Busy Doing Nothing
As I mentioned recently in my monthly gaming roundup, I’ve currently stopped playing the three MMORPGs that are my usual gaming mainstay. Namely The Lord of the Rings Online, The Elder Scrolls Online and Star Trek Online. It’s something that I do from time to time when I’m tired of the repetition this genre offers. At present none of these titles has anything on offer that motivates me to play them enthusiastically. Especially LOTRO. I find weddings tedious and self indulgent in real life, so I’m hardly going to get “excited” about a virtual one set in Middle-earth. However, that’s not to say that I’ve lost interest in the MMO genre. I’m merely temporarily burned out at present. I find that after a few months or so, either new content is released that lures me back to these games or I tire of what I’ve been playing in their stead. It’s a cyclical process that I go through from time to time and nothing to worry about.
If you’ve figured out this tenuous movie reference then give yourself a pat on the back
As I mentioned recently in my monthly gaming roundup, I’ve currently stopped playing the three MMORPGs that are my usual gaming mainstay. Namely The Lord of the Rings Online, The Elder Scrolls Online and Star Trek Online. It’s something that I do from time to time when I’m tired of the repetition this genre offers. At present none of these titles has anything on offer that motivates me to play them enthusiastically. Especially LOTRO. I find weddings tedious and self indulgent in real life, so I’m hardly going to get “excited” about a virtual one set in Middle-earth. However, that’s not to say that I’ve lost interest in the MMO genre. I’m merely temporarily burned out at present. I find that after a few months or so, either new content is released that lures me back to these games or I tire of what I’ve been playing in their stead. It’s a cyclical process that I go through from time to time and nothing to worry about.
However, despite the fact I’m not actively playing these games, it’s surprising how they still manage to keep me busy. How do they keep me busy, I hear you ask? Have I not deleted them from my hard drive? Of course not, that’s crazy talk. Before I move on to the various tasks involved in not playing a game, let me first address this ludicrous assumption that if you’re not playing a game you can delete it from your hard drive and reinstall it later. Because we all have fast internet connections nowadays? Well for starters let me list the current installation size of these three MMOs. LOTRO 30.1GB, ESO 71.7GB and STO 35.5GB respectively. Those are not “small beer” and irrespective of your internet connection speed, if you wish to install these games from scratch you’re at the mercy of three separate game clients and three sets of patching servers. All of which are painfully slow and temperamental. So unless you desperately need to reclaim the space on your SSD or HDD, never delete a game just co’s you’re not playing it at present. Don’t even get me started on customisations and addons.
Moving on, these unplayed MMOs need constant tending. There’s constant patching, especially for ESO who seem to release new content based on two criteria; when it’s raining and when it’s not. Rather than be inconvenienced when I finally decide to return to these games by finding a ton of updates to download, it’s best to keep the client current just in case. And then there’s the login presents and rewards. Both LOTRO and ESO giveaway daily incentives or “free shit” as it’s called in marketing parlance, to encourage consumer loyalty. I may not be playing at present but FOMO is a real thing. I’d hate to pass up on a one off opportunity to claim the “Sword of Kagnazax” or a cosmetic Humboldt Squid pet. I’m also a member of at least one guild that regularly kicks players if they don’t log into the game after a set period of time. So I have to show a face, so to speak, at least once a week or I’ll be given my “marching orders”.
Blogging about these games also adds to the every growing list of chores. Just because I’m not actively playing through current content doesn’t mean that I have nothing to say on the state of any of these three titles or regarding any breaking story or development associated with them. Which leads me to my next point, I often find myself without a suitable screen capture that I can use to illustrate a post. So I have to quickly log into the game in question and grab a few images. And of course you don’t get to just “log on and then log off”. There’s invariably someone online who spots you and decides to engage you in lengthy conversation regarding your health, what you’ve been up to and that wretched bird on Mrs Coltart’s roof (yet again). So as you can see, it can be quite exhausting not playing games. Talk about busy doing nothing. It’s amazing I find time for the games I actually am engaged with at present.
