Downloading LOTRO. Which MMO is truly the best?

So I find myself downloading LOTRO. I think I’m bored. This must be the only reason as I have dabbled in LOTRO many years ago and since have delved into a wealth of MMOs of different types over the years, but have never stuck it out on any one specifically for an exceptionally long length of time.

Maybe I’m not the kind of guy for MMOs. Perhaps my attention span warrants a car racing game or a quick-fire shoot-em up. My craving however, that niggling feeling at the back of my mind always maintains. The craving for an MMO, any MMO. Just get me levelling up!

What are your thoughts and do you have any preference over MMOs? I note that all MMOs tend to follow the same basic structure, however they all have their unique selling points (most, at least).

What Is The Formula In Making A Long-Standing MMO?

There are various different aspects that affect the longevity of an MMO and when it's date with imminent death is. These include:

- The game becomes stale (same old stuff, just remade in a slightly different way)
- No user support or very little
- Playerbase never takes off so it doesn't last outside of a year
- Competition
- No unique selling point

Take a look at the below article which tells us more about what Guild Wars 2 is planning to do going forward to try and maintain their playerbase. The factors they discuss are fairly common sense, however, even with the best laid plans it may still prove futile.

http://uk.ign.com/articles/2013/03/07/how-guild-wars-2-plans-to-survive

This is because the MMO genre can be very fickle, purely because there are so many options available. It's very easy to be able to move onto different adventures.

So what makes an MMO stick? What do you love about your favourite MMO that means you aren't easily deferred onto something else?

Moving Between MMOs

MMOs are by far, my favourite genre of game, however with the abundance of different ones out there, how do you choose just one (or two).

I have played various MMOs but have never been able to stick to one in particular. The pure choice itself can be overwhelming and because there are so many, each one fights for our attention and picks at your curiosity with a new mechanic, or interesting new take (although most just work off the same general idea anyway). I have played many MMOs, including the below and many more:

- WoW
- Rift
- Allods Online
- Darkfall
- Secret World
- Guild Wars 1 and 2
- LOTRO
- Star Trek Online
- SWTOR

No one has managed to grab my attention to the fullest, and it will only be a matter of time until I move on to the next big thing. I'm a sucker for a good, or sometimes appalling MMO. Is it just me or does anybody else dart around them?

Free To Play vs Subscriptions

We may be at a turning point, not only in the MMO genre, but with gaming overall. Whether it be with the majority of MMOs now turning towards a free to play model, rather than the regular financial support of a subscription, or with the same model being adopted now into the casual gaming market (such as FarmVille and the many other apps out there).

So what is best, is the future bright when it comes to a free to play model? The only game that appears to of avoided this is WoW (yes it may be free to play up until level 20 but that isn't any good for anybody), and it is still going strong.

Surely we still get the same content updates and user support across both platforms, as of course, ultimately the company is still getting their money, whether this be through advertising, in game purchases or subscription fees.

- Guild Wars 2 vs WoW
- LOTRO vs Rift

Personally, nothing will beat the subscription as there just seems to be more effort put in. What I don't agree with however is games which ask for a subscription fee but then still prompt you for in game purchases.. for shame..