Why I Am Quitting MMORPGs & Playing Single-Player Forever [Archive]

Ammon777

December 18th, 2006, 23:43

WHY I AM QUITTING MMOs & PLAYING SINGLE-PLAYER FOREVERMORE

I have decided NOT to get Vanguard: Saga of Heroes. In fact, I have decided to QUIT all MMOs forever. My reasons: 1) money and my time invested, 2) having to put up with jerks (gankers, griefers, powerlevelers, morons, insulters, jackasses, chinese farmers, bots, cheaters, et cetera). I am NOT a social person, so this new development was bound to happen sooner or later. Unfortunately I wasted 5 years playing MMOs before coming to these conclusions. I just wish I had woke up 4 years ago and stopped playing all MMOs back then. The situation will never improve, in my opinion.

I am a soloer in those games anyway and now I doubt I will ever play MMORPGs ever again. Although they are usually bigger games with larger funding than single-player games, I have found that having so many other players in the gamespace, factors into the actual designs of those games, and very much ruins the gameplay that could have been had if the game was otherwise a single-player game.

I have come to the conclusion, after so many freaken hard-knocks over 5+ years of playing MMORPGs like a slave-grinder, that single-player computer games are much better in the long run, both in the fun-factor and considerably cheaper money-wise.

Instead of paying numerous subscriptions to online games every month (sucking up all my money just to keep playing a few certain games), INSTEAD I can buy two or three BRAND NEW single-player games every freaken month and play ACTUAL FUN GAMES without any ties to personal time restrictions, guild duties, without internet connection worries, and without any risk of being griefed or yelled at (usually with profanity or likewise insulting behavior) by obnoxious players.

If I want to PvP (kill other players) I will simply play a game like Battlefield 2 where I can kill them quickly in an online match without the fuss and time-sink dedication required by an MMORPG. And I can do it without paying an expensive subscription. Yes, I know $15.00 per month might seem cheap, but believe me, if you play more than a single MMO, it adds up. If you play three MMORPGs, you are spending enough to buy a whole single-player game every month! Thats a rip-off, in my opinion. And yes, I know that subscriptions are mandated for world servers and ongoing costs. To me personally, however, it just isnt worth it anymore.

These online MMO games never improve enough to warrant the continual subscription fee, despite patches & expansions; and in addition they force me to socialize with too many idiots, obvious children, and vile people such as griefers, among which are to be found just a few genuinely nice people that do not roleplay their characters at all even though they are nice. So I am paying a subscription to get into contact online with people that generally are rude and entirely self-interested? Uh... Why should I pay for that? I am not going to do that anymore. I HEREBY QUIT MMOs!

Even the nice players arent interested in anything other than advancing to the "glorious mythical endgame," which is supposed to be the darned funnest area of the game and usually is NOT. Sometimes the endgame is "time-played"-determined PvP, or sometimes it is dreadfully gruelling raiding that is not fun. My opinion is that the "glorious endgame" is a popular myth that is perpetuated by game companies that cannot admit that their ENDGAME simply SUCKS since they dont know how to make it any better other than to keep releasing expansions to enable its continuance. If they had a decent endgame in the first place, they wouldnt have to perpetuate the illusion: it wouldve been there in the first place.

Sorry, I am not playing MMOs anymore. And I do not advise any of my friends to do so either.

sincerely, Ammon.

Ammon777

December 18th, 2006, 23:57

Oh forgot to add:

SINGLE PLAYER GAMES, HERE I COME !!!

roqua

December 19th, 2006, 01:43

DON"T DO IT AMMON777!!!! AZEROTH NEEDS YOU!!!!

I also solo MMO's. But I don't have much time to play them. And I've never played more than one at once. What helps me not play MMO's too much is other people in the games, they just take it too seriously. Wow is good because the people can't talk to you after you gank them.

Fenris

December 19th, 2006, 02:35

Now if there only would be good sinlge player games nowadays...

I play WoW simply because I can't find another interesting Game... and from time to time there is interesting role-playing... so once a month or so... (and because my NWN-Group has "upgraded" to WoW and I'm appearantly the only one who is bored of the Endgame-Content),

Corwin

December 19th, 2006, 03:30

Ammon, try Minions of Mirth, you get the best of both worlds!!

Dr. A

December 19th, 2006, 03:51

Playing MMOs, for me, are actually a bit stressful. Because sometimes you have to maintain a quota of levelling up with time factored in.

