Housing is an integral part of many MMORPGs. If an MMO does not offer housing at launch, this is one of the first features that players demand. But how important is this element at all?
Let’s take Shroud of the Avatar as an example for this discussion. Currently, there is a heated discussion in the official forum about whether players can drop all the items they are carrying anywhere in the game world. Clearly, this feature would make the world more interactive and vibrant, but one problem is that these objects must be calculated, which negatively affects game performance. Therefore, not all players are in favor of introducing this game element, and there is a specific reason for that.
A feature like item drops anywhere takes about 2-3 programmers multiple weeks (if not months) to get working properly without killing performance.
– Starr Long, Sota Producer
Does having a home have greater significance for MMORPG players than the world outside?
Those who are against “item dropping” belong to the faction of players who place tremendous value on housing. They consider it more important to be able to place more decorative items in their home and on their property than to be able to drop items anywhere in the game world. A suggestion that the decoration of a house should only be displayed and calculated when someone enters the property was not well received. Showing how one has set up their house and property is clearly more important for some than increased interaction with the game world.
This refers to the game world outside of the properties. Moving barrels in a city, stacking firewood to hide a chest behind it, moving a crate to uncover a trapdoor, or laying a “breadcrumb trail” of items to lure other players into a trap in a forest. One might also want to place a handwritten note near a ruin to lure other players to a specific location. This would be possible with freely placeable and movable items in the open game world – outside of properties and houses.
For many players, however, it seems more important that others see what they have done with their house. Therefore, it is essential for these players that the houses are located in areas that can be accessed by any player. Instanced housing in special housing zones would not be an option. Players want to encounter houses built by other players during their adventures and be able to admire them.
For others, this focus on housing is hardly understandable. Being able to move, shift, and place objects freely makes the world livelier and distinguishes the game from other MMOs with rather static game worlds. One can see that there is a conflict between players, and housing is a feature that is enormously important for many. So important that they would even forego other game elements – even if these would enrich the game and the game world.
