[MUD-Dev2] [REPOST] Value

[Paolo Piselli]

Brian Ayavaron Ross wrote:
>
> A topic that always came to mind to me when I played games was
> value.  I don't like it when I pay $50 for a game only to find that
> I couldn't get more than an hour into it due to insurmountable
> difficulty. When I pay full price for a game, I expect to be allowed
> to see all of the game regardless of my skill. It seems unfair that
> when I pay $50 for a game, I am only privy to 10% of the game.
>
> I think this is a problem with MMORPGs too. MMORPGs are more
> expensive than normal games because there is the additional
> subscription fee beyond the initial price of the purchase.
>
> But MMORPGs also do a lot to lock off people of lower skill. I've
> heard people mention it within this mailing list even. They talk
> about locking off content to lower level players as a way to help
> prevent quest vandalism and such. But it seems unfair as they're
> paying the same price as everyone else.
>
> But I've hared some MMORPGs don't really start until you're at level
> XX (Usually 20). What if someone doesn't get to level 20 in the
> first month and then decides to quit? That person will have invested
> $65 into something that they didn't get to enjoy.
>
> So I wonder now, do other people see this as a problem? Some games
> are designed around the idea of avoiding this type of thing (CoH and
> WoW) but why should some games require work before you can start
> enjoying them. That just isn't cool.
>
> Do other people have anything to say on the subject?


It occured to me that this is in many ways a return to the "world" vs.
"amusement park" argument.  If a MMO/MUD follows a world model, then
it makes logical sense that you are limited by your abilities and
resources in where you may go.  Not everyone can climb to the top of
Mt. Everest.  If a MMO/MUD follows an amusement park model, well then
you have paid the admission fee and you may go on any ride that suits
you so long as you have the time to do so during your stay.  You can't
go on all the rides in a day and don't expects to, but you do expect
to have the option of going on any of them.

-Paolo

Paolo Piselli
ppiselli at gmail.com
www.paolopiselli.com