Are there existing examples of thriving MMO guilds that have an extra-game primary focus? As far as I understand it, currently with all else being equal, a guild focusing solely on monomaniacal gameplay will outcompete a guild focusing on extra-game activities in in-game power, visibility and prestige, since most current MMO environments are mechanically and culturally fixated on laborious in-game achievement. This may be different in MMOs that reward skill or creativity rather than just grind capacity. Something like Second Life that supports user-created content looks like it would reward an extra-game focus much better than more game-like MMOs. But Second Life also has small mindshare compared to more game-like MMOs.
Agree that MMOs are likely to be a growing social phenomenon and its worth looking into what could be done with the mindshare they get.
The Guild is a fictional example; there at least used to be a Penny-Arcade World of Warcraft guild; I know that in games that I play I regularly play with people that I would like to associate with outside of the game, especially people I know in real life.
Groups with a social focus have a different status in the game, but they do exist in large enough quantity and can be satisfying if people are about equally competitive.
Are there existing examples of thriving MMO guilds that have an extra-game primary focus? As far as I understand it, currently with all else being equal, a guild focusing solely on monomaniacal gameplay will outcompete a guild focusing on extra-game activities in in-game power, visibility and prestige, since most current MMO environments are mechanically and culturally fixated on laborious in-game achievement. This may be different in MMOs that reward skill or creativity rather than just grind capacity. Something like Second Life that supports user-created content looks like it would reward an extra-game focus much better than more game-like MMOs. But Second Life also has small mindshare compared to more game-like MMOs.
Agree that MMOs are likely to be a growing social phenomenon and its worth looking into what could be done with the mindshare they get.
The Guild is a fictional example; there at least used to be a Penny-Arcade World of Warcraft guild; I know that in games that I play I regularly play with people that I would like to associate with outside of the game, especially people I know in real life.
Groups with a social focus have a different status in the game, but they do exist in large enough quantity and can be satisfying if people are about equally competitive.