Originally by: Maharlika

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Originally by: Sorja

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Each and every member of each and every game design team should commit this passage irrevocably to memory. Quite possibly the most lucid and thought provoking thing I've read all day, and sadly it reminds me of my own thoughts on the demise of WOW as an enjoyable game; having just taken up the hobby of Eve I can only hope that a similar fate does not await this game.

Of course Eve hasn't sunk to point of offering each new step forwards in the arms race as a number (Tier 5,6,7, etc).

Somehow game designers forget in their search for the next biggerbetterfastermorezomgpewpew item that the name of the MMO game is and always will be, SUSTAINABILITY, no matter what the seeker of more powerful items will tell you. At least in Eve your zomgpewpew crap can get blown up and your nearly invincible person can be podded into space vapor. That alone gives me hope.

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This problem has a name (mudflation) that indicates how old it is. The problem isn't dumb game designers. The problem is that all games have something of a natural life span. Games change over time because the player base changes over time. The players become more skilled (both in real terms and in game terms), more wealthy/well-equipped and they also need new challenges or they get bored. As new challenges are introduced, new loot needs to be created as rewards. Level caps go up, new uber-l3wtz are created, and the old content gets easier and easier... and the game eventually dies as the fundamental mechanics get stretched to the breaking point. If the game isn't updated in this fashion, then the game dies because folks get bored with doing the same old thing.

Either way, the game dies.

The real question is how long can this death be put off. I think Eve is well placed in this regard. In this game bigger is not neceesarily "better". Sure, Titans and Carriers and POSes are now getting more and more common... but the lowly interdictor can turn a battle like in the recent death of a Titan. Unlike a game like WoW where "higher level/higher equip" > "lower level/lower equip", this game relies a lot on tactics and coordination. In general, I agree with that Eve designers need to be VERY careful with introducing new, more powerful ships; but I also realize that this game will have a natural lifespan and will eventually become so broken as to not really be fun any more. Perhaps that could be solved by something as simple as making a new "universe" to play in....

my 2isk

MM