4 ms·
I have a theory that wiki sites are what killed the WoW MMO formula, rather than mechanics fatigue. Players descend like locusts, then optimize and share their
by somehnacct3757 5y ago
I have a theory that wiki sites are what killed the WoW MMO formula, rather than mechanics fatigue.
Players descend like locusts, then optimize and share their builds until they discover some emergent tug of war or rock paper scissors meta.
What remains is a cat & mouse game between players and developers, to find the reductive meta and then patch the game to shake it up. The players are highly coordinated thanks to wikis, and they consume content quicker than devs can create it. So the business model is no longer viable.
- kitsunesoba 5y agoI think that's probably correct. Perhaps the only way to combat such an effect is some combination of reducing the game's competitiveness (so being optimized isn't as important to begin with) and elements of nondeterminism in the game's combat systems, making it much more difficult or impossible to pin down a "most correct" build.
- somehnacct3757 5y agoPlayers tend to hate randomness in PvP; they use the pejorative 'RNG'. PvE games increasingly monetize with social proofing, but this can create a sense of PvP even in PvE content. E.g. players get mad that the wizard class isn't as viable as the rogue class. Your first strategy might explain the emerging success of sandbox games and battle royale games.