tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20292755.post6265996471196410217..comments2024-01-04T02:49:23.470-08:00Comments on Blessing of Kings: Community and Lobby-Like GamingRohanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09090769681887119989noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20292755.post-14591066795777376332012-04-24T07:17:15.116-07:002012-04-24T07:17:15.116-07:00As an introvert, maxed on virtually every MBTA-lik...As an introvert, maxed on virtually every MBTA-like test I've ever scored, I'm not overly interested in the MMO community. At least the way it is used by the more extroverted people. I can understand why it is attractive to many but I'm not engaged by relationship maintenance at that level and I'm not really interested in virtual parties. Real parties make my skin crawl; too much stimulation, and too many people. The MMO 'club scene' feels worse.<br /><br />Current MMO gaming is designed for the extrovert who want to be part of an active and engaged team. WoW does better than most in providing avenues for introverts and people with odd play times but the core of the game, going into the dungeon and beating the boss, still encourages, often requires, a functional team. You need the tank, healer, and DPS. You need to know your assignments. Someone has to do the organization and scheduling. I’m paid to do PM and SE work. It’s not something that I’d personally classify as fun. If it is for you, that’s great. The MMO community is waiting with lots of options.<br /><br />What many of us want is a game that can be played solo or co-op without the social requirements of an MMO. With D3 I can log in and solo if I want, I can join an existing open game, I can join a game with one of my friends, and I can change this as I desire. Only have three people? The enemy difficulty adjusts. Someone joins or leaves? It adjusts again. This probably will not be that appealing to the extroverted MMO player, who may beat the game on normal and not look back, but for me this is fairly close to ideal. Adding the PvP segment will close one of the few gaps.<br /><br />Will it last? If the higher difficulties are done well and the gear grind isn't MMO-easy it has a chance. What many would like to see is an updated D2 without the griefing and item cheats. If an active community develops in the forums, blogs, and web sites so much the better.<br /><br />The more interesting question for me is what this will do the LFD and LFR runs in WoW. How many of those players are going to be in D3 and just running WoW if they have the desire?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20292755.post-37617262118163111542012-04-24T05:10:19.452-07:002012-04-24T05:10:19.452-07:00Rohan, maybe you should try joining a community in...Rohan, maybe you should try joining a community in a non-WoW MMO. It genuinely does give you a different perspective on games, and highlights where the WoW community is particularly ossified compared to other games.<br /><br />I mean, in other games, it's not been unusual for us to have to PUG one or two people for a raid, and end up with a really well geared PUG person who hung out and helped us kill bosses and said at the end that they'd be happy to come do normal modes with us again. Can you seriously imagine that happening in WoW? No self respecting 'hardcore' raider would do it. But in other games it's not even unusual because many of the people who like raiding are also social and not overly elitist even if their main guild is on cutting edge content.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20292755.post-67953135671699537702012-04-24T02:51:13.646-07:002012-04-24T02:51:13.646-07:00Perhaps I ought to have added in my previous post ...Perhaps I ought to have added in my previous post that when D2 came out, I played for years. Years! This is a thing that D3 can't possibly spark in me anymore, because I've "learned" from MMOs to expect a different kind of community. Indeed, it has to be my case and that of a those who engage in communities. Nevertheless, the true experience of an MMO cannot be fully grasped until you take part in social events; until then, you are playing, as with D3, a single-player game. Which is fine, it can be an engrossing experience too, but is usually short-lived, as you attested.Miladyhttp://hypercriticism.netnoreply@blogger.com