Pointless Click Combat

[Angrywyvern]

Wow, there are a lot of threads that mention runescape lately, well actually, not alot, just 3, but that's more than before (0).

A long time ago got a runescape newsletter for moneymaking tips (oh goody!), it must have been 5 years ago, and now, (i canceled it) they still send me stuff sometimes.... it's annoying

Runescape takes grind to another level. In wow, when you grind, at least you have different attacks and things to use, so it's not just click combat, It's still grind though, which is universally bad. In runescape, whenever you want to train any skill of any sort, combat, crafts, or anything else, you basically click on it, and you watch the guy work. Skills are slightly better, I guess, because you have to actually travel cross-country and click on several different things to actually get what you're trying to make, of course, this also makes things a lot more tedious.

[edit from here down]

I just did a review on Runescape, it's somewere in reviews, so I had to recently take a jog down memory lane for research. I'm pretty up-to-date with it. They've really been losing players, and the social aspect is draining away, because of many things, like computers handling all your trades.

I think people keep coming back because of the joy of becoming better, or at least, a virtual representation of somebody else getting better.
When you reach the level cap, I guess it's all about what you accomplish, like dungeons and shit, and then the real game supposedly starts.

I hate grind, my favorite part of MMOs are the beginning, when the world feels most real, you yourself actually learning, and people actually ask for things people actually need. After that it's bullshit though, especially for $15/mo. That's usually why I keep making new characters whenever I play an MMO.

 

[Seydaman]

i used to love runescape when i was in secondary school, it was the rivalry between me and my friends that drive it: we grinded to out-rank each other. For that i was willing to put up with the retarded excuse for a combat system. However as soon as my friends stopped playing it, i did to, i guess we had all kinda "grown out of it". We moved on to better more intense online games like CS and now COD4

huh runescape was the first mmo that i played, i got wow about a year after playing it. everyone still played runescape unfortunately and ridiculed wow for being "WORST GAME EVAAAR!!!" which i can thankfully laugh at now with wows epic player base and fans that would suck the developers cock if asked to.(maybe that's exaggerating) did i just get off topic? well if you want a reason to play its more a social experience with people than leveling. seems more like a goal that your all working towards rather than what the games about.so all mmo's are is a social group that are given a common goal.

 

[Seydaman]

Runescape takes grind to another level. In wow, when you grind, at least you have different attacks and things to use, so it's not just click combat, It's still grind though, which is universally bad. In runescape, whenever you want to train any skill of any sort, combat, crafts, or anything else, you basically click on it, and you watch the guy work. Skills are slightly better, I guess, because you have to actually travel cross-country and click on several different things to actually get what you're trying to make, of course, this also makes things a lot more tedious.

i know its creepy, but the entire time i played runescape i never got bored maybe in my mind i was always going "okay gotta get this this this this and that skill up" my friend at school still plays and he says they gehyed it up

 

[fluffylandmine]

I happen to like the Idea of an MMOFPS, yet it has never been perfected like other genres.

I'm not sure why else I like MMOs though.

 

[Gotham Soul]

I enjoy MMOs because of the society. Just take a second to think: do you really think that all the people who play World of Warcraft play because they have some sort of obsession with one-click combat?

If the answer is yes, start signing yourself up for the insane asylum.

The reason I play is because you get a great deal of interaction and social gratification with minimal skill requirements, making the game open to anyone with time and, in the case of pay-to-plays, money to burn.

 

[RhinoTuna]

I enjoy MMOs because of the society. Just take a second to think: do you really think that all the people who play World of Warcraft play because they have some sort of obsession with one-click combat?

If the answer is yes, start signing yourself up for the insane asylum.

The reason I play is because you get a great deal of interaction and social gratification with minimal skill requirements, making the game open to anyone with time and, in the case of pay-to-plays, money to burn.

This. The social aspect is what got me into the game, and what kept me going back too.

