Encouraging Co-Operation In MMO Titles?

Thanks to Skotos.net for their article discussing ways players can co-operate positively in massively multiplayer games. The piece starts by talking about socializers, those "...players who are there because they want to interact not just with the game system, but also with other people", and then specifically discusses those who "...try and develop their own hierarchy by latching onto something within your gameworld to use as a token of control" (such as using friend/enemy markings in The Sims Online?) The article concludes by talking about whether MMOs encourage out-of-the-box socializing not designed by the creators: "Is your system robust enough to allow players to freeform Spin the Bottle? How about Pictionary? How about Charades?"

Comments

Charades?

[gasaraki]

I think it'll be a long time before we're even close to a MMORPG which allows people to play charades. I'll be damned if I know how you're even meant to do it efficiently with current input devices.

Regardless, I think there's a lot than can be done to make MMORPGs more social/recreational without having to go this far. One thing I think would be great, but is really lacking in MMORPGs, are minigames. Seing able to sit down and play chess, poker, etc. at the local tavern or whatever would just be cool. Of course, games specific to the world would be even better, like a made-up card game (e.g. Tetra Master, Pazaak) or even (admittedly harder to make) things like racing games. Either way it gives people a reason to interact in a way that isn't directly part of the game, and people will undoubtedly use this flexibility creatively by holding tournaments for prizes, even gambling away their belongings. I don't really think you need to go to insane technical lengths to get people to socialize, but rather just give them a reason/excuse to do so.