First of all, how can you state so nonchalantly that I'm "completely off", as if it's some sort of scientific fact that I'm just missing out on? This is why I frankly hate your blog, because you don't so much discuss things with visitors as yell things into the void and then froth uncontrollably until they give up and leave.
Secondly, your assertion that storylines don't "need" a massive number of characters is a non sequitur. It's like saying we don't "need" anything more than bread and water to survive so anyone who eats more than that is an idiot who is betraying the essential elements of nutrition. Are you trying to argue that games should be the minimum they can possibly be, or that they should actually strive to be the best they can? My point is that storylines can benefit from a massive number of characters. You can even have subplots that concern smaller groups of players if you think that too many players negatively impacts the essence of a story. The point is that current MMORPGs often have absolutely no storyline nor reason to stay in the game. Deliberately embracing that hollowness and rejecting narrative is cutting off your nose to spite your face.
Thirdly, whether or not the MMORPG genre is the "best vehicle" for a story is totally irrelevant. The issue is whether or not MMORPGs would be improved by having an involving and continuing storyline that engages players. In my opinion yes, they would. I think that MMORPGs already follow your vision of ignoring storyline, and I think they suffer because of it.
Re: The defenitive solution to the endgame: "gated content"
First of all, how can you state so nonchalantly that I'm "completely off", as if it's some sort of scientific fact that I'm just missing out on? This is why I frankly hate your blog, because you don't so much discuss things with visitors as yell things into the void and then froth uncontrollably until they give up and leave.
Secondly, your assertion that storylines don't "need" a massive number of characters is a non sequitur. It's like saying we don't "need" anything more than bread and water to survive so anyone who eats more than that is an idiot who is betraying the essential elements of nutrition. Are you trying to argue that games should be the minimum they can possibly be, or that they should actually strive to be the best they can? My point is that storylines can benefit from a massive number of characters. You can even have subplots that concern smaller groups of players if you think that too many players negatively impacts the essence of a story. The point is that current MMORPGs often have absolutely no storyline nor reason to stay in the game. Deliberately embracing that hollowness and rejecting narrative is cutting off your nose to spite your face.
Thirdly, whether or not the MMORPG genre is the "best vehicle" for a story is totally irrelevant. The issue is whether or not MMORPGs would be improved by having an involving and continuing storyline that engages players. In my opinion yes, they would. I think that MMORPGs already follow your vision of ignoring storyline, and I think they suffer because of it.