MMeOw is currently down for the count, but please visit the LOTRO Combo Blog. It aggregates content from some of the best LOTRO-related blogs and podcasts on the net.
I’m taking a quick break from writing about Barriers to MMO Entry to discuss some recent developments related to the MMO world which you might have heard about.
Those who check gaming news sources regularly will have noticed that Blizzard is planning on releasing an expansion which seeks to completely revamp certain aspects of the lore to lure back gamers into the tender embrace of the behemoth, not only by introducing a cataclysm into the old world Azeroth, but by infusing the different races with new classes to adapt to the cataclysm that is about to envelop World of Warcraft.
What does this have to do with MMOs in general and Lord of the Rings Online in particular? Well, looking at the announcement from a critical point of view, it seems to all boil down to what gamers want as opposed to what gamers value in the game they’re playing.
MMeOw is currently down for the count, but please visit the LOTRO Combo Blog. It aggregates content from some of the best LOTRO-related blogs and podcasts on the net.
Ragnarok Online Philippines Open Beta, Personal Screenshot of 9÷21÷2003
Now that we’ve moved on from account creation and account management as a barrier to entry in MMOs, it’s time we talk about another important barrier to entry: the game mechanics surrounding the MMO you’re playing or trying out.
As a term, “game mechanics” has certain connotations, so let’s define the term for use in this article. In this particular article, “game mechanics” shall refer to both internal (in-game) and external (relating to the game) aspects of MMO that a player can perceive and possibly use but not directly influence or change.
One common factor among MMO enthusiasts is that each has his own set of needs and expectations when it comes to playing a game. Because they are needs and expectations, satisfaction from the player can be derived when those needs and expectations are met through either research of the game in question or actual play. These needs and expectations also change through time, sometimes necessitating either an internal change from the player or an external change in the type of game played.
What am I talking about? Let’s take a look at the game mechanics of a couple of MMOs I’ve been through and how they relate to player needs and expectations for further insight.
MMeOw is currently down for the count, but please visit the LOTRO Combo Blog. It aggregates content from some of the best LOTRO-related blogs and podcasts on the net.
Taken from Wikimedia Commons; Author: Laslo Varga
Recent events and developments have impressed upon me the need to write about something that isn’t normally talked about when it comes to MMO games. That is, defining some barriers to entry in the MMO world.
This is the first in a short series of articles that aims to discuss certain aspects of MMOs that would, unfortunately, keep people from being a part of that game they want to be in or make them want to leave after a short while.
The first barrier to entry in an MMO must certainly come not from the game itself, but from the means by which one enters the game they wish to play. That is, the account management and subscription page, or its equivalent.
Basically, I see two potential barriers to entry here: one is when you can’t sign up for or subscribe to the game you want to play, and the other is when you have to jump through technical hoops to make the system work for you in the first place. Essentially, when one is unable to create even a trial account for a game, or is unable to subscribe to it, that places undue stress on the person who wants to play.
MMeOw is currently down for the count, but please visit the LOTRO Combo Blog. It aggregates content from some of the best LOTRO-related blogs and podcasts on the net.
I’m Victor, one of the new recruits here at MMeOw and also a newcomer to the world of Lord of the Rings Online. In order for MMeOw to further serve and entertain the MMO/LotRO community, I’ve been asked to come aboard and write articles pertaining to LotRO and MMORPGs.
Why should you read my stuff? Well, along with being an avid gamer, I also used to write professionally for a video game news website and loved the experience of writing about my favorite pastime. I recently got involved with LotRO on a whim, and that whim turned into something short of complete obsession with trying to play the game. I tried it for 10 days, loved what I saw, and basically fought, hunted, and begged my way back into Middle Earth.
One last thing before I go: in addition to writing for MMeOw, I have a blog of games and geekery that I’m trying to update regularly. MMO articles I’ve written there may pop up here (in fact, my first piece will come from something over there) and vice versa, with adaptations to compensate for the difference in content between the two sites. Don’t be alarmed if you see a MMeOw post written by myself on that other blog.
Expect Tony to give a proper update when he’s assembled all the writers. In the meantime, feel free to read through our previous articles since the downtime is expected to happen really soon. Safe travels!
