General Discussion

Out of the many factors that contribute to the relative success and failure of massively multiplayer online games, few are, in my opinion, more critical than the level of immersion achieved. When did you play your first MMO? 1999? 2000? Later? Whenever that happened to be, I feel relatively safe saying that was probably your most 'magical' and immersive MMO, if not video game totally. Why is this? And why have developers failed time and again in recapturing that feeling?

Are graphics part of that? Most certainly. As the standard for graphics and aesthetics in the interactive entertainment industry reach previously unforeseen levels, so too do the expectations of consumers increase. But any graphical leaps are nullified if they are not applied to the game in a manner which produces immersion. While some of the ideas and examples I present here may seem out-of-reach or too far-fetched, I ask that you consider the rapid pace at which games are evolving. In two decades, graphics technology went from simple vector-based constructs to near photorealism.

For example, one of the most disappointing examples of failed immersion comes from loading screens, particularly in scenarios of travel. When I owned my first spaceship in Star Wars Galaxies, I fully expected (perhaps unrealistically) to have to pilot my ship through the atmosphere into space. Instead, I clicked a button and appeared there after a loading screen. Even though I expected that, I would've still been completely blown away by that level of immersion.

Alternatively, allow me to give you an example of great immersion. The most recent example is also one of the most impressive. While Vanguard might be considered a 'flop', it did a few select things right. I contend that there is not a single MMO on the market today that can compete with Vanguard's environments. Few would argue that the game doesn't have impressive graphics, especially in regard to the landscapes. The first time I walked down a road on a mountain, looked over the side and saw the entire landscape for miles, I was floored. The architecture of cities in general was also very impressive.

Another important factor for immersion is audio. Often overlooked, in my opinion, I believe strong production values in auditory development is crucial. While I don't  think that background music, or a soundtrack, is required, it can add a lot to a game. What's more important are the sound effects. The violent clashing of swords, the mystical buzzing of a cast spell, the foreboding 'click' of an empty ammunition clip, or the thunderous engines of a starship. Also oft overlooked are ambient sounds. You would be surprised how much you miss in day to day living. Another issue many players, myself included, have with auditory values of MMO's is the level of repetitiveness. This is a reason I don't feel confident an MMO should have a soundtrack, unless variation can be guaranteed. Variation should, optimally, also be present in the sound effects. When you fire a gun or swing a weapon, it doesn't always sound the same. I believe and hope that in the coming years developers will step-up production values of sound.

The last point is something that has been the subject of much debate between non-casual gamers. The rules system. I don't have a point-of-view on this particular subject simply because I have seen the benefit of a variety of rules systems. The main contest is found in realism versus convenience. For example, I thoroughly enjoyed my time with World of Warcraft, which we can safely assume caters to the convenience aspect; but I also had a great experience with EVE Online, which I contend is the most realistic MMO available (relative realism; considering the setting). Neither of those games, though, offer strong immersion. Blizzard's art-style, while attractive, doesn't lend itself well to immersion; while CCP has a realistic and architecturally impressive style, immersion is killed by limiting a player to the confines of a ship.

In closing, I believe that the future of MMO's and gaming in general is bright, but that we must sometimes voice our ideas constructively to spur the industry in the right direction. This, I hope, has been one such constructive observation.

Originally posted by leshtricity

For example, one of the most disappointing examples of failed immersion comes from loading screens, particularly in scenarios of travel. When I owned my first spaceship in Star Wars Galaxies, I fully expected (perhaps unrealistically) to have to pilot my ship through the atmosphere into space. Instead, I clicked a button and appeared there after a loading screen. Even though I expected that, I would've still been completely blown away by that level of immersion.

Alternatively, allow me to give you an example of great immersion. The most recent example is also one of the most impressive. While Vanguard might be considered a 'flop', it did a few select things right. I contend that there is not a single MMO on the market today that can compete with Vanguard's environments. Few would argue that the game doesn't have impressive graphics, especially in regard to the landscapes. The first time I walked down a road on a mountain, looked over the side and saw the entire landscape for miles, I was floored. The architecture of cities in general was also very impressive.

I would just point out that what gives players a sense of immersion is different for different Players. For example, I don't mind loading screens in the least and they don't break my immersion.

I played the Vanguard beta. I thought the game design was terrible, and just threw the grind right in your face. So, instead of grinding, I walked across the whole landscape at about level 7. That was a challenge, to avoid MObs at that level, and still walk from one side of the world to the other. I didn't find the landscape particularly immersive, but it was nice to look at.

I get a sense of immersion when I"m playing with a group, and we are deep into a dungeon that is very challenging and requires a lot of team work to go any deeper.

OMFG I wrote all that and no one wants to discuss? Sigh.

So you want smooth transitions, large worlds, and good ambiance.  Who doesn't?  What's the discussion?

A key factor for me for immersion is danger and consequence of death.

All these games now if u dont play stupid u can go from lvl 1 to cap without dying. But if u do die .. so what/?

http://www.virtualworld.com/

i wont be satisfied until i actually crap my pants a few times from REALLY fearing for my life. not the life of an avatar that will respawn some 120 yards away. i would like to worry about things like compacting vertebrae if i jump from a tall cliff, and at the same time i would like to think that i could actually roll to avoid missiles instead of having a lag spike terminate me prematurely.

sound is..well it IS important, bgm is useless imho though, why when wandering through the woods would i hear music? is there a deranged band of minstrels following me around hiding behind trees? sure birds, frogs, maybe the wind...but definately not music.