The Social Etiquette of Quitting a Multiplayer Game
I was watching a YouTube video recently of someone trying the new Fennec SMG in Call of Duty Modern Warfare Multiplayer. It was a 5 versus 5 game and the player who made the video was clearly quite skilled. After quickly racking up multiple kills, 3 of the enemy team left mid game. He laughed and pointed out that they had “rage quit”, although that is just conjecture. They may have left the game for a multitude of reasons (a point I shall return to later). As ever this video began a train of thought which I would now like to explore. Multiplayer games often go hand in hand with a lot of informal social etiquette. Much of which stems from the original MMOs from two decades ago. However, these conventions are not in any way mandatory or enshrined in any games terms of service. Yet quitting in the middle of a multiplayer game is still frowned upon in certain quarters, often being seen as an act of selfishness and childish anger. However, like everything in life, I think it’s not as simple as that.
I was watching a YouTube video recently of someone trying the new Fennec SMG in Call of Duty Modern Warfare Multiplayer. It was a 5 versus 5 game and the player who made the video was clearly quite skilled. After quickly racking up multiple kills, 3 of the enemy team left mid game. He laughed and pointed out that they had “rage quit”, although that is just conjecture. They may have left the game for a multitude of reasons (a point I shall return to later). As ever this video began a train of thought which I would now like to explore. Multiplayer games often go hand in hand with a lot of informal social etiquette. Much of which stems from the original MMOs from two decades ago. However, these conventions are not in any way mandatory or enshrined in any games terms of service. Yet quitting in the middle of a multiplayer game is still frowned upon in certain quarters, often being seen as an act of selfishness and childish anger. However, like everything in life, I think it’s not as simple as that.
Firstly, let’s consider the rectitude of quitting a multiplayer game halfway through. If the game you are playing has a fail state that is dependent on a full team, or requires players of a certain class to be successfully completed, then leaving will definitely inconvenience others. Raids, dungeons and other complex group content often require planning and a degree of organisation. If you have committed to such an undertaking then it is not unreasonable to be expected to honour it. If the group content is not going to plan then the “problem” should be discussed within the group. However, if genuine external factors mean that you must leave the group, then it is best to inform your colleagues and then depart at the most appropriate juncture. Simply quitting because things are not going well or because something potentially more entertaining presents itself, does strike as inconsiderate. The Healer or Tank leaving a group will often make specific tasks impossible.
However, as previously mentioned, group situations are frequently nuanced. If you are taking part in a multiplayer game and subject to abuse of any kind, then leaving is most certainly an option. Events and activities organised via friends or a guild hopefully reduce the risk of such behaviour but many games now include auto grouping tools. “Pick Up Groups” are potentially far more problematic due to their random nature. I personally will not tolerate any sort of prejudicial abuse and will leave if I encounter such. Unless it is essential to talk, I mute voice chat with strangers and communicate via preset ingame commands. More often than not I find that people leave PUGS if the task in hand is not being completed in an optimal fashion. Another issue is joining a full group but finding that several players have deliberately gone AFK. This is usually done so that an achievement or reward can be gained. Some games will detect such activities and sanction the player by kicking them from the group or applying a time penalty preventing further auto grouping.
But not all group situations come with the same stakes. In the FPS genre auto grouping is a common practise used to assemble players quickly and conveniently. Furthermore, players are not always interdependent upon each other. Irrespective of whether your team wins or loses a Deathmatch you’ll still be rewarded XP and weapons will unlock. Due to the popularity of certain genres, there are a wealth of players to draw upon when forming groups. Hence if players leave in the middle of a multiplayer game, they are seamlessly replaced. And players do leave often. Circling back to the original anecdotes about the players leaving the 5 versus 5 game on CoD MW, this is frequently due to the inadequacy of the “Skill Based Matchmaking”. It is beneficial to all concerned if players are grouped with others of a broadly comparable ability. Nothing kills your enjoyment quicker in these sorts of games than one or several players dominating events. Hence players will simply remove themselves from a situation that is not conducive to their enjoyment.
