Feature: 'Soapbox: As Time Goes By - MMORPG Dynamic Lifestyle Adjustment'

In today's main Gamasutra feature, and getting on the Soapbox, Electric Funstuff's David Langendoen proposes a 'dynamic lifestyle adjustment' for MMORPGs to aid and retain casual players who simply don't have the time to play their characters that much. Langendoen suggests that MMOs need to find an answer to his problems, which he explains as follows: "My level 34 Barbarian Warrior, Atalanta, has been stranded in South Karana for over three years now. She had a moment of hope, a while back, when I logged on to demo EQ for a client. There she was in her resplendent Crafted Armor, aching for adventure. I had her kill a couple of Aviaks and then camped. I have not returned to relieve her tedium. Like many Gen-X gamers, something called “Life” happened and cut into my game-playing time. I can carve 15- and 30-minute blocks out here and there and, once in a blue moon, find time for an all-out binge. While my EQ days may be over (sorry Atalanta), I would like to play more CoH. Every so often I patch my client to stay up to date, but never quite have the energy to click ‘Next' and take me down to Paragon City (cue Guns and Roses)." You can now read the full Gamasutra feature on the subject, including many intriguing further suggestions and only one comedy song link (no registration required, please feel free to link to the article from external websites).