/buy/sell.

Nebless · November 1

I prefer playing solo pretty much for the same reasons as the OP. I go on at strange times and then only for an hour or so. I'm just there to do my own thing so I don't feel lonely either.

I do group from time to time, but mainly when my kids are home and we can set up in the same room and just talk back and forth vice using any kind of voice set up.

Probably the only time I do PUG's is when DDO is running a Hardcore season. I'll join groups then to do some of the harder dungeons and will offer to group when I do some of the harder low level stuff at the elite setting.

Long ago when games were much more a part of my life (and I was much younger) I used to live for the Sunday SWG Space Pvp battles and would crew a gunboat and have a blast for hours at a time.

sabrefoxx · November 1

Yes I consider myself a solo player for similar reasons as you. I'm not a kid any more and I don't have 12+ hours a day to game on the computer. At best I have a couple hours in the evenings and maybe a few extra hours in the weekend if I fight for it. Also, I would never say I'm "lonely" as a solo player. I wouldn't even place being a solo and loneliness in the same sentence. We desire solo play for our own reasons and are therefore not lonely. Perhaps if I had infinite time I would raid, grind, and loft around online sitting in place chatting with someone from across the world endless if I was young again. But I have work, family, and a house to take care of. Games like Ghosts of Tsushima or Where Winds Meet (which I played the beta and is awesome) are my favorite type of game because it is mostly a single player game with optional multiplayer that is time bound.

Gorwe · November 1

There is nothing lonely about playing solo. It's my choice. And if I decide to group up, I can. It's wonderful being free like that.

With that said, MMOs should be primarily and inherently group games.

Elidien_ga · November 1

I often play solo because I am married, two kids, 5 pets, house and car to care for, and countless other activities. I feel like I would burden a group with AFK's. Back in the day (pre-2007), I was single and had no care in the world. It was different then. I like what MMO's offer and thats why I play them.

Theocritus · November 1

It's nice to have other people to chat with and sell your unwanted stuff to, but I dont always need to group with them. Like others have said in the the thread, many of us just dont have hours and hours do do group play anymore...Factor in that others dont either, and often the groups fall apart in a very short time and youre left with nothing.

Germzypie · November 1

I always play solo, but i only play mmorpg so i can keep up on current affairs, like politics and religion.

mikeb0817 · November 1

This isn't an article. It's you pointing out a movie you liked, and drawing similarities

Neoyoshi · November 1

Being anti-social or secluded in a MMORPG is not uncommon. I myself have many moments in FFXIV when I just want to gather some materials for a nice solid hour while listening to some metalcore, but I can't just sit there and isolate the whole time because it's not healthy for my mental health.

I do not believe what people call 'Solo MMo players' are ruining anything; they are just waiting for the right moments to happen or the right game tools that allow them to express themselves in the best way they can.

I spent a lot of my first years in MMORPG's like Ultima Online, Knight Online, and OZ World Online, pretty much by myself and alone (even though I was surrounded by players constantly). I had to wait until I met the right people, and I did, and I learned how to talk to people in a way that was comfortable for me. Twenty or so years later, I'm WAY more outgoing than I used to be, but still fairly quiet.

Quizzical · November 1

You know who is really lonely in MMORPGs? Players who are trying to do less popular group content and unable to find an appropriate group for it.

What MMORPGs really ought to do is to have something akin to Guild Wars henchmen available to fill out a group. If you have 5-man groups, then only require three or more real players, and let them hire henchmen who are actually good to fill in the missing roles. Getting three random people without having to worry about roles is much, much easier than finding that last missing healer or tank.

Tokken · November 1

Being a lonely solo player is for single player games. In MMOs your not lonely b/c you have people around you. You don't have to group to feel like you belong.

Antarious · November 2

How about the lonely MMO player that is just hoping someone releases an actual NEW MMORPG that is of actual quality someday soon as opposed to replaying aging games or variants of the same aging games. (classic, time limited servers, seasons etc).

Quizzical · November 2

Participating in an MMORPG game economy is implicitly interacting with other players, which is something that single player games just can't simulate well. That's a reason to play an MMORPG where the economy is a major part of the game over a single-player game, even if you never group with other players.

foppotee · November 2

I've always enjoyed my solo-time in mmos I've played ever since Everquest. I don't expect to be as efficient in progressing when solo, but nonetheless I prefer it sometimes. I try to manage my expectations when venturing in a mmo soloing. Do I want to be able to earn good enough gear to progress further? Yes. Also, as a mostly solo player I find this is the wiggle room where a mmo either keeps me or loses me. Do I expect it might take longer (but how much longer) & I won't be as well equipped as a "raider"? Yes as well.

