Non-combat MMO?
I was thinking if a MMO game without combat would be possible. I found an interesting experiment called Seed, but it failed. My partner Tom wondered if Second Life would be an example, but SL isn’t really a game, is more like a social environment, much more like a 3D version of IRC or Orkut. A Tale in the Desert seems to be a good candidate.
Let’s face it, MMO combat is nonsense. Traditional video-game RPG combat is nonsense. To evolve, you have to kill things like pigs, zebras, dinossaurs, giant lizards and angry mushrooms to evolve. Why is that? Come on, even if you lived in the Middle Ages, you wouldn’t kill a dog in the street or a deer in the woods just to become more powerful. 🙂
The reason is that such a level system is still based on the old Dungeons & Dragons 1st Edition Experience Points (XP) model – kill the beast, get stronger. But this system was created in the 70’s, for tabletop games to fill young men afternoons. Since then, a number of other RPG books have created much more meaningful gameplay and experience systems – even the present 3th Edition of Dungeons & Dragons.
Well, so, what’s next? Seed failed. All the mainstream MMOs are combat-centered on the old D&D model. Why a non-combat, or maybe just non-combat-centered MMO would succeed? For the same reason casual games succeeded: there is an enormous amout of people out there that simply want some non-violent fun on their spare times. Some people are even investing on “Casual MMO” projects for the years to come, but I believe one already exists: it is NeoPets.
Do you Agree?
I've been making games since 2005, started a new game company and worked at bigger and older ones. This is my (randomly updated) blog. More about me at:
Tex Pine 
I have been looking for a non-combat MMO for the past several months. I played ATITD and enjoyed it very much, until things were made so difficult as to be monotonous and then the addition of the disease which made the necessary socialization difficult and so made the game frustrating and no longer fun. Trying to find a suitable replacement has proven to be VERY difficult
Yes, investors don’t seem likely to put money on anything different than WoW.
Actually, I found this article a while back about people who play WoW as pacifists. Seemed like an interesting concept.
That was an interesting read. Just as interesting as reactions of people in comments. Some of them are so blind-sighted (or maybe involved in the game) they can’t give credit for such an original idea.
Yeah… those comments on the story were really sad. I guess pacifism is just too radical an idea for some people. On the bright side, I read through his blog and saw that he’s been developing a following, so it’s nice to see people who “get it”.
I’m no developer, but I would love to see a game where the point is to go about your business, doing no harm while you collect coins and just try to get to the end of the level. For example, a Super Mario game where the “goombas” just passively walk by — unless you attack them… and then they gang up on you or something equally silly. A small, 3 level Flash game or something that deconstructs violence and gives you a score based on well you avoided killing the natives. More like an art game than anything serious, although an entire MMO based around the concept of sharing and helping seems neat. A simulation of a karma-based economy? I wonder how far that would go…
I think you have a point. Considering all click-management games – “Diner Dash and the thousand Clones” – gravitates around the “run a successful store of ” concept, you might well have audience for a non-violence, economic-centric MMO. But first someone will have to prove the concept could work with a small indie project, before convincing investors to grasp the risk and invest their dollars.
I think Runescape is a mmo that can be played as a non-combat game, there are about 16 skills outside of combat skills so theres plenty of variety, you can just work on skills and amass your wealth by making things out of wood or metal, or fishing etc. Also because you don’t train combat it makes the world more dangerous as everything is a higher combat level than you are, so even lvl 3 rats start attacking you!
Making a good lvl3 skiller (lvl3 is the default starting point for your combat level) is tricky as being higher combat level makes certain skill easier to perform.
Just my 2c 🙂
SEED was a non-combat, socially orientated MMO by a company known as Runescape, they managed to release early 2006 if I remember correctly. But due to a lack of funding and very poor interest from publishers the company went broke and the game went into the void. This was terrible as the game, its concept and design where sound and far above average and the game proved to be more engaging and engrossing with a much more long term appeal for “the other” kind of gamer than something akin to WoW. It’s a shame this game never had the support it needed as if it had hit for instance the Sims, Second Life or ATITD communities it would truely have become something great and a corner stone for new development into Online Social Gaming.
Typo. Runestone, not Runescape *gasps*.
I agree with all.. Today there is no MMO genre variety. Just MMORPG Hack n Slash. After all these years with the Internet evolution, one would expect that new genres on MMO gaming would appear. But things seem stuck, no new ideas. Or is it that companies dont want to invest in a new idea that has a chance of proving a failure and walk on the safe side?
