A Month in Gaming
My gaming time was somewhat erratic throughout March. Therefore when I did log in to an MMO I tended to pursue daily repeatable activities and linear quests. Content that could be easily managed and did not require a great degree of planning or concentration. My High Elf Guardian in The Lord of the Rings Online is currently level 72 and the PVE content I’m playing through is about five or so levels below that, so unless I make an obvious mistake, the risk of “defeat” is not high. I’ve also used these short periods of gaming to do further inventory management in Star Trek Online. My current policy for surplus items is to either pass it on to an alt if possible, sell it via in game auctions or just vendor it. It’s remarkable the number of items you accrue in MMOs that you out grow or simply never get around to using. Outside of MMOs, I simply did some game installation housekeeping. It seems there’s always a patch that need to be downloaded and installed.
My gaming time was somewhat erratic throughout March. Therefore when I did log in to an MMO I tended to pursue daily repeatable activities and linear quests. Content that could be easily managed and did not require a great degree of planning or concentration. My High Elf Guardian in The Lord of the Rings Online is currently level 72 and the PVE content I’m playing through is about five or so levels below that, so unless I make an obvious mistake, the risk of “defeat” is not high. I’ve also used these short periods of gaming to do further inventory management in Star Trek Online. My current policy for surplus items is to either pass it on to an alt if possible, sell it via in game auctions or just vendor it. It’s remarkable the number of items you accrue in MMOs that you out grow or simply never get around to using. Outside of MMOs, I simply did some game installation housekeeping. It seems there’s always a patch that need to be downloaded and installed.
March in Review:
I’ve been experimenting with live streaming and have run several technical tests recently. So far, I have only played STO as I cannot get LOTRO to “co-operate”. To make these tests less tedious for viewers, I stockpiled some Infinity Lock boxes and keys. I managed to acquire a Tier 6 ship which I subsequently sold on the exchange for 595,000,000 energy credits. I used these funds to buy the very rare Photonic Science Officer which use to be a reward from Cryptic for their player subscription referral scheme. This is the only bridge officer candidate that comes with Photonic Officer III ability, which reduces the recharge time of other bridge officer powers. I also acquired a Holographic James Kurland bridge officer. I wasn’t aware that these were even a “thing”. I was most pleased and amused.
In LOTRO I have been questing in Dunland with my High Elf Guardian and due to my current level earning little XP. This is the second time I’ve played through this zone and I’m still not especially enamoured with the story. The plight of the Dunlending is hardly riveting and they continue to be an annoying and unsympathetic group. I am currently in Galtrev, the primary town in the region, but it is a phased due to major plot development. If I want to leave the current phase I have to clear several secondary quests that will move the story along. It far from difficult, but it’s hardly enthralling either. Hence my progress though the game has reduced. I may consider relocating back to The Great River zone, for a greater challenge and a more engaging narrative.
I decided to revisit Assassins Creed: Odyssey which I’ve had installed on my PC since last November. There was a 5.9 GB patch outstanding which took a while to download and install. Once this was done, the proverbial “moment” was gone, so I played something else. I must get around to spending time in this game at some point. I subsequently found that all the various game launchers such as Uplay, Origin, and Steam needed similar patching.
I finally resolved all my addon issues with The Elder Scrolls Online. I now have my UI organised and have access to the data that I need. Shame I didn’t actually play any ESO after all that.
April Goals:
The annual First Contact Day Event has started in STO, offering the usual cosmetic awards and one practical item of gear. This year it’s a Replica Thompson Submachine Gun, as used by Captain Picard in Star Trek: First Contact. There’s the usual fun group activity where players assemble a replica of Zefram Cochrane’s ship the Phoenix. However, due to a flaw in the game design, players can go AFK if they so choose and wait out the event, collecting their anniversary vouchers when it finishes. I’m personally happy to do the arbitrary activity. So the simple goals I’ve set myself in STO this April are to obtain the Replica Thompson Submachine Gun and then finishing another featured TFO event, Peril Over Pahvo, that I started in March.
I guess the only practical plan I can implement for LOTRO is to keep going. I’m going to try and clear the Dunland related Epic Story and then brace myself for Rohan. Because Rohan means mounted combat and having a tank on a horse doesn’t sound like a recipe for fun. Maybe I can find someone in my kinship to buddy up with and see if this somewhat “taxing” stage of the game can be blitzed through.
I also intend to do my first “official” Contains Moderate Peril Twitch TV stream this month. It will be a somewhat minimalist affair. I’m not into the various bell and whistles that some streamers like. I simply want to play some games and have a discussion with a few guests. The technical side of things seems to be sorted so it’s just a question of actually getting the proverbial show on the road.
A Lack of Excitement
“Do you still get excited about upcoming MMORPGs?” asked Massively Overpowered today. My first reaction was to say something flippant, so I left the following comment. “As I’ve got older, I’ve swapped excitement for schadenfreude. The ROI is far better”. However, upon mature reflection I think there’s more to this enquiry than meets the eye and that it requires a more thorough response. Because the more I think about it there seems to be a total lack of excitement from my perspective about any new MMORPG currently in development and more importantly, for those that I currently play. Both of which (The Lord of the Rings Online and Star Trek Online) have released a road map for the year ahead. Is a lack of any excitement indicative of an issue with me or with the genre of games that I have made a major part of my leisure time?
“Do you still get excited about upcoming MMORPGs?” asked Massively Overpowered today. My first reaction was to say something flippant, so I left the following comment. “As I’ve got older, I’ve swapped excitement for schadenfreude. The ROI is far better”. However, upon mature reflection I think there’s more to this enquiry than meets the eye and that it requires a more thorough response. Because the more I think about it there seems to be a total lack of excitement from my perspective about any new MMORPG currently in development and more importantly, for those that I currently play. Both of which (The Lord of the Rings Online and Star Trek Online) have released a road map for the year ahead. Is a lack of any excitement indicative of an issue with me or with the genre of games that I have made a major part of my leisure time?
Having been a regular MMO player since 2008, I think the most fundamental thing that has robbed the genre of excitement for me is hype culture and bogus marketing. MMORPGs have consistently failed to live up to their potential, have too often plagiarised the successful formula of World of Warcraft and has consistently failed to evolve, take risks or countenance anything truly innovative. So many titles have been released and hailed as a major paradigm shift within the genre, only to make the same mistakes as their predecessors. Furthermore, publishers have frequently mismanaged their players needs, failed to address problems groups and have generally eschewed any real responsibility for the communities they’ve contributed to creating. And then there is the egregious monetisation and the woeful mismanagement of loot boxes and similar mechanics.
Beyond the failings of the actual MMO games themselves, there are other factors that leech the joy out of the genre. The video games industry seldom covers itself in glory. Yes, there are good studios but we are regularly presented with details of the those who treat their employees poorly, have senior staff who hold questionable views and affiliations, as well as the general indifference to ethics, accountability and even legislation. Then there is the section of the player base and fan community that came to the wider public’s attention during the 2014 #Gamergate debacle. This loose cabal of professional malcontents, the socially dysfunctional and the extreme right continues to plague the gaming scene. It is yet another factor that keeps me and many other gamers from fully embracing and identifying with gaming culture.
And then there’s my age as well as my own journey of self-discovery and personal awareness to consider. Over time, idealism is often replaced with realism. I find that nowadays, my sense of excitement, anticipation and generally looking forward to something is far more restrained. I tend to focus upon things that I know are not likely to disappoint. Which is more likely to let me down? A cold beer or a multi-million-dollar video game that has been designed primarily as a “live service”? Excitement is all too often the unwitting bed fellow of naïveté. So returning to the original question, no I don’t tend to get excited about MMOs anymore, but that’s not down to some simple binary reason. It’s a change brought about by the evolution of the video games industry and my own life experience. Excitement still exists for me in a measured, targeted way but It is no longer a default reaction or something freely given. And that saddens me a little.
Why Am I Doing This?
"Why am I doing this?" is the question currently posed over at KeenandGraev.com and it certainly makes for some interesting introspection and personal reflection. Most gamers have at some point found themselves carrying out some arbitrary task in a game, pausing and then musing as to why they have chosen to do something as mundane and possibly even as tedious as “kill 10 rats” or “pick up nails” (yes, I’m looking at you LOTRO). Regardless of whether such mechanics are right or wrong, lazy or “classic”, grinding is an inherent aspect of most video games, especially the MMO genre. Players burn through narrative driven quest content far too quickly, therefore there has to be systems to slow player progress down and make then repeat content. However, the point of the original post isn’t to debate whether grinding is right or wrong. It’s about what you as a player do next when you finally ask yourself this question.
"Why am I doing this?" is the question currently posed over at KeenandGraev.com and it certainly makes for some interesting introspection and personal reflection. Most gamers have at some point found themselves carrying out some arbitrary task in a game, pausing and then musing as to why they have chosen to do something as mundane and possibly even as tedious as “kill 10 rats” or “pick up nails” (yes, I’m looking at you LOTRO). Regardless of whether such mechanics are right or wrong, lazy or “classic”, grinding is an inherent aspect of most video games, especially the MMO genre. Players burn through narrative driven quest content far too quickly, therefore there has to be systems to slow player progress down and make then repeat content. However, the point of the original post isn’t to debate whether grinding is right or wrong. It’s about what you as a player do next when you finally ask yourself this question.
