MMOre Insight

Even back in 1999 when I first started playing Asheron’s Call ( several months after release) there was a website around that was there to post all of the monthly patch info with all the quest walkthroughs and other new additions to the game. It was a life-saver, it really was. Without that website, it was nearly impossible to find consistent, helpful information in a timely manner when trying to do the quests. It could be done, but it was simply a question of conveniece. You and your guildmates could take several hours trying to do it yourselves, or you could have the whole thing completed in a half an hour with the reward in your pack. Though I never played EQ, it sounds like Allakhazam was the same way (which has expanded since then.) Today we still have Allakhazam, Thottbot, WowHead, etc. that answer virtually every question we have, whether it’s from the actual information they give or the comments posted by players. With this in mind, I guess the question that I’m asking is two-fold:

Are there any players who choose not to use any of this information, and does this add to the immersion and role-playing aspects of the game at all?

I think for me its a question of whether it’s there or not. I love the idea of asking players for help on how to complete a quest, but this also means that a player has to be willing to help me out with an answer. Also, I don’t want to feel like an annoyance or a burden to my friends or guildmates if I need information they have (and likewise, I could see myself being annoyed after answering too many questions.) That said, if I can pop out to a website and get the information in 30 seconds, then I’m going to do that.

Is there a way to actually create a game that would require the aid of other players in gaining information that couldn’t simply be put on a website for all to see? Continuing this line of though, would players be willing to play with a system like this or would they get too frustrated that they couldn’t always find a walkthrough or coordinates or the name of the vendor they need instantly?

Like the last question, it’s something that’s difficult to answer if you aren’t presented with both options. There are times when I can’t find the answer I need and I become frustrated, yet there are times when this lack of a direct answer seems like a nice challenge. This largely depends on my mood, as well as how long it takes me to find the solution.

What do you think? Would you be willing to play a game where answers were more secretive, held closely to the chest? Is this ever going to be possible again?

~Kanthalos