The MMO genre is still predominantly a social one, filled with guilds that run on player interaction and association. People build up relationships overtime and as such social rules and cultural norms often come into play when undertaking group content. Activities that are arranged and managed directly by multiple people logically require a different level of social commitment from those participating. The more impersonal game mechanic of autogrouping for content with less complex fail states (and therefore fewer consequences), requires a lower social dynamic. And let us not forget that paying to play a game can considerably alter one's relationship with it. The moment money is involved players often adopt a more transactional mentality. Anything that impedes enjoyment or progression is seen as a failure of service delivery and not necessarily in terms of the capricious nature of gaming.
Therefore, quitting a multiplayer game halfway through is not a binary issue (I wish I had £1 every time I’ve written that over the years). It is very much a contextual matter. I do not see an auto grouped undertaking in a FPS or similar game as commensurate with a pre-planned raid in an MMO with people I know. Leaving halfway through has different consequences in both scenarios and should be treated accordingly. Raiding and similar events in the MMO genre are a far more logistically and socially complex endeavour than joining a PUG in a Team Deathmatch. If a raid isn’t working there may well be planning issues to address or social problems within the group. But these are human failings and not always attributable to the game content. Competing with players of greater skill is not something that an individual can so easily address, apart from the obvious solution of leaving. But cultural attitudes and societal baggage towards what are your “social obligations” vary among gamers. So there is no definitive answer beyond the one you fathom for yourself.
A Month in Gaming
I stopped subscribing to The Lord of the Rings Online in June. I’ve always had a very cyclical relationship with this MMO and at present I feel I need a break from the games somewhat linear formula. Plus the new content scheduled for release centred around the wedding of Aragorn and Arwen doesn’t exactly sound enthralling. So I’ve left my primary character in Langflood and will return to the game later in the year when I feel the need to catch up with content. I have also abandoned the ongoing events in Star Trek Online as they’re getting too repetitive. I would like to see a new longterm story arc rather than just a continuous cycle of short term events and repeatable content. I don’t mind working towards a goal but it has to be something I want and the rewards offered in this MMO are getting a little too generic for my liking. I shall return to the game at some point as I’m a lifetime account holder and I’m curious to see how developer’s Cryptic overhauls the Klingon story arc.
I stopped subscribing to The Lord of the Rings Online in June. I’ve always had a very cyclical relationship with this MMO and at present I feel I need a break from the games somewhat linear formula. Plus the new content scheduled for release centred around the wedding of Aragorn and Arwen doesn’t exactly sound enthralling. So I’ve left my primary character in Langflood and will return to the game later in the year when I feel the need to catch up with content. I have also abandoned the ongoing events in Star Trek Online as they’re getting too repetitive. I would like to see a new longterm story arc rather than just a continuous cycle of short term events and repeatable content. I don’t mind working towards a goal but it has to be something I want and the rewards offered in this MMO are getting a little too generic for my liking. I shall return to the game at some point as I’m a lifetime account holder and I’m curious to see how developer’s Cryptic overhauls the Klingon story arc.
I found a good deal on the latest expansion for The Elder Scrolls Online and so I purchased the Digital Upgrade Edition of Greymoor. I mainly wanted to see what the new Harrowstorms events were like and was pleasantly surprised by their difficulty. Dolmen become easier when more players are present but that is not necessarily the case with Harrowstorms. I have so far refrained from playing any of the story content in this new zone as I’m still committed to playing the narrative content in ESO in order. I like to keep the installation of ESO on my PC up to date as my twin granddaughters enjoy this game. They will often ask to see what the “lady with the burnt face and big boobies” is doing (their description, not mine) when they come round and visit. They also like the exotic cosmetic pets and the Khajit “cat people”. The recurring dragon events in Southern Elsweyr is also a source of entertainment for them.
June also saw several games uninstalled from my PC, as I had either completed them or had reached a point where I wasn’t going to return to them any time soon. So I removed Red Dead Redemption 2 as it really is a title you need to apply yourself to. To get the best out of the game it helps if you play for several hours at a time and immerse yourself in the story. I haven’t done this for a while and so my connection to the narrative was lost. Another thing I’ve noticed when playing these densely plotted RPGs is that I sometimes spend too much time pondering over decisions. Games with branching narratives are interesting but I occasionally find myself worrying that I will somehow “hobble” myself at some point in the future, if I make a “bad” choice. It’s a curious paradox as these decision making mechanics are designed to provide a sense of immersion but the “worry” they can produce can sometimes have the opposite effect.