DeadSpyder31 · November 2

So where do I start I used to not be a solo MMO guy back in my 20s I played city of heroes and guild wars and wow with many friends but now I'm 44 a single father and find my patience for the people that wanna level cap and find the meta build infuriating. To me that's not playing the game for yourself but rather to say look at what I got. I wanna fish and explore and craft and feel immersed in the world that the developers have built for us. Maybe I run into other players along the way to help them with a dungeon or a open world boss but maybe I don't. I have my best friend that will play a build opposite mine so if I'm playing range healer or controller or buff debuff he's a tank or a scrapper DPS and vice versa. But I'm finding fewer and fewer games where I can live the lazy life as I like to call it playing solo duo without having to join that 50+ man guild to get end game content. MMOs should be for everyone because they are supposed to be a world where we can escape our own mondaine life and feel like somebody or something like that.

Iricis · November 2

I just want to know where that picture is from..

Scott_Jeslis · November 2

mikeb0817 said:

This isn't an article. It's you pointing out a movie you liked, and drawing similarities

LOL. I never read the short story or saw the movie. But thanks.

FrodoFragins · November 2

I almost exclusively just solo level in MMOs. I of course party up if the game has tagging and someone else is on the same quest. I also try to help others if it looks like they may die, especially on hardcore servers.

I find solo leveling to be chill and mostly drama free. And I really don't want to schedule time for endgame content or do dungeons that I don't already feel comfortable with. I just want to do my own thing but be able to see others when playing and use world chat as long as it isn't toxic.

While not MMOs, I prefer ARPGs with dedicated servers and seasonal content. A solo game like Grim Dawn is just too lifeless relative to its online brethren.

Talraekk · November 2

I play mmos to play solo. Group content irritates me greatly in its ( general) form. I'd say my issues with groups devolve into idiocy. I love my family, Iove playing with them, but long term no go. Most people, let alone family seem to be unable to navigate/read a MAP. What once was 20 minutes of work is now 5 hours of painstaking (being nice in chat all the while) work.
I love having the opportunity to group. But mandatory grouping leads to so much shit, I'd say even in an mmo, I'll solo 99% of the time. The tiny portions where I'll help a fellow adventurer.... or a family member... is met with so much distrust I could play a solo game in the entirety contemplating just.... adventuring with this person.
This is, unfortunetly exacerbated by everyone being an idiot in one way or another. Group content is exhausting.
I prefer (MMOS) in the vein where normal content is doable by anyone, no group required. Grouping helps (especially in mitigating dangerous foes/quests), but the story, and, most of the content can be soloed. The far reaches, the hardcore, should always be left to groups.
This isn't to say I dislike mmos. They are my favorite games nowadays, I just don't like being forced into instances where I'm struggling to even maintain a facade of politeness.

Scot · November 2

Elidien_ga said:

I often play solo because I am married, two kids, 5 pets, house and car to care for, and countless other activities. I feel like I would burden a group with AFK's. Back in the day (pre-2007), I was single and had no care in the world. It was different then. I like what MMO's offer and thats why I play them.

Sounds to me you might have had enough of grouping in real life and want a fantasy MMO to take you away to solo land?

Scot · November 2

DeadSpyder31 said:

So where do I start I used to not be a solo MMO guy back in my 20s I played city of heroes and guild wars and wow with many friends but now I'm 44 a single father and find my patience for the people that wanna level cap and find the meta build infuriating. To me that's not playing the game for yourself but rather to say look at what I got. I wanna fish and explore and craft and feel immersed in the world that the developers have built for us. Maybe I run into other players along the way to help them with a dungeon or a open world boss but maybe I don't. I have my best friend that will play a build opposite mine so if I'm playing range healer or controller or buff debuff he's a tank or a scrapper DPS and vice versa. But I'm finding fewer and fewer games where I can live the lazy life as I like to call it playing solo duo without having to join that 50+ man guild to get end game content. MMOs should be for everyone because they are supposed to be a world where we can escape our own mondaine life and feel like somebody or something like that.

Iricis said:

I just want to know where that picture is from..

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