LOTRO: The Further Adventures of Bilbo Baggins
I was hoping that 2021 would be a good year for the MMORPG, The Lord of the Rings Online. New owners, along with hints at a revised community relations policy and a recent roadmap for future content have all been positively received by the game’s stoic community. Furthermore, the recent demise of the LOTR based MMO by Amazon Game Studios has eliminated any immediate competition. Sadly, two things have occurred recently indicating that developer’s Standing Stone Games are still tone deaf to the player feedback and lacking in any tangible long term vision for the game. The first was a statement made by Executive Producer, Rob “Severlin” Ciccolini, regarding Legendary Items in the game and the subject of grind. The second was the new “Further Adventures” quest arcs, as described in February’s Executive Producer’s Letter, which uses the “missions” system that was added to the game in Update 28.
I was hoping that 2021 would be a good year for the MMORPG, The Lord of the Rings Online. New owners, along with hints at a revised community relations policy and a recent roadmap for future content have all been positively received by the game’s stoic community. Furthermore, the recent demise of the LOTR based MMO by Amazon Game Studios has eliminated any immediate competition. Sadly, two things have occurred recently indicating that developer’s Standing Stone Games are still tone deaf to the player feedback and lacking in any tangible long term vision for the game. The first was a statement made by Executive Producer, Rob “Severlin” Ciccolini, regarding Legendary Items in the game and the subject of grind. The second was the new “Further Adventures” quest arcs, as described in February’s Executive Producer’s Letter, which uses the “missions” system that was added to the game in Update 28.
According to Mr. Ciccolini you cannot remove Legendary Items from LOTRO for the following reasons. “We want players to have things to do while they are leveling. I know that some players are ‘Oh, this is too grindy and sometimes we overdo it,’ but ‘grindy’ doesn’t scare me as much as ‘I don’t have enough to do.’ ‘I don’t have enough to do’ is worse because players want to play the game but they don’t really have goals to pursue. [If the LI system is removed], a couple things happen: One, players become much more reliant on weapon drops and if they don’t get the weapon drop they want, their DPS will lag […], and two, a weapon drop is one-and-done; we want to make sure that when [players] get a weapon they can then develop it”. (This quote was taken from Q&A with Severlin live stream on Friday April 16th)
There’s a lot to unpack in that statement and none of it is good. LOTRO players can be very innovative with regards to finding things to do in the game. Levelling alts, crafting, role playing, completing deeds, trading on the auction house, furnishing their homes, min-maxing, exploring the world, enjoying the festivals and hanging out with friends are but a few I can think of. So claiming that without grind there would be no “goals to pursue” is spurious to say the least or alternatively a statement of unparalleled ignorance of one’s own game. However, even if we accept this statement, offering grind instead or real content is hardly laudable. Plus as fellow blogger Wilhelm Arcturus said in comments left on the YouTube Q&A video, if SSG pursue a course of action justified by this erroneous supposition, it simply proves that they’re “committed to bad game design”.
Frankly, I often get the impression that SSG simply does not understand what attracts people to the MMO genre per se. They seem to see their own games as far more of a live service rather than an example of a massively multiplayer online game, in the classic sense. I also feel that the major decision makers over at SSG are somewhat behind the curve with regards to modern developments and changes in the MMO genre and are possibly very entrenched in their ways. Their attitude toward community relations certainly seems archaic. It may also be a case that the ebb and flow of staff over the years has left them with serious skills gaps. All the new content that is added to the game has a tendency to be very formulaic and simply variations on existing themes. I don’t think that the staff actually know how to create certain content anymore and integrate it into the game.
Which sadly leads me to “The Further Adventures of Bilbo Baggins”. This is the first of a series of self-contained, episodic story arcs that use the “missions” system. Launched yesterday and currently available free using the redeem code SAVEBILBO, this new content is simply underwhelming and lacklustre. It is entirely built upon existing game assets and offers nothing new other than the very simple narrative. Each instalment requires the player to port to an instanced section of the existing game world and kill a few waves of standard mobs. It is not especially difficult or fun to be honest. It’s all somewhat disappointing and mundane. I find it most concerning that SSG intends to charge for this content after the promotional period ends and have more material of this kind in development. Overall this is a very inauspicious content update and does not bode well for the remainder of the year. Let us hope that the imminent 14th anniversary celebrations are more creative.
LOTRO: A Golden Opportunity
Back in Summer 2019, Amazon Game Studios announced it was co-developing a new free-to-play MMO set in Middle-earth, along with Athlon Games. The latter was at the time a subsidiary of Chinese publisher Leyou Technologies. However, in December 2020, Tencent bought Leyou Technologies which led to a series of contract renegotiations and reviews of ongoing projects. According to Bloomberg these negotiations did not go well and as a result, the new MMO has been cancelled. A spokesperson for Amazon recently stated that “we have been unable to secure terms to proceed with this title at this time. We love the Lord of the Rings IP, and are disappointed that we won't be bringing this game to customers”. Hence, Amazon will not have a complimentary game for their upcoming $1bn Lord of the Rings television series. At this point, possibly the only people who are happy with this outcome are Standing Stone Games, the developers of The Lord of the Rings Online.
Back in Summer 2019, Amazon Game Studios announced it was co-developing a new free-to-play MMO set in Middle-earth, along with Athlon Games. The latter was at the time a subsidiary of Chinese publisher Leyou Technologies. However, in December 2020, Tencent bought Leyou Technologies which led to a series of contract renegotiations and reviews of ongoing projects. According to Bloomberg these negotiations did not go well and as a result, the new MMO has been cancelled. A spokesperson for Amazon recently stated that “we have been unable to secure terms to proceed with this title at this time. We love the Lord of the Rings IP, and are disappointed that we won't be bringing this game to customers”. Hence, Amazon will not have a complimentary game for their upcoming $1bn Lord of the Rings television series. At this point, possibly the only people who are happy with this outcome are Standing Stone Games, the developers of The Lord of the Rings Online.
LOTRO still exists today, 14 years after its launch, for several reasons but a major factor is that it is the only Tolkien based MMO in existence at present. Players endure the game’s numerous rough edges and age because of their dedication as fans and the simple fact that there's nowhere else to go. I, as well as many other LOTRO players, were curious to see what sort of game Amazon Game Studios could produce. If it had provided certain key elements of game play, along with a good artistic interpretation of Middle-earth, then I would have definitely considered playing it. But that is no longer an option. LOTRO remains the only MMO of its kind for the present and as a result I’m sure the current player base will remain loyal. However, I don’t think that SSG should be too complacent. The current situation is a bit like living in a small town which only has one mall to hang out at and one night club to go to. No matter how poor or inadequate they are, they'll get a degree of patronage purely by default. Hardly an edifying business model.
If you’re familiar with my gaming history, you’ll know I enjoy LOTRO but I clearly recognise it is far from perfect. It's age is one reason as the game was conceived and designed to serve the needs of the MMO genre of 2007. Over the years it has been revised and augmented. It has reached a point in its life cycle where it has an established player base and sufficient revenue to continue producing content. However, possibly due to staff changes and a reticence to tinker with fundamental aspects of the game, we have reached a point where nothing radically new is being added to LOTRO. To invoke a food based analogy, if the MMO genre is comparable to the fast food industry, then LOTRO is a sandwich shop. Its sandwiches are different to its competitors but beyond that, all it can offer its customers are different fillings. If you want a tea cake, forget it.
With the immediate competition out of the picture for the present and new owners EG7 genuinely interested in developing and supporting LOTRO, SSG appear to have a golden opportunity to refine and improve LOTRO. By developing some of the features that have been put on hold over the years and removing those that have proven unpopular, arcane and unwieldy, much could be done to increase the game’s longevity. Furthermore, a renaissance in their communication strategy could be instrumental in rebuilding community bridges and getting the player base onboard with a long term plan. Yet my past experiences with LOTRO leads me to believe that such an opportunity is likely to be squandered. I have seen no evidence thus far that SSG have a plan and even if they do, their continuing Johnny Tightlips routine is counterproductive. If Amazon’s new MMO hadn’t been cancelled, I wonder if things would be any different?
Nintendo Switch: The Console That Keeps Charging You For Extras
Last September I considered buying a Nintendo Switch but decided to defer doing so. This was mainly because, despite having a unique back catalogue of games, I didn't feel at the time there was a single “must have” title. However since then, I have been subject to increased lobbying from my Granddaughters. They’re going to be six in June and are now at an age where instead of just watching others play games, they want to actively participate. Plus they have encountered console gaming at their Uncle’s house. At present, the only child friendly game I have on the PC is Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout. This means playing in the office, which doesn’t easily facilitate one adult and two, fidgety children. So I finally capitulated and bought a Nintendo Switch yesterday. It arrived today.
Last September I considered buying a Nintendo Switch but decided to defer doing so. This was mainly because, despite having a unique back catalogue of games, I didn't feel at the time there was a single “must have” title. However since then, I have been subject to increased lobbying from my Granddaughters. They’re going to be six in June and are now at an age where instead of just watching others play games, they want to actively participate. Plus they have encountered console gaming at their Uncle’s house. At present, the only child friendly game I have on the PC is Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout. This means playing in the office, which doesn’t easily facilitate one adult and two, fidgety children. So I finally capitulated and bought a Nintendo Switch yesterday. It arrived today.
Setting the Switch is easy, as is creating an online account with Nintendo. Connecting it to the TV in the lounge was also straightforward and simple. I wish I could say the same about adding a new name to the TV’s list of source inputs but that is a matter I need to take up with Samsung and not Nintendo’s problem. Let it suffice to say that within an hour of unboxing my shiny new Switch I was good to go. Accept that I actually wasn’t. I had just one controller and no games. So I subsequently bought a code for Mario Kart 8 along with an additional wireless controller, so that sofa based, two player gaming could be indulged. Now I was impressed how quickly it took to download and install the game after inputting the code. But I wasn’t blown away by the amount of storage the Switch has. So I then had to buy a 256 GB Micro SD card. Oh let’s not forget if you want to save your games via the cloud and do social stuff, you need Nintendo Switch Online, which is a subscription service.
Nintendo products and the brand itself occupy a unique niche within the video games industry and gaming culture. They do what they do extremely well and as a result have a strong fan and consumer base. I say this to demonstrate that I’m not anti Nintendo per se. But damn, don’t they like charging you for every little thing conceivable? I’m pretty certain that when I bought my first SNES back in the early nineties, at least it came with two controllers. You could also buy the console bundled with a game or two. I am fully aware that you can do that now with the Switch but not with any significant discount. All bundles I’ve seen appear to be at the same price as buying the items individually. Also, there doesn’t seem to be the culture of discounting older titles. Switch games on physical media are expensive and their digital equivalents even more so.
