A Year in Gaming Part 2
I started 2015 playing RPGs. Despite becoming bored with Dragon Age: Inquisition and its ponderous storyline, I still found this particular genre engaging. January and February are often slows months in my line of work, so it’s a good time of year to immerse oneself in games of this type. I played through both Arcania : Gothic 4 and Rise of the Argonauts and found them both to be enjoyable. Neither of these titles was revolutionary, being mainly “business as usual” RPGs. However both were bought as part of gaming bundles and the discounted price does have an impact upon my gaming expectations. For what they were, I enjoyed them.
I started 2015 playing RPGs. Despite becoming bored with Dragon Age: Inquisition and its ponderous storyline, I still found this particular genre engaging. January and February are often slows months in my line of work, so it’s a good time of year to immerse oneself in games of this type. I played through both Arcania : Gothic 4 and Rise of the Argonauts and found them both to be enjoyable. Neither of these titles was revolutionary, being mainly “business as usual” RPGs. However both were bought as part of gaming bundles and the discounted price does have an impact upon my gaming expectations. For what they were, I enjoyed them.
During the course of the year I strayed from my using game choices on two occasions and both proved to be good decisions. Hand of Fate is an action role-playing video game with roguelike and deck-building elements. I usually never touch deck based games but the fact that each hand of cards plays out in third person action combat intrigued me. Furthermore the creators Defiant Development have continually patched and added free DLC to the game over the course of the year. The other title that was a departure from my usual purchasing habits was The 39 Steps, which is a digital adaptation of John Buchan’s classic story. The interactive narrative that allows you to engage with the world around you and discover the story is imaginative and creative. I hope that Scottish developer The Story Mechanics do more famous novels in this idiom.
As I stated in my previous post about my gaming experiences of 2015, that I’ve changed my stance on the MMO genre. I have continued to play through content updates for LOTRO and am overall pleased that such material is still being produced. However the latest update set in Minas Tirith is of varying quality and for ever good and engaging quest line, there is also an arbitrary or frankly disappointing one. I have never been a fan of the Epic Battles but the two new ones set upon the walls of Minas Tirith are extremely underwhelming. As ever the NPCs do most of the fighting and I found my involvement relegated to cutting grappling hooks from the walls. Navigating around the wall and city circle below is confusing and frustrating. Update 17 is also somewhat unstable and I have had more crashes to desktop over the last month than I’ve had in the game for the last few years.
Star Trek Online proved to be far more engaging in 2015 than in previous years. The Delta Recruitment event was a great way to encourage players back to the game and to reward levelling. I enjoyed my experience so much I bought a discount lifetime subscription. Like LOTRO, STO benefits from a great IP and they really do utilise it well. Cast members from the show continue to voice characters that they’ve played and the standard of writing is consistently high. STO is also the only game in which I’ll grind through seasonal festivals as Cryptic are one of the few developers that giveaway decent loot, rather generic cosmetic items. I have earned two Tier 6 ships over the course of the year, both of which are worth £20 each.
I tried Marvel Heroes this summer after hearing positive feedback about the game from several friends. I must admit the game does provide a great way to scratch that pew pew itch and the barrier to entry is low. You can roll an alt and be playing within minutes of downloading the client. It’s also one of those titles where there’s always something going on or something to work towards. However because I don’t have any major ties to the source IP, I decided not to make this one of my primary gaming titles. I was hoping that the Heart of Thorns expansion for Guild Wars 2 would fill that role. Sadly the new landmass and class were not to my liking and ArenaNet are simply taking the game in a direction I’m not happy with. So Guild Wars 2 was finally uninstalled from my PC where it’s been since the games launch in August 2012.
It is customary to list ones favourite games at this time of the year or pick a specific title that is worthy of praise. For me that has to be The Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt. The fact that I played over three hundred hours between October and November indicates how compelling I found it. The open world is magnificent, rich with detail and a dynamic weather system. The game mechanics are sufficiently varied to be engaging without being too complex. You can play tactically relying upon your spells or focus on potions and support items if you please. Naturally if you prefer a more hands on approach you can go full out DPS. But the games crowning glory is its narrative and the sense that your decisions really do have an impact upon the world. I cannot remember the last time I played such a gripping story and cared this much about the central characters. The story telling in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is adult and complex. This is not a binary world with clear cut consequences.
2015 has seen a reduction in my overall gaming per se. My free time has fresh demands upon it and coupled with my changing relationship to both fandom and the wider gaming community, I don’t feel disposed towards playing as much. The close of the year has seen me dabble with the cell phone controlled RPG, Eon Altar and that has been a positive experience so far. I also bought GTA V at a discounted price so have explored that open world in recent weeks. At present I do not have any major titles in mind to purchase in 2016. I suspect that the next twelve months will more than likely follow the same path as the last, with regard to game releases and my attitude towards them. I suspect if gaming wants to vie for my attention in 2016, it will have to pull something quite special out of the bag.
A Year in Gaming Part 1
This time last year I wrote a two part post called A Year in MMOs. Twelve months later I find myself writing a similar round-up of my gaming activities. However this time round the title has now become A Year in Gaming. One of the most significant changes for me over the course of 2015 has been my step away with the MMO genre. Where in the past I would seek out new titles and stay abreast of those in development, I now find myself no longer drawn to the genre by default. Traditional titles such as LOTRO have been sidelined. This is because both MMOs and I have changed over recent years. Although I still play this genre (mainly STO), I do so sparingly and it is no longer the apple of my eye or the mainstay of my gaming time.
This time last year I wrote a two part post called A Year in MMOs. Twelve months later I find myself writing a similar round-up of my gaming activities. However this time round the title has now become A Year in Gaming. One of the most significant changes for me over the course of 2015 has been my step away with the MMO genre. Where in the past I would seek out new titles and stay abreast of those in development, I now find myself no longer drawn to the genre by default. Traditional titles such as LOTRO have been sidelined. This is because both MMOs and I have changed over recent years. Although I still play this genre (mainly STO), I do so sparingly and it is no longer the apple of my eye or the mainstay of my gaming time.
Game design and mechanics naturally evolve over time and are often driven by basic market forces. There is therefore a wealth of differences between games such as Ultima Online and Guild wars 2. Although I have adapted to the more casual game play that is now prevalent in the genre recently, I do find that MMOs are becoming increasingly homogeneous. Beyond their own setting and lore, new titles seldom have anything different to offer with regard to game design. They lack of a killer mechanic; something that makes them a radically different experience from their competitors. Then there is the requirement to invest time in such games, which is something I can no longer do. The days of me playing a particular game every day for five hours or more have past.
So this year I’ve found myself playing more single player games; titles that can be played and completed within a reasonable time span. In fact I found this to be a satisfying aspect in my overall gaming experience. I like the idea of playing through a compelling story at a measured pace and then reaching a definitive conclusion. This may take just a dozen hours, as was the case with Hand of Fate and Rise of the Argonauts or over three hundred with titles such as The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. It is an experience more akin to reading a book, indicating that a strong narrative is an essential aspect of my gaming enjoyment. It would seem that as I get older I want less of a challenge and more of an emphasis on entertainment. Excessively complex games, with a steep learning curve and chronic skills bloat are not as attractive to me as they use to be.
