Gripe with using term 'MMORPG'

[Jaranja]

MMO is just Massively Multiplayer Online.

MMORPG is Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game.

There are plenty of MMOs that arnt

Yup. I'd say these FPSs with huge player bases are MMOs.

 

[MikailCaboose]

It's just a trivial matter. Even if it's redundant, is it REALLY that big of a deal?

 

[Dana22]

I think MMO term is being overused these days for the sake of advertising.

i.e. Global Agenda, World of Tanks (from the fairly fresh titles), label themselves as MMO, but they aren't.

 

[guardian001]

I see it almost as something like saying ATM Machine when infact the M in ATM is for Machine..

But there are MMOs that aren't RPGs. So really, calling them just "MMO" is more like calling an ATM just "AT." Sure, technically you can do it if you want, but it really doesn't make any sense to and there isn't a good reason to.

you can just get away with saying MMO to describe what kind of game it is thats all.

Which is fine within the context of the game, but if I go out to buy an MMO, I'd really like to know if I'm buying an RPG, an FPS, etc. The extra 3 letters tell anybody not currently playing the game what type of game it is.

 

[Googenstien]

I think MMO term is being overused these days for the sake of advertising.

i.e. Global Agenda, World of Tanks (from the fairly fresh titems), label themselves as MMO, but they aren't.

Thats true too.. with Mfia Wars and other browser games claiming to be MMOs

 

[Googenstien]

I see it almost as something like saying ATM Machine when infact the M in ATM is for Machine..

But there are MMOs that aren't RPGs. So really, calling them just "MMO" is more like calling an ATM just "AT." Sure, technically you can do it if you want, but it really doesn't make any sense to and there isn't a good reason to.

Tell me the major difference in Tabula Rasa, Eve and Wow in how they are all different where using MMO would be too confusing to describe that they are a online subscription game.

 

[Browbeat]

So long as a context of core understanding remains, interchangeable contractions are fine; however, if down the line users forget what 'MMO' or 'MMORPG' or 'GURPS' (sorry) stand for, then the usage of the word dilutes both the purpose and meaning of it. MMORPG is an acceptable, descriptive contraction, once unfurled - so long as you don't pigeonhole 'Role Playing' to being something with fetch-quests and abominable DPS metrics. In truth, just about every online community game has you playing out a specified user role in a fantastical or uncommon setting (i.e. ROLE-PLAYING)

So, one's relationship with the word depends on one's background of experience, and I motion that MMORPG is the acceptable standby with other contrived versions being additional sub genres for specificity's sake, while 'MMO' is an incomplete slang/slur used within rushed conversations and thread forums...

Oh...

'THAC0!'

 

[guardian001]

Tell me the major difference in Tabula Rasa, Eve and Wow in how they are all different where using MMO would be too confusing to describe that they are a online subscription game.

There are other MMOs besides Tabula Rasa, Eve, and WoW, for example MAG(Yes, 256 players in a single online shooter counts as MMO), Fallen Earth, and APB.

What you're saying is basically akin to say that we shouldn't bother calling games "FPS's" or "RPG's" or "RTS's" in favor of just saying they are "games." Sure, you might technically be correct in saying that, but you're not really saying what kind of game it is, and people will probably think you're stupid for doing so.

 

[Rakkana]

I think we kinda already know that. All you've done is created a thread and expressed an argument.

Wheres the discussion value?

 

[Googenstien]

I think we kinda already know that. All you've done is created a thread and expressed an argument.

Wheres the discussion value?

using your logic.. where is yours with this post?

Do not make low content or inflammatory posts. Mod.

 

[SL33TBL1ND]

It'd be more convenient to cut out the MM part than the RPG. Call it an ORPG for Online RPG.

But that would be more like the online portion of NWN.

 

[Googenstien]

Tell me the major difference in Tabula Rasa, Eve and Wow in how they are all different where using MMO would be too confusing to describe that they are a online subscription game.