I found the reply from MMO blogger Bhagpuss to be particularly illuminating. “Because” usually works for me”. Sometimes playing an arbitrary game and pursuing the most mundane of tasks is a source of relaxation for players. Not everyone is motivated by the quid pro quo of gear grinding and levelling, although these are powerful motivators. Sometimes just logging into an MMO and crafting, or resource gathering or even just touring the virtual world is an invaluable means of unwinding. Often when playing through such content, gamers will often do other things, such as listen to podcasts. Hence the game is facilitating another activity. Another common occurrence is that when players log into a game and “grind” through repetitive content, they are often logged into Discord and speaking with friends and colleagues. So viewed from a broader perspective the “because” reason that Bhagpuss mentions, is potentially a conduit to wider pastimes or social interaction.
“Look Crusty Fur, there’s some repetitive tasks we can do ad infinitum…
On a slightly more serious note, the “planting crops and watering them” that Keen references in his original post, is the sort of game mechanic that some gamers will use as a coping mechanism during times of stress and anxiety. Losing oneself in a virtual world can be a very appealing prospect when one has a great deal of major real-world problems. The routine and structure of repetitive game play can have therapeutic value. I know many gamers who struggle with depression and other mental health issues who find that games provide a very stabilising influence, keeping them focused and occupied. And on a simpler level, day to day life is hard for many people for economic and logistical reasons. I certainly find a degree of comfort in the mundane at times. Pursuing such goals in an MMO helps block out the tedium and worry associated with contemporary politics.
However, we should all remember that although the question “why am I doing this?” may be a universal constant, our personal responses are subjective. As I’ve written before, one person’s grind is another’s hog heaven. Hence the point when a gamer asks themselves “do I really need to go to Splaticon IV yet again and retrieve the Sword of Kagnazax?” is different for everyone. I certainly know where my own personal lines in the sand are drawn. I view gaming very much in a transactional fashion. I do something because of the reward it offers or the amusement it affords. The moment those criteria are not met, I’ll do something else, although it took me several years to come to terms with this policy. Social obligation and the sunk cost fallacy can be hard habits to break. So overall, I think encouraging gamers to police themselves from time to time by contemplating this question is a good thing, because the tail doesn’t wag the dog.
You Are Not the Intended Customer
After reading a lot of the recent coverage of Google Stadia, I find some of the comments and reactions from existing PC and console gamers just as “interesting” as the actual product itself. As for the basic concept of games running remotely at a datacentre, which does all the “heavy lifting”, we’ve been here before. On Live tried this in the UK back in 2009. They also had bespoke controllers just like Google Stadia but ultimately there was too many people in the UK at the time with low end internet connections, so the business failed. I believe Sony ended up buying all their patents. Obviously, technology has moved on in the last decade and certainly Google has more resources that it can bring to bear on the development of this product. But as I said, I find the way the news of this product was greeted to be of equal interest, because as ever core gamers are blinkered by their own erroneous perspective. They see themselves as the target demographic of any new service or game, which is not the case in this instance.
After reading a lot of the recent coverage of Google Stadia, I find some of the comments and reactions from existing PC and console gamers just as “interesting” as the actual product itself. As for the basic concept of games running remotely at a datacentre, which does all the “heavy lifting”, we’ve been here before. On Live tried this in the UK back in 2009. They also had bespoke controllers just like Google Stadia but ultimately there was too many people in the UK at the time with low end internet connections, so the business failed. I believe Sony ended up buying all their patents. Obviously, technology has moved on in the last decade and certainly Google has more resources that it can bring to bear on the development of this product. But as I said, I find the way the news of this product was greeted to be of equal interest, because as ever core gamers are blinkered by their own erroneous perspective. They see themselves as the target demographic of any new service or game, which is not the case in this instance.
Google Stadia is a service can run top titles on most domestic platforms. Does everyone have a PC or console? No. Does everyone have a TV and a smartphone? Yes (or as near as damnit). So I would hazard a guess that this new service is viewed by Google as a means to expand the reach of games to those who are currently either playing on the margins, or our entrenched in bespoke market such as cell phone games. Google do not seem to be offering anything to core PC gamers, who will more than likely not be interested in such a service. Game mods, high end graphics on “über” gaming rigs, and live streaming are some of the aspects of PC gaming culture that keep it distinctly separate from other video games communities. If anything, Google Stadia could be more of a threat to the console market. However, irrespective of both these issues, if Google can get casual gamers who play mobile games via a phone, to expand the scope of their hobby and start paying to play the latest console/PC titles, they could be on to a winner.
Potentially pitching to this particular quarter of the gaming diaspora, could prove extremely lucrative. Mobile revenue accounts for more than 50% of the global video games market. As of last year that was $65.4 billion. For those who don’t have a console or do not wish to purchase the latest titles at their current retail price, a gaming service such as Google Stadia, pitched at a comparable cost to something like Netflix could be a major hit. Naturally this service will not necessarily appeal to competitive gamers for obvious technical reasons such as lag. Nor will it be embraced by the PC Master Race/professional malcontents/zealous gamer purists who are disdainful of anything outside of their purview. But again, they’re not the target demographic and frankly they’re not a group that endears itself to either marketing departments or the wider gaming community. Gaming has become an everyday pastime in recent years and the term itself has also evolved. Making gaming even more accessible is naturally a logical business goal.
However change always has winners and losers. Although I see the business sense in a service such as Google Stadia, it also represents yet another nail in the coffin of “ownership”. I’m old fashioned and in some respects very much a product of the era I grew up in. I like to pay once for something and move on, and so do not warm to concepts such a recurring charges and live services. But I’m wise enough to understand that markets evolve and that the business models of the past are not immutable. You only have to look at the decline of physical media, especially in the music industry for proof. This is the age of “games as a service” and Google Stadia could potentially be the “killer” product that helps to normalise that, just as iTunes drove a stake through the heart of CD sales and made us all subscribers with virtual collections.
The Lord of the Rings: Gollum in Development
In recent years there has been a shift in position of both Middle-earth Enterprises and the Tolkien Estate. Saul Zaentz died in 2014 leading to a relaxing in licensing requirements and Christopher Tolkien stepped down as the director of his father’s estate in late 2017, further contributing to increased commercial use of Tolkien’s intellectual property. Since then we have learned that Athlon Games are developing a new MMORPG set in Middle-earth and that Amazon Prime is producing a major TV show set in the Second Age. It would appear that the firm grip that has prevailed over the last forty years is now waning and that Middle-earth Enterprises and the Tolkien Estate are more disposed towards expanding the reach and financial potential of the Tolkien franchise.
In recent years there has been a shift in position of both Middle-earth Enterprises and the Tolkien Estate. Saul Zaentz died in 2014 leading to a relaxing in licensing requirements and Christopher Tolkien stepped down as the director of his father’s estate in late 2017, further contributing to increased commercial use of Tolkien’s intellectual property. Since then we have learned that Athlon Games are developing a new MMORPG set in Middle-earth and that Amazon Prime is producing a major TV show set in the Second Age. It would appear that the firm grip that has prevailed over the last forty years is now waning and that Middle-earth Enterprises and the Tolkien Estate are more disposed towards expanding the reach and financial potential of the Tolkien franchise.
Despite the major canonical deviations made by Monolith Productions with both Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor and its sequel Shadow of War, both games were substantial commercial and critical successes. Perhaps other studios have seen the creative possibilities that the Middle-earth IP can finally offer, now that both controlling parties are being more flexible in their approach to licensing. That is my pet theory, and perhaps it might explain the recently announced Gollum themed role-playing game that is currently in development by German video game studio Daedalic Entertainment. Of all the characters and scenarios they could have picked, the studio have elected to create a narrative driven game based upon the life of Frodo Baggins’s nemesis and former ring bearer, Sméagol. I’m not sure if this is a bold or insane move.
According to Carsten Fichtelmann, CEO and Co-Founder of Daedalic, “The Lord of the Rings is one of the most epic and renowned stories of all time - it's an honour for us to have the opportunity to work on our own contribution to this universe. In Gollum, players will assume the role of one of the most iconic characters in Middle-earth. We tell Gollum's story from a perspective never seen before, in any storytelling medium, all the while staying true to the legendary books of J.R.R. Tolkien. At a time when the games industry is undergoing structural changes and seeing new business models evolve, we are excited to realize a huge new production based on a story that has stayed fresh and relevant for more than 60 years”. As with most soundbites, it tells us very little about the game itself. Den of Geek managed to speak to Carsten Fichtelmann and Jonas Hüsges (Project Manager and Head of Business Development), although there still isn’t much to tell.
Ken Follett's The Pillars of the Earth
Due to the terms of the licensing agreement, Daedalic Entertainment will be creating their own unique Middle-earth aesthetic and are not pursuing photorealism or the visual style established by the film trilogies. Perhaps they will take the same stylised approach they did with their adaptation of Ken Follet’s Pillars of the Earth. I personally would have no issue with such a choice. The game play will potentially involve stealth, as this is an integral part of Gollum’s character (both with and without The One Ring). So maybe we will see a game mechanic similar to that of Sniper Elite or Ghost of a Tale? It has also been indicated by Daedalic Entertainment that there may be further games to follow as their license covers more that just The Lord of the Rings: Gollum. Tentatively, the game is scheduled for a release in 2021. If this title does bear any similarity of Pillars of the Earth, then it could be released on Linux, macOS, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One and iOS.
