Azphelumbra.
I’m a bit confused. Perhaps the community here, full of intelligent and critically thinking individuals, could shed some light on my misunderstanding, and part the clouds of ignorance from my mind.
Why is increasing experience gained necessary? Why is the player base of Aion in the US so strongly focused on having an easier route to level 50 that the developers are now planning to increase experience gained in all aspects of the game?
In my MMO experiences, I’ve noticed an overwhelming, controlling drive to maximize level and attain the highest status in a game. This observation has led me to wonder why so many people rush to max level, when there is plenty of game to enjoy from base level to max. It is my experience that upon reaching the highest levels, many players become bored with a supposed lack of content and either start alts or quit playing (and probably go back to WoW, which indefinitely raises the max level to the point of irrelevance). Now, I do want to be 50 because I gain access to the best skills, the l33test gear, and the most opportunity for universal success in Aion’s world. But what I don’t understand is why US players demand that getting there be easier and faster. Has American laziness pervaded even the never-that-challenging world of MMOs? Has the immature sense of entitlement that many Americans have led us to demand access to the best, highest level content that games have to offer in the shortest time possible? How is is that this is such a universal demand that game developers fold to these demands?
I’ve talked to many people, some more interesting than others, while playing MMOs, and have come across many individuals who never seem content with where they are in the progression of these games. They are never happy with the weapon they have, the armor they have, the level cap, or the content of a game. They get so bent out of shape over their fake characters with their fake inventories that emotions flare as if these were real life problems. And the only way to address these problems is to complain loud enough to the gods (developers) of these universes to force changes. Otherwise these players quit, ignore the merits of a game, and find another MMO to complain about.
Before you ruffle feathers because of my queries, I will freely admit that I have no level 50 characters. My highest level character is level 46, so I have not yet experienced the final stages of leveling. Yet many people who dedicate more time to leveling and playing Aion are level 50, and the game hasn’t yet been out for a year in the US. This tells me that getting to 50 is not impossible; it is just something that takes time.
Through this brief essay I have asked many questions, some for merely rhetorical effect, and other posed for want of actual answers. To be clearer in my inquiry, I will pose again the questions for which I am seeking answers.
Why is increasing experience gained such a popular idea for American players?
Why is the max level such a desirable thing that American players demand easier access to it?
Does anyone actually enjoy playing these games, or are people just seeking the next piece of uber gear or the max level indefinitely?
I have carefully worded this thread in order to ward off potential flamers and immature respondents. Alas, these people will no doubt end up responding without reading anything and if it is within my power I will delete such posts for the sake of a real conversation.
I look forward to your responses.
Recent Comments