Love and Hate: MMORPG Player Interaction

February 25, 2013 by Michael Flusk

Each year, ESPN columnist Matthew Berry writes an article called “love/hate”. In this article he gives opinions on why he loves and hates certain football players that year. This idea although simple, can be applied to the video game world; so that’s exactly what I did. This series aims to break down what we Love and Hate in the MMO gaming world; including aspects like a game’s economy, chat methods, leveling capabilities, and overall player interaction.

There are a multitude of things that can lead to a successful MMORPG. Concurrently, gamers have also expressed a long list of problems that vary from game to game. Being someone who spent a majority of high school hooked to my computer playing Final Fantasy XI, it’s easy to understand what it’s like to be too involved in an MMORPG. When you spend most of your time away from a game thinking about what you will do when you return to the game, it’s is a bit much. This is the reality of MMO style gaming though. If you want to keep up with other players, you need to be dedicated.

Every video game finds a way to tick off even the most loving of fans. Whether it’s a shooter, strategy, or role-playing game it happens to the best of us. So why do we keep playing? Why continue to dedicate our time to such virtual accomplishments? It comes down to whether the love you find throughout the game outbalances all the hate that goes with it. Do you love the game enough to keep up and not quit?

Any experienced MMORPG player will go through gaming turmoil at one point or another. With monthly payments, timely dedication to gameplay, and players constantly vocalizing their opinions about how you experience the game; it’s not surprising why people eventually drift away from their once-favorite online environments. Even with reoccurring moments of rage quitting though, MMORPGs find a way to deliver greatness and bring countless people back to dedicated hours of entertainment. Every cloud has a silver lining.

Today we begin with the lynchpin of MMO gaming; the massive player interaction. There are endless people to interact with when playing your favorite MMORPG. Through these experiences people form some of the strongest bonds, while other times the person you once talked to most end up becoming just another acquaintance over time. It can be sad when an online friend quits a game or finds different methods of gameplay, but in most MMORPGs, all it takes is a look to your left to find someone willing to have a good conversation with you.

MMORPGs give people a way to connect online and build relationships through the same enjoyable experience. The best part is that unlike creepy chat rooms of internet past, most people are there to play the game. It often doesn’t matter the age of the person you meet, you are there to have fun with them and work together through virtual scenarios. In fact, most people won’t ever know who you are, creating an online identity and not just a game character.

Every country, state, neighborhood, and video game society has its share of crazy people you may not want to run into; but it also has individuals that share our morals and interests. Some of the greatest personalities I have ever encountered were through guilds and party systems in MMORPGs. More importantly, those friendships often transcend onto forums or even real life, giving people a way to stay connected even after their run with a game has ended. It’s one of the great qualities currently being built on the MMO Attack Forums!

Whether it’s typing through game chat or hearing each other through Ventrilo, players find a way to connect on similar interests in and out of the game, building amazing relationships across areas of the world that would otherwise never be possible. I love the way MMORPGs form relationships and bring together people of similar interests.

With all the greatness in a massively community, there is bound to be some bad eggs. People can also act pretty horrible when it comes to anonymity. I’m not sure how many times I have heard an argument turn to, “I bet you are just some loser who only plays this game” or “living at your moms house, with no girlfriend” etc, etc. I always wondered what kind of person is most likely to say this reoccurring fallback of insults. Does this happen because anonymity allows people to say it or because it prevents others from defending against it?

People also need to stop telling others how to play the games. The purpose of a video game is to be entertained. Insults and trash talk happen in all forms of online game communication; anyone with Call of Duty headset experience will tell you that. At least with a microphone you have a semblance of who you are speaking with. I guarantee that most MMO gamers would alter their verbiage if forced to communicate through a microphone rather than a chat box. I hate that gamers trash other player’s actions just because they can get away with it.

What do you think about player interaction in MMORPGs though? Do you have any great or horrible experiences that may have been a deciding factor in your return to a game? There are still tons of MMORPG aspects yet to be discussed. Make sure to check back next Monday when I discuss the ups and downs of having community chat functions.