I am not a wealthy man, nor am I hard up. But I do find it somewhat annoying when companies pursue this “sell everything separately” approach. The Nintendo Switch cost £280. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe a further £50. A 256 GB Micro SD card a further £33. A second wireless controller (non-Nintendo) added a further £34 to the bill. Oh and let’s not forget £7 for 3 months access to Nintendo Switch Online. A total of £404 to finally be in a position for two players to adequately enjoy gaming together. I worry for those non-tech savvy people who decided to buy a Switch for a child only to find that their original budget is not going to cut it. It would be nice if Nintendo did a comprehensive starter pack with some sort of discount. However, upon mature reflection that is not really likely, is it? But setting these gripes aside, I am glad I finally bought a Switch. Mario Kart is still a sublime and near perfect title. And I’m also looking forward to playing games on a handheld device. I just don’t see my Switch expenditure being as profligate as my spending on PC gaming.
Star Trek Online: Delta Recruitment Event
Consider any MMORPG that has been around for a few years or more and you'll often find a game that is weighted towards the endgame and the players at level cap. New content often overlooks or even excludes players just starting out or those at intermediate levels. Furthermore, players that have drifted away from a game are often faced with the dilemma of returning to a character that they have forgotten how to play. The most practical solution to this is to simply create a new alt and start from scratch. However for a lot of players this is not a particularly inviting option. Repeating old content can be dull and singularly unrewarding. And for the new player, starting out and trying to catch up with the rest of the community or their friends who are at level cap, can frequently feel like an uphill struggle. It can be very frustrating when friends, colleagues and guild mates are playing the latest missions and you’re still mixing it down in the starter zones.
Consider any MMORPG that has been around for a few years or more and you'll often find a game that is weighted towards the endgame and the players at level cap. New content often overlooks or even excludes players just starting out or those at intermediate levels. Furthermore, players that have drifted away from a game are often faced with the dilemma of returning to a character that they have forgotten how to play. The most practical solution to this is to simply create a new alt and start from scratch. However for a lot of players this is not a particularly inviting option. Repeating old content can be dull and singularly unrewarding. And for the new player, starting out and trying to catch up with the rest of the community or their friends who are at level cap, can frequently feel like an uphill struggle. It can be very frustrating when friends, colleagues and guild mates are playing the latest missions and you’re still mixing it down in the starter zones.
Cryptic have come up with an interesting solution to this conundrum with their Delta Recruitment event for Star Trek Online. This is the third time they have run this incentive scheme. The Delta Recruitment event is a promotion by which players creating new 2409 Starfleet, Klingon Defense Force or Romulan Republic characters and replaying through existing content are offered a variety of rewards and bonuses. These include enhanced XP, a bespoke Delta Recruit Trait and the ability to earn additional Dilithium Ore with each NPC defeated. There are also account wide benefits to be had. Each time a Delta Recruit completes a particular task an Account-Wide Reward is unlocked, which is claimable once by every other character on that account. There are many other positive benefits associated with the event, which can be found on the Arc Games website. The Delta Recruitment event runs from April 15th on PC and May 13th. Any character created during the Event will remain a Delta Recruit indefinitely, allowing players to progress through objectives at their own pace.
Star Trek Online has come a long way over the past eleven years and the game has been continuously streamlined and refined. The story missions are very well conceived and certainly capture the essence of all the various Trek shows. It is also one of the few MMORPG with an equitable business model. Hence,The Delta Recruitment presents a perfect opportunity to start playing Star Trek Online or to return to the game if you’ve played in the past. This isn't just a case of offering a few superfluous baubles and trinkets. It is a comprehensive scheme to engage with players and offer them an enhanced experience as they journey to level cap. Furthermore, the influx of new players makes playing socially and grouping very accessible. There are plenty of friendly Fleets (guilds) that are happy to welcome new players. Alternatively, you may wish to create one of your own and establish a starbase and other resources with your friends.
The Star Trek franchise is booming at present, with further seasons of Picard and Discovery on the way and Strange New Worlds currently in development. I have always had a soft spot for Star Trek Online, not only because of my love of the IP but because of the way it continuously reinvents itself and refines its game systems. Cryptic make blunders from time to time as many games developers do but they seem to have a genuine philosophy of self improvement. Plus so many MMORPGs are set in a generic sword and sorcery environment. Star Trek Online is founded upon an IP that has a track record of providing good quality, intelligent and challenging narratives. Not many games have such a distinguished pedigree. Therefore if you are considering returning to STO or playing for the first time, now is a great time to do so. The Delta Recruitment event runs from April 15th until May 13th.
Nothing Further to Say?
Today, I was going to write a post about the controversy surrounding the video game Six Days in Fallujah. I read up on the relevant background material and then started making bullet points regarding my own personal opinion. While doing so I had a sense of deja vu, so I started looking back through previous posts I’ve written on comparable subjects. And my suspicions were confirmed. The basic points I wished to raise, I had previously explored in a post about “the trivialisation of World War II”. So I decided to abandon the planned post about Highwire Games new FPS, because I wasn’t really offering anything new to the debate, as far as I was concerned. Subsequent reflection upon this matter has led me to the inevitable conclusion that once you regularly write about certain subjects for a decade or so, you eventually reach a point where you don’t have a lot further to say because you’ve probably said it already. Well, I think that’s where I’m at.
This image has no “bearing” on the post
Today, I was going to write a post about the controversy surrounding the video game Six Days in Fallujah. I read up on the relevant background material and then started making bullet points regarding my own personal opinion. While doing so I had a sense of deja vu, so I started looking back through previous posts I’ve written on comparable subjects. And my suspicions were confirmed. The basic points I wished to raise, I had previously explored in a post about “the trivialisation of World War II”. So I decided to abandon the planned post about Highwire Games new FPS, because I wasn’t really offering anything new to the debate, as far as I was concerned. Subsequent reflection upon this matter has led me to the inevitable conclusion that once you regularly write about certain subjects for a decade or so, you eventually reach a point where you don’t have a lot further to say because you’ve probably said it already. Well, I think that’s where I’m at.
I am fully aware that not all of those who read Contains Moderate Peril and au fait with my previous posts. In fact, my website statistics show that a lot of readers are passing traffic that found the site due to a Google search. Hence it would be arrogant to assume that readers by default are familiar with my positions on various subjects and talking points. However, a percentage of my readership have followed my work for a while, in the same way that I have followed theirs. They leave comments both here and on social media. And I wonder if they’ve noticed my penchant for repetition? I do find that my film reviews often follow a pattern. I frequently complain about weak screenplays, underdeveloped stories and characters. It does make me think, do I need to broaden my thoughts or have I effectively reached a point of “nothing further to say” on certain subjects?
Zippy is a popular character from the UK children’s TV show Rainbow
I wrote recently about the cyclical nature of the video games industry and despite certain technical advances, many of the problems from gaming twenty years ago are still with us today. I am beginning to think that this is the same for many other aspects of day to day life. Be it pop culture or politics. The pace of technological change shows no sign of slowing down but many traditional problems, usually those associated with human behaviour, remain conspicuously unchanged. Hence I still find myself referencing recurring issues such as corporate shenanigans, bandwagon jumping, consumer culture and that perennial favourite of confusing fandom with some sort of ownership. And once you become aware that you are repeating yourself, it does become a bit tiresome both for writer and reader. I don’t mind having a particular style but I don’t want to end up a one trick pony, so to speak.
I like Sparks
So what can we conclude from this post which now seems like some written form of self therapy? Well I think I may have to just give some subjects a rest for a while. I am thankful that I made a choice back in 2008 to diversify my blog so that it covered more than just one game. I will still write about video games but I think I shall be far more particular from now on so I don’t just end up sounding like the old guy who sits, alone at the bar, banging on about the same old stuff. I think it’s also time to think outside the box and ensure that my film reviews are less formulaic. I shall also write more about real life stuff. For example, I had a hankering recently to write about property TV shows. I even have a post still sitting in the “drafts” folder about beds and the importance of a good night sleep. So don’t be surprised if some “weird shit” turns up in the next month or so. Oh, by the way. Does anyone else feel like this and that they’ve pretty much said their piece on a given subject over the years?
Same Meat, Different Gravy
Seeing Raph Koster back in the gaming news headlines has proven a timely reminder that no matter how things change, they remain the same. The video games industry has moved on in many ways with regard to technology and now enjoys mainstream appeal. However there are also areas where virtually no progress has been made. Hence Mr Koster’s protestations that the MMO genre has not yet reached its full potential. I started blogging about MMOs and other games around 15 years ago. I have an archive of my previous posts and spent some time recently looking at material I wrote back in 2007 and 2008. The subjects ranged from bad game launches, broken mechanics, staff redundancies, questionable business models, poor community relations and that perennial favourite, toxic communities. Many of which were written from the perspective of someone who was very invested in the genre and who had a degree of optimism for the future. Silly me to quote Paul Chuckle.
This is in fact Yorkshire Pudding with gravy, rather than meat but the analogy still stands…
Seeing Raph Koster back in the gaming news headlines has proven a timely reminder that no matter how things change, they remain the same. The video games industry has moved on in many ways with regard to technology and now enjoys mainstream appeal. However there are also areas where virtually no progress has been made. Hence Mr Koster’s protestations that the MMO genre has not yet reached its full potential. I started blogging about MMOs and other games around 15 years ago. I have an archive of my previous posts and spent some time recently looking at material I wrote back in 2007 and 2008. The subjects ranged from bad game launches, broken mechanics, staff redundancies, questionable business models, poor community relations and that perennial favourite, toxic communities. Many of which were written from the perspective of someone who was very invested in the genre and who had a degree of optimism for the future. Silly me to quote Paul Chuckle.
If you peruse any of the major video game news websites today, you’ll find that there’s still plenty of issues with bad game launches, broken mechanics, staff redundancies, questionable business models, poor community relations and asshole gamers. In fact the growth of social media has in some ways magnified these problems, bringing them to a wider audience’s attention, therefore intensifying any argument that may stem from them. The bottom line is its 2021 and nothing much appears to have changed. Magic Legends has had a broken soft launch. Outriders has had server issues. Dare I mention Cyberpunk 2077? Warzone continuously has to patch content that the previous patch has broken. Activision-Blizzard just made 190 staff redundant while their CEO got a $200 million bonus. Standing Stone Games have to be put in a virtual half nelson to talk to their customers. And just like a rat, you’re never more than six feet away from a douchebag gamer.
