I have been playing MMOs for more than seven years. To many, that makes me an MMO infant. However, I feel in that time that I’ve come to know a few things about what makes a game alluring and keeping the player coming back time and time again, versus games that don’t. I could probably list off these reasons for all of the games I’ve played but I’m only here to talk about Guild Wars 2.
Since reaching 80, I haven’t felt any reason to log on anymore. There are numerous articles and blog posts in the gaming community that clearly point out the subtle flaws in this otherwise incredible game, but just two things in particular bug me the most, and I hope these get changed. The first one can’t really be helped but my second point is my main suggestion.
1) Lore. The lore in this game is just …. boring. The history of the land and the people isn’t alive enough. If I want to know the lore, I have to really dig for it. Other MMOs made their worlds and histories very alive and apparent. I just don’t feel it in this game. Of course, not much can be done about that now, except for improving future content and expanding the story and implementation of getting players involved and personal with the very nature of the game.
2) When reaching level cap in other games, we all look for the big end game content. Many people REALLY look forward to it. I think making the game very level friendly with the scaling system is cool. It puts things you might have skipped over on an equal playing field again, keeping it challenging instead of wandering around doing “grey quests” and one shotting mobs. I like that.
But, that’s all level 80 in the game really has to offer. Going back and doing the things you didn’t do when it was level appropriate. It’s not enticing enough.
I need things to work on. Not just completing the map, or doing every jumping puzzle, but I need a SHOW-OFF factor. Every other game has these show off factors. Let me explain a little better.
In other games, I liked seeing people around me that had outward evidence of their personal achievements. I loved seeing players with titles and mounts and gear/skins (non trade-able), or pets from hard to beat bosses, that you KNEW just from looking at those players, they did something awesome. And in your mind, you kept telling yourself, “Oh man, I have to do that too.” I loved being one of those people. I loved that mount that said, “She worked hard on that. And, she obviously has some skill for completing it.” I love that title, very easy to see above my character, that indicated I completed a grueling encounter.
Those are the things that keep me coming back to a game. Maybe it seems a little vain, wanting a visible comparison and separation from the players around me. But I like that kind of competition. And there is ZERO player competition in this game. I’m not talking PvP. I am saying, there is nothing in this game that sets one player apart from another.
Now, the legendary weapons might come to mind when I mention a show-off factor, but let’s get real. The legendary weapons in this game, say nothing about the player, other than, “Hey, they spent a ton of time and a ton of money on gathering mats to make that… or buy it.” Either way, legendary weapons just aren’t impressive. They look awesome yeah, but they didn’t take any great skill to acquire, other than patience. Or a lot of real money spent to buy gold.
Adding in some show-off factors that really set players apart and inspire others to be great and do great things (which is how I always saw those other players in other games), would not be hard be hard to implement in this game. In fact, the opportunities to create show-off factors are limitless.
Add some of these ArenaNet, and maybe I’ll find a reason to log back on! Which I haven’t in WEEKS…
