05-28-2009, 09:43 AM
Something else I've been pondering...
If I could create my own MMORPG, would I make a "wargame" or a "living world"?
Wargame:
The only thing to do in a wargame is fight other players (or player owned NPCs, like guards) for control of resources (bases, land, gold, whatever). Planetside and World War 2 Online are wargames. Basically every FPS in the world could be called a non-MMO wargame. EVE and POTBS have wargame elements but are not pure wargames due to all the non-war related PvE.
Living World:
A living world would be like a wargame where NPC factions are the driving force in the war and they battle each other for control of territory and resources with or without player help. For example, suppose Planetside bases were populated with NPCs which would form up into groups and go out to attack enemy bases, with or without player presence. Players would have strong influence over these wars but it's not entirely up to them -- they are participants in a living world.
Wargame advantages --
Easier to create. Players are in complete control of the war.
Living World advantages --
More immersive. There's always stuff going on, even at 4am on a Tuesday. Keeps wars from "bogging down" as players decide it's safer not to attack each other (see EVE, POTBS) -- NPCs drive the momentum.
In either case you have a setting where teams are fighting each other for control of resources, but it's a question of who should drive the momentum: players or the game itself.
If I could create my own MMORPG, would I make a "wargame" or a "living world"?
Wargame:
The only thing to do in a wargame is fight other players (or player owned NPCs, like guards) for control of resources (bases, land, gold, whatever). Planetside and World War 2 Online are wargames. Basically every FPS in the world could be called a non-MMO wargame. EVE and POTBS have wargame elements but are not pure wargames due to all the non-war related PvE.
Living World:
A living world would be like a wargame where NPC factions are the driving force in the war and they battle each other for control of territory and resources with or without player help. For example, suppose Planetside bases were populated with NPCs which would form up into groups and go out to attack enemy bases, with or without player presence. Players would have strong influence over these wars but it's not entirely up to them -- they are participants in a living world.
Wargame advantages --
Easier to create. Players are in complete control of the war.
Living World advantages --
More immersive. There's always stuff going on, even at 4am on a Tuesday. Keeps wars from "bogging down" as players decide it's safer not to attack each other (see EVE, POTBS) -- NPCs drive the momentum.
In either case you have a setting where teams are fighting each other for control of resources, but it's a question of who should drive the momentum: players or the game itself.