“Boo”…
So why haven’t some things changed? Why are the usual suspects still pulling the same old shit? Why haven’t we reached the gaming “promised land”? Well there are numerous contributory factors that have led to the current outcome but perhaps the two biggest of these are the way capitalism functions and how consumers respond to this. Contrary to what some may believe, capitalism isn’t about giving consumers what they want but maintaining a financial status quo. The video game industry’s raison d'être is to make money for the shareholders and executive staff. The creation of a video game that is fit for purpose is a secondary consideration. And a large percentage of consumers continuously enable the worst practises of the big publishers. Buying into damaging business practises such as pre-order culture, early access, soft launches, road maps and live services. Like Joseph de Maistre’s quote about getting the government we deserve, the same can be said about triple A games.
“Yay” etc.
Logically, it is not all doom and gloom. There are smaller game developers who have business relationships with less predatory publishers and between them good quality games are produced and sold. But not everyone has exposure to such products and companies. All too often it’s the wealthiest companies that have the biggest reach and thus dominate the market, despite selling flawed, broken and incomplete products. I may no longer be buying such games but I’m just one person. Sales data in the public domain shows that lots of other people are. Therefore, despite a growing degree of consumer pushback, I don’t think a critical mass is anywhere near being yet reached, which is why I don’t expect an industry wide sea change anytime soon. Hence I wouldn’t be at all surprised to find Mr. Koster is still evangelising the same ideas and concepts, a decade from now and that the MMO genre still hasn’t met its full potential. The only thing I am certain about is that Bobby Kotick will still be raking it in.
Soft Launches
I thought Magic Legends was being beta tested when it appeared on my Arc launcher along with PWE’s other games. Silly me. Apparently, I was mistaken and Magic Legends is being soft launched. Because the game is selling stuff already. To date we have an unoptimized game suffering major performance issues and lag, with the added bonus of an egregious monetisation. People aren’t happy. There are all the technical issues associated with beta testing along with the early introduction of a predatory business model. Bravo. The idea of a soft launch is to maintain a relatively low profile, compared to a traditional hard “the game is totally ready” launch. That way you can tinker with your game client in a reactive fashion and introduce new features, ensuring that you keep your current customers onboard. However, if you do it wrong, you can piss off not only your existing customer base but cause a stink that prejudices future punters.
I thought Magic Legends was being beta tested when it appeared on my Arc launcher along with PWE’s other games. Silly me. Apparently, I was mistaken and Magic Legends is being soft launched. Because the game is selling stuff already. To date we have an unoptimized game suffering major performance issues and lag, with the added bonus of an egregious monetisation. People aren’t happy. There are all the technical issues associated with beta testing along with the early introduction of a predatory business model. Bravo. The idea of a soft launch is to maintain a relatively low profile, compared to a traditional hard “the game is totally ready” launch. That way you can tinker with your game client in a reactive fashion and introduce new features, ensuring that you keep your current customers onboard. However, if you do it wrong, you can piss off not only your existing customer base but cause a stink that prejudices future punters.
There is reason and logic behind soft launches. If you search via Google you’ll find numerous articles about the subject extolling the virtues of this business practice. If implemented correctly, it can yield the following results:
Determine which market you’d like to target on full launch.
Pick the most suitable location for your soft launch accordingly.
Optimize your games online presence.
Measure your success in acquiring new users.
Find out at what point you’ve successfully retained a new user.
Calculate the “Life Time Value” of users.
Evaluate your monetisation model.
Determine how your users like to share your game with others.
Fix any bugs that users report.
However, if you undertake all of these with the subtlety of a blow to the head with a Teflon frying pan, you’ll more than likely fail. Because as you can see, a soft launch is a practise designed primarily to benefit the vendor of the product, rather than the customer. And customers, especially gamers like to be made to feel special (IE told a load of old bollocks). If they realise they’re just a rat in a maze, then they tend to take it personally. Which is why I prefer the old school practise of alpha and beta testing, followed by the launch of a completed product that is good to go. Sadly, that is something we seldom see in the video games genre these days. The industry has become aware that they can get away with things, despite the pushback and opprobrium that comes with pre-orders, soft launches and day one patches.
All too often the lifecycle of a game is as follows. A hyperbolic announcement followed by an excess of hype throughout the development. Early access that is a hot mess followed by a cheeky soft launch of a flawed and incomplete product. The first six months is filled with player hostility until multiple patches eventually lead to a viable release. All sane players opt for the “game of the year edition”. Overall, it’s a very unsatisfactory system. Yet despite all the cogent arguments raised against it, such practises continue to prevail and are indulged because a percentage of gamers are overwhelmed by the hype tsunami and a “take my money now” mindset. Hence it will be interesting to see whether Magic Legends has “pissed on its chips” to coin a British colloquialism, or whether six month from now, all will be forgiven or forgotten. I have a feeling it will be the latter, which is greater news for business but bad news for consumers.
Do We Really Need "Living Worlds"?
There is a cogent argument to be had that the MMORPG genre has never really hit its full potential. Too many of them do the same thing and there is a long list of features that are conspicuously absent, that players habitually complain about. The debate is further “complicated” (like so many pop culture “debates” are) by one’s own relationship with the genre and what is best described as “personal baggage. Some players will eulogise about older games such as Ultima Online and EverQuest, extolling their lack of features and grindy nature as some sort of character building form of gaming self flagellation. Players with a more contemporary experience of MMOs are subsequently ambivalent towards social interaction and content gating. Hence if you ask a broad spectrum of MMO gamers what features they’d like to see in a new game, you’ll get a commensurate broad spectrum of answers. After 15 years of playing MMOs I’m not sure that I can adequately articulate my own thoughts on improving the genre. We all seem to want some sort of change but beyond that it all gets rather vague.
There is a cogent argument to be had that the MMORPG genre has never really hit its full potential. Too many of them do the same thing and there is a long list of features that are conspicuously absent, that players habitually complain about. The debate is further “complicated” (like so many pop culture “debates” are) by one’s own relationship with the genre and what is best described as “personal baggage. Some players will eulogise about older games such as Ultima Online and EverQuest, extolling their lack of features and grindy nature as some sort of character building form of gaming self flagellation. Players with a more contemporary experience of MMOs are subsequently ambivalent towards social interaction and content gating. Hence if you ask a broad spectrum of MMO gamers what features they’d like to see in a new game, you’ll get a commensurate broad spectrum of answers. After 15 years of playing MMOs I’m not sure that I can adequately articulate my own thoughts on improving the genre. We all seem to want some sort of change but beyond that it all gets rather vague.
Furthermore, it’s not just a question of what players desire. Let us not forget that the video game industry has its pioneers, grandees and sacred cows who still have plenty to say on the state of the genre and the lofty heights it has still not reached. Such luminaries as Raph Koster and Richard Garriott. Although their contributions to the genre cannot be denied, are they really as relevant nowadays as they were a quarter of a century ago? (Wilhelm Arcturus explores this very subject in more depth in a recent post). Whenever I read an interview with such individuals, although they will broadly allude to notions of a future MMO being a truly “living world”, they are always somewhat light on detail. Plus it often comes across that there is an element of age based and institutionalized bias against current trends. I am reminded of old rock stars decrying the state of contemporary music or Martin Scorsese being nonplussed by the popularity of superhero films.
Therefore, as per usual with most matters of debate, it’s not all black and white. However, let us for the sake of argument focus on a common mantra (and one that Mr Koster still evangelises about), the notion of an MMO that is a “living world”. A virtual world in which player actions have a tangible impact. Communities would have to be built from scratch and maintained. Players would be free to pursue any career path they wished. The environment would be seasonal and subject to the caprices of nature. Its ecosystem would have to be managed. The game would develop an economy and a degree of self governance. A living microcosm of our own world that could be accessed from a desktop PC, a console or mobile device. It all sounds both exciting and alluring. Initially. And then when one takes the time to ponder how all of this would pan out, it quickly begins to fall apart. Because some people when free from the restraints of social convention and consequence go native. Hence an unfettered “living world” would possibly soon become a “living hell”.
The sad reality is that any proposed “living world” would have to be heavily regulated and moderated if it wanted to survive in any viable way. More rules would lead to more constraints and so the dream diminishes exponentially as the regulations grow. Furthermore, I’m not sure if providing a complex, virtual alternative to reality is actually a healthy thing for society to begin with. If real life is too bleak, crushing and depressing to cope with, that vast swathes of the population seek to escape from it, then it is indicative that our system of government has failed outright. It may be somewhat melodramatic but a faux world that presents itself as an escape could well end up being a gilded cage. And if we step back for a moment from the theoretical, the Holy Grail of a “living world” is predicated on the fact that people reject what is currently on offer from the MMO genre. Oddly, enough the numbers and revenue generated from existing games seem to fly in the face of such a supposition. Therefore, perhaps the best place to start with improving the MMO genre is to add some desirable yet practical new functionality, rather than jumping off at the deep end and trying to create a virtual Shangri-la. And even if such an environment could be created, do any of us have the time to invest in such a world? I think not.
Choosing a New Game
I want to talk about how we choose a new game from the countless titles that are currently available. I am going to be candid about how I do this as well as my own personal biases and prejudices. Because I am not open to playing any type of game. Like so many other aspects of life, I have very clear likes and dislikes that can only be tempered so far with logic and rational thinking. Video games as far as I’m concerned are supposed to be engaging, entertaining and inherently enjoyable. I don’t mind a degree of challenge and I’ll grind to achieve a specific goal, if I feel the reward to effort ratio is acceptable. I will on occasions attempt to step tentatively out of my comfort zone. However, there are some things that I simply don’t like, so they will not be considered. I think the best analogy for this is food. There are certain meals that I have tried (sometimes several times) and disliked, so they won’t ever be eaten again. Then there are other meals that contain ingredients I dislike or that are cooked in a style that I don’t enjoy. These are also off the proverbial table (no pun intended).
I want to talk about how we choose a new game from the countless titles that are currently available. I am going to be candid about how I do this as well as my own personal biases and prejudices. Because I am not open to playing any type of game. Like so many other aspects of life, I have very clear likes and dislikes that can only be tempered so far with logic and rational thinking. Video games as far as I’m concerned are supposed to be engaging, entertaining and inherently enjoyable. I don’t mind a degree of challenge and I’ll grind to achieve a specific goal, if I feel the reward to effort ratio is acceptable. I will on occasions attempt to step tentatively out of my comfort zone. However, there are some things that I simply don’t like, so they will not be considered. I think the best analogy for this is food. There are certain meals that I have tried (sometimes several times) and disliked, so they won’t ever be eaten again. Then there are other meals that contain ingredients I dislike or that are cooked in a style that I don’t enjoy. These are also off the proverbial table (no pun intended).