There are other MMOs besides Tabula Rasa, Eve, and WoW, for example MAG(Yes, 256 players in a single online shooter counts as MMO), Fallen Earth, and APB.

MAG is far from a MMO game

And I am not saying anything other than I think using MMORPG in most cases is unneeded, its like saying I love watching the Simpsons Cartoon Sitcom Television show - if you just say Simpsons 99% of the world understands you.. same with if you just say MMO to describe WoW, EQ2....

 

[Rakkana]

I think we kinda already know that. All you've done is created a thread and expressed an argument.

Wheres the discussion value?

using your logic.. where is yours with this post?

To question the discussion value in the thread. As I said.

Kinda obvious. "Wheres the discussion value?" <-- A question mark see. That means I'm questioning it. And the sentence itself is in relation to the discussion value.

And this was a question, not a thread.

 

[guardian001]

its like saying I love watching the Simpsons Cartoon Sitcom Television show - if you just say Simpsons 99% of the world understands you.

I think you've still got this backwards. Saying MMO over MMORPG is not like "Simpsons Cartoon Sitcom Television Show" vs saying "Simpsons". Saying MMO over MMORPG is more like "I am watching TV" as opposed to "I am watching a comedy on TV." Both are technically correct, but one is much more informative.

I'm not saying "MMO" is wrong, I'm saying it's horrible uninformative.

 

[Vrach]

snip

Are you saying you have a problem with people using the term MMORPGs for MMOs that aren't RPGs? Personally I don't and frankly I can't think of many MMOs that aren't RPGs, though I'm sure there are some... but certainly not talked about enough to piss you off :|

Or are you saying you mind people using the term MMO for MMORPGs? In which case all MMORPGs are MMOs themselves, which is a sort of a "higher" genre so it's not wrong anyway and also, it's shorter.

Or are you saying you have a problem with people saying "MMORPG games" cause G in MMORPG means "games" already so it's like saying a "SAM missile"? In which case ok...

But in all cases... it's not a very interesting topic

 

[dade2424]

Aeriagames is one of the most inovative and active mmorpg's companies around withtons of downloadable games, They also have cool browser based games, so you can even play at work. Vist them at www.aeriagames.com

 

[Woodsey]

Ive been coming to the site for awhile now but recently signed up to post.. anyway.. a gripe I have here on these boards is how it seems almost everyone says MMORPG instead of just MMO.. I dont know why it bugs the crap out of me, but it does. I have been playing MMOs since EQ1 came out in 1999 and shortyly after the term was coined everyone I know stopped saying MMORPG and just cutting it down to MMO.

I see it almost as something like saying ATM Machine when infact the M in ATM is for Machine.. or Fed Ex for awhile had a line of Express services that they called Fed Ex Express.. when the Ex in Fed Ex already means Express.. yah.. Federal Express Express

So what you're saying is that it sounds silly when people Say ATM(achine) machine, but when you say MMOs (massively multiplayer onlines) it makes sense?

Huh.

 

[Googenstien]

So what you're saying is that it sounds silly when people Say ATM(achine) machine, but when you say MMOs (massively multiplayer onlines) it makes sense?

Huh.

no, what I am saying is.. when some askes "Hey, what kind of game is World of Warcraft?" you can say "oh, thats a MMO" and they would know exactly what you are saying and its redundant to say MMORPG..

 

[FretfulGnome]

How is it redundant?

 

[Woodsey]

So what you're saying is that it sounds silly when people Say ATM(achine) machine, but when you say MMOs (massively multiplayer onlines) it makes sense?

Huh.

no, what I am saying is.. when some askes "Hey, what kind of game is World of Warcraft?" you can say "oh, thats a MMO" and they would know exactly what you are saying and its redundant to say MMORPG..

THREE LETTERS.

IT'S A WASTE OF TIME TO SAY 3 EXTRA LETTERS?!

What was your example for then? Because in that you were deriding them for saying something that doesn't make sense, when MMO itself doesn't make sense.

I can't believe you made a thread about 3 letters.