I have spent a long time huffing and puffing about this issue to my friends, and more often than not I am disregarded because I’m an old-school gamer who talks about EverQuest like it was “the one that got away.” To me, an MMO is something to be experienced and savored slowly, like a freshly-bagged twinkie or newly-poured glass of red wine. You don’t just cram the twinkie into your mouth as fast as you can, or gulp down the wine in one sip, although doing so every now and then would surely make for an interesting experience. No, you take in the scenery, interact with other players, and do whatever seems like the most fun at any given time.

Now you see, because MMOs mean that much to me, I see these Facebook games as a threat. In some strange way, they represent the very worst of where I could imagine the genre going. They’re like the Cold War Commies, coming to invade my life. No longer is it about building an intriguing story, a deep rich world, or fun encounters; Now it is about their way, with quick game sessions, quantifiable achievements and instant gratification.

To my friends, they think I’m being overly concerned about nothing. Most of them are into Mafia Wars or Petting Zoo Hair Salon as a side distraction to their normal internet browsing routines. They believe this particular breed of games is just filling out the gaming market as more people take interest in MMOs. Ultimately they made me feel weird for NOT wanting to play these games.

Their reasoning made sense, until Richard Garriott announced he was going to be making an Online Poker Game. Geez oh man, the last time I saw a career switch that crazy, Michael Jordan was trying to snag fly balls out in center field. And sure enough, one by one, my old MMO heroes have switched over to the dark side. I feel like I’m missing something.

Is it no longer just about making great games? Isn’t that supposed to be what its all about? I realize traditional MMOs take boat loads of money and countless hours to make, but at the end of the day, wouldn’t Richard Garriott be better off designing a rich world like Ultima Online than rehashing Ultimate Poker? Does he really believe this is the exciting future he was destined for?

Along those lines, do you think Disney makes this genre viable in the long term? If so, how would it impact your passion and/or interest for the genre? I apologize for the tidal wave of text, but this topic is something I’ve wanted to speak with others about for quite some time and as a long time listener of you and Sister Frances, I felt like it would be a great opportunity to introduce myself. Thanks for reading!

Yours Truly,

Vercarrion