I've played the Critical missions. They are the "high point" of the games storyline.

Another example of different people perceiving this in different ways - because I've heard some MxO players say exactly the opposite. You know, missions being static, events alive and immersive - that, of course, when they get to partake ;)

Either the game's story involves all the players directly, "In some way" doesn't cut it, or it is poorly written.

Logically, it's two different things. A story can be richly written, but not immerse the players enough.

This isn't a single player game, this isn't a comic book, it's a multiplayer game. That's the medium.

So if you distinguish this multiplayer game medium from the single player game medium - how can you think about being a protagonist? I mean, this is the medium, or not?

How does this medium tell a storyline, anyway?

Through "static", all-accessible content?
Ot through live content? Schematically, the full potential of the medium's storytelling aspect is used in this form, as it's basically a live storyline happening right there.

I would now start going on about advantages and disadvantages of more public and more private live content, but it's a stark truth that MxO would be significantly better if all players would have a much higher chance to partake in live content, even if not always in an important role or event - I mean, that's kind of realistic or not.

It's apparent that a player wouldn't experience "everything" life and would have to ask or read up about the stuff he missed to get a better picture - but in case of MxO, it's rather event or nothing in this regard. Maybe not quite, but close.

I suppose you also wouldn't bash as much if this was the case - despite your protagonist talk.

There is a universal rule for all video games. In fact there is a universal rule for all games. Each player must be an active participant. If you aren't actively involved in the Story line, then it is not part of your game. That it might have been part of someone elses game, doesn't realy matters.

It can matter, with according interests.

There are no pre-defined rules for writing MMO stories or Role play stories of any kind. However there many many examples of what works in this format and what does not. There are numerous examples of what has made a successful plot device and what has not.

Story telling for role play games is not a new concept. You couldn't possible get a bigger disaster than failing to engage your players. That is after all your target audience and art of stroytelling in a roleplay enviroment.

This is right to a high degree, but not entirely because players still get something out of the storyline if not partaking in every event.

The story sucks. It sucks because it is poorly written. Not because of the Matrix theme. Because the writer doesn't fulfill the fundamental requirements of the medium for which he is writing.

Again, poorly written and unsufficiently immersive IS NOT THE SAME THING.

Because gamers aren't interested in story? Meh.

I thought I had expressed myself sufficiently clear.

Originally posted by ASmith84

what i said earlier was just a little bit of what i really think about the story.  the truth is the story just plain sucks.  it doesnt give you much to do.  all it is is more people pop up for you to fight and sometimes agents pop up.  and if you miss these events sucks to be you.  so its pointless to me.  what i really think about killin off morpheus was it was at the beginning of the game.  i played when it first came out for a couple of months and remember that.  it was stupid the game just came out and they kill off an important character.  who does that and expects people to be happy about that?  plus neo needs to come back alive.  they gave so many hints in the end of the movie and in the interviews for the game he has to.  he never did.  a good time for neo to come back was when they killed morpheus.  these people suck at makin a story.  lets just screw over the resistence they said in my opinion.  now i havnt played in awhile so i dont know much about it today.  but unless they make some dramatic twist in the story and bring some people back and actually make a point in pvp and make the fighting system fun again i will never play again.

yllis:

Well in all honesty, I was just trying to be fair to the people who have to write the story.  I think it would be difficult to do, and was trying to cut them some slack.

What is your point?

My point was that I either disagree with or don't understand your arguments.
If you're trying to be fair to the story writers by saying "they write a story for 200 actors", I confusedly raise my eyebrow and ask myself "wtf, what 200 actors??"

There was no hidden meaning behind my reply or something.


freiheit:

The game was marketed as having bi weekly events where players would  influence the future of the matrix universe. But the game didn't sell, the events stopped, development stopped, most of the players left, and now it's a shell of a game that's more of a gimmick than a game.

Yea, you're just repeating/extending what I said above. I know all of this already, thanks.

And those are events. You can call them differently if it makes you sleep better, though ;)

I certainly wont try to argue the value of the storyline....  it is B- at the best, and F+ when they had green lasers...

But to play devils advocate, I would think it would be a chore to do the story at all.  If you consider the issues with writing a story with 200+ uncontrolled actors, none of them you can actually kill. Then toss in the story fanatics with the books, comics. anime and lack of project funds.... Ugh sounds miserable. The story itself is pretty bad, but I would give them a A for effort and even trying.

Originally posted by ASmith84
its true the tmo storyline sucks.  they killed morpheus.  plus they use to give hints about neo bein still alive but hes dead for good now.  it is stupid.

There's a large difference between a story not being worth your money, and not existing.

Also, since you seem to be a smart businessman and all - you certainly understand what it means to understand the value of something before making a decision about money expense? Because this isn't something you seem to do, or have done here.

And considering the story is one of the core elements of the game... excuse? Whatever, if you think so.

No matter how much you'll bash the game and support each other with QFTs, it won't change the fact that in the area of MxO's events and storyline, you two are nothing short of ignoramuses who base opinions on lack of knowledge and observation.

Baff is someone who will adhere to his false and ludicrous opinions no matter how hard he's disproved, because he admittedly isn't open for being proven anything.

So please, continue supporting each other - it'll have more of an entertainment value than informative value, if you know what I mean.