First i have to say is i don't see development in a evolutionary way. Like from primitive prehostoric clubswingers to seemingly super intelligent and free beings like we see humans today. You might got me wrong on that one.
The graphics have improved with the new generation of MMORPGS. But I don't say WoW/EQ2/Vanguard have a better gameplay or are better in general. I say they are just different - still they developed.
In general it is worthy to research any expression of culture. Any. There is nothing not worthy to research.
To make an example:
Noone likes grinding still it takes up a huge part of the game. If not the largest. We are "wasting" hours and hours every week doing it. If you would take the grinding out of the context noone would waste his time on something that boring. But then you remember "Ahh right I get experience for it" and around it there is a whole world, so it makes sense again and ends up being fun.
But what exactly is fun about it? Didn't we maybe just all come back only because of nostalgia and we are just ending up with our old habits or addictions again? This might sound sad, so don't pin me down on this please. But I have the same smile on my lips when I think of Everquest like when I think of my first kiss. It wasn't that perfect but hell it was exciting.
I was 12 years old when I started playing EQ and couldn't hardly speak english or had any deeper idea of the gameplay. This world was an dangerous yet adventerous place for me, which was amazingly fun to be explored. And I've really soaked up this world so that I've a damn glorified memory of Everquest, but when I've hit lvl 4 with my bard in Kelelthin at noob ramp after x hours grinding after returning to P99. I started wondering "serious what am I doing here? But I kept going with the though that I've got so much more to see and in the end it isn't that bad..
And that is where the other MMORPGS come into the view. Because if P99 is more than nostalgia and routine there has to be something which this game is offering that none of the other MMORPGs could in the meantime. It might sound simple to you, but it is exactly what I want to hear. Where are the differences? What is so special about Everquest? Not the comparison of Everquest to other MMORPGs is my research interest. But more the function of gratification while playing Everquest and the question why you've returned.
The subjective taste of persons is irrelevante here. I don't care if some people like WoW and some people not. It's not about what the people like. It is about what Everquest is about. What is its spirit?
Maybe I've picked a bad introducing question to make my point clear. But I hope this post helped you to understand my motives and to substantiate the legitimation of the research.
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