Another facet of gaming that has changed for me this year has been my perception of the wider community, including both fan and professional websites. I have stopped reading several news outlets and blogs simply because they do not provide any valuable information about games any more. 2015 has been the year of the live stream of the "let's play" video on You Tube and these are now an integral part of my decision making process as to whether to buy a game or not. However I’m increasingly finding that my age often put me at odds with many of the You Tube personalities. I appreciate that many are running commercial endeavours but their need to “entertain” and be “characters” for me gets in the way of the reviews and critiques. Take for example Jim Sterling’s #FuckKonami “campaign”. I broadly agree with the sentiments he’s trying to express but the very terms it’s couched in just strike me a puerile and therefore mitigate much of the point.
When you are a fan of something, you often feel that it is something special, unique and meaningful. There is a chance that the object of your affection is all those things but more often than not that is simply wishful thinking. Games are commercial leisure products, made with the express purpose of making money for the publishers. The wider industries associated with marketing and reviewing them are similarly self-serving. Perhaps part of a gamer’s personal journey over time is finding a sense of perspective on these matters. I believe this year I have found such a point of equilibrium. Gaming is an entertaining leisure activity and that on occasions can be art. But for most of the time it is an ephemeral pastime and a shamelessly commercial endeavour (I’m looking at you Star wars Battlefront) and therefore should be treated as such.
A positive lesson I have learnt over the course of this year’s gaming is that I now have a very clear handle on what I want from the title that I play. Apart from one mistake which was the Guild Wars 2 expansion Heart of Thorns, I have enjoyed all of the purchases that I have made this year. This essential comes down to fully researching each title and what it specifically has to offer as well as at what price point I purchase a product at. Once again it is interesting how the financial cost of a game impacts upon ones expectations. I no longer feel like a child in a toy shop, running from display to display, overwhelmed by the choice available. 2015 has been the year of coming to terms with what games are and what I want from them. It's only taken me a quarter of a century!
LOTRO – Major Initiatives for 2016
Turbine has published their 2016 road map (or major initiatives as they now call them) for LOTRO and as ever, it is being hotly debated on both the official forums and on sites such as Massively Overpowered. Next year LOTRO will see a level cap increase to 105, the inclusion of a new instance clusters, a twelve player raid and the start of a collection system. The two yearly updates will take players to the Battle of Pelennor Fields and then on to the Black Gates of Mordor. Turbine are also promising to regularly fix bugs and improve what they call “quality of life”. Overall I think this is just “business as normal” as far as LOTRO goes and once again I think we have to be realistic about the sort of new content you get in an MMO of this age. If Turbine can deliver all the above then frankly I’ll just roll with it.
Turbine has published their 2016 road map (or major initiatives as they now call them) for LOTRO and as ever, it is being hotly debated on both the official forums and on sites such as Massively Overpowered. Next year LOTRO will see a level cap increase to 105, the inclusion of a new instance clusters, a twelve player raid and the start of a collection system. The two yearly updates will take players to the Battle of Pelennor Fields and then on to the Black Gates of Mordor. Turbine are also promising to regularly fix bugs and improve what they call “quality of life”. Overall I think this is just “business as normal” as far as LOTRO goes and once again I think we have to be realistic about the sort of new content you get in an MMO of this age. If Turbine can deliver all the above then frankly I’ll just roll with it.
First and foremost what strikes me the most about this road map is how near we are to the “end” both in terms of the story of The Lord of the Rings and the license that keeps the game afloat. If we find ourselves at the Morannon in late October 2016, then the following year will really be about rapping up the storyline and giving players a satisfactory conclusion. Personally I don’t think there is scope for any further license extensions or stays of execution and that once the expiry date of the current legal agreement is met, then the game will fold. Therefore I want to see the epic story in LOTRO concluded in a satisfactory way. The road map for next year seems to be addressing this. The game dawdled too long between 2010 and 2012.
Popular opinion on the nominal level cap increase seems split. It raises such issues as a new gear grind or more specifically a new set of essences to obtain. Once again many of those debating the pros and cons of this forthcoming change fail to see that they are not really representative of the majority of LOTRO players. My primary character is a level 100 Lore-master and I have elected not to pursue essences for slotted gear. I only play the PVE content and have found that not having the highest stats on my gear has not been an impediment. As for my LI it is imbued and I see no reason to throw any further resources at it. It can simply level as I do. Again my gameplay is not suffering as result of this decision. If you don’t want to grind then don’t do so.
Something else to ponder is that Turbine have responded to player concerns in the past and deferred such things as level cap increases. It may not be likely that they’ll do it again but I think it demonstrates that there is scope for augmentation to the 2016 road map. Plus there is the major hurdle of completing the new server migration and the technical revisions being made to the in-game chat system. If these prove to be problematic and swallow precious time and resources then it could prove ill for LOTRO. Only time will tell. In the meantime for the average LOTRO player it’s been an adequate year and it looks like the next twelve months will be so to. Considering that the MMO genre is no longer the paragon of virtue and cash cow that it use to be, I think we should consider Turbines 2016 plan to be the best option available.
Is there Such a Thing as Game of the Year?
December is a time for top ten lists, retrospectives and summaries. You’ll find them on most blogs, fansites, podcasts and You Tube channels. I’m sure I’ll be producing some content of this nature myself over the next fortnight. Christmas puts a lot of demands upon our time so posts of this kind are a necessity more often than not. Naturally one of the most common subjects of debate is the so called “Game of the Year”, which at first glance seems a somewhat innocuous subject. However it’s a far more contentious matter when you stop and consider by what criteria do you judge a game to award it such a title? Plus there’s the perennial issue of gamers not being the most level headed group when it comes to controversies and dissent.
December is a time for top ten lists, retrospectives and summaries. You’ll find them on most blogs, fansites, podcasts and You Tube channels. I’m sure I’ll be producing some content of this nature myself over the next fortnight. Christmas puts a lot of demands upon our time so posts of this kind are a necessity more often than not. Naturally one of the most common subjects of debate is the so called “Game of the Year”, which at first glance seems a somewhat innocuous subject. However it’s a far more contentious matter when you stop and consider by what criteria do you judge a game to award it such a title? Plus there’s the perennial issue of gamers not being the most level headed group when it comes to controversies and dissent.
So what exactly makes a game a candidate for Game of the Year? A large number of positive reviews from the gaming press? Or a high numbers of sales? May be it comes down to popular consensus from the gaming community? May be its all three? The thing is there isn’t a definitive formula or specific methodology. For a lot of bloggers, streamers and podcasters it simple comes down to an arbitrary decision of what game they enjoyed the most. I for example have played a lot of Witcher 3 this year and had immense fun with. I could label that my Game of the Year but as I have not played a great deal of other games and many of the AAA titles that have been released, am I really making an objective statement?