So what games do I like? Well both the NES and SNES have had an impact upon my tastes. I consider the Mario Kart franchise to be nearly perfect. It is accessible and yet challenging. It also makes competitive gaming far more palatable as it is not bombastic or bellicose in either defeat or victory. I also enjoy a well balanced FPS and will certainly recommend CoD Warzone as the epitome of encapsulating that genre well. But my heart belongs to narrative driven RPGs and MMORPGs. I like involving and challenging stories, set in detailed worlds. I also like to have access to games based around major franchises that I revere, which is why I enjoy Star Trek Online and the Lord of the Rings Online so much. I’ve also dabbled with the strategy genre on occasions, along with deck-building games and point and click adventures. I even have a few simulator games in my extensive game selection. However, it should be noted that possibly 80% of said collection remains unplayed.
I can be just as specific about the game genres that I don’t like as I am about the ones I do. I am not a fan of PVP. Although I enjoy the FPS genre as this can be a far more balanced PVP environment. However, too often PVP is predatory and an uphill struggle for new players. I pay money to game developers to be entertained and not to be served up as canon fodder for established players. I don’t care for the mindset and elitist culture that also goes hand in hand with PVP and many other competitive games. Games that are couched in self aggrandisement and vanity are often breeding grounds for the most toxic aspects of gaming culture. I also eschew certain games on aesthetic grounds. The human experience is driven greatly by visual data and the way we interpret the world by how we see it. So to deny that we make decisions about games based upon how they look and the way they’re visually presented is crass. Hence I don’t like the isometric style. Nor do I like the anime visual aesthetic found in many games. I broadly prefer realistic graphics over cartoons, although stylisations can be very appropriate at times.
Therefore, when trawling through YouTube videos advertising forthcoming game releases, it is quite easy for me to quickly and efficiently assess what is and isn’t of interest to me. Plus its important to add that all the above rules are open to occasional contradictions. Hand of Fate and its sequel drew me into a genre that normally I wouldn’t have considered. More interestingly, sometimes there will be a new game that is broadly outside of what I like but it is getting a lot of traction among my peer group. So despite being a mature and grounded 53 year old, I am not immune to FOMO and a lot of other curious psychological phenomena. Naturally, there is an allure to joining your friends and being part of the current “in thing”. I recently succumbed to this and bought Cyberpunk 2077 and the reality of the game quickly shattered the hype and mystique that had prevailed up until launch. I have also written before about how odd it is to have missed the entire World of Warcraft “boat” over the years.
Earlier on I used a food based analogy to describe my likes and dislikes and equate this to video games. Once I have established that I don’t like something it is added to a prescribed list. However, most analogies don’t hold up to close scrutiny and although the part about my process for establishing a preference is accurate, I am far more willing to try new foods than I am video games. Upon mature reflection we all have our own bespoke assessment of what we want and don’t want from a video game because we all have a subjective definition of what actually equates to a game per se. I broadly agree with the notion that it is good to challenge yourself and step outside of one’s personal comfort zone. But you don’t have to do this habitually or else you’ll end up playing more games you dislike than like. I think it’s important to be self aware of one’s tastes and to be realistic about them. Yet the vast amount of free of heavily discounted games available do allow for greater experimentation. As ever there is a middle ground for each of us to find that offers us the best path forward.
Need or Greed?
In the dim and distant past when the world was young and the MMORPG genre still focused on the social element of multiplayer online gaming, there was a curious social etiquette associated with the acquisition of loot, enforced by the “need or greed” rule. This rule works as follows. When an item of loot drops after an enemy mob is killed, all members of the group that killed it have the option to claim the item. Upon doing so, they are presented with a choice of “need or greed”. If one or more persons in a group selects "need", they roll a virtual dice and the person with the highest roll gets the loot. If you choose "greed" when the majority of other players have chosen “need” you are effectively forfeiting any claim upon the loot item. If everyone selects "greed" then again, then there is a virtual dice roll and the player with the highest score receives the item. This system is intended to encourage players not to roll on items that they didn’t need (IE a ranged weapon for a melee character) and to foster an atmosphere of fair play and equanimity.
In the dim and distant past when the world was young and the MMORPG genre still focused on the social element of multiplayer online gaming, there was a curious social etiquette associated with the acquisition of loot, enforced by the “need or greed” rule. This rule works as follows. When an item of loot drops after an enemy mob is killed, all members of the group that killed it have the option to claim the item. Upon doing so, they are presented with a choice of “need or greed”. If one or more persons in a group selects "need", they roll a virtual dice and the person with the highest roll gets the loot. If you choose "greed" when the majority of other players have chosen “need” you are effectively forfeiting any claim upon the loot item. If everyone selects "greed" then again, then there is a virtual dice roll and the player with the highest score receives the item. This system is intended to encourage players not to roll on items that they didn’t need (IE a ranged weapon for a melee character) and to foster an atmosphere of fair play and equanimity.
However, over the years, the social aspect of MMOs has diminished and the validity of the “need or greed” rule is now in question. Gaming has become a lot more transactional and simply put, many players will expect something shiny as a reward after completing group content. Quid pro quo and all that. Hence it is nowadays common practice to roll “need” by default in all looting situations. If an item is not specifically relevant to you but can be sold to a vendor for in-game currency then that is a big incentive. Logically, any opportunity that increases your in-game wealth is desirable, especially in light of how hard it can be to obtain “gold” in some MMORPGs. Furthermore, with the proliferation of auto grouping in games, there is little or no personal connection to the other players. This results in a reduced sense of social obligation as you are not potentially denying a fellow guild mate but just competing against a random stranger.
Therefore, all things considered, isn’t it time that this particular game mechanic was sidelined and replaced with something more functional and socially appropriate? Perhaps the simplest solution (at least with regard to low level loot drops) is to allow them to be claimed by all parties. In the same way that some game developers have now made “ore nodes” and other environmental resources “shared” and non-competitive. Perhaps it may even be time to reconsider the entire game mechanic of “trash loot” within the MMO genre. In the meantime, continuously having to roll on loot in group content is simply a tedious reality that has to be endured. Especially in games that don’t support addons that can discreetly automate the process. However, we live in hope that sooner or later, the MMORPG will finally join the rest of gaming in the 21st century and that “need or greed” will be consigned to the history books.
LOTRO: Day, Night and Weather Cycle
I don’t know about you guys but whenever I log into The Lord of the Rings Online, it’s usually night in the game. This is a curious anomaly that can be somewhat frustrating if it’s the test server and I want to take some screenshots of new content. I put this down to the fact that I usually log in to LOTRO in the evening, here in the UK and I am unfortunately in sync with the Laurelin server night time phase. Sadly, there are no third party addons that can track the in-game time and server reboots always reset the game’s internal clock. However, I do like the fact that the game has a clear day and night cycle, which adds greatly to the overall ambience of LOTRO. Both of these phases have subcategories, all of which persist for specific times. Here is the cycle as it stands at present in the game.
I don’t know about you guys but whenever I log into The Lord of the Rings Online, it’s usually night in the game. This is a curious anomaly that can be somewhat frustrating if it’s the test server and I want to take some screenshots of new content. I put this down to the fact that I usually log in to LOTRO in the evening, here in the UK and I am unfortunately in sync with the Laurelin server night time phase. Sadly, there are no third party addons that can track the in-game time and server reboots always reset the game’s internal clock. However, I do like the fact that the game has a clear day and night cycle, which adds greatly to the overall ambience of LOTRO. Both of these phases have subcategories, all of which persist for specific times. Here is the cycle as it stands at present in the game.
Day Time lasts 1 hour 42 minutes 20 seconds
Dawn = 9 minutes 32 seconds
Morning = 28 minutes 42 seconds
Noon = 17 minutes 47 seconds
Afternoon = 27 minutes 58 seconds
Dusk = 18 minutes 21 seconds
Night Time lasts 1 hour 23 minutes 40 seconds
Gloaming = 9 minutes 30 seconds
Evening = 27 minutes 59 seconds
Midnight = 8 minutes 59 seconds
Late Watches = 19 minutes 1 second
Foredawn = 18 minutes 11 seconds
Apart from giving the virtual Middle-earth a greater sense of realism, could this game mechanic be used for quests? Well initially it was. In an earlier iteration of LOTRO (circa 2007 - 2008) there were several quests that were night time specific. The ghost in Bree was nocturnal and one story arc had you meeting a Brigand infiltrator, again only at night. However, despite this time mechanic adding ambience to the proceedings, it was a nuisance if you received such quests at the wrong time of day. You could find yourself having to wait 90 minutes which is not a lot of fun in an MMO. Unlike single player games that use this mechanic, you cannot advance time in a shared world. Hence these quests were altered to allow access all of the time. It is also why we don’t see NPC and vendors keeping working hours and returning to their homes at night. So sadly, the day and night cycle is purely cosmetic in LOTRO as it now stands.
There are also random weather changes in LOTRO although there is nothing that can be clearly defined as a cycle. Sometimes I’ll log into a zone and it will be raining or overcast but broadly speaking the weather in a place such as Bree is predominantly temperate. Some zones have differing weather for geographical reasons. Naturally, the Misty Mountains are snow covered and the snow fall becomes heavier the higher you climb along the cliff top paths. Other parts of Middle-earth have bespoke weather for thematic reasons. Angmar has a sickly green coloured, overcast sky, reflecting the evil that blights the region. Allegedly the darkened sky is to accommodate the passage of Orcs, who have an aversion to daylight. Again, it would be nice in principle to have some weather themed or dependent quests but gating content behind a mechanic you may have to wait on, is not going to be well received.
The MMORPG genre is filled with game systems and mechanics that have been tentatively introduced and then left unfinished by the developers. Often because of the complexity inherent in such systems or because the idea being “tested” was not liked by all players. Weather cycles and the passage of time are such examples. Both of these could play a more active role if the developers of games such as LOTRO felt so inclined. I would be happy to see the return of quests that were time dependent. It would be nice to have some aesthetic details that only happened at certain times or dates. Such as Elves camping out beneath the stars. Or NPCs that come and go in towns such as Bree. Perhaps even animals that graze in fields by day and are then rounded up and taken to barn at night. Such things would add a lot to a game. But at this point in LOTRO’s lifecycle it is unlikely that resources would be used to develop such content.
LOTRO: Executive Producer’s Letter February 2021
Rob Ciccolini, posted an Executive Producer’s Letter for the MMORPG The Lord of the Rings Online, yesterday. This road map for 2021 pretty much confirms much of the content he broadly referenced in his recent live stream Q&A session. The letter doesn’t contain any major surprises but it is useful to have a more comprehensive time table for what is coming to the game this year. As ever, he thanked players for their ongoing support for LOTRO and Standing Stone Games endeavours. It is too early to determine whether SSG has successfully improved their communications policy but the letter has been fairly well received on the official forums.
