One of the hottest things to hit the gaming world today is the concept of Massive Multiplayer Role Playing Games (MMORPGs). More and more people today are jumping on to the MMORPG bandwagon, and there are a number of reasons for the massively increasing popularity of these games. However, every good thing has a negative aspect to it, and the same is the case with MMORPGs. In this article, we will discuss the dark side associated with MMORPGs.
One of the most frequent complaints from players of games like Star Wars Galaxies and EverQuest is that they continue playing the games even when they have lost interest totally in the game itself. Players say they continue to play because they have formed some kind of an addiction to the games in question. This is a serious issue, especially given the fact that MMORPGs are slowly becoming the most popular form of gaming worldwide.
One of the first problems associated with MMORPGs is the cost factor associated with playing the game online. While game operators manage this cost by passing it on to the players in the form of a monthly fee or a subscription charge, this may not be the only cost for the players. As a player, you would have to also factor in the cost of the CD itself, along with the expansion packs. While the cost itself may not be phenomenal, the fact that you could buy at least three-four computer games with no subscription fee is a definite pointer to the high cost associated with MMORPGs.
Other things weighing in on the negative side when it comes to MMORPGs include computer crashes and lags. These are problems that every computer user faces, but in the case of MMORPG players, the frustration levels can be higher. Imagine you are on the verge of a huge victory, and suddenly the persistent world servers come crashing down. In some situations this can cost you an entire session of the game you are playing. In the case of games like Counter-Strike, you have the option of jumping to another server if the one you are playing on crashes. However, this option is not available to you in a MMORPG. Even if you have the option of jumping from one server to another, it is not easy to do so.
Again, imagine you are playing a MMORPG, and your machine crashes. By the time you reboot and get the show on the road again, your game could almost be over. These are some of the problems related to computer crashes and lags you may face while playing MMORPGs.
Another major problem that gamers playing MMORPGs frequently face is with relation to customer service. When you are playing an MMORPG, you are essentially spending money, and you definitely want to ensure the operators have systems in place that can handle faults and issues effectively and promptly. The problem with this is as the popularity of a game increases, it becomes increasingly tough ensure the best customer service for each customer. While game developers may initially look to offset this issue by hiring more customer support executives, the exponential rate at which more people take to an online game makes it almost impossible to ensure one n one service for each customer.
These are some of the problems associated with online gaming today. While none of these problems are critical or life threatening, they are enough to make you wish at times that you had stuck to simpler games that allowed hassle-free play.
