MMOs: Solace in a Troubled Economy?
Massively multiplayer games are inexpensive entertainment. You can get dozens or even hundreds of hours of fun out of just $15 a month. In a time like this, when the economy is struggling and people are trying to regain their monetary footing, do you expect people to start seeking entertainment in MMOs more than ever? Every time I’ve been strapped for cash in the past, I’ve sought solace in an MMO. Have you given up more expensive entertainment habits like going to the movies in favor of playing a new (or old) massively multiplayer game?
I seek solace in MMO’s even when I’m not strapped for cash. I doubt that I’ll increase my MMO habit by going after any new games, none of the ones I haven’t played are appealing. Age of Conan still looks problematic and Warhammer has no appeal whatsoever. Pirates of the Burning Sea? yech. Besides my wife will never play with me in a PvP game of any kind. Matrix Online?
Go back to an oldie? Not too likely. Done Asheron’s Call 3 times, Everquest twice, Planetside twice, and I’m on my second round of EQ2 now. WoW makes my eyes scream. I prefer recreational root canals to EVE, City of Heroes didn’t last a week. Star Wars Galaxies? Yeah right. I left LOTRO to come back to EQ2 and my nerdrage hasn’t subsided yet.
Maybe I’ll try a free-to-play import.
I definitely play MMO or video games in general to save money. I’ve even explained the concept to my wife and she buys it. She loves to read. So…while she’s reading…I play whatever. We could easily go out every night of the week, but playing a good MMO does definitely help on the cash front.
[...] was surfing some blogs this morning and found that Blackguard over at Nerfbat beat me to a topic I’ve been thinking about lately. Will massive multi-player online games do well in a [...]
I’ve moved towards games like Rock Band, LittleBigPlanet, Neverwinter Nights 2 and good ole RPGs that have long hours.
I’ve stayed away from MMOs for one reason and one reason only: I sit at a desk all day at work, when I come home I want to enjoy my entertainment in a comfortable sofa or chair using my 42″ TV. Sure, I could move my PC, hook it up to my TV, and use a wireless keyboard and mouse, but my wife would kill me for turning our living room TV into a computer, let alone the very recognizable PC box.
Perhaps if a worthwhile MMO comes out for the PS3 (I’d say Xbox 360, but I’m out of space and won’t be upgrading anytime soon) I’ll continue my MMO gaming career, but that also means kind of relying on SOE to provide something that actually does something new. I like EQ2, but I’m craving something really new and not the same old stuff.
Depends on the amount of time one plays games. I for one would rather pay $30 for a single game that i can play with friends and family or on my own and get months, if not years, of enjoyment out of the one game. However I play for maybe an hour at a time, and not multiple times a day.
That particular model seems like a better direction to me, single pay, multi-player games with massive replay value. Be it social or solo, the replay value of a small game seems better to me financially.
It cost more than $15. You have the initial cost of said game, possible computer upgrades, internet service. With that said it might be hard for many people to start a new MMO in this economy.