TOPIC: The gaming community is changing. Is the industry following?
I've read an interesting article on Massively Overpowered that I would like to discuss with you. You can read the full article for yourself, it's not very long.It is very clear that MMORPGS have evolved along the years, and it's very clear too that there is a part of the MMORPG community that is unsatisfied with the current games on the market, or are seeking another experience. As MMORPGs take a long time and a lot of resources to be developed, there is a gap between the community's needs and desires and the games being released. This is why we have had several years of absolute stagnancy, with only few titles striving, and now all of sudden a new generation of MMORPGs is releasing new titles after new titles.
What we can observe with MMORPG such as Crowfall, New World, Ashes of Creation, Pantheon, Palia, and obviously our game Embers Adrift, each of those games are offering their own take, their very own perspective, and their very own answers to the current unsatisfaction of the MMORPG gaming community. And, because each of them brings a different take, players will be able to choose what suits their needs or their mood much better than they could do in the past.
These new games have shifted focus; they are much more targeted than before. There is less effort being spent on pleasing a large audience in favor of providing a unique experience to a more specific audience. Some of these new MMORPGs focus on PvP, others on PvE, and still others on a more crafting and chilling vibe - all of these are good for the future of MMORPGs!Clearly, players are not wishing for the same things as they were 20 years ago or even 10 years ago. The success of The Elder Scrolls Online or Final Fantasy XIV are largely due to their ability to offer relaxing, chill, wholesome content to their players. And the fact that a MMORPG that focuses on getting along with your neighbours and cultivating your garden is being developed is also very significant.
Is it due to the first generations of MMORPG players reaching a certain maturity in their life? Have we reached the stage of the gamer retirement home as certain MMORPGs are specifically designed for an aging community? Or, is it due to something else, something a bit more subtle and more profound?
My opinion
This is my take on things: Not only has the gaming community aged (while several new generations of gamers have arrived), but also the world is changing... In recent times, and especially last year, we've seen these changes happening very fast. It is exhausting, and a lot of us need to constantly re-adjust in our real lives. For most of us gaming is a way of escaping the harsh realities of the world. Maybe in the past gamers were looking to break feelings such as boredom, lack of purpose, and loneliness, and for that exciting, adventurous, and challenging games were perfect to meet those needs of engagement that people may have been lacking in the real world. Now that life has become more challenging and the world is more threatening, we may not want to take refuge in games that are introducing us to more stress and adrenaline. More and more gamers just want to escape to beautiful worlds, interesting stories, or relax with calm activities such as crafting. More and more gamers are aspiring to find drama-free communities rather than competitive environments. And more and more gamers aspire to bond with others in games.
You can see that there is a common point between all MMORPGS I have mentioned above, and despite all of their differences, COMMUNITY is a big focus in all of them. All those titles want to bring back the experience of a striving, dynamic community and each of them addresses the needs of a different community. Community is exactly the main focus of Embers Adrift and the core of our game. We want YOU to use our game to make friends and wonderful memories together!
To me it feels like the gaming community is softening, in a beautiful way. I do not believe this is due to a part of the community ageing, but rather that the world is changing outside and we are changing within more than ever. This is part of a deeper change in humankind and it is beginning to show in the gaming community in a very clear way. I always found gaming, and especially MMORPGs, to be the best tool to observe human behaviours. We are living interesting times... The gaming community has expanded a lot in the last twenty years. What was once a very niche and very nerdy hobby has become something mainstream and accessible to almost everyone in all corners of the world. Therefore, obviously, as there are more players, there are many more personalities, more points of view, interests, cultures, needs, and desires. The gaming industry needs to adapt to the wants of an ever growing, ever diversifying, ever evolving community.
This was a very hippie discussion! But hey, that's only my opinion. What is your take guys? What do you think?
Is it a topic that interests you as much as it does me? This is the exact reason why I'm passionate about MMORPGS!