Is the Gaming Community to Blame?
The ongoing debacle about Blizzard Entertainment naturally raises the question as to what part the gaming community has contributed to this sorry state of affairs. There is a school of thought that gamers who blithely accept the status quo and never speak out about sexism, racism and casual misogyny within the games they play, the companies that create them and the wider community are part of the problem. They are effectively "facilitators" and are "complicit" with the perpetuation of these problems. Logically speaking, such observations are correct in a notional capacity. However, the reality of the situation is far more complex and nuanced. For example there are vast swathes of gamers who do not follow any associated news and therefore will be oblivious to the iniquities of Blizzard Entertainment. The same way as they are ignorant of the business practises of their car manufacturer or telecoms provider.
The ongoing debacle about Blizzard Entertainment naturally raises the question as to what part the gaming community has contributed to this sorry state of affairs. There is a school of thought that gamers who blithely accept the status quo and never speak out about sexism, racism and casual misogyny within the games they play, the companies that create them and the wider community are part of the problem. They are effectively "facilitators" and are "complicit" with the perpetuation of these problems. Logically speaking, such observations are correct in a notional capacity. However, the reality of the situation is far more complex and nuanced. For example there are vast swathes of gamers who do not follow any associated news and therefore will be oblivious to the iniquities of Blizzard Entertainment. The same way as they are ignorant of the business practises of their car manufacturer or telecoms provider.
Many gamers play the games they enjoy as a means to decompress from the pressure of modern life and to recharge their emotional batteries. A few hours spent playing an MMO or MOBA is a way to forget, for a while at least, about global warming, political shenanigans and the like. Therefore some players are not really disposed toward having to parse their gaming activities for its social and moral rectitude. It’s something we all do to a greater or lesser degree. Cognitive dissonance is virtually the average person's default position. We like cheap clothes but we don’t like to think we are actively participating in the exploitation of labour in developing countries. We voraciously consume factory farmed meat, yet we purposely distance ourselves from the realities of its production. Save the planet? Absolutely, I’m onboard for that. As long as I can still have my cheap flights. This is how people work and why some gamers want to stay below the parapet and off the radar.
There is an inherent duality in being part of the gaming community. There are times when we as gamers may feel proud to identify as such. And then there are other occasions when we look upon the actions and decorum of certain quarters with a sense of shame. In the past the common refrain you’d hear regarding racism, sexism and other forms of marginalisation would be “this is not representative of our community”. Sadly, post “Gamergate”, it is now very much representative of a sizable part of the community and cannot be easily dismissed as fringe malcontents and freelance trolls. I believe that the game community, just like social and political discourse, is pretty much split down the middle upon clear partisan lines. Exactly the same fault lines appear in most social groups and they are usually based around equality and access to power. The divide is between those who have the advantage and wish to maintain it for their benefit and those who wish to level the playing field.
Video games may well be far more inclusion nowadays but that is only a fairly recent development. Furthermore, such change has not been driven by a strong sense of morality but more by a financial imperative. But if you look at the way video games were created and marketed thirty plus years ago, it was very different. Hence a generation of boys grew up believing that games were very much their exclusive province. That combined with other cultural assumptions about gender roles, employment and social hierarchies certainly helps explain where we find ourselves today. Furthermore, because we live in a more socially conscious world it is now harder to try and remain neutral regarding who to address issues such as that currently blighting Blizzard Entertainment. Yet because of the clear divide in all opinions now there isn’t necessarily a consensus, although I do think there is often a clear “right” answer. And so the gaming community becomes a battlefield. Just another in the ongoing culture war.
So when the question is mooted as to whether the players are culpable to any degree for the ongoing Blizzard Entertainment debacle or indeed the wider failings of the gaming community, I no longer think we say it’s a gray area. As players, or more accurately consumers, we support in large numbers all of the practises and policies that we also continuously complain about. Microtransactions, live services, hype culture, pre-orders etc. We also enable those who we revere by treating them like rock gods. If you tell someone that they’re special and can do no wrong, don’t be surprised when they go along with it, at the expense of others. And then there’s the little, yet important things that we can sometimes let slide. Such as when someone spouts vile crap in world chat. Don’t just block them or quit that specific channel. Call them out or file a report on them. Remember “the only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing” as Edmund Burke succinctly stated.
