Comments on: Theory of WoW http://sodsbrood.com/pilgrim/2007/11/29/theory-of-wow Comeday morm and, O, you're vine! Sendday's eve and, ah, you're vinegar! Sat, 10 Jan 2009 02:01:34 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: greypilgrim http://sodsbrood.com/pilgrim/2007/11/29/theory-of-wow/comment-page-1#comment-94314 greypilgrim Sun, 09 Dec 2007 13:45:33 +0000 http://sodsbrood.com/pilgrim/2007/11/29/theory-of-wow#comment-94314 That's the point: all the goals haven't been met. Yes, we reached the level cap, but speaking for myself I still have a flying mount to save for and purchase, then I have the epic flying mount. There are areas toe explore that are only accessible with a flying mount. There are instances we haven't done. There are the 10 man raids, Karazhan and Gruul's Lair. The game isn't over, which I suppose is why we haven't become bored yet. It never really ends. That’s the point: all the goals haven’t been met. Yes, we reached the level cap, but speaking for myself I still have a flying mount to save for and purchase, then I have the epic flying mount. There are areas toe explore that are only accessible with a flying mount. There are instances we haven’t done. There are the 10 man raids, Karazhan and Gruul’s Lair. The game isn’t over, which I suppose is why we haven’t become bored yet. It never really ends.

]]> By: Todd http://sodsbrood.com/pilgrim/2007/11/29/theory-of-wow/comment-page-1#comment-94305 Todd Sun, 09 Dec 2007 01:30:26 +0000 http://sodsbrood.com/pilgrim/2007/11/29/theory-of-wow#comment-94305 There is a whole area out there in pop culture studies called game theory. Fascinating area. I'm surprised that you two have not lost a bit of interested now that all the goals have been met. Games seems to be rather like a good novel: they operate basically on desire. They tease, get you interested, give a little, then take away so that you desire more. Maybe after a year it is the social aspect that now takes the place of desire. . . Or maybe not: after a year, a typical player has probably burned all of his/her real social bridges, so that this lack fuels continued desire for the game :) There is a whole area out there in pop culture studies called game theory. Fascinating area. I’m surprised that you two have not lost a bit of interested now that all the goals have been met. Games seems to be rather like a good novel: they operate basically on desire. They tease, get you interested, give a little, then take away so that you desire more. Maybe after a year it is the social aspect that now takes the place of desire. . . Or maybe not: after a year, a typical player has probably burned all of his/her real social bridges, so that this lack fuels continued desire for the game :)

]]> By: Mel B. http://sodsbrood.com/pilgrim/2007/11/29/theory-of-wow/comment-page-1#comment-94183 Mel B. Fri, 07 Dec 2007 06:36:24 +0000 http://sodsbrood.com/pilgrim/2007/11/29/theory-of-wow#comment-94183 It's both brilliant and evil. Still so much more to do. I was chatting with a guild member today, a fellow druid, who asked me what my intentions were now that I'd hit 70, saying, I don't mean to be nosey, but I'm going to ask anyway. I explained that I'd always intended to quit at 70 but realized I couldn't, and that my immediate goal was to make money. He said that he basically was still in it for the socialization. I think that's pretty interesting. You have people that sometimes are not engaged with the game, but continue to play just to stay with their online friends. Weird to me, but a new era... It’s both brilliant and evil. Still so much more to do. I was chatting with a guild member today, a fellow druid, who asked me what my intentions were now that I’d hit 70, saying, I don’t mean to be nosey, but I’m going to ask anyway.
I explained that I’d always intended to quit at 70 but realized I couldn’t, and that my immediate goal was to make money.
He said that he basically was still in it for the socialization. I think that’s pretty interesting. You have people that sometimes are not engaged with the game, but continue to play just to stay with their online friends. Weird to me, but a new era…

]]> By: greypilgrim http://sodsbrood.com/pilgrim/2007/11/29/theory-of-wow/comment-page-1#comment-93975 greypilgrim Wed, 05 Dec 2007 18:14:54 +0000 http://sodsbrood.com/pilgrim/2007/11/29/theory-of-wow#comment-93975 I've been meaning to respond to this since you wrote it, and your comments seem even more pertinent now that I have hit 70, too. It was weird how nothing really changed after I hit 70. Most games I have played, once you reach some real or theoretical "end" of the game, it's over. Interest wanes, no matter whether you can replay it with the difficulty level cranked up or not. Not so with WoW. I think that is a testament to the genius of Blizzard developers: they have avoided most of the pitfalls game development, such as designing a game with limited play (or replay) value. To some extent this is due to the sheer depth of content in the game, but the designers have to be given credit for that, too. For all its shortcomings, WoW is a masterpiece of game design. I’ve been meaning to respond to this since you wrote it, and your comments seem even more pertinent now that I have hit 70, too. It was weird how nothing really changed after I hit 70. Most games I have played, once you reach some real or theoretical “end” of the game, it’s over. Interest wanes, no matter whether you can replay it with the difficulty level cranked up or not. Not so with WoW. I think that is a testament to the genius of Blizzard developers: they have avoided most of the pitfalls game development, such as designing a game with limited play (or replay) value. To some extent this is due to the sheer depth of content in the game, but the designers have to be given credit for that, too. For all its shortcomings, WoW is a masterpiece of game design.

]]> By: Mel B. http://sodsbrood.com/pilgrim/2007/11/29/theory-of-wow/comment-page-1#comment-92956 Mel B. Sat, 01 Dec 2007 19:00:08 +0000 http://sodsbrood.com/pilgrim/2007/11/29/theory-of-wow#comment-92956 I think this game has taken over my life in a similar manner, in a way I did not expect. I went into it kicking and screaming, because I didn't like the thought of playing with other people. It's definitely fantasy, escape, accomplishments. Always striving, never quitting. I told myself I would quit when I hit 70, and that was a week ago. And I'm not quitting. My attitude about leaving always changes. I'm a little perturbed at myself, that this is all I want to do with my spare time, apart from reading. But I find I have fewer ambitions these days. All I want is to forget about my dismal work life, and that accomplishes this amirably. Escape. Fantasy. Companionship. I think this game has taken over my life in a similar manner, in a way I did not expect. I went into it kicking and screaming, because I didn’t like the thought of playing with other people.
It’s definitely fantasy, escape, accomplishments. Always striving, never quitting.

I told myself I would quit when I hit 70, and that was a week ago. And I’m not quitting. My attitude about leaving always changes.

I’m a little perturbed at myself, that this is all I want to do with my spare time, apart from reading.
But I find I have fewer ambitions these days. All I want is to forget about my dismal work life, and that accomplishes this amirably.
Escape. Fantasy. Companionship.

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