I’ve read more about games this year, than I’ve played them. As I’ve stated in recent posts I have less time for games and my overall relationship with this pastime has changed. As a result I see the underlying concept of Game of the Year as being merely a marketing term; a sound bite or a tag line to place on advertising or packaging. Some of the lists that my blogging colleagues produce can be entertaining. At this level I say that’s the purpose of the title, Game of the Year. It’s a talking point. Yet sooner or later such debates are derailed by trolls who fail to grasp the concept of differing opinions. Plus it’s also worth considering did we really get any truly ground breaking, innovative and radically different games this year, worthy of such a title? Or did we merely get more of the same with some games managing just a little more polish than others?
So Long Guild Wars 2
Guild Wars 2 has always been a game that’s easy to return to. In many ways this has been the game’s biggest selling point for me. The lore doesn’t appeal to me that much but the games frictionless approach to combat and character stats have always made it easy to jump back into after being away. So for the last three years I have been a regular visitor to Tyria. However, many of the changes that came with the October expansion, Heart of Thorns, were not to my liking. That’s not to say that they were bad. They seem to have found favour in some quarters. But from my perspective the changes made to Guild Wars 2 have not improved or enhanced it and took the game in a direction contrary to my tastes. As a result I have stopped playing the game entirely.
Guild Wars 2 has always been a game that’s easy to return to. In many ways this has been the game’s biggest selling point for me. The lore doesn’t appeal to me that much but the games frictionless approach to combat and character stats have always made it easy to jump back into after being away. So for the last three years I have been a regular visitor to Tyria. However, many of the changes that came with the October expansion, Heart of Thorns, were not to my liking. That’s not to say that they were bad. They seem to have found favour in some quarters. But from my perspective the changes made to Guild Wars 2 have not improved or enhanced it and took the game in a direction contrary to my tastes. As a result I have stopped playing the game entirely.
In many respects I find abrupt change interesting. Guild Wars 2 was sold upon release on the idea that it wasn’t based around forced grouping, the holy trinity of classes and the ubiquitous gear grind. The game was flexible and decidedly different from the average MMORPG. Over recent years there has been a slow about turn on all these aspects of the game. This autumn’s expansion has been a further validation of this, with content that could only be completed via a group and a return to traditional raiding with new class variations to facilitate such gameplay. The increased focus on PvP by developers ArenaNet means that Guild Wars 2 has even less appeal for me now.
As a mature gamer I’m not heart broken by these changes and I do not blame the developers for trying to keep Guild Wars 2 financially viable. I hope it works out for them. The fact is that things change and they don’t always change in your favour. Therefore I shall not be playing Guild Wars 2 any further as it no longer has anything to offer me that I like. I see no reason to repeat old content, having taken three alts to level cap. So as of today I have uninstalled Guild Wars 2 and wished it a fond farewell. No tears, no fuss. The entire situation reminds me of my relationship with Doctor Who. I use to like it but it changed too much for my taste so we parted company. Such is life.
Returning to Middle-earth Again
Now that Turbine have settled into the pattern of releasing two content updates for LOTRO a year, I have correspondingly settled into the pattern of re-subscribing for a month or two when each one appears. The latest, Update 17 The Siege of Minas Tirith, went live on 27th October but as there was so much other gaming content released at that time, I postponed my customary winter excursion to Middle-earth. I must admit that I had provisionally checked out the new area and the iconic city of Minas Tirith on the Bullroarer test server and I was not especially impressed. However as of last night having found the time in my gaming schedule I decided it was time to re-subscribe to LOTRO and push on with the epic story.
Now that Turbine have settled into the pattern of releasing two content updates for LOTRO a year, I have correspondingly settled into the pattern of re-subscribing for a month or two when each one appears. The latest, Update 17 The Siege of Minas Tirith, went live on 27th October but as there was so much other gaming content released at that time, I postponed my customary winter excursion to Middle-earth. I must admit that I had provisionally checked out the new area and the iconic city of Minas Tirith on the Bullroarer test server and I was not especially impressed. However as of last night having found the time in my gaming schedule I decided it was time to re-subscribe to LOTRO and push on with the epic story.
Having recently transferred from Gilrain server with most of my kinship, this is the first time I’ve undertaken any major content on our new home of Laurelin. Sadly my hopes for a more vibrant game economy have not happened. The auction house on this server is just as devoid of a broad spectrum of gear and items as the previous. It would appear that no one seems to craft and sell level cap items anymore. I blame slotted armour. It would appear that out of the two European English language servers that survived Turbines downsizing, Evernight has proven more popular. I may well at a future date move an alt there to see if there are any significant advantages on that server.
As for the latest instalment of the epic story, it is proving to be quite engaging once you have got beyond orientating yourself around Minas Tirith and carrying out the ubiquitous fetch quests. As ever with Turbine, there are times when the story telling in LOTRO really does demonstrate a keen understanding of Tolkien’s source text. Such moments are always enjoyable. Then there times when some of the regional quests really do feel arbitrary. There’s a particular quest requiring you to kill three captains of the enemy in camps in the Pelennor fields. These NPCs do not always spawn in the same place and may be at one of three possible locations. Rather than feeling challenging it simply comes across as a cheap way to extend the quests playing time. Sadly this is how Turbine’s content has become recently; of varying quality mainly due to a lack of time and resources.
Minas Tirith itself is a rather dour and sombre affair. Far from being the White City it’s rather drab and grey. As I suspected after the beta test, there are copious quantities of fast mounts to help navigate around the cities seven levels. Exploring each level is fun initially and if you’re not in a rush can yield some nice hidden features. However after a while the novelty soon wears off and its design simply becomes an impediment to travel and a pain in the butt. If you leave the city and travel Old Anorien you soon discover that the mob density has been cranked up. Again you can cogently argue that this is a ploy to slow players down etc. The addition of two warbands in such close proximity to each other is a similar example.
Nostalgia and fond memories are major factors when it comes to playing LOTRO and I think Turbine is fully aware of this. They’ve fully committed to the Big/Epic battles system and there are a further two in the latest update. Yet I still strangely have enough goodwill towards this ageing MMO to endure these and soldier on to the next stage of the story. I still think about the immense fun I had playing LOTRO between 2008 -2009. Plus there’s the fact that there isn’t any other Tolkien based game of this kind around, nor it there likely to be in the future. So I guess I like many players I will dutifully work through Update 17 and then leave, only to return again in the Spring when the next update becomes available.
Eon Altar: Early Access
Last week I got to try the RPG Eon Altar which I subsequently discussed with my co-host Brian on the Burton & Scrooge podcast. We were overall very positive about the game which is currently in early access on Steam. However we could not play the game in co-op mode as it is not designed for collaborative internet play. Eon Altar is intended for up to four people to play co-operatively, locally via your wireless network. This is very much a game that caters to social play, via your living room and couch. So I press ganged my son into helping me out and managed to spend three hours today checking out the co-op aspect of the game. Let me say right up front that Eon Altar comes into its own when played with two or more players and that this is the optimal way to play the game.