With single-player RPGs you can play whenever you like and continue from where you left off with no problems whatsover. With MMOs, you have to keep up with your buddies so you do not unbalance the party when you go on raids together :p

Danicek

December 19th, 2006, 06:57

Considering all you feel about MMOs, I'm strongly supporting your decission to quit playing them completely.

magerette

December 19th, 2006, 07:46

Some of the gamer kids at work have tried to talk me into WoW--your post makes me glad I listened to my inner voice--whatever my psychiatrist says.;)

Single player rules. I've played Diablo 2 and taken chars to Guardian with uniques, sets & awesome runeword armor that I never had to pay for, just DL'ed a good muler(no cheats, just lots of Hell Meph runs). God knows how many times I would have been fragged to atoms on the Realms. And best of all, the only rude idiot I have to put up with is myself!

xSamhainx

December 19th, 2006, 07:48

You just need a break, Ammon.

I for one will be very suprised if this is truly the end of your MMO career. I wish you wouldnt have typed all that out. Not that I dont believe youre sincerely bummed, it's just that youre the MMO guru!

Ammon777

December 19th, 2006, 14:38

It's not really that I am bummed out. It is rather that I have come to those conclusions after much experience (over five years) playing MMOs. It isnt an emotional reaction of being bored or frustrated, rather its an intellectual realization of my personal needs as a gamer. So I am pretty sure its the end for me concerning MMOs. I am playing some great single-player games right now and am having an absolute blast (for the first time in years), plus I've planned what to buy next for like the next year (over 24 different games in all genres except MMO)... At this rate, I really doubt I will go back to MMOs, because I have found my true "fun place." I find single-player games just too much fun and satisfying. Of course I will also play the new Battlefield game online a bit, that will meet my needs to frag other players just fine, without the months of preparation that would be required by an MMO, nor the monthly fee requirement. Single-player > MMO. The greatest thing about all this is that I thoroughly enjoy games from every PC genre, not just RPGs. I love deep role-playing games, action RPGs, strategy games of all kinds, action/shooters, adventure games, tactical, simulations, and more. That gives me many, many choices of what I can play.

Currently playing:

-- X3 Reunion 2.0 (freakin awesome space sim game)
-- Star Wars: Empire at War
-- Earth 2160
-- Sacred Underworld (actually called Sacred Gold version)
-- Vampire Bloodlines (omg this game just sucked me in, haha)
-- Elder Scrolls: Oblivion (like... wow!)
-- Battle for Middle-Earth I
-- Etherlords 2
-- Silent Storm
-- Doom 3

Buying/playing soon:

-- Empire Earth II Platinum
-- Call of Duty war chest (1 + expansion + 2)
-- Act of War: Direct Action
-- Caesar IV
-- Space Empires V (make sure to patch)
-- Oblivion: Knights of the Nine (expansion)
-- SW: Empire at War expansion called Forces of Corruption
-- Galactic Civilizations 2: Dread Lords + Dark Avatar
-- Warhammer 40k: Dawn of War Gold + Dark Crusade
-- Warmhammer: Mark of Chaos
-- Gothic III (woohoo! I am excited to play this after it gets patched)
-- Supreme Commander
-- Heroes of Might and Magic V + Hammers of Fate expansion
-- Titan Quest + Immortal Throne expansion
-- Europa Universalis III
-- Battlefield 2142 (will probably play this online)
-- Medieval II: Total War
-- Battle for Middle Earth II + Witch King expansion
-- Company of Heroes
-- Heroes of Annihilated Empires
-- FEAR + Extraction Point expansion
-- Dark Messiah of Might and Magic
-- Hellgate: London
-- UFO Extraterrestrials (similar to X-Com game)
-- Sid Meier's Civilization IV + Warlords expansion
-- Age of Empires III + Warchiefs expansion
-- Hegemonia: Legions of Iron
-- STALKER: Shadows of Chernobyl
-- Fate (RPG)
-- Fable: the Lost Chapters (for PC)
-- BioShock
-- Lord of the Rings: the White Council
-- Disciples III: Renaissance
-- Dragon Age (Bioware)
-- Assassin's Creed
-- Maelstrom (Codemasters)
-- Call of Cthulhu: Destiny's End
-- Silverfall (Action RPG)
-- Two Worlds (RPG)
-- Mage Knight Apocalypse
-- Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars
-- Jade Empire (Special Edition)
-- Legend: Hand of God
-- Call of Cthulu: Dark Corners of the Earth
-- Immortal Cities: Children of the Nile
-- Shattered Union

Woohoo! Its not like my decision is causing me to miss out on anything.

EDIT -- Oh and I will buy Neverwinter Nights 2 when it gets fixed and modules come out.

txa1265

December 19th, 2006, 14:39

I for one will be very suprised if this is truly the end of your MMO career.