The most immediate content release coming to LOTRO is Update 29: Wildwood which was previewed on the Bullroarer test server last month. As this is an addition to an existing area in the game, this update will be free. This content update, coming this month, will be followed by the Spring Festival, which will feature new seasonal instances featuring Grimbeorn. I tried one of these, again on the test server, and it was suitably droll and whimsical. It involves escorting Grimbeorn’s “Big Bees” around the meadows of Lossarnach so they can pollinate the flowers, while you fend off hordes of Goats!
Rob Ciccolini, posted an Executive Producer’s Letter for the MMORPG The Lord of the Rings Online, yesterday. This road map for 2021 pretty much confirms much of the content he broadly referenced in his recent live stream Q&A session. The letter doesn’t contain any major surprises but it is useful to have a more comprehensive time table for what is coming to the game this year. As ever, he thanked players for their ongoing support for LOTRO and Standing Stone Games endeavours. It is too early to determine whether SSG has successfully improved their communications policy but the letter has been fairly well received on the official forums.
The most immediate content release coming to LOTRO is Update 29: Wildwood which was previewed on the Bullroarer test server last month. As this is an addition to an existing area in the game, this update will be free. This content update, coming this month, will be followed by the Spring Festival, which will feature new seasonal instances featuring Grimbeorn. I tried one of these, again on the test server, and it was suitably droll and whimsical. It involves escorting Grimbeorn’s “Big Bees” around the meadows of Lossarnach so they can pollinate the flowers, while you fend off hordes of Goats!
Next up on the road map, Standing Stone Games are planning to release the first of what they are calling “Further Adventures”. These are quest arcs that make use of the existing Mission system that will feature new stories involving major and minor characters in Middle-earth. The first of which involves Bilbo Baggins. If it is well received by LOTRO players SSG will produce more. They’re also keen for player feedback regarding other characters that could feature in such content.
Summer will see the release of Update 30: Update 30: The Blood of Azog. The next installment of the War of Three Peaks. According to SSG “Durin Stonehelmson prepares to lead the Gabil'akkâ beyond the frozen gates of Mount Gundabad. At the urging of Glóin, Prince Durin sends word to the Lonely Mountain to muster even more Dwarves to Elderslade before the reclamation begins. As you aid in this effort, you'll discover the tale of Hermáth Stormhammer, a hero of the Battle of Azanulbizar. You'll experience important moments in the history of Durin's Folk firsthand, such as the taking of the Oakenshield, the death of Azog, the ever-present danger of Durin's Bane, and more! Update 30 will feature a new Interlude, new Quests, new Missions, and a new Raid in a Quest Pack that is free to VIPs!”
The next major expansion will be launched in Autumn. Specific details are lacking at present but Update 31: Gundabad concludes the story of The Legacy of Durin and the Trials of the Dwarves. Whether the new Brawler class is included in this release remains to be seen The River Hobbit race is conspicuously absent and judging by previous comments made by Rob Ciccolini, will more than likely not be available until 2022. The tailend of this year will see the Legendary Servers, Ithil and Arnor, updated to feature the Mordor expansion. There is ongoing PVMP development, focusing on class balancing and SSG are also tinkering with the Legendary Item system, although it seems to be more of a case of streamlining, rather than a major overhaul.
I, like many other LOTRO players, welcome any news about the games development in its 14th year. An expansion and two content updates is not in any way unsubstantial. However, it has been a while since LOTRO has seen the addition of a wholly new system or game mechanic. Missions, which were added with Update 28, are essentially a variation on an existing theme. Namely solo instances. They do not supply a great deal of narrative content and they are not especially challenging in their present form. LOTRO is at present locked into a cycle of supplying “more of the same”. New content simply see’s new reputation factions, new gear, essences and collectibles added to the game. Familiarity and providing a “set menu” does have its appeal, especially within the MMO genre. A clearly defined progression path with known parameters offers stability to the playerbase.
However if LOTRO truly wants to stay relevant and continue offering players an engaging virtual Middle-earth experience, isn’t it time to focus resources on creating something completely new for the game? Sadly, I cannot see resources being used to develop such a thing. Converting existing content so it can be accessed by console players is a sound business decision opening up a substantial new market. The success of The Elder Scrolls Online and Star Trek Online on Xbox and Playstation prove this. So I assume that this sort of work will take priority over the creation of new mechanics, systems, classes and races. Perhaps there are long term plans for such future development and SSG are focusing on the most immediate needs of the game. I still have a degree of optimism that the acquisition by EG7 may drive some substantial changes. As ever, it’s a question of watching and waiting.
A Month in Gaming
Here we are again. Yet another month has gone by and I find myself writing another instalment of “a month in gaming”. And to be honest, I have very little to say in this particular roundup of my gaming activities. I played Star Trek Online throughout February and created a new Klingon character to take advantage of the ongoing Klingon recruitment event. I have managed to upgrade a Tier 5 D7 and kit it out in such a way that it is fairly robust. And I also created a new Jem’Hadar alt, as they start at level 60 and you are provided with a fully equipped vessel and crew. Nothing fancy but it allows you to get into the endgame content a lot quicker. I may write a more detailed blog post about this at some point. I also played a lot more Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout as my granddaughters came to stay for a week. I have already expressed my thoughts about the mechanics of that game in a prior post.
Here we are again. Yet another month has gone by and I find myself writing another instalment of “a month in gaming”. And to be honest, I have very little to say in this particular roundup of my gaming activities. I played Star Trek Online throughout February and created a new Klingon character to take advantage of the ongoing Klingon recruitment event. I have managed to upgrade a Tier 5 D7 and kit it out in such a way that it is fairly robust. And I also created a new Jem’Hadar alt, as they start at level 60 and you are provided with a fully equipped vessel and crew. Nothing fancy but it allows you to get into the endgame content a lot quicker. I may write a more detailed blog post about this at some point. I also played a lot more Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout as my granddaughters came to stay for a week. I have already expressed my thoughts about the mechanics of that game in a prior post.
I briefly dabbled some more with Spiritfarer and Toren. Both are enigmatic and charismatic games which deserve a far more in depth blog post. Sadly due to time restrictions I have not played enough of these two titles to write a proper analysis. What I will say is that they are both intriguing and I wish to return to them as soon as I can. So in default of writing further about what I have been playing, I thought it would be interesting to talk about what I have not played. Because throughout February several titles have appeared regularly in my social media timeline, indicating that many of my friends and peers are playing them. However, due to the genre and type of games they are, I am not. Sometimes, not being part of a shared gaming experience that everyone appears to be enjoying, grants a very interesting perspective. I’ve expressed similar thoughts before regarding World of Warcraft.
Valheim seems to be having a great deal of success at present. This game only appeared on my radar when many of my fellow bloggers started writing about their experiences. At first I thought it was an MMO but as soon as I realised it was a survival and crafting driven title, I quickly decided it was not for me. However, it was pleasant to see it inspiring so many blog posts. These were not only very enlightening but a timely reminder that my fellow bloggers have diverse tastes and we don’t all enjoy the same thing. The other game that has come up a lot is Outriders. The playable demo has attracted a lot of attention and many are surmising that with the demise of Anthem, this title may well find a gap in the market at exactly the right time. Again, this new game is not for me, as I don’t think it offers a shred of originality. I also think my six month stint playing Call of Duty Warzone has fully scratched my “pew pew” itch.
If I had a close group of friends that I regularly played co-op games with, then Outriders may well be a more exciting prospect. I would be far more forgiving of the generic nature and aesthetics of the title. But I haven’t really had access to that sort of online social gaming network for a decade or more and I suspect I don’t have the time to play that way anymore. Valheim has aspects that interest me but I just cannot muster any enthusiasm about resource management in games. I just don’t find that sort of thing exciting. As for tracking game related data via a spreadsheet, well that’s Kryptonite to me. However, I have happily embraced the concept that some games aren’t for everyone. You can’t like everything or play everything. It’s fine not to be part of the latest “thing”. In fact getting that particular monkey off your back is especially liberating.
So what have I got scheduled for March, gaming wise, I hear you say. Well the idea of buying a Nintendo Switch is back on the table. My granddaughters are going to be six in July and they like simple, brightly coloured and “fun” games. Well Nintendo has all that in spades so I may buy a Switch for reasons of suitability and inclusion. They like to watch me play The Elder Scrolls Online but I have reservations about its appropriateness after one of them asked about the “lady with the burnt face and big boobies”. A regime of Mario and Pokemon may be a better idea at present. I also remembered recently that I have the game of the year version of Horizon Zero Dawn. Perhaps I should make time for that in March as I haven’t played a RPG for a while. I suspect that Standing Stone Games will release the next update for The Lord of the Rings Online soon, so it will be nice to return to Middle-earth and touch base with my kin mates. Let’s see what happens in the next 31 days.
LOTRO: Producer Q&A 2021
Executive Producer Rob Ciccolini (AKA Severlin) made a surprise appearance on the latest The Lord of the Rings Online livestream this week and conducted an impromptu Q&A with those viewing. As ever it did not contain any major revelation regarding the long term plans for the game but it did include some interesting nuggets of information. The fact that he engaged with players is a talking point in itself. Communication has been a major complaint from LOTRO players for several years now. Perhaps the negative PR from last year regarding the server outages and the so called “mini expansion” have finally appeared on senior staff’s radar. The fact that LOTRO has a new owner may also have contributed to this “revised” approach to community relations. Here is a breakdown of what Rob Ciccolini had to say, courtesy of Massively Overpowered:
Executive Producer Rob Ciccolini (AKA Severlin) made a surprise appearance on the latest The Lord of the Rings Online livestream this week and conducted an impromptu Q&A with those viewing. As ever it did not contain any major revelation regarding the long term plans for the game but it did include some interesting nuggets of information. The fact that he engaged with players is a talking point in itself. Communication has been a major complaint from LOTRO players for several years now. Perhaps the negative PR from last year regarding the server outages and the so called “mini expansion” have finally appeared on senior staff’s radar. The fact that LOTRO has a new owner may also have contributed to this “revised” approach to community relations. Here is a breakdown of what Rob Ciccolini had to say, courtesy of Massively Overpowered:
There are plans for LOTRO continuing for a decade and more: “We want it to go on forever.”
A spotted leak of a “landscape difficulty NPC” is part of a project to let players increase the challenge level while questing, but that’s still in the works for all servers.
The Wildwood content update is cool because it fills out content in the mid-levels but has missions for endgame players.
“The more we round out the map in development, the more it feels real.”
Again, Gundabad expansion is confirmed for later this year with a continuation of the main storyline.
The Guardian class update and tank class balance changes are “ongoing.” But a lot of the attention from the class team is focused on the Brawler right now.
No teasing on the Brawler just yet. It’ll probably be part of the pre-order for Gundabad. “Doing a new class is a big deal!”
