While it is probably no big surprise, I’ve come to realize that even as I love MMOs and want to play them all, I have some sort of mental block when it comes to trying out new ones. It’s always way, way easier to return to old favorites than take the time to pick up a new game, learn its systems, and get integrated into its social ecosystem.
Maybe that’s just the way of life, but MMOs seem to have extra layers of obstacles that I don’t seem to encounter in other games. They’re usually a little more complex, can require large downloads, sometimes have an up-front cost, and always require the annoying process of registration. For all our bellyaching that modern MMOs are all the same, often I find that there are a lot of differences between titles — and that those can be off-putting enough to make me want to retreat to familiar territory. I also justify dragging my feet with the inner argument that if the MMO is bad, it’s not worth my time, and if it’s great, then I won’t have the time to really play it long-term.
My mind is a weird place. Apologies.
Perhaps that’s why streamlined MMOs like Destiny do well for themselves, by removing as many intimidating obstacles as possible for players to pick up and get into the game. Do you have this problem? What obstacles keep you from trying out different MMOs?
Every morning, the Massively Overpowered writers team up with mascot Mo to ask MMORPG players pointed questions about the massively multiplayer online roleplaying genre. Grab a mug of your preferred beverage and take a stab at answering the question posed in today’s Daily Grind!
