Are MMORPGs starting to feel like a time trap to you?

[ZeroleTheUntamed]

I've read articles about this in the past about mobile games nowadays being designed to "trap" their users so to speak through exploiting certain human characteristics, but I'm starting to notice this in MMORPGs as well. With WoW, the more obvious "trap" was the addition of achievements - most of which were not difficult but did require time investment.

I'm currently playing Aura Kingdom now, and I'm starting to get uneasy with it when I noticed I was keeping an eye on the timer for events (resets and events happen every couple hours). The "problem" became apparent once I bought some games during the Steam sale and realized I'd miss out on more events if I played them. I've gotten over it once I noticed how messed up that was, but I don't like that I was ever in that type of situation. As someone who has a tendency to collect, nowadays I'm always wary of games that revolve around it.

What do you guys think?

[Z0MBiE]

Yes. But if you really enjoy it anyway, why not?

[ApocaRUFF]

It's no secret that modern MMOs are designed to keep players occupied and "stuck" in the game. You can thank Asian (the Chinese started) developers for this. They've fine-tuned their MMO development strategy for extracting cash from players, with the main purpose of the whole game not to entertain, but to play to the natural pitfalls of humans. The whole game is developed specifically for the hunting of so-called "Whale" players who are willing to drop thousands of dollars into the game.

Here is an awesome talk(volume warning) explaining how the games are developed for this. You'll notice that daily events (like what you explained) are a key component. Achievements (And leaderboards) are also mentioned.

So yes, this is the way the games are heading these days. It started with Chinese developers and the Western publishers have taken note at how successful the Chinese developers/publishers are at making money thanks to these style of games. This is why almost all modern MMOs now have some features like this.

[postrook]

caught in the strings of the azn mmo puppetmasters ;P

[Krunkmasta Flex]

I've read articles about this in the past about mobile games nowadays being designed to "trap" their users so to speak through exploiting certain human characteristics, but I'm starting to notice this in MMORPGs as well. With WoW, the more obvious "trap" was the addition of achievements - most of which were not difficult but did require time investment.

I'm currently playing Aura Kingdom now, and I'm starting to get uneasy with it when I noticed I was keeping an eye on the timer for events (resets and events happen every couple hours). The "problem" became apparent once I bought some games during the Steam sale and realized I'd miss out on more events if I played them. I've gotten over it once I noticed how messed up that was, but I don't like that I was ever in that type of situation. As someone who has a tendency to collect, nowadays I'm always wary of games that revolve around it.

What do you guys think?

i think you should never play a Rare Platformer, you'll be there for years.
but yes, mmos are massive time sinks for the most part, a good example was EQ and the eponymous Poop Socking.

[ZeroleTheUntamed]

Yeah at the the end of the day, I generally quit a game if it starts feeling like a job instead of a hobby (as I did with WoW). Iunno, maybe it's a sign I need to quit MMORPGs altogether since they're all building off these questionable tactics.

[Krunkmasta Flex]

Yeah at the the end of the day, I generally quit a game if it starts feeling like a job instead of a hobby (as I did with WoW). Iunno, maybe it's a sign I need to quit MMORPGs altogether since they're all building off these questionable tactics.

I've basically quit mmos as well, I've found myself playing insurgency and Dota 2, mmos just don't...grab me like they used to. I miss my days addicted to an mmo.

[ApocaRUFF]

Yeah at the the end of the day, I generally quit a game if it starts feeling like a job instead of a hobby (as I did with WoW). Iunno, maybe it's a sign I need to quit MMORPGs altogether since they're all building off these questionable tactics.

Most indie Western MMOs do not build off these tactics. Look into games like Mortal Online, Darkfall Online, Wurm Online, Xsyon, Life is Feudal (tho it's not yet an MMO), The Repopulation, etc...

[poeticas]

i think as long as one has fun ... why not ? let them trap us ...