Its disappointing to see that even the new games that are developed are based on leveling a character by killing a bunch of mobs.
If there was a survey though, I think too many people would be eager to see something different.
Myself loves MMO gaming as it gives you a chance to evolve your avatar in a virtual world. But unfortunately I can find no game to reflect me as it seems companies/people feel the only way they would like to evolve themselves virtually is by being powerful creatures that can kil, kill, kill..
You guys should try WurmOnline. It’s a world where fighting is just optional. You just work on your environment as much as you like, then just sit back and admire your handiwork.
I played WurmOnline for about 9 months and dedicated a large amount of time to it, it’s definately worth playing – but we really need games in general to be based around their “World” not around their “Combat system”. I don’t mind combat in games, violent or not. The absurdity of being akwardly Human and portraying non-perfect worlds is part of what develops engrossing games. Games, especially MMOs that rely so heavily on communal interactions need more depth than childlike gameplay dynamics dressed in the latest designer human-computer-interface.
Hi all I was just reading up on this and I see that there are really not too many games that could be classified as ‘non-combat’ MMORPG’s. Anyway I was really hoping I could find one but now that I think about it I think total non combat games would be like playing a total combat game for us as it would be for those who enjoy the combat aspect, if that makes sense. I played runescape for a really long time, I never really got very good but I really enjoyed it. My two favorite parts of the game were going into the wilderness to attack other players and merchanting stock to make money.
So really what I am looking for is a mix of both. I am actually in year 11 this year and have started planning a game that uses ideas from other games to create an economically centered game that has many options to use combat but is not required.
Unfortunately I don’t really have the commitment to make it hehe but am hoping I can really start getting some practice in game making with some of the basic free tools out there. Well I have just been rambling on but I am hoping someone has found a cool game since December 6, 2009 at 3:15 when the last person posted and can give it too me.
I have been looking for a game which does not evolve fighting, i was watching someone play red dead redemtion on the xbox and thought the graphics where amazing and got speaking to a mate about what game we would want to play. i used to play WoW but the fighting part for me was too boreing, I like playing sims but i found it limited. Something between Wow/Sims/Secondlife with the graphics you find on xbox 360 would be perfect. Being able to explore worlds and interact without having to kill would be great… why hasnt anyone designed something like this !!
Those who are interested in a non-combat very popular mmo with a strong community aspect should try Faunasphere. It is a ton of fun. I have been playing since December 2009. They put out updates almost weekly and have a very friendly and helpful community with a nice forum. It is a browser based game. Free to play.
And to add it was developed by Big Fish Games, so customer service is outstanding.
I have been looking for a 3d persistent world NON-combat game for about 10 years. I find the combat games boring and repetitive and psychologically weird, to be obsessed for hours killing things. Does anyone ever think about how bizarre that is?
Anyway, I get the feeling that game developers are not readers because there are so many good ideas from older literature and the current stuff including sci-fi. How about entering a story where you choose or create a character. Your C. finds its way through the story making some changes and altering the outcome. Or just an interesting fantasy world with a wide variety of living styles and adventures that one chooses.
Lots of games, lots of beautiful worlds with only the same dang thing to do in all of ’em. Kill stuff and collect weapons. Are we really so boring as a species???
Another game, other than Faunasphere, I have liked is A Tale In The Desert. It is non combat, but unfortunately with this game you only get 24 hrs of free game play before you must subscribe. It isn’t worth $13.99 a month to me. The setting is in Egypt and you must complete “tests” in order to advance and level up. It is a very friendly place as well. The thing I hated/liked about this game is how FREAKIN LARGE the place is, but only could travel on foot. It could take an hour to walk to the ocean!! This game is entirely player based, everything in it is player-made. Very cool when/if you ever find anyone else though. I have a feeling this game may never survive. There were scarcely people there and it is a little pricey. The graphics kind of suck. But in all, if the game is still around, I will probably switch to it once I tire of Faunasphere (if I ever do).
However, even with Faunasphere being free, I do subscribe monthly to have more perks. I pay the highest subscription, $9.99/mo. Although, there is nothing in this game that requires you to pay for it. You can get everything for free if you work for it.
There was a game great for it. Got cancelled from beta because the creator refused to all of our requests for WSAD movement. Point and click was too clunky for the sheer scope of the game… Wish Online.