This week I have been listening to a discussion about MMO mid-game experience on Shut Up We’re Talking, a great podcast covering mmo news from the blogosphere. In episode 17, Darren asked that panel about whether MMO starting experiences are important.
The answer to that is absolutely. But more important than the starter area is the MMO mid-game experience. Let’s face it, we all fly through the starter area. For us experienced mmo players, we know what to do and we do it quickly. But too often developers forget to put the fun into the mmo mid-game experience.
Once you leave the starter area, the grind begins. You have to grind your way through tons of quests and mobs until you can finally play in the cool end game events. Stop this! There needs to be something to really look forward to every five levels. I don’t mean a new ability. I mean something really really important to the MMO story. There needs to be something that is going to change your character. Something that is going to change the way you play the game.
We play these games to be heroes, not to kill rats over and over. Please let us be heroes.