Last week I got to try the RPG Eon Altar which I subsequently discussed with my co-host Brian on the Burton & Scrooge podcast. We were overall very positive about the game which is currently in early access on Steam. However we could not play the game in co-op mode as it is not designed for collaborative internet play. Eon Altar is intended for up to four people to play co-operatively, locally via your wireless network. This is very much a game that caters to social play, via your living room and couch. So I press ganged my son into helping me out and managed to spend three hours today checking out the co-op aspect of the game. Let me say right up front that Eon Altar comes into its own when played with two or more players and that this is the optimal way to play the game.
For those who are unfamiliar with this game it a co-op isometric RPG featuring all the usual mechanics you’d associate with the genre. There are abilities to unlock and gear to upgrade, as well as consumables to craft. The main difference is that the game requires a smartphone or tablet to play and that the device is more than just a mere controller but in many ways your character. It’s a very innovative approach and makes playing collaboratively a much more personal experience. Character interaction is handled via the phone and players can elect to share unique information within their team or pursue their own goals. This adds an interesting dimension to group undertakings.
It is important to note that Eon Altar is currently still a work in progress and at present only three levels are available. There are four classes to choose from; Battlemage, Assassin, Crusader and Guardmans. During my co-op play through I chose the Assassin and my son opted for the Battlemage. This gave us the advantage of ranged attacks but left us a little squishy when engaged in melee combat. It did not take us long to discover this and adjust our tactics accordingly. The game environment can at times encourage you to run headlong into new areas with the allure of loot. The isometric view can occlude your view at times and there is the risk of pulling all mobs in an area.
As I mentioned on the podcast, movement via the smartphone is extremely fluid. You can set waypoints and run to them or keep your finger on the screen and control your alt directly. Navigating your characters build and stats via your phone is intuitive. The drop down menus and their respective nested screens are relatively easy to fathom. Minor issues such as font size can be challenging for those with “older” eyes but overall this easy to use. The skills wheel in combat is also very logical. Where the game is lacking at present is with its tutorials. It takes a while to figure out when you should be looking at the monitor/TV screen and when you need to be looking at your phone.
I do not consider myself an excessively lazy player and am not afraid to investigate a games mechanics, interface and the virtual environment it takes place in to figure things out. However there were several occasions while playing Eon Altar where I wanted a prompt either on screen or via the phone. Has a dialogue discussion finished? Where do I go next? Can I have a clue or a hint as to how to solve a problem or fight a foe? Because of the nature of the game I don’t necessarily expect a full blown world map but a bread crumb trail or an arrow would have been beneficial. I ended my co-op session because it could be determined what to do next.
Isometric views in games as mentioned earlier have advantages and disadvantages. For example if players choose to go in opposite directions the game camera can only accommodate them so far. Eventually someone has to decide to follow the group. Perhaps having the ability to flag a player as leader would be useful. A follow option would also help greatly. There were several times when the in game camera panned round in such a fashion that a wall was in the way. The game deals with this by making the obstacle opaque but is still blocks your cursor/reticle which cause no end of problems if a fight starts.
Another matter to be mindful of while playing Eon Altar is friendly fire from AoE skills, especially those used by the Battlemage. It is important to watch where you stand and the inclusion of a tell or marker showing where AoE damage will occur would reduce “accidents” from happening. Ranged bow skills require the avatar to be a specific distance away from the target. At present the game will simply run your character to the optimal location when the skill is used. It would be nice if there was a way of choosing a safe location before using the bow attacks and that the game highlighted these, similarly to the way SWTOR does with the smuggler class.
The above comments are designed to provide some hopefully useful feedback for the developers. However I would like to point out that despite the issues one naturally encounters with an early access game, I had immense fun playing two player co-op. As this game is designed to be played via a sofa rather than across the internet, it has a different social dimension. My son and I quickly got very competitive with regard to looting. Basically is became a race as to who got all the “good shit” first. I have a suspicion that four player co-op with the right group of friends would be a genuinely enjoyable and laugh out loud experience. There’s so much scope for “accidently killing” your team mates, friendly bickering, getting lost and general tomfoolery. For me this is the core of quality social gaming, as it was with multiplayer sessions on the SNES back in the day.
After playing yesterday, I sent my game logs files to Flying Helmet Games, who are proactively seeking feedback at present. There is a forum to leave bug details as well as your overall thoughts. The various developers and company managers are also accessible on Twitter. As I consider Eon Altar to be a game with a lot of potential, I naturally would like to help in any way I can with ironing out the bugs and seeing the full game released. I look forward to playing again soon and hope that a new build is forthcoming. If you are interested in assisting an indie developer with an innovative product and are fully aware of the ramifications of early access, then you may wish to pick up a copy of Eon Altar.
The Elder Scrolls Online and the $1,000,000 Giveaway
In the past an MMO kept players engaged with their game by the psychology of the subscription model and providing content updates. Loyalty and the overall cost of running multiple games meant that most players dedicated themselves to one game and stuck with it. Free to play eliminated these ties and a lot of MMO players became a lot more itinerant. Developers therefore have had to become a lot more creative in finding ways to keep people logging into their games. Hence we now find many MMOs that feature daily rewards, content that has to be unlocked by claiming it and short term events that offer unique rewards.
In the past an MMO kept players engaged with their game by the psychology of the subscription model and providing content updates. Loyalty and the overall cost of running multiple games meant that most players dedicated themselves to one game and stuck with it. Free to play eliminated these ties and a lot of MMO players became a lot more itinerant. Developers therefore have had to become a lot more creative in finding ways to keep people logging into their games. Hence we now find many MMOs that feature daily rewards, content that has to be unlocked by claiming it and short term events that offer unique rewards.
The Elder Scrolls Online launched in April 2014 with a subscription based business model. By March 2015 the game went buy to play and was rebranded TESO: Tamriel Unlimited. Developers ZeniMax now find themselves in a very competitive gaming market in which MMORPGs are no longer the cash cow they were considered to be a decade ago. Like many companies they have been striving to maintain their share of the market and find a way to keep players logging in and playing, as well as encouraging perspective players to buy the base game. I must admit that their latest marketing campaign does have a novel approach and an interesting hook. Bethseda Softworks are to giveaway $1,000,000 to one lucky player, be they an existing or new customer.
The criteria for entry are at first glance somewhat straightforward. You need to log in to the game or complete an entry form available online by January 10th 2016. The winner will be drawn on 1st February and the funds duly paid. At present the base version of the game is currently retailing at its full price, although discounted keys can be found from reseller sites. I wouldn’t be surprised if there were another major Steam sale over the Christmas period. Needless to say the chance to win such a cash prize will definitely cause a spike in account logins. Whether returning players decide to stick around remains to be seen.
Like most competitions there’s a wealth of small print as well as terms and conditions. As each country has its own legislation governing giveways some geographical regions are excluded from entering. As you would expect this has caused those affected to protest most vocally online. As for myself, I briefly considered buying the game and entering but when you consider the initial cost and the approximate odds of winning, this is not a particularly sound gambling proposition. Sure I’d end up with a game that I could play but I have neither the time nor the inclination for another MMO at present. Part of me also thinks this stunt is a little tacky. I’d much rather be enticed to play a game because of some well-made new content. But this is how the gaming industry runs nowadays. Mass appeal has simply lead to greater commercialism. Makes you wonder what the next developer/publisher will do to top this?
