World of Warcraft has always been a very "care bear" MMO. Everything is easy and getting easier, nothing bad really happens, and there are very minor penalties for death. That being said, when this event started, I wasn't sure what to make of it. By the end of the event, I loved it. It was fantastic. It forced people to actually pay attention and it made people have an actual concern of safety. I hope/wish this even would continue in some zones of the expansion, but I realize it's unlikely.
I do feel the pain of the newbies though. During the invasion I was attempting to level both my alts and my wifes alts. I could be frustrating at times, but one thing I learned was that most of the people complaining about it, were people who just wanted to make it harder on themselves. People who were either brand new to the game without preconceived ideas of how it should play, and people willing to roll with the changes, had little problem avoiding major cities and just doing their quests. In fact, it added a level of excitement that the game had started to lack after the first few years of play.
Plague or Treat?
Plagued if you do, damned if you don't!
One of the most amazing things about these fantastic games we play is the storyline. All too often though, as much as players are told they can influence and affect the world around them, they're relegated to the position of audience instead of storyteller.
The Lich King, Arthas himself, brought pain and suffering to the people of Azeroth this last week flinging zombies upon the world to create havoc and chaos. It seems that while some players embraced the opportunity to become part of the event, others found their play times disrupted. However, for every player that was frustrated by the invasion, as many found themselves enjoying Blizzard's creativity.
Players fought the zombies mercilessly, but succumbed to a zombie curse themselves once they found their target slain. While normally factions can not fight each other, the zombie plague allowed anyone zombieified to attack any non-zombie player. This led to griefing, in some instances by higher level players on their own allies.
The frustration, for most players, came from the fact that they were forced to participate, whether they consented to the battles or not. Participation came with sky high repair bills for armor and equipment, after multiple deaths in many cases, adding to the angst and defeat of those who wanted no part.
Those who embraced the event found themselves either infecting zombie-ism across the land, or curing zombies to bring them back to their normal state. The battle raged on across the lands, and, in a twist that excited almost everyone, players of Alliance or Horde were unified in their zombie state, and were able to communicate with each other!
So why the hate? Well, for the most part people despise not being able to play the game they're paying for without being hindered in manners they can't choose. It's perfectly understandable really. You log in every night at 7:30, after a long day at work and playing with the kids. You hit the auction house, grab your buddies and head out for the night's adventure.
But before you can even make it out of Stormwind you're attacked and killed 12 times, or turned into a zombie and attacked by others. In fact, it was rumored that the worst issue came from higher level characters sweeping through low level areas and devastating those who couldn't fight back. What fun is that? Trying to buy or sell something? Sorry! Your auction master has been defeated in the plague and will respawn shortly, only to be killed instantly once again.
The call of "I play on a PvE server for a reason" became the calling card of all those who found their playtime disrupted and unenjoyable through no fault of their own. No one enjoys being forced to participate in anything that they don't want, and the great thing about MMOs is that you can always go find something else to do...at least, unless you were playing WoW last week.
For the other folks though, the event is being called the most well put together, implemented, story driven, chaotic, fun event - ever!! There's no way that WoW players don't know that the arrival of the Lich King is imminent, and isn't that the idea behind a "story driven" world? Those who became zombies, or helped fight them off found themselves banded together in common cause and enjoyed a fantastic event that honestly blew everyone in the genre away with creativity and fun.
These folks had a taste of the storytelling that Blizzard is famous across all genres and games for. Who could ask for more?
I guess, in the end, you can't please all the people all of the time. For those who play on PvE servers for a reason I know that Blizzard was only trying to give you a different experience and, obviously, it wasn't appreciated. For the folks who spent the last week or so constantly zombied or healing their fingertips off, know that you took part in an MMO experience that no one has matched, and few are likely to ever try. A true tragedy, honestly.
When events are staged in most MMOs, either by volunteer staff or game masters employed by the studios, carnage and chaos often ensue. It is fair to say that most MMO events call for mobs that are un-killable, and players being killed mercilessly. Oftentimes zones or areas where the event is being staged become overburdened by the amount of people and action and often crash or become so lagged that it's impossible to enjoy the event.
While those who choose to participate could have fun, more often than not those who do not want to participate are sometimes forced, and those who wish to have trouble gaining access to the zone or mobs required as players flock to events.
It's good to see we've moved past that time. Technology and tools are providing events in MMOs much more often now, but the fact remains some players hate some events, and others love them. It's not that much different from tastes in game play styles.
But even now, another WoW event is going on - It's Hallow's End! Trick or Treat, and enjoy the fun - until the next controversial event comes around!
Happy Halloween!
Becky "Tovin" Simpson
Senior Editor, ZAM Network