Overall, Call of Duty Modern Warfare is still keeping me engaged after two and a half months. I do find it frustrating the way various game modes come and go. I was just beginning to learn the layout and foibles of the “Trench” map in 5 versus 5 battles when this was taken out of the game menu. However, Plunder Mode has proven to be a good alternative to the standard Battle Royale Mode in Warzone. The object is to collect cash from various stashes around the main map and then airlift it out. There are several prime landing zones in the Downtown area that are always heavily contested. However, for the more cautious player, you can explore and accrue money in the outlying areas and bank it by regularly buying Cash Deposit Balloons from Buy Stations. Combat is not so frenetic in this permutation of the game, although you do still have to keep your eyes open for players doing exactly the same as you. Auto Grouping is also not so problematic in Plunder Mode either. Players seem to take a more casual attitude to proceedings so you can play collaboratively or do your own thing if you prefer. This mode also provides a lot of XP if you’re levelling through the Battle pass.
I’ve been toying with the idea of buying Ghost Recon Breakpoint. I initially declined to do so due to the broken nature of the game upon its release and the conspicuous lack of AI teammates. They were present in Wildlands, the previous iteration of the franchise and were a boon for anyone who didn’t have a copiously populated friends list. However, Ubisoft is finally adding AI Squad functionality to Breakpoint this month so I may see if I can get a deal. A lot of the game’s problems have been fixed and there’s now over a year’s worth of content to be played through including a guest appearance by Sam Fisher from Splinter Cell. Furthermore he’s voiced once again by Michael Ironside. I may also see if there are any smaller games I can try in July to take my mind off the fact that the video game industry and associated culture just seems to be a continuous dumpster fire. It’s going to be a long uphill struggle to see these institutions evolve and adapt into something vaguely equitable and ethical.
ESO: Animation Cancelling and Weaving
Whenever you use a skill on your hotbar in The Elder Scrolls Online, there is an associated animation as it is inducted and utilised. These animations may vary in length from one to several seconds depending upon their nature. Although these animations add to the ambience of the game, they do come with a direct consequence. The player has to wait for the animation of one skill to complete before they can use another. For those seeking to optimise their performance or DPS output, these delays are an impediment. However, they can be negated through animation cancelling and weaving. Animation cancelling is as it states the stopping of a skill related animated sequence by the use of a follow up action such as bash/tap block/dodgeroll. Weaving is slightly different, in so far as instead of stopping the inducted animation immediately, it allows for the process to be cut short as another animation is started. Typically this is done by using a light attack and then immediately using a skill.
Whenever you use a skill on your hotbar in The Elder Scrolls Online, there is an associated animation as it is inducted and utilised. These animations may vary in length from one to several seconds depending upon their nature. Although these animations add to the ambience of the game, they do come with a direct consequence. The player has to wait for the animation of one skill to complete before they can use another. For those seeking to optimise their performance or DPS output, these delays are an impediment. However, they can be negated through animation cancelling and weaving. Animation cancelling is as it states the stopping of a skill related animated sequence by the use of a follow up action such as bash/tap block/dodgeroll. Weaving is slightly different, in so far as instead of stopping the inducted animation immediately, it allows for the process to be cut short as another animation is started. Typically this is done by using a light attack and then immediately using a skill.
There are 5 main types of weaving and animation cancelling that can be done in the ESO.
Light Attack Based Weaving:
Light Attack > Skill
Dodge Based Animation Cancelling:
Light Attack > Dodge
Skill > Dodge
Light Attack > Skill > Dodge
Block Based Animation Cancelling:
Light Attack > Block
Skill > Block
Light Attack > Skill > Block
Bash Based Animation Cancelling:
Light Attack > Bash
Skill > Bash
Light Attack > Skill > Bash
Weapon Swap Based Animation Cancelling:
Light Attack > Swap
Skill > Swap
Light Attack > Skill > Swap
Like most explanations, this may seem straightforward in principle. However, to be able to effectively undertake these attack chains requires a great deal of practise. Players may also wish to reconsider the order in which some skills appear on their hotbar and remap some keyboard functions. If you’re in a Guild, then the best way to practise is to go to the Guild Hall and use the training dummies there. Advance players may wish to set up macros or use addons that show skill cooldown timers etc. Animation cancelling and weaving is essential in PVP and when playing advanced dungeons. But is it necessary for the casual player? No. You can play PVE content without using this technique. But it is certainly advantageous for new players to learn the most basic weaving skill of using a light attack immediately followed by a skill. It allows you to do damage more quickly and efficiently.
