Fear of Missing Out (Again)
On May 20th, John McClane and Rambo were unceremoniously crowbarred into Call of Duty: Warzone as cosmetic skins available from the in-game store. If you felt that your life would be spiritually enriched by such a purchase then it cost about £34 for both, resulting in the community accusing Activision (and not Hans Gruber) of being an exceptional thief. Two weeks later the offer ended and the skins were withdrawn. Those who had missed the proverbial boat were left to cry into their beer and shake their fists at the capricious nature of the gods. Because “fear of missing out” is very real and all leisure industries know this and are happy to capitalise upon it. Never mind children and those adults who have learned to control their sense of compulsion. Capitalism’s reply is simply “am I my brother’s keeper”? Because loot boxes, limited time events and cosmetic products are just surprise mechanics”.
On May 20th, John McClane and Rambo were unceremoniously crowbarred into Call of Duty: Warzone as cosmetic skins available from the in-game store. If you felt that your life would be spiritually enriched by such a purchase then it cost about £34 for both, resulting in the community accusing Activision (and not Hans Gruber) of being an exceptional thief. Two weeks later the offer ended and the skins were withdrawn. Those who had missed the proverbial boat were left to cry into their beer and shake their fists at the capricious nature of the gods. Because “fear of missing out” is very real and all leisure industries know this and are happy to capitalise upon it. Never mind children and those adults who have learned to control their sense of compulsion. Capitalism’s reply is simply “am I my brother’s keeper”? Because loot boxes, limited time events and cosmetic products are just surprise mechanics”.
There is an inherent appeal to being part of something that is currently happening. To be at the cutting edge of something new or at the heart of a major event or talking point. It’s nice to belong, be part of a community and be able to say at a later date “I was there”. If you want to be less generous, it all can at times feel like a throwback to one’s adolescent years and not being excluded from the “in crowd”. One could even stray into the realm of armchair expertise and conjecture about the psychology of FOMO. Is it all part of the ongoing decline of society and the rise of the individual and consumer? Do we long to connect with others or are we just infantilised, emotionally stunted, perpetual teenagers who are incapable of countenancing going without? FOMO is indeed a complex social issue but as a business tool it is as plain as the nose on your face. People don’t like to miss out, so regularly offer them short term deals and watch the money come rolling in.
Is this man missing out or has he been deliberately excluded due to his choice of knitwear?
In my youth, I was often an early adopter. I was enamoured with new technology and would jump in feet first when a new product launched. I did this for a while with video games, often participating in alpha and beta testing and then enduring the iniquities of a bad launch. But I am older and wiser now, having learned the hard way. I’ll wait for an operating system, hand held device or game to be out some time nowadays before contemplating buying it. Let others ensure the bugs, flaws and lack of functionality. Most importantly, I am not fundamentally tormented by the notion that other people are having more fun than me at any time of the day. Doing things I can’t do or can’t afford to do. Because it’s a futile concept that if taken to extremes, will leave you constantly dissatisfied and envious.
A pop culture reference to contracts
Sure there are plenty of people who are currently indulging their personal vices or having a bacon sandwich, while I am not. But there are also people going to bed hungry or being tortured by the secret police, while I am not (although Mrs P does make me take out the recycling). FOMO is very much a first world problem and is very much underpinned by a sense of entitlement. I believe this may be a generational thing as I don’t remember anyone handing me a legally binding contract during my first day of school that stated that I’d always have “everything” and always “get my own way”. Joking aside, for me it is just a practical reality that you can’t do all the things you’d like. Occasionally I will have a pang of envy that I’ve not got that experience of playing World of Warcraft or that I have no association with sports. But these feelings are short-lived. Rather than worry about what I can’t do, I prefer to focus on what I can and therefore enjoy it all the more.
NB: I previously wrote a post about FOMO on 24th of September 2019. When you’ve been blogging for as long as I have some subjects are bound to come around more than once.
ESO: “Where am I and What am I Doing?”
The other day, I was undertaking a daily mission for the Undaunted in The Elder Scrolls Online. I do these to level my companion’s associated skills line. The mission required me to go to a particular delve, set some soul traps and defeat the boss. Nothing unusual there, so off I went. Whenever I go into a delve in ESO, I usually do the quest associated with it. It provides a story and some additional experience points. Thus I arrived in the vicinity of the delve in question and found a note not far away. I read it and accepted the quest assuming it to be the one associated with the delve. To cut a long and confusing story short, it turns out it wasn’t. I discovered this about 20 minutes later when I found myself running around, confused with three separate lots of quest markers on my in-game map. Not for the first time I found myself pondering “where am I and what am I doing”.
The other day, I was undertaking a daily mission for the Undaunted in The Elder Scrolls Online. I do these to level my companion’s associated skills line. The mission required me to go to a particular delve, set some soul traps and defeat the boss. Nothing unusual there, so off I went. Whenever I go into a delve in ESO, I usually do the quest associated with it. It provides a story and some additional experience points. Thus I arrived in the vicinity of the delve in question and found a note not far away. I read it and accepted the quest assuming it to be the one associated with the delve. To cut a long and confusing story short, it turns out it wasn’t. I discovered this about 20 minutes later when I found myself running around, confused with three separate lots of quest markers on my in-game map. Not for the first time I found myself pondering “where am I and what am I doing”.
I have subsequently discovered after conducting some research that the quest I picked up outside the delve was in fact the prologue for the Blackwood expansion. A quest that I would have undertaken at some point but one that I wasn’t specifically intending to do at the time. I’m a bit picky regarding questing in ESO and I’m trying to do the content in narrative order on this particular alt. However, I believe this situation highlights a flaw in the way quests are presented to players in the game. The most obvious problem from my perspective is that there was nothing to indicate on the initial quest bestowal text (which in this case was a handwritten note) that it was for this specific quest chain. Because content scales in the game now, you can travel Tamriel and pick up missions from the original story, regional quests and faction specific missions. Unless you check every quest offered against one of the various ESO Wikis, you’ll find yourself involved in multiple stories and it all gets confusing.
ZeniMax have given quest bestowal a great deal of thought in ESO, as you can pick up the major ones in several different ways. If you miss one NPC you may subsequently receive a letter to prompt you. It’s all rather clever. When you start playing the MMO for the first time, the way some NPC will run up to you to ask for your help is quite exciting. But it gets old very quickly and Stuga, Bera Moorsmith and others soon become very irritating. Another issue I have with ESO is managing quests via the in-game journal. Even when using an addon, it is still difficult to filter and order them in a way that I feel is logical. The easiest way to avoid confusion is to undertake just one quest at a time but that is hardly practical. And don’t get me started on the game’s inability to abandon the redundant Cadwell’s Silver and Gold quests. For a game that excels in many other ways it’s odd that they have fumbled the ball on this basic aspect of MMO gameplay.
I do not have this problem in other MMOs. In The Lord of the Rings Online quests are level specific and there is no scaling of content. Hence you cannot accidently stray into a new zone and pick up a major quest in error, if you’re below the level of content in that area. Star Trek Online has an interesting quest bestowal system where most content is offered by senior leaders of your faction. The player is hailed via subspace communication and the bestowal dialogue is clear regarding which storyline the mission is associated with. The ingame mission journal also has a tab showing what story arcs are available and all of their subsequent missions. It is a far less confusing system and much easier to stay on top of. However, what cannot be cured must be endured, so in the meantime I shall have to be more cautious about what quests I do or do not accept in ESO. I shall also see if there’s a more comprehensive addon for the quest journal.
Thoughts on “Classic LOTRO”
Cordovan (AKA Jerry Snook), Community Manager for the MMORPG The Lord of the Rings Online, stated in the last Developers Live Stream that “the idea of a formal classic (server) is never off the table”. Naturally, this comment has led to a lot of speculation on the official LOTRO forums. Many players by inference have concluded that the original code does exist for the game as it was at launch or immediately thereafter. As you can imagine this has resulted in much debate as to whether a classic LOTRO server based upon the original Shadows of Angmar release could be created. Assuming that this is the case and technically developer’s Standing Stone Games can do this, it raises the question of whether they should or not. Because a classic server is a different beast to the previous legendary progression servers. 14 years has seen a great deal of change within the MMO industry and with LOTRO as well. Let us take a moment to reflect.
Cordovan (AKA Jerry Snook), Community Manager for the MMORPG The Lord of the Rings Online, stated in the last Developers Live Stream that “the idea of a formal classic (server) is never off the table”. Naturally, this comment has led to a lot of speculation on the official LOTRO forums. Many players by inference have concluded that the original code does exist for the game as it was at launch or immediately thereafter. As you can imagine this has resulted in much debate as to whether a classic LOTRO server based upon the original Shadows of Angmar release could be created. Assuming that this is the case and technically developer’s Standing Stone Games can do this, it raises the question of whether they should or not. Because a classic server is a different beast to the previous legendary progression servers. 14 years has seen a great deal of change within the MMO industry and with LOTRO as well. Let us take a moment to reflect.
