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[Behind the Curtain: Are we having fun?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/06/behind-the-curtain-are-we-having-fun/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/06/behind-the-curtain-are-we-having-fun/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/06/behind-the-curtain-are-we-having-fun/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Well, it all kicked off over on WoW Insider the other day, didn't it? You couldn't move for all the handbags being thrown around in the comments! Who'd have thunk it? Don't worry, I kid because I care.

The thrust of the argument SLASH discussion was whether or not we should be tracking raid progression any more. It got me thinking. Not about raid progression exactly; about how different people approach MMOs and the content they offer; about how different people find 'fun' in different playstyles.

Here at Behind the Curtain, I've shared my opinions on the Hardcore vs. Casual issue previously. To recap, I'm of the opinion that the difference between the two states, if it even exists, is in the goals one sets for oneself.

Taking that line of thinking further, I began to think about fun. 'Fun' is a nebulous concept, difficult to pin down and pretty damned different for almost everyone in the world. Wikipedia currently defines fun as, "the expenditure of time in a manner designed for therapeutic refreshment of one's body or mind" which seems like a bit of a mouthful, to be honest.

Continue reading Behind the Curtain: Are we having fun?

MassivelyBehind the Curtain: Are we having fun? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 06 Dec 2008 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>behind-the-curtaincasualcasual-vs-hardcoreensidiaeveeve-onlinefeaturedfunhardcorehardcore-vs-casualworld-of-warcraftwowSat, 06 Dec 2008 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Age of Conan's raiding treadmill]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/28/age-of-conans-raiding-treadmill/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/28/age-of-conans-raiding-treadmill/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/28/age-of-conans-raiding-treadmill/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Race to the level cap. If you're too slow, you lose. If your gear sucks, you lose MORE. The people who got there first have your number and know where you live. You finally struggle to max level -- but you need to raid to get the gear to continue. The game may be built around PvP, but you have to raid in order to get the gear to PvP. You need to raid to get the gear to do more raiding. Then comes the first expansion, and all your old gear is trash. Rinse and repeat. Thus goes the raiding treadmill. Invented by EverQuest and polished to a mirror-finish by World of Warcraft, the raiding treadmill is no stranger to MMOs.

Does it really have to happen again? To see all there is to see and partake in all that can be partook, must we jump on the treadmill and, Red Queen-like, run as fast as we can, just to stay in one place? In a recent blog post, Keen looks at the Age of Conan news that performing in the top echelons of PvP in the Border Kingdoms will depend on grinding out mini-games and doing a fair amount of raiding for the gear to compete. In the end, he decides to purchase the game, despite indications he will not be able to fully enjoy the game. Must modern games still reward fanatical devotion so highly? Is there a way in which casual and hardcore players can both enjoy all the game? We'll know in May if Age of Conan's PvE-gameplay can satisfy gamers who don't wish to climb upon the raiding treadmill.

MassivelyAge of Conan's raiding treadmill originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 28 Apr 2008 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanaocbetacasual-vs-hardcoreendgameeqeverquestfantasygrindingpvepvpraidingtreadmillworld-of-warcraftwowMon, 28 Apr 2008 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Behind the Curtain: Rehashing an old argument?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/07/behind-the-curtain-rehashing-an-old-argument/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/07/behind-the-curtain-rehashing-an-old-argument/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/07/behind-the-curtain-rehashing-an-old-argument/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

I'd like to give you fair warning before we start- the following article is based entirely on my own opinion and impression of players I have met in passing, spoke with, read interviews with and grouped with. I haven't canvassed for opinions, scoured message boards or conducted interviews. I may be well off the mark with said opinions and impressions, but I don't claim to be the font of all knowledge, so I guess you'll just have to live with it, won't you? Enjoy.

I just wanted to share my thoughts on the whole Casual vs. Hardcore debate - you see, I've never been comfortable with the Casual and Hardcore labels in MMO games.

As I said last week, I disagree with the idea that you suddenly become Hardcore when you pass a specific number of hours played. I used to argue with guildies that the Casual and Hardcore labels were meaningless, and we should invent new ones, but as I've thought about it more I realise that the labels themselves are valid, but just not in the way they are commonly accepted and applied.

Continue reading Behind the Curtain: Rehashing an old argument?

MassivelyBehind the Curtain: Rehashing an old argument? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 07 Mar 2008 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>behind-the-curtaincasualcasual-vs-hardcoreeveeve-onlinefeaturedhardcoreopinionworld-of-warcraftwowFri, 07 Mar 2008 20:00:00 EST