Star Trek Online: Beginners Guide Part 1 - The Cost of Playing
I’ve mentioned in the past that a lot of important information regarding the MMORPG Star Trek Online is centralised within the official subreddit. That’s fine if you enjoy using this platform but it’s not for everyone. I’ve always found Reddit somewhat esoteric and I don’t really like the way it visually displays information. I have to use a browser addon to make it more user friendly. Unlike other communities, STO does not seem to have that many fan produced blogs. However, I may be wrong regarding this, so feel free to correct me (and provide URLs). In the meantime, I thought it may be useful to write a series of simple guides, offering practical information for those who are new to STO. Nothing fancy or in any way definitive. Just a few basic tips that may help orientate the new player. This time we’re going to look at the business model for STO and the cost of playing the game.
I’ve mentioned in the past that a lot of important information regarding the MMORPG Star Trek Online is centralised within the official subreddit. That’s fine if you enjoy using this platform but it’s not for everyone. I’ve always found Reddit somewhat esoteric and I don’t really like the way it visually displays information. I have to use a browser addon to make it more user friendly. Unlike other communities, STO does not seem to have that many fan produced blogs. However, I may be wrong regarding this, so feel free to correct me (and provide URLs). In the meantime, I thought it may be useful to write a series of simple guides, offering practical information for those who are new to STO. Nothing fancy or in any way definitive. Just a few basic tips that may help orientate the new player. This time we’re going to look at the business model for STO and the cost of playing the game.
Q: What is the business model for STO?
A: STO is a free to play game. Unlike some other MMOs there are no major impediments to new players. Story based content is not locked behind any sort of paywall. Once a player has completed the tutorial and reached level 10 (which is easy to do) they can play the latest material. Some content is scalable. STO has several earnable in-game currencies; Energy Credits, Dilithium and Lobi Crystals. You can also purchase Zen for real money. This currency is used to buy in-game store items such as ships, character slots and bank space etc. If you don’t want to spend any real money, you can grind Dilithium and exchange it for Zen, legitimately within the game.
Q: Is there a subscription?
A: STO used to have a subscription option but this was removed from the game in December 2018. If you play for free, you have Silver account status. This applies a degree of limitations upon the game, such as an Energy Credit cap of 15 million and your overall number of character slots, bank slots, Bridge Officer and ship slots. None of these are a deal breaker for new players. If you enjoy the game and wish to create multiple alts or feel that you need more space, you can purchase all these additional resources via the store. Gold account status used to be gained by subscribing but now it is only available by the purchase of a lifetime account.
Q: Are there any essential items to purchase?
A: Although I wouldn’t define it as “essential” the Elite Services Starter Pack does offer a lot of benefits to a new player. It costs 1,000 Zen and can be found in the C-Store. It includes 36 bank slots and 36 inventory spaces, two Bridge Officer slots and three retrain tokens (for reallocating your skill points). If these items were bought separately it would cost the player 2,250 Zen. Hence, the Elite Services Starter Pack is a real bargain working out at less than $10. Again if you don’t want to buy any Zen with real money, you can grind Dilithium by playing game content and exchange it for Zen. It will take about one week to earn sufficient Zen for the Elite Services Starter Pack.
Q: Is the Lifetime subscription worth it ?
A: This very much depends on how often you play STO. I would not encourage new players to contemplate such a purchase until they have played STO for a while and determined how invested they are in the game. If it becomes your MMO of choice and you log on several times a week or more, then it does offer value for money. Upon purchase you immediately unlock Veteran Rewards which include unique ships, uniforms and other game rewards. But perhaps the biggest incentive is a monthly stipend of 500 Zen. A Lifetime subscription retails at $299 but there are often sales throughout the year when the price is dropped to $199.
Q: Should I buy a ship straight away?