Age has greatly tempered my position on fandom and I look back at my former zealous, lore-based fundamentalism of multiple popular IPs with a degree of embarrassment and mirth. For example, did Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor and Shadow of War take massive liberties with the source material? Yes. Did they ruin my enjoyment of Tolkien’s work? No. Did I have fun and enjoy both games? Again, yes. Therefore, however incongruous a Gollum themed role-playing game may sound, I believe there is scope for it to be of interest. Narratively speaking there’s a lot that can be done with the character with and some noticeable gaps in his back story to explore. As for a video game based around stealth and silent kills, we know that if done right, such a concept can definitely work. So I am happy to extend the benefit of the doubt to Daedalic Entertainment and remain cautiously optimistic for The Lord of the Rings: Gollum.
Get Your House in Order
Theoretically, the fallout from the Christchurch mass shooting should be far reaching. There is at present an opportunity to address numerous problems and issues while the tragedy still has both political and social momentum. Because “it is the doom of man that he forgets”. 24-hour news culture has severely strained the public’s attention span. Plus it is in the interests of numerous institutions for the news cycle to move on, because current scrutiny is highlighting how culpable they are. The tabloid press, media commentators, tech companies and internet communities have been found wanting for a while and last weeks carnage is now raising questions over their involvement in the growing culture of hate and therefore their potential regulation. This may be the last chance for many to put their own house in order before the establishment does. And considering the knee-jerk, ham-fisted nature of contemporary western politics, the latter is not likely to be either subtle, efficient or even beneficial.
Theoretically, the fallout from the Christchurch mass shooting should be far reaching. There is at present an opportunity to address numerous problems and issues while the tragedy still has both political and social momentum. Because “it is the doom of man that he forgets”. 24-hour news culture has severely strained the public’s attention span. Plus it is in the interests of numerous institutions for the news cycle to move on, because current scrutiny is highlighting how culpable they are. The tabloid press, media commentators, tech companies and internet communities have been found wanting for a while and last weeks carnage is now raising questions over their involvement in the growing culture of hate and therefore their potential regulation. This may be the last chance for many to put their own house in order before the establishment does. And considering the knee-jerk, ham-fisted nature of contemporary western politics, the latter is not likely to be either subtle, efficient or even beneficial.
It sadly did not come as a surprise that Brenton Tarrant is steeped in numerous aspects of the unsavoury side of internet culture. Namely, 8chan, shitposting and the alt-right. A “manifesto” allegedly attributed to him is filled with the usual weaponised use of memes to try and obfuscate and confuse. And then there’s the fact that he was allegedly a gamer and conversant with You Tube sub-culture to consider. While old school politicians, mainstream journalists and senior members of the public struggle to catch up, those of us who are more familiar with fluid and rapidly evolving nature of internet culture are facing the stark reality that it played a part in shaping this killer’s beliefs. Furthermore gaming, online communities and You Tube personalities are some of the many intersecting circles of a wider and ultimately harmful Venn diagram. Memes aren’t necessarily “just harmless, movements such as #gamergate aren’t purely about “ethics in gaming journalism” and when You Tube personalities say racist, sexist or homophobic things, it not just “banter” or “a joke”.
Tarrant stated, “Remember lads, subscribe to PewDiePie!” just before he started shooting. Felix Kjellberg has made a statement disavowing any association with him, his ideology and being “sickened” by his comments. However, Kjellberg has used racist language in the past, as well as given shout-outs to questionable individuals. With 89 million plus YouTube subscribers who are predominantly young, male and white, he has a lot of reach. Then there are other personalities and channels that cater and court this specific demographic. One filled with poorly skilled, disaffected young males, struggling with emotional literacy and social awkwardness. Add to this a growing adversarial culture that eschews nuance and increasing zealotry in previously benign social interactions and pastimes such as fandom and there’s trouble. PC culture has failed and the pendulum has now swung the other way with populist bandwagons such as Brexit and MAGA. A perfect storm has been forming for a while and it appears to have now arrived.
It is both sad and ironic that the old cautionary mantra of “the only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing” which has almost become hokey in recent years, has suddenly become alarming relevant again. Online communities, You Tube, Twitch, even game developers have not done enough (if indeed anything) to adequately police and moderate the communities they financially benefit from. They’ve hidden behind “freedom of speech”, claims they are not publishers and generally complained that the technology or man power required to do the job would be too difficult to manage and inefficient. And so we saw both Facebook and You Tube desperately trying to get in control of the continuous reposting of video content of the Christchurch shootings. “Why not just suspend all uploads during such circumstances?” some politicians have asked. The ensuing silence from the tech companies was deafening. And the real answer is money as anyone with a functioning intellect knows.
There are no simple reasons for the rise in hate crimes or easy explanations for such tragic events such as that in Christchurch. Nor are there any quick fixes. Multiple factors have contributed to an ongoing drip, drip, drip of populist rhetoric that have normalised racism, xenophobia and hatred of “the other”. Online culture has evolved quickly from a quirky, backwater niche to an unchecked, unpoliced “frontier town”. We now find that such an environment is dangerous and action needs to be taken. Codes of conduct need to be enforced, moderation is required and we must stop mollifying sanctions with bogus attempts at reform, because we still want everyones money. We all need to play our part and call out those who peddle hatred. We also need to be smart and ensure we don’t throw the baby out with the bath water. With regard to the bigger players such as You Tube and Facebook, if they don’t take real steps now to prevent abuse of their services, they will find control rested away from them and given to the politicians. Not the most desirable solution. The time for “whataboutery” and generally prevaricating is over. There is guilt by association and in some cases blood on the hands of those who profit from the status quo. So to all involved, get you house in order. While you still can. The consequences for not doing so don’t bear thinking about.
Yet More Politics and Video Games
Setting aside Jim Sterling’s showmanship, which may not be to everyone’s taste, he is consistently astute in his ongoing analysis of the Triple A Video Games Industry. Today’s episode of the Jimquisition addresses how major publishers are using political and social issues as the basis for the plots of many of their most popular franchises, while simultaneously denying any political stance or affiliation. He highlights how Terry Spier (the creative director for Red Storm Entertainment who developed The Division 2), and David Cage (the writer and director of Detroit: Become Human), have tied themselves in knots claiming their games are apolitical. It makes for interesting viewing and as ever Sterling’s arguments are compelling and sound. Furthermore, it shows that all the vices and ethical failures of traditional leisure industries such as TV and movies, inevitably bleed into the video games. Namely, wanting to reference “grown up” subjects without being hampered by their accompanying baggage.
Setting aside Jim Sterling’s showmanship, which may not be to everyone’s taste, he is consistently astute in his ongoing analysis of the Triple A Video Games Industry. Today’s episode of the Jimquisition addresses how major publishers are using political and social issues as the basis for the plots of many of their most popular franchises, while simultaneously denying any political stance or affiliation. He highlights how Terry Spier (the creative director for Red Storm Entertainment who developed The Division 2), and David Cage (the writer and director of Detroit: Become Human), have tied themselves in knots claiming their games are apolitical. It makes for interesting viewing and as ever Sterling’s arguments are compelling and sound. Furthermore, it shows that all the vices and ethical failures of traditional leisure industries such as TV and movies, inevitably bleed into the video games. Namely, wanting to reference “grown up” subjects without being hampered by their accompanying baggage.
What many find distasteful is not so much the “having your cake and eating it” attitude, but the underlying cynicism. Game publishers are not just sitting on the fence in this fashion to avoid having to take a stance on complex socio-political issues but doing so because they broadly have no opinion. Ubisoft is not interested in the implosion of western politics or the issue of gun control. Sony Interactive doesn’t have an agenda with regard to racial or gender oppression. But both are happy to exploit them for financial gain. Problems that real people face every day are simply a means to an end and if it became fiscally prudent to abandon such subjects, then I’m sure these companies would do so without hesitation. I am reminded of the concept of exploitation movies and how they differ from films that genuinely explore a subject. Think Penitentiary (1979) versus I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang (1932).
It has been argued that game publishers are pursuing a “politically neutral” policy to avoid controversy with specific online groups and avoid a #gamergate style debacle. Certainly the hostility of certain sectors of the video games community is problematic. But I suspect this claim is spurious, as it is founded upon an assumption of ethics. Something that it conspicuous by its absence in the Triple A video games industry. So once again we return to the myth of keeping politics out of gaming and how those who advocate such a position either don’t understand its inherent contradiction, or in the case of the game publishers, simply don’t care. Why let facts and honesty stand in the way of a dollar? And the last point actually highlights how unnecessary this stance is. Even if the publishers admitted to a political perspective, I doubt it would greatly harm sales. Not all genres are dependent upon their narrative to sell. Plus gamers per se suffer acutely from cognitive dissonance.