 

[Caliostro]

You have 600+ posts on a forum called "The Escapist" and you are asking why people play MMOs? I find that ironic. They play it for exactly the same reason why I'm writing this post now, and why you go on "the escapist": to get away from real life. I think people who play MMOs feel an inability to do things they want to do in real life, and in a MMO they feel the opposite, the MMO world offers them the freedom to be whoever they say they are and do whatever they want to do. Most people only play MMO because their friends play it too, which then leaves me with the question isn't it more fun to interact in the real world than in the virtual world? I guess there just isn't that much to do in real life, if you go back a few years all the kids did was hang around street corners, that's hardly better than MMO.

See, that's what I categorize as the reason we play games at all: to escape reality. Which further enhances my confusion as to why people play MMORPGs specifically. When I play a game I look for something I CAN'T and want to do in real life: fending off hordes of zombies, becoming a jedi, a hitman, shooting people, free running on rooftops with people shooting at me...etc. MMORPGs on the other hand come down to 2 elements: Socializing and accounting. The first you can generally do (arguably more effectively) in real life, or in a chatroom, or on a forum like this... The second, to me, is exactly the reason people try to escape reality: boring repetitive work. Because combat in MMORPGs really does come down to accounting.

For example, I sometimes play on a GTA game for hours just doing the taxi mission; then I realise, why don't I just go outside and cycle around (can't afford a car)? Real life has much more intuitive gameplay, brilliant graphics, and totally original storylines. For reasons unknown to me, I feel I can do the former, but I feel the inability to do the latter. Though if you think about it, driving a taxi around in GTA without trashing it for a few hours with a keyboard, is a lot harder than cycling around in real life.

See, but that's the thing. In real life I can't steal a car, drive it into a crowd of people and come out shooting. Or do 50ft leaps with a bike using a flight of stairs as a ramp. Which is what makes GTA amazing: the sandbox ability. MMORPGs don't have any of that.

I've never played a MMO, and rarely play RPGs, because the leveling system takes all the skill out of gameplay.

Ironically you mention half my point here, which answers your first question (or the first "half" I quoted).

I happen to like the Idea of an MMOFPS, yet it has never been perfected like other genres.

I'm not sure why else I like MMOs though.

From what I understand, it's currently very difficult, if not impossible, to do a reliable "REAL" MMOFPS (not a pseudo-fps mmorpg like Tabula Rasa): The collision detection system used in good FPSes (that basically keeps track of your bullets and accounts for the damage if they hit you) is too much of a resource hog to work with 100-ish players on at the same time, in an HUGE world (instead of small maps) with all the necessities an MMORPG comes with: NPCs, quests, monster spawns and AI...etc.

Thus my theory that, if you can't do it right, don't half ass it. If you can't do it for 300 people, do it for 30...or 10....or 4 (like L4D), but do it right.

 

[Fatalis67]

It's just not fun. Supposedly these games are addictive, but I don't see how. I played the trial of WoW for a few days and I couldn't keep myself interested for more than 30 minutes at a time. Most people say "Dude, it's so fun if you get to higher levels! You have to get to the cap first!" WHY?! Why should I have to got through dozens and dozens of hours of pointless, boring repetition before I get even the tiniest morsel of fun? Why can't they just take a fun Western RPG like Oblivion or Fable and put a whole bunch of people in?

 

[Zeldadudes]

Runescape, Runescape Runescape.
Fantastic game, fantastic waste of time and fantastic fake reality.
I've always thought of gaming as my escape from reality. I would play games as an evil character just to remember the fact that i wouldn't personally do that in a real-life scenario.
Runescape, and many other click combat games, share the same, trying to think of a decent word here, activities that life does.
For example: Most of those games consist of skills to earn money, i've always seen that as studying in real life.
If i get my cookery level to x amount then i will be able to make x amount of x in order to accumulate gold.
The same in real life - If i get an A in my Music test then i will be able to go onto my next year of study to become what i want to become.

These single click games are generally an escape from the harsh reality with live in and these people influence its every move. Their character doesn't sleep, need food (Unless in combat) or water to live so there is a bonus of controlling their life. They don't grow tiresome, age or deny the user of anything (Unless its out of their capabilities).

Maybe i'm chatting rubbish, or maybe i've shed some light onto the answer you hope for.
I really like this thread though, seems very very interesting.

 

[jasoncyrus]

...........you Played Conquer Online?

You managed to escape the horrifying hell of Conquer Online?