A: Unless you have your heart set on a specific ship and are happy to pay real money, once again I would advise those just starting out to not do so. The game provides the player with 5 free ships as they progress through the game. This occurs at levels 10, 20, 30, 40 and 61. The ships are level specific. If you follow the story, then a free shuttle is also available. STO holds several events throughout the year which also allow players to earn a Tier 6 ship. However, part of the appeal of STO is its expansive collection of iconic ships. Developer’s Cryptic rely on the sale of these for much of their revenue. They recently made many Tier 6 ships scalable, so they can be used by new players and will level with them. So it ultimately comes down to your personal choice and budget. However, a free player will not be penalised for not spending money. They simply have less choice. Again, if you’re prepared to invest the time then you can earn the appropriate currencies to obtain a Tier 6 ship at no financial cost.
MMO Tropes: Shipwrecked
I have played more than “a few” MMORPGs over the years. It’s an enjoyable (and accessible) genre of video games. But like any other type of game, MMOs have a fairly standard formula based on a handful of game mechanics. There is levelling, gaining experience and the acquisition of skills and points. Gear such as armour, jewellery and weapons come and go as you progress through the game. Then there’s crafting, trading and gaining “gold”. Another key aspect is the social dynamic. Often there’s content specifically designed for groups to complete. But this homogeneity also extends beyond the systems that underpin the games. The MMO genre is rife with its own set of tropes; recurring themes and motifs that have become established and ubiquitous. All of which are ideal material for a hastily produced, lazily conceived, recurring blog post.
I have played more than “a few” MMORPGs over the years. It’s an enjoyable (and accessible) genre of video games. But like any other type of game, MMOs have a fairly standard formula based on a handful of game mechanics. There is levelling, gaining experience and the acquisition of skills and points. Gear such as armour, jewellery and weapons come and go as you progress through the game. Then there’s crafting, trading and gaining “gold”. Another key aspect is the social dynamic. Often there’s content specifically designed for groups to complete. But this homogeneity also extends beyond the systems that underpin the games. The MMO genre is rife with its own set of tropes; recurring themes and motifs that have become established and ubiquitous. All of which are ideal material for a hastily produced, lazily conceived, recurring blog post.
So where to begin? Ah yes,let us start with a commonly used trope that conveniently affords game developers with a means to orientate new players. Because it should never be assumed that a player is by default familiar with the basics of the game that they are playing. Hence many MMOs need a simple plot device at the start of a game that can justify or accommodate the need to explain everything. And one of the most common of these is the “shipwreck” trope. It covers all bases from a narrative perspective and is convenient. The new player finds themselves washed up on the beach, which is often a starter area and then has to go through some basic tasks that orientate them. These include movement via WASD keys, obtaining a weapon and combat, gaining XP, using consumables and interacting with NPCs. At first glance it’s a perfectly good idea and it achieves what it sets out to do. But if you encounter it too often it gets old very quickly.
I first ran into this particular MMO trope when I played Age of Conan, circa 2009. The game had (and unless it has changed still does) a character creation process that starts on a ship in which you are a galley slave. As expected the ship sinks in a storm and your character is subsequently washed up on a beach on the island of Tortage. Cue the game tutorial. Then in 2013 when I played the Beta Test of Neverwinter, I encountered this trope for a second time. This time foul beasties destroy the ship you’re on and you wash up on the shore to again start a tutorial. If you play The Elder Scrolls Online, this plot device is used at the start of the Ebonheart Pact storyline. There is currently an ongoing Beta Test for another MMO (due to an NDA I cannot mention by name) that begins with yet another shipwreck and integrates it into the tutorial. This trope is also commonplace outside of the MMO genre and can be found in other games such as Monster Hunter: World and Risen and The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening.
Some old adages are themselves cliches but I still consider that there is some truth in “familiarity breeds contempt”. While playing this new MMO that cannot be named (go on, guess, it’s hardly difficult) I was somewhat disappointed when this trope was trotted out, as it further reinforced my opinion that this particular title doesn’t offer anything new. However, it is important to remember new players and that this title may well attract a lot of people who haven’t played an MMO before. Considering the marketing clout of the company that owns the developers, this game when released on August 25th, may well gain some initial traction. Bearing that in mind, the “shipwrecked” trope that I find hackneyed may well be an innovative and useful plot device to those who have not experienced it before.
