I wrote this three years ago when i was 15 but it's been sitting in my password Word doc and I thought I might as well post it now.

This wasn't part of my research paper so it lacks eloquence and good diction but it's still interesting and relevant.

I am writing a research paper about standardized testing and I was using an article by Tina Cross , and educational researcher, called "Standardized testing wanes in Japan as it rises in USA." If you want to check the credibility of this article, it was published in the December 2002 edition of USA Today. The article discusses the waning standardized testing in Japan as becoming more emphasized in American society. She researched at schools and found that Japanese kids were burnt out when they were very young. This was similarly found in other countries such as Korea and China. This is because of the strict entrance exams to colleges and high schools. Students go to regular school from around 8:00AM to 3:00PM, then they go to cram schools until 10:00PM. This doesn't even include finishing their homework and studying. In the mornings they were falling asleep in class, talking loudly, and playing on their cell phones. It didn't matter though, because they had already learned the information at the cram schools.
 

A notable side effect of this is that whenever the students were given a project, they tended to focus on the grade more than creativity. This caused them to turn in many projects that were very similar just so they could earn the grade. Art teachers attested to this. Cross, the author, states, "Art teachers told me that if a group is given an art assignment, each student, inevitably creates a simlar project, following traditional style." Many schools in Japan and other Asian countries were found to emphasize more on "standards" than creativity and actual learning. Soon, the head of education in Japan found that the students were doing just that, becoming more standard. The author again states, 'While its graduates shine on standardized tests, Japan's system turns out consistently average students, with few examples of individual brilliance." Because of this, a reform in education is occurring in Japan.
 

Here is where I draw my hypothesis. I think that many Eastern MMOs are very derivative because of the lack of creativity emphasized in previous education. This most certainly does not apply to all MMOs or students but an indicative trend could possibly be observed if data was analyzed. The students have been groomed for years that creativity is not as important, just that the the final product gets the result, be it grade or cash. Therefore developers might feel that it be in best interest to pawn off a game that is extremely similar to another one so that they can get the result without too much work. Their customers are satisfied because they are used to more of the same.

This isn't to say that Foreign MMOs lack in creativity because of this but this may be an influencing factor. Also, this is most DEFINITELY NOT SAYING that all of the East suffers from lack of creativity, just that it is not emphasized in schools. Now, I am only stating this as a hypothesis. However, because I lack empirical evidence in numbers and data, THIS MUST NOT BE TAKEN AS FACT. I really don't want flames, just thoughtful discussion regarding both sides of this issue. The point was to share with the readers a thoughtful hypothesis based on fact and evidence. I just wish I could have found some numbers to go with this.

You can flame all you want. I wrote this years ago so I don't care any longer.
 

why did you post this? It really doesn't prove anything seeing as you shot it down at the end saying it should not be taken as fact, as well as had no numbers to back it up...

well written theeory ,very good !

I would fail you  if you submitted a research paper with some words in capital....

While I agree that most Asian MMO's lack creativity, I'd also like to emphasize that the most creative MMO so far (imo) comes from Japan- so I can't fully agree with your text.

Originally posted by Hyanmen

While I agree that most Asian MMO's lack creativity, I'd also like to emphasize that the most creative MMO so far (imo) comes from Japan- so I can't fully agree with your text.

Then perhaps what he stated above should be taken as more of a generalization, as opposed to a full-fledged stereotype. In this, you both are right.

Originally posted by Hyanmen

While I agree that most Asian MMO's lack creativity, I'd also like to emphasize that the most creative MMO so far (imo) comes from Japan- so I can't fully agree with your text.

What MMO is that?

Originally posted by Amaranthar

 What MMO is that?

I'll keep it secret, since people will obviously disagree. It's at least in the top 3 though.

Originally posted by Cristina1

I would fail you  if you submitted a research paper with some words in capital....

As I mentioned before, this wasn't part of my paper. I wrote this for MMORPG.com. Also, it is a generalization and possibly a trend could be observed if full research was performed. Obviously, some asian games are exceptions to the mundane.

Originally posted by Hyanmen

Originally posted by Amaranthar

 What MMO is that?

 

I'll keep it secret, since people will obviously disagree. It's at least in the top 3 though.

I just got a flashback of being in gradeschool and someone telling me a girl liked me but  not telling me who.

How old are you?

Originally posted by Hyanmen

Originally posted by Amaranthar

 What MMO is that?

 

I'll keep it secret, since people will obviously disagree. It's at least in the top 3 though.

I call Aion.
 

Eh, I'd have to agree about Asian MMOs lacking creativity. They all have:

1) One of two art styles: Superdeformed anime look, or "realistic anime look, where everyone walked out of a Bishounen comic and is extremely pretty.

2) Little to no visual character customization. 

3) The same few classes. Sword guy, Archer guy, Magic Guy. Class treesbreak down predictably into the same few archetypes.