A classic LOTRO server would differ greatly from the game as it stands today. In the original version of the game the world map was subject to the “fog of war” meaning you had to explore each region of Middle-earth for the map to show what was there. Players did not get a mount until level 35. It cost a lot of gold and was tied to the successful completion of a specific series of quests. Talking of which, there was no quest tracker with quest locations marked on the in-game map. Players were given a broad location such as “visit southern Chetwood” and had to find things for themselves. The trait system was radically different, skills had to be bought from trainers as you levelled and gear came from quests, crafting or players trading via the auction house. There was no barter wallet so storage frequently became an issue. The current cosmetic system also didn’t exist back in 2007, so the level of sartorial elegance was much lower. And perhaps the biggest difference was that the game was still heavily focused on group play and not all PVE content was soloable.
LOTRO in 2007 was very much a product of its time. Clearly, as the forums show us, there is a percentage of the existing LOTRO community that would be happy to play such an iteration of the game. However, it would take a lot of developer resources to bring Shadows of Angmar back in a form that is playable on contemporary PC architecture and hardware. Modern screen resolutions and the need for a fully scalable UI are just a few examples of technical problems that would need to be addressed. Gamers often use World of Warcraft Classic as an example of how an older version of an MMORPG can be brought back. However, a completely different development team was established to achieve this and the project had the financing of Activision Blizzard underpinning it. SSG do not currently have such resources at their disposal. Are their current owners EG7 going to fund such an undertaking such as classic LOTRO server, with its limited appeal, or spend their money modernising the existing game, upgrading the current engine and porting it to console? The latter seems like the more fiscally prudent business decision.
I personally would not be interested in a classic server. I enjoyed the game, as it was back in 2008 when I started playing, by default. It’s systems and mechanics were what they were back then but I cannot in all honesty say that I want to give up all the quality of life improvements that have come to LOTRO since then. Furthermore, I was at a point in my life where I could sink time into an MMO as was required by the genre back then. Those days have gone. I think the most I would ever do in classic LOTRO would be to log in to the game, recreate my existing Lore-master and potter around Bree. I do not think my interest would endure beyond a few hours of nostalgia. If a classic server follows the business model of the existing legendary servers it will require an active subscription for access. I don’t consider that to be worth my while. And then there’s the entire issue of the presence of the LOTRO store in a classic version of the game.
If LOTRO is to survive, it needs to modernise and requires a major overhaul. There are systems and mechanics to fix and some that need to be removed. If EG7 can afford to do this as well as provide a version of classic LOTRO, then so be it. But I don’t think that is the case and therefore I believe the first option is the most likely option. However, this entire debate is yet another example of what I call “gaming myopia”. Some gamers habitually forget that video games are consumer products and not public services. There are dozens of products that have been discontinued during my lifetime that I’d like to see return but the realities of business mean that none of them ever will. Producing classic LOTRO at the expense of the existing game would be a mistake. Churn and new customers are a reality that drive business. Do potential new players really want a game from 2007? I think not.
NB: This subject last became a talking point within the LOTRO community last November. The matter was addressed by SSG developer Jeff Libby (AKA MadeOfLions). Whether Cordovan’s recent comments indicate a policy change or whether he was just talking theoretically, I will leave to readers to decide.
ESO: Choosing a House
This post is not intended as a player housing guide. There are plenty of those available already. Instead, it is my personal musings on the various factors that have determined my choice of player house in The Elder Scrolls Online. In fact, at the time of writing, I have not yet purchased the house in question. It is dependent not only on a large sum of in-game gold but also a substantial achievement. The house in question is Gardner House in Wayrest. As it is a large player house it costs 1,015,000 gold. Alternatively, it can be bought for 5,700 Crowns, unfurnished. If you want it furnished it will cost 7,100 Crowns. I shall not be buying this property with Crowns as it works out at about £36 or so. I think that price is a little exorbitant especially in light of what I want the house for.
This post is not intended as a player housing guide. There are plenty of those available already. Instead, it is my personal musings on the various factors that have determined my choice of player house in The Elder Scrolls Online. In fact, at the time of writing, I have not yet purchased the house in question. It is dependent not only on a large sum of in-game gold but also a substantial achievement. The house in question is Gardner House in Wayrest. As it is a large player house it costs 1,015,000 gold. Alternatively, it can be bought for 5,700 Crowns, unfurnished. If you want it furnished it will cost 7,100 Crowns. I shall not be buying this property with Crowns as it works out at about £36 or so. I think that price is a little exorbitant especially in light of what I want the house for.
According to The Unofficial Elder Scrolls Pages “Gardner House is a large player house in Wayrest. The home has three entrances on the east, south, and west. The eastern entrance brings you into a small courtyard on the north side of the house which possesses a stable at the western end. The house has three spacious floors, a fireplace on the middle floor where all three entrances are and a large open basement. The house is conveniently located near the Wayrest Treasury to the south and the city's writ drop-off location, which includes Rolis Hlaalu, for dropping off Master Writs”. This is all fine and dandy but I’m not after a house in ESO for furniture collections, achievements or role play. I primarily want a house for optimal access to a major in-game hub and for quick and convenient storage. Sadly, the free houses you can claim do not provide this.
Despite having two alts, my main character in ESO is a Dragonknight affiliated to the Daggerfall Covenant. As I now have companions to level, the capital city of Waywrest affords quick and convenient access to the Fighters and Mages guilds as well as the Undaunted enclave. This makes undertaking these three groups' daily quests a lot more efficient. There are also seven guild traders in the city. Therefore it seems practical to have a permanent residence in Waywrest. Housing also offers a convenient location to port to without incurring any cost. Because I am not au fait with the lore in ESO I still often have to pause and check a location when travelling, as I don’t readily know which region towns and villages are. Having a means to leave a dungeon and return to a safe location with storage available is very desirable. I recently bought Fezez the Merchant so I can sell loot on the fly.
So all things considered, the Gardner House is the most appropriate residence for me. The in-game gold requirement is not a problem. I have about 500,000 on each of my three alts. As I’m not buying with Crowns, I do have to complete the Stormhaven Adventurer achievement which requires completing 60 quests in the region. At present I am about halfway through this. Thankfully, I have an addon that marks all available quests on the map so I can see where I need to go to complete the remainder. Furthermore, acquiring this house has provided me with a useful goal to focus upon. I’m one of those MMO players that likes to play through content in a structured manner and work towards a reward or specific target. I chose my house in The Lord of the Rings Online in a similar fashion, based upon its location.
ESO: Companions
The Blackwood expansion for The Elder Scrolls Online launched a little over a fortnight ago. During that time I have become accustomed to having an AI companion. Not only are they an enjoyable new addition to the MMO, they also have quite a significant impact upon PVE gameplay. Both Mirri Elendis and Bastian Hallix can provide robust support and cover a variety of roles. This is down to the flexibility of the skills system associated with companions. Gear requirements are simpler and a lot easier to manage compared to that of your main character. Levelling is driven by XP gained from combat. Thus, if you go questing with either one of your companions they will level accordingly. They also have personal quests associated with them, ensuring that both companions have an appropriate backstory. The rapport system means that it is prudent to be nice to your AI chum or they’ll leave you for a time.
The Blackwood expansion for The Elder Scrolls Online launched a little over a fortnight ago. During that time I have become accustomed to having an AI companion. Not only are they an enjoyable new addition to the MMO, they also have quite a significant impact upon PVE gameplay. Both Mirri Elendis and Bastian Hallix can provide robust support and cover a variety of roles. This is down to the flexibility of the skills system associated with companions. Gear requirements are simpler and a lot easier to manage compared to that of your main character. Levelling is driven by XP gained from combat. Thus, if you go questing with either one of your companions they will level accordingly. They also have personal quests associated with them, ensuring that both companions have an appropriate backstory. The rapport system means that it is prudent to be nice to your AI chum or they’ll leave you for a time.
One of the great ironies of the MMO genre has been the sea change in social gameplay. Over two decades the focus has shifted from group content to solo. Apart from The Lord of the Rings Online, I play most other MMOs conspicuously on my own. However, in recent years there have been occasions when I miss playing with others. The companion system in ESO offers the best of both worlds. There are the practical benefits of having a support character available as well as the advantages of being able to play at a single player’s pace. Whenever I group with other players in any MMO, I always feel obliged to hurry things along and progress from A to B as efficiently as possible. When playing ESO with either Mirri or Bastian, I still get to read the quest bestowal dialogue, pay attention to what is going on around me and potter about in a manner I like. Companions also don’t have to go and “empty their bags” or get their armour repaired.
I also enjoy the various quips that these companions make when you’re out in Tamriel questing. Both have a selection of ambient dialogue, which although somewhat limited at present, break the monotony of combat. I was a little nonplussed when I initially misheard something that Mirri says from time to time. After a fight, she’ll occasionally remark “whew, that was a bit of a warm up”, which I heard as “whew, that was a bit of a wombat”. It took me a while to realise that I had made a mistake and that there weren't any marsupials in the vicinity. But beyond this minor confusion, I don’t have too many complaints about companions per se. They do that thing that all pets do in the MMO genre and every now and then will stand right on top of the thing you’re trying to interact with. But this may well get addressed in a future patch.
It would appear that the current iteration of companions in ESO is not the finished version. Developer’s ZeniMax intend to add further functionality in the future. Many players hope that the companion systems will eventually be as comprehensive and in depth as those found in single player RPGs. Some certainly want the romance options common to BioWare games. I would certainly like more interaction and story content associated with them. For the present, I am content to have the company of both Mirri and Bastian as well as their practical assistance. Bastian I am using mainly as a tank with sword and shield. Mirri is currently using her default bow, although I may use her as a healer for when I go into full melee mode. Finally, I have one small but invaluable pro-tip regarding companions. Change their outfit to something noticeable, as you’ll find dozens of Mirris and Bastians at Dolmens and world bosses. This way you can easily spot yours.
