Blogging in MMO Part 2 Crazy Idea

I am trying this new method all day long. Having Windows Live Writer to write blogs here.

It's fantastic. Imagine writing like a Microsoft Word. You do not have to bother about HTML tags. Although it is allowed in most blog editor online. Come on we do not need to login through web in this case. It's a bonus I guess.

However looking at this. A MMO is made up of communities.

I am looking at the fantastic stuff made by others. Although the basic functions of guilds/clan/whatever are basically adding people in common chat channel and also do stuff like adding people, giving ranks, settle access rights.

Is it enough?

Most guilds have voice chat (Ventrilo, Teamspeak etc). Should game provide?

Most guilds have homepage. Should game provide? Let's go deeper here. People usually have to buy domain names. (etc www.guildname.com). It gives them recognition of the guild when people search. Imagine this now. guildname.gamename.com. How does this feel? Will it gives them a better sense of belonging to the game?

Blogging is a major factor also in MMO besides content. Looking at the guild/clan websites found online. Most guilds are just listing their achievements in the homepage. Why? To make it visible to people and declaring their achievements. In one way to make people interested in applying to join the community. But I do feel that one major reason is for themselves, their pride. And also, maybe that's the only major thing for them to post as homepage.

Now imagine the financial factor. The cost of making the domain name, getting someone to maintain it, getting the webspace (although most is free now). Now, imagine it making it as a SERVICE to the community in your game. In fact, it might be worth adding a price to it, like even 1 USD per month?

However the important note is the social factor. Providing a complete community service actually provides them reasons to stay in the game. Of coz, content is always the major factor to keep customers, but it is widely recognize that people are less liable to leave a game when they have already formed a community. It is also recognize that even when a player leaves the game, he/she does visit his/her guild/clan website often to interact with the people. if we categorize access rights to login to forums using their game ID if they are still subscribing. Will we actually manage to retain some subscriptions? ^^