Now you may argue that you personally don’t buy pre-orders, spend money on in-game purchases and that you eschew “bro” gaming culture. Good for you. But I think that we’ve reached the point where just not adding another stool to the ever growing lake of faecal matter isn’t the get out of jail card that it used to be. The status quo is demonstrably bad for many people and we cannot just leave it as it is. My biggest concern about the current situation with Blizzard is that the company will offer up some sacrificial lambs, mouth some vague commitments to change and simply try to ride out the storm, only to return to “business as usual” within the shortest time possible. So I believe it is time for everyone who finds the situation unacceptable to make their voice heard. You don’t have to man the barricades. Simply writing a blog post, saying something in your live stream or uninstalling battle.net sends a message. If we want our community back then we have to roll up our sleeves and pitch in.
Once again, an interesting talking point was raised over Massively Overpowered, but that’s hardly surprising as that is their schtick, so to speak. This time round the subject being dissected was Reddit and what happens when a gaming community finds more traction there than anywhere else. The thing is with Reddit is that it’s nowhere near as moderated as official forums and can in certain circumstances become a thorn in the flesh of a games developer, rather than an invaluable community resource. It was an engaging talking point that eventually started expanding into the more nebulous question of “how do you solve a problem like Reddit?” or thereabouts. I think this latter conundrum if worth pondering because Reddit as a platform isn’t going anywhere fast. Most games will have an official or unofficial presence there and love it or loathe it, such places are often a useful repository of information, if you can navigate the choppy waters therein.
Once again, an interesting talking point was raised over Massively Overpowered, but that’s hardly surprising as that is their schtick, so to speak. This time round the subject being dissected was Reddit and what happens when a gaming community finds more traction there than anywhere else. The thing is with Reddit is that it’s nowhere near as moderated as official forums and can in certain circumstances become a thorn in the flesh of a games developer, rather than an invaluable community resource. It was an engaging talking point that eventually started expanding into the more nebulous question of “how do you solve a problem like Reddit?” or thereabouts. I think this latter conundrum if worth pondering because Reddit as a platform isn’t going anywhere fast. Most games will have an official or unofficial presence there and love it or loathe it, such places are often a useful repository of information, if you can navigate the choppy waters therein.
From my own perspective, I find Reddit a nightmare to navigate, compared to bog-standard forums. I have the Reddit Enhancement Suite installed in my web browser, but I still struggle to find threads and keep up with them. I often have to use an external search facility to track down what I’m looking for. However, regardless of my personal likes and dislikes, Reddit seems to be the go to platform for online interaction and establishing communities. It’s appeal with the gaming community lies in the fact that it can provide an independent forum for debate, although some games publishers have elected to officially maintain a presence there. This freedom from corporate moderation is a double-edged sword and the source of many of Reddits problems. Contributors can be as measured or excessive in their discourse. If the majority choose to turn their online portal into a virtual latrine, then that is their prerogative. However, the matter becomes more complex when irrespective of its tone, a sub-reddit becomes the de facto place to go for news and information on a particular game. Some gamers will consider this a Hobson’s choice.
From what I’ve seen of Reddit based moderation, it all too often seems to be couched in going along with the perceived consensus of the site, rather than being impartial and fair. But then again, what can you expect from volunteers, drawn from a fan base who by nature are myopic about that which they love. Thus, the risk of creating a prevailing group think is high. That is why you will find sub-reddits that have become “echo chambers” although I do consider this a problematic term in itself. However, it will suffice for the broad point being made. Conversely, those official gaming presences on Reddit can be equally problematic. The need to control the narrative and temper an excess of criticism can effectively create the same problem only pointing towards the opposite end of the spectrum of views. Then you have the problem of the zealotry of the party faithful instead of that of the heretics.
For those people who do take a firmer moral stance, the other main issue associated with a presence on Reddit, is that even if you support just one particular sub-reddit, you are by association supporting the platform itself per se and thus all the unseemly content that it contains. As this puts some folk in an impossible moral position they effectively end up having to boycott the platform and so again miss out on a wealth of practical resources. It can also be argued that the Reddit community potentially misses out on their participation as well, and the moderating influence they could supply. Irrespective of whether it is true or not, Reddit has a reputation that proceeds itself and some folk who are ambivalent about forums to begin with, will just elect not to get involved in a community if they see that Reddit is the online portal of choice.