The studio would love to do more racial housing, but nothing immediate. Definitely not before the expansion.
There will be Update 30 in the summer before Gundabad. It will be an endgame patch that includes a smaller raid. It’ll be handled as a normal quest pack.
There is no release date for Wildwood yet. It’ll be a regular quest pack that’ll be free for VIPs.
He feels communication is “improved,” which is why he’s doing these Q&As.
There will be more talk about “modest changes” for PvMP coming in the producer’s letter.
Producer’s letter is almost ready and will be here within the month.
LOTRO market gifting is coming in the near future, but there is no ETA for it yet.
Scrolls of Empowerment controversy: The team wants players to stay at their level of content rather than going back to farm easier spots.
Apologized for the delay on legendary item revamp, as it’s gotten delayed twice now for different reasons. They are excited to do it, want to do it, but it’s slow in coming because of how much engineering resources it’ll take.
Look for the legendary item revamp “later this year” that will include UI changes. The time frame for this depends on what engineering says when they get in there. They just want one system from level 50 onward that’ll make for leveling alts better.
Transferring from closed game worlds will be happening in “the near future.”
River-hobbits are confirmed to be an upcoming race, but don’t expect to see it until 2022.
They are aware of attack speed and animation issues, but they have to deal with this carefully and delicately since it affects so much.
There are possible plans to create a level 130 Valar boost, but this is not confirmed yet.
No further plans to expand LUA support.
The anniversary event is indeed coming.
The team wants to put more resources into crafting, possibly after Gundabad.
There is more work being done to reduce server lag, especially during raids. New chat server hardware is being worked on.
Kinship revamps are on the list, not at the highest priority but it’s there.
SSG has no plans for Europe-based servers as it doesn’t have the resources to support both.
The studio “learned a lot of lessons” from the War of the Three Peaks “mini-expansion” debacle such as giving VIP players more value from these (“We’re not trying to squeeze them,” he said of charging VIP players) and making the more expensive bundles better.
The team wants to give players more ways to get good gear, including essences.
No new instruments are being announced, but it’s definitely something the team loves to do.
The team has discussed a stat squish, but it’s a “big deal” that requires an entire game rebalance. It would also invalidate every single class guide if this happens. Not saying yes, not saying no.
SSG’s goal is to have something fun for players to do “every 13 weeks,” something cool and interesting as 13 weeks seems to be the point when players start to fall away without further stimulation. It’s why the team wants to get out the as-of-yet-unseen Unfinished Tales quests.
There’s a lot of discussion about investing into the engine and graphics of the game. This comes from EG7’s excitement about improving that.
There are more character customization options in the works, perhaps prior to the expansion.
SSG knows that 4K support is heavily requested, but it requires specialists to do it right. They’re looking into the viability of doing that.
SSG has a number of positions open as it is expanding the team.
Scaling UI is something the team wants to do.
The team looks at the player engagement data from patches to help figure out what should be developed in the future.
The legendary servers should be going to level 105 in the next few months.
GMs are getting more tools to help players better and more quickly.
SSG wants to revamp its website, it knows that it is old.
There are plans for more of these AMAs!
There are a few points that I would like to pick up on. Firstly Mr. Ciccolini’s claim that communication has improved strikes me as a little premature. I think we should give this a year to decide if things have gotten better. But at least he has shown up and engaged with the community so it’s a start. Secondly, I am cautiously optimistic about the proposed Legendary Item changes. If the developers can rationalize the mechanics and make the overall system less arcane, then they’ll impress the hell out of me. I still like the idea of a weapon that levels and grows with you as you progress through the game but I don’t want the process to be an insufferable grind. I also don’t want it to be a means to strong arm me into paying unnecessarily. It is unethical and frankly insulting to artificially create a grind and then monetise the very means to escape it. Thirdly, I am definitely interested in a level 130 Valar boost. I have several alts I want to progress but don’t wish to drag through Mordor.
However some of the other issues discussed are a little more nebulous and I suspect will be difficult to address without a lot of financial investment and the employment of specialist staff. Tinkering with graphics and upgrading the game engine are major undertakings. However, if LOTRO is to remain competitive with other MMOs, a more contemporary visual style along with support for 4K, as well as a scaling UI, would be beneficial. However, let us not forget that some people do not like change. Alterations to the Hobbit run animation along with the last character model upgrade resulted in a small but vocal group of players brandishing flaming torches and marching on the Winter Palace. If changes are made, will SSG be able to offer an option for a “classic” game aesthetic?
I am hoping that Standing Stone Games will be more transparent with regard to their actions in the months to come. I don’t expect to see the details of the corporate balance sheet but I would like to know what’s being planned and how things are going. If problems occur I’d like to be treated as an adult and told that there is an issue. It’s only a small percentage of players that tend to lose their shit when there are delays and frankly they’re best ignored. The rest of us tend to have a positive view of the game and want to get behind and support its ongoing development. Hence I hope we see more of Mr Ciccolini in 2021 and we get a clear road map for the next 12 month soon. Hopefully SSG will be a little more sensitive to player sensibilities and feedback. The whole Scrolls of Empowerment debacle is still present in many player’s minds. I still balk not only at the level locking of scrolls but the fact they put a cap on how many you can stockpile at once. SSG needs to get a lot of things right this year if they want to genuinely repair community relations. Let us hope that process has now officially started.
Fun versus Logic
It’s a curious thing how after a period of time, familiarity with the various rules and systems changes the way you behave in a game. When I first started playing Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout last summer, I would doggedly compete in every game, right the way up to the last second. However, six month later I am far more cognisant of the way in which the game works. There is a counter in the top right hand corner of the screen indicating that only 43 players can go through to the next round. If you get obstructed, delayed or stuck while completing the course there comes a point where you realise that you will not qualify. When this happens I now just stop and wait to be eliminated. It would appear that a lot of other players do the same. The round then ends and you are awarded your points regardless. There is no sanction for failure in Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout as it is not that sort of game.
It’s a curious thing how after a period of time, familiarity with the various rules and systems changes the way you behave in a game. When I first started playing Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout last summer, I would doggedly compete in every game, right the way up to the last second. However, six month later I am far more cognisant of the way in which the game works. There is a counter in the top right hand corner of the screen indicating that only 43 players can go through to the next round. If you get obstructed, delayed or stuck while completing the course there comes a point where you realise that you will not qualify. When this happens I now just stop and wait to be eliminated. It would appear that a lot of other players do the same. The round then ends and you are awarded your points regardless. There is no sanction for failure in Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout as it is not that sort of game.
This example raises an interesting point. Once you know how a process works and act upon that information, it changes your relationship with a game. In this case it turns a fun activity into more of a logical process. That’s not to say I no longer enjoy Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout but my actions in game change according to how well I’m performing. If I get stuck and feel that I’ve lost too much time then effectively I stop playing that round and wish to move on ASAP. Furthermore, there are other examples of players “gaming the system”. At present I am not aware of an AFK penalty in the game. Hence there are some players who wish to grind out the season pass for its various rewards, without the bother of playing. As you get a fixed amount of points, even if you don’t qualify, some will simply stand at the starting line and just wait for the round to end. They do this continuously.
From a social science perspective, I find it interesting the way different players adapt their behaviour in a game, once they’re familiar with its mechanics. Competitive games will naturally attract those who like to excel and win. Shortly after the launch of Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout there was a degree of community pushback against the “try hard” culture that emerged. The question raised was is such a competitive mindset compatible with a game that is supposed to be “fun”. The game was also blighted by cheating for a while although the matter appears to have been addressed by developers Mediatonic. A cursory internet search shows that many players are also driven by collecting all things cosmetics. This may well be the reason for the emergence of AFK players. And then there are those who play for amusement, like myself, who are happy to just progress through the game and season pass at their own pace.
Six months on and I have still not won a game of Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout. The most I’ve achieved is 4 out of 5 rounds. There are strategies and tactics that can improve your performance in the game but there are also a lot of random factors that impact upon the outcome. Although it is only anecdotal data, after reading a few subreddits, it would seem that I am not alone in this. Whenever I play now, I see a percentage of players who go AFK either right at the start of the round, or like myself, when they know they’re not going to win. If I remain as a spectator after I’ve been eliminated, it becomes clear that the same people tend to keep winning. Occasionally, they’ll be a player with a cheat enabled and I’ll see their avatar literally fly to the finish line. All of which seems to suggest that the game’s organic fun is giving way to gameplay driven by logic and a more procedural mindset.
I’m not sure exactly how to articulate this but on some level I feel that there is a flaw at present in Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout. I am aware that it can be cogently argued that there isn’t a problem, that the game is working as intended and people are playing in the manner that suits them. However, consider the following. I may not know for sure if I am going to win a round in Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout but I definitely do know when I’m not going to do so. Combine that with the fact that a player can go six months and never win, there does seem to be a risk of diminishing the incentive to play. Would it not be wise to address this and add some mechanics that showed some random benevolence? If for example you’re getting “Mullered” on a specific obstacle, why not introduce a chance of being ported to the next respawn point? Or why not allow one player to qualify due to “effort” (IE the number of times they failed and respawned).
Naturally, my ideas will not find any favour with the “your playing the game wrong” community and those with an overly competitive mindset. But I would argue that Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout is not that sort of game to begin with. It is a game with an element of competition but it is primarily designed to be fun and amusing. Those qualities need to be sustained by the developers. As the player base evolves, then surely the game design should as well? However, there is one factor in this fun versus logic debate that I haven’t addressed. A lot of people play with friends and I’m sure that adds a very different dynamic to the proceedings. The focus upon fun and competition may shift to your peers, rather than other players. At present I always play alone. Irrespective of this, I feel that Mediatonic needs to keep fun central to the game and ensure that they don’t lose players due to an emerging trend of excessive logical analysis.
LOTRO: Bullroarer Update 29 Wildwood Preview #1
When I heard that Update 29 for The Lord of the Rings Online would be an area between Evendim and The North Downs, I assumed there would be a new zone somewhere above Fornost. Well it pays to remember never assume anything. I logged on to the Bullroarer test server tonight and found that Wildwood (as the new area is called) is actually located in North West Bree-Land. Standing Stone Games have developed what was previously an inaccessible part of the Bree-Land and created an interesting new region. It maintains the existing idiom of the overall zone with regard to aesthetics and mobs but from what I have seen the PVE content available is pitched at level 45 or thereabouts. It would appear that there is an NPC based at the Trestlebridge Gate who offers level cap Missions that take place in the new area.
