[MUD-Dev] Blog about GDC implies changes to MMORPG population

[Amanda Walker]

On Mar 22, 2005, at 8:35 AM, Shelkey, Doneld wrote:

> Less of that exists in the newer generation of MMOGs.  The games
> are fun and easy.  Who needs relationships...group for this quest,
> check your LFG tool to grab a cleric, and be on your merry way.
> You, too (at the cost of 10 days played), can own the neatest
> gadgets in the game...who needs heroes?

On the other hand, they handle "mismatched orbital velocity" a lot
better.  One of the things I have been greatly enjoying about WoW
(and to a lesser extent, SWG), is that it's not so prone to "the
rest of my guild got 10 levels ahead of me while I was away on
business, and now I'll never have a chance to catch up ever again."
SWG and WoW have the most cohesive guilds I've experienced yet,
mainly because the members can continue to play together even at
different levels.  Now, sometimes it's with alternate
characters--the low barrier to "leveling up" makes it a lot easier
to go try different approaches for variety--but I don't think that
ease of play necessarily translates to lower group cohesion.

Amanda Walker
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