Jeff Vogel did one of his articles and say 'if you need to walk away, DO IT'. And it is very true. Personally, I never last beyond the 7 / 10 / 14 day trials, but I do try them out :) Just not my thing ...

Ammon777

December 19th, 2006, 16:41

If anybody knows a good modern single-player game that I missed in my list, please tell. :D

I did play Morrowind & Neverwinter Nights 1 so those are accounted. Also played most major releases like Halflife 2 and Diablo 2. I am mostly interested in current and up-and-coming PC games in any genre if they look good.

Next game I am buying at New Year 2007 will be Space Empires V since it got patched again just today and I kinda like deep 4X space strategy games. :)

txa1265

December 19th, 2006, 16:46

Don't get Mage Knight Apocalypse - it is crap.

Prey is quite nice.

I love the Geneforge / Avernum games, so I recommend those.

Sorcha Ravenlock

December 19th, 2006, 17:48

Now if there only would be good sinlge player games nowadays...

I play WoW simply because I can't find another interesting Game... ,

Yup, that sums up my sentiment. Good Single Players games are hard to find, and are getting shorter and shorter. OB didn't do it for me, which left me high and dry for gaming during the summer, and NWN2 is too buggy for me to class as playable at the moment. So that leave me with playing SP RPGs that I have played to death...

I am looking into MMORPGs at the moment because I hope they'll last me longer then most SP RPG. I'd rather spend £15 a month on a subscription for a good RPG then spending three times that on a crappy SP RPG. ;)

But if you feel differently, then by all means quit ;) in the end we play games, which seems to suggest we are supposed to have fun doing so. If mMORPGs aren't fun for you, there is no use in playing them, is there?

KasperFauerby

December 19th, 2006, 18:09

lostnumber

December 19th, 2006, 18:36

I didn't see it in your list and it looks like you have access to steam based on the games that you want or already have; so I must suggest that you add HL2 episode 1 to your account. It's really short but the content is superb, the world is developed, and the optional commentary is fantastic. I just picked it up again last night to play though with the commentary enabled, let me tell you, nothing makes learning more fun than blasting things with a shotgun. The commentary is a great way to gather a bit in insight into the development process and understand why decisions are made to make a game - in this case hl2 ep1 - as it is.

I could go on but I'll let you see what I mean for yourself; just make sure you play it through once without the commentary enabled. You wouldn’t want the commentary to reveal important story elements or other interesting bits of info you would have enjoyed finding yourself. In addition, you must focus most if not all of your attention on the commentary as it is playing; this will undoubtedly cause to you miss many of the subtle nuances and instances of the gaming world that you would have otherwise noticed and appreciated.

As far as your MMO woes go I say do what you want, personally I wouldn't want to pay a monthly subscription fee to jump online and deal with what you were describing. In addition to that I find that the amount to time online games tend to wrest away from their players can be a bit excessive, i.e. it pisses my girlfriend off. So I say dump your time into something that isn't going to frustrate you while draining your bank account.

Other than that it looks like you list is a nearly exhaustive summation of anything worth playing that is or will soon be available. Just tack on Crysis, HL2 EP2, and www.blackmesasource.com (when it's finished) and you'll be in good SP shape.

Sorcha Ravenlock

December 19th, 2006, 20:24

"NWN2 is too buggy for me to class as playable at the moment"

Hmm, that's funny - I'm almost through the game at this point and has not encountered *one single crash or bug* (that I noticed at least). The only complaint that I have is that it performs quite poorly, considering the graphics that it provides. To call it unplayable seems a bit harsh too me - have you actually tried it?

Yes, I have, made it all the way to Neverwinter, fighting controls, lag and AI all the way.
Lag got improved by the latest patch, but I still find the controls awkward and the AI is terrible (healers that won't heal, companions that stay stuck in hallways, ignore commands, etcetera). Combine that with the fact that my PC is at the lower end of the recommended scale, and I found the game a struggle.
I can see the potential, and I can see the storyline and dialog are great, and so I'd rather wait until the game is patched a bit more, and possibly until I upgraded my PC a bit, then to keep playing and being annoyed. If I wait until another patch or two have been released, the game will be a lot more enjoyable for me :)

Anyway, sorry for going Off Topic...

Ammon777

December 19th, 2006, 22:46

I am waiting for Neverwinter Nights 2 to get patched before I buy it, also.

Cormac

December 20th, 2006, 01:09

Don't get Mage Knight Apocalypse - it is crap.

Then why did you give the game a good review ?