Star Trek Online: City on the Edge of Never
Out of the original seventy-nine episodes of Star Trek, one of the most respected and beloved is The City of the Edge of Forever. Written by Harlan Ellison the story is one of the more thoughtful and tragic in Trek Canon. It was also the first episode to feature a temporal plotline. Doctor Leonard McCoy (DeForest Kelley) accidently receives an overdose of medication and flees the Enterprise while in a delusional state. Beaming down to an alien planet he uses a temporal gateway (The Guardian of Forever) to travels back in time to earth during the Great Depression. By doing so he accidentally changes history. Captain Kirk (William Shatner) and Spock (Leonard Nimoy) follow him through the gateway to New York in hope of correcting the timeline. While awaiting the arrival of McCoy, Kirk falls in love with Edith Keeler (Joan Collins) who runs the 21st Street Mission. However he and Spock soon determine that to restore the timeline they must allow her to die.
Out of the original seventy-nine episodes of Star Trek, one of the most respected and beloved is The City of the Edge of Forever. Written by Harlan Ellison the story is one of the more thoughtful and tragic in Trek Canon. It was also the first episode to feature a temporal plotline. Doctor Leonard McCoy (DeForest Kelley) accidently receives an overdose of medication and flees the Enterprise while in a delusional state. Beaming down to an alien planet he uses a temporal gateway (The Guardian of Forever) to travels back in time to earth during the Great Depression. By doing so he accidentally changes history. Captain Kirk (William Shatner) and Spock (Leonard Nimoy) follow him through the gateway to New York in hope of correcting the timeline. While awaiting the arrival of McCoy, Kirk falls in love with Edith Keeler (Joan Collins) who runs the 21st Street Mission. However he and Spock soon determine that to restore the timeline they must allow her to die.
One of the most enjoyable elements of the MMORPG Star Trek Online, are the various game missions that reference plot lines and characters from all of the Star Trek franchises. One such mission is City on the Edge of Never which involves the player character travelling to the Gateway system and using the Guardian of Forever to travel through time to 2270 to stop Klingons intent on altering history. The episode has the Guardian projecting a time portal into space, allowing the player to take their vessel through to the past. It also features voice acting by Nimoy which adds further to the sense of nostalgia. City on the Edge of Never is a part of the Klingon War story arc and is certainly one of the more engaging missions. Due to its iconic nature it was well received by reviewers upon the release of STO back in 2010. Kotaku writer Mike Fahey said "This mission might have just made the entire game for me. Everything about it was simply perfect. If Star Trek Online fails for some reason, this mission will always be remembered”.
Sadly this mission, along with several others has been temporarily removed from the game as part of an ongoing content revamp. Cryptic mentioned in a previous Priory One podcast interview that the missions were supposed to get revamped before the end of 2018, but the developer who was undertaking the task is on leave. However, it was still their intention to see the content restored to the game. At present the absence of these missions, especially City on the Edge of Never, does have an impact upon the overall story arc of the Klingon War. The storyline is somewhat briefer and lacking in its original impact. For fans who feel that TOS era specific content is a little thin on the ground in STO, the swift return of these missions couldn’t come sooner. It would also be interesting if Cryptic could expand further upon use of the Guardian of Forever. Some additional scientific research missions under the Vulcan Science Council would be a welcome addition to the game and a pleasant addition to the non-combat related content.
LOTRO: Thoughts on the Current Downtime
As I am writing this post, the popular MMORPG The Lord of the Rings Online has been offline since 2:00 AM EST on 6th March (7:00 AM GMT). The game servers, website and account portal are offline for maintenance and it would appear that the actually physical hardware is being relocated within the datacentre that Standing Stone Games uses. Like any complex IT project of this nature there are always potential problems and it would appear that some have occurred as the initial 22 hours projected down time has now become nearly 3 days. Naturally this has had an impact upon the LOTRO community as Friday evening is often prime gaming time. From SSG’s perspective the extended outage is not good for business or community relations and so they have been using social media to keep players informed.
As I am writing this post, the popular MMORPG The Lord of the Rings Online has been offline since 2:00 AM EST on 6th March (7:00 AM GMT). The game servers, website and account portal are offline for maintenance and it would appear that the actually physical hardware is being relocated within the datacentre that Standing Stone Games uses. Like any complex IT project of this nature there are always potential problems and it would appear that some have occurred as the initial 22 hours projected down time has now become nearly 3 days. Naturally this has had an impact upon the LOTRO community as Friday evening is often prime gaming time. From SSG’s perspective the extended outage is not good for business or community relations and so they have been using social media to keep players informed.
Community manager Cordovan (Jerry Snook) presented a brief live stream earlier tonight to provide a more hands on summary of issues and to endeavour to placate LOTRO players. He re-iterated that the downtime was too facilitate a server move and that there have been hardware issues and other related problems as a result. He also stated that no data had been lost. Third party contractors are involved, and overall trouble shooting is progressing. He stated that the downtime would continue to at 6:00 PM EST (11:00 AM GMT March) and that hopefully by then “there would be good news. Once service has been resumed for both LOTRO and DDO, there would be a more comprehensive statement put out about player compensation, an extension of the skirmish event and general billing enquiries. He couldn’t be specific at present, but he was clear that players would be suitably recompensed as they have been in the past.
“In technical terms, I thinks it’s totally fucked. Let’s blame it on the intern Colin”.
Having worked in the past in such technical environments as datacentres and been involved in projects of similar scope, I am sympathetic towards SSGs plight. No matter how well you plan there is always potential for something to go pear shaped. It’s often something innocuous or an aspect of the project that was deemed trivial and left to the intern Colin to sort out. Frankly there is never a good time to shut a server down. Just a period that is the “least inconvenient”. Clearly in this case the situation has gone beyond this and I ‘m sure there are a lot of folk working very hard to pull the company’s proverbial chestnuts out of the fire. Who knows, maybe this extended downtime has a valuable moral lesson to teach us about something or other. I’m not really sure, as I’m not known for my morality and I’ve just played more Star trek Online instead. However, I am looking forward to seeing LOTRO back online. I’d miss it if it wasn’t about anymore.
Update:
Cordovans deadline has been and gone and sadly the downtime has been further extended. As of 23:25 PM GMT the current speculative end to the outage is 12:00 PM Eastern (5:00 AM GMT) Saturday, March 9th.
Learning How to Live Stream Part 1
Sometimes, it’s good to try something different and to learn new skills. I’ve been mentally restless of late and miss applying myself to technical problems and expanding my skills. It’s one of the few aspects of traditional “work” that I miss. So after some deliberation, I’ve decided to try live streaming. Whether I’m successful at it and maintain a regular streaming schedule is another matter altogether. But I’m going to give it a go and have already determined how I intend to approach it and what “my angle” is going to be. However, first things first. Matters such as style, tone and presentation are concerns for later. I spent today getting to grips with Streamlabs OBS and learning the basics. I thought I’d share my experiences because it hasn’t been as straight forward a process as I’d imagined.
Sometimes, it’s good to try something different and to learn new skills. I’ve been mentally restless of late and miss applying myself to technical problems and expanding my skills. It’s one of the few aspects of traditional “work” that I miss. So after some deliberation, I’ve decided to try live streaming. Whether I’m successful at it and maintain a regular streaming schedule is another matter altogether. But I’m going to give it a go and have already determined how I intend to approach it and what “my angle” is going to be. However, first things first. Matters such as style, tone and presentation are concerns for later. I spent today getting to grips with Streamlabs OBS and learning the basics. I thought I’d share my experiences because it hasn’t been as straight forward a process as I’d imagined.
First off, this post is not intended as a guide, it is more of a commentary on SLOBS and the wealth of information that is available online. Like most “free software” there is a minimal amount of information contained within the program itself. There are some video links for a standard installation and an overview of the software’s functionality. New users are encouraged to use the SLOBS Discord channel but getting help in such an environment is a mixed bag. You’re at the mercy of who’s online, how helpful they are and whether they’re a good communicator. The latter is a criticism that plagues most of the You Tube content on this matter. I sat through dozens of videos today, that were intended to help and share information. Sadly most were rambling, vague and poorly expressed. Fortunately, I have access to an existing streaming community who managed to answer most of my enquiries. Therefore I’d say lesson number one is to speak to other streamers if you can and try to replicate their settings.
Having configured SLOBS, I attempted a test. Rather than “Go Live” on my Twitch account, I opted to record the results. This proved very useful. New streamers will save themselves hours of grief if they ensure from the beginning to run SLOBS as an administrator. Otherwise it will not find the game that you’re streaming. Another foible of the software happens when tabbing between the game you’re playing and SLOBS itself, which mutes the sound of your live stream. This is an “active window” issue and the only immediate solution is to not do this while you’re “live”. Fortunately, there is a SLOBS Remote app for phones and tablets, so you can manage your scene transitions and management without the need to tab to SLOBS itself. However, this brings me to lesson number two. It is not essential, but it will certainly make matters easier if you have a second monitor.
And therein lies the rub. It is casually implied by Streamlabs and many of the internet guides that you can just install the software and “go”. However, the reality is not quite as simple. SLOBS has multiple functionality and there’s a wealth of widgets you can add to manage subscriptions and social interactions. It even integrates the chat from your Twitch channel into the UI when you “Go Live”. Therefore having a second monitor, a mobile device for SLOBS Remote and establishing a lot of additional key binds for extra functions are all desirable. All of which have to be implemented in a way that is accessible, while you’re playing a game. I’m sure a lot of good streamers get by in their own unique fashion, but for optimal performance, you need a large desk with lots of space, a multiple monitor set up and possibly a tablet or bespoke device such as Stream Deck.
