So the genre is now saturated with MMORPG's compared to when I first started playing, when the main contenders were DAoC, EQ, and UO. Since then, I like many others, have played practically every MMO released. I personally have my favorites, those games where I actually enjoyed the game enough to reach max level.

For me, those games were DAOC, SWG, and WoW. WoW being the last game I reached max level in.

So the genre is saturated, mainly with games that are clones of each other in regards to features, gameplay, and setting. We're now a full decade into playing the same type of game, so it's only natural to get completely bored of the genre. I, myself, quit the genre after trying AION, Fallen Earth, and Champions Online. I've had enough, yet I haven't had enough. Meaning, I love playing online games, but I'm so bored of the same gameplay.

With that said, some games will always draw you back, such as the games that you liked enough to get to max level in. So my question is to those fed up with the genre, but still feel a the draw to play games that you long since quit, but liked.

Have you thought about returning to one of your old games? If so, which ones? Did you actually return? How did that turn out for you?

I thought about returning to DAoC, but the population is small, and when I really think about it, the game is really just old in the way it handles. Mobs use the same attack, and make the same sound over and over again as you fight, and the fights are long and drawn out. I have fond memories of the game, and returning would just replace those memories with something worse.

SWG was great fun before the NGE. I've returned to the game several times since the NGE, but the community has changed a lot and not for the better. The game has also changed a lot since the NGE went live, making it even more like WoW, which isn't good when you're tired of that gameplay.

I've though a lot about returnign to WoW, especially recently. I thought maybe I could roll a new character, something I might prefer playing over my main, but the thought of redoing all that content yet again, especially when the quests are boring and of low quality, makes me rethink going back. Also, the thought of dealing with the community that likes to raid, so I can get geared up to raid the Lich King, also has me rethinking going back. I do not like the elitist pricks most raiders are, I don't like spending 15min each fight being told what to do, ruining the surprise of the fight; I don't like spending time I should be sleeping, raiding, because people can't be bothered to raid at a decent hour. I also don't like sitting in front of the computer 4 or more hours at a time raiding, when the raid could be broken up into smaller chunks and done through out the week at a more reasonable hour. The raids aren't that hard, yet people insist on using the best talent combinations, the best gear, and the best mix of stats if you're even to be allowed in the raid. Not all people are like I described above, but enough are that drove me away from raiding after getting geared out from Nax last January. Raiding just isn't for me I guess. I really liked DAoC's endgame though. RvR is a lot of fun for a while, but I hate PvP in WoW.

At any rate, I thought about returning to old games after the new ones didn't work out, but I'm just tired of the same gameplay I've grown used to over the past DECADE. What about you?

every now and then I do this.

I am usually let down.

 Until old games upgrade to faster game play...it will be a let down.

The only MMOs I've had successful returns to have been Ultima Online, Planetside and WoW.  Returning to games such as AO, AC, DAOC, EQ just never worked out for me for some reason.

Originally posted by dstar.

The only MMOs I've had successful returns to have been Ultima Online, Planetside and WoW.  Returning to games such as AO, AC, DAOC, EQ just never worked out for me for some reason.

It's because those old games are totally unsupported by their original companies, or patched to resemble WoW and have nothing to do with their former selves anymore. 

Indeed. Even with WoW for me I've stuck around for a month or two and left, yet played it alot more during that time than I have other games. The problem is with WoW that I'm simply burnt out on all the standard levelling content yet always feel the need to start from scratch with an alt to 'make things interesting'. Think the next time i'll attempt to return to WoW again is when the expansion hits, thats if another MMO isn't taking up my time at that point.

Problem is that most of us left MMO's because we got bored of them, therefore returning to them means that 'fresh' feeling falls flat pretty quick. Aion is one of the only MMO's I left genuinely due to time constraints, and still plan to return to it sometime in the near future. We need some fresh top notch MMO's on the market.

Originally posted by kikinchaz

Indeed. Even with WoW for me I've stuck around for a month or two and left, yet played it alot more during that time than I have other games. The problem is with WoW that I'm simply burnt out on all the standard levelling content yet always feel the need to start from scratch with an alt to 'make things interesting'. Think the next time i'll attempt to return to WoW again is when the expansion hits, thats if another MMO isn't taking up my time at that point.

 

Problem is that most of us left MMO's because we got bored of them, therefore returning to them means that 'fresh' feeling falls flat pretty quick. Aion is one of the only MMO's I left genuinely due to time constraints, and still plan to return to it sometime in the near future. We need some fresh top notch MMO's on the market.

Yes, that sounds about like my experiences. I spend more time in games I liked when I went back, than I did in new games I didn't like. However, I always left quickly after anyways, and for the same reasons as before. My memory is getting a lot better now, which is why I've been clean from MMO's for 2 months, haha.

Cataclysm may bring me back, depending on if the quests from 1-60 are all new and not just replaced old content in restructured zones. I'm going to wait for player reviews before buying that expansion, because I don't want to return and find out that I'm still doing the same quests, just in a slightly different looking zone.

