Does instant transportation effect game immersion?

[Rhomagus]

Understood.

When you heard of a MMO game, (to me at least) immediate reactions of a game virtual world arose. From the detailed intricacies of what entailed a MMO game; An in-game clock, with it's own periods of night and day; applicable real world weather, snow, desert storms, etc etc.; Real life people oriented groups, shops, clans, gangs, entourages, posses etc.; To engaging environments, mountains, oceans, vast lands, cities and villages. You knew it would be massive and would take time to go through the necessities to create what you would deem as a virtual image of yourself and venture this world. The time invested wasn't relevant, it was the the thrill of experiencing the game and enjoying the e-world with other people and their own unique characters, that mattered.

Now fast forward to the aftermath of WOW. Players say they have no time, now it's just a game they throw hours into and just level up, vicinities filled with egotistical people trying to attain the greatest gear and highest level as quickly as possible, largest LS, all for bragging rights. No more dedication is required really, it's just become another game to play. MMO's are loosing it's essence.

I believe casuals, and the money they offered to game companies, swayed the change of this, but above is old school MMO's to me, it seems times are changing. There's so much more to say.

Money ruins so much crap man.

I don't agree that your conclusion applies to my experience of Final Fantasy XIV. In fact, I'd argue that the things you listed are actually in Final Fantasy XIV. I don't think I need to point them out to you, but I'll list what I do with my in game time.

I choose to fight mobs beyond the normal raptor grind. I choose to craft my own gear. I choose to watch cutscenes. I choose to record my cutscenes. I choose to write fanfictions. I choose to gather and hunt for materials. I choose to interact with other players regardless if I know them or not. I choose to teach other players who have never used a battle regimen the advantages of using battle regimens by walking them through it step by step. I choose to talk with varying people from all around the world (Egypt, England, United States, Greece, Netherlands, and Taiwan so far). I choose to have considerably deep conversations with these folks ranging from topics as varied as politics and gender roles to cats and pizza. I choose to roleplay when roleplayers greet me in /say. I choose to SP grind Toto-Rak at 25. I choose to SP grind Dzemael Darkhold at 45. I choose to watch these cutscenes when I'm not rushing to the boss. I choose to skip these cutscenes when I'm rushing to the boss. I choose to walk when I don't need to use my anima. I choose to use my anima when I'm needed somewhere. I choose to grind raptors at times. I choose to log in and not do anything but talk with friends sometimes. I choose to grind mobs beyond the 10 rank cap. I choose to grind in a light party. I choose to grind solo. I choose to do battlecraft/fieldcraft/ alone and sometimes with others. I choose to do local levequests. I'm dissapointed I don't have the choice to do them with a friend but when I do we share the anima. I choose to utilize the forums. I choose to not always check every thread created in the last day.

Not to mention your in game clock, weather, storms, groups, etc.

I'll choose to experience/watch the airship sequence/cutscene. I'll choose not to experience/watch the airship/cutscene.

I guess I play the game like I live my life. I get out of it what I put into it. What others do is their own choice unless it hinders on my or another's freedoms and I try to reduce the actions that I take that may hinder other people's freedoms.

None of my choices effect you or your enjoyment of the game unless you go out of your way to let them.

Your response derailed the topic btw and didn't answer the post.

As does this one:

Its also companies failing to realize how to make a profit these days.
You can:
A: copy the best guy
which almost always results in a failed product

or
B: Take whats good from the best guy and create something new and innovative.

This game was originally innovative and if released a year later would have probably been very successful.
ex. everyone says the world is copy/pasted, but if you explore you'll notice almost all the little nodes covered in 1-shot kill things are unique looking and not copy pasted in any way (cept coerthas)

with a change in devs it has turned into a complete copy of WoW though.

I think I'm done with this thread.