When I was young, and the only MMOs out there seemed to be MUDs and Everquest, I wanted to play an MMORPG. Games had always been a starting point for my imagination, rather than a brain rotter, so the idea of adventuring around with a bunch of other people in for a grand adventure was grand.
Years later, I catch wind of half decent 3-D MMOs available for free, so I give it a go. I downloaded Fiesta, and started playing. It was exciting to have others to talk with, to fight with, to dance with, but when I reached level 20, I realised what had brought me to that level. It was the expectation for a grand adventure.
I felt like I was preparing for the actual game, yet to come.
I have tried many other games, but they are all the same. Each one filling me with anticipation, as if the Level cap that everyone yearns for will bring some sort of glory.
But there is nothing.
This leads me to how they all get it wrong. Sure, these games are massive, played by many, and online, and they are obviously some sort of game, but they lack the element of Role playing. Sure, people become attached to their avatar, but no one is the paladin or the swordsman, or the mage, or the frog man. They talk about the lives of the characters they are supposed to depict in general terms, like "Damage dealer," and "Tank."
My second point is about the world itself. the only time I have felt like I was playing a genuine role playing game was in Perfect World, where I took my level 20 character into the level 90 arctic tundra, narrowly avoiding the monsters while seeing all there was to see. It felt refreshing, and gave the same feeling as being outside in the wilderness, though to a far lesser degree.
Why is it that the most spiritually enriching thing in all of these games is an activity that was never intended to be? Am I the only one who feels that, "MMORPG" is an extreme misnomer?
Years later, I catch wind of half decent 3-D MMOs available for free, so I give it a go. I downloaded Fiesta, and started playing. It was exciting to have others to talk with, to fight with, to dance with, but when I reached level 20, I realised what had brought me to that level. It was the expectation for a grand adventure.
I felt like I was preparing for the actual game, yet to come.
I have tried many other games, but they are all the same. Each one filling me with anticipation, as if the Level cap that everyone yearns for will bring some sort of glory.
But there is nothing.
This leads me to how they all get it wrong. Sure, these games are massive, played by many, and online, and they are obviously some sort of game, but they lack the element of Role playing. Sure, people become attached to their avatar, but no one is the paladin or the swordsman, or the mage, or the frog man. They talk about the lives of the characters they are supposed to depict in general terms, like "Damage dealer," and "Tank."
My second point is about the world itself. the only time I have felt like I was playing a genuine role playing game was in Perfect World, where I took my level 20 character into the level 90 arctic tundra, narrowly avoiding the monsters while seeing all there was to see. It felt refreshing, and gave the same feeling as being outside in the wilderness, though to a far lesser degree.
Why is it that the most spiritually enriching thing in all of these games is an activity that was never intended to be? Am I the only one who feels that, "MMORPG" is an extreme misnomer?
