Can Indie MMORPGs Save the GENRE? (Less is more, right?)

Goodgis
4 Jun 202110:43
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRThe speaker reminisces about their childhood spent playing classic MMORPGs like RuneScape and MapleStory, highlighting the charm of simple, grindy gameplay and close-knit communities. They express their fondness for indie MMOs, which they believe are reviving the essence of these early games with unique mechanics and less focus on graphics. The video also promotes GameMaker as an accessible tool for aspiring game developers, encouraging them to create passionate projects for the community.

Takeaways
  • ๐ŸŽฎ The speaker loves MMORPGs, having spent a significant part of their childhood playing games like RuneScape, MapleStory, and Club Penguin.
  • ๐Ÿ’พ Over time, MMORPGs have evolved from simple, grindy games to complex, HD online games with numerous menus and notifications.
  • ๐ŸŒŸ Indie MMORPGs are bringing back the nostalgia and simplicity of classic MMORPGs, which the speaker cherishes.
  • ๐Ÿ›  The speaker endorses GameMaker, a game development engine they used early on, highlighting its ease of use and powerful functionality.
  • ๐ŸŽจ GameMaker supports both beginners and experienced developers, offering a drag-and-drop system and extensive learning resources.
  • ๐Ÿ•น The speaker reminisces about their favorite MMORPGs, like RuneScape, Stick Online, and others made with GameMaker, valuing their grindy nature and tight-knit communities.
  • ๐Ÿ“œ Classic MMORPGs are praised for their unique and sometimes quirky gameplay mechanics, close community interaction, and focus on gameplay over graphics.
  • ๐Ÿ‘ฅ The speaker argues that modern AAA MMORPGs often lack the close-knit player base and unique gameplay that older, simpler MMORPGs offered.
  • ๐Ÿ’ก The speaker encourages aspiring game developers to create their own online games, emphasizing passion over perfection and the value of community-driven development.
  • ๐Ÿš€ The future of MMORPGs lies in indie development, where passionate individuals can create engaging and charming games without the constraints of commercial success.
Q & A
  • What type of games does the speaker have a fondness for from their childhood?

    -The speaker has a fondness for MMORPGs such as Runescape, Maple Story, and Club Penguin from their childhood.

  • What is the speaker embarrassed about in the context of their gaming history?

    -The speaker is embarrassed about playing Club Penguin and being a member for a short period of time.

  • How has the landscape of MMOs evolved according to the speaker?

    -The landscape of MMOs has evolved from simple, grindy games to complex HD online games with endless menus and notifications.

  • What is the first game development engine the speaker used?

    -The first game development engine the speaker used was GameMaker, even back in the day with GameMaker 7.

  • What feature of GameMaker does the speaker find most beneficial for beginners?

    -The speaker finds GameMaker's drag and drop system most beneficial for beginners, as it allows making games without coding.

  • What is the speaker's opinion on the community aspect of older MMOs compared to modern ones?

    -The speaker believes that older MMOs have a tight-knit player base and a close community interaction, which is rarer in modern AAA MMOs.

  • What is unique about the gameplay of the MMOs the speaker enjoyed as a kid?

    -The unique aspect of the gameplay in the MMOs the speaker enjoyed is the focus on unique or weird mechanics, and a close-knit community.

  • Why does the speaker prefer older MMOs over modern ones?

    -The speaker prefers older MMOs because they focus on gameplay and community rather than graphics and flashy menus.

  • What is the speaker's view on the future of MMOs, especially indie MMOs?

    -The speaker believes that the future of MMOs, especially indie MMOs, is bright because making online games is easier than ever, and they are often made out of passion rather than for profit.

  • What challenge does the speaker issue to the audience in the video?

    -The speaker challenges the audience to create their own online games, emphasizing the importance of passion and community over technical perfection.

  • What is the speaker's current focus in their game development journey?

    -The speaker is currently focusing on studying Godot's networking to properly make the MMO they've always wanted.

Outlines
00:00
๐Ÿ•น๏ธ The Evolution of MMORPGs and Indie MMOs

The speaker shares their love for MMORPGs from childhood, starting with games like RuneScape, MapleStory, and Club Penguin. They reflect on how the genre has evolved from simple grindy games to complex HD online experiences with numerous menus and notifications. The video aims to discuss beloved MMOs from the past and the resurgence of nostalgic gaming through indie MMOs. The speaker also introduces a sponsor, GameMaker, which is praised for its ease of use, powerful functionality, and supportive community, highlighting its role in the creation of many popular games.

05:01
๐ŸŽฎ Appreciating the Uniqueness of Classic MMOs

In this paragraph, the speaker delves into their favorite MMOs, emphasizing the tight-knit player base and unique gameplay mechanics that set them apart from modern MMOs. They mention games like Runescape, Stick Online, Slime Online, and Scanix, which were all created with GameMaker and had a strong community feel. The speaker appreciates the grindy nature of these games, the rare drop mechanics, and the close interaction with developers, which allowed for a more personalized gaming experience.

10:03
๐ŸŒŸ The Future of Indie MMOs and Community-Driven Development

The speaker discusses the future of MMOs, particularly indie MMOs, and how they are driven by passion rather than profit. They highlight the ease of creating online games with tools like Construct 2 and the importance of community involvement in game development. The speaker encourages aspiring game developers to create MMOs, even if they are not perfect, because of the charm and passion that can be conveyed through such projects. They also express their desire for more indie MMOs that are made by and for the community, citing examples like Veleron and Eggos, and share their own plans to study networking in Godot to create a desired MMO.