I'm going to pick up STO when it releases, and probably a few others due to release next year.

I do this a lot, actually. However, the results are usually the same.

Each time I go back, its for less time.

WoW for example. I think the first time was for like maybe 6 months casually. Then a break of a fw months...then i pick it up again...for maybe 3 months,. etc etc...now I simply can't bring myself to touch it anymore.

The Last game I played with any kind of longevity was FFXI...for maybe about 2 years starting with its PS2 launch. I think the difference there for me was that I had a great guild...awesome people. But, even then, i can't bring myself to go back now

after a while...mmos feel more like a job that anything else.....same mindless gameplay over and over and over and over...

Once that occurs to you, you can't really go back anymore

I find that when I go back to an old MMO, released pre-WoW, that I am clumsy in the game. I am so accustomed to moving with the dual-mouse button method, that when I return to a game that requires you use the arrow keys or WASD, I find myself losing interest quickly because I have no desire to re-train my fingers in using keyboard movement.

Some of the older games also don't have a mouse-look function, which is limiting to me.

Originally posted by SignusM

Originally posted by dstar.

The only MMOs I've had successful returns to have been Ultima Online, Planetside and WoW.  Returning to games such as AO, AC, DAOC, EQ just never worked out for me for some reason.

It's because those old games are totally unsupported by their original companies, or patched to resemble WoW and have nothing to do with their former selves anymore. 

I think it has more to do with the amount of fun I had in the games I listed my successful returns in as opposed to the others.  I'd try to return to some and found them just as boring as they were before.

I tried returning to UO after many years and just couldn't get back into it.

I have returned to Asheron's Call and have been loving it, but that has a lot to do with how much they have been still putting in to it. There's still monthly content updates and they have been working hard at communicating with players can incorporating player suggestions into the world. They also have listed plans of some major additions upcoming so it knowing it's going to keep evolving keeps me interested. It's also a very fast paced game, fast combat, fast kills, and it's now fast leveling. So you don't get bored quickly.

I returned to WoW once and lasted about a month.

Those are the only 3 games I have returned to after any length of absence. The majority of games I've played once I've quit, I've stayed gone.

Originally posted by cshanor

I find that when I go back to an old MMO, released pre-WoW, that I am clumsy in the game. I am so accustomed to moving with the dual-mouse button method, that when I return to a game that requires you use the arrow keys or WASD, I find myself losing interest quickly because I have no desire to re-train my fingers in using keyboard movement.

Some of the older games also don't have a mouse-look function, which is limiting to me.

I too have grown used to the intuitive use of the mouse and keyboard controls commonly found in modern day MMO's. It's definitely a road block when trying to play older games. Final Fantasy was a perfect example of me being unable to play the game due to the controls.

It's funny how we want something new, yet at the same time want to maintain the controls we're familiar with.

ya I constantly roll from MMO to MMO.  Ive gone back to DAoC, and to be honest I was really surprised by the community that still exists there.  One thing I couldnt get over was the UI.  Everything about the UI was a turn off.

as far as communities go, you'll find some of the best playing older MMO's like DAoC,  Everquest 1.  But like most folks who already spoke, they dont hold me long.  Some games I play for a few weeks and quit, others its just a matter of days.  I will say though, I dont seem to learn and find myself justifying the $15 to resub to just play for those few weeks. 

Population has always been a problem for me going back to older mmos. Waiting for a groups in FFXI is horrible now and leveling 1-80 in WOW will be a solo experience. Best bet is to find a newer mmo.

I suppose "returning" to old games is always more worth it than starting fresh in an old game.  I've tried starting out in several old MMORPGs, but the lack of players in general, not to mention lack of players at the low to mid level range, really makes this seriously difficult.   Another deterrant is wondering just how many years said game has left.  Nothing sucks more than spending months to reach a level cap only to find out that the game will be shutting down in two weeks.

"returning" to an old game though can sometimes be worth it.  If I had the free time, I could see myself easily returning to old school Everquest.  I spent so much time in that game during its heyday that I feel comfortable coming back no matter how old that game is.  

 The problem for me, is that I wasn't around, when those games were in their prime. The oldest game I can "return" to is EQII, since my FFXI character's weren't worth a mention.

I'd really love to experiece EQI, UO, DAoC or AC, but there is no place for a newbie in those games, and the last two have either dead or non-existent Euro servers AND do not accept my debit card on the US servers. 

I recently went back to playing EQ. I'm still having fun with all its current features, but then again the only problem I have is, there isnt enough people playing anymore. I mean of course I'm able to solo a lot of things now, currently 34k HP unbuffed, but I have trouble finding groups to do progression. That's the only downside. So I'm pretty much stuck with doing old content solo or running the classic missions and logging out.

It's still fun though. It's just a game I'm going to play as a time killer until there's something to fill in the void.