Voon

I so often come across players who say they are only playing X game until Y game is released.  Or that they went to Z game, only to return for lack of anything else that is exciting or interesting.

So what makes a player stick with a game from beginning to end, for years and years, without ever leaving?  Customization?  Content?  Mechanics?  Graphics?  Community?  All of the above, or a little of one or another, or some but not all?

Let’s take a look at the various factors, and then maybe you can give your thoughts as well.

When a game is first discussed by a developer, we’re typically presented with concept art and a few tidbits about game play.  Things such as “Will there be crafting?” or “Can I ride a horse?”, and beautifully drawn images of creatures that we can expect to battle or expertly drawn visions of how we’ll look in this new world.  But is that enough to draw us in, or keep us?  In the Monster That Is WoW, the races and classes are fun (who doesn’t like being a Blood Elf or Tauren?) and specific.  One is unable to be a Draenei Druid, or Dwarven Warlock.  But this also allows for more racial traits to be tailored to the classes, creating a more cohesive dynamic for play.  Also, players receive points to put towards their Talent tree, for additional customization.

Right?

But what about in another successful franchise, the EverQuest and EverQuest II titles?  I’m admittedly unfamiliar with the game play of EQ1, but have played EQII since the days of beta.  I’ve played every race, and every class (although I tend to stick to certain ones anymore).  Each character can be individually customized through the use of Achievement Ability (AA) points (also known as Alternative Advancement in the EQ1 game).

In both examples (WoW and EQ/EQII), these points are divvied up in different trees specifically designed for your class.  So sure, customization is there.  But is that enough to keep you satisfied?  Every time you get a little bored, just reroll a new toon?  Hrmm… not sure about that.

What about content?  Are you a lore junky?  Or do you get more into the hardcore play style of questing/raiding.  Maybe you’re a crafter at heart?  Me, I’m a questing junkie who hardcore raids and crafts on the side.  So that should be plenty to keep me busy, right?  Not necessarily.  Ever since early 2006, I’ve discovered my inner bloodlust… when I joined the ranks of PvP players around the world – joining in the fray in EQII as it was introduced to the community.  (Okay, so I was also testing it out before it launched, and learned the truth about myself early on.)  So is there a proper recipe of content to keep players interested?  Not really, considering all of the different play types out there.  For me, I enjoy the ability to play as little or as much as I want, in whatever fashion I want.  But am I satisfied?  Maybe…

Let’s talk mechanics.  One of the most widely discussed and debated aspects of any MMO out there, I think.  I’ve always been intrigued by how many closet devs we have in the world… you know the ones who take the time and effort to thoroughly explain the ins and outs of an encounter, an instance, a character class and/or weapon proc.  And these people have charts, graphs, scales, smoke signals and scientists exclaiming the veracity of their information!  But, as is usually the case, not everyone agrees with others’ facts and figures.  So mechanics are widely debated and discussed.  With that said, the fact that so many take the time to learn about the mechanics of their chosen title, does that mean it is enough to keep them involved, entertained, and satisfied?  I’m going to venture a guess and say no.  I disagree with mechanics of the game I play on a regular basis (and so does my better half… quite vehemently, I might add!).  And while I might understand why something is intended to work a certain way, that by no means indicates I agree with it.

Graphics.  Okay, there is the real, surreal, and not-so-real.  That’s really my best way of summing it up.  The real to me is something along the lines of the FPS games.  Humans in realistic clothing with common weapons that we’d expect to see in a combat situation in today’s world.  The surreal… oh how I love thee, EverQuest II (also referred to as “fantasy”).  This is where it’s not a huge leap to watch humans and ogres cohabitating together and the entire view is willingly accepted by the mind.  And the not-so-real is for me (and, I’m admittedly biased) such as World of Warcraft.  Very “cartoonish” in its detail.  Celebrating the game aspect and inviting users into a world that is completely separate and wholly unbelievable by our human minds, while our imaginations embrace it so completely that we risk mental meltdown should we try to resist.  Aion is one of those for me… at least, what I’ve seen of it.  It’s so beautiful and unbelievably unreal, that I’m drawn to it with a desire to get lost in its cartoon depths.  But is that enough?  Will I return because of the eye candy?  Honest answer?  No.

So that leaves us with Community.  The other players around us.  The people we share this world with, combat against or next to.  The ones we debate about mechanics with, argue with about changes and their impact on the overall game, look to for help in a situation, encourage to try something new, invite to leave, troll for reactions, and pray that they never stop loving this world we call our own.  You may one day find yourself in a heated discussion on the viability of a mage in a player-vs-player battle against a priest, and the next be inviting that same person to figh alongside you in a player-vs-player battle against a mage/priest pair.

But is that enough to keep me, or you, satisfied with your game?

Honest answer?

Absolutely.  If it weren’t for the people who not only work on, but also those that play in my MMO of choice, I probably would have been gone a long time ago.  I’ve replayed the same content for five years because I refuse to give up the content that can’t be created, imagined, metric’d, or nerfed.  The community.  The people.

You.

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