Star Trek Online: Q's Winter Wonderland!
Regular readers probably know by now that I'm not a huge fan of festivals in MMOs. Mainly because they never seem to offer rewards that I want. Some folk love to collect cosmetic items and will happily repeat content to obtain them. I prefer a more tangible carrot on the end of the stick but sadly that seldom occurs. However Star Trek Online launched its seasonal festival today, namely Q's Winter Wonderland! This offers players the chance to claim a new Tier 6 ship, a Breen Rezreth Dreadnought Cruiser. This is quite a prize as the latest vessels sell for 3,000 Zen in the in-game store, which equates to about £20/$30.
Regular readers probably know by now that I'm not a huge fan of festivals in MMOs. Mainly because they never seem to offer rewards that I want. Some folk love to collect cosmetic items and will happily repeat content to obtain them. I prefer a more tangible carrot on the end of the stick but sadly that seldom occurs. However Star Trek Online launched its seasonal festival today, namely Q's Winter Wonderland! This offers players the chance to claim a new Tier 6 ship, a Breen Rezreth Dreadnought Cruiser. This is quite a prize as the latest vessels sell for 3,000 Zen in the in-game store, which equates to about £20/$30.
Now obviously Cryptic do not just give players this shiny new vessel on a plate. It has to be earned. Players have to repeat a special racing event that rewards 40 Winter Prize Vouchers, twenty five times before they can unlock their prize. The repeatable activity is far from hard though and simply requires players to beat the clock on a race course made of ice. The trick is to forward roll when taking corners to avoid sliding. I consider this even to be an equitable arrangement and as I am currently well disposed towards this MMO, will be "grinding" towards my goal.
There are of course plenty of other activities to partake of each day which give favours that can be exchanged for traditional cosmetic items such as a pets and winter wear. These are all winter themed and involve snowballs fights and an evil Borg assimilated snowmen invasion. I must admit I prefer the summer festival so I am at present simply working towards earning the new ship and not really partaking of the other activities. It may also be considered heresy but I’ve never been a fan of the character Q in Star Trek The Next Generation, having always found him somewhat trying and bombastic.
Overall I think ones attitude towards in-game events and festivals depends very much on your overall disposition towards the game itself. Since returning to STO in April I've been having a lot of fun which is what gaming is supposed to be about. Therefore I am more than happy to indulge Q's Winter Wonderland! Plus working towards a reward that has some practical benefits is sufficient motivation for me to continue with the required repeatable event. It's a shame that other MMOs don't take a leaf out of developer Cryptic's book, when it comes to viable festival rewards.
Blessing of the Valar
Boosts that auto-level a character in an MMO have always divided player opinion. Naturally when Turbine introduced the Gift of the Valar in late 2014, which instantly increases a character to Ievel fifty, there was a lot of debate in the wider community. It should be noted that at the time of release, Turbine stated they reserved the right to alter the level boost beyond fifty at a future date. On a live stream broadcast on 12th June 2014, it was stated that the boost may be raised to possibly seventy five. It would seem that in update 17.1 for LOTRO, Turbine have created a new boost called the Blessing of the Valar which will increase a character to level ninety five.
Boosts that auto-level a character in an MMO have always divided player opinion. Naturally when Turbine introduced the Gift of the Valar in late 2014, which instantly increases a character to Ievel fifty, there was a lot of debate in the wider community. It should be noted that at the time of release, Turbine stated they reserved the right to alter the level boost beyond fifty at a future date. On a live stream broadcast on 12th June 2014, it was stated that the boost may be raised to possibly seventy five. It would seem that in update 17.1 for LOTRO, Turbine have created a new boost called the Blessing of the Valar which will increase a character to level ninety five.
I do not consider such store based items to be a problem or harmful to the game and deem this one to be far more practical than its previous incarnation. I can understand why a LOTRO “altaholic” may tire of repeating PVE content for the umpteenth time and using such a boost to bring a new alt closer to level cap and endgame participation. That seems far more practical to me compared to the older boost that simple took you just halfway to level cap. However it is always good to have options so having multiple permutations of such a levelling boost seems very beneficial for both players and developers alike.
The price of 5995 Turbine points is somewhat high but then again LOTRO does have a high number of lifetime account holders who have sizeable stockpiles of this currency, due to the monthly stipend. LOTRO also has a lot of whales who are happy to spend money on the only Middle-earth themed game available. Turbine cannot really be chastised for trying to monetise an MMO that is in the final stages of its lifecycle. I wonder how long it will be before we see items such as high end armour and weapons available in the LOTRO store. For those who are sceptical about such things happening, wasn’t a similar opinion on levelling boosts held in the not so distant past?
Classic Game Themes: Hidden & Dangerous 2
Hidden & Dangerous 2 is one of the most enjoyable, yet frustrating games I have encountered. There are some moments of brilliance to be had whilst playing it but sadly bugs and some questionable AI always seems to trip the proceedings up. Released late 2003 when World War II games were still very much in vogue, this third person squad based shooter still has many outstanding features to this day. One of which is the terrific score by Michal Szlavik and Martin Benes, performed by the Brno Philharmonic Orchestra from the Czech Republic.
Hidden & Dangerous 2 is one of the most enjoyable, yet frustrating games I have encountered. There are some moments of brilliance to be had whilst playing it but sadly bugs and some questionable AI always seems to trip the proceedings up. Released late 2003 when World War II games were still very much in vogue, this third person squad based shooter still has many outstanding features to this day. One of which is the terrific score by Michal Szlavik and Martin Benes, performed by the Brno Philharmonic Orchestra from the Czech Republic.
What makes the soundtrack so memorable is its musical idiom, which seems to reflect the styles and nuances we associate with classic war movies. The more than a hint of Ron Goodwin, Roy Budd and Elmer Bernstein permeating the score and it feels very appropriate. I have chosen two cues which I feel encapsulate composers best work from the game. The first plays out at the end of the North African campaign, as your team escapes from a remote airport with German fighters in hot pursuit. It really does have an authentic aerial feel to it, putting one in mind of cues from The Battle of Britain movie.
Please note that the short running time is due to the track being intended to be looped during the game to reflect the fluid nature of the action.
The second is the rousing cue that plays after the successful completion of a mission. It has a very uplifting and positive tone and again reflects the overall quality of the score, which is played with a full orchestra. Many games at the time and even now elect for a score using contemporary synthesizer and sequencers.
Gaming Merchandise
While watching the official LOTROstream recently, I noted that there was still a lot of LOTRO related merchandise adorning staff desks at Turbine’s offices. I recollect in the past that mouse mats, mugs and other items use to be available for sale in the Warner Bros. store. There was an initial marketing campaign associated with the launch of the game in 2007 and another in 2010 when the game converted to F2P, both of which required a stock of merchandise for promotional reasons. Sadly a search of the Warner Bros. store has shown that no such material is available any longer. Furthermore considering where LOTRO is in its lifespan, there is not likely to be any further stock produced.