It is also worth considering that there may be a bigger issue here and Reddit actually may only be a symptom, rather than a cause. Rather than looking at the issue of partisan environments such a Reddit as being the thing that needs to be changed, perhaps we should take a step back and reflect upon whether its actually gamers that need fixing? Gamers are an ageing population who have had their views and opinions shaped by the times they’ve lived through. A lot has changed in my personal gaming lifetime. Business models, content delivery as well as gamer demographics themselves. Where I may recognise that things have moved on, market forces drive content creation and the basic fact that gaming is not my personal “bat and ball”, a lot of others haven’t. Change is not always popular or welcome and history shows there is always some form of pushback. Perhaps the unpleasant quarters of Reddit are simply manifestations of that? May be the entire phenomenon of angry sub-reddits (at least of the gaming kind) will dwindle in time, as the player base becomes filled with a new generation who less emotional baggage and prejudices?
LOTRO: More Public Relations Problems
I’m not currently playing LOTRO but it hasn’t escaped my notice that there’s been a “wee stooshie” this week regarding Standing Stone Games handling of the “Incomparable Gear” debacle. To summarise, the cost of some specific high-end gear was set too low (about 75% cheaper than it should have been). Naturally, players bought these items from the barter vendor in good faith. Once the error was discovered, SSG’s initial solution was to patch the game and remove the item(s) from those who currently had it, without adequatecompensation. Naturally this was not well received by those affected by the issue, many of whom had bought the new items, then broken down and asset stripped the gear it was replacing. Drama, rancour and poor public relations ensued, further damaging community relations between SSG and the LOTRO player base. It should be noted that SSG is still trying to recover from the last marketing blunder they made back in July when they announced the profligate pricing range of the Mordor expansion.
I’m not currently playing LOTRO but it hasn’t escaped my notice that there’s been a “wee stooshie” this week regarding Standing Stone Games handling of the “Incomparable Item” debacle. To summarise, the cost of some specific high-end gear was set too low (about 75% cheaper than it should have been). Naturally, players bought these items from the barter vendor in good faith. Once the error was discovered, SSG’s initial solution was to patch the game and remove the item(s) from those who currently had it, without adequate compensation. Naturally this was not well received by those affected by the issue, many of whom had bought the new items, then broken down and asset stripped the gear it was replacing. Drama, rancour and poor public relations ensued, further damaging community relations between SSG and the LOTRO player base. It should be noted that SSG is still trying to recover from the last marketing blunder they made back in July when they announced the profligate pricing range of the Mordor expansion.
Like all problems of this nature, a compromise solution has been eventually found. Community Manager Cordovan released the following statement, although it can be cogently argued that the manner and tone of his previous comments have hardly helped the matter. “For players who already purchased Item Level 330 Incomparable gear, we have several options available. When the hotfix is released, already-purchased level 330 Incomparable items will be able to be disenchanted with the Flame of Ancalamir to return the full Ash of Gorgoroth cost, plus a number of Shadowed Essence Boxes equal to the number of Essence Slots on the gear. Already-purchased Item Level 330 Incomparable Gear will also have its stats adjusted to be approximately equivalent to the level 330 rare gear available through the High-Enchanter, and the Essence Slots will remain. This allows players to utilize the gear if they choose. Following the hotfix, Incomparable gear will have its correct vendor cost.”
It would appear that some LOTRO players are still not entirely happy with this solution but I get the impression that SSG are now done with this issue. Sadly, once again we see a lack of proactive community management and a lack of sensitivity towards paying customers. Stepping back from this issue per se and looking at the bigger picture, it presents yet further proof that SSG’s QA processes are inadequate. Too often “preview builds” from the Bullroarer test server are released into the live game environment with a wealth of bugs, flaws and mistakes. Players have raised this issue time and time again but their legitimate concerns habitually fall upon deaf ears. It’s become a common place to see SSG scrabbling franticly to release a patch or hotfix, within days of major new content going live. As I mentioned in previous posts, we should remember that SSG is just a new label and that the core LOTRO team is the same from the Turbine days. This new broom obviously doesn’t sweep clean.
Returning to the matter of the gear debacle, it’s a textbook example of poor customer service. This problem should have never made it into the live game to begin with, however it did. SSG should have held their hands up, admitted to a mistake and taken this hit directly on the chin. Under UK consumer legislation if you have already bought an item that was incorrectly priced, the retailer has to accept the transaction as it stands. That’s exactly what SSG should have done; let those who bought the gear at the incorrect price, keep it and then fix the problem so the error didn’t continue. If they had done all this with a healthy dose of self-deprecating humour, then the entire problem could have been avoided. Such goodwill would no doubt done much to improve ongoing community relations. But SSG seems to lack such business acumen and chose to do the opposite. Their high-handed attitude as well as their “blame and inconvenience the customer” mindset is incredibly counterproductive. This blunder is certainly not the final nail in LOTRO’s coffin but it is yet another unnecessary “own goal”. And there have been so many in the game’s history. Player goodwill is not an infinite resource. Therefore beware, Standing Stone Games.