I don’t really have the room for a second monitor on my desk nor want at this stage in the proceedings to invest in any further hardware. So I’ve settled for having SLOBS Remote on my phone for scene management and having chat from my Twitch channel displayed on my tablet. At this point I am not going to complicate matters by having a webcam and integrating myself into my live streams. Coming form a podcast background I prefer things to be about what is being discussed rather than my sartorial elegance and rugged good looks. Today’s test streams worked although they were minimalist in nature. Now comes the task of templates and scene design, although I want to keep this as basic and functional as possible. I shall cover the next stage of my “adventures” in my next post on live streaming. In the meantime, I have adjusted my opinion on all who try this medium as it isn’t as straightforward as it first seems.
Cryptic to Close the Foundry
Cryptic have announced that they will be removing the Foundry from both Star Trek Online and Neverwinter on April 11th. The Foundry was first introduced to STO back in 2011 and has proven a popular means for players to create and share their own missions, using in-game assets. Cryptic state in their press release that “the legacy knowledge required to maintain the Foundry at our quality standards is no longer available”. This is a roundabout way of saying that the member of staff responsible for curating and quality testing the service has no left the company. Naturally, Cryptic has stated that they will acknowledge those players who have contributed to the Foundry over the years by handing out various virtual trinkets and baubles. There has been quite a strong reaction of the STO subreddit as no one like to see content removed from a game. However, the isn’t a black and white as it first appears, because the Foundry has been broken for a while.
Cryptic have announced that they will be removing the Foundry from both Star Trek Online and Neverwinter on April 11th. The Foundry was first introduced to STO back in 2011 and has proven a popular means for players to create and share their own missions, using in-game assets. Cryptic state in their press release that “the legacy knowledge required to maintain the Foundry at our quality standards is no longer available”. This is a roundabout way of saying that the member of staff responsible for curating and quality testing the service has no left the company. Naturally, Cryptic has stated that they will acknowledge those players who have contributed to the Foundry over the years by handing out various virtual trinkets and baubles. There has been quite a strong reaction of the STO subreddit as no one like to see content removed from a game. However, the isn’t a black and white as it first appears, because the Foundry has been broken for a while.
I personally haven’t played a Foundry mission for at least two years and have often only tried those I’ve specifically read about. One of the systems biggest faults is poor indexing and curation. Finding good player created content beyond the most popular missions that has been voted to the top of the list, has always been a challenge. Then for several years now every time Cryptic have revised STO in some way or simply added a new feature episode, it has always resulted in the Foundry going offline. Yes there have been some standout player created missions over the years that reflect the passionate nature of the STO community and that of Trek fans per se. But for every good mission you also get three indifferent ones. Often the latter have been created by opportunists trying to facilitate some sort of in-game benefit or provide a fast path to advancement. And on a narrative level, many of these missions are just further examples of poor fan fiction.
The recent introduction of the Personal Endeavor system in STO, pretty much the last nail in the coffin for the Foundry. Endeavors are essentially daily missions that earn statistical upgrade points and are designed to encourage players to try Task Force Operations (group PVE content) and repeat old missions. However, many players looked to Foundry content to try and clear Endeavors as quickly as possible. Why spend thirty minutes in a structured TFO that runs to a timed script, when you can run a player created mission that allows you to achieve your goal far quicker? Naturally, Cryptic were not going to allow this to continue. So when you consider this along with the flaky nature of the system to begin with, and the fact that no one is available to maintain it, it’s surprising that the plug wasn’t pulled earlier.
The Foundry in STO is one of those concepts that looks great on paper and seems like an invaluable community service when discussed. But the reality is that it never delivered as much good content as hoped for and its curation and cataloguing further hindered “the cream from rising to the top”. It can also be argued that Cryptic never promoted the service as much as they could. But irrespective of the quality of content and its accessibility, this is still a case of something being taken out of both STO and Neverwinter and that is never an easy sell. If content is taken out, one naturally feels that something else should replace it. Whether Cryptic does this remains to be seen and I won’t hold my breath. As for the Foundry, I suspect it’s a bit like the concept of “shopping locally”. It’s something we all like in principle but seldom do in reality, therefore we as players, have actively contributed to its demise.
A Month in Gaming
Every other video game blogger I know writes a monthly summary of what they’ve been playing and then details what they hope to achieve in-game over the next four weeks. It’s a very effective example of blogging as it’s easily to relate to and it’s nice to see what everyone else is focusing their “gaming attention” on. So I’ve decided to do the same. It’s a relatively straight forward post to write and it also makes collating an end of year analysis of my gaming habits a lot easier. So here is a broad breakdown of what I got up to last month, gaming wise.
Every other video game blogger I know writes a monthly summary of what they’ve been playing and then details what they hope to achieve in-game over the next four weeks. It’s a very effective example of blogging as it’s easily to relate to and it’s nice to see what everyone else is focusing their “gaming attention” on. So I’ve decided to do the same. It’s a relatively straight forward post to write and it also makes collating an end of year analysis of my gaming habits a lot easier. So here is a broad breakdown of what I got up to last month, gaming wise.
February in review:
I initially put off starting the Siege of Mirkwood expansion in LOTRO because it remains as frustrating a zone as it was back upon its release in 2009. The mobs are densely packed and it’s a dull and dismal region that’s difficult to navigate. So I spent some time levelling both in Enedwaith and in The Great River zones, which was more enjoyable and challenging. Having reached level 70 on my Guardian a few days ago, I have now returned to Southern Mirkwood and will blitz through the Epic Story. As I’ve out levelled the content, this shouldn’t be such an uphill struggle and I can focus on the narrative which is the main point of interest for me at present.
Having created a new Discovery era alt in Star Trek Online, I’ve been working my way through the various episodic missions and it’s been quite a revelation. Like LOTRO, a lot of the earlier content found in the game has been revised, streamlined and has new cutscenes added. Hence there are cameo appearances by Trek actors early on in the game. However, although the stories do make sense, there are often details and embellishments to be found when you create a new alt from a different race and experience the same story form a different perspective. Also levelling this new alt is proving a lot easier this time round as I have access to a lot of account wide assets, that I’ve unlocked on previous characters. Playing through at a lower level makes experimenting with different ship builds a lot cheaper.
Alas, my return to Tamriel has stalled and I haven’t progressed beyond installing ESO and tweaking my addons. Plus to effectively play the game, it’s best to subscribe as this unlocks all DLC and gives the player a separate crafting inventory, which greatly improves loot management. However, I don’t really want to subscribe until I’m in a position to play the game regularly and at present I don’t think that’s a realistic option. I am beginning to come to terms with the fact that my present circumstances only allow me to focus on two MMOs. However, I shall keep ESO installed and updated, just in case things change.
March Goals:
I’m currently re-installing the Bullroarer test client for LOTRO, as SSG were hinting recently that new content would be available for testing soon. LOTRO is currently saddled with a very slow installer that drags on for hours, irrespective of the speed of your internet connection, so I thought it best to get this copy of the game installed now, rather than on the day when Bullroarer next goes live.
I’m also considering returning to my primary, level cap Lore-master on Laurelin and clearing some of the outstanding deeds I have. Deeds have always been a grind in LOTRO however many now provide Motes of Enchantment, which the player can then barter for gear or cosmetic items. Plus if I have all virtues at maximum level by the time SSG revise the system it means I won’t have to spend any additional time on improving them.
I want to diversify my ship builds in STO as I tend to broadly favour the existing meta, which is primarily beam boats. I’ve been experimenting with cannons although success does hinge upon effectively flying your ship and be able to strafe efficiently. I find torpedoes interesting and have been reading about how the Quantum Phase Torpedo can be a major asset in a projectile based build. The great thing about STO is that a lot of the best gear in the game is tied to specific missions, all of which are repeatable. So it’s easy to collate a shopping list and clearly work towards what you want.
Death in MMOs
There was a post today over at Keen and Graev’s Gaming Blog, which raised the subject of “corpse runs” in old school MMOS such as Ultima Online. In-game death came with penalties back then and there was the prospect of XP loss or that your corpse could be looted, and you could potentially lose rare gear. It got me thinking because I’ve never played an MMO that has had, to my mind, such harsh sanctions. In fact game mechanics such as permadeath, corpse runs, and the loss of equipment will put me off playing any such game that has them. I suspect that unless you’re a player who is particularly motivated by achievement, competitiveness and challenge, then such systems are seen mainly as an inconvenience and impediment.
There was a post today over at Keen and Graev’s Gaming Blog, which raised the subject of “corpse runs” in old school MMOS such as Ultima Online. In-game death came with penalties back then and there was the prospect of XP loss or that your corpse could be looted, and you could potentially lose rare gear. It got me thinking because I’ve never played an MMO that has had, to my mind, such harsh sanctions. In fact game mechanics such as permadeath, corpse runs, and the loss of equipment will put me off playing any such game that has them. I suspect that unless you’re a player who is particularly motivated by achievement, competitiveness and challenge, then such systems are seen mainly as an inconvenience and impediment.