Dr. A

December 20th, 2006, 09:19

txa1265

December 20th, 2006, 11:34

Then why did you give the game a good review ?

I thought I gave it a pretty mediocre review, noting:
This is one of those divisive games that some will love and others will hate—both sides with justification. Once you hit your stride there are long stretches of nice battles and interesting areas, but nothing stands out compared to other games in the genre. Take any fantasy themed game and add some high-tech weapons to the dwarf's arsenal, and there's Mage Knight: Apocalypse. Because it is loosely linked to the Mage Knight universe, there is a special appeal to fans of those games. But the look, feel and gameplay suggest more of a budget release from a fledgling developer than a major release from a big-name publisher.

The big thing for me is that it is *still* $50 at BestBuy and others! For a game that I would say is limited fun and perhaps worth a shot if you're a likely fan - if it cost $20!

Ammon777

December 20th, 2006, 16:40

Ammon777, have you played the Icewind Dale series? It's quite old but I found the story and gameworld very interesting. Also check out Temple Of Elemental Evil (oldie but goodie) but only after patching it with the Co8 mod. That game has more bugs than the Starship Troopers movies.
Yup, I played Icewind Dale 1 and 2 and loved those games. Also played Temple of Elemental Evil, it was pretty good too. I've played all the older games like Baldurs Gate(s), Planescape Torment, and Fallout(s). Thanks for the suggestion though. I'm an experienced gamer, hehe. I am also surprised that Baldurs Gate collection is STILL being sold at most online gamer stores, I find that amazing.

EDIT -- Ive played games since the days of Pool of Radiance and old Ultima.

Ammon777

December 20th, 2006, 16:42

The big thing for me is that it is *still* $50 at BestBuy and others! For a game that I would say is limited fun and perhaps worth a shot if you're a likely fan - if it cost $20!
I probably wont buy it then based on your review. :) There are plenty of other games I'm interested in.

Cormac

December 20th, 2006, 16:56

I thought I gave it a pretty mediocre review

You gave it 3/5. It means that crap is passable to you.

txa1265

December 20th, 2006, 17:27

You gave it 3/5. It means that crap is passable to you.
I gave it 3/5, in that you are correct. Yet your assertion that I gave it a 'good' review has now changed to 'passable', even though you seem bent on taking issue with me on it.

Perhaps in my earlier post instead of saying 'it is crap', I should have said 'it is mediocre and generic and only if you are a true MK fan will you enjoy it much' ... but my main goal was to warn him away from paying $50 for a game that simply isn't worth it.

If that unclear verbage is what seems to be causing you to pick at me in different threads, I hope this clears it up ... otherwise I don't know what your problem it with me.

Jaz

December 20th, 2006, 20:30

only if you are a true MK fanYou nearly got me there, Mike! Only after re-reading the thread I realized that you were talking about Mage Knight... for me, MK will always stand for Mortal Kombat ;).

Cormac

December 20th, 2006, 21:55

I don't know what your problem it with me.

You havent zeroeth in yet ? You should know, really.

txa1265

December 20th, 2006, 21:57

You havent zeroeth in yet ? You should know, really.

Nop ... Clue me in.

Corwin

December 21st, 2006, 03:16

Must be a Canada vs US thing!! :) Let's keep on topic in the off topic forum!! :biggrin:

JemyM

December 21st, 2006, 23:08

This post was just great and I signed off the MMORPG's for good this year. I will never look back.

To me, MMORPG's is a lifethreatening poison that slowly drains you away, both your time and your money. They can be addicting or they can make you feel forced to play a virtual character that do absolutely nothing for your real life. The game itself is often rather crappy and like you say you have not learned what evil humankind is capable of before you play a MMO. It's a real eye opener.

The time spent on MMORPG is better off spicing up your real life. The money spent on them is better spent on games that are actually good and can be finished and put away eventually.

JemyM

December 22nd, 2006, 10:06

I finished Neverwinter Nights 2, loved it and recommend it wholeheartily. I had two occasions of cutscenes not starting, in both cases I just reloaded an earlier save. That problem was fixed in 1.02. NWN2 is a definite nominee as RPG of the year if not more. Get it, you have no reason to wait for anything.

Delirious Nomad

December 23rd, 2006, 13:37

Corwin

December 23rd, 2006, 14:44

Yeah, we know. Most of us played it months ago!!

Bartacus

December 23rd, 2006, 16:44

Didn't finish it yet, but I recommend BfME2. I play very few games, but this one comes before Oblivion, AoE3 and that new Tomb Raider. Since you're playing number one right now, you'll like nr 2 more

Ammon777

December 23rd, 2006, 17:00

Ya I am planning on buying Battle for Middle Earth 2 + Witch King soon. I wanna play the first one first, hehe.

