Another interesting post, here a few lines:

When I went to E3 in 2003, I left Blizzard’s booth feeling very discouraged. I spent a very long time there, talking to as many of the employees as I could, and I made a point to ask them what their positions were so I could tell if they had a part in the game’s design or not.

I asked the questions that any jaded MMORPG player would ask, such as if there will be PvP, what will your version of the grind be like, and what the end game will be (i.e. what’s the point of struggling through the grind in your game). In fact, when I was talking to one designer, I asked him what the end game would be. He looked at me, obviously confused, and asked what I meant. So I said, “What is it I’m levelling up towards?” He said the point of the game was to share adventures with my friends.

I am not Bilbo #&%ing Baggins. I do not receive enjoyment from spending immense amounts of time adventuring (and paying a monthly fee for the privelege to do so), all so I can get to the highest level and look back and say, “Ahh, what a great bunch of adventuring that was.”

There needs to be an end game, or there is little reason to struggle through the levels to reach the top. Some people are happy with their supposed bragging rights, but I’m proud of achievements other than those made while sitting on my ass and playing in a virtual world.