The entire internet has probably commented on Raph’s controversial statement by now, but then that never stopped me. Yes, I’ve read his point in more depth, I still think he’s deeply wrong. Single player games are no more “unnatural and abnormal” than reading a book. Sometimes, in fact often, I simply don’t want other people ruining my gameplaying, and I’m definitely not alone in that. A quick quote from his comments (by Raph):

From a raw audience point of view, I think there’s little question that MMORPGs potentially reach far far more people. They can, after all, offer the CRPG experience, PLUS offer stuff for the other personality types.

No. Not even close. What MMOs lack is focus. The inevitable mundane collection quests and other such grind. The trolls and griefers. OOC players ruining the setting (and even worse the laughable role players). A great single player game can draw you in entirely with its sharp story driven along by multiple characters at every step. You are the hero, not just another cog in the big machine.

MMOs have many strengths, but there is simply no way they’re going to take over from a great single player game due to an equal number of weaknesses. Obviously Raph’s obliged to support online gaming here, but this kind of statement is simply deeply blinkered. There’s a reason Half Life 2 won so many Game of the Year awards instead of WoW.