Ammon777

December 23rd, 2006, 17:01

Enough of all the MMORPG Kindergarten experience ? Wanna play a turn based non linear space RPG with realtime planetary missions, old school text adventuring, ship upgrading....

...the answer is: Space Rangers 2 (the package with SR1 included)

I will look into it, thanks.

Gorath

December 23rd, 2006, 19:05

Ya I am planning on buying Battle for Middle Earth 2 + Witch King soon. I wanna play the first one first, hehe.

But isn´t everyone saying that the LotR license is the only thing saving the BfME games from mediocrity?

xSamhainx

December 23rd, 2006, 22:29

BFME I is a great game IMHO (and most reviews tend to agree), most people tend to prefer it over part II, that's what I tend to see in reactions from the community on forums regarding the "inevitable Part I vs Part II" discussions. Plus, as soon as II hit, it dropped to like 15-20 bucks

My only gripe with BFME is that it sorta runs against my style of play. I commonly play RTS with the goal of not losing, or losing very few units. In BFME, to "level up" your structures and therefore the units they produce, you need to keep them busy cranking out units. Which means, you have to basically kamikaze units, which took some getting used to for me

"The War of the Ring" is the LOTR RTS universally slammed, as far as I know. I kinda like it, grabbed it for like 7 bucks outta the bargain bin, like a LOTR total conversion for WCIII. A little too cartoony for LOTR subject matter, and lackluster gameplay, tho stomping around with the Balrog is pretty cool

Acleacius

December 24th, 2006, 12:19

Ammon777 which mmog did you spend the most time in?

I was thinking of tryin EQ2 again for a couple of months, becasue I have been playing single player games 95% of my gaming.
Now single player games are just rushed how incomplete to meet deadlines and are to total nightmare to get through and your lucky your waiting till games get patched before you try them.

Bloodlines, Sith Lords, Oblivion, G3, NWN2 and DM they were all nightmares and I wasted some much time restarting characters, tweaking ini file. rebooting from crashes and hard locks.

I too really like to solo and while I don't have nearly 5 years of mmogs more like 6 months 8 tops and I have never played PvP.
For me the grind if fun the first time but then as you mentioned once you start getting involved with guilds you have responablities which eat away at your freedom and pleasure if you like solo.
Guilds could be fun if your in the mindset for that but for me I never was really happy unless I was building my toon for the first time.

Sounds like you have alot of single player games to catch up on. :)

Oh on Bloodlines I hope you are using the Unoffical patch, makes a big dfference.

JemyM

December 27th, 2006, 02:03

Ammon777

December 27th, 2006, 02:54

I played World of Warcraft the most.

Delirious Nomad

December 28th, 2006, 14:49

I had a look at Space Rangers 2, but it looks alot like a blend between ELITE and StarCraft. Are there any RPG in it at all?

I guess you are thinking Starcraft because of the real time missions, but one of many great features of the game is, you are not forced to do the most stuff, so if you don't like the real time battles, skip'em, if you find the text adventuring too hard, skip it.
RPG ? Yes, you are gaining xp usable for 6 skills like leadership (get more wingmen)
or maintenance (cheaper ship repairs) or higher weapon efficiency...

Taxen0

January 8th, 2007, 17:42

maybe you should try "Warhammer: Mark of Chaos" its a quite cool game but it could use like a ton of new maps. hopefully a mapeditor will be released soon.

Ammon777

February 22nd, 2008, 09:33

oops, EDIT ---

Okey today someone at GDC (game developers conference) asked someone else about Darkfall and they said Darkfall is very likely not coming out this year 2008 and is most very likely coming out in 2009. This information is pretty reliable.

GOD DAMNIT !!!

I have waited SEVEN YEARS for a damned Darkfall game to play and the freaken game doesnt come out for another year and a half, PISSES ME OFF. And I dont even know if its a good freaken game or not? They only hired 30-40 developers on it, why cant they hire more to get it done? WHAT THE HELL! THIS IS THE LAST STRAW.

I am FINISHED with MMOs, good riddance. DAMNIT.

I have been waiting TOO LONG for Darkfall. Seven years is TOO LONG playing other MMOs waiting for an MMO that might or might not be decent. SCREW IT! IM GONNA PLAY SINGLE PLAYER !!! I miss out on so many good games just waiting for one damn game that 1) might be cancelled, 2) developers dont care about community and they hardly ever give us information about the actual game, 3) probably will NEVER be the game I want it to be because of all the damn years of waiting in high expectation for my dream game always with the uncertainty of disappointment.

