Current trend with MMORPGs

[magdalene2008]

I think there's a bandwagon going on with MMOs nowadays. Here are some that I can think off at the moment. For me..these are sickening to some extend..

1. Developers tend to focus more on the graphics rather than the game itself ; value of replayability
2. Based on #1, games are most of the times ridden with bugs and instability (Age of Conan, Rohan and Hellgate London comes to mind)
3. Based on #1, players HAVE to upgrade their system just for the sake of playing it
4. Most MMOs depicting female characters with big breasts and half naked costumes for games developed for the general audience and players (unless rated 'M', like AOC)
5. Encouraging youngsters to spend money pointlessly.
6. Inserting into youngsters's mentality that high level characters and big sum of money in any games makes you a somebody, and not school grades which should have been focused on.

What say you? I'm just a worried parent..

[dmcdmc]

i do not agree with #2. most bugs are there because the games are in beta, which means there are bugs to be discovered and fixed - thus the term beta. This also brings to the point that most gamers pre-determine the gameplay value upon a game's open beta phase, which is inaccurate since the game is supposedly unfinished.

i'm also half-half on #1 as well, since a game's graphics do effect it's re-playability. if you compare a stick figure and an painting, you will probably find the painting more interesting to look at again and again.

other than those, i pretty much agree with you.

[magdalene2008]

Thank you. I'm beginning to feel worried as it seems like developers tend to create games solely on the purpose of generating income rather doing it for the sake of gamers AND income.

And yes I know that Rohan and AOC are still under beta. :) But those are just for example.

[hesham8]

Age of Conan is rated M, and is no longer in beta - and hasn't been for weeks. However, it is still ridden with bugs, and that's not due to the developers focusing on the graphics more: It's a plague of the genre. The general rule with MMOs is "Release now, fix later". Hellgate London is now very stable, and is in fact a great game. However, due to the rampant bugs at launch, it may have lost some popularity.

I don't agree with number six either. I think that's more up to the child and the parent's than the game. Simply put: if the parents instill the value of an education into the child, the child will maintain his or her grades at all costs.

May I suggest Mythos, once it hits open beta? It's graphics are cartoony, and the gameplay is reminiscent of Diablo II, in a less violent manner.

[Redemption121]

I agree with Hesham, all i did as a child (whilst in high school) was play games and i got all the grades i need / require for the job i want and will most probably get.

[PwnedYoAss]

As a gamer since pretty much the age of five, you're completely right with all except number 2. I have left the MMORPG gaming scene because of all this lack of quality, not to mention the pointless grinding that only gets you ahem, "popular" with a small society of people. I guess they're all trying to mirror Zezima. Then again, without these communities of morons... the FPS and RTS gaming community would be overrun with them, I find them to distract most idiots, example being WoW.

[Holynight]

I agree with hesham.
Except for the fact the Diablo is kind of Anti-God, Although that depends on the player not the maker.

Besides the fact that I'm a kid myself, I could give you a few that I might recommend.

• Runescape - Because of the fact, that Jagex has Parental Control already inprinted into the game. Swearing will come out as *** and for #3 you Automaticly come with homeless clothes so as if no armor and such you will still be seen with clothes. But, that is beside the point. As for the updates, they simply load once as you go into the websites.
• World Of Warcraft - This is a on going game where the only problems you will have after downloading are patches. Once again for #3 I'm not sure you would have to worry about your child obsessing over 2 Milimeter virtual world breasts. Although on Runescape you don't have to pay (inless you want member ship) This is $15.00 USD every month
• Adventure Quest - Although this isn't the best pick of all games, but it's a game to play. Fighting as a mage, fighter, or archer. A one time pay for "Guardian" (Membership). As for this one, no patches or updates.

Those are set forth for the Mid-Evil time games/Sci-fi, Fantasy..

• Upshift Strikeracer - A simple car driving game where you can either fight with weapons or simply race. No patches no updates. A download, register, and instant play. This game also doesn't allow swearing.

If there was something you didn't understand let me know.
As for console games, that's all beyond your decision.
Hope I helped,
-Donovan/ Holy

[magdalene2008]

Dear hesham, Redemption, PwnedYoAss and Holynight,

Thank you :) Those are really "eye-opener" replies.


(sorry, kinda busy these few days)


EDIT : See the attached image. And I thought FlyFF is for kids........... These people are getting desperate more and more everytime they want to get more profit..