EVE General Discussion

1. It has to be a topic I enjoy. I like spaceships.
2. In game freedom and continuity. Not being able to enter a new area because I'm not lvl 20 is crap. I should be able to enter but don't cuz I know I will get owned. Why is the game over at lvl80? I'm not playing cuz leveling up is fun. Don't even get me started on multiserver. Single shard is the only way to go.
3. Meta game. Where else can you gather thousands of people together and carve out an empire to stand against other empire?

Content, most importantly content, there's a plateau at somepoint some content is inaccessible due to the fact of the PVP aspects of the MMO, now not to start a big fight or nothing it's just a fact that at somepoint a PVE'er will just not go to places that are camped 23.5 hrs of an eve day, this is when you begin to do the same missions, sites, and content and then it becomes a grind at that point, then as time goes on the game begins to lose it's value keeping you less and less entertained so you begin to log in less and less until your interest move elsewhere, at somepoint some players return after a break but again the entertainment value is even more fleeting then before.

As far as social aspects it is not necessarily a big thing to a PVE'er but to a PVP'er this is pretty important due to the nature of their style of game play, hearing fimilar voices and views gives a sence of belonging and this would keep someone seeking it out over and over again even if it means gate camping for hours shooting the CHT.

Time consumption would be more important let's say to someone who enjoys putting puzzles together it would engage them into concentration thus they lose themselves in what they are doing, to a PVE'er / PVP'er this type of time consumption is not at the top of the list as most of these types like more of a wham bam play style.

Lastly I would add this, griefing is a problem in many MMO's it drives people away from games because it's like having agreeing to have sex but you have to pull out before the reward, doing this over and over most people would just move on because the lack of completion

To topic. Not really sure, but my favourite online games of all time are Ultima Online, Darkfall and Eve. So it must be the interactive world, enough sand in the box and the excitement you get for having to risk something constantly.

Edit: Off topic part removed, CCP Phantom

For me to commit to a game I really need to be impressed by the chars/skills/stats design... In EvE's case it is the most awesome skill training that makes me commit...

If the chars/skills/stats are not to my liking I would find it hard to continue playing the game.

The continuing sense of accomplishment and an adjustable level of difficulty.
The opportunity to customize the game play to suit me and what i have to work with.
The challenge never really ends. There is always another one waiting.
The opportunity to play solo and/or with others.
The variety of players but not an abundance of immature players.
Being able to grow with an increase in skills and abilities.
Having long term and short term rewards available.
Having dangerous places that can cost you dearly if you make a mistake but reward you for the risk.
Having secure places where you can relax and recoup losses and/or become prosperous.
I like choices and stability in the game.
Small changes to fix problems and improve game play is OK, so long as it doesn't change the basic nature of the game or trivialize past accomplishments.
And i suppose i like to be able to play the game my way and not have to do what everyone else is doing because if i don't i can't win.
I want to enjoy the playing of the game not just the winning.
I like a little role playing. I like to be able to pretend my avatars are real not toons.

If I had to list it out what I believe drives game commitment, in order:

Achievement - I have to be able to achieve something, have both short, middle and long term goals that are challenging and rewarding to accomplish. This is actually really important. A lot of games have 'achievement' systems - these are largely ridiculous in nature. Instead I would compare it to someone building a 5 year career plan.

1.) I want to consistently work towards the next goal. The goal needs to be meaningful and achieving it needs to be rewarding, both in accomplishing it and its effect on how I play.

2.) My goals need to be hard to achieve. Goals that just 'achieve themselves' over time are worthless for a real sense of satisfaction (i.e. 'Gnome Slayer - Kill 10,000 gnomes - grants you a title Kid-Kicker' would be a lame achievement). Jumping into your first battleship is an awesome feeling after you have spent months working up to that point both financially and in skill training.

3.) My goals need to be adjustable to me, how I like to play and what I want to get out of my avatar in a game. I don't want some handed down manuscript of some developers plan for me. I want my path forward to be my own.

Community -

1.) I want a community that actually motivates me to play. I want people I can interact with that I would call peers. I don't want to see faceless people who are just pixels on a screen. I want the personality, the social interaction that I could just as easily find at a pub or among friends.

2.) A big part of having a community to play with is having people working together. I want a sense of people relying on me and people I can rely on. I shouldn't just be a random 'warm body' needed to fill a slot in a 40 man raid. I want to be an active and needed contributor towards a larger goal or direction. Achieving something as a cohesive team is addictive and personally rewarding.

Content - Stagnation is death in games. Change is also death if the change is either unbalanced or negatively impacts existing gameplay. Content updates must be regular and the content added needs to affect as much of the player base as possible. Additionally, the content needs to meet the needs of current players and further the functionality of the game. A major content update should be a 'game changer' but it should be a positive 'game changer' that enhances or expands the game - adding new tasks and direction for veteran players to go and adding yet another potential goal set for new players.

Loss - A game without loss is cheapened. Suffering catastrophic loss is a terrible heartbreak, but it also sweeten every achievement and every success. In many MMO's getting 1,000 killing blows against players is a 'so-so achievement' that just earns itself with time and a modicum of skill. In a game like EVE where you are going to fight with everything you have for every single one of those kills, the value of getting them is magnified immensely.

**Edit: All of the above adds up to achieving a real, personal connection to both my character, my community or team and satisfying the personal need to feel like I 'did something.' If I happen to get a laugh out stomping out someone's dream along the way, that is just me enjoying the fact that it isn't me this time having my dreams kicked away.

These, I believe, summarize what I would call the most important elements behind me seriously committing to a game long term.

Hi capsulers

Thank you for the great replies ...

Many of you came with good arguments that support what I have done in research on game commitment.

There were two of you that really stood out James Jarl Retief and Corvus Vanisek
after considering the content of your posts. I found one of you had more relevant topics
to contribute.

Therefore the winner of the reward is ...

Corvus Vanisek

Congratz and thanks to all and the trolls too ... :)

Stating "Community" is such a simple and easy answer. There's so much more involved than just that.

Size of the player community is only partially important in comparison to the tools and willingness for players to communicate with each other. There's PLENTY of MMOs out there that have a decent size community, but it feels much smaller because nobody talks or groups up to do anything.

WoW is especially suffering from this problem. There's lots and lots of players, but they're so obnoxiously annoying that everyone just ends up blocking each other. Jita is a great blessing for EvE Online because players chat it up all the time in local (once you block all the scammers and isk spammers of course).

Most new MMOs have a lot of players in the beginning but nobody talks to each other. Everyone just sort of does their own thing solo. No human interaction at all. I believe that's why some MMOs fail or drop hard.

The number one factor for me is the evolution of the game.

It won't matter if the social aspect is fun and you make a lot of friends, if the graphics are insanely brilliant, or if the game is something that no one has ever thought of before. If the game gets stagnant and does not evolve to keep a players interest you can take your friends with you and go find something new.

If the game evolves and adds new features and new challenges and continues to be fresh and exciting, then I will continue to stay.

Question : "What is the most important factor in game commitment for you in online games ?"

Badly worded question.