While watching the official LOTROstream recently, I noted that there was still a lot of LOTRO related merchandise adorning staff desks at Turbine’s offices. I recollect in the past that mouse mats, mugs and other items use to be available for sale in the Warner Bros. store. There was an initial marketing campaign associated with the launch of the game in 2007 and another in 2010 when the game converted to F2P, both of which required a stock of merchandise for promotional reasons. Sadly a search of the Warner Bros. store has shown that no such material is available any longer. Furthermore considering where LOTRO is in its lifespan, there is not likely to be any further stock produced.
Merchandise such as T-shirts, mugs, mouse mats and stickers are often used as marketing tools when a game launches or new content is released. Take for example the Charr Plush that was in great demand back in August 2012 when Guild Wars 2 was first commercially available. The stock of such items are often limited and not always maintained over games lifespan. Thus these items go from being available to all, to the province of a collector in a very short period of time. Perhaps there is often no commercially sustainable long term market for such products and the initial batch is produced at a loss for the sole purpose of promotion.
However this is not always the case. Guild Wars 2 at present enjoys a healthy range of products. Mass Effect has been and gone, yet the franchise has evolved a strong following among gamers, very much akin to cult Movies and TV shows. The EA store still has a substantial amount of merchandise for sale including some expensive products such as collector’s edition models, hoodys and jackets. Activision has a similar line of apparel for the Call of Duty franchise; although this is far more understandable consider the financial success of the IP and the target demographic. There is also a wealth of merchandise associated with popular titles from the mobile gaming market, although I think this is a core aspect of the business model, rather than an addition to it as with MMOs.
One of the more interesting examples of game related merchandise is FigurePrints bespoke miniature figure service. The company can make a 3D replica of your in-game avatar from World of Warcraft or a section of your own world from Minecraft. Considering the passion that is prevalent among the LOTRO community with its emphasis upon roleplay, it’s a shame that such a service has never been implemented by Turbine for LOTRO or DDO. Perhaps the complexities of the licensing arrangement have something to do with this. Dealing with third party intellectual properties always comes with its own unique set of problems
Building a Tactical DPS Guardian Cruiser – Advice Required
I recently acquired a Mirror Universe Guardian Cruiser for the princely sum of £4, thanks to the recent Pop Culture Hero Coalition charity auction. It would appear that this is a well-regarded vessel within Star Trek Online and worth experimenting with as my primary ship. So I have spent some time (and energy credits) of late, trying to put together an adequate Tactical DPS build. However I am not particularly knowledgeable in this aspect of STO and have so far not exceeded 9K DPS. Although I’m not seeking to join the ranks of the elite, I would at least like to achieve about 10K DPS plus. However researching a suitable loadout is proving somewhat frustrating. Most Reddit threads on the matter are pitched at too high a level for me and often use jargon I’m not familiar with.
I recently acquired a Mirror Universe Guardian Cruiser for the princely sum of £4, thanks to the recent Pop Culture Hero Coalition charity auction. It would appear that this is a well-regarded vessel within Star Trek Online and worth experimenting with as my primary ship. So I have spent some time (and energy credits) of late, trying to put together an adequate Tactical DPS build. However I am not particularly knowledgeable in this aspect of STO and have so far not exceeded 9K DPS. Although I’m not seeking to join the ranks of the elite, I would at least like to achieve about 10K DPS plus. However researching a suitable loadout is proving somewhat frustrating. Most Reddit threads on the matter are pitched at too high a level for me and often use jargon I’m not familiar with.
So I’ve decided to put this matter into the public domain and solicit ideas for possible builds. I do have some stipulations though with regard to advice and suggestions. I have only been playing STO regularly since April and am therefore not sitting on a stockpile of resources. So I am seeking potential builds that are based upon equipment, weapons and consoles that can be sourced via the exchange, reputation rewards or running specific episodes. If the costs start to exceed 50,000,000 Energy Credits or 500,000 refined Dilithium then I won’t consider it viable. Therefore I’m not seeking to spend precious resources on upgrading gear from Mk XII to Mk XIV or spending Lobi Crystals. Although I play STO fairly regularly I do not want to turn working towards a manageable target, into an arduous chore.
So far I have equipped the Mirror Universe Guardian Cruiser with the following items. Please note that the choice was mainly driven by set bonuses and overall cost. I am happy to replace items if given a cogent reason:
Fore Weapons: 4 x Tetryon Beam Array Mk XIII (varying modifiers).
Aft Weapons: Kinetic Cutting Beam + see below.
Temporal Disentanglement Suite: Antichroniton Infused Tetryon Energy Weapon, Temporal Phase Overcharged Core, Temporal Disentanglement Console.
Sol Defence Set: Deflector, Impulse, Shield.
Universal Consoles: Sustained Radiant Field, Particle Conversion Matrix.
Tactical Console: 2 x Tetryon Pulse Generator Mk XII.
None of the above items have been upgraded and are therefore have base statistics.
At present I have spent my skills point on a fairly generic tactical build I found on a Reddit thread. My choice of Starship traits are also fairly standard. I can publish the specific details if required but I am mainly hoping that someone can simply suggest a “shopping list” of items that I can then acquire and test. As I stated earlier I am not looking for an über build but merely the ability to be able to output 10K DPS or thereabouts. In principle that doesn’t sound like a big ask but you can never really tell when it comes to the esoteric art of Min-maxing.
Star Wars Battlefront
A reoccurring theme in both my writing and podcasting at present is how age changes one’s personal perspective. This is something that particularly manifests itself with regard to gaming. A decade ago I would have been extremely enthusiastic about a title such as Star Wars Battlefront. I would have pre-ordered the most lavish version available, then waxed lyrical about the beta test and thrown myself wholeheartedly in to the game upon its release. Despite the fact that I’m notoriously poor at the FPS genre, I would have sunk hours in to such a game and done my up most to convince myself and others that I’d had a good time.
A reoccurring theme in both my writing and podcasting at present is how age changes one’s personal perspective. This is something that particularly manifests itself with regard to gaming. A decade ago I would have been extremely enthusiastic about a title such as Star Wars Battlefront. I would have pre-ordered the most lavish version available, then waxed lyrical about the beta test and thrown myself wholeheartedly in to the game upon its release. Despite the fact that I’m notoriously poor at the FPS genre, I would have sunk hours in to such a game and done my up most to convince myself and others that I’d had a good time.
Middle age has fortunately brought a keener insight in to the nature of marketing and as well as my own Pavlovian nature. Battlefront is simply another iteration of the Battlefield franchise from DICE with a veneer of Star wars added. It may well be very polished and a succinct distillation of everything that makes classic Star Wars enjoyable but once the initial euphoria has worn off, the player is left with a just another FPS game. Having read multiple reviews and watched numerous streams, it would seem that the game itself is actually lacking some of the usual progression mechanics found in this genre.