Carpetbaggers, Snake Oil and Video Game Marketing
I am not a great fan of trade shows and expositions such as E3. Nor do I care for the accompanying hype culture that inevitably follows in the wake of all the announcements that are made. Too many gamers are easily seduced by cinematic trailers and promotional videos that contain precious little or no in-game footage. The lack of tangible data and quantifiable facts means that they fill the marketing void with their own expectations and hopes. Sadly, these are then dashed upon the game’s final release, resulting in a backlash of acrimony and perceived betrayal. It is a tediously predictable cycle, yet one that so many paying customers never seems to learn from. The Snake oil salesmen become bolder each year and the consumers more credulous. It’s a depressing, symbiotic, abusive relationship.
I am not a great fan of trade shows and expositions such as E3. Nor do I care for the accompanying hype culture that inevitably follows in the wake of all the announcements that are made. Too many gamers are easily seduced by cinematic trailers and promotional videos that contain precious little or no in-game footage. The lack of tangible data and quantifiable facts means that they fill the marketing void with their own expectations and hopes. Sadly, these are then dashed upon the game’s final release, resulting in a backlash of acrimony and perceived betrayal. It is a tediously predictable cycle, yet one that so many paying customers never seems to learn from. The Snake oil salesmen become bolder each year and the consumers more credulous. It’s a depressing, symbiotic, abusive relationship.
Perhaps the crowning glory of the dark art of marketing is the reveal trailer. These are often utter contrivances that we retrospectively discover have little resemblance to the game they’re promoting (remember Aliens: Colonial Marines?). Alternatively, they are small self contained narratives that trot out all the familiar tropes associated with their respective genre. They may well use footage created by the game engine but there is seldom any tangible game play footage, showing any of the systems and mechanics. The latest video from this year’s E3 that encapsulates this process, is the “official gameplay reveal for the RPG Elden Ring. It shows much but imparts very little information. Not a single genre cliche is left unturned. If you want to decide for yourself, I’ve posted the video below. If you draw up a list of fantasy tropes, you can quickly score a full house if you choose to play stereotype bingo.
Elden Ring has some big names associated with it, being a collaborative effort between game director Hidetaka Miyazaki and fantasy novelist George R. R. Martin. Perhaps that is why the E3 video is so indifferent. Perhaps those tasked with selling the game feel they don’t need to try that hard, because the formula they’ve used in the video has proven to work, time and time again. The media love to establish a standard format. Look at TED talks. Perhaps the biggest validation of this style of marketing is a satirical video put out by Obsidian Entertainment for Outer Worlds 2. It mercilessly mocks the way modern game marketing videos are constructed. Sadly, despite being very knowing, this kind of humour can be a double edged sword. I’m reminded of British comedian Harry Enfield and his character Loadsofmoney. He satirised the “greed is good” mentality of the 80s but ended up being embraced by that very demographic. Similarly, I suspect that gamers know they’re being played by E3 every year. Yet, like some bizarre form of Stockholm syndrome, they actively participate in the process.
“Do Try and Keep Up”
Justin Olivetti posed an honest question on Massively Overpowered yesterday. “Do you have any clue what’s going on in your MMO’s storyline?” he asked and I must admit that my answer varies greatly according to what I’m playing. Yet before I give a more comprehensive response, let me make clear that one of the aspects of the MMO genre that I enjoy the most is its penchant for complex and sprawling narratives. Both The Lord of the Rings Online and Star Trek Online are based upon intellectual properties with in-depth lore and an established canon. I was also drawn to the RPG Skyrim due to its enigmatic story which linked into a much wider history. It was one of the reasons I started playing The Elder Scrolls Online, as every quest seems to have a story that is connected to another. My enjoyment of these dense plots found in the MMO genre stems from my love of reading as a child.
Justin Olivetti posed an honest question on Massively Overpowered yesterday. “Do you have any clue what’s going on in your MMO’s storyline?” he asked and I must admit that my answer varies greatly according to what I’m playing. Yet before I give a more comprehensive response, let me make clear that one of the aspects of the MMO genre that I enjoy the most is its penchant for complex and sprawling narratives. Both The Lord of the Rings Online and Star Trek Online are based upon intellectual properties with in-depth lore and an established canon. I was also drawn to the RPG Skyrim due to its enigmatic story which linked into a much wider history. It was one of the reasons I started playing The Elder Scrolls Online, as every quest seems to have a story that is connected to another. My enjoyment of these dense plots found in the MMO genre stems from my love of reading as a child.
So with this in mind, I believe I am currently on top of the ongoing plot and story elements found both in LOTRO and STO. I tend to have a primary alt in most MMOs that I play and work my way through a game’s content in narrative order. I must admit, at times it has been hard to keep up with LOTRO and I have refreshed my memory regarding the plot and especially characters by referring to the games well maintained Wiki. The game has a habit of bringing back protagonists from early stories. STO is far more episodic in its approach to stories and arcs frequently end in a definitive manner. Furthermore, expansions tend to be themed and frequently dovetail into lore from specific shows. So for example, if you’re familiar with Star Trek: Voyager then it’s far easier to keep up with the storyline featured in the Delta Rising expansion. It also helps with both LOTRO and STO that I play these games regularly throughout the year. Keeping your hand in, so to speak, helps immensely in this respect.
Keeping abreast of the major plotlines in ESO is a more difficult undertaking. Firstly, I don’t tend to play the game with the same regularity as both LOTRO and STO. I return mainly when the yearly expansion launches and then I stick around for a month or two. I came back to the game two weeks ago when Blackwood launched and immediately struggled to recall the various reasons for my quest in Vvardenfell. Fortunately some characters, such as the put upon manservant Stibbons, stick in the mind. However, in my defence it is fair to say that many of the sidequest plotlines featured in ESO centre around the shenanigans of various Daedric Princes. At times it does come across as somewhat repetitive to the casual player. The main stories tend to be far more accessible and have plenty of exposition. Indeed there is even a mechanism in the game where NPCs will give you a plot summary if you need to know exactly what your motivation is.
But let us not forget that my approach to the MMO genre is far from universal. For every player that loves the intricacies and nuances of the story there are those who are totally disinterested by it. They will dismiss cutscenes (where possible) and dialogue windows as soon as they appear. It is also fair to say that not every MMORPG has a good story to begin with. I quickly lost track of what was going on in Rift as the plot seemed very formulaic. I also struggled to “keep up” in Neverwinter for similar reasons. Plus I had no prior knowledge of the franchise associated with that game and I believe having some advance personal investment certainly helps. Overall, I find that persistence is perhaps the best way of following a plot in a game. But as I vary what I play regularly, it can be an issue at times. Judging by the comments left on Justin’s original post, I suspect this is a common issue among gamers.
Enjoying LOTRO Through Others
When you’ve been doing any leisure activity for a long time, there comes a point where over familiarity does become an issue. It tempers one’s enjoyment and impacts upon the way you experience that particular pastime. I’ve written about this situation before with regard to my relationship with cinema and films. More recently it has started to occur with my gaming activities, especially with the MMORPG The Lord of the Rings Online. I have been playing this game since December 2008 and I’ve had a long and complicated relationship with it over the course of twelve years. The game was a mainstay of my life at a time when I was living alone and doing contract work. Hence I had a lot of leisure time to sink into LOTRO and few other obligations whenever I wasn’t working. It was in many ways the perfect time to enjoy an MMO as I could “commit” to it. And so I embarked upon the same gaming journey that many others have taken.
When you’ve been doing any leisure activity for a long time, there comes a point where over familiarity does become an issue. It tempers one’s enjoyment and impacts upon the way you experience that particular pastime. I’ve written about this situation before with regard to my relationship with cinema and films. More recently it has started to occur with my gaming activities, especially with the MMORPG The Lord of the Rings Online. I have been playing this game since December 2008 and I’ve had a long and complicated relationship with it over the course of twelve years. The game was a mainstay of my life at a time when I was living alone and doing contract work. Hence I had a lot of leisure time to sink into LOTRO and few other obligations whenever I wasn’t working. It was in many ways the perfect time to enjoy an MMO as I could “commit” to it. And so I embarked upon the same gaming journey that many others have taken.
Nowadays, LOTRO is very much a game that I have placed on the back burner, so to speak. Having experimented with various alts over the years, I now play a single, primary character (a level cap Lore-master) and only return to the game when there is new content to experience. I enjoy my time in-game but LOTRO is no longer my gaming obsession. Many of my fellow gaming bloggers have invoked an analogy about video games being like relationships, as they do often share a similar course. Nowadays, LOTRO is a trusted friend whom I meet up with several times a year and spend some time together. We tend to cover the same old ground but it is still fun to do. As for recapturing that sense of excitement I felt in 2008, well we all know the expression about how “you can never go home again”. It is certainly relevant here.
