Muckbeast

It has become standard fare for MMOs to have some kind of special event around holiday time. Most have something at Christmas and all other major holidays, but some will run special events even for minor stuff (including Hallmark Day… oops, I mean Valentine’s Day.) The current trend is to create some kind of faux-In Character name for the event (All Hallows Eve, Feast of Winter Veil, Keg End, etc.) that dimly creates a lore reason for the event. This is often a very weak excuse, since in-game time rarely relates to real life time.

Before you assume I am down on the idea, I think these events are good and interesting things. I think they are an example of developers giving something fun to their community, and they create a bit of an emotional connection from the game world to the real world. When you are celebrating something special in real life you are also celebrating something special in the game. If anything, the only negative thing I have to say about the idea is the fact that all too often this is the ONLY type of special event developers run. That’s a shame. Events directly related to the game world itself are far more interesting and should be a bigger priority.

What Do Players Think About Holiday MMO Events?

As players (or visiting developers), what do you think about these holiday events? I will get you started with a few specific questions:

1) Are these kinds of events fun?

2) Are they worth the time developers put into them?

3) Do you have a problem with developers trotting out the same event each year, or mostly the same with a few things added?

4) Do events like this break immersion, add to it, or neither?

Feel free to also share examples of good or bad holiday MMO events you have experienced.

Merry Christmas!