Death in MMOs and the function it is supposed to serve, is just another aspect of the genre that has changed over time. The genre is not the same time sink it used to be and an ageing player base has meant that many core mechanics have had to become more flexible and accommodating to shorter periods of gameplay. Many players who played MMOs because of the raiding, competitive PVP and the culture of league tables and results have moved on to other games that still focus on such systems. For me, MMOs are about the narrative, levelling and occasional social gameplay. Death is mainly an inconvenience and not something I wish to have any greater impact than it does already. Gaming is for me a primarily a leisure activity.
In STO, death means just respawning and mainly serves as a warning to change your strategy or to consider revising your build. If you play the TFOs at a higher level, then your ship will get damaged if destroyed, but the cost of repair is hardly prohibitive. In LOTRO defeat is again not a major setback. If you’re playing in a group, then your team mates can revive you and the only cost incurred is your armour repairs. However, reviving yourself is limited to once per 2 hours, which means that if you cannot do so, you must retreat to a Rally Circle. This is a nuisance in the more recent zones as SSG doesn’t seem to be so generous with the quantity of rally circles in the game. Also being kicked from an instance can mean a major journey back to the entrance. ESO has a similar mechanic with either self-resurrection via Soul Gems or retreating to a Wayshrine. However, I found that stockpiling Soul Gems is an easy undertaking, therefore easily mitigating death.
I’ve mention in the past that as games have become more mainstream and more monetised, players have subsequently revised their own perspective on death mechanics. If you aren’t interested in the challenge of planning a carefully considered strategy to avoid death, its presence just becomes a source of annoyance. Especially if you see video games more as a leisure service, rather than means of testing yourself. Being inconvenienced by a mechanic in a game that you are paying for is a difficult line to tread. An incentive that shapes your gameplay is one thing. A penalty that wastes your time is something entirely different. Hence, I think it is something we will continue to see diminished in mainstream MMOs, yet I suspect it will linger as a key component of more challenging games.
Politics and Video Games
I frequently read blog posts, forum comments and reddit rants that can be broadly filed under the heading “keep politics out of video games”. Actually, there’s a tendency to put a far more possessive inflection on the statement by saying “keep politics out of my video games”. It’s a rather unsophisticated response to a broader and more nuanced question about the whether it is both desirable or indeed possible to keep a socio-political subtext out of any gaming narrative. But as a lot of gamers don’t do “nuance” and there’s a growing aversion to thinking per se these days, debating such a position is often an uphill struggle. However, I saw a gaming news story today that addressed this issue head on, and it wasn’t the usual pussyfooting around the issue.
I frequently read blog posts, forum comments and reddit rants that can be broadly filed under the heading “keep politics out of video games”. Actually, there’s a tendency to put a far more possessive inflection on the statement by saying “keep politics out of my video games”. It’s a rather unsophisticated response to a broader and more nuanced question about the whether it is both desirable or indeed possible to keep a socio-political subtext out of any gaming narrative. But as a lot of gamers don’t do “nuance” and there’s a growing aversion to thinking per se these days, debating such a position is often an uphill struggle. However, I saw a gaming news story today that addressed this issue head on, and it wasn’t the usual pussyfooting around the issue.
Ndemic Creations, the developers behind the virus-spreading strategy simulator Plague Inc, are to add a new scenario to the game which sees anti-vaxxers as the threat. This is due to a request from core fans who felt that this subject was both topical and relevant to the game. They even went so far as to set up an online petition. Ndemic responded via Twitter and stated, “If this petition gets to 10k, will add a specific new anti-vaxxer scenario to Plague Inc.”. The requirement was subsequently met and so Ndemic are now working on creating a suitable scenario and integrating it into the game.
At a time where there is a significant increase in measles cases across the United States, it is reassuring to see a video games company buck the trend and make an overt political statement on an issue that affects everyone. Hopefully by adding to the public debate on the issue and robustly standing against the ludicrous position of anti-vaxxers, it will contribute to a positive outcome. Already State legislatures in both Washington and Oregon are considering laws that would remove non-medical exemptions for the routinely administered measles vaccine. Both states currently allow parents to opt out of the measles immunisations if they have a religious or philosophical objection.
As for those players of Plague Inc and the wider gaming community, who may object to such an overtly political subject being added to “their game”, I would encourage them to step back for a moment and reflect upon the nature of the what is it that they’re exactly playing. Plague Inc is a Pathogen simulator designed to infect the world. The game touches upon such issues as vaccination, global pharmaceutical companies and the political aspects of combating a global pandemic. The CDC have even talked to the games developer regarding how the game can be used to educate the public. All of which are directly or indirectly political issues in themselves. Surely this renders any complaints redundant?
Not all, but many video games have some sort of underlying narrative to facilitate the game’s systems and mechanics. Irrespective of the genre, there is usually some sort of plot that justifies the players actions in the game. It may be something simple and childish such as theft of bananas in Donkey Kong Country, but it’s there all the same. And unless the developers go out of their way to make this narrative as basic and neutral as possible, there is scope for it to be interpreted in wider socio-political terms. Furthermore, many mainstream, popular games are predicated on violence, conquest, the acquisition of territory and the vanquishing of an opponent. None of these are apolitical ideas and themes. Which is why I despair of the “keep politics out of my video games” mantra. It shows an immense lack of self-awareness. Plus consciously trying to purge video games of any semblance of political opinion is by its very nature, a political act.
They Don't Work for Us
If you want a good quote to use as a starting point for a blog post then Bree Royce, the Editor-in-Chief and writer for the video game website Massively Overpowered, seems to have a good line in them. In the latest Massively OP Podcast, Bree and Justin Olivetti where discussing the recent round of layoffs that have seen over 800 Activision Blizzard staff lose their jobs. Like many others, Bree and Justin were far from impressed with these events, especially in light of the companies increased profits. When referencing the faux angst of CEO Bobby Kotick who claimed it was a “tough call”, Bree stated “they’ve definitely proven who they work for. It ain’t us”. A simple and inescapable conclusion about the triple A video game industry. Yet it is something that many gamers still struggle to come to terms with. Because so many do not see video games purely as a product, there seems to be an emotional blind spot associated with the game themselves, the developers who make them and the companies that publish them.
If you want a good quote to use as a starting point for a blog post then Bree Royce, the Editor-in-Chief and writer for the video game website Massively Overpowered, seems to have a good line in them. In the latest Massively OP Podcast, Bree and Justin Olivetti where discussing the recent round of layoffs that have seen over 800 Activision Blizzard staff lose their jobs. Like many others, Bree and Justin were far from impressed with these events, especially in light of the companies increased profits. When referencing the faux angst of CEO Bobby Kotick who claimed it was a “tough call”, Bree stated “they’ve definitely proven who they work for. It ain’t us”. A simple and inescapable conclusion about the triple A video game industry. Yet it is something that many gamers still struggle to come to terms with. Because so many do not see video games purely as a product, there seems to be an emotional blind spot associated with the game themselves, the developers who make them and the companies that publish them.
Perhaps this is why so many ill-conceived, crowd funded gaming projects get championed my enthused gamers, who choose to ignore the realities of modern business practises. The romantic notion that independent games development is some sort of artisan “cottage industry” still persists. That devs exist in anarco-sydicalist communes, producing quality games and thriving on the bountiful revenue supplied by the likes of Kickstarter, is still believed by some. But such success stories are few and far between. Crowd funded games have a high mortality rate, often due to poor management and unrealistic promises. Which leaves the mainstream industry which exists primarily to make money and to keep shareholders happy. That’s not to say that they don’t make good games, because they do. We’ve played them. But too often the artistic and creative vision of the developers is either sidelined or hobbled to accommodate multiple means of monetising the overall product.
The triple A video game industry seems to be pursuing unsustainable growth and if left unchecked, will eventually end in a crash. Gamers will eventually balk at their business practices, although they still seem to be enabling them at present, and the fall in revenue will lead to an exodus of investors as they seek a new market to exploit. Venture capital companies seldom have any deep and abiding commitment to that which they seek to monetise. Their loyalty is to profit and if it becomes financial expedient to play the opposite side of the fence to that which they’re playing today, then they’ll do so. It’s not personal, it’s just business. And that is why the likes of Activision Blizzard don’t work for you. Gamers are not strictly the customer. The gamer or should I say the gamer’s money is the crop to be harvested. The shareholders are the real customers and they bankroll the tools needed to harvest that “available cash”. Therefore gamers need to get over the way their passion for their hobby blinds them to the nature of business.
The Ongoing Gaming Divide
Love him or loathe him, Gevlon has been a fixed constant in the video games blogging community for over a decade. But he has recently seen fit to hang up his spurs and is no longer going to be maintaining his blog. Fair enough, if you see no value in what you do or feel that your pastime is no longer what it used to be, then I understand moving on. Gevlon likes games that offer challenge and then enjoys trying to find the formula for success. Many gamers do this enjoying coming to grips with a competitive game, mastering the underlying systems and then excelling in their gameplay. However, that is not the only approach to video games. Sadly Gevlon has always maintained a somewhat binary view on the subject and he cannot see beyond his own interpretations of what gaming is. The world has moved on and he has not. It is ultimately immaterial whether he or other gamers care for this or not. Life is predicated upon change and it happens in every aspect of our lives. Leisure activities included.