ITS NOT WORTH IT! TO HELL WITH IT!

IM PLAYING SINGLE PLAYER AND YOU CANT STOP ME !!!

:)

Gorath

February 22nd, 2008, 14:00

Maybe you slightly misunderstood the "don´t tell anybody" part. ;) Don´t you think you should phrase it in a way that it´s not so easy for an informed party to identify the source?

Ammon777

February 22nd, 2008, 14:20

Oh crap! Thanks Gorath, I editted it.

Alrik Fassbauer

February 22nd, 2008, 14:21

Gorath, maybe you should edit your post now, too ?

Gorath

February 22nd, 2008, 14:30

Why? I´m not revealing anything. ;)

Alrik Fassbauer

February 22nd, 2008, 14:38

Well, I thought about a tiny word ...

txa1265

February 22nd, 2008, 14:47

I feel for you Ammon ... this long roller-coaster ride isn't a great time ...

Gorath

February 22nd, 2008, 15:51

Well, I thought about the tiny word [...] ...
Right, I edited that. What about you? :lol:

zakhal

February 22nd, 2008, 15:59

Okey today someone at GDC (game developers conference) asked someone else about Darkfall and they said Darkfall is very likely not coming out this year 2008 and is most very likely coming out in 2009. This information is pretty reliable.
:)

Well now theres a supprize lolz. I still consider myself an idiot for waiting for shadowbane. What a fool I was.

I play each mmog for only 1-2 months now and it works just fine. I dont see why anyone should play a single game for years on. I sure dont. Any game will get boring if you play it that much.

xSamhainx

February 22nd, 2008, 17:32

oh Good Lord of the Tigers....

Bartacus

February 22nd, 2008, 21:27

I dont see why anyone should play a single game for years on. I sure dont. Any game will get boring if you play it that much.

I just gave Gothic 2 + NotR another run, so you have at least one person that plays games for more then 1 year. When I buy a game, it's usualy the intention to finish the game more then one time. I have never finished oblivion, but I finished the BfME 1 and 2 about 4 times each (I do mean the whole game).

Alrik Fassbauer

February 22nd, 2008, 22:18

Right, I edited that. What about you? :lol:

Done ! ;)

Now, where was I ?

txa1265

February 22nd, 2008, 23:36

I just gave Gothic 2 + NotR another run, so you have at least one person that plays games for more then 1 year. When I buy a game, it's usualy the intention to finish the game more then one time. I have never finished oblivion, but I finished the BfME 1 and 2 about 4 times each (I do mean the whole game).

There is a definite difference between finishing a game repeated times and playing *one* game to the exclusion of all else for dozens of hours a week for years.

Ammon777

February 23rd, 2008, 03:38

Ok so just TODAY there was a video released for Darkfall Online. Thats freaking stupid coincidence that the first day after I give up on Darkfall, they release a nice video.

HOWEVER, I have been playing some single-player games last night, I had the time of my life. It was actually fun as hell. I also bookmarked 200 upcoming purchases / releases, almost 200 freaken cool games that are single-player.

So even though Darkfall might come out after all, and even though they had a nice video come out today, I have decided once and for all that I would rather play many, many cool games for months and enjoy my time in them, than to play very few cool MMO games for years. Therefore I really am finished with MMOs.

Its all about having different experiences. Previous to yesterday I was playing 2 games: EVE Online and World of Warcraft. I had been playing those two games for MONTHS... No wait, I have actually played WoW (and little else) for almost THREE YEARS now. And actually I was having days that I enjoyed it, and other days it was getting old, drab, boring, and I would just drive myself to do it hoping to get to the part where it would be fun (namely, the PvP endgame).

Now I am playing Titan Quest, Oblivion, X3 Reunion 3.0, Galactic Civilizations 2, GTA San Andreas, Children of the Nile, Boiling Point ----- ALL varied, different and FUN AWESOME experiences! And I am just getting started! I have 150 dollars available each and every month to buy single-player games.

So even though a momentous thing happened today: Darkfall released their 2nd video (which is indeed a very nice video, the graphics have improved remarkably) -- even though that happened, I was not deterred this time, I am staying single-player forever. I think my MMO days are over. I only had 1 friend in World of Warcraft and usually I didnt even wanna talk to him. Other players are nice to have around so I dont feel lonely, and they are nice to kill in PvP.... Yes, however, I could just as well play Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare and have fun killing people, without the monthly fee and drudgery forever stuck in 1 game trying to get good enough gear to kill you with.

