First problem I have is the AI. And this is just one reason most MMOs are boring (for me). Most MMOs have stupid, idiotic mobs that stand in place and do nothing. Its like someone aiming a gun at you, about to kill you and you go "LOL, I'M GONNA WAIT FOR HIM TO ATTACK ME FIRST!! Okay he shot! now I can attack!"

Well, except for Ryzom. Ryzom actually HAS AI! Mobs migrate depending on the season, animals go up to you and examine you...its very good AI for a MMO. Oh, and the big thing...carnivores actually attack other mobs (like herbivores).

I guess Darkfall has good AI too (so I've heard), but I've never played it, not a big PvP fan. I prefer PvE.

I guess some people like mindless combat and grinding 24/7...probably why a lot of these "next-gen" (LOL) MMOs suck for me (note the "for me" part, I know some of you will miss that and flame me.)...all it is, is boring grinding, mindless and unfun combat (for me)...grinding to get uber loot (BORING!...for me)...or grinding dungeons/raids 100s of times a month to get some lame item that doesn't mean anything in real life. the only good thing about MMOs is the social aspect, but I can get that by hopping on Raptr/Xfire and talk to my friends while I play games. Or use skype and have conversation(s) while I play.

The only good MMO right now that I've personally played is Ryzom, it actually feels like a world...and sure there is grinding, but at least the AI is smart.

Hence why I've gone back to singleplayer games for the most part. I'm having WAY more fun in Oblivion (and Total Conversion mod, Nehrim which is uber awesome), Fallout 3 (and soon to be Fallout New Vegas), Fable 1 (well, not sure how long the fun will last in Fable 1, but its fine so far, but I just started)...singleplayer games seem way more advanced than these mindless, grinding MMOs. I actually have FUN in these RPGs...Mass Effect 1/2 are fun and amazing, with a great story, Dragonage is awesome...Anno 1701 is tons of fun (not a RPG, but its a city builder)

Oh, and the biggest winner so far this year (for me, always gotta add that part, or someone will take it personal)...MINECRAFT! Most fun I've had in years. Minecraft puts most if not all MMOs to shame (in my opinion)...sure graphics aren't OMG!! but its so fun...after playing Minecraft and Nehrim, I think I've grown out of the MMO genre. 

There is one chance of me coming back to MMOs and if it fails, I am completely done with this genre (that has NOT improved barely at all from early days, and in my opinion (note my opinion), its gotten WORSE. But that one MMO, and that is Guild Wars 2. Why? Because I actually see my (and other players) actions effect (or is it affect? Get those confused) the world, with permanent changes. Okay so AI may be bad, but whatever...at least grinding will be done to a minimum (if its like Guild Wars 1 in that aspect...and btw, I thought GW1 was boring, I didn't really like it)

But this isn't a thread about GW2, and for all I know, all the promises and things they have said will fail, or not be put in the game. I've seen that happen with countless MMOs (and games in general really...a lot of promises and talk, but no cigar)...but, its only MMO that has a chance of reviving the MMO genre (for me).

Well, back to Nehrim, Minecraft and the actually FUN games (you know, ENTERTAINMENT, not WORK...most MMOs seem to be made as a second job, no thanks...I actually have a life, I have friends, a job already, I go to school.

I play games to have fun, not to be forced to do tedious mindless tasks, or grind 100000 (I know exaggeration) raids to get some lame, useless item.

^all the above is my opinion, so don't take it personal)

Guess the MMO genre is not for me anymore. Either that, or maybe it really was never for me.

(Added October 11-2010)

There are tons of PvE MMOs that do really good. Lord of the Rings Online, DDO...believe it or not, most people prefer PvE instead of PvP. Hence why like in WoW (which is a great example, because it has tons of people playing), there are more PvE servers (including RP ones) than PvP servers, and they have more players on them as well, at least overall when adding up population on all the PvE/RP servers.

I guess most people on MMOsite prefer PvP. The only PvP I liked was WoW, then they added lame battlegrounds/arenas. I also liked Guild Wars PvP.

What I hate is PvP where you lose items to other players, and the other player comes and takes all your hard earned work just cause he killed you. Sorry, but that PvP is lame imo...something I took TIME to put into, shouldn't just be stolen. A great example of this, as being EVE Online and Ultima Online (at least before Trammel). Though I despise how PvP works in EVE, EVE is one of my favorite MMOs that is out. I guess that adds suspense and adrenelin. So it has its pros/cons.

I love Age of Conan PvP, Guild Wars PvP and vanilla WoW PvP. Those are my favorite PvP systems.

Sadly, AoC is full of hackers when I last played and the PvP server was dying. GW is fun, but old. And WoW is just lame Battlegrounds and Arenas these days for PvP. WoW used to be great, join in with a bunch of players, raid a city and what not, or raid towns...but then Blizzard nerfed it. Though, I do (or did) like Wintergrasp (think thats the name), but then they nerfed that too if I recall correctly.

At least with EVE, its exciting and EVE actually feels like a game "world" (well its space, but you know what I mean)...EVE is just as great as Ryzom, but actually, better in a lot of ways. Sure I'm not a big fan of PvP in EVE (which is funny enough the main point of the game)...BUT...it is exciting. 

Oh, there is other ways  "PvP", its not just mindless killing players. In EVE, there is market/economy fighting, trojan-like acts in corps. Where a player can join a corp, work his way up, and bam...destroy the corp (though that I imagine is hard to do, and a lot of patience...but its been done). Those are just a couple examples of how you can PvP without killing players.

EVE was the big game I was missing in the original section of the Article.