Love him or loathe him, Gevlon has been a fixed constant in the video games blogging community for over a decade. But he has recently seen fit to hang up his spurs and is no longer going to be maintaining his blog. Fair enough, if you see no value in what you do or feel that your pastime is no longer what it used to be, then I understand moving on. Gevlon likes games that offer challenge and then enjoys trying to find the formula for success. Many gamers do this enjoying coming to grips with a competitive game, mastering the underlying systems and then excelling in their gameplay. However, that is not the only approach to video games. Sadly Gevlon has always maintained a somewhat binary view on the subject and he cannot see beyond his own interpretations of what gaming is. The world has moved on and he has not. It is ultimately immaterial whether he or other gamers care for this or not. Life is predicated upon change and it happens in every aspect of our lives. Leisure activities included.
The evolution of video games from the seventies to the present day is a tale of a niche, hardcore pastime slowly becoming more widely popular. The arrival of online gameplay offered social interaction and a new approach to competitive gameplay. Yet increasing popularity has attracted money and this has often made gaming about adapting to what is popular and sells, thus moving away from previously established conventions. Plus there are multiple generations of gamers who have had differing experiences determined by what time they adopted this leisure activity. The first generation of MMO players have had their perspective shaped by the likes of Ultima Online. Those playing The Elder Scrolls Online today are being shaped by a very different game environment and set of rules. Plus so many gaming terms, labels and definitions have changed. The net result is that the term gamer is a very broad church and doesn’t really indicate anything more than a penchant for playing games. The same way that being a reader doesn’t say anything about what you read or enjoying music indicates the subtleties of your personal taste.
It is very hard to try and quantify gaming and break it down into clearly delineated groups and parts. One of the major handicaps of writing about this pastime is that you often have to speak in broad generalisations and prefix your points with caveats and contextualisation. For example, the overall point of this post is to highlight that there is a gaming divide. There are those who play as a test of skill, for competitive reasons and personal achievement. You can argue that these are similar motives to those who play sports. Then there are those who game more as a social and recreational activity, who feel that it is “the journey and not the destination”, so to speak. Yet both these two points are far too definitive and don’t hold up to close scrutiny. Gaming is not a Venn Diagram made up of just two intersecting circles but potentially hundreds. However, from a business point of view, such a diversity and complexity of player needs and preferences, makes it hard to create a product that satisfies the majority.
Overall, I believe there is an established gaming divide, although it is currently framed in very broad and not entirely accurate terms. This matter is further compounded by the current culture of “pigeonholing” and the general partisan nature of culture and politics that exist at the moment. I don’t have a lot of sympathy for video games publishers as they are pretty much in the same category of bankers and estate agents. All are group that compound and exploit the problems associated with their field of work, rather than address them. But I do understand the frustration that game developers must constantly encounter. There is never an overall consensus and every point regarding a game system or mechanic is frequently hotly contested. Plus because developers don’t hold the purse strings, they are often compelled to pursue what is popular, or proven to sell, over innovation and following their own creative leads. It seems that the commercial success of gaming is actively contributing to the gaming divide.
Returning to the matter of the disgruntled games blogger who is unable or unwilling to change and adapt to the new reality of the video games market, I think it highlights the folly of untempered fandom and any other social, political or cultural dogma. Change is a reality in our daily lives, and we seems as a society to cope with it fairly well (although that is now becoming debatable). Yet I suppose everyone has, or potentially has, a blind spot for something or other, and when they encounter it, make it the hill they’re prepared to die on. I guess it all comes down to a choice. There are several big budget games scheduled for release this year, that fall outside of my personal tastes. However, I do not see this as a problem, the same way I don’t resent all the products in my local supermarket that I don’t care for. There are still games that I like in existence and being developed. But I have never understood the mindset that dislikes what others enjoy, as if that is the sole reason why their needs are seemingly neglected. But again this is something that is becoming more prevalent both in gaming and wider culture. The net result of this outlook further exasperates the divisions in gaming, making the matter a cyclical problem.
Star Trek Online: Non-Combat Missions
One of the commonest laments you’ll hear from Star Trek Online devotees is that the game is too orientated around confrontation and combat; there aren’t enough diplomatic, exploration and general non-combat missions in the game. It’s a matter I have mixed feelings about, because if you watch Star Trek TOS, then Kirk and the crew of the Enterprise didn’t always live up to the ideals that The Federation extols. However, this did change in later shows. I certainly wouldn’t be averse to having more non-combat missions in the game, although they would have to be of some substance to merit my interest. The removal of the Exploration Cluster missions from STO, in July summer 2014 was justified in my opinion, as they were somewhat arbitrary. However, if you take content out of a game, then it would be preferable to see something else put back in its place.
One of the commonest laments you’ll hear from Star Trek Online devotees is that the game is too orientated around confrontation and combat; there aren’t enough diplomatic, exploration and general non-combat missions in the game. It’s a matter I have mixed feelings about, because if you watch Star Trek TOS, then Kirk and the crew of the Enterprise didn’t always live up to the ideals that The Federation extols. However, this did change in later shows. I certainly wouldn’t be averse to having more non-combat missions in the game, although they would have to be of some substance to merit my interest. The removal of the Exploration Cluster missions from STO, in July summer 2014 was justified in my opinion, as they were somewhat arbitrary. However, if you take content out of a game, then it would be preferable to see something else put back in its place.
Having recently created a new Star Trek: Discovery era alt, I’m playing through the games content once again and have noted that a lot of it has been revised and streamlined. However, despite the removal of some content deemed sub-par or no longer relevant to the narrative, there are still some odd missions here and there that vary from the standard design. One of which is “Trade Deal” which can be found on Starbase 39 via Lt. Commander Brocal. She is trying to broker a trade deal between the Federation, Ferengi, Rigelians and the Deferi. Naturally there’s a snag and an impasse has been reached so the player has to visit each Ambassador and listen to their side of the story. Depending on how you respond, additional dialogue options then appear which give you a greater insight into the matter so you can successfully resolve the matter. Despite its somewhat linear design it is an enjoyable change from the standard “pew pew” missions.
Success in “Trade Deal” comes from reading all the dialogue and not rushing to what obviously appears to be the next stage. However, the fact that it requires reading, and playing at a measured pace will not endear it to some STO players. However, it does provide a hint as to what more non-combat missions could be like. There is also a diplomatic mission on Vulcan called “Ancestral Sin” where the player has to solve a threat made against a visiting Romulan Ambassador. Again the successful resolution of this mission comes down to the sequence of events that the player pursues and although a little dry, it does make for a welcome change from simply taking aggressive action against the latest Federation enemy. If Cryptic are going to ever integrate more of these sorts of activities in to STO then they would have to try and make them narratively engaging and possibly add a puzzle element to them to give them some added interest.
As for exploration, to make such a mechanic have any real depth other than the superficial, you’d need to have a lot of hidden mission chains placed in new map areas. Simply exploring an area and getting an accolade for cataloguing what is physically there is not something I’d want to do for too long. Going to a star system and making first contact with a race and then establishing trade or diplomatic relations is an interesting prospect, but then you’re effectively creating full blown feature episodes. The choice for Cryptic would then be do they create new narrative based around exploration or continue to write missions around established lore and canonical material. I’d personally like to have both, but I get the impression that the developers tend to stick with what has proven to work. However, as Star Trek Online seems to be faring well due to the current interest in Star Trek: Discovery, may be further resources will be allocated to expanding non-combat content in the game in the future.
LOTRO: A Lesson in Semantics
It’s always nice to know what a video game developer has in mind, especially given the currently volatility of the MMO market. Most of the MMO related news of late has been regarding studio closures and job layoffs. So the arrival of a new Producer’s Letter from Rob Ciccolini (AKA Severlin) is at first glance most welcome. Communication is not exactly Standing Stone Games greatest strength and there hasn’t been a great deal of news filtering down to the player base in the last six months. So this missive is welcome, as it does broadly feature this year’s road map for LOTRO. Furthermore, the details are interesting with further content and systems changes in development. As a long time LOTRO player who purchased the Legacy Bundle in December 2018, I want the MMO to continue grow and evolve.
It’s always nice to know what a video game developer has in mind, especially given the currently volatility of the MMO market. Most of the MMO related news of late has been regarding studio closures and job layoffs. So the arrival of a new Producer’s Letter from Rob Ciccolini (AKA Severlin) is at first glance most welcome. Communication is not exactly Standing Stone Games greatest strength and there hasn’t been a great deal of news filtering down to the player base in the last six months. So this missive is welcome, as it does broadly feature this year’s road map for LOTRO. Furthermore, the details are interesting with further content and systems changes in development. As a long time LOTRO player who purchased the Legacy Bundle in December 2018, I want the MMO to continue grow and evolve.
