So I'm not seeing how this is them changing things up from 2.0/3.0

[Nominous]

It's not that we expect a new game, but there are just certain things you can really only do so much of before it gets tiresome to some.

I want to know what games people are playing for thousands of hours that don't end up feeling stale.

Anyways... Other things exist. When you inevitably grow tired of this game, like any other game you spend months (if not years) on, you should take a break. You will force yourself to burn out, and come to conclusions like this.

Further, the core mechanics and gameplay loops are defining characteristics for this medium. Ours just so happen to be GCD/Alt-Tab combat, Tomestone/Gear treadmills, and aesthetics. If it doesn't fall into those categories, it's just fluff and distractions. And in regards to those extras and tangents, more is not always better either, especially if it's at the cost of quality. But ultimately, if you want a sweeping change to the core, you want a different game entirely. There's nothing wrong with admitting that, and finding what you're currently wanting in another game or medium.

[azura84]

I want to know what games people are playing for thousands of hours that don't end up feeling stale.

Anyways... Other things exist. When you inevitably grow tired of this game, like any other game you spend months (if not years) on, you should take a break.

Further, the core mechanics and gameplay loops are defining characteristics for this medium. Ours just so happen to be GCD/Alt-Tab combat, Tomestone/Gear treadmills, and aesthetics. If it doesn't fall into those categories, it's just fluff and distractions. And in regards to those extras and tangents, more is not always better either, especially if it's at the cost of quality. But ultimately, if you want a sweeping change to the core, you want a different game entirely. There's nothing wrong with admitting that, and finding what you're currently wanting in another game or medium.

It's really a matter of peoples opinion at this point, gamers are aging and those of us who play MMOs aren't all young and have nostalgia for certain types of things, where as more and more games tend to be grinding towards a sort of money making sweet spot. Many of us who are used to broader strokes in development for MMOs. Personally I like to see more open world content and that's my opinion, I like to see more difficulty in defeating regular content rather than it be just breezetown up until the very last stuff (and even that gets easy after they release the level cap a few months into a new expansion). I would welcome lower level dungeons that offer gear that scales with level, some content that drives us to look back at older gear that could be useful in these capped dungeons. Stuff like that, but that's my opinion. I know many people like and prefer this vertical progression and wouldn't get much out of the change in pace or types of gameplay. Like i said originally it's really just a big shmorgishborg of player preferences blending from past MMOs. I came from XI if that wasn't apparent simply by my opinions.