When we started using the term “everything box” a decade or more ago, the idea was that it was a sandbox where everything was possible – not where everything was required. The latter is a problem the MOP crew wound up discussing a few weeks ago when an MOP reader complained that MMORPG housing shouldn’t be considered content. Naturally, our housing enthusiasts got their pitchforks and torches out, but I can kinda understand what the poster meant because so many games over-design every cool MMO feature into some sort of obligatory grind device, even the cozy social ones.
I don’t really want anyone to be forced by game mechanics and well-meaning developers into content she doesn’t want to do, even if it’s content I love. I don’t want MMOs to force raid-haters to raid to get gear, PvE carebears to PvP to get a mount, or house-haters to get a house to rid their bank of trophies or get a port or have a vendor. Frankly, I hate it when developers force people to do content outside of their preferences because it means a crappy experience both for those players and for the people who embrace whatever it is.
And getting back to the original comment, I also don’t want housing to be viewed as content with cheevos and login tracks and other nonsense added to it to entice achiever players into the system. Just design the things for the people who like them! We don’t have to all of us do all of the content for it to be worthwhile to add!
What MMO content do you wish devs would stop trying to get you to do?
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!