However, sometimes what is needed to revitalise a situation such as this, is a fresh set of eyes or a new perspective. And that is exactly what I inadvertently discovered yesterday. During the afternoon, I had my Twitter client open and I noticed that someone was just about to go-live on Twitch TV and that they were playing LOTRO for the first time. This piqued my interest so I joined their stream and then spent the next three or so hours watching them discover the game for themselves. The streamer in question Omar, is obviously a fan of Tolkien and it was therefore doubly enjoyable as he picked a class and race, logged into the game and undertook the initial stages of LOTRO. It was nice to be able to experience this MMO from a new player perspective, especially when he recognised lore references or realised that it was Strider himself who was leading him through the initial quest stages.
I was one of several existing LOTRO players present in the chat channel and hopefully we made ourselves useful with our advice, as opposed to being a nuisance. Sometimes you have to curb your enthusiasm and let people find their own feet. In fact that adds to the vicarious enjoyment that I felt, as I watched someone navigating a new game and the complexities of LOTRO’s systems and mechanics. Omar also comes from a console background and has only recently come to PC gaming. So in many respects he really has jumped into the proverbial deep end. However, he did well and clearly had a good time, which in itself was a timely reminder of how I used to feel when playing LOTRO. And that was a major shot in the arm for my own gaming enthusiasm. It was like when you watch a classic film with someone who hasn’t seen it before and they really enjoy it. Perhaps I should watch more streams like this.
It's Nice to be Playing an RPG Again
I managed to purchase the Role Playing Game Greedfall recently at the bargain price of £15. I’ve had my eye on this particular title for a while. It is not a so-called triple A game but has garnered a lot of critical praise since its release in September 2019. Developed by Spiders, a French game company and published by Focus Home Interactive, Greedfall is set in an ersatz 17th century-style setting and has liberal doses of fantasy. It has a complex narrative which takes a lot of tropes from European history from that era and blends them with classic fantasy elements such as magic and mythical beasts. It seems to have filled the space previously occupied by BioWare games of this genre, having a similar focus on characters and story. To date it has sold over a million copies. I’ve only played 5 hours or so at present but I like what I see so far.
I managed to purchase the Role Playing Game Greedfall recently at the bargain price of £15. I’ve had my eye on this particular title for a while. It is not a so-called triple A game but has garnered a lot of critical praise since its release in September 2019. Developed by Spiders, a French game company and published by Focus Home Interactive, Greedfall is set in an ersatz 17th century-style setting and has liberal doses of fantasy. It has a complex narrative which takes a lot of tropes from European history from that era and blends them with classic fantasy elements such as magic and mythical beasts. It seems to have filled the space previously occupied by BioWare games of this genre, having a similar focus on characters and story. To date it has sold over a million copies. I’ve only played 5 hours or so at present but I like what I see so far.
I can wax lyrical at great length about all the things common to the RPG genre that I like. Such as intricate character creation, involving storylines and complex narrative choices. An open world to explore, builds to experiment with gear to collect and augment. I am also aware that these things are also present in the MMORPG. However, one of the things I enjoy about RPGs is the lack of other players. I was playing The Elder Scrolls Online recently and naturally the new expansion has attracted a lot of new and returning players. Therefore the quest hubs were heaving and it was often tricky to find the required NPC or access your bank. For most of the time, it’s nice to see other players bustling about in the MMO genre but sometimes when you want to concentrate on the game, the constant activity can be very distracting. RPGs offer a haven away from this hubbub and there’s also no world chat which is another blessing.
Greedfall has an interesting story with its feuding factions, governorship of a mysterious island and political intrigue. It immediately made me think of Frank Herbert’s Dune. The 17th century aesthetic is also a good selling point as it ties in nicely with the themes of colonialism. Beyond that I can’t say much as I’m still in the starter zone of the game but I am enjoying many aspects so far. Greedfall has also confirmed another theory that I’ve often thought. That the voice acting is often superior for the female version of the central character. I found this to be the case for all three Mass Effect games, Assassin’s Creed Odyssey and numerous other games. And one of the benefits of picking up a game such as this a year after its original release, is that there are plenty of wikis, YouTube videos and walkthroughs available, should you need any help with quests, builds or general tips.
So overall, I am very pleased that I’ve found an RPG to lose myself in for a while. However, so far I have run afoul of a minor issue found in the RPG genre. I like to explore any new virtual environment I find myself in. This is exactly what I did when I found myself in the starting area of the port of Sérène in Greedfall. So I walked around, opened up the entire map and looted anything I could along the way. Later on, after a few quests I sold all the loot I deemed irrelevant, only to discover later that one was a quest item. I could not return to the location and loot it again but mercifully could buy the item back from the vendor I sold it to. I always think that such items should be protected or flagged as important to prevent such issues. But that’s just me playing in a manner the developers either didn’t think of or assumed wouldn’t happen. But it hasn’t done any long term harm. So it’s a case of onwards and upwards with Greedfall. I hope it can continue to deliver the right sort of entertainment.
When the Game Stops You From Playing
Last night, I finally had sufficient time to log into The Elder Scrolls Online and check out the new Blackwood expansion. The plan was to go straight to the new zone and complete the relevant quests to obtain the two companions that have been added to the game. Unfortunately, life seldom goes to plan as Robert Burns alluded to in his famous quotation. As I haven’t played ESO for a while, I’ve missed several major game updates. Consequently all my champion points have been reset, along with all my skills. So, I had to spend some time trying to remember how my Dragonknight was previously set up. I checked a few screenshots to see what skills were on the hotbars but as they don’t display the name, plus the icons change after morphing a skill, it was tricky trying to reverse engineer my prior build. Eventually I just winged it and managed to blag my way through the two quests.
Last night, I finally had sufficient time to log into The Elder Scrolls Online and check out the new Blackwood expansion. The plan was to go straight to the new zone and complete the relevant quests to obtain the two companions that have been added to the game. Unfortunately, life seldom goes to plan as Robert Burns alluded to in his famous quotation. As I haven’t played ESO for a while, I’ve missed several major game updates. Consequently all my champion points have been reset, along with all my skills. So, I had to spend some time trying to remember how my Dragonknight was previously set up. I checked a few screenshots to see what skills were on the hotbars but as they don’t display the name, plus the icons change after morphing a skill, it was tricky trying to reverse engineer my prior build. Eventually I just winged it and managed to blag my way through the two quests.
Today, I spent some time researching a DPS Stamina build for solo PVE play using a Dragonknight. I further had to refine my search to ensure it was intended for two handed weapons and a bow. Eventually I found something appropriate and copied it as best as I could. Some of the skills recommended I don’t have morphed as of yet. I then made sure I had an appropriate buff from a Mundus Stone, as well as some food that gave my character a stamina boost. All in all, this process took about 90 minutes or so to sort out. I also had to tweak a few addons as these had inevitably got out of date since I last played a year ago. Finally now that these changes have been implemented, I finally feel that I’m in a position to play through the new content. I have had to print out a key map to refer to as I’m struggling to remember what skills are assigned where.
This is the great paradox that comes with the MMO genre. The games are often predicated on complex systems and arcane mechanics. For many players, this is part of their appeal. If you are the sort of gamer that relishes intricate processes and likes to master complicated rules, then good luck to you. Players such as I rely on the likes of you to produce the sort of guides that I referred to today to get my Dragonknight up and running. But not everyone enjoys this aspect of MMOs. MMO monogamy is a thing of the past these days. People come and go, flitting between games depending upon their likes and dislikes. Hence many players will return to a game such as ESO after a period of time away only to find that they’ve forgotten how to play their class or that they’ve fallen foul of a system reset like the one I encountered. In such cases the game often does nothing to help these players, which upon reflection seems counterproductive.
Elite, competent and knowledgeable players do not make up the majority of the player base in ESO or any other MMO. Over the years it has been clearly established that many players do not visit forums, read wikis, research their builds or focus on getting the best gear for their class. They just log into the game and play in a manner that suits them, often just using gear that is given as quest rewards. Skill points are assigned via guess work or random choice. Simply put these gamers are content to potter about in a laid back fashion. Hence if confronted with a major barrier to progress when returning to a game, they will often take the path of least resistance to bypass it. Which is why so many players just roll a new alt when revisiting an MMO after a lengthy absence, as the game does not make it easy to pick up where you left off. The other option is that the player just becomes frustrated that they can’t do the thing they wish to do, logs off and goes and plays something else. Which is not good for business.
If game developers and publishers want to reduce player churn, then they should try and address the needs of the returning players. Often the solutions to the problems that they face are simple. Sometimes a player just needs a brief refresher course in their class skills and such like. This could be solved by having a tutorial that can be repeated at any point in the game. Alternatively having an interactive advisory service associated with all the games systems and mechanics would be beneficial. Something that could be toggled on and off that gives a simple overview when you hover your mouse over an active window. ESO currently provides build and skills advice. Having preset builds that could be applied at the click of a mouse would be the logical next step. They don’t have to be optimal, just sufficient to allow the player to undertake PVE content in the manner they prefer.
Now there will be a small percentage of MMOs players who will balk at my suggestions but I find “git gud” culture and the self flagellating mindset of such gamers both tiresome and irrelevant. If you want to impose some self improvement ideology onto a game for your own enjoyment, that’s fine. But you have no authority to impose your competitive and self aggrandising dogma on anyone else. Video games are ultimately consumer products and as such need to be accessible and accommodating. The player who is not playing due to the games systems effectively blocking them, is a player who is not happy or more importantly not spending money. If they leave in frustration, then that’s effectively a lost sale and in today’s competitive market, that’s an error you can afford to keep making.