Update:
Today's hotfix for this issue, did not go well. It "incorrectly reduced the power of Level 330 Incomparable items acquired through the new Instances and Gorgoroth Steel-bound Lootboxes" according to Community Manager Cordovan. Therefore as a sign of goodwill SSG have granted all players 50 Mithril Coins from the LOTRO Store with the Code MORDORMITHRIL, now through October 22nd, 1/Account. This is a positive step forward. Let us hope that the next hotfix that comes this weekend resolves the issue for good.
Gaming Communities
Fans are far more than just customers. Sadly not all of the gaming industry understands or more importantly appreciates this distinction. Consider this analogy; I am a customer of Vodafone. I use their services for a monthly fee and that is the extent of my relationship with them. I do not write about my experiences using their products, nor do I create guides regarding their use. Neither do I arrange social events around their services. Fans conversely do all these things for the games that they love. Furthermore they do not do these things solely for their own benefit. There is a lot of ultraism in fandom. It often contributes towards a vibrant community which is a great marketing and promotional asset for any games developer. Being free, it also has the best price.
Fans are far more than just customers. Sadly not all of the gaming industry understands or more importantly appreciates this distinction. Consider this analogy; I am a customer of Vodafone. I use their services for a monthly fee and that is the extent of my relationship with them. I do not write about my experiences using their products, nor do I create guides regarding their use. Neither do I arrange social events around their services. Fans conversely do all these things for the games that they love. Furthermore they do not do these things solely for their own benefit. There is a lot of ultraism in fandom. It often contributes towards a vibrant community which is a great marketing and promotional asset for any games developer. Being free, it also has the best price.
Communities often arise organically, with fans creating websites, podcasts or live streams. Bridges are built with other likeminded individuals and informal networks develop. Cross promotion and collaboration stems from such affiliations. Often specific groups or individuals gain prominence within these social groups, through their own hard work, dedication and content creation. More often than not these figureheads have not actively sought such a position. It simply occurs through the dynamics of human interaction.
Now this raises some interesting questions. Do such high profile individuals or groups have a burden of responsibility? As so called digital ambassadors is there a need for greater self-regulation? I believe there is to a degree. Creating guides, sharing experiences or collating data are benign and neutral undertakings. Providing news or opinion is far more complex and does require responsibility and self-moderation. However there is also a reciprocal requirement that those who read specific sites or follow certain individuals should exercise their common sense. It is a mistake to put people on pedestals.
In the past gaming communities have usually evolved independently of the commercial entities that run the games. Many resources reside outside of the official forums. For more recent titles such as Guild Wars 2, this process has been more centralised under the auspices of the developers. Information and content created by players but it is more often than not it is found within the official forums for that title. I may be wrong but I have never been aware of either SWTOR or Guild Wars 2 having the same sort of independent community as such titles as LOTRO or WoW. Fan based resources can be a great asset but when they reside within the purview of the developers or publishers then there is scope for problems.
In recent years many niche areas of fandom have grown in appeal. This usually happens when an activity or pastime gains mainstream attention and becomes more widely accessible. Cosplay for example is something that in recent years has become increasingly popular. It is no longer perceived as the prerogative of a small niche group and is beginning to become quite a major marketing and promotional tool. Some perceive this process as democratisation, where others see something they love being usurped by those that simply wish to exploit it for financial gain. Is the community simply growing or is it being reinvented at the expense of some and the advantage of others?
Fandoms and the resulting communities can be socially complex and highly fluid. They also seem to have distinct life cycles. With regard to gaming there most certainly is an expiry date for most communities. The natural attrition we have seen in the case of LOTRO and its fan base is a perfectly normal thing, linked to the games lifespan and individuals ongoing engagement. However during a community’s lifecycle, many players benefit from the services that are provided, via guides, podcasts and events. However it should be noted that the opposite can also occur. Dedication and enthusiasm can turn to bitterness and distain. Some forums and blogs maintain a very adversarial relationship with the former object of their affection.
Involvement in a community has its ups and downs and can be very hard work. However the rewards and the pleasure that it brings can outweigh any negatives. So I advocate involvement and participation for those who can. This can take all manner of forms. It is not mandatory that all blog, podcast or live stream. Just reading, supporting and expressing an opinion is a positive contribution. It is also prudent to temper ones emotional investment in such communities as nothing lasts indefinitely. Fan sites and podcasts come and go, as do the games, TV shows and source material that drive them.