When I heard that Update 29 for The Lord of the Rings Online would be an area between Evendim and The North Downs, I assumed there would be a new zone somewhere above Fornost. Well it pays to remember never assume anything. I logged on to the Bullroarer test server tonight and found that Wildwood (as the new area is called) is actually located in North West Bree-Land. Standing Stone Games have developed what was previously an inaccessible part of the Bree-Land and created an interesting new region. It maintains the existing idiom of the overall zone with regard to aesthetics and mobs but from what I have seen the PVE content available is pitched at level 45 or thereabouts. It would appear that there is an NPC based at the Trestlebridge Gate who offers level cap Missions that take place in the new area.
Before I discuss this specific quest arrangement, I would like to talk briefly about Wildwood. If you ride North along the Greenway towards Trestbridge, there is a turning to the left of the road once you get just beyond the Orc camp where Rob Thornley is held hostage. This road bears West above the Cirith Nur Orc camp and then the terrain opens out into a wooded and grassland region that is Wildwood. Like most of Bree-Land, the area is blighted by Ruffians and Poachers. Due to its close proximity to Evendim, there are also Tomb Robbers along the banks of the Brandywine. You will find Orcs occupying the old Dunedain ruins of Norwarden and Overwine Hall. Wargs congregate around the aptly named Gnawbone Pit. There is also a village that has been overrun by bandits called Cotfast. There are two mines in the new area called West and East-delf, both of which are occupied by bandits. In the depths there is the cavernous area of Writhenset, complete with spiders and a maze of web tangled tunnels.
An old Watch Tower, Sutwarden that overlooks lake Starmere. The lake flows out into the Brandywine through the Brandy Hills. There is another Dunedain ruin called The Old Bluff-house. Again this is rife with Wildwood Assailants. Tucked away in the farthest top left hand corner of Wildwood is a rickety rope bridge, Marl’s Crossing, that straddles the river that separates this new zone from the North Downs. It is held by Half Orcs and at present cannot be crossed. Even if it could it would lead to a part of Evendim that is currently inaccessible anyway. In many ways this highlights the unusual nature of Wildwood. It is surrounded by older areas which are designed to be level 20 to 30. For example the Brandy Hill Ruins and the home of Svalfang The Stone Giant abut closely to the Wildwood. So players with low level alts will have to tread carefully when in the area, less they stray into mobs with a higher level.
The main quest hub for the new area appears to be Trader’s Wharf which is on the Eastern banks of the Brandywine river. A group of adventurers and traders are attempting to reclaim the Wildwood from the various bandits and poachers. There’s a reputation quartermaster and other traders, along with the obligatory weeping NPC, who in this case is a Hobbit. According to the notes on the official forum, it is here that the quest to explore the Wildwood can be started. The new zone can also be approached from Trestlebridge which now has a Western entrance and a road that runs out into the new area. It is at Trestlebridge Gate House that you can find the NPC that bestows content for players at level cap. It would appear that these are specifically Missions and therefore are designed for solo or duo players. I tried several of these and found them to be broadly similar to those found in War of Three Peaks.
Wildland is not a huge new area but I must admit, I like the fact that SSG have opted to develop an unused area of an existing and much beloved zone. Bree-Land is one of the oldest regions in LOTRO and it is nice to see a new area that maintains the existing idiom. There are a few oddities at present which may be placeholder content. It is somewhat incongruous to find a Moose in such an area. I am also intrigued by the Wandering Jorthkyn that I encountered. Naturally I will complete the PVE content when it is formally released, although being level 45 it will offer no tangible benefits apart from the story. And I must say I am far from thrilled that the only level cap content on offer are Missions, which I am not especially enamoured with. Overall the scope of this update, which is apparently going to be free, is somewhat reduced compared to previous releases. I suspect the pandemic is to blame for this. It will be interesting to see how the community receives Wildwood and whether Missions are popular or not.
NB. The Bree-Land Map been updated to reflect the new area of Wildwood. SSG have also revised the maps for The Shire and Ered Luin.
MMO Tropes: The Hero
If I may quote myself “The MMO genre is rife with its own set of tropes; recurring themes and motifs that have become established and ubiquitous. All of which are ideal material for a hastily produced, lazily conceived, recurring blog post”. This time round, I would like to discuss the following. The Hero, the Chosen One, the Übermensch. As that is the role that we so often are assigned in this genre. Developers broadly assume that most players want a power fantasy and precious little else is on offer. Hence we find ourselves in a story in which we are destined to do great deeds in a virtual world, whether we wish to or not. I can see the superficial appeal of such a conceit. Most of us are not such overachievers in real life. So a game in which we get to do stuff to the world, instead of the world doing stuff to us has an inherent allure. But like most MMO tropes, unless it is implemented with some panache and creativity, it quickly becomes a tiresome cliche.
If I may quote myself “The MMO genre is rife with its own set of tropes; recurring themes and motifs that have become established and ubiquitous. All of which are ideal material for a hastily produced, lazily conceived, recurring blog post”. This time round, I would like to discuss the following. The Hero, the Chosen One, the Übermensch. As that is the role that we so often are assigned in this genre. Developers broadly assume that most players want a power fantasy and precious little else is on offer. Hence we find ourselves in a story in which we are destined to do great deeds in a virtual world, whether we wish to or not. I can see the superficial appeal of such a conceit. Most of us are not such overachievers in real life. So a game in which we get to do stuff to the world, instead of the world doing stuff to us has an inherent allure. But like most MMO tropes, unless it is implemented with some panache and creativity, it quickly becomes a tiresome cliche.
In The Lord of the Rings Online, upon creating a new character and entering Middle-earth, you soon find that even the most humble and parochial of Hobbits is destined for an epic adventure of the utmost importance. Due to the nature of the lore you cannot be an active member of The Fellowship of the Ring but your paths frequently cross. And you are revered as you progress through the game, as your fame and renown proceeds you. It’s hardly a low key affair. In Star Trek Online, your Federation character rapidly rises through the ranks of Starfleet, after you are forced to take charge in a crisis during your maiden voyage. The Klingon storyline takes an alternative approach with your avatar challenging the ship’s Captain to single combat after you discover their treachery. And in The Elder Scrolls Online, if you elect to follow the original primary storyline, you become the Vestige, empowered with unique abilities as a result of the temporary loss of your soul. Get you.
Although these examples all work within the internal logic of their respective games, they are all rather formulaic. After a while, if you’ve played several MMOs, then the archetype of the predestined hero becomes rather dull and at times actively annoying. But it is easy to understand why this narrative construct prevails in gaming. Because it is already the default setting of so much fantasy literature, film and television. Power fantasies per se are a mainstay of our popular culture, providing both the moral and ethical rectitude that is so sadly lacking in real life. In an MMO the bad guy will be dealt with and justice will be served, where in reality they tend to die in their own beds, rich and content while their victims scream into the abyss. Furthermore, power fantasies tend to be driven by robust archetypes who wield power justly. Hence it is John McClane the cop who defeats the terrorist by using force and cunning in Die Hard, rather than Colin McTavish, the junior photocopy clerk, who works in the administrative department of a small company making stilts for Dachshunds.
However, not every player wants to be a dashing hero or is comfortable with a never ending litany of quests and missions that are predicated upon mass murder and destruction. MMO players often revel in the low key fun of crafting, farming resources and trading on the auction house. In fact some will argue cogently that they desire a game where they can progress just by pursuing benign and benevolent activities such as being a jeweller or armorsmith. Every now and then, I am delighted when I read about a gamer who has managed to play through an MMOs by crafting or some other non-stabby and murderous means of progression. Sadly, this is not always possible or if it is, the player hobbles themself by missing out on vital drops or skills points that are gated behind story content. It’s a shame that game developers have not been more proactive in catering to players that desire a non heroic role. Some gamers are perfectly content with the prospect of just being an average citizen in a virtual world, as they are in real life.
I think one of the measures of a good MMO is how much choice it offers its players. The more the better. Given the complexity of branching narratives that contemporary games can support, it would be intriguing to see an MMO built upon such a system. I like the idea of being a foot soldier who can participate in battles but your personal actions directly affect career progression. If you just hold your position and fight the enemy then you’ve done your job. If you seek out additional tasks and risk, then you increase further in rank and responsibilities. This way you can seek to be a hero or choose to remain less assuming. And why not let players be a chef, a farmer or a quantity surveyor? There is scope for inventive gameplay within such disciplines. Instead of seeking the Sword of Kagnazax your goal could be the Mixing Bowl of Sha Ka Ree or the Trowl of House Harkonnen.
At present, the hero character is the default setting of the MMO genre and as such it must be endured by the player. And like most tropes common to the MMO genre, it is more of a means to an end, rather than something to be over analysed and dissected. Because if you do the latter, the logic of it all somewhat falls apart. It makes for an awkward situation when you swagger into a tavern, expecting to live large on your reputation as the bane of the foul Marmidons and vanquisher of the Nibble-Pibblies, only to find that everyone else present has done exactly the same. Too many cooks and all that. Plus who really wants to live in a virtual world, filled with nothing but heroes and over achievers? Nothing mundane or normal would ever get done. Who is going to deal with the blocked drains in the Lion’s Arch or treat Ultan Foebane’s haemorrhoids?
A Month in Gaming
I last wrote A Month in Gaming post in December. Quite a lot has changed over the last two months. I have abandoned Cyberpunk 2077 as it has totally failed to hold my interest. I just couldn’t get on with the first person perspective. I also stopped playing Neverwinter, despite the game having many appealing elements. Sometimes, when you start an MMORPG that has been running for years, you feel so “behind the curve” that the prospect of catching up with everyone at the endgame is too daunting. And because the Call of Duty franchise has a yearly lifecycle, a new iteration of the game was released in November. Black Ops Cold War subsequently replaced the reboot of Modern Warfare and a lot of the new games content subsequently bled through in the free Battle Royale version. I’d been playing Warzone since last April and it was beginning to get a little stale. So I didn’t buy the latest Battle Pass and decided to move on. And then there’s The Lord of the Rings Online. Let it suffice to say I have completed as much of the latest “mini expansion” as I require and the game is now “on hold”.
I last wrote A Month in Gaming post in December. Quite a lot has changed over the last two months. I have abandoned Cyberpunk 2077 as it has totally failed to hold my interest. I just couldn’t get on with the first person perspective. I also stopped playing Neverwinter, despite the game having many appealing elements. Sometimes, when you start an MMORPG that has been running for years, you feel so “behind the curve” that the prospect of catching up with everyone at the endgame is too daunting. And because the Call of Duty franchise has a yearly lifecycle, a new iteration of the game was released in November. Black Ops Cold War subsequently replaced the reboot of Modern Warfare and a lot of the new games content subsequently bled through in the free Battle Royale version. I’d been playing Warzone since last April and it was beginning to get a little stale. So I didn’t buy the latest Battle Pass and decided to move on. And then there’s The Lord of the Rings Online. Let it suffice to say I have completed as much of the latest “mini expansion” as I require and the game is now “on hold”.