EG7 to Consolidate All Titles on its 4Game Platform
EG7 is very slick when it comes to corporate communications. Earlier today the company posted their Q1 Report Presentation and Q&A on YouTube. Although specifically designed for the company’s investors, CEO Robin Flodin stated that he was aware that many gamers watch these presentations and are welcome. However, he did point out that any major game related news would always come via their appropriate outlets, thus making it clear that there was not any consumer information in his briefing. He then went on to discuss how well EG7 was faring financially and even to the layperson, it is clear that the company did very well last year. However, there were two nuggets of information that were interesting from a gamer’s perspective. The first was that EG7 is going to consolidate all of its games on their current 4game platform. The second was that the company was developing a new AAA MMO linked to a major intellectual property.
EG7 is very slick when it comes to corporate communications. Earlier today the company posted their Q1 Report Presentation and Q&A on YouTube. Although specifically designed for the company’s investors, CEO Robin Flodin stated that he was aware that many gamers watch these presentations and are welcome. However, he did point out that any major game related news would always come via their appropriate outlets, thus making it clear that there was not any consumer information in his briefing. He then went on to discuss how well EG7 was faring financially and even to the layperson, it is clear that the company did very well last year. However, there were two nuggets of information that were interesting from a gamer’s perspective. The first was that EG7 is going to consolidate all of its games on their current 4game platform. The second was that the company was developing a new AAA MMO linked to a major intellectual property.
For those who may not be aware, most game publishers have a bespoke platform that allows customers to install and manage all the titles that the company produces. Activision Blizzard has Battle.net, EA has Origins, Ubisoft has Uplay and Good Old Games has Galaxy. Then there are the big digital stores such as Steam and Epic Games which similarly have their own “launchers” as they are known. So it makes sense the EG7 is to add all the titles it acquired when it bought the Daybreak Game Company. When and how this change will happen is not yet known. Will players be required to reinstall LOTRO or DDO also remains to be seen. However, Standing Stone Games’ existing launcher for LOTRO is dated and painfully slow. The other advantages of consolidating all products on a single platform are more effective marketing and dissemination of information. As and when LOTRO is added to 4games, it may well lead to an influx of new players.
The news of an AAA MMO being developed is very intriguing although somewhat vague. Robin Flodin referred to it being based upon “one of the greatest brands in the world”. Whether he was referring to franchises that EG7 already hold or something that they’ve recently acquired is a matter for speculation. As fellow blogger Wilhelm Arcturus pointed out in his post, Daybreak currently has a license for a Marvel game. Or has the recent closure of Amazon Game Studios Middle-earth based MMO, cleared the way for another? Are EG7 considering a LOTRO 2.0 or something similar? Whatever the outcome, things have certainly gotten a lot more interesting since the company acquired DGC. In the meantime let us see how both these two items of news are received by the LOTRO community. The consolidation of LOTRO, DDO and other titles onto the 4games launcher is an especially interesting development and needs to be handled well.
LOTRO: Bullroarer Update 30 - Preview #1
On Wednesday evening, Standing Stone Games made Update 30 The Blood of Azog for the Lord of the Rings Online available on the Bullroarer test server. The preview includes the forthcoming raid The Fall of Khazad-dûm and the continuation of the Epic Story from War of Three Peaks. They are also testing some balance changes to all classes in the game. According to community manager Cordovan “we've had to reconsider the balance of certain major group buffs and debuffs that were overpowered in the context of large fellowships. This has led to the reduction of several of these effects in order to hopefully allow for a wider breadth of class compositions in such content. We are balancing this work by not just focusing on nerfs, but DPS increases and other buffs as well”. As ever with content on Bullroarer, it is subject to change and may be altered further before final release.
On Wednesday evening, Standing Stone Games made Update 30 The Blood of Azog for the Lord of the Rings Online available on the Bullroarer test server. The preview includes the forthcoming raid The Fall of Khazad-dûm and the continuation of the Epic Story from War of Three Peaks. They are also testing some balance changes to all classes in the game. According to community manager Cordovan “we've had to reconsider the balance of certain major group buffs and debuffs that were overpowered in the context of large fellowships. This has led to the reduction of several of these effects in order to hopefully allow for a wider breadth of class compositions in such content. We are balancing this work by not just focusing on nerfs, but DPS increases and other buffs as well”. As ever with content on Bullroarer, it is subject to change and may be altered further before final release.
As I am not part of an active raiding guild, I specifically logged on to Bullroarer to look at the next instalment of the main story. Prince Durin is unhappy with the escape of Gorgar, son of Bolg and the sealing of the gates of Mount Gundabad by Hrímil Frost-heart. He is keen to launch a further assault against his foes, however Glóin hopes that a lesson in history might temper the Prince’s plan. Hence through a clever narrative contrivance, the player experiences the Battle of Azanulbizar in 2799 of the Third Age, through the eyes of Hermáth Stormhammer, a hero of Durin’s Folk. Effectively this is like Mordor Besieged in Update 25 Minas Morgul. This revised map of Dimrill Dale is a cold and harsh zone where the snow falls heavier the higher you climb toward Moria and the Redhorn Pass. As well as PVE quests there are also missions set in Azanulbizar (T.A. 2799).
The new zone extends from the Misty Mountains in the North West to the borders of Lorien in the South East. The entrance to Khazad-dûm is heavily fortified by Azog’s Orcs. A central road runs diagonally through Dimrill Dale, running parallel to the Mirrormere. A further two paths can be found hugging the mountain walls on either side of Dimrill Dale. There are six Dwarven camps in the area, four of which have stables. The major camp is Amdân to the South, on the road that leads to Rohan. You will find Dwarves of many different clans here. Within a short distance of all of these Dwarven camps there are comparable Orc fortifications, which block the roads. There are ongoing battles between both factions in strategic places such as Zirakazhar and Atrad-Zarakh. There are a few wild animals such as wolves, bears and birds in the area. Attempting to pass through the Orc encampments is problematic due to mob density.
As ever, the new zone has a great atmosphere and a suitably rousing soundtrack. There is a rather good preface to the new area in which we witness the history of Thror and Nár and their ill-fated quest to reclaim Khazad-dûm. Thror meets a suitably unpleasant fate at the hands of Azog which then leads to the Sixth War of the Dwarves and Orcs. I tend not to play too much content during these Bullroarer previews but from what I’ve seen the PVE quests are structurally very similar to those in the previous mini expansion. I’m sure that SSG will supply a good story as ever but I am concerned that many of the quests will be repeatable and of the “kill so many things” variety. There will naturally be a new reputation faction to complete and barter rewards. From what I’ve seen, Update 30 The Blood of Azog seems to be standard new LOTRO content. That is not a value judgement but a statement of fact. SSG continues to follow their established formula.
The Alts We Do Not Level
There are many factors that can add to an MMORPGs replayability. Multiple races, classes and factions can all potentially offer a new experience to the player. Some games even have unique stories associated with different types of characters, ensuring that rolling a new alt means that the player doesn’t repeat material they’ve already completed. Many gamers enjoy this aspect of the genre and will experiment with different builds, resulting in a character selection screen filled with numerous alts in various states of progress. However, irrespective of whether you get to experience a new story or if you indeed like the new character you’ve created, there comes a point when you look at your new alts progression and reflect upon the long, long journey to level cap. It is at this point that many alts fall by the wayside. The aforementioned character selection screen is often populated with unfulfilled potential.
There are many factors that can add to an MMORPGs replayability. Multiple races, classes and factions can all potentially offer a new experience to the player. Some games even have unique stories associated with different types of characters, ensuring that rolling a new alt means that the player doesn’t repeat material they’ve already completed. Many gamers enjoy this aspect of the genre and will experiment with different builds, resulting in a character selection screen filled with numerous alts in various states of progress. However, irrespective of whether you get to experience a new story or if you indeed like the new character you’ve created, there comes a point when you look at your new alts progression and reflect upon the long, long journey to level cap. It is at this point that many alts fall by the wayside. The aforementioned character selection screen is often populated with unfulfilled potential.
Some MMOs make levelling a new alt a relatively easy experience. Star Trek Online is very generous with experience points and a player can level a new character to level cap (65) over a weekend if they’re diligent. The Elder Scrolls Online similarly does not make levelling an alt to 50 a chore. Dolmen farming in the Alik’r Desert is an expedient alternative to playing through story content. The Lord of the Rings Online is a horse of a different colour and even though much of the early content in the game has been streamlined for fast levelling, progression can slow down once the player arrives in Rohan. At present the biggest levelling bottleneck is Mordor, which has a massive change in difficulty compared to previous content. However, MMOs are not just about the journey to level cap. As and when you arrive there is the issue of obtaining appropriate gear. Depending on the game this may mean working your way through various reputation progressions to get your hands on what you need or spending a fortune on the auction house. Further reasons why so many alts never arrive at cap.
