MMOs (Massively Multiplayer Online games) are an abundant machine. Since it’s been discovered that they have the potential to make exorbitant amounts of profit in both subscription based and free to play models, they’ve sprung up like the proverbial weed. Whether you’re into steampunk elven ninjas, elemental combat, or are just intrigued by the perpetual grind that comes bundled with it all, there’s something for everyone buried within the genre. Sure, one out of ten are of actual quality, but there’s a recurring theme I’ve found to be troubling in the contemporary MMO; they’ve lost their focus on exploration and are simply too fast.
The topic arose upon discussing a few of the most anticipated MMOs with a friend of mine. He declared that he was sick of being forced toward the end game. It wasn’t about eventually getting there; he just was perplexed as to why developers endorsed this bum-rush leveling attitude instead of taking the player through the world they’ve created. Could the content be that embarrassing and/or dated to warrant blasting through to get to the real meat of the game… at the end of it? Yeah, that makes sense.