Welcome to the club my friend...(although it did take a £500 deficit to realise this...if i ever can i will be sueing TQ for that money back, fucking wankers.

I find wow to be a much better use of my time. While it doesn't have the full engagement of story line (YET, its getting there gradually). It does however offer you lots and lots and LOTS of ways to get to the end game.

I found guild wars quite restricting (and rather pants tbh) due to the fact that you HAD to do certain quests to get to the end game stuff. Where as wow I can pretty much go wherever i like to lvl (within the proper range). When Eastern Kingdoms got boring (more often scary at 4 in the morning while half asleep and rather paranoid due to lack of said sleep) I'd move to Kalimdor and level there, much easier ill i hit desolace. Aptly named since its a SHIT hole and i dispise ever going there.

As this is quickly and rapidly declining into a wow review I'll make this fast. The expansion is all a bit of a disappointment progression wise. I'd hit 450 Skinning within 2-3 days and that was while i was being lazy. Hell I'd reached lvl 80 before i'd even explored the first bit of Storm peaks and I've never done a single quest in Icecrown. I'd have liked it if the content had lasted a bit longer. Although it was driving me mental levelling and I'm glad to be 80 where i can be lazy again and run Naxx. Bad thing is my guild is becoming a bit elitest =.= fuckers.

As a reply to Fatalis67. The second you turn fable etc into an MMO you WILL kill it, guarenteed. The sudden input of idiots will corrupt the series horribly. It'd end up like every other MMO, people whining about other players cheating, hacking, being OP etc etc.

Plus they'd fix the economy bug so i cant become rich by selling the same vendor his own shit over and voer again in one inning.

 

[Caliostro]

Runescape, Runescape Runescape.
Fantastic game, fantastic waste of time and fantastic fake reality.
I've always thought of gaming as my escape from reality. I would play games as an evil character just to remember the fact that i wouldn't personally do that in a real-life scenario.
Runescape, and many other click combat games, share the same, trying to think of a decent word here, activities that life does.
For example: Most of those games consist of skills to earn money, i've always seen that as studying in real life.
If i get my cookery level to x amount then i will be able to make x amount of x in order to accumulate gold.
The same in real life - If i get an A in my Music test then i will be able to go onto my next year of study to become what i want to become.

These single click games are generally an escape from the harsh reality with live in and these people influence its every move. Their character doesn't sleep, need food (Unless in combat) or water to live so there is a bonus of controlling their life. They don't grow tiresome, age or deny the user of anything (Unless its out of their capabilities).

Maybe i'm chatting rubbish, or maybe i've shed some light onto the answer you hope for.
I really like this thread though, seems very very interesting.

See, this once again hits the same spot that confuses me: If these are things you can just as well do in real life...Why not do them in real life instead? I can't fight a horde of zombies in real life... But I can cook. And cooking in real life is not only more delicious, but also more rewarding and interesting than watching the same default animation run and call it cooking...

This is the point in MMORPGs that confuse the living fuck out of me: You run away from real life, to play a game that simulates real life...

 

[feralfenix]

it is a little ironic, play boring games about real life, to escape boring real life. thats why i liked guild wars (when i played it), there are no stupid life simulating areas, and the pvp is more skill based (or as close to skill based as an mmo can get) because in pvp theres no leveling up, so even a "n00b" can win.

 

[ImmortalItalian]

I enjoy a game that's skill based, or something that draws me in. Rarely do I focus on point and click or simple moves and such because sometimes skills and such make up for it. Sometimes games do turn me off for that, like runescape. Yea I know "Lolololol Runescape is gai!" But sometimes there are things that keep you occupied.

 

[jh322]

Pointless Click Combat


I even tried comparing it to Chess, which I do enjoy playing sometimes (although I'm terrible at it), but it's not even the same. In chess both players start with exactly the same resources, and the one that manages them better wins.

Did you try Guild Wars? It's been mentioned quite a bit, and the PvP, particularly at high level, was very much like chess. All contestants begin with exactly the same resources, and it is simply a fact that whoever utilises them better wins. The PvP in GW actually kept me busy for a long time. It's the only MMO I didn't get bored of (played WoW, Eve, WAR and a couple of other smaller ones). If you haven't tried it, try it, you might like it.