However, many game developers have a “solution” to these levelling issues. Rather than seeing a mid level alt, languishing in the doldrums as an indictment of their game design, they prefer to interpret it as a business opportunity to sell the player a boost to level cap. Needless to say, such “services” divide the player base. Some see this as a convenience and a way to quickly get a new alt to level cap without the grind. Others see it as a game breaking anathema and a personal slight against their entire life and value system. And then there are those who don’t really give a shit either way. More often than not, if an alt has been abandoned then there are usually good reasons for it. It’s play style may not be to our taste or it may have failed to meet our expectations. Perhaps we didn’t like the associated story. Whatever the reason, once sidelined, abandoned alts are seldom returned to.
So what of my superfluous alts? Well I tend not to have that many. Once I find a class in an MMO that I like, I tend to go all in and focus on it. However, I do from time to time experiment. Currently in ESO I have an Argonian Necromancer, who is just kicking his heels in Shadowfen. I decided to create a new Dragonkinght and take them through the game’s entire story in narrative order. Hence the Necromancer got sidelined. In LOTRO my Dwarf Hunter is loitering around the crafting hall in Bree. Crafting eventually became too complex and so he remains a fixture next to the forge, doomed to stay at level 105. However, things are more fortunate for my new Gorn Captain in STO. He is permanently stationed in the Vlugta Asteroid Field, mining and refining Dilithium ore. It may not be the most glorious of destinies but it beats not being used at all. Such is the fate of the alts we do not level. What do you do with yours?
LOTRO: Password Reset for Dormant Accounts
Here’s a nugget of information that passed under the radar, or at least it passed under mine. The following post appeared on the official LOTRO forums last week regarding resetting password on dormant player accounts. “As part of our effort to keep people's game accounts secure we have reset the passwords for all game accounts that have not been logged into in more than two years. Your game account and all of its data remains intact! In order to log in, you will need to reset your password through the Forgot My Password? reset procedure. To further help protect your account, we also recommend that you regularly update your password details, and never share your password with anyone. If you need further assistance, please contact Account Support”. Cordovan (Community Manager).
“Is it secret? Is it safe?”
Here’s a nugget of information that passed under the radar, or at least it passed under mine. The following post appeared on the official LOTRO forums last week regarding resetting password on dormant player accounts. “As part of our effort to keep people's game accounts secure we have reset the passwords for all game accounts that have not been logged into in more than two years. Your game account and all of its data remains intact! In order to log in, you will need to reset your password through the Forgot My Password? reset procedure. To further help protect your account, we also recommend that you regularly update your password details, and never share your password with anyone. If you need further assistance, please contact Account Support”. Cordovan (Community Manager).
I am not directly affected by this situation as I regularly log in to The Lord of the Rings Online, regardless of whether I am actively playing or not. I do so to take screen captures for posts, check on new content added to the game or to see if there have been any messages left by kinship members. However, I know lots of people who have not logged into the game for 24 months but do not consider themselves “done” with the game. From a players perspective, two years may not seem like an especially long period of time to be absent from LOTRO. Real world events may mean that they can’t play at present or they may be awaiting a specific expansion or some new content. However, from a game developer’s point of view, an account that has been inactive for two years is not only not playing the game but not spending money. Such data must be very telling and certainly must give SSG food for thought.
Dormant, not Dormouse…
I understand why SSG has decided to reset the passwords on such accounts from a security perspective. But I also think that this situation presents a golden opportunity to do some proactive public relations work and marketing. In the past Cryptic, developers of the MMORPG Star Trek Online, would email players with dormant accounts and offer them incentives to return to the game. This would sometimes be a rare ship that wasn't available elsewhere. I’m not sure how effective this approach was but you would see these unique ships in-game and know that it belonged to a returning player. Would it really be too much to ask for SSG to adopt a similar approach and to offer an incentive to those players who have drifted away from LOTRO to return? Alternatively, if targeting lapsed players is too controversial (as there would naturally be complaints from some current players), why not run a welcome back event with benefits available to all? As ever with LOTRO and SSG, such obvious ideas remain conspicuously absent.
Skyrim: 30 Million Copies Sold and a Decade Later
I read the following post over at Kotaku recently, “Skyrim Player Tries To Kill Every Single Living Thing In The Game” and it struck me how Skyrim is still popular with gamers after ten years. Since its initial launch back on 111th November 2011, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim has sold over thirty million copies worldwide, across multiple platforms making it one of the best selling games of all times. Originally released on the PC, PS3, and Xbox 360 Skyrim has been ported to all subsequent generations of consoles including the Nintendo Switch. A remastered Special Edition of the game that was released in 2016 and a VR version followed in 2017. It has proven extremely popular with the video game modding community and currently supports thousands of nds and addons. You can log on to Twitch at any time of the day and find someone playing Skyrim. That is quite a legacy for a game that’s a decade old.
I read the following post over at Kotaku recently, “Skyrim Player Tries To Kill Every Single Living Thing In The Game” and it struck me how Skyrim is still popular with gamers after ten years. Since its initial launch back on 111th November 2011, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim has sold over thirty million copies worldwide, across multiple platforms making it one of the best selling games of all times. Originally released on the PC, PS3, and Xbox 360 Skyrim has been ported to all subsequent generations of consoles including the Nintendo Switch. A remastered Special Edition of the game that was released in 2016 and a VR version followed in 2017. It has proven extremely popular with the video game modding community and currently supports thousands of nds and addons. You can log on to Twitch at any time of the day and find someone playing Skyrim. That is quite a legacy for a game that’s a decade old.
There are lots of reasons why this game seems to have such enduring appeal. In many ways it is a blueprint for the role playing genre. For the sake of brevity, I would suggest the following. Skyrim provides a blank canvas for the character that the player creates. There is scope for a prodigious amount of customisation. The region in which the story is set, as well of the wider world of Tamriel, is filled with dense and complicated lore. Which contributes to the illusion that this is a living environment filled with peoples and history. The game’s combat system supports a wide degree of variety and caters to players with differing taste and skill levels. The central story is engaging and nuanced, rather than feeling like a hand holding exercise. The side quests and associated DLC are also narratively well conceived, rich and varied. And the open world environment packs a surprisingly large amount of content into its virtual 15 square miles. The wealth of mods and addons available also adds to the game’s existing replay value.
There was a time when the sprawling role playing games were a niche market, still driven by stats and random chance like their distant pen and paper game ancestors. Skyrim changed that by making systems more accessible and making story and content king. The open world format is now commonplace and key to the success of tiles such as Assassins Creed: Valhalla the Far Cry franchise. The wider gaming community have adjusted to the complex game mechanics previously only found in the RPG genre because of Skyrim. Players now expect to be able to create a unique avatar and construct hybrid builds. The focus upon complex lore and branching narratives is now a major staple in modern video games. The mechanics, systems and tropes that developers Bethesda created with Skyrim have directly led to more recent games such as The Witcher III. It is a legacy that looms large within the industry.
Fans are an observant bunch. It has been noted that the amount of time that has passed since the release of Skyrim is double that between the earlier instalments, Morrowind and Oblivion. Developers Bethesda are busy with several titles at present but will they mark the 10th anniversary of Skyrim? There has been some speculation from gamers as to whether there will be a full new remaster or some bespoke anniversary DLC. Sadly, it doesn’t appear that Bethesda has any specific plans of this nature. Last May, Bethesda senior VP of marketing and communications Pete Hines said that The Elder Scrolls VI will only be released “years from now” and that another title, Starfield, will be launched first. So it would seem that this auspicious decade will go unmarked officially. However, that is not to say that gamers cannot celebrate themselves and I suspect that there will be a lot of events on Twitch and other streaming platforms. Skyrim has earned its place as a genre milestone and its ubiquity and reputation are thoroughly deserved.
Update. Bethesda Softworks is releasing the Skyrim Anniversary Edition on November 11th to mark the RPG’s 10th anniversary. The Skyrim Anniversary Edition will include the Special Edition version of the game. A remastered release with high-resolution textures, upgraded visual effects, and the Dawnguard, Hearthfire, and Dragonborn DLC. It will also include more than 500 pieces of Creation Club content as well as new quests, dungeons, bosses, weapons, spells, and more. Further details can be found at the Bethesda website. (22.08.21)
LOTRO to End Support for Windows XP
"The Lord of the Rings Online will be deprecating support for Windows XP and earlier operating systems as of June 8th, 2021. All of your characters and progress will remain, and you can continue to play the game by running LOTRO on a Windows 7 or newer operating system. Players who need to can contact Account Support at help.standingstonegames.com. Thank you" Cordovan. If my time working in IT has taught me anything, it’s that once someone has found a computer setup that works for them and that they’re comfortable with, they’ll move heaven and earth to keep it. Not everyone is an early adopter. Not everyone upgrades just because an upgrade is available. Money is also a major factor. £100 may be a trivial amount to one person but a month’s wages to another. Bearing all this in mind, it is fair to say that not everyone upgrades their hardware or software willy-nilly. Hence it is not unusual to find PC’s running Windows XP in peoples homes.
"The Lord of the Rings Online will be deprecating support for Windows XP and earlier operating systems as of June 8th, 2021. All of your characters and progress will remain, and you can continue to play the game by running LOTRO on a Windows 7 or newer operating system. Players who need to can contact Account Support at help.standingstonegames.com. Thank you" Cordovan. If my time working in IT has taught me anything, it’s that once someone has found a computer setup that works for them and that they’re comfortable with, they’ll move heaven and earth to keep it. Not everyone is an early adopter. Not everyone upgrades just because an upgrade is available. Money is also a major factor. £100 may be a trivial amount to one person but a month’s wages to another. Bearing all this in mind, it is fair to say that not everyone upgrades their hardware or software willy-nilly. Hence it is not unusual to find PC’s running Windows XP in peoples homes.
