MMORPG=Social Game; concerns...

[Lord Terentius]

The more and more I read about WoW, SWG, EQ II, the articles on Middle-earth, etc. the more I keep reading developers drop words like this is a game to be social in and developers drop hints or bluntly state that individuals in MMORPG's cannot impact the world of the game.

Example, in SWG individuals or guilds cannot impact the flow of the game. No matter what in-game players did, the Death Star is still going to go up in a ball of flames. I can accept this as a gamer, but it gives me the realization that MMORPG's are nothing more than social games. They are not places to role-play and pretend, but rather chat rooms where you happen to game as well.

Although disappointing, I still want to play a MMORPG.

Which would you enjoy playing more?

1. A MMORPG like SWG, LoTR, Matrix, etc. where you know the story from movies, etc. and you cannot impact the world.

or

2. A MMORPG like WoW, EQ, where the story has never appeard on the big-screen, thus giving you the illusion you are making a difference--although I maintain your not changing the world of the game at all.

My point, gamers cannot expect to be Obi-Wan Kenobi in a MMORPG, they cannot expect to be Arragon, they cannot expect to be the main characters of the WoW stories, etc.

Gamers must understand they are the small side characters. They are not main characters in a story--unfortunately, we all desire to be that person, but MMORPG's are not developed to fulfill those desires.

[Jeedian]

How much impact do you really want? You cant have that serious reprecussions in a game's story because that will change the whole game as it is and might turn it out of favor with a lot of gamers. I was always under the impression a game is what you make of it. If you want to roleplay, then you hang around with rpers. Hopefully, that will be us I do see what you are saying and I think it would make a very interesting concept, but the tricky part is for game developers to come up with a certain extent so the game doesnt change too much that it actually becomes a different game.

[Sirion]

I do think, however, that in SWG u should be able to cause the Death Star to go up or not. Thats total BS knowing ur factions going to lose regardless of what u do.

[Lord Terentius]

Jeed, that is my point. I'm not worrying about the larger world impact, I was playing devils advocate in my post.

I want our guild to RP, I want us to make the game somethign special. My fear is people in this guild will simply want to power lvl and be some individual who is powerful.

I want us to take on a role as a guild and role-play :-)

[Lord Terentius]

I just don't want to be in the MMORPG that is like EQ. I want to be in the MMORPG that has people role-playing in REALISTIC roles. Imagine if SWG had unlimited Jedi, it would ruin rp. It would simply be an online world of Jedi v Jedi.

I hope one of these developing MMORPGs can meet my desires *lol*.

[Lord Lythas]

True you can't influence the intire storyline for the game, like stopping the destruction of the Deathstar (not that its even in SWG ) but you can influence the game on the smaller storylines that are created in game and by the players.

For example, in my case I'm going to live the life of the Bounty Hunter. Obviously I'm not in the films (yet) but each mission I take will be a mini story in itself - all about me. I'm looking to RP my character giving the impression that I'm as ruthless and mercyless as Boba Fett was in the films. I agree that MMORPG's are pretty much "supped up" chat rooms, allowing you to game as well as socialise, but in SWG it is possible to sway the balance of the game taking control of areas (as well as loose them) but the Dev's will take steps to even the score up again. These "steps" are currenlty being disputed and hopefully it'll add to the game rather than being an obvious situation of "forceing the storyline".

The whole "you can't win the Galactic Civil War for either side", is one reason why I'm looking towards the criminal faction for SWG Malador. While the war will always rage on, it'll be PA's like ours that will benefit allowing us to profit and take missions reagardless of how the war is playing out.

As a player though you can live the role of your character and although neither side can win the war its the struggle in conflict, and the recognition from other players that you interact with that appeals to me.