Hi. First off, a plea to the mods to not close this thread. It could foster good discussion amongst games, the MMO genre (and guild wars would be amongst them). I also think that by the community ranking MMOs in specific categories, Arenanet might see how we rank GW2 amongst the rest of the industry and we could provide them with a FREE SWOT analysis(Check your marketing teams for that definition
). We would be showing them where we think the game is strongest, and possibly weakest if they do not make the list in certain categories. Also, top 3 does not mean the 3rd game listed is the worst. Top 3 is top 3…there are many other MMOs out there that wouldnt make your top 3. So, being #3 is still good! However, I like to break MMOs down into several key categories. Please rank your top 3 MMOs in each of these categories, in order.
Definitions(according to me ):
Graphics – Self explainatory. How does the game look? Do you see static blocky objects in the distance, or are they moving, swaying. Does the grass sway near you, and does it move when you move through it? Is the sky animated, or is it a static image? Is the environment detailed when looking at it closely, or does it become blurred? Is the game hand drawn or cut-pasted?
Audio – Environmental sounds, spell/ability sounds, combat sounds(the sound your sword or spell makes when hitting the mob), mob sounds.
Combat – Is the combat interactive, or mind numbing? Is every fight repetitive, or do you react to what is going on? Are the boss fights engaging and unique, or add fests and one-shot wonders? Is the talent system unique, and provide variety? Or are you forced into specific specs to be competitive? Is the combat engaging?
Gameplay – Does the game play smoothly?(not performance-related). Do animations look smooth? Are you able to go from one animation to the next smoothly and without feeling clunky? Does the game have more bugs than usual?
Leveling experience – Was it fun? Were there some challenges along the way? Did it take a reasonable amount of time to reach level cap(not too long, not too short)? Were there different things to do other than “quests”?
End Game experience – Are there enough features/systems to engage in? Is it fun or grindy and boring? Do you feel like you NEED to log in or do you feel like you WANT to log in every day? Longevity? Unique systems?
Social interaction – While leveling, or playing endgame, do you interact with other players via combat or via chat? Are there vanity systems in place(dances, emotes, “for fun” events?)
Story – Is there even a story in the game? Is it an engaging story or boring? Is it a unique story or run-of-the-mill? Do your actions have any impact?
Quality of Life – Are there systems/menus in place to make your playing experience more enjoyable? Are there enough customizations across all facets of the game to make your experience more enjoyable and stress free?
Graphics- Guild Wars 2, Tera, Neverwinter
Audio- Neverwinter, Guild Wars 2, World of Warcraft
Combat- Tera, Neverwinter, Guild Wars 2
Gameplay-Guild Wars 2, World of Warcraft, Neverwinter
Leveling experience-Guild Wars 2, World of Warcraft, Neverwinter
End Game experience-Rift, World of Warcraft, Guild Wars 2
Social interaction-Guild Wars 2, World of Warcraft, Rift
Story – SWTOR, Guild Wars 2, World of Warcraft
Quality of Life – Rift, Guild Wars 2, World of Warcraft
