An example of why I avoid online-heavy games

[Flake]

From Kotaku: http://kotaku.com/5674721/when-an-mmo-dies

tl;dr version: A text book explanation of the liabilities investing yourself in any mmo game. Whereas a standalone game can be enjoyed infinitely until the hardware needs to be replaced, there are a number of variables in play in determining how long an mmo will be playable. When an mmo closes down it sucks for players and developers alike.

Flake says: This is a big part of the reason why I haven't embraced the majority of this gens gaming platforms or marquee titles.

[ProfessorK]

That was a good read. I played WoW for a while but quit when I had no life outside it. I played it all day and only drank WoW game fuel. Had to have one to start the day or I got a caffeine headache. Bad stuff.

Seriously, what are some people going to do when WoW goes down? I mean, it has to happen sometime, right?

[JordanPlayer]

The only game that I can say I have done this with is Unreal Tournament 2004 (FPS). There is a single-player portion of the game but it was built for multiplayer. I joined an online community, joined a clan, practiced, played competitive matches, etc. There were some great times and I still visit the community forums/website to this day; just recently we have actually started planning to play every other weekend... it's nice seeing all the old guys from back in the day. The game can still exist though because people host their own servers and there isn't a reliance on support from the developers.

[fastbilly1]

The article is mostly about MMOS though. If anything games that have online components have been shown that if the community is dedicated enough that they can live forever. I have three good examples:
1. Tribes 2 - when the master listing server for multiplayer games went down, the community made their own.
2. Descent - Descent 1-3 still have monthly map packs released by the fandom. Descent 1 came out in 1995
3. Phantasy Star Online - Schthack is all that really needs to be said. Private PSO server that you can play with any version but the Xbox one.

A few MMOS have received the private server treatment - Ultima Online, Everquest, Earth and Beyond, but once an MMO goes down, odds are its gone. And I liked Auto Assault. It was like Car Battler Joe online, or Twisted Metal with upgrades and missions.

[Flake]

I rather think it (after a fashion) applies to non-MMO's with a heavy online component as well. Take the closing down of the original Xbox Live this year. A lot of gamers had built quite a life for themselves on games like Halo 2.

It's interesting when a game like Halo 17 comes out and gets lauded for its online features - isn't half that game going to just disappear one day?

[fastbilly1]

Console online is different than pc online, Ill give you that. BUT if a console game is created properly, the vast chunk of it is still playable in LAN mode. Ie most, if not all of, Halo Reach's online is playable on LAN just aswell as online.

[Para]

Seriously, what are some people going to do when WoW goes down? I mean, it has to happen sometime, right?

Judging from their previous games, WoW should still be up and running long after the majority of people don't care about it anymore.

Besides, Blizzard is already working on another non-WoW related MMO and I really wouldn't be surprised if in five years they made WoW2 or something along those lines.

[ProfessorK]

Seriously, what are some people going to do when WoW goes down? I mean, it has to happen sometime, right?

Judging from their previous games, WoW should still be up and running long after the majority of people don't care about it anymore.

Besides, Blizzard is already working on another non-WoW related MMO and I really wouldn't be surprised if in five years they made WoW2 or something along those lines.

Ah yeah. That's a good point. Blizzard is one company that probably won't leave WoW loyalists high and dry. Not after the level of support its gotten, anyway.

[Lord Huggington]

I'm still a bit of a WoW player, but this has gotten me thinking that one day, all my effort in that game will be gone, and I'm not too happy about it. I may very well start drifting back toward single player RPGs as a result. Even if there were to be a WoW 2, I'd be starting from scratch I suspect (it would be a big surprise if we could import our characters from the original WoW).

Recently started replaying KotOR, and Mass Effect, and have a stack of DS games I still need to get through (Infinite Space, gooooooooo!). At least with single player games, I have a fighting chance to save my data indefinitely, not so much with an MMO.

[Regginmad]

I find it to be the opposite really. I'll spend money on an online game, before I spend money on a single player game Because a single player game wont lose any content over the years. So i'll buy the online multiplayer game new and wait for single player games to hit the bargain bin