Filed under: The Daily Grind

The Daily Grind: What made it click?

by Eliot Lefebvre Feb 9th 2010 at 8:00AM

Filed under: Culture, Opinion, The Daily Grind

There's almost always a moment. If you're interested in MMOs beyond just enjoying the game while you play it -- and truth be told, if you're reading Massively you pretty well qualify -- then there was most likely a single experience you had somewhere along the line that convinced you these games were special and interesting. Something beyond just a diversion you could take or leave. There was something the game that made you sit up and say that you were experiencing something unique, something that may or may not be commonplace these days but seemed new and fresh at the time.

Perhaps it was the first time you took part in a major PvP battle. Perhaps it was your first struggle against a difficult monster in PvE, realizing that you actually had other real people at your side fighting the monster. It could have been the first time you crafted something you were proud of, or even just a close friend you made in the game that you wouldn't have met otherwise. Today, we're asking you what moment in an MMO first made the whole idea click for you. And for bonus points, looking back on it now, does it seem like you were excited over something silly, or does it still feel unique?

The Daily Grind: Would you play a single-player version?

by Eliot Lefebvre Feb 8th 2010 at 8:00AM

Filed under: Culture, Game mechanics, Opinion, The Daily Grind

Whether we mean to or not, we get pretty invested in the online worlds we inhabit. It's a natural step to go from a single-player setting that's already gotten our emotional investment to a larger one (as proven by, oh, some game or another), but oddly the reverse happens far less often. We only occasionally see a game that takes the setting of an MMO and uses it as the basis for one person's adventure. This despite the fact that we're usually more attached to our characters than we are in a single-player game, since our avatars in an MMO are defined entirely by us.

Of course, part of this is the narrowing of scope, and part of it is the difficulty of marketing to people that they can take a break from their characters online to play the exact same character offline. But for the times when you don't want to log in and deal with assembling a group or competition for farming or any of the slings and arrows of playing online, it could be a nice diversion. What do you think? Would you like to have a single-player game based off of your MMO of choice, or would you rather that the online games you enjoy not creep into your single-player time?

The Daily Grind: Does viewpoint matter to you?

by Eliot Lefebvre Feb 7th 2010 at 8:00AM

Filed under: Game mechanics, Opinion, The Daily Grind

While the ancestry of MMOs were played via text-only clients and thus didn't have to worry about it one way or the other, the modern generation of games has either a first-person view or a third-person view. (Experiments with a second-person view were briefly carried out via webcams, but it proved distracting.) And it can produce some passionate opinions on both sides, much like, well, every other issue about MMOs under the sun.

Proponents of first-person views are quick to point out that it's more immersive and forces a player to be more aware of the field beyond what they can see. It lends depth to the game, frees you from concern over needless aesthetics of gear, and it was how things were done back in the day of EverQuest. Proponents of third-person views, on the other hand, point out that it gives a better view of the world as a whole and is more responsive to controls. It lets you see the character you've sculpted, gives you a better sense of what's going on, and it was how things were done even further back in the day with Ultima Online.

So today, we ask you -- which do you prefer? Is a good first-person or third-person mode a must for you to consider the game, or do you simply prefer to play one way or the other?

The Daily Grind: What IP do you want to see as an MMO?

by Eliot Lefebvre Feb 6th 2010 at 8:00AM

Filed under: Culture, Opinion, The Daily Grind

There are certainly a lot of intellectual properties out there that would make for an excellent MMO. Running down the list of major games currently running shows no shortage of games based on popular franchises -- Star Trek Online, Warhammer Online, Star Wars Galaxies, Age of Conan, Champions Online -- and the trend shows no sign of slowing. But there are other franchises that could conceivably make a number of people happy -- Transformers, The Dark Tower, Doctor Who, Mass Effect, Babylon 5, and so on ad infinitum.

Of course, there are licenses that are unlikely to ever be adapted for MMOs, either because their heyday of popularity has passed or because they're just not in quite the right market. Still, we can dream, and in our heads we might have an idea for the world's best MMO based off of Macross. What intellectual property would you love to have a chance to play as an MMO? Do you think there's a chance it might happen, or are you fairly certain that it's just going to remain an idle fantasy?

The Daily Grind: How do you like side applications?

by Eliot Lefebvre Feb 5th 2010 at 8:00AM

Filed under: Culture, Opinion, The Daily Grind

If you're playing World of Warcraft, increasingly, you have options available to keep you playing the game even if you're logged off. With several apps running off the Armory and the recent announcement of a planned Auction House access feature as a premium, there's almost no reason to log in at all. Unless you want to level up, quest, roleplay, raid, PvP, explore... okay, there's plenty of reason to log in, but there are more options than ever to let you handle matters inside the game while not even close to your computer.

It's not unprecedented by any means, as both Fallen Earth (coming soon) and Champions Online also offer applications for the iPhone to help take care of the game's management functions while you're away from your computer. With the continued advent of more functional mobile devices and more robust web environments through services such as Facebook, games can offload many of the more tedious bits of gameplay into applications players just run through quickly on a break at their day job. What do you think of the increasing trend? Are you happy to have the option to take care of administrative tasks when not near your computer, or do you see it as intrusive and unnecessary?

