Which online game is the best? Part 1
Online games open a new world for competition lovers. In most MMORPGs, you compete with people from all over the world. I have been able to play many games online over the years. Most article writers, game journalists, etc. I don’t have time to properly analyze online role-playing games. In this article I will tell you:
- What makes an online game good?
- What makes an online game BAD?
- How can I satisfy everyone as a developer and earn money at the same time?
- The best individual aspects of every game I have ever played.
- What games couldn’t wait to be released, but didn’t play when they finally released (and why …)
- Why hasn’t anyone been able to get it right since Ultima Online …
* When reading this article, keep in mind that I am an avid pvp enthusiast. *
Many of the worlds are constantly changing. The size of monumental projects generally equates to a horrible launch. Even the billion dollar company Sony Online Entertainment failed in this field with SWG.
It is impossible for a gaming journalist to criticize an online game in 6 months. There are so many things that change in that period of time. Some magazines have noticed this and made adjustments to properly review online games. With that said, everything I mention in this article is based on * AT LEAST * one year of play in each game. I hate jumping from game to game …
“So Tay, what makes a good online game for player killers and pvp enthusiasts?”
First of all, the game must be skill-based. It is better if you are rewarded for strategic thinking rather than “twitch-based” reactions. You should never have a game that rewards time over skill. Of course, there should always be some rewards for playing longer than someone else, but those rewards shouldn’t make it impossible to kill him.
Second, you need a large player base. If there aren’t enough people playing, what’s the point?
Next, there must be a point in all this effort. You should always have a measurable and easily defined goal to work towards. Siege castles, acquire kill points, reach the top of the ladder, acquire loot, etc. they are good ways to keep most pvpers busy.
A caring and responsive development team is a must. You don’t want a community where player questions and concerns are ignored for the good of shareholders. That just doesn’t create a lasting game. You definitely shouldn’t create a team of players to collect community concerns and then immediately ignore them. * cough SWG *
Finally, the game should be fun. Fun is not a quality that is easily defined. Many people find different things interesting. You know I’m very leaning towards pvp (player versus player) so I’ll keep focusing on that. For a pvp game to be fun, the classes must be balanced. Nothing on the face of the earth is perfect, but developers must realize that group-based pvp must have classes with defined roles. Games with a more individual focus should have balanced characters.
Speaking of fun, I’m amazed that so many games regurgitate the same content over and over again. Developers often use this lame excuse: “Our game is the perfect sandbox for blah blah blah. You should be entertained.” Even if you put a child in a room with other children (lots of toys around), those children will get very bored if the items they have to play with do not allow them to be creative or create new content. Most of these companies make millions of dollars a month, but can’t they afford to hire staff to interact with the players? Imagine visiting a store with nothing but security guards (GM) and no sales representatives.
I want you to imagine a completely static world. A world where you can complete many tasks, but no matter how hard you work, you can NEVER CHANGE ANYTHING.
This is just the first part of this series of articles. Definitely not a subject to be rushed in my opinion. Until the next installment, keep killing, keep working, and don’t waste time playing games that don’t really reward your efforts.
