As I type this, I’m waiting on a video game to give me some daylight so I can snap a picture for another article you’ve probably already read. And while I wait, this Daily Grind topic occurred to me!
See, I’m usually a cheerleader for diurnal – day and night – cycles in video games. I think that as long as the night isn’t punitively dark, it’s usually a net positive for immersion in the games, especially sandboxes, whether they’re singleplayer or multiplayer. Plus, y’all know my penchant for in-game lighting, which just shows up better with a dark environment.
But I found myself really hating the night cycle this time because of the pointless waiting around I had to do. Granted, a screenshot isn’t gameplay, but some games do tie gameplay to the time of day – Lord of the Rings Online being the big one that comes immediately to mind. During my last visit into that MMO, I encountered quite a few quests that required me to stand around waiting on the clock before certain mobs would spawn.
What do you think – are day and night cycles a good or bad thing overall in 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!