The Daily Grind: What would you like streamlined?

by Eliot Lefebvre Feb 4th 2010 at 8:00AM

Filed under: Culture, Game mechanics, Opinion, The Daily Grind

It's not a secret that several bloggers around these parts are enjoying some quality time with Mass Effect 2, a game that's made a few ripples for massively streamlining the entire RPG experience. Superfluous elements like inventory management and sprawling urban areas are excised in favor of a clean yet satisfying sequence of events. On paper it almost sounds as if the game has been gutted, but in play it feels just as full as the last course.

On the flipside, Warhammer Online's streamlining of processes has more than a few people up in arms at the perceived depletion of the game's most interesting content. While we're all familiar (or hopefully familiar) with the basic design guideline of KISS, the argument is being made is that Warhammer Online is simplifying to the point where the fun parts of the game are obliterated.

Needless to say, there's a happy medium to be found, and we can all think of at least one aspect of a game that received some much-needed simplification. What part of your preferred game could do with a solid sweep to get rid of unnecessary complexity? Similarly, what complicated part of the game should remain like it is rather than be slimmed down?

The Daily Grind: What's your best speed record?

by Eliot Lefebvre Feb 3rd 2010 at 8:00AM

Filed under: Culture, Game mechanics, Leveling, Opinion, The Daily Grind

At the core of most MMOs is the unspoken assumption that most things in the game can be completed by anyone, given enough time. But we gamers really don't work that way. With a higher level comes a sense that you're advancing into higher tiers than your fellow players, and the process is undeniably addictive. Star Trek Online has just released, and it's a safe bet that you're working to get your ship and crew built up as fast as possible, which might raise the question for some of why it took Picard seven years before he picked up a new ship.

Even if you don't try to race for the ceiling every time the game raises the cap or goes live, there are doubtlessly tasks you've worked down to a science, quests or grinds that you blew through faster than you thought possible. Today we ask you what you consider your personal speed record. Was it leveling, crafting, working through a band of content or storyline, or even just a really quick jaunt through dangerous territory? Could you do it again if you wanted to? Was it something you were trying to do, or just a lucky collection of circumstances?

The Daily Grind: What areas do you hate?

by Eliot Lefebvre Feb 2nd 2010 at 8:00AM

Filed under: Culture, Opinion, Maps, The Daily Grind

There may be better litmus tests, such as simply askiing, but you can generally tell if someone has played Final Fantasy XI by their reaction when someone mentions dunes. In Vana'diel, there is only one region known as the Dunes, and it is hated. Plagued with goblins whose sole purpose is to blow up low-level characters, ghosts that flay you alive with AoE spells fueled by nuclear energy and hate itself, and roaming bands of clueless players, the zone is not well-loved. All of the above might not be so bad, except that it's the most likely leveling spot for ten long levels. Good luck completing that level band without dying and losing some of your progress toward freedom several times.

While.not every game has a zone that causes some players to swear they will never return, they all have regions we'd as soon forget. What spots in your favorite game do you try to avoid? Did they feature really bad design, annoying enemies, or confusing layout? Was it an area devoted to an awful grind or series of truly obnoxious events? Or were they just spots soured by so many bad experiences that you can't separate them from the aggravation?

The Daily Grind: What inspires you to take screenshots?

by Eliot Lefebvre Feb 1st 2010 at 8:00AM

Filed under: Screenshots, Culture, Opinion, The Daily Grind

It takes two button presses for a screenshot, most of the time -- one to hide the game's UI and one to take the screen. It seems so extraneous that it's almost a wonder it's in there, but we can all take a visual log any time we want. And more often than not, even if you're chronically bad about taking photos or remembering your camera in real life, you've got a few special shots in there.

Of course, as our daily One Shots feature proves, everyone has different reasons for taking a moment for a picture. Some go for poignant moments, some aim for something silly, and some people snap whatever moment looks the most epic. Players try to arrange screenshots, pose everything just right, and give the best possible look to a frozen moment of game time. Today, we ask you what inspires you to take a picture? Are they commemorative, amusing, visually impressive, or some mix of those three?

The Daily Grind: Will you welcome back the Hellgate franchise?

by James Egan Jan 31st 2010 at 8:00AM

Filed under: Horror, Sci-fi, MMO industry, Opinion, Hellgate: London, Free-to-play, The Daily Grind

Hellgate: London is one of those games that has really divided opinion from our readers. Some brand it as a deeply-flawed game, or were burned by that costly Founder's lifetime subscription when the game shut down after a rather short life. Others -- like some of us on the Massively staff -- truly miss the game's blend of horror and sci-fi elements and have been hoping that Hellgate: London would one day return in some form or another.

Although the future of the game has been murky, the most recent (and most straightforward) announcement is that Hellgate: London is slated to return to Western shores. HanbitSoft has secured the worldwide publishing rights to the game from Namco-Bandai, so now it's just a matter of time before it returns. We're interested to hear what you think about this. Would you welcome the return of Hellgate: London? For that matter, how would you feel about playing the game in its current free-to-play incarnation, Hellgate: Resurrection?