ALOT of people out there will actually answer a phone when they play too..i find that not only insulting but REALLY annoying. by doing it THEY break YOUR immersion, and that is just not cool...do people not have freaking answering services? can your mommy not pick up her own phone? do they really think it will be the president calling in for an important top secret mission? totally destroys it..and for what? 70% of the time they claim it is telemarketers!

personally i dont think the average gamer out there  (i call them part timers) is ready for very much immersion and i think that is why we dont have it. it is also probably a big part of the reason people play games offline, so they can save, pause, reload etc. if they need to. i also bet most "part timers" are not ready to spend 1k on a GOOD hud...300$ for 1 for their stupid ipod's maybe, but not a real 1. christ most of them dont even spring for more than 2 gigs of ram, i mean cmon...

$0.02

I like what you're getting at actually. The thing is unfortunately I think a lot of people are just not all that bothered about immersion. Give them levels, phat loot farming, grinding, mobs, uber gear, bosses, raids, PvP and all the other terms that come with an mmo and thats all a lot of people see.

I absolutely love to feel really involved in the game world when I play. Possibly one of my best games for immersion is Oblivion. Like any game it got repetitive after a while but I certainly remember clambering through some forested hills late one stormy night. There was a strong wind blowing and you could see the trees swaying and also see and hear the leaves rustling. Then it started to rain heavily and soon thunder sounded off in the distance, followed shortly by brief flashes of lightning which lit up the landscape. I had my headphones on and it sounded and looked so realistic that I could really imagine being there for real. I could almost smell the rain and the wet leaves.

I also remember moments when I would be sneaking through some underground ruins that I had discovered, being constantly on my guard and wary to not alert anything to my presence. Everything cast realistic shadows and made noises accurately, so when a goblin guard came lurking up a nearby corridor I had a chance of spotting his shadow or hear his breathing depending on how cautious I was. I had the option of dispatching him stealthily without alerting his comrades, wading in with sword swinging or simply finding some other way past him. The atmosphere was astounding. The way mist would sometimes cover the floor and obscure details. Rats would scurry and chitter in the shadows. Torches would flicker realisticly in their sconces.

I never get any of this in an mmo. Its all stat management and gaining levels. Who has the best items? What gives the most exp fastest? Repeat the same mouse clicks to kill a hundred mobs in the same way. Grind, grind and more grind. Have you done this or that quest yet? No? Oh well you should cos it gives you this blue sword that has +5 str and +8 dex and give crit chance +5%. Want to form a group of adventurers like they do in the films? Forget it.....just type Lev 15 Mage LFG and your done. It doesnt matter who they are cos they are just following the grinding treadmill like everyone else.

How can you feel immersed in a game when people come up to you and say "Hiya mate. Wanna do a low level dungeon with me? It gives good exp and has a nice drop rate too"? Playing online games with other people is great but on the other hand it totally breaks the immersion for me as everyone is in it for their own individual reasons. Combine that with the fact that mmos simply are not as detailed or involving as single player games. Its a shame really but one day I'm sure they will be much better. In fact the most immersive online game I think I have played is Battlefield 2142, but thats because it focuses purely on fast and frenetic combat with your opponents and chucks you right into it, so you dont have time to think "hang on that just wouldnt happen in real life". You actually see your opponent crouch down and take aim with his rocket launcher. You see the missile fly past you leaving a trail of vapour. You see it impact on the APC behind you. You see it explode as you dive for cover. Its all really happening.

In an mmo you click a button and watch your avatar execute its sword swinging animation and get to watch you opponent activate his spell casting animation. Great.

I would love a game that is the quality of Battlefield but in a vast persistent online game world. Wow! One day.......one day. For now I will have to settle for the likes of WAR and other similar products. Oh well it looks like immersion will have to take a back seat for the time being.......but then there are always single player games

hah, had a few "turtle heads" from the goblins in oblivion myself! loved how you could hear a wolf stalking behind you also.

seriously though looking @ immersion

http://www.tekgear.com/index.cfm?pageID=90&prodid=427&section=83&nodelist=1,83&function=viewproducts

$32,500   for a GREAT hud, not even i will cough that up! lets also not overlook the fact that keyboards suck for immersion, personally i game with a N52TE and a mouse that has macro functions built into it (and a wheel that goes left and right in addition to up and down) and STILL i feel the xbox 360 controller offers far far more natural a way of interacting with most games (shame they dont have like 20 buttons on em). the wii is a step in the right direction, but the wii cant visually do anything too immersive (sadly). for true immersion we are talking alot of $ for alot of gadgets, i would almost think a CAVE would be cheaper to make than deep lawnmower man type immersion....and then think about the development cycle on this, with all those variables it would take like decades.

in 50 years if we havent like fried ourselves or polluted ourselves or just nuked ourselves, maybe at that point we can start thinking about it realisticly, since by then we would actually be able to benifit from 1000 core processors that it would take to drive the unreal 23 engine and all the physics to keep it feeling real, the smell-o-vision, the ambient thermal oscillators, etc. etc.

just aint happening any time soon (though we can all keep our eyes on bethesda and pray).