However for me the main issue that has kept me from considering purchasing Star Wars Battlefront is the egregious pricing model that EA has chosen to implement. Although I have come to terms with the concept of DLC and the ubiquitous season pass, I feel in this instance that EA have simply crossed a line with regard to an equitable division of the games content. Where a company such as DC Projekt Red seem to have found the right balance between launch content and future material, EA appear to have simply hobbled their base product at the expense of monetising the games long term life cycle. If I want access to all content in Star Wars Battlefront, both present and future, I have to spend £95.
I am a firm believer in the cost to fun ratio. I therefore if at a future date, I can secure Star Wars Battlefront at a discount price, I will overlook its alleged shortcomings and will more than likely have fun playing through the game. At present the price is prohibitive and frankly illogical. It is not a question of whether I can afford the cost, because I can. I simply do not believe the game justifies such a price tag. So for the present I will not be buying Star Wars Battlefront and because I no longer feel compelled to be an early adopter or be part of the “in crowd”, I am content to go without.
How to Explain Your Passion for Gaming to a Non-Gamer
Gaming is a pastime that is still viewed with scepticism by many people and gamers per se still endure a lot of bad press from those who like to perpetuate lazy stereotypes. If you are a well-adjusted gamer who enjoys gainful employment and a healthy social life, you may find yourself at some point having to explain your passion. Furthermore it could be to people who find your hobby utterly alien. Like most things in life there is no easy solution and there are numerous approaches to tackling such a line of enquiry.
Gaming is a pastime that is still viewed with scepticism by many people and gamers per se still endure a lot of bad press from those who like to perpetuate lazy stereotypes. If you are a well-adjusted gamer who enjoys gainful employment and a healthy social life, you may find yourself at some point having to explain your passion. Furthermore it could be to people who find your hobby utterly alien. Like most things in life there is no easy solution and there are numerous approaches to tackling such a line of enquiry.
The most logical starting point may be to give any curious third party a verbal overview on the merits of gaming; to attempt to convey the very things that you find engaging about gaming. However fans often cannot see the woods for the trees, so there’s a good chance that this approach could result in a lengthy diatribe, which fails in its good intentions and leaves one of the two individuals involved with their eyes glazed over. Can you guess which one?
Another approach may be to try and introduce this fictitious friend who is curious about gaming to some of the professional games coverage that is provided by the wider press. Mind you, this also comes with its own set of problems, as some of it can be very esoteric and niche market. It may only further bewilder and confuse, rather than illuminate. Plus the games media itself can at times be extremely blinkered and unwelcoming.
Overall I think the best way is to show the benefits of gaming. By that I don’t mean just demonstrate one of your favourite titles but how you personally experience it. Highlight the positive aspects of gaming that are common to other hobbies and pastimes, such as the social interactions and the friendships. A great example is the associated blogging community that stems from gaming. Many other hobbies have similar support networks and social portals. Perhaps the most obvious parallel that can be invoked is that of sports fandom. Demonstrating the common ground between the two may well prove beneficial.
The key is to break the stereotype of the gamer being an antisocial person indulging in something that has negative connotations. This is where the growth in casual gaming can work as a stepping stone between those who habitually game and those who do not. I’m not saying that the above is a comprehensive guide. As ever with human interaction, you need to adjust your pitch according to the situation. Yet if each of us manages to change at least ones persons mind about gaming, perhaps we can finally dispel some of the myths that still linger.
Star Trek Online - Hearts and Minds
Star Trek is no stranger to the supernatural. The original series featured two episodes written by the reknown horror author Robert Bloch, namely "Catspaw" and "Wolf in the fold". Both of which nicely contrasted the shows central science based theme with elements of the paranormal. So I was pleased to see today that Cryptic were making the episode "Hearts and Minds" available in Star Trek Online, for a short 36 hour window to celebrate Friday the 13th. It’s a suitably atmospheric and cautionary tale which compliments the traditional story lines we see in STO. The story takes place in the Donatu sector of the Eta Eridani sector block, at a lunar research station in the Donatu system. Franklin Drake bestows the mission, thus suggesting that all is not as it seems.
Star Trek is no stranger to the supernatural. The original series featured two episodes written by the reknown horror author Robert Bloch, namely "Catspaw" and "Wolf in the fold". Both of which nicely contrasted the shows central science based theme with elements of the paranormal. So I was pleased to see today that Cryptic were making the episode "Hearts and Minds" available in Star Trek Online, for a short 36 hour window to celebrate Friday the 13th. It’s a suitably atmospheric and cautionary tale which compliments the traditional story lines we see in STO. The story takes place in the Donatu sector of the Eta Eridani sector block, at a lunar research station in the Donatu system. Franklin Drake bestows the mission, thus suggesting that all is not as it seems.
I've lost contact with an old . . . colleague. Doctor Sibak was a Vulcan priest, but he worked with the Vulcan science academy studying psionic phenomena. A few years ago he went into seclusion on a remote research station in the Donatu system. He hasn't been heard from in some time. I'd like someone to check up on him. Don't worry, He's just a typical Vulcan by himself. You shouldn't have any problems.
But of course there are. "Hearts and Minds" is a mini-mission that explores the consequences of Doctor Sibaks's unconventional research gone awry. This mission is a “story in one act,” and can easily be completed. It is enjoyably atmospheric in a creepy way. Missions initiated by Franklin Drake are always duplicitous and it is an interesting plot device to see a Vulcan character stray so radically from the path of logic. "Hearts and Minds" also rewards players with a unique duty officer upon completion. Not everyone is a fan of time restricted content but I like these episodes that only appear on specific occasions. If you cannot play through this particular mission during its current window of opportunity, you can rest assured that it will be available again in the future.
The Evolving Definition of MMORPG
A post over at Massively Overpowered postulated the question is an MMORPG still an MMORPG without gear progression? As you can imagine a broad debate ensued and at present there are over two hundred comments on the matter. I’m not going to debate the specifics of this particular question but would rather consider the following notion. That the term MMORPG is not immutable and has indeed evolved beyond its traditional definition. Furthermore unless some gamers embrace the concept of adaptive gaming semantics then they will continue to find themselves at odds with the prevailing ideas that are currently driving game developers.
A post over at Massively Overpowered postulated the question is an MMORPG still an MMORPG without gear progression? As you can imagine a broad debate ensued and at present there are over two hundred comments on the matter. I’m not going to debate the specifics of this particular question but would rather consider the following notion. That the term MMORPG is not immutable and has indeed evolved beyond its traditional definition. Furthermore unless some gamers embrace the concept of adaptive gaming semantics then they will continue to find themselves at odds with the prevailing ideas that are currently driving game developers.
Back in the heyday of Ultima Online the term Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game had a very specific meaning that reflected the game mechanics and social requirements of the genre. For better or for worse that definition is no longer applicable. Today the MMORPG is a far broader church where players can pursue common goals collectively or on their own depending on their personal choice. Gear grinds, endgame raiding and mechanics such as the Holy Trinity are no longer essential to the genre. The formula for an MMORPG is now far more flexible, like the recipe for Chicken Tikka Masala or General Tso’s Chicken.