However, Microsoft officially ended support for Windows XP on April 8th, 2014. So I am quite surprised that Standing Stone Games has still been supporting LOTRO on this operating system for so long after it was formally retired by the manufacturer. Considering there have been four further iterations of Windows since XP, SSG are certainly justified in their decision to draw a line under this particular version. Certainly, if the game is to evolve and have the graphical upgrade that has been suggested, along with a port to the current generation of consoles, it cannot be restricted by a requirement to run on older hardware and software. I doubt if they’ll do it but I would be very interested to know exactly what percentage of LOTRO players are still running the game on this operating system. I suspect it may be more than what many people think.
This raises the question as to what players affected by this change will do. A license key for Windows 10 can cost anything from £35 to £140. There are deals to be had from grey market vendors if you search online. However, if you have a PC that came with Windows XP installed, it will be between 12 and 20 years old. Are the hardware specifications of such systems going to cope with the latest iteration of Windows 10? If so, the need to upgrade an operating system could end up as a need to buy a new PC. Will people do that just to play LOTRO? Linux enthusiasts will happily inform anyone with a pulse that it will run on an abacus and that it also supports LOTRO. But not everyone wants to go down such an alternative route. In the meantime, I’ll be keeping an eye on the LOTRO forums to see what sort of feedback this announcement generates and how supportive SSG are of those affected by this imminent change.
A Cyclical Discourse
Two years ago I wrote about how so much of the public discourse surrounding video games is accusatory, partisan and bellicose. It was written in response to a Tweet from game reviewer and YouTube personality, Jake Baldino, who was perplexed at why his hobby of choice was becoming so “shitty”. More recently I touched upon how I appear to be repeating myself with regard to my gaming commentaries, here on this blog. It seems that many of the subjects and talking points discussed via Contains Moderate Peril come back time and time again. Today media pundit James Stephanie Sterling explored the subject of “cyclical gamer discourse” in the latest episode of their topical gaming show The Jimquisition. It’s a stark and rather angry analysis of how the same debates habitually return and that nothing is ever learned from the heated debates associated with them. Sterling ended their 18 minute video with the bleak conclusion that “You have two choices when it comes to game discourse. Repeat yourself or shut up”.
Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Two years ago I wrote about how so much of the public discourse surrounding video games is accusatory, partisan and bellicose. It was written in response to a Tweet from game reviewer and YouTube personality, Jake Baldino, who was perplexed at why his hobby of choice was becoming so “shitty”. More recently I touched upon how I appear to be repeating myself with regard to my gaming commentaries, here on this blog. It seems that many of the subjects and talking points discussed via Contains Moderate Peril come back time and time again. Today media pundit James Stephanie Sterling explored the subject of “cyclical gamer discourse” in the latest episode of their topical gaming show The Jimquisition. It’s a stark and rather angry analysis of how the same debates habitually return and that nothing is ever learned from the heated debates associated with them. Sterling ended their 18 minute video with the bleak conclusion that “You have two choices when it comes to game discourse. Repeat yourself or shut up”.
I tend to cast a wide net, when reading and researching about the video game industry. Hence I visit the official forums and subreddits of numerous games, as well as follow a broad spectrum of industry pundits and members of the commentocracy. I like to keep abreast of games I don’t play but feel are important to the video games industry. I also watch videos by internet personalities that I do not necessarily agree with, because I think that it is important to know what all quarters of the gaming community’s views are. However, the downside of this is that I am exposed to a lot of the aforementioned cyclical discussions and the shit storms that so often accompany them. It is true to say that the term video games discourse is a very broad church with intelligent and informed debate at one end of the spectrum and shitposts, memes, and "hot takes" at the other. Unfortunately, it is the latter which seems to gain the most traction and most publicity. As the old adage goes, man bites dog is much bigger news than dog bites man.
Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
This cyclical discourse ultimately proves that there is a status quo both in the video games industry and among the player base. Sadly that status quo is not a pleasant one and as such it has a negative impact upon the gaming community and the video game industry. Members of both groups, especially those in any sort of community relations, soon tire of being in the firing line. So we end up losing far too many of our brightest and best. I wouldn’t be surprised if James Stephanie Sterling eventually throws in the towel and moves on to pastures new. The question remains, where do we go from here, if there is indeed a next stage to this process to move on to. Unfortunately, I think the answer is effectively nowhere at present. Gamer culture doesn’t seem to accommodate any kind of critical thinking. It’s partisan nature precludes moving on and prefers to pick at old wounds and perceived grievances. Therefore, this cyclical discourse is not going away anytime soon. What can’t be cured must be endured.
LOTRO: Five Things I Do Not Use Anymore
I logged into The Lord of the Rings Online today and started sorting through my inventory and vault on my primary character, which is a level cap Lore-master. After 14 years and a great deal of change, it’s hardly surprising that an MMO such as LOTRO generates so much bric-a-brac and superfluous items. Much of which is obsolete or only of use for a very short period of time while levelling. Much of this junk is linked to wider systems and mechanics in the game that are no longer relevant or at the least are no longer as important to the game as it has grown and expanded. In fact, off the top of my head, here are five aspects of LOTRO that were a big deal at one point during the games lifecycle (indeed some were major selling points) but now are not essential as you progress through the game. Certainly they don’t necessarily have any major bearing upon the average LOTRO player (follow the link for a discussion about this particular definition) with an alt at level cap.
I logged into The Lord of the Rings Online today and started sorting through my inventory and vault on my primary character, which is a level cap Lore-master. After 14 years and a great deal of change, it’s hardly surprising that an MMO such as LOTRO generates so much bric-a-brac and superfluous items. Much of which is obsolete or only of use for a very short period of time while levelling. Much of this junk is linked to wider systems and mechanics in the game that are no longer relevant or at the least are no longer as important to the game as it has grown and expanded. In fact, off the top of my head, here are five aspects of LOTRO that were a big deal at one point during the games lifecycle (indeed some were major selling points) but now are not essential as you progress through the game. Certainly they don’t necessarily have any major bearing upon the average LOTRO player (follow the link for a discussion about this particular definition) with an alt at level cap.
Mounted Combat, War-steed and War Wolf. I can remember when the Riders of Rohan expansion was being touted by then developer Turbine and the concept of mounted combat was referenced as being the alleged Holy Grail among players. All I could think of at the time was that I hadn't asked for it. When it finally arrived it was clunky, with steering your War-steed especially difficult with heavier mounts. For some classes, being on horseback was utterly absurd and far from fun. But what cannot be cured must be endured, so many players just got on with it. However once the expansion was completed I and others never touched this mechanic ever again. Hence I have never bought any further cosmetic items for my War-steed because why would I do that for something I don’t use? My only regret is that I didn’t get much use out of the War Wolf companion that the Lore-master gets through traiting in a specific fashion.
Cosmetic Items. I’ve said it before and I will say it again and again. Cosmetic outfit options for the Lore-master class in LOTRO are very limited. You can either look like Ming the Merciless or Rick Wakeman during his cape fetish era from when he was in Yes. Neither look appeals to me. Despite the fact that the developers added the ability to wear non-class related items cosmetically, a long time ago, there is precious little that looks sartorially appropriate for the Lore-master. So after finding about three outfits that I can live with, I don’t believe I’ve altered my primary alts appearance for over half a decade.
Landscape Soldier. Due to power creep and finally having obtained some good quality gear, I no longer use my Landscape Soldier any more in LOTRO, unless there is a unique situation that requires it. PVE content is manageable (to say the least) and introducing a third party after my pet is unnecessary as far as I can see. Plus, due to their chaotic AI and poor handling, Landscape Soldiers are an extremely blunt tool. Considering how useful (and fun) companions are in Star WarsThe Old Republic as well as your away team in Star Trek Online, it’s a shame that LOTRO got saddled with such a less versatile equivalent.
Food, potions and other consumables. For most PVE content in LOTRO, my current stats are sufficient to see me through. Occasionally an instance may require a boost of some kind. If that is the case, the consumables that come from Hobbit Presents will do the job. Older iterations of food, potions and such like become obsolete rather quickly due to the speed of levelling and it is easy to clutter your bag with items you don’t need. For me and the manner in which I play LOTRO at, these items are not required. Raids are a different matter but again, is that really an issue for the average LOTRO player?
Crafting. Most of the people that I know who craft regularly in LOTRO, do so for pleasure. They enjoy the process as a relaxing experience. Crafting used to be quite a lucrative activity as well. Sadly, the crafting system in the game today is bloated, so those who have kept up to date and reached the required level of competence can just about stay on top of it and create gear for themselves. You simply don’t see much low level crafted gear on the auction house anymore. I will craft during the early levels of the game as it can provide a good additional source of XP. But sooner or later, it becomes too much of an unwieldy mechanic to maintain. Again, for a player such as I, avoiding crafting at the endgame is not in any way an impediment. Good gear is available elsewhere in her game.