No thanks. Single-player is my new life now. Goodbye MMO. You are all the same.

Ammon777

February 23rd, 2008, 03:42

Oh and I dont mean to abandon online games. I am intending to play Call of Duty 4 online, and I will play Battlefield 2142 online... but everyone knows those are no the same thing as MMOs... Thanks for reading.

xSamhainx

February 23rd, 2008, 03:48

I believe that we've had this exact conversation before, my friend.

Never say ne'er. Unless you're feeling poetic ='.'=

Ammon777

February 23rd, 2008, 03:54

I know. However, once I get a few RPGs that feel similar to MMO play (action RPGs or any 3-d RPG), I will be single-player for good. And unlike MMOs, single-player RPGs actually have ADVENTURE !!!

xSamhainx

February 23rd, 2008, 04:06

yes, but adventure is only part of the reason that you play games.

magerette

February 23rd, 2008, 06:04

Good luck, Ammon. If you fail at staying a pure single player gamer, I know where you can get a job selling gold for MMOs. ;)

Hope you enjoy Titan Quest. There's a fairly friendly, civilized community at Titanquest.net (http://www.titanquest.net/forums/)--check out the build guides--they're awesome. Make sure you get Immortal Throne so you can get the unlimited stash, the Dream tree, and the Eyeball pet. :)

Ammon777

February 23rd, 2008, 07:13

I am probably not going to get Immortal Throne unfortunately because I like the original game too much and I will sail through it and finish; and I have to buy a new $30 joystick for X3 Reunion 2.0 this coming month, plus I gotta buy Knights of Old Republic 2: Sith Lords, Battle for Middle Earth 2 + Witch King, Act of War: Direct Action, Rome: Total War Gold, and Empire Earth 2 Platinum edition next month before Amazon stops selling them :D

I am buying up all the good old games before they are stopping sale. They are freaken cheap (15-30 bucks) but they are awesome games. I am getting a lot of bundled game deals. I am also gonna buy downloaded games at direct2drive.

I have played Gothic 1, it was very fun. So today I ordered Gothic Universe; it has Gothic 1, Gothic 2, and Gothic 3, it even has Night of the Raven in it !!!

bjon045

February 23rd, 2008, 08:34

Good choice. I haven't played a MMO in over 3 years apart from the occasional FPS round. Best decision I ever made.

The only way I would ever consider playing one again was if I could somehow muster a group of 6-8 real life friends to play with which is highly unlikely.

enodenroH

February 23rd, 2008, 12:22

Ok!

Who wants to bet that our friend Ammon will change his mind once more???

Any bets??!!

Heheheheheh. :devilish: :plotting: :meditate: :excited:

Ammon777

February 23rd, 2008, 12:32

I must admit, it is highly likely I will change my mind again. Given time, sometimes I just wake up in the morning and my mentality is completely changed. I dont know if that part of being human or part of being schizoaffective... (im both)

Ammon777

February 24th, 2008, 12:20

Im playing MMOs again. That lasted, what... a day.

/uber embarrased :blush:

yes, but adventure is only part of the reason that you play games.
/truth!

Bartacus

February 24th, 2008, 20:10

@Ammon777 What game are you playing now? And perhaps more importantly: what's the reason why you changed your opinion again?

xSamhainx

February 25th, 2008, 06:12

because the reality is that he mostly plays them for the social component, and for achievement within that virtual society - no matter how much he despises it at times - it cannot be had in a singleplayer game.

Ammon777

February 25th, 2008, 09:57

World of Warcraft and EVE Online.

Samhain is correct.

Also, I enjoy player versus player in the MMO context a LOT more than anything else.

Its hard for me to put my finger on it precisely, but the new Darkfall video is what helped cause me to change my opinion again. Also I tend to gravitate back to MMOs for some reason. The social component is a HUGE part of it. The gameplay is a huge part of it. The sheer size of the Darkfall world and its design is a huge part. The social dynamics within Darkfall and EVE Online make way for social political spectrum never found in a single-player game. Also the fact that MMOs have vastly more content than single-player games because they are mega-funded games (nowadays the big games cost 50-100 million dollars to build with teams of 100+ people), has a lot to do with it.

txa1265

February 25th, 2008, 14:43

My suggestion - don't deny your gaming love!!

I love PC RPG's and FPS more than anything else, and do also love handhelds - but mainly also the same types of games. I reviewed more than 200 games in 2007, which aside from exhausting me provided focus that I really didn't want to waste hundreds of hours playing games I had no interest in playing.

magerette

February 25th, 2008, 21:08

Yeah, I don't think anything's much more painful than playing a game--supposed to entertainment, fun, etc--because you have to. I used to try to muddle through games that I thought I *should* like, but any more I tend to give up and just play what I find fun.

