Motivation makes everything better… right ?

~ by Jim B. on 10/24/08

“Does corporate ownership of a MMO affect the quality of one’s narrative experience?”

I would say so. Because a corporation has as its primary goal the accumulation of lots and lots of $$moolah$$, it embraces almost any opportunity to increase sales. Now, depending on the game being marketed, this motivation can have either a positive or negative effect on the quality of in-game narration or storylines.

For example, in a game whose target audience enjoys more fast-paced action and fewer “interruptions,” a company will increase subscriptions by lowering narrative quality (or removing narration altogether). On the other hand, a company aiming to attract players who enjoy an involved storyline will be motivated to include more creative elements in its game.

In this way, it is in the best interests of an MMO corporation to please the majority of its playerbase. This may not always be evident, because the company must also maintain a stable system of challenges and rewards in order to retain existing subscribers.

As for me, I’m going to try something new today: WordPress poll ! We’ll see if I can make it work. I’m interested to know which type of MMO our readers would/do prefer. Heeeeere goes. . .

Please vote ! :D Thanks.

~ by jlb08 on October 24, 2008.