LOTRO: Abandoned Game Mechanics and Systems Part 2
In the previous post, I focused upon several major game mechanics that were added to the MMORPG The Lord of the Rings Online with much pomp and ceremony, only to fall into abeyance shortly afterwards. I cited such examples as mounted combat, epic battles and skirmishes. Their fate may well have been due to player indifference or the fact that the mechanics were complicated to develop and expensive to maintain. In this follow-up article I would like to discuss some additional systems that are somewhat smaller in their scope and relevance, but have similarly been abandoned by the developer’s Turbine/Standing Stone Games over the lifecycle of the game. Some are ancient history within the context of the LOTRO. Others are far more recent and that is a point worth reflecting upon.
Explaining Your Passion
I had “the conversation'' the other day. Not the one about where babies come from, the other one. You know, the one where another adult realises that you play video games and is utterly flummoxed by such a thing. Yes, this tedious shit still happens. However, as someone who tries to be civil to others, I feel it incumbent upon me to try and give a concise response when faced with such questions. In some respects being confronted with a situation like this actually offers an opportunity to educate someone who is culturally ignorant about the popularity and significance of video games. Hence, there is a sense of obligation, as an unofficial ambassador for video games, to try and be coherent, plausible and not come off as a nut job. So, with all this in mind, how exactly do you explain your passion for something to someone who finds it utterly alien and probably has some inherent prejudice against it?