Disconnected gamers: endangered species

Before all these MMORPGs or online gaming, there were games where one can play on his or her own console or PC and still have a blast. Now, with internet broadband and Wi-Fi all around us, players of these types of games are disappearing fast. Nick of Aeropause explains why.

First, Nick defines the “Disconnected gamer” as a person with no broadband internet, or is socially disconnected with others and prefers to beat an entire game, unlocking another level or feature.

No broadband, no online gaming. According to him, dial up online players might as well be playing offline. It used to be that multiplayer internet gaming was just another feature, now it’s one of the more integral parts. There are even some where the single player mode is nothing short of a tutorial. When going online, it is better if one has a really fast internet connection to level the playing field.

An additional benefit of getting broadband is that gamers can download patches or new content, thus adding more shelf-life to their games. He sums it up by saying, “It’s not too hard to imagine that a console without an internet connection will soon be as useless as a computer without an internet connection is today.”

Being friendly ensures your survival. So far, it is becoming the norm as we reported a few weeks ago. Most online games today like WOW and EverQuest II, encourage joining guilds or groups in order to finish a mission or quest. It also means trading and talking with other gamers to get the best items in the game. We find it almost hard to imagine surviving a dungeon filled with monsters and a gigantic boss at the end without any high level items, equipment, or buddies to help.

What will the angsty loner do to assert their personality? The writer suggested joining an independent game developing scene. He predicts that some might even try running programs on their own servers and play games there. If gaming goes mainstream, the lone, disconnected gamer will go the dinosaur’s way: extinct.

Do you agree with the writer’s perspective? Is online gaming the only way to go? Will stand-alone games disappear as he said? We’d like to read your thoughts on this subject. You can give your comment below.

Via Aeropause

Before all these MMORPGs or online gaming, there were games where one can play on his or her own console or PC and still have a blast. Now, with internet broadband and Wi-Fi all around us, players of these types of games are disappearing fast. Nick of Aeropause explains why.

First, Nick defines the “Disconnected gamer” as a person with no broadband internet, or is socially disconnected with others and prefers to beat an entire game, unlocking another level or feature.

No broadband, no online gaming. According to him, dial up online players might as well be playing offline. It used to be that multiplayer internet gaming was just another feature, now it’s one of the more integral parts. There are even some where the single player mode is nothing short of a tutorial. When going online, it is better if one has a really fast internet connection to level the playing field.

An additional benefit of getting broadband is that gamers can download patches or new content, thus adding more shelf-life to their games. He sums it up by saying, “It’s not too hard to imagine that a console without an internet connection will soon be as useless as a computer without an internet connection is today.”

Being friendly ensures your survival. So far, it is becoming the norm as we reported a few weeks ago. Most online games today like WOW and EverQuest II, encourage joining guilds or groups in order to finish a mission or quest. It also means trading and talking with other gamers to get the best items in the game. We find it almost hard to imagine surviving a dungeon filled with monsters and a gigantic boss at the end without any high level items, equipment, or buddies to help.

What will the angsty loner do to assert their personality? The writer suggested joining an independent game developing scene. He predicts that some might even try running programs on their own servers and play games there. If gaming goes mainstream, the lone, disconnected gamer will go the dinosaur’s way: extinct.

Do you agree with the writer’s perspective? Is online gaming the only way to go? Will stand-alone games disappear as he said? We’d like to read your thoughts on this subject. You can give your comment below.

Via Aeropause