Massively http://massively.joystiq.com Massively http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Massively http://massively.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: When do you stop paying attention to parts of the game?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/03/the-daily-grind-when-do-you-stop-paying-attention-to-parts-of-t/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/03/the-daily-grind-when-do-you-stop-paying-attention-to-parts-of-t/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/03/the-daily-grind-when-do-you-stop-paying-attention-to-parts-of-t/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

We admit that yeah, there are places where the developers clearly just don't care any more. But it's not like we players are exactly blameless here, either. World of Warcraft players freely admit that they've long since stopped reading the quest text, leading to several cases of players standing around and bashing their metaphorical heads against a wall because they didn't actually read the text before jetting off. It's not necessarily that the quest text is bad (that's another discussion altogether), just that there comes a certain point when 90% of the time it's so irrelevant that you don't need to care.

And if it's not the quest text, it's something else. You turn off the music in City of Heroes to just listen to Pandora instead. You start browsing for known good builds in Champions Online rather than figuring one out. You take a look at what you have to do between campaign missions in Guild Wars so you can stop bothering with sidequests. When have you stopped paying attention to a part of a game, however minor? Have you ever tried to care again, or have you remained apathetic toward that element from then on?

Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of something or other lorem ipsum watermelon rutabaga cantelope lorem ipsum: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so if you noticed the text here has changed mention butterflies when you respond to this Daily Grind!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: When do you stop paying attention to parts of the game? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 03 Feb 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>apathyattentionculturedo-not-caredo-not-wantgame-mechanicsopinionquest-auto-complete-9000tdgthe-daily-grindThu, 03 Feb 2011 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Disillusionment with MMOs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/29/disillusionment-with-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/29/disillusionment-with-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/29/disillusionment-with-mmos/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Because I never studied nor considered studying psychology, you may doubt my words, but I will still tell you that many people go through a phase in life in which things become less shiny for them. What, there really is no Santa Claus? Those awesome space battles on TV are just tiny plastic miniatures hanging from fishing-line? World of Warcraft didn't invent Naga? Sooner or later the curtain will be pulled back on something you found new or fascinating in your life. Losing that sense of excitement from something you thought was different or new can leave a gaping hole of disillusionment.

The short history of MMOs is not immune to providing plenty of room for players to become disillusioned. Like television, movies, and books, MMOs don't use 100% new content that developers invented out of thin air. I've been on many MMO forums and have seen players at different stages of disillusionment seemingly frothing at the mouth about being sick of elves in fantasy MMOs, and accusing one MMO of stealing a name or even a similar-sounding name from an MMO they would defend as "more original." The fact is that most concepts and ideas have already been done, and it can just be hard to deal with. Who doesn't get a little disillusioned when he grows up and finds out his dad or mom really isn't the smartest or strongest person in the world? If I haven't disappointed you enough then follow along as I spoil even more of your favorite MMOs -- but hopefully I can also show you that disillusionment isn't the end.

Continue reading Disillusionment with MMOs

MassivelyDisillusionment with MMOs originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 29 Jun 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>apathyAvatarbattlestar-galacticadisillusioneddisillusionmentelvesgetting-boredlord-of-the-ringslorelotrominotaurNaganew-ideasno-elvesnothing-newPocahontasrehashretelling-old-storiesRolePlayingsomething-newSquidstorystorytellingteratin-mantolkienworld-of-warcraftwowTue, 29 Jun 2010 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Do you ever feel pre-expansion apathy?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/10/the-daily-grind-do-you-feel-pre-expansion-apathy/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/10/the-daily-grind-do-you-feel-pre-expansion-apathy/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/10/the-daily-grind-do-you-feel-pre-expansion-apathy/#commentsFiled under: ,

I have been talking to a few of my friends who play Warhammer Online lately and they are all feeling the same thing: pre-expansion apathy. This is basically a feeling of indifference or a lack of motivation to log in and play WAR knowing that The Land of the Dead live expansion is going to release soon.

This is not the only MMO they have experienced this in either. I remember playing World of Warcraft before Burning Crusade and organized guild raids were nearly non-existent for two months leading up to the expansion. Many were either PvPing or crafting to pass the time or simply not bothering to log in at all.

The reasoning my friends are using for not playing WAR right now is actually pretty logical. Why should they bother trying to grind for gear and wards when the 1.3 patch will introduce the sigil and vessel systems? Also, the gear in The Land of the Dead is said to be better than city dungeons and roughly on par with that found in Lost Vale, so why would they bother farming the same dungeons they have been grinding for months when a new one is coming just around the corner with potentially better itemization?

Do you ever get the same feeling in your MMO? Do you think this is more strongly felt in gear-based progression MMOs or is it a result of something else?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Do you ever feel pre-expansion apathy? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 10 Jun 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>apathyblizzardexpansionmudflationmythic-entertainmentwarwar-1.3-patchwar-patch-1.3warhammer-onlineworld-of-warcraftwowWed, 10 Jun 2009 08:00:00 EST