One of the reasons I don't write about single player video games is the simple fact I don't play them. After a co-worker first introduced me to World of Warcraft in 2005, I was hooked on MMORPGs. After leaving Vanilla WoW after my guild kicked me for my inability to raid, I stopped playing for a month and have stayed subscribed to one game or another since June 2006. Currently I am subscribed to two, Final Fantasy XIV and EVE Online. For me, MMORPGs have two advantages over single-player games: cost and community.
Even playing subscription-based games, I've always found MMORPGs a good value for my money. Take, for example, joining a bowling league back before COVID. The weekly fees and purchasing/renting equipment far exceeded the monthly subscription fee for a game. And as for single player games? When I first stated playing, single player games cost between $40-$50 for a new title. How much time did those games last back then? Probably less than the 20-30 hours a week I spend when I really get caught up in any of the MMORPGs I've played over the last 18 years or so. I know the XBox PC Game Pass only costs $9.99/month, but I never did get into console games. Maybe I should give the service a chance, but with all the subscriptions I have already, both in and out of gaming, I really don't want to add one more.
The other factor is community. Just knowing other players are in the game universe makes a difference. Sure, if I use a service like Steam, I can share my in-game accomplishments with the world. But in an MMORPG, I can do the same with one of those stupid titles floating over my head. Or by the gear I'm wearing. Or by owning my own place and letting others share access to see what I've built.
Perhaps the biggest difference are game economies. In the few single-player games I've attempted to play over the years, the economy is something I can manipulate. In an MMORPG with a good economy I'm actually dealing with humans. Yes, MMORPG economies are also subject to manipulation. But the human element leads, at least for me, to enough variation to not get boring.
Perhaps most importantly, interaction with humans makes the game feel like a world. Whether the interaction is talking to strangers in EVE coordinating actions during a seasonal event or parading through Ul'dah in FFXIV celebrating my free company's 10th anniversary, I know other people are with me. Which brings up a question. Shouldn't games bring people together? If a sport like bowling can, why not video games?
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