4) Traditionally weak quests. This is improving as more of the Western world gets involved, but it's still true that even WoW's quests often feel deeper

5) The best stuff comes not through hard work, but through spending insane amounts of money in their item malls.

6) Emphasis on solo play. Grouping is possible, but rarely required.

7) Large outdoor zones with invisible walls.

8) Often, there's no way to jump.

9) Levelling usually consists of aoe spamming whatever monsters are right for your rank, then moving on.

Final Fantasy, nuffsaid.

weeaboo fails and so does your 'essay'

Originally posted by comerb

Originally posted by Hyanmen

Originally posted by Amaranthar

 What MMO is that?

 

I'll keep it secret, since people will obviously disagree. It's at least in the top 3 though.

 

I just got a flashback of being in gradeschool and someone telling me a girl liked me but  not telling me who.

How old are you?

Old enough to realize that what this topic would become when I told you would be something out of grade school.

But yeah, FFXI.

If you haven't played it enough no need to comment it, since you don't know. Feel free if you have though, we can go on from there.

it's not good to have a password Word doc especially if it's not encrypted.

But you forgot to factor in "western MMO's can and do suk also"....AOC, WAR, LOTR. And last but not least DF.

It's a good article actually if taken in the context. Usually, too much school+study kills the brain. Creativity is like a plant: It needs sun and water to grow, and drilling it with too heavy studies and systems who wants to make you "fit in" will just kill it. So he's kind of stating the obvious there with his essay, but it's always good to have many different ways to talk about the same thing.

This is "one" of the symptom for overall lack of creativity in every area of the society. Good post anyway.

I prefer Asian MMOs and dont like Western MMOs.

Originally posted by terrant

Originally posted by Hyanmen

Originally posted by Amaranthar

 What MMO is that?

 

I'll keep it secret, since people will obviously disagree. It's at least in the top 3 though.

I call Aion.
 

 

Eh, I'd have to agree about Asian MMOs lacking creativity. They all have:

 

1) One of two art styles: Superdeformed anime look, or "realistic anime look, where everyone walked out of a Bishounen comic and is extremely pretty.

2) Little to no visual character customization. 

3) The same few classes. Sword guy, Archer guy, Magic Guy. Class treesbreak down predictably into the same few archetypes.

4) Traditionally weak quests. This is improving as more of the Western world gets involved, but it's still true that even WoW's quests often feel deeper

5) The best stuff comes not through hard work, but through spending insane amounts of money in their item malls.

6) Emphasis on solo play. Grouping is possible, but rarely required.

7) Large outdoor zones with invisible walls.

8) Often, there's no way to jump.

9) Levelling usually consists of aoe spamming whatever monsters are right for your rank, then moving on.

 

Most of everything you said can also be said about western MMOs.

Originally posted by Korvenus

Originally posted by terrant

Originally posted by Hyanmen

Originally posted by Amaranthar

 What MMO is that?

 

I'll keep it secret, since people will obviously disagree. It's at least in the top 3 though.

I call Aion.
 

 

Eh, I'd have to agree about Asian MMOs lacking creativity. They all have:

 

1) One of two art styles: Superdeformed anime look, or "realistic anime look, where everyone walked out of a Bishounen comic and is extremely pretty.

2) Little to no visual character customization. 

3) The same few classes. Sword guy, Archer guy, Magic Guy. Class treesbreak down predictably into the same few archetypes.

4) Traditionally weak quests. This is improving as more of the Western world gets involved, but it's still true that even WoW's quests often feel deeper

5) The best stuff comes not through hard work, but through spending insane amounts of money in their item malls.

6) Emphasis on solo play. Grouping is possible, but rarely required.

7) Large outdoor zones with invisible walls.

8) Often, there's no way to jump.

9) Levelling usually consists of aoe spamming whatever monsters are right for your rank, then moving on.

 

 

Most of everything you said can also be said about western MMOs.

Most of everything he said also doesn't apply to- guess which game!

2, 7 and 8 are true though. Jumping makes a creative game, I finally realized it.

1) One of two art styles: Superdeformed anime look, or "realistic anime look, where everyone walked out of a Bishounen comic and is extremely pretty.

AION

2) Little to no visual character customization.

NOT AION

3) The same few classes. Sword guy, Archer guy, Magic Guy. Class treesbreak down predictably into the same few archetypes.

ALL MMORPG'S

4) Traditionally weak quests. This is improving as more of the Western world gets involved, but it's still true that even WoW's quests often feel deeper

ALL MMORPG's

5) The best stuff comes not through hard work, but through spending insane amounts of money in their item malls.

NOT AION

6) Emphasis on solo play. Grouping is possible, but rarely required.

NOT AION

7) Large outdoor zones with invisible walls.

most mmorpg's, instead of invisible walls they put mountains there that you can not cross,

8) Often, there's no way to jump.

??? all i can think of is Ryzom and Guild Wars

9) Levelling usually consists of aoe spamming whatever monsters are right for your rank, then moving on.

ALL MMORPG's

Do i win?