 

[Caliostro]

Did you try Guild Wars? It's been mentioned quite a bit, and the PvP, particularly at high level, was very much like chess. All contestants begin with exactly the same resources, and it is simply a fact that whoever utilises them better wins. The PvP in GW actually kept me busy for a long time. It's the only MMO I didn't get bored of (played WoW, Eve, WAR and a couple of other smaller ones). If you haven't tried it, try it, you might like it.

Intended to, but gameplay videos such as this one [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bo492dvyYBc] kinda make it look as more of the same... Spam, spam, spam, spam... win/loose.

 

[jh322]

Did you try Guild Wars? It's been mentioned quite a bit, and the PvP, particularly at high level, was very much like chess. All contestants begin with exactly the same resources, and it is simply a fact that whoever utilises them better wins. The PvP in GW actually kept me busy for a long time. It's the only MMO I didn't get bored of (played WoW, Eve, WAR and a couple of other smaller ones). If you haven't tried it, try it, you might like it.

Intended to, but gameplay videos such as this one [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bo492dvyYBc] kinda make it look as more of the same... Spam, spam, spam, spam... win/loose.

right, fair enough, I can see why that video might mislead you. That's actually a snippet from virtually the first part of the first campaign, not only is it not really pvp, but it's also with the smallest selection of skills against the most primitive AI. Really, give it a try. If you want to, I even have a spare account I can lend you for a little while. Message me if you're interested.

 

[Zeldadudes]

Runescape, Runescape Runescape.
Fantastic game, fantastic waste of time and fantastic fake reality.
I've always thought of gaming as my escape from reality. I would play games as an evil character just to remember the fact that i wouldn't personally do that in a real-life scenario.
Runescape, and many other click combat games, share the same, trying to think of a decent word here, activities that life does.
For example: Most of those games consist of skills to earn money, i've always seen that as studying in real life.
If i get my cookery level to x amount then i will be able to make x amount of x in order to accumulate gold.
The same in real life - If i get an A in my Music test then i will be able to go onto my next year of study to become what i want to become.

These single click games are generally an escape from the harsh reality with live in and these people influence its every move. Their character doesn't sleep, need food (Unless in combat) or water to live so there is a bonus of controlling their life. They don't grow tiresome, age or deny the user of anything (Unless its out of their capabilities).

Maybe i'm chatting rubbish, or maybe i've shed some light onto the answer you hope for.
I really like this thread though, seems very very interesting.

See, this once again hits the same spot that confuses me: If these are things you can just as well do in real life...Why not do them in real life instead? I can't fight a horde of zombies in real life... But I can cook. And cooking in real life is not only more delicious, but also more rewarding and interesting than watching the same default animation run and call it cooking...

This is the point in MMORPGs that confuse the living fuck out of me: You run away from real life, to play a game that simulates real life...

Well isn't it easier to control a little man rather than yourself?
Its quicker to achieve greatness in a game then it is in real life.
I personally do not play MMO's that often anymore, i used to...back when i didn't like a good game of Cs or L4D but i can see why i used to play them.
I can say that i used to run from real life, because i didn't like real life. Yes yes /emo but school was boring and most kids in my school were on crack. (Ghetto child)
MMO's are confusing but y'know, maybe you should play a click combat game... see what it is like...

 

[Xyzgon]

Well I don't really play them that much but when i do i enjoy it. Over 2-3 years i've managed to get a mage to lvl 34 (i'm a ridiculously slow leveler) so basically i think it's the feeling of accomplishment. Taking something from the very pathetic bottom and working away to make it better. Earning cash and getting weapons and armor and questing and joining/making a guild and when you do make it to the next level and you've really worked to get there it just feels good. Then you get mounts and do all sorts of stuff so ultimately, even with the dull uninteresting combat, i think the appeal is that feeling of accomplishment and getting somewhere. Atleast that's my opinion.

 

[Helnurath]

Most people play MMOs to interact with other people, whether it be negatively or positively. There is also a sense of accomplishment when you and 24 of your good friends get together and successfully raid dungeons and such. Anything really can be considered grinding. Ever try fishing before? lol or maybe hunting? or heck even playing sports everyday can be considered a grind.