Yet many gamers have their personal perspective of the MMO shaped by their point of entry in to the genre. As a result a form of gaming first contact takes places that creates a rather entrenched mindset and a resistance to change. However games are first and foremost a business and market forces are there primary driving factor. Developers therefore will pursue whatever they consider to be financially viable options. Thus change is inevitable as well as desire able. Do we simply want a market saturated with identical products?
Change can be upsetting at times, especially if you feel it is to your personal detriment. Yet to resist it is ultimately futile. New players and revenue streams outweigh any loss from those who are unhappy. Gamers who want things to remain the same will eventually exile themselves from the very genre they enjoy. Is that a superior choice to trying something different, adapting and accepting change? I have an elderly relation who still obstinately refers to Zimbabwe as Rhodesia, due to some archaic world view that is now obsolete. All they really do by maintaining this stance is isolate themselves from others and look foolish. One could argue that those who stick rigidly to their own definition of the MMORPG are doing the same.
Classic Game Themes: Arcania - Gothic 4
Dynamedion are an award winning company and team of composers based in Germany. They specialize in soundtracks and game compositions, usually in the orchestral form. Over the years they have produced both musical scores and ambient sound designs for such titles as Ryse: Son of Rome, The Elder Scrolls Online and the Gothic series. Tilman Sillescu is both the co-founder of Dynamedion, as well as a prodigious composer in his own right. He previously taught at Mainz University. As Lead Composer and Creative Director at Dynamedion GbR, he has scored many exciting video game projects as well as writing and producing music for movie trailers, television and libraries.
Dynamedion are an award winning company and team of composers based in Germany. They specialize in soundtracks and game compositions, usually in the orchestral form. Over the years they have produced both musical scores and ambient sound designs for such titles as Ryse: Son of Rome, The Elder Scrolls Online and the Gothic series. Tilman Sillescu is both the co-founder of Dynamedion, as well as a prodigious composer in his own right. He previously taught at Mainz University. As Lead Composer and Creative Director at Dynamedion GbR, he has scored many exciting video game projects as well as writing and producing music for movie trailers, television and libraries.
The score for Arcania: Gothic 4 contains both ambient and thematic tracks which enrich the gameplay and overall atmosphere. The cue I have chosen plays over the games end credits and is listed on the games soundtrack CD as "credits song". It is an initially sombre piece that grows in power ending in a triumphant crescendo of brass. The vocalisation adds a semi-religious quality to the track and overall feels somewhat like a requiem. This particular music cue was written by Tilman Sillescu himself and is indicative of the level of quality that Dynamedion produce.
Gamer Spends $30,000 on Star Citizen
Over at PCGamer there’s an interview with a Star Citizen fan by the name of Chris (AKA Ozy311) who has to date spent $30,000 on the game. He owns all items that are currently available via the game store. Furthermore he has implied that he will continue to spend money on Star Citizen as more content become available. It would appear that Chris is an ardent gamer and has no concerns spending such sums of money on virtual products in a game that is still under development. Judging from the interview it seems that he has a well-paid job and is therefore simply exercising his right to spend his money how he sees fit.
Over at PCGamer there’s an interview with a Star Citizen fan by the name of Chris (AKA Ozy311) who has to date spent $30,000 on the game. He owns all items that are currently available via the game store. Furthermore he has implied that he will continue to spend money on Star Citizen as more content become available. It would appear that Chris is an ardent gamer and has no concerns spending such sums of money on virtual products in a game that is still under development. Judging from the interview it seems that he has a well-paid job and is therefore simply exercising his right to spend his money how he sees fit.
What I find fascinating about this story is not that a gamer has spent such a sum of money but the way the gaming community has reacted to this revelation. The comments section over at PCGamer (as well as on other similar sites) is rife with statements and value judgements based on limited data and the application of subjective personal morals. There is also a lot of bitterness and jealousy, as well as the usual straw man and ad hominem arguments that are de rigueur in such discussions. It would appear that some gamers are very unhappy with someone spending their own money in a particular way, but they’re not particularly good at articulating what they specifically object to.
When someone decides to place their personal activities in the public domain, they are courting opinion, be it directly or indirectly and they will have their actions judged. However beyond the facts, there really is no more to this story than what first meets the eye. Chris is a fan spending money on his particular passion. His expenditure is relative to his income. From what I’ve read he’s is not in any way negatively affecting anyone else with his purchases. The only unusual aspect of this whole affair is the relatively new concept of buying virtual goods and services. If Chris had bought a yacht he would still have one, irrespective of whether the manufacture ceased trading.
Once again I find that a percentage of the gamers seem to have a curious puritanical streak. As ever a lot of people’s personal opinions seem to be based upon nothing more than how they initially feel, rather than a logical analysis and measured consideration of the data. However that is something that we cannot lay exclusively at the door of the gaming community as it seems rife in every other social aspect of life. Perhaps I just notice the volume of white noise associated with gaming because I have an interest in it; I’m sure there’s just as much among sports fans. In the meantime it will be interesting to see if Star Citizen continues to attract such “big spenders”. I wouldn’t be surprised if it does.
Activision Blizzard Buys King Digital Entertainment
I found out about Activision Blizzard’s acquisition of King Digital Entertainment via the BBC Business website. From my perspective the notion of a leading US games developer that has a foothold in all major markets, buying in to the mobile sector hardly comes as a surprise. The price is perhaps the main talking point and does raise the question of the potential over valuing tech based companies. $5.9 Billion is after all a tidy sum of money. However what this deal does prove is the financial importance of the mobile gaming market.
I found out about Activision Blizzard’s acquisition of King Digital Entertainment via the BBC Business website. From my perspective the notion of a leading US games developer that has a foothold in all major markets, buying in to the mobile sector hardly comes as a surprise. The price is perhaps the main talking point and does raise the question of the potential over valuing tech based companies. $5.9 Billion is after all a tidy sum of money. However what this deal does prove is the financial importance of the mobile gaming market.
Gaming like many other pastimes has a social hierarchy among its fan base, which is rife with preconceptions, snobbery and self-aggrandisement. For many mobile gaming is still frowned upon and considered in some quarters not to be “proper” gaming. There will be a wealth of blog posts and commentary about this business deal, decrying it as foolhardy. A popular refrain will be how the money could be better spent producing a particular product that specific fans want. This is the nature of fandom; a tunnel vision perspective driven by one’s own desires.
The reality of the situation is very simple. Mobile gaming, irrespective of its perceived artistic and creative merits, is an extremely lucrative business. Therefore the opinion of those who are not part of the existing customer base is hardly of any major significance to developers. Those with entrenched views are hardly likely to succumb to marketing and therefore cease to be of any importance in any ongoing promotional campaign. Sadly logic seldom has any impact upon the white noise generated by “core gamers”.
Over time I have become increasingly more interested in the business side of the gaming industry. It is as fluid and intriguing as any other global market. Compared to the emotive and often self-absorbed tirades I see coming from the gaming community, the machinations of companies such as Activision Blizzard are far more interesting. This simply highlights the gulf between business and the imperatives of the market compared to the capricious nature of fans aspirations. Am I growing out of gaming? No but I may well be growing out of the community.