Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

MMORPGs - Societies or Games?

Posted by simoniker on from the or-gaming-societies? dept.

Talrias writes "The Community Manager of Codemasters' forthcoming PC MMORPG, Dragon Empires, has written an article over at Stratics about whether MMORPGs are designed as societies or as games, and uses the examples of the two big MMORPGs, Ultima Online (which he claims 'embodied this society design philosophy' when it launched) and EverQuest (which, it's suggested, 'most embodies the game design approach')."

7 of 26 comments (clear)

  1. It depends by pmz · · Score: 3, Interesting


    If you enjoy it, it is a game.

    If you are addicted to it, it is a society.

    --
    Healthcare article at Kuro5hin
  2. hmm... by jermyjerm · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Recent ones, with all their focus on balance issues, are either games or good examples of totalitarian societies.

    --
    --- "Yeah, I'm a bit stressed out. I have a research paper due tomorrow and it has to be +5, Insightful."
  3. They are neither by incubusnb · · Score: 2, Interesting
    and both at the same time.

    MMORPGs are Gaming Societies, the blend of both worlds

    the interactivity and escape to another world of a Game, with the Relationships and bonding that can only happen in a Society

    its probably the only place in the world where a Relationship counsiler could hook you up with a Level hack as well

    --
    /. is overrun by bed-wetting elitist nerds
    let it be known, for anything other than servers, a *nix OS sucks
  4. Slashot filler article... by tm2b · · Score: 5, Funny

    False dichotomy, or meaningless question?

    --
    "It is our blasphemy which has made us great, and will sustain us, and which the gods secretly admire in us." - Zelazny
  5. Re:Addiction = Society? by pmz · · Score: 3, Funny

    I've never felt like recognizing pop as a society.

    You're not too far off...just add some yogurt, and you get pop culture.

    --
    Healthcare article at Kuro5hin
  6. Neither... by WinnipegDragon · · Score: 2, Insightful
    Sorry, but they aren't either/or. Games require an engine and content, and societies are built around common goals.

    Most MMORPGs have little to no content, and 'teamwork' is a only effected in small random groups that rarely represent the average MMORPG player. MMORPGs are essentially chat rooms with ogres and +5 axes.

  7. Not society by Kelz · · Score: 2, Insightful

    as much as many people want them to be. Why? No government.

    The authorative figures in these games tend to be mindless drones of NPC's that MIGHT talk to you if you click on them, but will say the exact same thing to everyone else.

    Many people will think that a society is based on trade or crafting, but really its a government that ties it all together. I really wish I could get the king of Midgard to gather all our forces and kick ass, but it isn't gonna happen, because people (well, sane people with jobs) dont have the time to get on a game every time the game "needs" them.