MMO culture includes attachment to virtual characters, competitiveness, territorial mentality, and social nature. Players form groups, share rewards, and emulate real-life social mechanics. Competitiveness can lead to griefing, and some players spend real money on cosmetic items for their characters.
There are several characteristics present within the culture that has emerged around massively multiplayer online games (MMOs). Not all players express all different characteristics, and some MMOs encourage or discourage certain aspects that may be present elsewhere, strictly through the style of game being played. One of the most common features of MMO culture is a very close attachment to the virtual character that is used to interact with the game world, especially if the character has been carefully customized by the player. In some circles, competitiveness is an aspect of MMO culture, most often in games that revolve wholly or partially around player versus player combat. Expanding from other concepts, a very territorial or clan-like mentality develops in many situations, usually causing players to form long-term organizations or groups that work together towards a common purpose or provide general support to each other. to each other during the game.
A prevalent and dominant feature of MMO culture is the social nature of the players. It distinguishes players of multiplayer games from those who play single player. The social aspect of MMO culture can be seen in the many social tools that most games provide, such as friend lists, grouping mechanisms so that teams of players can share rewards, and in-game social events that resemble game parties. real life. Social elements are also sometimes expanded upon, allowing players to emulate real-life social mechanics such as marriage.
Competitiveness is a common feature of MMO culture, especially since many MMOs use it as a basis for gameplay. In some games, the competitive nature is kept friendly and usually results in isolated incidents where players pit themselves against each other. Alternatively, the players of many team-fighting MMOs actively try to undermine other players or find ways to ensure that other players cannot easily advance. Taken too far, the competitiveness of a few players can make an entire game unplayable for others, a situation known as bereavement. Grieving is usually considered a form of virtual harassment in MMOs, although it is common in some situations.
A prevalent feature of MMO culture is the bond that develops between the real player and the virtual representation used within the game. Some players will spend a lot of time customizing the look of the virtual character. Within some MMOs, some of the most popular in-game rewards are items that change or enhance the appearance of the virtual avatar. This has led to some segments of MMO culture where players will purchase in-game customizations or virtual character items for real money, even though the item may be purely cosmetic with no intrinsic gameplay value.
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