The list of features under development appear to be appropriate for a ten-year-old MMORPG. Naturally players at level cap want new content and so moving onto the Vale of the Anduin seems to be a logical choice. The unresolved plot regarding Shelob is also going to be addressed, with a return to Minas Morgul. Addressing difficulty issues and adding additional tiers to instances seems an equitable solution to those wanting a harder challenge. Over hauling the virtue system is long over due and it will be nice to see it made relevant again. Although I only dabble with crafting, I appreciate it is a source of enjoyment and challenge for many players. It SSG wish to expand and improve the system that’s fine with me, as it will hopefully mean a lot of new crafted gear appearing in the auction house. The ongoing work on the new 64-bit Windows client is eagerly anticipated, especially if it can address the games performance issues.
However, the Producer’s Letter is just as much as a PR and marketing exercise as it is a formal piece of communication. Therefore the devil is very much in the detail and in this case, the semantics. Consider the following quote. “So, while this does provide a road map for the year, the following letter focuses more on our goals for the game in 2019”. Goals being the key word. Because goals are not the same as formerly announced and mandated business commitments. They are aspirational achievements that can either be met or not. I think that SSG has chosen to use such language deliberately because their plans are dependent on revenue projections, set by their publisher the Daybreak Game Company. A company that is having a somewhat tumultuous time at present. So perhaps it would be wise for LOTRO players to temper their expectation for 2019, as there seems to be a clue in Mr Ciccolini’s words.
Auto Manage
As someone who plays video games for fun, rather than competitively, there are many common mechanics that I don’t care for or that I’m broadly indifferent to. These usually tend to be fiddly, time consuming tasks such as inventory management or having to excessively (a very subjective term) fine tune gear. The Legendary Item system in LOTRO being a great example of this. I fully appreciate that there are players who really dig this sort of thing and I am not in any way advocating that they have their “fun” taken away. However, what I would like to see in more games, especially MMOs, is the ability to auto manage some of these systems. To be able to just click a button and have the peace of mind that the most relevant item in my inventory will be equipped by default.
As someone who plays video games for fun, rather than competitively, there are many common mechanics that I don’t care for or that I’m broadly indifferent to. These usually tend to be fiddly, time consuming tasks such as inventory management or having to excessively (a very subjective term) fine tune gear. The Legendary Item system in LOTRO being a great example of this. I fully appreciate that there are players who really dig this sort of thing and I am not in any way advocating that they have their “fun” taken away. However, what I would like to see in more games, especially MMOs, is the ability to auto manage some of these systems. To be able to just click a button and have the peace of mind that the most relevant item in my inventory will be equipped by default.
Allow me to give an example. Back in 2003 I use to play a tactical squad based shooter called Hidden and Dangerous 2. You could spend ages equipping your team, meticulously pawing over the stats of each item and trying to ensure you had a cache of ammunition and supplies that suited your strategy. Or you if you preferred, you could click on a handy "auto manage" button that selected and equipped an adequate selection of items automatically. These were not the best or the worse items available and if you decided to choose for yourself you could do better. But they were sufficient for the task in hand, allowing the player to move on to the next step of the game. Overall the system was a nice compromise.
Requesting such a system (albeit rhetorically), is not such an outrageous demand, because a quasi-version of auto manage already exists in many games. For example, many shooters, such as the COD franchise come with default builds for each class. Again these may not be the best permutation of gear and weapons available, but they certainly work. In fact on occasions I have stuck with such loadouts without any major impediment. Such a facility also exists in real time strategy games. I can remember playing Star Wars: Rebellion back in the late nineties and allowing the AI to manage resources on the planets that were occupied. Again this was not the optimal choice, but it served a purpose if you didn’t wish to be bogged down in the minutiae of planning, building and maintaining factories, army barracks and ship yards.
Having an option to auto manage is about choice and allowing the player to do things in a fashion that suits them. There are many popular titles at present that have inventory management as a core game mechanic. Having a means to manage this process may well make such games attractive to a broader audience. Another factor to consider is the finite availability of leisure time. I certainly cannot spend an entire evening playing as I did a decade ago. Therefore when I do spend an hour or two playing a game, I want to be as productive as possible. The inclusion of some sort of auto manage facility would certainly contribute toward this and help with achieving goals in-game goals. The content gamer is one who is happy to log back in the next day. In an age of “live services” and an industry governed by churn, surely a content gamer is desirable?
MMOs I No Longer Play
I started playing MMORPGs over a decade ago, at a point when the genre was growing. It seemed at one point that every developer wanted to produce the game that usurped World of Warcrafts crown. I therefore ended up trying many of these massively multiplayer online games yet ended up sticking with few. All too often many of these titles were too generic or had an inherent flaw or flaws that killed my enjoyment. Sometimes it was just a case that the game just didn’t chime with me. Naturally over time, I have revisited some of these MMOs and a few have become a mainstay of my gaming activities. The Lord of the Rings Online, Star Trek Online and The Elder Scrolls online are three such examples. Yet there are numerous other games from this genre that I have not returned to or if I have, I still found them to be problematic, so they have not become part of my leisure activities.
I started playing MMORPGs over a decade ago, at a point when the genre was growing. It seemed at one point that every developer wanted to produce the game that usurped World of Warcrafts crown. I therefore ended up trying many of these massively multiplayer online games yet ended up sticking with few. All too often many of these titles were too generic or had an inherent flaw or flaws that killed my enjoyment. Sometimes it was just a case that the game just didn’t chime with me. Naturally over time, I have revisited some of these MMOs and a few have become a mainstay of my gaming activities. The Lord of the Rings Online, Star Trek Online and The Elder Scrolls online are three such examples. Yet there are numerous other games from this genre that I have not returned to or if I have, I still found them to be problematic, so they have not become part of my leisure activities.
Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures (or Unchained as it is now suffixed) was one of the first MMOs I tried after LOTRO. Broadly I enjoyed the game although I found combat to be somewhat cumbersome. I liked the aesthetic of the game and the atmosphere, but like so many other players, was extremely disappointed when I discovered that the voice acting, and extensive cut scenes only applied to the starter zone of Tortage. And because it was a time when there was plenty of competition available, I can remember just abandoning the game and moving on to another title. Oddly enough that was STO but that game had a bad launch and was incomplete in spring 2010. It took several years for it to find its feet. Therefore I didn’t stay there for too long either.
Rift was my next MMO port of call and although I wasn’t especially inspired by the game’s lore and story, there was a broad spectrum of possibilities when it came to class builds. By now the novelty of traditional social gaming, participating in organised guilds and devoting large amounts of time was beginning to wear a little thin. The dynamic events that Rift introduced where you could simply join a zerg and participate in a localised event, was a welcome change. Yet Rift fell between two stools. Although it did new and innovative things it still struggled with skills bloat and was saddled with too many traditional MMO mechanics. So I moved on again, just in time for Star Wars: The Old Republic in December 2011. Out of all the MMOs that I’ve played over the years, this was the one that seemed to have the most expectations associated with it.
I like so many other gamers, really wanted to like SWTOR. So I gave it possibly more of a chance than it deserved. I liked many aspects of the game; the gunslinger smuggler class that I chose, the companion system and oddly enough the ship that wasn’t quite a house. The narrative was extremely good, and I liked the way gear could be upgraded. But there were quite a lot of negative points as well. The combat was slow and there was an excess of skills, many of which could simply be ignored. Plus, although it was Star Wars, it wasn’t the period of history that so many players wanted access to. Perhaps the biggest issue was that once you had burned through all the PVE content, there was little to do at level cap. Hence there was a mass exodus of players leading to the game having to go free-to-play just to survive. A lot has been done with the game since then and I did return a couple of times but although the narrative was still strong the game is just too old school for my liking.
And so in 2012, I dabbled with The Secret World in the hope that Funcom would honour their promises to do something different with the genre. And broadly that’s what they did. The story was adult and uncompromising. There was a lot of dialogue, which I enjoyed, and the game made you think. The skill wheel system did indeed lend itself to a far more nuanced approach to fine tuning your character. But the combat was slow, repetitious and far from fun and if you wanted to spend your skill points elsewhere, they were not transferrable. Hence you had to repeat content. Needless to say I parted company with The Secret World and moved on to possibly the last big MMO release Guild Wars 2. I could easily write an entire blog post about what I liked about this MMO. But for the sake of brevity, I shall say the flexibility of the classes, the horizontal progression, the fluid combat and the fact that there was always something to do. Out of all the titles I played, this is possibly the most frictionless, although I say this only of the base game. Things changed too much for me with the first expansion Heart of Thorns. But for the first year of two Guild Wars 2 was the most casual friendly MMO I played. You could return after a while and jump straight back in and pick up where you left off.
It’s odd how business demands will sometimes take you in the opposite direction of where you intend to go. The first expansion for Guild Wars 2 essentially put into the game all the systems and ideas that were conspicuously absent from it at launch. I could no longer easily freelance and join zergs to accomplish what I wanted. And as I was never a big fan of the lore, I had nothing to hold me when things changed. In fact lore appears to be a major selling point for me in the MMO genre. ESO is odd in so much as unlike LOTRO and STO, I was not familiar with the lore and history of the franchise, prior to playing. But because I consider the writing to be of a high standard, I do actually consult the games Wiki to gain a greater understanding of things. And ESO has established for me that action combat, a sensible amount of skills and systems is how a modern MMO should be. It will be interesting to see what changes another decade brings to the genre and what, if anything, I’ll still be playing.
