Topic

Is Glitch Essentially a Chat Platform?

Watching Global Chat fly by faster than I could read last night, I began to wonder if we chatters were actually playing much. Once we get the house we want, keep a skill in the queue, and have ready access to money, what motivates us to move our Glitch through the world? I've noticed plenty of "active" players who have pretty low levels, which means they stop playing much at some point, and just chat and throw parties.

To what extent do you participate in the game aspect of Glitch compared to the chat aspect? And what motivates you to keep playing the game after you've done most of what you want to do?

Posted 16 months ago by Widdershins Subscriber! | Permalink

Replies

  • I've always thought that that's the best ultimate direction for Glitch, a blast of a social site with a massive game underneath it.
    Posted 16 months ago by Tingly Claus Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I think for me, the social aspect of glitch is the end game. Once I got to level 20, I haven't been motivated to work on progressing my character or do quests. I'm not interested in achievements or leaderboards, or projects. I enjoy just hanging out in chat, and doing social things in the game. I feel like a slacker because I guess I'm not "playing" in the sense that I'm not progressing my character, but I'm still having fun.
    Posted 16 months ago by FrankenPaula Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Just because people aren't leveling doesn't mean they aren't playing.  There are SO many things to do, including achievements, that in my opinion levels or xp aren't anything I ever try to get.
    Posted 16 months ago by Laurali Subscriber! | Permalink
  • When you get down to nitty-gritty of it all, that is the true endgame for most MMOs. They are no longer necessarily about playing the actual game, but more so enjoying the company of those you have met along the way. When those people disappear you are significantly more likely to do the same.

    The fact that the game will be reset also keeps people from wanting to invest their fullest into the game currently.
    Posted 16 months ago by Axom Subscriber! | Permalink
  • "When you get down to nitty-gritty of it all, that is the true endgame for most MMOs...The fact that the game will be reset also keeps people from wanting to invest their fullest into the game currently."

    This.

    And the idea of socializing versus playing is going to vary greatly from player to player. If we just wanted to play through a game we'd be playing Deus Ex 2 or the like.
    Posted 16 months ago by shipwreck Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Laurali: it's almost impossible to play without leveling. XP comes with everything you do. Except chat, lol.
    Posted 16 months ago by Widdershins Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I've never really cared about what level I am or what level other people are. Glitch is special in that what level you are doesn't really matter, you can have fun and do great things. I still play the game the way the OP is defining it but I also chat a lot. It only takes half a second to switch between the chatbox and the game screen/interface/box. 
    Posted 16 months ago by Piratice Subscriber! | Permalink
  • It's a VERY social game and the developers emphasize activities that utilize teamwork and group play. In fact the groups implementation is the area that's probably the next major area of focus. There's been mention of group locations as future plans if I recall right.
    Posted 16 months ago by Fokian Fool Subscriber! | Permalink
  • So, I personally use Glitch as a way for me to wind down.  i used to play Farmville and stopped because I was spending 20 minutes doing the same thing over and over again.  In this game, you have that same sweet soothing monotony but there are about 10 different ways to express it and you can also participate in projects or do things within the social scheme.  Personally, I talk on the forums and play in the game but i think the beauty of Glitch is that you can play however you want.  In conclusion, if you were to ask me if I thought this was a social game, I'd say it really depends on your mood and personality.  
    Posted 16 months ago by Homura Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I don't really use it as a social game. I'm not sure I've looked at Global chat more than once, and that was because my RL best friend was rounding up people to help with a group quest (something I put off for ages).

    Most games I play, I like playing at my own (often distracted) pace. I enjoy having the ability to chat with friends and to meet new people while I play, but it's not ever going to be the aspect I get most involved in.
    Posted 16 months ago by Little Miss Giggles Subscriber! | Permalink
  • @shipwreck. I beg to differ with you concerning your statement that people don't invest fully because the game will reset.  As I live completely in the Now, I play Glitch to do my personal BEST. I would like to be number one on the Leaderboards for XP. This is impossible because Clare is such a player... If you want to be happy make everything you do for the Max...this game can be the answer to your wildest dreams.   It is all in your perception and how much pleasure you allow yourself to have.   Do not limit yourself.. Try to dream a little bit.  
    Posted 16 months ago by napabeth Subscriber! | Permalink
  • As a dyed-in-the-wool introvert with no innate small talk I scarcely chat at all.  I'm currently level 26, live for when the game goes live so I can play, yet I feel I have barely scratched the surface of what is available now, let alone what is yet to come.  I hope eventually to find a small group of friends who play at the same time I do (most often first thing in the morning in England) that I can be social with, but that hasn't happened yet.  While I'd like to grow a social dimension to my game, it will always be the play of the game that is foremost for me.
    Posted 16 months ago by Hawkwell Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I think it's like real life - you can chat up every person you see in a day, or go about your own business and interact with others just now and then.
    Posted 16 months ago by gimmegames Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Personally, I don't want to feel, at some point, that the community is being left to amuse itself. In the long run, there still need to be plenty of interesting quests and/or things to explore and so on. As far as I'm concerned, ingame friends are a wonderful bonus, but I'm here to play a game first and foremost.
    Posted 16 months ago by gimmegames Subscriber! | Permalink