Gaming Is A Vicious Cycle
I re-installed Conqueronline a few months back and have been logging in at least twice a week to check on my characters. What I’m shocked with are the changes. To clarify, I retired a year back and uninstalled the game from my lap top after playing the game for 5 years. I’m one of the first generation gamers in that server and my characters were godly (or at least above average) at the point when I retired.
Returning to the game is nostalgic. Save for one or two non-retired guild mates, I know absolutely no one else and there were so many changes that I felt lost. But after some adjustments, I realize that despite the changes, the fundamentals remain the same. Now what do I mean by this? The game still runs on a “reward system” though it is more difficult to achieve those rewards now. Basically, I identified the 3 rewards to be the below.
Level – I retired my character at level 130 and it was the maximum level once upon a time. However, now the maximum level has been pushed to 135 or is the maximum level currently 137 now? When characters are higher in level, they are more powerful, can wield more powerful weapons and new abilities are unlocked.
Money – As we know, money is a very important element be it real life or in-game. Some players aim to be the richest and there is no limitation as to how much money one should have. The best situation? The more the better as no gamer would complain that he has too much money to spare.
Items -There are those rarity 99 items in-game that suck the life and time of a gamer in his quest for the ultimate set of equipment. There is actually no end to making the best equipment – upgrading, composing, leveling the equipments, buying, selling, etc.
Any of the above 3 is enough to keep one glued to a RPG or MMORPG for some time but gaming is not all about the “reward system”, personal aims and goals should be taken into account too.
Beat the game – With the intention of trying to achieve something like completing the game or defeating the final boss as examples, players will push themselves to game till the very end. Such examples include Super Mario where it’s a stage by stage basis or any of the Final Fantasy series where there is a final boss at the end of each series.
Beat the people – Here, gamers will try to beat the opposing team or player into submission. Genres that encourage competition would be FPS or 1 vs 1. Examples of such games would be Marvel vs Capcom, Counter Strike and team based lan games like Warcraft III.
Beat the gamer – The gamers personally challenge himself/herself to do the impossible (like completing Pokemon Yellow in 3 hours or pk-ing 1000 characters in a day to enter the top pk-ers board).
When I retired in Conqueronline, I knew that there was no end regardless of how long I game. I grew bored of my repetitive actions – train, level up, hunt for money and upgrade equipments. But then I returned to Conqueronline and I’m doing exactly what I have been doing before I retired (train, level up, hunt for money and upgrade equipments).
This time my revived interest did not last long though. I’m about to uninstall and disappear from the Conqueronline world once again because I’m really sick of the game. Ironically, though Conqueronline is history, I’m captivated by a 2D game like Pet Society. It has simpler graphics with easier game play that even kids can master. However, the “reward system”, not forgetting my personal aim of decorating my house, is still there.
Concluding, what I feel is that the “reward system” and “personal aims” are present in every game though they’re presented differently. Not convinced? Check out the below!
They are all the same nowadays, gaming becomes business. It really is sad that little passion is actually shown in the efforts leading up to making a game. Everyone runs on deadlines, goes for graphics, and leisure becomes a true business. Where can we find true games anymore?
That being said, like you, I retired for more than a year from GE and then went back. The game may be shit and I may be doing almost exactly the same thing, but there are some informal changes, particularly in the economy and society, that allows me to have a better time than when I first started out. Still, I returned mainly for the faction raids, quests and team missions that I had lots of fun with friends or known players. That is perhaps the most important thing I want to do in this return to GE, and I am playing it rather casually right now.
Care to join me? ;)
Panther´s last blog post..Forums & Blogs – My Take
I never took a liking to Online Games especially MMORPGS.
I prefer to stick by myself and dont wanna ask all 10 minutes for someones help for Quest X. Ive played a very short time Everquest 2 on my Brothers account but stopped at Level 30.The whole experience became so competetive that it isnt something to relax anymore and feels more like a task than a game.
I like to play against(with) people sitting next to me at my own pace and dont wanna be bound by X rules to be successful
I wanna enjoy my games and not be stressed by it
Blowfish´s last blog post..Bikini Idol Iori
@Panther
Speaking of informal changes, I noticed that a truckload of my enemies have disappeared from the face of the game and that made me happy for a moment before I made new enemies. Another informal motivating factor would be my in-game friends. My characters are actually standing around doing nothing while I chat and catch up with in-game buddies who are still active in CO after all this years. For a worthwhile gaming experience, the gamers matter too and I’m glad that I have good company in-game.
Ah GE…I have seen some of my friends played it before and I heard that it changed from FTP to PTP, and then back to free status. Sorry Panther, I’m now a little held up with my assignments so I won’t be able to game with ya anytime soon. I’ll probably be able to join in end May or start June but that is if you’re still playing GE. (:
@Blowfish
It’s competitive especially when the game just started or when a new server of a game starts. There are characters who are online 24 hours because they want to enter the top boards. I know of some who adopt a multiple player strategy where many gamers share a character only to take turns to level the character in the shortest time possible. Scary right? :X
Depending on how you view it, there are few “no stress” games because you have the intent of winning in any game and you’ll try to push yourself towards winning. Those games with low degree of stress are perhaps those where you interact more with the other players like “Truth or Dare” (assuming that you won’t be stressed out by those questions that is). (:
Im one of those guys thats happy with beeing mediocre.No need to boost my ego by beeing the best.Its true that alot of people try to achieve something via the net tough.I think they should put that energy into something useful.Its sometimes crazy what those people are doing.
Playing Truth or Dare via the Internet?Wheres the fun? ^_^
Im not afraid of any questions! Believe it or not im as pure as the virgin mary.
No Drugs,No Sex,No Alcohol,No Smoking…just those Otaku Habits might come and haunt me
Blowfish´s last blog post..The Japanese Garden
Reinstalling syndrome. Been there reinstalled that. Purely out of nostalgia’s sake though.