๐Ÿ™Œ A Call to Action for Game Developers and Community Support

In the final paragraph, the speaker issues a challenge to the game development community to create MMOs driven by passion, regardless of potential imperfections. They emphasize the importance of creating fun experiences and the value of community support, even for games with technical issues. The speaker also thanks their Patreon supporters and promises more exciting content in the future, encouraging viewers to like, subscribe, and stay tuned for upcoming game development adventures.

Mindmap
Keywords
๐Ÿ’กMMORPGs
MMORPGs, which stands for Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games, are a genre of video games that allow a large number of players to interact and play together in a virtual world. In the video, the speaker expresses a personal fondness for these games, reminiscing about their childhood experiences with titles like 'Runescape' and 'Maple Story'. The theme of the video revolves around the evolution of MMORPGs and the speaker's appreciation for the simplicity and community aspects of older games compared to modern ones.
๐Ÿ’กGrindy Games
Grindy games refer to those that require players to perform repetitive tasks to achieve progress, often associated with MMORPGs. The video script mentions that what started as simple and addicting grindy games have evolved into complex HD online games. The speaker fondly recalls the grindy nature of older MMORPGs as a core part of their appeal and a teaching moment for patience.
๐Ÿ’กIndie MMOs
Indie MMOs are independently developed MMORPGs that often focus on community engagement and unique gameplay experiences rather than high production values. The video discusses how indie MMOs are bringing back the charm of older games that the speaker loved as a child, emphasizing the importance of community and gameplay over graphics and complex menus.
๐Ÿ’กGame Maker
Game Maker is a software mentioned in the video used for creating games, which the speaker has a history with, starting from 'Game Maker 7'. It is highlighted as a user-friendly and powerful tool for both beginners and experienced developers, with features like a drag-and-drop system and a supportive community. The video script uses Game Maker as an example of the technology that has enabled the creation of many beloved indie games.
๐Ÿ’กDrag and Drop System
The drag and drop system in Game Maker allows users to create games without writing code, which the speaker used as a learning tool to program as a child. This system is an example of how game development technology has become more accessible, enabling more people to create their own games and contribute to the indie gaming scene.
๐Ÿ’กTight-Knit Player Base
A tight-knit player base refers to a gaming community that is close and interactive, often found in smaller or older MMORPGs. The video contrasts this with the more individualistic playstyle of modern AAA MMOs, where players may be too busy to interact. The speaker values the social aspect of classic MMOs where players often had to grind and chat, leading to a more connected community.
๐Ÿ’กUnique Gameplay
Unique gameplay denotes a game's distinctive mechanics or features that set it apart from others. The video script praises older MMORPGs for their unique gameplay elements, such as the 'click and drag' system in 'Scanix', which made each game feel different and refreshing in comparison to the more standardized mechanics found in some modern games.
๐Ÿ’กCommunity Interaction
Community interaction in the context of the video refers to the involvement of players in the development process of a game, such as suggesting improvements and voting on changes. The speaker appreciates this aspect of older MMORPGs, where developers were more accessible and responsive to player feedback, fostering a closer relationship between the community and the game's development.
๐Ÿ’กFocus on Gameplay
Focus on gameplay means prioritizing the mechanics, interaction, and experience of a game over other elements like graphics or complex menus. The video argues that older MMORPGs were more focused on delivering a fun and engaging gameplay experience rather than relying on flashy interfaces and notifications that can be distracting or overwhelming for players.
๐Ÿ’กIndie Game Development
Indie game development is the creation of video games by individuals or small teams without the financial and resource backing of large publishers. The video script encourages aspiring developers to pursue their passion for creating online games, emphasizing the joy and fulfillment that comes from making games for the love of the craft, rather than solely for commercial success.
Highlights

The speaker expresses their love for MMORPGs and nostalgia for games from their childhood.

MMORPGs have evolved from simple grindy games to complex HD online games with numerous menus and notifications.

The speaker wants to discuss their favorite MMOs and how indie MMOs are reviving the charm of classic games.

Introduction of 'Game Maker' as the first engine used by the speaker and its evolution to a more powerful tool.

Game Maker is praised for its ease of use, drag-and-drop system, and supportive community for game development.

The speaker clarifies the type of MMOs discussed, which include smaller online games and not just large-scale MMOs.

Runescape is highlighted as a popular MMO from 2007 with a simple yet engaging gameplay loop.

The 'stick online' game is mentioned as an example of the 'GameMaker era' of indie online games.

Indie games like 'Slime Online' and 'Scandals' are praised for their unique gameplay mechanics and community.

The speaker appreciates the grindy nature and rare drops in these games, fostering a close-knit community.

Maple Story and Club Penguin are mentioned as other games the speaker enjoyed, despite different reasons.

The speaker contrasts the tight-knit player base of older MMOs with the more individualistic playstyle of modern MMOs.

Older MMOs are lauded for their unique gameplay and close community interaction with developers.

The focus on gameplay over graphics in older MMOs is seen as a positive, avoiding the clutter of modern games.

Indie MMOs are seen as the future, with easier game development tools and a focus on fun over profit.

The speaker shares their own experience creating 'Fantasy World and Wizards' and the joy of creating a passionate game.

A call to action for the game development community to create MMOs driven by passion rather than commercial success.

The speaker is studying Godot's networking to create their dream MMO, emphasizing the importance of community and passion.

The video concludes with a challenge to aspiring game developers to create MMOs for the love of the game, not for profit.

Transcripts
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