What do you think is the most important in a MMORPG?

Graphics?

Gameplay?

Story?

Details?

Sound?

GUI?

First off, I put a lot of weight on Graphics and sound, then I look for the details, then how the gameplay is screwed together. Finally, the story decides for how long I will find the game interesting.

I value all of those things you listed but I'd have to say that I want an evolving world more than anything.

I want new content constantly. My first MMO was ASherone's Call and Turbine spoiled me freaking rotten in AC with monthly updates and I loved that. I NEED to know there's new things coming every couple months to be happy. It gives me something to look forward to. And I like to know the Devs care enough about us to give us goodies and new content every few weeks.

2nd- Graphics

3rd- Quests- tons of solo quests specifically

4th- Community

M2c,

Lori

Have the graphic results of over 12,000 searches for the MMORPG finder. based on what people searched for the most in an MMO, Gameplay (PVE and PvP) were well ahead of everything else.

MMORPG Important Features Graph

1. Consistently updated content. If there isn't something new and entertaining to keep me occupied on a regular basis, I lose interest quickly. 

2. Unique and customizable classes/skills.  I like it when Dev's think outside the box of 'priest, mage, warrior'. 

3. Extensive character customization.  I don't want to look like everyone else out there, and I don't see any reason why I shouldn't be able to pick and/or modify the color/style of my armor. 

4. Community.  I'll play a mediocre game with a good community longer than I will play a great game that is lacking one.  Let's face it, some things in this world are just better multi-player.

5. Details and story.  I love it when a game is full of inside jokes and little pieces of lore that tell you the Dev's really cared about the creation of the game.  I love it when the story goes deep and makes you care about what is happening, that is the sign of a good game to me.

I look back at my favorite games, and they aren't my favorites because they had the best graphics or even the best game mechanics.  They were my favorites because they had a great story, they had a lot of new and interesting twists on the basics, they allowed me to be unique, make choices, and live with the consequences. 

To crush your customer base, see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentation on the forums.

oh im sorry.. i thought this was whats most important to a developer.

Game play first and foremost.

A virtual - seamless world.   Has to have seasons, weather - the works!

Character custimization - lots - tons!  So sick of my characters looking and playing like the next persons.   This can be done - if designers really wished to do it.

 A non instanced, non zoned world, where grouping is encouraged, and death bears a stiff penalty. Also, one with real quests, not WoW quests

Originally posted by SignusM

 A non instanced, non zoned world, where grouping is encouraged, and death bears a stiff penalty. Also, one with real quests, not WoW quests

I agree wholeheartedly with this.  Except maybe for the quest part.  IMO there shouldn't be any quests or at least a much different  version of quests.   Like the NPC town will pay you for every x creature you kill that is attacking their town until their population is reduced.  Say for instance that nearby goblins are left alone.  Well they get stronger in numbers and will eventually roam and attack nearby cities.  This was supposed to be done in Darkfall but has yet to be implemented.  It sounds like this will try to be in Mortal Online as well.

I believe my number 1 concern is it needs to be fun!  i don't care if its open/theme/PvP/Pve or whatever, just make it fun to play!  I do disagree on severe death penalities though, as these distracts from my main requirement of it needs to be fun! forced grouping is not fun in my opinion also.

 Crafting and a player driven economy without artifical item-restrictions like player-bond stuff

Originally posted by Quaddude

What do you think is the most important in a MMORPG?

Graphics?

Gameplay?

Story?

Details?

Sound?

GUI?

 

First off, I put a lot of weight on Graphics and sound, then I look for the details, then how the gameplay is screwed together. Finally, the story decides for how long I will find the game interesting.

As my quote states "Gameplay before graphics"...

but graphics do play a small role. For instance I didn't play WOW at first because of the cartoon styled graphics... I prefer more realism like DAOC. Also the graphics in Aion are too anime-like...I still tried it and found that I didn't like Aion gameplay either (it's too generic). But trust me I can tolerate poor graphics if the gameplay is good.

Even more important than graphics though is the UI & controls. The UI needs to be organized and logical- I can't stand Eve Online's UI, its cluttered and confusing and the controls were horrible especially in open beta (I'm sure it's been patched by now).

Another important aspect and commonly the most forgotten(I made a post about this a while back) is the Roleplaying element. I want to feel submerged in a new world where I forget about my own life and I become the character...This goes beyond graphics-- the game has to have an open sandbox type feel where you feel like you can effect the world around you somehow (this is something WoW is missing)...like in SWG you could have your own house ...in face of mankind you could go dancing at a nightclub if you wanted to (you'd probably get killed unless you brought your posse)...in the matrix online you occasionally you'd see a GM playing Morpheus standing on a roof...it's little things like that that promotes roleplaying. If a game can make me forget where I am for a short time, or that I'm sitting a desk...well then that game certainly gets my 15$ monthly fee.

So to sum it up it goes: Gameplay>Immersion/Roleplaying>Graphics>Controls>UI>everything else is trivial.

The lore, the background story, the universe... something to get my own imaginary working.

Gameplay > everything else

If I must abide by your list, I'd say gameplay. But, rather than focusing on a single aspect of a single game, I think what the whole MMORPG genre needs is an infusion of difficulty. It seems modern games are becoming so "dumbed down", that gameplay is becoming less and less of a factor; instead being replaced by jiggling boobs and flashing lights.