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MMORPG gaming and console gaming have traditionally been thought of as completely separate and different playstyles. As the video game industry progresses however one can see that there are reasons to play both, rather than one sub-genre exclusively. This essay will go over the vast differences, as well as the universal traits that make both these forms of gaming complementary rather than contradictory.

One powerful trait both mmorpg gaming and console gaming share is that of escapism. Research has shown a strong connection between pain and anxiety. In fact, Nationwide Children’s Hospital has put this into practice by helping burn victims. The children play in this virtual reality to distract them from the painful process of healing from burn wounds. Although most would assume a virtual world such as World of Warcraft would be more immersive there are also console games such as Fable which would beg to differ. Here we see a powerful tool of video games, escapism, which unchecked can lead to an unhealthy obsession with the virtual worlds.

A driving force of the mmorpg gaming industry is progression. Progression via game is slightly diffferent but most deal with ones virtual character leveling up skills, stats, and equipment referred to as gear. This progression leads to a deeper immersion associated with most console games that can usually be played for a day, turned off, and turned on a month later. With mmorpg games however, the world around you continues whether or not you are progressing. If you aren’t progressing you are natually falling behind. This is a similar trait to a game we all play, life. An mmorpg is the highest form of capitalism and hard work pays off, whereas console games can be seen as a quicker escape with less progression goals. Console games have had single player forms of progression without the online aspect, also known as roleplaying games. Games such as Final Fantasy, Zelda, and even Super Mario. We see the ability for console games to have progression in the form of both virtual characters as seen in final fantasy and zelda, but only map progression in games like Mario wherein the character doesn’t progress, just the maps do. The inability for console gamers to personify there virtual characters has led to the explosive growth of the online pc mmorpg industry. With the advent of online play however, console worlds are now becoming closer to their cousin PC or Mac. One can look at the success of Halo and John Madden football on the console systems. It is the ability for quick fun but also combined with an everchanging leaderboard system to progress, to become the best player. It is this hybridization that gives console games the appeal of casual gamers which the mmorpg industry scares away. If one wants to load up a game of Madden for an hour they can do so and turn it off without fear of Brian Urlacher losing 5 tackling. If one does the same in Warhammer they may find themselves logged in with inferior gear and guildless.

Guild Pressure! Guild pressure is just like peer pressure only it’s intensified by players you mostly play with in your virtual world. In the past console gamers did not have to worry about letting someone down if they turned off final fantasy. Perhaps Cloud was secretly angry but he could never let you know. Today, not being able to attend a raid in World of Warcraft, or a PK run in Ultima Online can have social consequences within these heavily socially based virtual worlds. Turning down your guildmates can be difficult and even against your interest in the guild. In real life, if your boss asks you to do something because they rely on you, you would most likely help him/her out. The virtual worlds are no different. One’s guild leader may ask you to help camp a spawn or partake in a hunt; if the answer is no all the time you will inevitably lose standing with the guild leader, if not the entire guild. Before the onset of online console play, you made all the decisions and had no one, except maybe your brother/sister nagging you to turn on the game and play. Now even Console gamers have this social dynamic seen with Clans. Clans are synonymous with guilds but the term is used for most console guilds. If you are a member of a Clan that is hardcore you better be sure to make the big clan matches. Let your clan down, you let everyone down. It is this mentality that is changing casual games to a more serious, hardcore feel that PC games had exclusively for the past decade. You are now a part of something larger than yourself. It can be incredbily satisfying to be in a guild or clan and help those you care about, but it can be equally as hard to say no to those very same friends.

Both mmorpg gamers and console gamers have considered themselves separate. The reality is both gamers enjoy aspects of progression, escapism, friendships, and of course FUN! We forget at times the games are for fun. As a human species we are naturally hedonisitic so why not enjoy all forms of the video game industry? I’ll see you in World of Warcraft and a game of Tetris later.

Author: Jessica Kosinski

November 19, 2008

The Console Versus PC Gaming Battle

In the world of gaming, some of us like to think that PC gamers rule the roost. Others, however, are die hard console gamers. Some walk the line and play both. So, o they have the staying power? Is one type destined to become obsolete?

First of all, in the world of console gaming, there are three main categories, these days, Xbox 360, Playstation 3 or Wii gamers. Granted, some play two types and some play all three. Personally, I am a Nintendo fiend, though.

In some ways, that competition actually works in the console gamers’ favor. Since there are three main console games, there are three very distinctive console game sets to choose from. Yet, those sets are ever changing.

For example, I loved Banjo Kazooie and Banjo Tooie on N64. Imagine my dismay when I discovered that the latest Banjo game is only out on Xbox 360! Suddenly, they aren’t Nintendo specific games anymore! So, now, if I want to play my favorite games, I have to buy a 360. Theoretically, once I do that, I will see other 360 games that I like and buy those. I’m probably not alone. That trend will probably cause a lot of you gamers out there to buy more than one system and, as a result, games for more than one system.

So, any old school console gamers are probably going to stay console gamers and, by default, their kids will probably be console gamers, since the games will be in the house. I don’t see console games ever dying. So, are computer games destined to go by the wayside, instead?

Well, I think not, just for sheer convenience. Most of us use our computers on a daily basis. If we have breaks from work or just happen to be online chatting with friends, why not play a game, especially a multiplayer online game? In fact, more and more MMORPG’s are popping up. World of Warcraft, Warhammer and the like are in no danger of dying off.

Aside from that sort of convenience, there’s also the space convenience. If you play computer games, you don’t have to contend with console game systems, lots of game controllers and accessories and tons of game discs and cases everywhere. A lot of computer games don’t even require a disc to run.

Then there’s convenience point three. If you’re already at your computer playing a game you have the world at your fingertips, as far as finding game information goes. You can easily look up game cheats, game walkthroughs, game trailers and more. Of course, if you are playing a console game, you can take time out and go over to your computer and look up the cheat codes, but it takes more time.

Ultimately, there are no winners or losers in the battle between console and PC. I am looking forward to Diablo III coming out for PC, personally, but I’m also looking forward to the day that I can replace the Wii that my ex boyfriend kept, too! There’s no reason we should choose one over the other. All games are a blast!