I know the itch
Over at Obsessive Focus, Ainilome says she’s starting to feel the itch to play another MMO. I’ve suffered this same itch for a good 18 months and I have my own theories as to why I do. I’ve heard it called MMO Ennui in the past, but for the most part I’d disagree. I’ve discussed previously what I think has been the evolution of MMOs and that is a more “casual friendly” game; one where if you only have an hour to play you can log in and actually achieve something in so short a time-frame. The problem with that is if you have seven hours to play your doing much the same thing in the seventh hour as you were the first. And then three months in of doing the same hour of gameplay, well, that’s the itch.
Due to the increasing costs of game development (guessing) and the time-frame required to release a finished product, we’re seeing games release with less and less content and features excluded, with the promise of seeing X feature in an expansion. Add to that the fact that we are seeing more and more MMOs. The awe-inspiring feeling you got when you logged into your first MMO, a big living world with 100’s of real people running around, it’s a pretty common sight now.
Tabula Rasa, Pirates of the Burning Sea, and Age of Conan are three games (out of five) that I played last year which fell short of the mark. All of them could’ve been better and could’ve offered more. The two other games I tried that still manage to hold my interest are Vanguard and Warhammer. Vanguard is quite a deep and engaging game and it’s the game I use as my ‘alt’ game. Warhammer I have a vested interest in because I’ve started a guild there. Is Warhammer everything I’d hoped it would be? Not by a long shot. Have I felt the itch to leave it? Yes, yes I have. I won’t however, because I do like the game. And I reassure myself that many of the things I’d like to see will find their way into an expansion. But most of all because I like my guild-mates, very much. And I enjoy just playing with them.
I still itch for that be-all end-all MMO. Will it ever find its way to my PC?
Pants, dresses, and my next class »
Comments
Comment from Kyrana
Time: January 10, 2009, 2:47 pm
Somebody just advised me recently: when it stops being fun, it’s time to do something else or take a break. 
I like WAR. I don’t like everything about it, but as it stands, it’s the most entertaining game I’ve played in some time. More games will come, but I’ve resigned myself to extremely low expectations so I won’t be disappointed. I don’t think it’s always possible to re-capture that “wow” feeling that we had when we played our first MMO. I’m just going to keep playing til it’s not fun anymore, then I’ll re-evaluate. But right now, I love my guild. *shrugs*
Comment from Ainilome
Time: January 11, 2009, 5:15 am
If it weren’t for Arha Khaladh Varian and I both would have quit a month or more ago. It is a fun game but I think it’s something that will be a whole lot better six months or a year from now. But we are currently loving the heck out of the setting and our guild. So we stay.
I don’t think any game can ever compare to your first one. It’s just pure magic. Ahh… FFXI …
There’s several MMOs I’m looking forward to and one I’m fantatically excited about (Aion and Chronicles of the Spellborn for the former, SW:Old Republic for the latter) but I don’t expect them to be the be all end all. I learned my lesson with that with Vangaurd 
That game broke my heart when it launched because I allowed myself to get wrapped up in the hype.
I actually have a … four MMO habit going now. But I have a soft spot for silly Asian F2P games. They fill the spot when I’m bored with WAR or when nothing is going on nicely. My problem with duel games is that I can never manage to RP more than one character a time. Thus, why poor Sevren has been sitting unplayed for so long.
Comment from caliga
Time: January 11, 2009, 5:37 am
Aion is a game that I’m looking forward to trying. Though I won’t play it at release like many other games I’ve tried lately. I’ll hold off a little while and see what the blogosphere thinks of it first. Though chances are I won’t be able to hold off.
Unfortunately I don’t have time to play more than one MMO with any seriousness, I wish I could spend more time in VG and maybe even try something new, but time just won’t allow it.
caliga
Comment from JoBildo
Time: January 10, 2009, 12:57 pm
It’s totally natural to feel that way. At the risk of sounding like Doctor Phil, we’re not meant to play one game only for the rest of our lives. That’s just silly. They’re made to be enjoyed and there are so many to enjoy. I just recently took on a two-game habit, and it’s working for me. I’d suggest you continue to do so and simply play what you enjoy.