The Daily Grind: Which titles should try F2P?

by Krystalle Voecks Jan 30th 2010 at 8:00AM

Filed under: Business models, MMO industry, Opinion, The Daily Grind

Let's face it. In these harder economic times, there are a lot of people cutting back on subscriptions. Folks that may have carried multiple MMOs are now choosing more carefully. Those who probably wouldn't have taken a look at a free-to-play game before are now at least reading up on them in case anything they might like shows up. Companies like Turbine, EA/Mythic and others are starting to look towards models that turn the old "14-days to try it, then either buy it or sod off" on their ears.

Our question this morning is what game (or games) do you think need a F2P overhaul? Would you use something like what Turbine has done with Dungeons & Dragons Online, offering free play and an item mall that sells adventure packs? Do you think the Warhammer Online unlimited trial/velvet-rope model is better? Grab your morning caffeine and let your thoughts flow in the comments below!

The Daily Grind: Are load screens a deal-breaker?

by Seraphina Brennan Jan 29th 2010 at 8:00AM

Filed under: Game mechanics, Opinion, The Daily Grind

So you're adventuring along, minding your own business on the huge, expansive world map, when you reach a cave. That cave connects you to where you need to go, so you eagerly jump through it only to find... a load screen.

Well, no matter, you're on the other side of the cave and in a brand new area! All you have to do now is reach the entrance to this dark, scary forest so you can find... a load screen.

Ok, well, you're in the forest. Now the quest log says you have to lift up a rock, jump down a hole and slay the... load screen.

Grinders, are load screens a deal-breaker when you consider purchasing your next MMO? Do you look for games that consist of one huge, open world, a la World of Warcraft, Lord of the Rings Online or Fallen Earth? Or are you willing to put up with heavily loaded games like Star Trek Online and Pirates of the Burning Sea? Or, third option, do load screens even matter to you at all?

Take your words, put them in the comment box, hit the submit button, and let loose. You know the drill.

The Daily Grind: Tokens or luck?

by Seraphina Brennan Jan 28th 2010 at 8:00AM

Filed under: Culture, Game mechanics, Opinion, The Daily Grind

Back in the old days of MMO playing you had to hope that something dropped for you when a boss tipped over and gave up his precious loot. It was all about the luck of the draw -- praying that the rare items, first of all, dropped and then, second of all, were for you.

But, as we continued forwards with our game design, Blizzard came up with the idea of giving every player involved in downing a boss a token. If a player participated enough, they were guaranteed to get something -- even if the luck of the draw was not on their side. This became a controversial topic for some, as accusations of "welfare epics" began to fly around.

Today, Grinders, we're going to briefly revisit this topic. Do you prefer games that come down to the luck of the draw when loot drops, or do you prefer the new token system instated by World of Warcraft? Talk, discuss, and feel free to battle it out. Opinions, go!

The Daily Grind: Have a favorite roleplaying moment?

by Seraphina Brennan Jan 27th 2010 at 8:00AM

Filed under: Culture, Opinion, The Daily Grind, Roleplaying

Recently on the Grind, we asked about your favorite in-game moments. Some of you gave us some really awesome moments, others laughed it off, and others gave us... well... moments. Yes... we'll just refer to them as moments...

Anyway, bad eye-gouging memories aside and on to the topic at hand, today we have another question along those lines for all of you roleplayers out there: What's your favorite roleplaying moment? Many RPers seem to have that one story-arc or character, or great scene that sticks in their minds. It's a story that comes out when you ask what's your favorite moment in a game.

Today, we want to hear more of those moments, but specifically of the RP variety. Toss them out into the comment box below, as we can't wait to read them!

The Daily Grind: What MAG faction are you?

by Seraphina Brennan Jan 26th 2010 at 8:00AM

Filed under: Culture, Opinion, The Daily Grind, Consoles, MMOFPS, MAG

It's MAG's launch day! Yaaaaay! The servers are up, the sides are being formed, and the never-ending Shadow War and contract tossing has begun. Another MMO action game has invaded the console realm and that's a good thing, even if you may not be a huge fan of MAG.

Even if MAG isn't your thing, you can still participate in today's question, dear readers! MAG prominently features three different armies -- Raven, VALOR, and S.V.E.R. Each army has its own style and way of getting things done. Raven Industries leans heavily on technology, preferring to use devices and upgrades to carry out the mission in a suave, European style. Meanwhile, across the pond, VALOR Company recruits ex-soldiers from the American military, preferring to win conflict through grit, determination, and large guns. Then, coming from the cold climate of Russia, Seryi Volk Executive Response (S.V.E.R.) is all about finishing the mission with what you have available. They cobble together their weaponry, their uniforms, and whatever they need to get the job done.

Of these three factions, which one are you joining, or would you join in MAG? Why does that army pop out at you over the other two? Take your time, think it through, and then declare your allegiance in the comment threads. Go go go!