I use to prefer PvE back when I was new to MMOs and I was in awe of the fantasy worlds.  Nowdays all those worlds seem the same and I prefer PvP for better entertainment.

But I could be proven wrong in the future and might like PvE again -  one day

I prefer a bit of both. Don't like to PvP all the time, but don't like to PvE all the time either. It really depends on what i am doing.

It actually depends on the game.

I play BF2, COD, CS, TF and COH (company of heroes) for the PVP (and soon Halo3) because that’s what they are designed for.

For RPGs PVP is not necessary and adds nothing to the game play. In an RPG it is more important to have a Co Op mode than slap on some PVP.

On MMOGs it all depends on the game, and more importantly the balance between new and old players. Realm wars are important but are not PVP.  Almost every game manufacture tries to balance this by restricting level limitations thus you get the battle grounds or arenas insuring that there be no more than 10 levels between fighters. 

On games where there are no "levels" only SP's there is no way to balance the fight which is why typically these games do not last or do poorly. EVE being the possible exception. Now this may be due to it being sold as a PVP game (marketed as PVP ) when it's not it's a squad vrs squad game (corp vrs corp). Ok, I know all the PKers/GFers are going to chime in but trying to claim the badge of honor of PVP is not the same as actually fighting Player Vrs Player. A person that uses a pole or net is a fisherman, a person that uses a stick of dynamite or shoots a shot gun in to a barrel of fish can try and claim that they are fishermen but they are not.  Just because the words "oh god oh god" are used in a church and a Brofiel (house of ill repute) do not mean that the people are the same .  

So back to the topic, the real problem is that real PVP is hard to find.  In a MMORPG (real role-players) but RVR is.  MMOG games have yet to create a successful PVP game but with Huxley AOC and Tabula Rosa they may (I’m hope full).  But until then for PVP we are stuck with OGs mainly FPS.

Now if you’re deluding or trying to Group SVS (squad battles as in EVE) under PVP then you have watered it down enough that a game of quarters is now PVP as is a quilting bee. In which case Gears of war is PVP as you killing the baddies deny your partner the opportunity to kill the baddie   

So back to the topic, the real problem is that real PVP is hard tro find.  in a MMORPG (real roleplayers) but RVR is.  MMOG games have yet to create a sucessful PVP game but with Huxly AOC and Tabula Rosa they may (im hope full).  but until then for PVP we are stuck with OGs mainly FPS.

Now if your deluding or trying to Group SVS (squad battles as in EVE)  under PVP then you have watered it down enough that a game of quarters is now PVP as is a quilting bee. In which case Gears of war is PVP as you killing the baddies denys your partner the oppertunity to kill the baddie.

not sure if i understand all that stuff above poster is saying. play Guild wars or Starport. games made for pvp and let ya do it Day 1. in starport the vets take what they want and noobs lose all they own. It's the Circle of Life on their servers. on rebangs everyone starts out together and compete for #1 or jump on the permas and try to make a living

What I am hoping for (and I believe many here are as well) is the day that there is no distinction between PVE and PVP. What do I mean?

Combat is more tactical/skill based and player skill is the primary factor in victory/defeat.

NPC AI is ramped up enough to actually provide a challenge (yes I know that it can never equal another player but think about most of the players you have seen play some of these games and tell me that you don't think an NPC could fair as well or better).

Static spawns are for the most part done away with and NPCs have the ability to improve themselves.

NPCs/PCs are so immersed in the dynamic environment that there is little to no distinction between engaging either.

Implementing a Justice/Deity/Alignment system in which actions taken opposing ones alignment/deity have severe repurcussions and even actions taken within the sphere of ones alignment/deity can have dire repurcussions if found conflicting with the justice system.

PC's are integrated into the quest/task system (allowing NPC/PC given quests that target or center around another PC).

Skills/experience/items/faction/alignment all gained and lost through PVP and PVE.

I have some more but I am sure this small amount will piss enough people off already.

i like pvp more than pve cuz u will not fight a monstersu fight a players like u

but i give it 50/50 cuz pve is important too like pvp with no pve u willl nott lvl up

I prefer PvE because most PvP games are all about competetive conflict and not usually good anyway..

Though, I would play a PvP game if it was good, not all about the 'going out to kill everyone that's not us' and had permadeath.

btw I'd like PVE more if it was really coded right. Like, I kill a mob and the damn thing stays dead unless another player does a quest to bring the monsters back. then I will have impact.

right now PVE in MMOs is fake. im sorry but why is MMO PVE then real single player RPGs where i can make an impact? I guess i am supposed to freakin pretend I really helped out an NPC even though I see like 10 other people turn in the same quest.

If they add 'impact' to PVE I will like it jsut as much as PVP perhaps. but for now its all static and worse, many are in instances which is not massive multiplayer.

Originally posted by zethcarn

I use to prefer PvE back when I was new to MMOs and I was in awe of the fantasy worlds.  Nowdays all those worlds seem the same and I prefer PvP for better entertainment.

But I could be proven wrong in the future and might like PvE again -  one day