Now I fully expect many people reading this to disagree and extol a contrary opinion. That’s fine with me if that is the case. In some respects it means that you’re getting more value out of this ageing MMORPG than I am. However, I’m sure I am not unique in my outlook. Perhaps the longevity of LOTRO is indeed part of the problem, along with a development team that always has more work than staff. Hence, older reputation faction currencies are left to languish in player’s barter wallets, effectively worthless beyond their designated level. The enjoyment of fishing becomes somewhat strained by level cap and the other hobbies touted to be added to the game remain conspicuously absent. I live in hope that Standing Stone Games will address these issues but I suspect that as time goes by yet more items will be added to the list of “things I do not use anymore”.
XCOM 2: Blogger Succession Game
Here’s a fun idea. Take a single player game, preferably one that has clearly delineated missions or activities, then play for a designated period of time or until a round or task has been completed. Finally, save the game and pass on the save file to the next player. This is exactly what Naithin over at Time to Loot has done. This the second succession game he’s organised and the first that I’ve participated in. The original was a communal play through Civilisation VI. I passed on that because I am not au fait with this sub-genre of RTS games. However, this time round we’re playing XCOM 2 which is more to my liking. I played The Bureau: XCOM Declassified a few years ago and enjoyed it, so I was happy to give this succession game a try. Furthermore, the group playing are all fellow bloggers who hangout on the Blaugust Discord server, so that adds to the enjoyment. So today, I copied and installed Naithin’s save file and fired up XCOM 2.
“Try and look interested , everyone”
Here’s a fun idea. Take a single player game, preferably one that has clearly delineated missions or activities, then play for a designated period of time or until a round or task has been completed. Finally, save the game and pass on the save file to the next player. This is exactly what Naithin over at Time to Loot has done. This the second succession game he’s organised and the first that I’ve participated in. The original was a communal play through Civilisation VI. I passed on that because I am not au fait with this sub-genre of RTS games. However, this time round we’re playing XCOM 2 which is more to my liking. I played The Bureau: XCOM Declassified a few years ago and enjoyed it, so I was happy to give this succession game a try. Furthermore, the group playing are all fellow bloggers who hangout on the Blaugust Discord server, so that adds to the enjoyment. So today, I copied and installed Naithin’s save file and fired up XCOM 2.
I found the mission “Operation Bone Shriek” waiting for me. Mercifully it was not a time sensitive undertaking. I’m not a fan of timed missions as I find the constant nagging by the NPCs to be annoying. The objective was to secure and protect a transmitter and neutralise all enemy targets because of “reasons”. I didn’t change the existing squad and proceeded with the established line up which consisted of Unwise “UnwiseOwl” Owl, Rakuno “Three” Venmuel, Lizz “Magi” Winterfield and Easha “Silentdeath” Dustfeather. Yes the squad has been named to reflect those playing the game. On arrival in Kansas City, I deployed my squad around the area I surmised the enemy to be. I tried to follow the classic Zulu tactic of “impondo zenkomo” (Buffalo Horns). However it all went tits up quickly when my specialist ran straight into a Sectoid. He panicked after a psionic attack and my strategy rapidly changed from being proactive to reactive.
“The horror…”
To cut a long story short (insert Spandau Ballet gag here) I tried to place my sniper on a building top and the grandier inside the same structure to provide suppressing fire, while the specialist and ranger flanked the ADVENT reinforcements. Like so many plans, it was great on paper until reality decided to ruin everything. I guess it's either a game mechanic or due to the fact that the squad hasn’t that many skills at this stage but damn, they do seem to miss a lot of close range shots. Mind you so do the bad guys and I guess that is what saved my bacon. That and the judicious use of fragmentation grenades. Sadly, my specialist took cover behind a truck which caught alight during a firefight. Tragically, he was unable to withdraw in time and was killed in the resulting explosion. However, this marked a turning point in the proceeding as the squad, motivated by his untimely demise, proceeded to mop up all remaining enemies and secure the target.
“Man down”
With the mission over, the squad returned to base and I promoted those who had distinguished themselves in combat. Lizz “Magi” Winterfield and Easha “Silentdeath” Dustfeather both received promotions and new skills. Lizz “Magi” Winterfield also gained a laser sight weapon upgrade. Not that they’ll be using it any time soon as they were gravely wounded in the mission and need 8 days to recover. But such is war, so everyone then went to the bar to drink to the memory of their fallen comrade, Unwise “UnwiseOwl” Owl. I ensured that there was a fitting epitaph left under their memorial. I then started some research and undertook a scan which yielded some new recruits. A new mission then popped, so having completed my turn, I saved the game and breathed a sigh of relief. My first mission wasn’t a complete disaster but I was kind of disappointed that a squad member had died. I hope they didn’t have any library books that needed to be returned.
“Lest we forget”
I find that whenever I volunteer to participate in a group undertaking, at some point I always consider “have I done the right thing”? I had a key for XCOM 2 from some iffy bundle I bought from the online version of “a bloke in a pub”, so I was initially concerned that I may not be able to install the game. That proved not to be the case, although I only have the base version of the game and there were some minor issues surrounding that. My next worry was that I didn’t want to embarrass myself with a truly heinous play through. Naithin uploaded his session to YouTube. I could have done the same but decided not to. Never voluntarily give people a stick which they can then beat you with. However, my doubts proved irrelevant and really enjoyed this succession game. I shall be interested to see how everyone else fairs. Hopefully they’ll have as much fun as I did. Rumours that there’s a pool as to whose namesake dies next are totally unfounded.
LOTRO: EG7 Community Update
Last December EG7 announced that it had purchased Daybreak Game Company and its portfolio. It subsequently became apparent that DGC was not just the publisher for Standing Stone Games but in fact their owner. Something that many players had suspected for a while. After an investor briefing was published, it became clear that EG7 were not just another corporate body out to asset strip and make a fast buck but were in fact genuinely interested in growing and improving the games that they now owned. For players of the MMORPG The Lord of the Rings Online, a wave of cautious optimism spread throughout the community. Hints at a graphical overhaul for the game and a potential console conversion were well received. Further news and specific details have been eagerly anticipated.
Last December EG7 announced that it had purchased Daybreak Game Company and its portfolio. It subsequently became apparent that DGC was not just the publisher for Standing Stone Games but in fact their owner. Something that many players had suspected for a while. After an investor briefing was published, it became clear that EG7 were not just another corporate body out to asset strip and make a fast buck but were in fact genuinely interested in growing and improving the games that they now owned. For players of the MMORPG The Lord of the Rings Online, a wave of cautious optimism spread throughout the community. Hints at a graphical overhaul for the game and a potential console conversion were well received. Further news and specific details have been eagerly anticipated.
Yesterday, EG7 published a press release as well as a YouTube video, in which CEO Robin Flodin discusses what the company has been doing for the last 4 month in relation to its current portfolio of games. The written statement is somewhat broad in its scope and conciliatory in its tone. Robin Flodin uses a lot of management speak. That is not necessarily a bad thing. We all use the terminology of the industry that we work in. However, it is far from vague and does indicate how EG7 see their role and what their future remit is. “Many of these games, while successful and continually supported, have had their unique challenges. Many of these challenges are long standing and important, but due to their scope or other situations, haven’t been feasible to address. All of us want this to change”. He then further states “I want to assure you that this effort is a priority for me, EG7, and Daybreak. We have been listening to the community feedback and to all of your questions and concerns. This is an ongoing effort and as we make progress, the goal is to develop specific plans to create an even better game experience for all of our players”.
The video is a little more specific and proves illuminating as to the company’s policy and approach. Here Robin Flodin makes some direct comments about the company's intent. “We’re trying to make these companies better. We’re trying to help them improve in areas where we think we can create value”. He admits where they feel DGC has gone wrong which is a candid and unexpected statement of fact. He references mistakes made with the handling of H1Z1 and Planetside 2 and it would appear that the code for H1Z1 is currently being audited to see what can be done with it. Possibilities range from revamping the game and rolling it back to the iteration players liked best or to repurpose the code into another title. This is an interesting development because it shows that EG7 are not just going to arbitrarily dismiss and close games that they own. It would appear that they have a far more long term business mindset than DGC.
So what does this mean for LOTRO? Well both these statements, although not specific to the game, do inspire a degree of hope. It seems to me that EG7 see themselves as troubleshooters and facilitators who wish to invest, encourage and empower the various companies that develop their portfolio of games. The idea seems to be to foster improvement and growth, based on consumer feedback. If we are to take such policies at face value, the I think the most practical thing to do is to give EG7 a year and see if there are any noticeable changes. With regard to LOTRO let us see if they can encourage Standing Stone Games to be more innovative. I don't expect to see any major change in content design immediately but it is not unreasonable to expect a wider discussion about future development and an improvement in community relations from SSG.
EG7 doesn't strike me as corporate pirates. They seem to want to improve the titles they own and keep both customers and their investors happy. However, their position is very much one of enabling and supporting the existing developers. This approach is fine if the only previous problems a developer has experienced were a lack of funding and confidence from their owners. What concerns me with regard to encouraging and enabling SSG, is that they don’t strike me as being the most imaginative thinkers at senior level and appear to be somewhat entrenched in their views. Therefore there is still potential that they may steer LOTRO off a cliff if left unchecked. Perhaps what SSG requires is an injection of fresh talent and for LOTRO to be put in the hands of those who have a more aspirational view of its future potential. As ever, only time will tell but it is pleasant to have some hope in the interim.