Moving on from what I’m not doing, to what I am, Star Trek Online has been keeping me busy and providing the majority of my gaming entertainment. I have also spent some time perusing various online game retailers back catalogues, to see if I can find something new (or old) that interests me. The latter of these activities is an ongoing undertaking and I have not as yet found an RPG or action game that takes my fancy. Multiple titles fill my “wish lists” but for the moment none of them particularly excite me. Fortunately, STO has been the source of my fun over Christmas and New Year. I created a new TOS era Federation Captain last February and I initially played through the bespoke story arc for that faction. I resumed playing this alt over December and focused on getting them to level cap. As the game's content scales to level, I then started playing through all the major stories in order and benefitted from some of the mission rewards being level appropriate.
I won’t spend too much time waxing lyrical about STO here as I have done that in other posts. I will say that being a licensed game of a major franchise does have advantages and that STO can be very “Trek-like” at times. Most of the missions (apart from some of the earliest ones in the game) are fully voice acted, lore heavy and well conceived. As with LOTRO, it’s often the little touches that will raise a wry smile because of some minor canonical reference. For example, there is a Horta hidden in a side passage of a mine in one particular story. If you defeat the Romulans attacking it you receive the accolade “No Kill I”, which is a joy for any Trek aficionado. Replaying through the various stories was a pertinent reminder as to where this MMOs strength lie. Another noteworthy achievement was that I finally saved sufficient funds to buy the 10th Anniversary Legendary Starship Bundle and have finally got a Tier 6 TOS era Constitution Class ship. I love the Jefferies’ Phase II Constitution Refit skin.
Over the course of February I shall continue with STO, especially now in light of the new Klingon Recruitment Event, which seems to have been very well received. I shall also seek out a new game if possible. At present I’m considering The Council, as it’s an investigative RPG with a focus on dialogue, as opposed to an action driven game. I may have a second attempt at Infectious Madness of Doctor Dekker, as I never managed to complete the story last time round. So far, none of the big triple A titles coming this year particularly excite me. But it’s not as if there’s a shortage of good games to play. It’s really just a question of trying to find the right one for you. No doubt I shall return to LOTRO, as and when they have a content update. I still have Fall Guys installed for when my Granddaughters come and visit.
Star Trek Online: Budget D7
The current Klingon Recruitment Event in Star Trek Online is a great opportunity for new and returning players. The revamped Klingon storyline really hits the mark, offering an adventure that is packed to the gunwales with lore appropriate themes and homages. Basically you get to shout Qapla' a lot and while dispatching your enemies with the business end of your bat'leth. You even get to fight alongside Kahless the Unforgettable himself. Cryptic certainly know how to use their license effectively, offering not only a fanservice but a genuinely well conceived narrative. So let it suffice to say, I created a new Klingon alt (choosing a Discovery era Klingon this time round) and have powered through the four story arcs. K’Olin has now reached level 52 and the rank of Lieutenant General. I have benefited greatly by reclaiming gear and equipment that has been account unlocked by other alts.
The current Klingon Recruitment Event in Star Trek Online is a great opportunity for new and returning players. The revamped Klingon storyline really hits the mark, offering an adventure that is packed to the gunwales with lore appropriate themes and homages. Basically you get to shout Qapla' a lot and while dispatching your enemies with the business end of your bat'leth. You even get to fight alongside Kahless the Unforgettable himself. Cryptic certainly know how to use their license effectively, offering not only a fanservice but a genuinely well conceived narrative. So let it suffice to say, I created a new Klingon alt (choosing a Discovery era Klingon this time round) and have powered through the four story arcs. K’Olin has now reached level 53 and the rank of Lieutenant General. I have benefited greatly by reclaiming gear and equipment that has been account unlocked by other alts.
So far I have played through the game using a Tier 6 Qib Intel Battlecruiser that is part of the Delta Rising: Operations Pack. It scales to level and has proven most useful. However, like many STO players, I hanker after the iconic D7. There are currently three Tier 6 variants of the D7 in the game but they are only available from Infinity Promotion Research & Development Packs, Duty Officer Packs and Infinity Lock Boxes. The odds of finding one when opening any of these are low. Alternatively you can buy one from another player via the in game exchange but the prices are impractical. Hence I am not likely to be getting a Tier 6 D7. However, there is a compromise available. It may not satisfy players who like to pursue maximum DPS but for the average STO player, this is a viable solution. Why not purchase the Fleet K't'inga Battlecruiser Retrofit, which is Tier 5 and then upgrade it?
To purchase the Fleet K't'inga Battlecruiser Retrofit, you will need 4 Fleet Modules (which cost 500 Zen each), 20,000 Fleet Credits and access to a Fleet. Your character has to be level 50 or above. Make sure you buy the Fleet version of the ship and not the regular version which is NOT upgradeable. Next you will need a Starship Upgrade Requisition (cost 700 Zen) which will make your ship Tier 5-U. This will increase the hull, add an extra console seat and access to Starship Mastery passive trait system. And then if you apply an Experimental Ship Upgrade Token (cost 1000 Zen) you will add a further ship device slot, universal console slot and the ability to use an extra starship trait. You will now have a D7 with 12 console slots and 4 device slots for the cost of 3,700 Zen. All this will cost about £32 but it’s ultimately a lot cheaper than buying dozens of lock box keys and hoping to luck.
As you’ve probably surmised, I chose this option. For those with much deeper pockets you can always search the internet for third party sellers and buy a Tier 6 D7 for cash. But it will set you back about $190 or so. Frankly, I think the upgraded Fleet K't'inga Battlecruiser Retrofit is the best option for players who want the iconic vessel but aren’t looking for the best stats. This hybrid solution offers a ship with an acceptable hull and if you equip the right consoles and weapons you won’t be underpowered. It will definitely have no difficulty dealing with PVE content. This version of the D7 unlocks 4 skin variants and offers a degree of customisation, so you should be able to get the look you are striving for. So if like me you really want to sport that classic Klingon look then consider this budget option. Don’t let any petaQ tell you otherwise.
Keeping Up
I was a teenager during the eighties and the music that I listened to at the time was a major part of my overall experience. My musical taste influenced how I dressed and sometimes even determined friendships. Going to a gig and seeing music performed live was a major rite of passage. Furthermore, due to there only being a handful of TV channels in the UK at the time, meant that certain key programs were responsible for the dissemination of a broad spectrum of musical genres. Hence, while you waited for a band that you liked to come on, you’d sit and be exposed to a wealth of different artists. Something that tends not to happen nowadays as there is far more choice available. My passion for music persisted throughout the nineties and then began to wane round about the turn of the century. Work and the practicalities of daily life made it increasingly difficult to “keep up”. I used to read the music press and know about contemporary artists. I no longer do this. I often don’t even know what the current Number 1 record is.
I was a teenager during the eighties and the music that I listened to at the time was a major part of my overall experience. My musical taste influenced how I dressed and sometimes even determined friendships. Going to a gig and seeing music performed live was a major rite of passage. Furthermore, due to there only being a handful of TV channels in the UK at the time, meant that certain key programs were responsible for the dissemination of a broad spectrum of musical genres. Hence, while you waited for a band that you liked to come on, you’d sit and be exposed to a wealth of different artists. Something that tends not to happen nowadays as there is far more choice available. My passion for music persisted throughout the nineties and then began to wane round about the turn of the century. Work and the practicalities of daily life made it increasingly difficult to “keep up”. I used to read the music press and know about contemporary artists. I no longer do this. I often don’t even know what the current Number 1 record is.
The last twenty years has seen a major shift in focus of youth culture. The sales of physical media such as CDs have declined and music is now consumed via streaming services or even YouTube. The concept of the album is waning. Consumers favour selected tracks and personally curated playlists, rather than sitting down and studiously listening to all the tracks from a classic album in order. Traditional terrestrial TV no longer commands the audiences that it used to. Streaming TV means we can watch what we want, when we want. Subsequently, younger people no longer make TV such a focal point of their leisure activities. Twitch, YouTube are often their first ports of call for information, news and finding out about the things they enjoy. And then there are video games. A medium that for many is now the major social hub of their online activities. For many, games are where you find out about music and pop culture by the references that exist within them. Traditional mediums are no longer a core facet of their culture. Therefore the following article on the Guardian website came as no surprise. If you’re sceptical, ask any parent who has a child old enough to be enamoured with Fortnite.
I see no point in lamenting these social changes, nor passing judgement upon them. As Spock said “change is the essential process of all existence” and who am I to contradict such wisdom? Being au fait with a particular subject can at times feel like a job in itself. Certainly, keeping abreast of the music I liked felt that way during my teen years. It took time and effort to read the music press and then listen to everything. Plus this interest would then compete with my love of cinema, as both would monopolise large swathes of time. Frankly, reaching an age when I could let some of these things slide was a major relief. Between 2006 and 2011 I worked as an IT contractor and would often find myself in an environment in which a radio would be on all day, often tuned to a generic commercial channel. It is interesting how exposure to such a thing, even if you are not consciously paying attention to it, suddenly increases your familiarity. For a short period I became aware of the UK charts once again.
For over a decade, I have been writing to varying degrees about the video games industry and that has become a focal point of interest and fandom for me. Like music in my youth, this has dictated what I read, what media I consume online and has even had an impact upon the social circles in which I move. Sadly, I find that my excitement for this genre is waning, as it has exactly the same failings as other entertainment industries. And so I find myself once again at a point where I feel it is time to simply stop immersing myself in this particular interest. That not to say that I shall ignore it outright. I shall simply start to slow down my consumption of industry news and stop trying to be aware of all major new releases and industry trends. I shall swap being proactive with reactive. If an interesting nugget of gaming news crosses my path or I encounter a new game that has become a talking point, I shall no doubt write about such things. But I no longer feel the need to spend the first 90 minutes of my day, trying to read dozens of gaming news articles via Feedly.
One of the best lessons anyone can learn in life is that you cannot do everything. Once I made peace with this concept I felt a lot better in myself. Therefore it is not so difficult nowadays to let a hobby or pastime go. I miss podcasting but I cannot see myself fitting all the work it entails into my schedule. At present I have sufficient time to play games, watch movies and read. Those activities provide me with sufficient material to write about. But I no longer feel a compulsion to totally immerse myself into my leisure activities, nor do I seek to be an “armchair expert”. It no longer bothers me if someone mentions an artist that I’m not immediately familiar with. If I’m sufficiently interested then Google will yield an answer. Therefore, I am content to embrace the cyclical nature of fandom, hobbies and interests. I prefer now to savour a bottle of fine wine rather than strive to consume the entire vintage.
