EPTevery so often i wake up from a dream (i have fantastic lucid dreams) or think of a concept or imagine something fantastic (a storyline or some scenes in an anime) and wish i could direct it into a movie or animation.
i think this is a reason why people love MMOs so much. the fantasy of being a warrior or priest or assassin in a real-life play or anime... i think people forget rather quickly, when they consider MMOs, that the positive emotions felt by playing them are not just "result-orientated" (grinding), but are also very strongly emotions of role-play.
whether it be role-playing a weak person who becomes increasingly strong and then a masterful powerhouse...or role-playing a particular character such as a devious assassin....or simply role-playing an adventurer in a foreign and lustrious land.
for me, the role-play element seems to be forgotten when people talk of MMOs. they want to know what its like to quest or grind or what things there are to do in end-game or how PK works. thats all very fine and dandy, but for me it has always been about freedom and role-playablity.
my favourite graphical MMO was Vanguard, even though i only played for a few hours on someone elses superior machine. VG had the best character-customisation i'd seen (bone structures etc) , and the world was realistic and open for infinite roaming. there were no instances - you could walk for miles and miles, and when you couldnt walk any further you could construct your own ship and sail across the sea.
i am still waiting for the ultimate MMO. one with an open world bound by no flight-paths or teleportation stones or instanced battlegrounds or zoning or invulnerable town guards. an MMO where you can live honestly and with freedom to role-play, to explore, to live as you choose.
i know that MUDs and games like UO are geared towards this, but ive had my fill of those and their own restrictions. there is nothing quite like reading the detailed, tailor-written description of thousands of unique rooms and items and then going to bed dreaming of this alternate and beautiful reality.
but im still waiting, for the ultimate next generation MMO. one where i can live out my old dreams again, and not have to shut my eyes and imagine, but to experience it here and now the adventures i wish i could make a movie out of, by living them in a game
