Massively singleplayer online roleplaying game. What will it take to end this genre?

It already did, look up morrowind and Oblivion.

Nothing can end it. Casual players like it and they are the majority.

I generally play MMOs for social reasons.. however there are a few games when I jsut wanted to be left alone.

Alot of people ask "why bother playing an MMO then, go get a Single Player RPG!" However most MMOs, when played alone, are more 'alive' and less static than single player games, they're more sandbox, and freeform. An MMO played alone plays alot like F3/Elder Scrolls, for example.

Originally posted by Rezeyu

I generally play MMOs for social reasons.. however there are a few games when I jsut wanted to be left alone.

Alot of people ask "why bother playing an MMO then, go get a Single Player RPG!" However most MMOs, when played alone, are more 'alive' and less static than single player games, they're more sandbox, and freeform. An MMO played alone plays alot like F3/Elder Scrolls, for example.

Dats bs and this mind set is da reason MMOs are dying.

Nothing, because this genre does not exist.

The game must be able to make non-solo play attractive though. And no, making solo-playing inviable isn't a valid option for that.

MMOs are MMOs because you can interact with others in a persistent server, not because you must zerg 2 win.

Not just casual, us hardcore player like it also.  As much as I enjoy grouping, there are times when I just want to do things by myself in a game and still able to accomplish something.  One of the biggest thing an mmo can do to retain customer is to give them choices.  No matter how great are grand the design are, if you force a person to only do a limited amount of things, they are bound to get bored of it eventually.  The more choices a "real" choices a game give a player to choose, the more likely it is for those player to continue paying for the game.  Not to mention the more possibility the game gives, the more possibility it is to appeal to a more audience, and that give a game a much better chance to survive.

While I am at it, let me ask all of you casual hater out there one simple question.  Just what is it about the casual player that annoyed you so much that you so desperately wish for a game that have mechanic that purposely drive these player away?  You can argue some of them are annoying, but so are some of the dickish hardcore player out there.  You can argue that they are immature, but I know many hardcore player young and old act like spoiled brats.  Furthermore, it is because of these people that game invented the ignore option.  I don't mean to be insulting, but I really don't understand the mentality of the casual hater.  How matter how you look at it, what ever upside you can get from excluding the casual is dwarf in comparison to all the problem of not having them.

Just because a game allows solo play does not make that game a "singleplayer" game. You're still interacting with other players when you solo.

Originally posted by Gameloading

Just because a game allows solo play does not make that game a "singleplayer" game. You're still interacting with other players when you solo.

how much interaction? WE run pass each other.

Isn't WoW kind of like a MSORPG?  I mean, you can solo to 80, and it's more efficient to solo to 80.

People only group to get loot they want from instances, then just go back to soloing..

What happened to MMORPGs that require grouping? Things like EQ, most classes couldn't solo anything.  Most of the good loot came from grouped NPCs though, and yielded better exp.  I wonder when they will make another game like that, where soloing is less efficient, yields worse loot?  

You know, more people would group if games brought back NPC camps.  Like in EQ lots of people would try to get LGUK groups to farm FBSS.  And some camps were the best exp, like the orcs in EC gave really good exp.  And highkeep camps had really good loot too, and were rarely soloable.   Games like WoW have too much solo content for people to group.  Outside of instances, no one groups for exp, or anything.  The game's too easy.

Originally posted by Promeus

Massively singleplayer online roleplaying game. What will it take to end this genre?

Lack of interest.  That being said, it will be around for a LOOOOONG time.

Z

Originally posted by happyiksar

Isn't WoW kind of like a MSORPG?  I mean, you can solo to 80, and it's more efficient to solo to 80.

People only group to get loot they want from instances, then just go back to soloing..

 

What happened to MMORPGs that require grouping? Things like EQ, most classes couldn't solo anything.  Most of the good loot came from grouped NPCs though, and yielded better exp.  I wonder when they will make another game like that, where soloing is less efficient, yields worse loot?  

You know, more people would group if games brought back NPC camps.  Like in EQ lots of people would try to get LGUK groups to farm FBSS.  And some camps were the best exp, like the orcs in EC gave really good exp.  And highkeep camps had really good loot too, and were rarely soloable.   Games like WoW have too much solo content for people to group.  Outside of instances, no one groups for exp, or anything.  The game's too easy.

 

FFXI is still around.  Good luck getting anywhere fast if you try to solo past level 10 or so.

Why not find likeminded people in the games you play? I dont get it how you can blame a game for not being able to find players to play with. Unless its a very empty server. Ive never had a problem with finding teams in games with a lot of solocontent.

In my experience people who are really interested to play in teams regurarly, find themselves an active guild or build a long friendslist. Never expect a game to hand you pugs on demand for the quest you need. There are games that use mechanics that try this (open quests in WAR for example), but it is always very shallow and ppl leave right after completing their goal. A MMO doesnt get installed with friends included.

The difference between a teambased MMO  or a MMO with options to only solo if you want, is that in the last one you actually have to be active to find likeminded players.

its a psychological (fail spelling?) thing.  Humans are social creatures and we crave it (even the nerds in their mother's basement need to talk to other people).  MMO's are great because we know (subconciously (again fail spelling?) there are other humans out there in the world and we could run into one at any time.  You just don't get the same feeling out of Oblivion.