In years past, we’ve asked about the most innovative MMO, which is honestly too vague a question to be useful. For today’s Daily Grind, I want to think about specific mechanics and systems in MMOs that are really on the bleeding edge of design for the genre. And if I’m honest, the one I personally have in mind for our 2022 winner isn’t so much a brand-new concept – it’s not at all brand-new – but has been iterated upon spectacularly, and that’s Final Fantasy XIV’s adventurer plates, which display customized information about your character.
It’s not that the idea of a paperdoll or outfit gump or stat panel is new; it’s that a major AAA MMORPG developer decided that over a decade into the game, it was going to bring this type of customization and character-centricity to the game. It is pure fluff, and that’s a good thing. Who doesn’t want a slick character sheet to show off? May it become a whole trend of digging back into very basic but ignored ideas and bringing them into the spotlight again.
What would you say was the most important innovation in MMOs in 2022?
At the turn of every calendar year, the MassivelyOP team assembles a traditional feast of annual content for your table. We recap the year, issue awards, highlight our favorite (and least favorite) stories, and gather your opinions together to send off the last year and welcome the new one. Grab a plate and take a bite out of this year-end Daily Grind!