Reviewers don't have that option, or at least good ones. :)

Enjoy, Ammon. I'd really like to hear how Age of Conan does when it comes out, so hang on at least til then. ;)

Ammon777

February 29th, 2008, 23:32

Thanks, Ive heard some bad things from NDA-breakers that are in Age of Conan beta. But I think I'll reserve just judgement for when I am in AoC beta, myself, because people that break NDAs to spout hatred at a game that is still in a beta state, do get across that they are displeased with the game, but at the same time they are pretty much entirely untrustworthy sources due to being NDA-breakers in the first place, and second place, there are a ton of trolls on the internet for some fucked up reason. Trolls cannot be trusted.

Ammon777

March 19th, 2008, 00:37

Im back playing single-player games after the entire Darkfall community took a giant flamefest onto me for saying that i am schizophrenic. :(

Im never going back. This is the last straw! Darkfall community sucks in their forums and it will suck in the game because the forum community = in-game community.

Sad, really. For them.

Ammon777

March 19th, 2008, 00:39

I am incredibly disappointed. Except in FPS, other players RUIN GAMES.

txa1265

March 19th, 2008, 00:50

All I can say is ...

http://www.bigapplevending.com/50_cent_pictures/bets.jpg

enodenroH

March 19th, 2008, 02:14

Not cool Mike.
Ammon is hurt.
and that's my line. ;)

Ammon : I suggest that you avoid telling people of your mental difficulties.
People love to pick on weaker ones. I know, you know, we all know.
Here, there are more mature users but still, some people might say mean things to you. They cant help themselves. It's the dark side of humans....

Anyway, hope you are well, i read that you went to the hospital lately.
Take care and enjoy life for the positive pleasures it can give you and not for the bad things you think it will give you...

One of these pleasures is, I think, WOW.
I've been playing for something like 5 weeks now, as you know, and haven't been annoyed by flamers yet. I'm on Gilneas server. I play almost every day.

Take care dude! :manhug:

txa1265

March 19th, 2008, 02:30

Not cool Mike.
Ammon is hurt.
and that's my line. ;)

hehe ... I couldn't resist.

And Ammon - you should know the difference! We kid because you are part of our 'family', and we are support of you no matter what. But guess what, conflict and bullying on the internet ... well, no surprise. I would agree with enodenroH on exposing yourself to such an audience, though.

Ammon777

March 19th, 2008, 06:11

Well, uhhhh... I changed my mind again, lol.

I have been *way* too liberal in my honesty. Apart from this place, I will NEVER reveal personal information about my life to anyone on the internet again. You used the word "exposer" yes thats what it is, is exposing myself. I should never do that. Especially over there. Problem is that my mind kinda changes or switches gears every so often and I find it hard to stay consistent WITHIN MYSELF. So sometimes it takes me AGES and ages for me to learn simple things of what to do and not to do.

Yeah i had a temporary moment of weakness... Sometimes DFO forums are a bit much. I dont advise anyone to go there unless you have a vested interest in Darkfall, cuz they are freaken BRUTAL to everyone. I am gonna lay low over there until beta, not talk much there now.

Fortunately from what I have researched, the Darkfall forums will comprise only approx 10% of the playerbase when it releases. 90% will be people who came from WoW and other games, people that dont even watch those forums or register there. Also I think a TON of people will come from FPS games like Counterstrike, Call of Duty Modern Warfare, and Battlefield games. Why is that? well Darkfall supposedly plays like the Battlefield games (says Tasos, a main dev), except in a massive RPG fantasy setting with strategy elements. Its going to attract a load of players from every part of the gamer web.

So I'm back playing World of Warcraft now, LOL.

edit -- Also I drive myself crazy by changing my goals and stuff all the time.

Ammon777

March 19th, 2008, 06:20

Also in WoW if they flame you bad, you can appeal to the mods for harassment and they get actually punished. In Darkfall forums, the mods will flame you as bad as the community. You can say just about anything there, thats why everyone revels in it and makes this "forumfall" game where the rudest people win. You gotta be the rudest you can possibly be over there to "fit" in. I believe that is a consequence of moderators allowing the whole forums to run wild. Its like the wild west of the internet. And it sucks. Im not gonna post there anymore, I will wait for beta to start and then hopefully things will get better. The community there sucks, but I am sure that the forums community will be entirely different than the in-game community, because the latter will be full of more different people than the forums are. Forums there suck. I am glad I have this place to take refuge every once in a while. :)