Player housing in new MMOs

[namelessone]

So, SWTOR announced new digital expansion that focuses on player housing. WoW is making Garrisons, after countless threads demanding player housing. Other MMOs like LOTRO are ahead of the curve, having had some form of player houses since launch.

I just can't find the appeal in player housing in the "theme park" MMOs. It will inevitably be an instance. Sure, you might invite people in, but for some reason the instance part just ruins it for me. I remember back in Ultima (and SWG) days, the main appeal of player housing was staking the real claim over a piece of the game world. You'd build a house and it'd actually BE there. Not a portal to lead to your own little demiplane, but an honest to goodness virtual house in a virtual world - it was a BIG DEAL. Furthermore, since a land on which to build was scarce, there was value in virtual real estate. But when devs can just whip up thousand more instances of a house on a whim, cost feels arbitrary. In some ways, LOTRO tried to capture this feel by creating instanced "neighborhoods" instead of individual houses - but it still felt lackluster.

In any case, I've no idea why I'm making this post. Are you excited about player housing in MMOs and in games in general?

[Stevecow]

I also can't find the appeal in player housing. I guess people want to hang out in their in game houses instead of in game cities. Either way, apparently people want it and who am I to tell them their ideal is lame and a waste of time.

[WarpedAcorn]

It all has to do with customization and affecting a piece of the game world...making a difference. Virtual homes provide a way to control a piece of the environment (even if its instanced) and make it yours.

[Theosis]

With some games the housing was a very good thing. Imagine a place you could show off your armor sets and favorite weapons. In one game you could host pvp events and have games. This is a good thing. but if you have a house just for a pixel bed and a "bank" then it is not worth my time.

[Arkenaw]

Housing is a waste of resources. I've never understood the appeal. Dedicated design and sim games do it better.

[Terahertz]

I'm sorry, but how are Garrison's to be seen as player housing? I fail to see that. Player Housing means you have a house you can decorate exactly as you see fit.

Back on topic: reason why people, including me, want or like player housing, is because it's an activity you can do when you're bored. It's also a tiny space that's -yours-. I used to LOVE construction in RuneScape, and it's actually one of those things that keeps dragging me back to that game.

With some games the housing was a very good thing. Imagine a place you could show off your armor sets and favorite weapons. In one game you could host pvp events and have games. This is a good thing. but if you have a house just for a pixel bed and a "bank" then it is not worth my time.

You must be talking about RuneScape here, with the dungeons and minigames and all ;D

I agree, it would be fun if there were more housing activities like that. Being able to organize PvP events and do minigames would be fun in WoW.

[xuros]

I loved my characters house in EQ2. Had the mistmoore prestige home and all of the toons on my account would put up their home items for decoration. Looked very nice. Made a armory with all of the trophies from lore and legend quests and had all of my characters mythical weapons on the wall. Too bad the raiding went to shit.

[Tock20]

My idea would be put it in the city, and the inside is your instanced house, but the "front porch" area (should be kinda large, like between the AH and Bank in the Trade district) would be a mingling area for everyone (no mounts allowed). Make it a fun area, with some "local" music, and maybe some entertainment acts. And don't allow people to que from inside their homes.

[zealo]

While i still played Runescape i actually enjoyed how their player housing system worked, as it tied in both with the economy and the rest of the game with resources and actual construction of items and rooms, if it works well in SWTOR depends on how much effort and design planning the developers are willing to invest in it.

[Thotor]

Housing is a waste of resources. I've never understood the appeal. Dedicated design and sim games do it better.

Same here. I really wonder why dev have such fantasy about it. It is was the biggest waste on FFXIV - it made end game content release way later than it should have been.

[MrSerious]

It all has to do with customization and affecting a piece of the game world...making a difference. Virtual homes provide a way to control a piece of the environment (even if its instanced) and make it yours.

I think the issue here is because it is instanced it doesn't really sit within the game world. No one will ever see your garrison unless you invite people in. I really wouldn't be interested in other peoples garrison only mine. Sure it can seen as new content but I see it as more of a gimmick than anything else. You have the same layout and same place buildings on the same preset locations.. hardly a massive selection of customization.

Good for some, boring waste of time for others... but one it doesn't do is make a difference.

[Valeron]

Housing is a waste of resources. I've never understood the appeal. Dedicated design and sim games do it better.

god forbid mmos have something available other than combat sims

[Deleted]

I'd prefer guild halls instead.

[melodramocracy]

It's nothing new in the genre.... for some players it's a nice mini-game to get involved in, but I don't ever view it as a huge selling point. If they were actually important (ie, there was no alternative bank, for example), it might be a different story.

[Champagne Supernova]

I'd think player housing would be a nice feature to add to games regarding that it's done right. If it was a system that's similar to Runescape's construction skill or technology such as the map maker from the Timesplitters games.(Link- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XJbfZaXtvs) In other words, give players the tools to build a unique instance just for them, that way players can build content for themselves. Could be fun for all players whether you prefer PvP or PvE, Things such as build your own PvP duelling arena, or build your own raid/dungeon. I don't see why hardly any mmo's take on some sandbox elements and apply them, in my opinion, that's the way forward for the genre.

[Kelimbror]

Haven't played a game with a perfect balance of what I enjoy versus difficulty in using the feature. LotRO has too litte, Rift has way too much. Garrisons will not be a housing feature, but a town building and hybrid resource gathering system. In any case I think it and more features like it are needed in modern MMOs.

[Clockwork Pinkie]

No because they desire me to get more gold than I'll ever be able to obtain, or keep, or hold onto. And once I get it, I foresee me never using it, ever.

[mvaliz]

I also can't find the appeal in player housing. I guess people want to hang out in their in game houses instead of in game cities. Either way, apparently people want it and who am I to tell them their ideal is lame and a waste of time.

No... they want a base to organize and set stuff up, to make their own little "palace" or shop as a form of reward. You know, the thing that ASPIRES you to go out of the house and play the game, just as getting money aspires you to go out of your RL house? (well, for most... work from home doesn't have to deal with that so much :P)

[kail]

I always thought housing works best in sandbox games, usually provides the use of a safe-haven. That and location within the game-world actually maters.

Otherwise it's seems like another series of mini-games.

[unholytestament]

Housing is a waste of resources. I've never understood the appeal. Dedicated design and sim games do it better.

Guess we better toss out anything that isn't unique to MMORPGs since other games do it better.

Wait. What is unique to MMORPGs?