tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11214809.post7580690155352982316..comments2021-04-03T07:11:36.847-04:00Comments on Wanderings of the Meandering Mind: Rant: Stories and MMOsMatoushinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03718386005726390542noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11214809.post-19193363666690192532008-09-01T02:32:00.000-04:002008-09-01T02:32:00.000-04:00EVE isn't exactly what I was talking about. It's s...EVE isn't exactly what I was talking about. It's similar, but not the same, and as you noted it has fairness issues, although that is the biggest issue for any such MMORPG, maintaining the balance of power.<BR/><BR/>The point is that competition isn't the be all and end all of such an MMORPG. You can do well, or even better, being a builder of cities/gear than you might as a warrior. At that point you're deciding whether you're playing Harvest Moon with combat elements, or Diablo 2 with much better crafting.<BR/><BR/>The inherent problem with letting players be the architects of the core world rather than just given a specific set of tools to manipulate an existing one is that there can be no consensus. That's why most popular fantasy and sci-fi universes have "canon", a clearly defined core that is immutable. Without it, overzealous and unskilled fans (and authors) can rip apart that which makes a universe interesting and turn it into something they think is great but most people abhor.<BR/><BR/>So ultimately, it's about carefully controlling the level of freedom players have. You don't want to let people create guns in a medieval fantasy MMO and such.Matoushinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03718386005726390542noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11214809.post-64457638577123727462008-08-29T19:14:00.000-04:002008-08-29T19:14:00.000-04:00I think someone already made that type of MMO for ...I think someone already made that type of MMO for you. It's called EVE. Unfortunately, it has its fairness problems. Darkfall will probably come out, but it certainly isn't providing any solution to don't-expect-to-ever-do-anything-approaching<BR/>-awesome-if-you-aren't-in-a-guild.<BR/><BR/>That's what a competitive player world gives you. That's also why the focus of my post was more on player creation of parts of the world itself, or more cooperative content creation akin to Spore. Sure, not everyone is going to get famous there, but at least you aren't getting locked out of a whole region because you don't belong to guild X. It leaves whatever "locking out" there is to the company.<BR/><BR/>I think the fact simply is that MMOs just can't deliver on story like single player games or books can. How *can* everyone be *the* hero when they're all together in the same place? They just can't! It's impossible!<BR/><BR/>What is it then that MMOs give? They give basically a way of interacting and meeting people that is IN THE GAME, by utter chance, and nearly involuntarily. All other games must rely on forums and RL, and other online games are merely games with chat rooms attached. Only in MMOs, is everything - social networking, the game mechanics, what counts as story, the players - together. Everything.Phyvohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04484376447186960238noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11214809.post-21148579165032032832008-08-29T00:47:00.000-04:002008-08-29T00:47:00.000-04:00I do. But at the time I only understood it from an...I do. But at the time I only understood it from an informational standpoint, the same as a child perhaps. Factual but not functional knowledge.<BR/><BR/>And no backsies.Matoushinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03718386005726390542noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11214809.post-3520542697232891202008-08-28T21:51:00.000-04:002008-08-28T21:51:00.000-04:00Actually, you're stealing my idea. Remember a few...Actually, you're stealing my idea. Remember a few years back?360 Trooperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10739144100276821672noreply@blogger.com