Visual Catalog of Why I Enjoyed Rift

I Wasn't a Gamer

I didn't begin playing MMOs because I was a gamer.  I was far from it having mostly done board games prior to entering my first virtual world.  Consoles had been in our home but they hadn't pulled me in other than watching my children play.  As long time readers will know, recovering from multiple surgeries related to cancer brought me to the genre but fantasy is what made me stay.  I've had a fascination with fantasy all of my life, writing stories and skits since I was a little girl.  The first time I materialized into a virtual fantasy setting, where some element of me was personified into a shared dynamic experience, I was memorized and hooked.

For that reason, my criteria for enjoying MMOs may vary from the average player.  A heavily personalized experience is required – varied avenues of progression I can mix-n-match to suit my mood and preferences, detailed visual rendering, ability to interact with most of the objects in the world, articulation of my character’s perceived place in that society, adequate exploration, knick-knack things to do for down time, earning a living via crafting or something similar that feels plausible and the opportunity to compete against other players. 

The short version is here in a visual catalog of the features I enjoyed most.  Continue after the break for the more verbose version.  *Smile*

NOTE: My graphics settings can’t do the game justice yet. I have them on medium until my new graphics card arrives but you can get an idea of the game's flavor.

Visual Journey of What I Enjoyed

 

I Play like Reading a Book

Disappointing to some, I’m also gonna solo in yer MMO and like it better than trying to quest with you.  *Smile* Until I want to see the instanced content I don't need to group with other players much.    Don't take it personal, it's not about you and I’m not exactly anti-social.  People who have played with me know that I will talk up a storm in chat or on vent.  While it may be true that the average person annoys me, my soloing is mostly because I’m on a winding, moment-to-moment and casually crafted adventure that I will not have dictated by someone else’s priorities.

For me, grouping is like trying to read the pages of a book together with someone. Ever tried that as a kid, sharing the same book both trying to read to yourself?  It doesn’t work so well and is more interruptive than anything else.  Far too often in real life we must subjugate our needs for the common or greater good of others, I'm not interested in doing that in my entertainment venue.  The primary exception is scripted instanced content.  Impromptu groups to complete a quest, sure.  Automatic open grouping for zerg content, count me in.  However, I continue to prefer soloing the vast majority of leveling content. I will buff you, heal you or try to pull aggro on your behalf if I see you dying.  When it's all said and done, I'm going to wave goodbye and go about my business.  I need to update my reasons for Why I Solo MMOs.  It wasn’t until recently that I realized I play MMOs like reading a book.  

Are we there yet?

When I’m trying out a new game I consciously note what’s there that will meet my needs, what’s missing and if the quality is good enough that I’m at least willing to give it a try.  For those that haven’t been in any of the RIFT betas yet, here’s a small visual check list of my requirements that have been met.

Comments

[Pan]

So naturally, the first question a gaming geek must ask is, "What video card did you get?".

:)

P.S. Nice pics. Btw, do player characters in Rift tend to look fairly unique or mostly similar like in WOW?

[Zygwen]

From what I've read in the technical support forums, the game currently runs better on older cards in the mid to high end range. People with the latest cards and latest drivers actually have lower frame rates that some of those with older cards. However, one of the nice things in rifts is that when you log into beta the game will pop up a notification if it thinks you need to change graphics driver. Atleast it did on my girlfriends computer.

My computer uses a geforce 8800 gts with 640 MG ram, the one from 2006, not the newer one from 2007 and it runs Rift better than EQ2. My girlfriend has a newer ATI 5450 which runs EQ2 better than my GTS but doesn't work as well on Rift. Mind you I did not upgrade the driver to the recomended on and the ATI 5450 is far from a mid range gaming video card.

With respect to appearance, there is a fair bit of variety between equipment sets but if everyone wore the same thing then they would look the same. However, I hear that they are implementing an appearance slot system in addition to the dye system already in place.

As for soloing, I think my current soling style is similar. It is rare that I find a buddy that I like to hang out with on a regular basis. It happened once in EQ2 but the original EQ was all about hanging out in obscure zones with friends grinding or farming one thing or another.

[saylah]

GT 430 which is the most my power supply will support. My game play is fine on medium and decent on high minus aliasing and shadows. But it a huge rift appears and 50+ players rush to the area I get really bad lag. Not so bad that I can't play but enough that split second responses aren't possible.

In AC2 I had a real life couple that I played just fine regularly. In W101 occasional grouping with other bloggers but that's a game that plays more like a board game so to me it's more fun in a group.

[Kinless]

Not sure how far back it went, but you were talking about wanting to see some steampunk ages ago! Glad you finally found some. (Without Goblins or Gnomes attached either.)

[Alysianah aka Saylah]

The environment alone is a joy to run around. Twice this weekend I mistakenly wandered into areas I hadn't discovered before. :-( I immediately left so I wouldn't spoil seeing it fresh when the game goes live.