As every Friday (if we don’t forget *cough*), we want to ask you a question again today and are curious about your opinions! The question is quite simple, but the answer might not be: Do you play MMOs solo or in fixed groups?
The more, the better
In the early days of the MMO genre, many things were unwritten laws: Anyone who wanted to have fun with World of Warcraft or the first Guild Wars had to act in groups. Social interaction made MMOs truly appealing, because if we are honest for a moment: Almost every single-player RPG would have entertained us better than a vacant online world ten years ago. Story was minimal in the quests, exciting boss fights were a rarity during the leveling phase, and the environments were often so expansive that after many minutes of walking, one would frequently wonder if they couldn’t better spend their time.
And yet, MMOs captivated for many hours, if not even months or years, because you could experience them with others. Raids for 40 people or a player-driven economy created incentives to interact with other characters. When there were no game contents, people just created their own (like PvP in Hillsbrad – Tarren Mill vs Southshore).
Many games in one
Nowadays, MMORPGs are often many games in one. There are extensive solo quest lines with cutscenes and decision options, often numerous mini-games (Triple Triad, Pet Battles, etc.) and plenty of content that can be tackled alone. The latest MMOs are also increasingly showcasing so-called dynamic events, where groups are formed automatically. However, the heroes mostly complete tasks “anonymously”, without saying a word to a fellow player.
Many MMOs have now become solid single-player titles, and to have fun, you often don’t need other players at all. The needs of players have changed significantly in recent years. And so, I now come to our question through long detours: How do you consume MMOs; in groups or alone?
Cortyn says: In the past, there was little I could do alone in WoW, except perhaps raise my reputation with Darnassus. Nowadays, there are many contents specifically tailored for solo players, such as the personal progress bar in WildStar. Essentially, this is a good expansion and allows many MMOs to reach a larger audience, although they are drifting further away from their original justification for existence: social contacts. WildStar, TESO, WoW, GW2 or TERA can now be played alone without problems, and one can have fun for many hours. However, these games can’t really keep me engaged for long if I can’t gather players around me. Still, I keep encountering people who only occasionally visit the auction house, but otherwise want their peace.
How do you play MMOs? Do you have fixed groups and can’t have fun without them? Or do you often enjoy such games alone and find the other players disturbing? And above all: Why? Let us know in the comments!