ESO: Harrowstorms
I managed to find a very good deal on the Digital Upgrade version of Greymoor for The Elder Scrolls Online, so I bought it. The key included a pre-order bonus as well as a few other “trinkets and baubles” which clinched the deal. I wasn’t planning on returning to ESO this month plus I still have a bee in my bonnet about playing through the game in narrative order. However, after speaking to friends about the new expansion, I was curious about the new Harrowstorm events that occur in the new zone of Western Skyrim. So I logged into the game and after the obligatory “let’s spend 30 minutes fixing broken addons”, headed over to Solitude and waited for the next Harrowstorm to appear. As ever, Zone Chat is invaluable for determining what is happening and where, so it wasn’t long before I was riding headlong towards the Black Morass Ritual Site ready for my first Harrowstorm.
I managed to find a very good deal on the Digital Upgrade version of Greymoor for The Elder Scrolls Online, so I bought it. The key included a pre-order bonus as well as a few other “trinkets and baubles” which clinched the deal. I wasn’t planning on returning to ESO this month plus I still have a bee in my bonnet about playing through the game in narrative order. However, after speaking to friends about the new expansion, I was curious about the new Harrowstorm events that occur in the new zone of Western Skyrim. So I logged into the game and after the obligatory “let’s spend 30 minutes fixing broken addons”, headed over to Solitude and waited for the next Harrowstorm to appear. As ever, Zone Chat is invaluable for determining what is happening and where, so it wasn’t long before I was riding headlong towards the Black Morass Ritual Site ready for my first Harrowstorm.
According to the official blurb, “Harrowstorms are giant supernatural confluxes which plague Western Skyrim. Much like Dark Anchors, Abyssal Geysers and Dragonscours, Harrowstorms function as group events, where a number of players must work together to shut the Harrowstorm ritual down. You must destroy the three Witch Pikes in the midst of the storm, which are drawing in Lost Souls”. And that is pretty much it. Harrowstorms are very much a case of “same meat, different gravy”. That’s not to say that they aren’t fun but they don’t offer a radically different experience from Abyssal Geysers and Dragonscours. If there are sufficient players present, they can be dealt with quite efficiently, although you need to maintain a lot of situation awareness as the summoned enemies use a lot of AoE and DOT attacks. As ever with PVE events of this kind, the players break down into three groups. The foolhardy, the experienced and the cautious. I fall into the latter category, preferring to skirt around the perimeter firing my bow.
Harrowstorm appear at the following locations. I’ve included details of which is the nearest wayshrine, although like in Northern Elsweyr, ZeniMax hasn’t exactly gone out of it’s way to make it easy to traverse the zone and reach these events.
Black Morass Ritual Site - West-northwest of Morthal (Nearest wayshrine Solitude Docks).
Chilblain Peak Ritual Site - Southwest of Dragon Bridge (Nearest wayshrine Dragon Bridge).
Giant's Coast Ritual Site - Northwest coast of Western Skyrim (Nearest wayshrine Mor Khazgur).
Hailstone Valley Ritual Site - East of Morthal in eastern part of Western Skyrim (Nearest wayshrine Morthal).
Northern Watch Ritual Site - Northeast coast of Western Skyrim (Nearest wayshrine Kilkreath Temple).
Old Karth Ritual Site - East of Karthwatch (Nearest wayshrine Southern Watch).
Dwarf's Bane Ritual Site - Dusktown (Nearest wayshrine Dusktown).
Gloomforest Ritual Site - Lightless Hollow (Nearest wayshrine Lightless Hollow).
Miner's Lament Ritual Site - SouthEast Greymoor Cavern (Nearest wayshrine Dusktown).
Nightstone Ritual Site - Dark Moon Grotto (Nearest wayshrine Dark Moon Grotto).
