Mankirks Wife
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Posted - 2008.09.02 13:44:00 -
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Well, while we're here in extended downtime I'd just like to say thanks to CCP for creating what is, thus far, to me anyway, the only MMO to really recreate the feel of the old table pen-and-paper RPGs.
A long time ago, when computer gaming was in its infancy and real-time 3D graphics were a pipe dream, I played D&D, Traveler, and Rifts (not all at the same time, mind you), but, as often happens in small towns, eventually everyone in my old gaming group, including myself, moved away. When I finally got internet access I did find some games that I had a lot of fun with that were, in many ways, precursors to the modern MMO genre - games like Subspace, Tanaris, and Underlight. All forgotten gems that I wasted much time playing.
Somehow I missed the original EQ (had I discovered I doubtlessly would have become an Evercrack zombie, so I guess it's a good thing), but I did play Dark Age of Camelot, and later World of Warcraft very extensively. But in the end neither could hold my attention - it just seemed too contrived - you didn't feel like you were in a virtual world battling the hordes of evil - well I suppose it did at first but in the end it felt more like running on a treadmill, chasing a carrot that was always dangling just out of reach.
Especially with World of Warcraft (which I played much more than DAoC). In the original WoW I raided lots and lots and lots (and lots) - I was one of those people that was simultaneously admired (for having conquered content that made ordinary mortals quake in their boots and having the purples to prove it) and loathed (for sacrificing any kind of life outside of WoW to achieve said feats). But when Burning Crusade came out I had a moment of realization as I started raiding again that I was never going to 'beat the game' and what kind of a virtual world was it anyway when your whole story had already been scripted out by the devs? It felt like I'd been riding the GM railroad for far too long and it was time to get off.
So I did, and eventually found my way to Eve. Here, at last, was a game that was truly open - it was like going from a GM that could tell a fancy story but never let you off the rails to one that might be a little quiet when it comes to guidance but was perfectly willing to let you wander off and do whatever. I especially liked the skill system, which was familiar enough to get a handle on quickly - Traveler's is very similar - and I felt truly allowed me to be anything I wanted to within the game. And Eve doesn't treat you like you're anyone special either - there's no pretense, you're a small fish in a big ocean, and if you want to be a big fish that's totally on you. And like any good p&p game the GM might have an idea of what the story should be, but the players are the ones who actually write it.
So thanks CCP for making a truly great game, one that I hope lasts many years to come. I can only hope your World of Darkness MMO follows in the same vein.
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