As I’ve finally stepped into the “next-generation” of video games, I have watched friends and foes become obsessed over Massive Multiplayer Online games. This is sort of disenfranchising for a number of reasons, primary the fact that it makes me worry that developers will simply begin relying on humans to do most of the work for them.
Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy playing a few games online, but of these, all are based on games that are single player package as well — Call of Duty 4, Metal Gear Online — these are simply kill ‘em up, shoot ‘em dead sort of randomness that we all know can be more relaxing after a hard day’s work then a spa. What worries me are things like World of Warcraft, Neopets, or whatever other MMO a developer is churning up these days. I use video games to escape reality, to relax, and to enjoy a good plot/gameplay/fun. I don’t want to meet people by doing it — to me video games are much like watching a movie, something I might enjoy doing with friends here and there, but not something I’d do to meet new ones.
The point here is that MMO’s step back the few leaps and bounds that video games have made over the last 25 years. When we finally start getting solid, well written scripts with good/mediocre voice acting, when we finally start getting involved with character development, when we finally start seeing a progression of “higher level” games, when indie developers are getting a chance to develop for console’s — we are being threated by the “human factor.” The human factor isn’t as good as a well written script — some 15-year old in Alburqueque does not having anything interesting to say to me, other than to perhaps call me a “fag,” “noob” tell me how he just “pwned” me or perhaps attack with a racial slur he assuredly doesn’t understand.
I can honestly say that I don’t want human interaction in video games. I don’t care about mic support, text support or any of the other hub-bub. I want well written, engaging video games that spend more than 20 minutes coming up with a plot, one that they might not have ripped off from a ’60s sci-fi pulp.
Really, all that King Thor cares about is this: Keep on making your MMO’s, but don’t think for a second that humans will ever replace a quality, interesting A.I. Take Metal Gear Solid for example — if those guards had any intelligence, if they responded like real human beings? The game wouldn’t be fun or funny.
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