MMOs have been around for over a decade now, giving us living and breathing worlds where we are free to interact, play, and compete with millions of people around the world—worlds that gradually evolve as we continue to play and fall in love with its story and gameplay elements.
World of Warcraft, Guild Wars, Final Fantasy 14, Aion, Tera, the list goes on. There was always something for everyone, and regardless of their similar features, each was special in its own way—but what’s next for MMOs? Have we reached the pinnacle of this genre?
When I first played Guild Wars 2, I was surprised by the huge transition of gameplay, from questing and partying up to joining quest spots where you can join the other players in completing a specific task exclusive to that area. It was very exquisite at the time. It was definitely something new, but in the end, after starting another character, the areas that used to be crowded with people to group-quest with became barren.
Was it really the formula needed to help evolve this genre, or was it just a fad? MMOs are supposed to be played with dozens—nay, hundreds and thousands of people, but once everyone hits the endgame content, they either grind their current characters until the next update, or leave for another game (unless the game was that good).
There was also the issue of games losing subscribers, forcing some subscription-based MMOs to go free play and some even shut down. I suppose the question here is: are they just dividing the player base with these new and upcoming games, or are people just tired of the MMO system altogether?
We are currently living in the era of free-to-play MMOs, which means that it’s just as easy to jump into another world or game as it is to get out. You have probably browsed this page’s MMO list already, checking if there’s something else that would get you out of the cycle you are facing in your current game world. I have always been a fan of MMOs, and believe that the genre is definitely far from its pinnacle. There’s more to evolution that just better graphics after all.
Below is a list of features that upcoming or current features that I believe will help shape the future of this genre.
Tired of scripted AI and ‘tank and spank’? I’m not, but this one is quite interesting. EverQuest Next’s new AI will not only attack you in groups, but will read and adapt to how you play. Director of Development Dave Georgeson stated that some monsters will require a different approach as they will continuously adapt to how you play and react accordingly.
According to Forbes.com’s recent interview with Georgeson, you will also be able to mix and match character abilities. The player will also not be limited to just range, melee or spells, so the read and adapt mechanics can go both ways.
I honestly think that a smarter AI would add more depth to any MMO, as it would detail the level of immersion more for players. Combat is a very big element in almost every MMO, and an added difficulty will not only make the adventure feel more genuine, it will also encourage players to experiment more and discover other character formulas for their existing toons.
Made famous by Rift and Guildwars 2; Final Fantasy 14: A Realm Reborn also sports public quest events that let you pair up with other people in your immediate area to accomplish certain tasks. It wasn’t as diverse as Guild Wars 2’s during the first few stages, but I believe that this should be implemented in future titles to help make the adventure more dynamic.
The problem I had with Guild Wars 2 revolves around the exclusion of solo quests, save for the story. While Fates or dynamic events are a good addition to MMOs, it would be nice to have them as an add-on to your current adventure. It always pays to take a break from solo questing, especially with the gratuitous amount rewards and experience that come with it.
It’s also adds up to the diversity of progression, allowing players to pick how and where they want to level their characters.
I have to admit that I really loved this system. Not everyone has the time to make another toon, so this feature comes in handy). FFXIVARR allows players to change classes on the fly, but with a catch. You will have to level that job starting from level one.
So how does it differ with just creating another character? First of all, all your current money making professions are just a job-switch away. That totally beats having to log out just to send money to your alt. Secondly, you can progress in different ways, and your character will be able to adapt to different environments. Need more DPS for that FATE? Just switch to a DPS class that you’ve levelled. I’m aware that some players prefer having a list of characters to choose from, but it’s a welcomed option.
Another advantage of this system is SquareEnix’s 1-character subscription rate. While it’s not much, there’s a subscription option that only lets players have one character per server. Since the job system already allows you to access most of the classes in the game, this option will allow you to save a buck or two when playing this game.
While not considered as a full MMO (or an MMO in general), developers can actually learn a lot from GTA V’s multiplayer mode, dubbed Grand Theft Auto Online. It’s got a living and breathing world where people can really interact. What really captured me was the diverse set of activities that players can take part of.
You can participate in races, go waterskiing, beat up random people, and join heists. You can also purchase your own place where your friends can hang out. What makes an MMO special is the amount of interactivity users can enjoy. Sure, there’s PVP, raids, and partying-up, but surely there’s a way for players to fully interact with the world.
Single player games have started to become broad, featuring hundreds and thousands of content that would fit well with the MMO genre. With more games coming out on 2014, we’re still not sure how well it will define the ‘massively-multiplayer’ aspect of gaming.
Also, MMOs are slowly crawling their way towards home consoles, giving people the freedom to choose the platform they would rather play in. It’s a small leap, but things seem to be shaping thus far. We are also very excited to play other games like Monster Hunter Frontier, and the much awaited ‘Destiny’ by Bungie.
We are very excited to see the amount of content they will be providing in the future. Many MMOs have tried different things to deviate themselves from other games, but different isn’t always better. What is the next best thing for MMOs? Do you have any ideas? Let us know in the comments section below.
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