Whether you’re a fan of PvE or PvP we can all agree that for most of us the endgame is when the real fun starts. For PvE players this is when you start hitting up the big dungeons and raids. PvP players can start fighting on a much larger scale, massive guild vs guild battles or keep sieges depending on what game your playing. But before we can reach endgame content we are forced to play through a lengthy campaign whos main purpose is to level your character.
As a MMO publisher one of the reasons to do this is to get gamers to play as long as possible. If you can get to the endgame content in a few hrs, you might only end up playing for a month or two before quiting, unless you actually like the game. However if it takes 100-200 hrs it’ll take you a few months just to get to the level cap, then maybe another month or two before you get board. Which is basically what happend to me with Warhammer Online, 3 months to reach the level cap, then another 6 weeks before I got bored with the PvP endgame. That 5 months payment they got out of me instead of what probably would have been one or two, since its PvP endgame wasn’t very good.
From the developers perspective, I’d think not having to create thousands of quests would allow for more time to work on endgame content. Perhaps the problems Age of Conan and Warhammer Online had with its endgame could have been averted. But instead, developers are creating pointless quests that no one really wants to do. I’m not saying all quests are boring, but most are. Kill x monters, collect x bear skins or deliver this or that aren’t quests that anyone wants to do. They’re easy, boring and only a time-sink.
As a gamer I do want something before reaching the endgame, but not 100-200 hrs worth of something. A 10-20 hr storyline that takes you through the maps, teaches you how to use your character and gets you some decent gear is what I’d like before being able to partake in endgame content, especially for MMORPGs that concentrate on PvP. Playing through 100+ hrs of lame quests only to realize that the endgame PvP sucks, sucks.
Finally….something on this blog that makes sense.
I think we all want that.
But, how do they do it?
Guild Wars knew how to do this…wish more would follow that style of game!
Openedge1, you might be right about guildwars, too bad it required to much from a party just to level. It was a pain in the ass trying to get through the campaign behind the curve. Even after factions with the real NPC allies.
I just started paying EVE, and I must say its nice to not have an “endgame” and still be working towards something at the same time. Too bad the learning curve is so steep. But maybe that’s what keep out a lot (but definatly not all) of the annoying players.
Funny that.
Whenever I reach end level my remaining play time is measured in hours, not days. Whether I will roll an alt or quit depends on the quality of the content up to end-level stuff.