[MUD-Dev2] Fallen Earth

[Aurel]

Mike Sellers wrote:

> Online games are evolving very, very rapidly, and the more I look at
> it the more it looks like "heavy MMOs" (retail box, multi-gigabyte
> install, etc.) are, while not headed for extinction, definitely headed
> for (if not in) niche status.  That's fine, I don't mean it as a
> negative; it's still a strong market with a lot left to be done in it.
>  But the time when MMOs were the primary way people played online
> games together is past.  The point now isn't making a "WoW-killer" or
> even something that can co-exist with WoW.
>

 WoW combines a glorified slot machine with a pat on the back anytime you
have 5 minutes to log in and accomplish something. As long as you can
convince somebody that their accomplishments and their phat lewt count for
something, and X million players worldwide goes a long way toward doing
that, you've got yourself a perpetual money maker. All those
micro-accomplishments make it a great casual game too. The only real gripe
that casual players have with it is paying $15/month regardless of how much
you play so that your 8 hours/month of gameplay subsidize a top raider's 200
hours/month of gameplay. I wouldn't say that means heavy MMOs are being
driven into a niche. The successful ones are just adapting themselves to
better serve casual gameplay alongside old-fashioned hardcore gameplay.

Aurel