Last week we looked at where Massively Multiplayer Online games (MMOs) came from and where they may be going. But as millions of people play them, we thought a look at what attracts players to the genre was in order.
On the surface, MMOs appear to be like other video games — good visuals and good sound, based in a fictional environment. But this description does not fully explain the appeal of the MMO genre to some people. After discussing this issue with other MMO players and using my own experiences, there seems to be several reasons why people play these games. These reasons can be categorized as “Being the Best,” “Alter-Egos” and “The Community.”
Being the Best
As humans, we have an innate drive for competition that is visible daily. It encompasses virtually everything we do, from dressing a certain way to winning the lottery. This drive translates into the MMO genre very easily, especially as the game is designed to be multiplayer — everything you do is compared against other players.
Some players want to test their character against other people (called Player vs. Player or PvP). Others want to obtain the best equipment or skills. What many players consider the “best equipment” is usually available only at higher levels in the game, and this a strong incentive for some to continue playing.
Most MMOs use an “experience system,” giving “experience points” for every success which then allows you to improve your character skills or equipment. This “experience system” gives the game longevity, it can take a long time (months in some cases) to rise high enough to be able to compete with other players.
However, therein lays a problem. By design, MMOs are never-ending — there is no way to “win” the game. Thus people are encouraged to keep playing, improving their character and competing against other players.
Alter-Egos
We play games to remove us from our everyday life. This is one of the most basic urges built into humans — if we’re having fun we forget anything adverse that is happening to us.
Many video games place you in a specific role and give very defined limits for what you can and cannot do within the game. Effectively you play a restricted role within the game world, and most of your actions can be anticipated by the game developers.
MMOs, however, allow you to play as someone else without the boundaries that exist in other game genres. Throughout an MMO, you are constantly developing your play style and defining your character’s moral system. There is huge appeal here, as you have complete control over how your character’s behavior is perceived by other players. Some players like to be the “Knight in Shining Armor” or “Defender of the People”, while others prefer the “Evil Mage” or “Criminal Mastermind”.
Societal rules inhibit some innate behavior in humans, and playing an MMO allows people to express those parts of their personality without reprisal. It is at this point that role-playing becomes the purpose of the game, rather than multiplayer or online.
The Community
Perhaps the biggest factor in the popularity of MMOs is the community that exists inside these games.
When you play an MMO, you are constantly interacting with a large number of people who all share the same basic interest as you. But there is still enough variation in personality, play style, opinions and lifestyle to make personal interactions intriguing. Who really is this person that you’re talking to in-game?
MMO game worlds can be incredibly immersive because of this level of personal interaction, so much so that players begin to say “we” when talking about their online friends. Clans or Guilds are formed by players working towards a common goal, and strong friendships can arise from this. Some people play just because they want to talk to their in-game friends.
It seems that, for some people, MMOs are played not just for the enjoyment of playing a game, but because of the level of interaction with other people.
Attraction or Addiction?
When does game playing move into addiction? This is an important question, one that is often asked but is difficult to answer. In this context, addiction refers to playing games to the detriment of other activities and even to the extent of risking health or employment. This article states some of the major reasons why people play MMOs, but it also shows why some people play MMOs to the detriment of other activities.
If players are using the game as an interface or substitute for personal interaction in the real world, there may be an underlying cause. Many players that I have spoken to play for 40+ hours a week and still consider themselves “casual players.” Players must take the personal responsibility of recognizing when their game-playing behavior is moving towards addiction, and take steps to remedy their situation.
The Guildhall at SMU is an intense 18-month certificate program in digital game development. The curriculum was designed by expert teachers working with leaders in the gaming industry to provide students with a solid foundation in game development. Visit http://guildhall.smu.edu.