So far I have not determined if Harrowstorms in Western Skyrim follow a particular rotation or whether they appear where the most players are located. Often you’ll find that the event is over by the time you reach it, due to the location of the nearest wayshrine and the nature of the surrounding terrain. So far, I’ve found waiting in the vicinity of the Hjaalmarch Great Lift allows you to get to the four nearest Ritual Sites (Black Morass, Hailstone Valley, Old Karth and Chilblain Peak). I haven’t yet found a similar solution for Blackreach. However, despite the somewhat over familiar nature of these events, they are still a great way to farm “fat loot” (and hence make a ton of in-game gold), complete dailies and achievements as well as get a quick fix of action.
LOTRO: Free Quest Packs
At the beginning of March, Standing Stone Games very generously (and very wisely) decided to make all “quest, raid, and adventure area content” for The Lord of the Rings Online available for free. As a result, many players have returned to the MMO and all game servers have seen an increase in activity. Initially the offer was scheduled to end on April 31st but due to its success this has been extended to the end of August. Furthermore, SSG are now offering a coupon code that will permanently unlock all this content but players have to ensure that they use this by August 31st. This is a very generous offer which can save new and returning players a substantial amount of money. SSG have also promised a forthcoming sale on expansion quests (not a sale on entire expansions) and instance clusters. Effectively, a smart player will soon be able to own and access the majority of the game for under £10.
At the beginning of March, Standing Stone Games very generously (and very wisely) decided to make all “quest, raid, and adventure area content” for The Lord of the Rings Online available for free. As a result, many players have returned to the MMO and all game servers have seen an increase in activity. Initially the offer was scheduled to end on April 31st but due to its success this has been extended to the end of August. Furthermore, SSG are now offering a coupon code that will permanently unlock all this content but players have to ensure that they use this by August 31st. This is a very generous offer which can save new and returning players a substantial amount of money. SSG have also promised a forthcoming sale on expansion quests (not a sale on entire expansions) and instance clusters. Effectively, a smart player will soon be able to own and access the majority of the game for under £10.
Promotions of this nature often favour new customers, as they are logically a potential source of new revenue. I often tire of seeing such adverts for great deals from service providers that I’m already a customer of. So it was nice to see that SSG have also decided to expand the benefits of the VIP program for LOTRO (VIPs being lifetime account holders and subscribers). According to today’s press release, the following rewards will soon be available. “VIPs will get access to a vendor that will grant them the following benefits once per day: 48-hours of town services items, a buff that negates item wear, and a buff that provides rapid crafting”. The buffs sound useful and I’m sure they’ll be well received. I’m hoping that this vendor will also be able to offer repair and the sale services, negating the need to return to major quest hubs so often.
One minor point regarding SSG’s current generosity springs to mind. Back in December 2018, they offered for a limited time The LOTRO Legacy Bundle for $199. It was a very comprehensive deal including pretty much everything in the game up to that date (again it included expansion quest lines but not the bonus material included in the expansions themselves). As I had missed out on buying a lifetime account, I purchased this bundle and subsequently spent 10 months comprehensively playing through the content with a new alt. Since then I have also bought the Minas Morgul expansion. So all I gain from SSG’s current coupon code are two Quest Packs from updates 25 and 26; Vales of Anduin and Mists of Wilderland. But I don’t begrudge this situation. SSG are simply reacting to the current business situation. If that means that LOTRO continues to thrive then that is to all our benefit.
A Month in Gaming
I see by the financial data that is currently available and being pawed over by industry pundits, that April was a very good month for the video games publishers. Quelle surprise. Who would have thought it? The increase in leisure time has certainly meant that even I have had a greater opportunity than usual to invest in playing video games. And as I predominantly play the MMORPG genre that has proven to be a boon. Or at least it was initially. After two month plus that is fast becoming a bane. MMOs are great when you have new content to play through, stories to discover, goals to achieve and systems and items to advance. But once you’ve done all these things and find yourself doing dailies just out of obligation and a way to kill time, then it may well be time to move on to something else.
I see by the financial data that is currently available and being pawed over by industry pundits, that April was a very good month for the video games publishers. Quelle surprise. Who would have thought it? The increase in leisure time has certainly meant that even I have had a greater opportunity than usual to invest in playing video games. And as I predominantly play the MMORPG genre that has proven to be a boon. Or at least it was initially. After two month plus that is fast becoming a bane. MMOs are great when you have new content to play through, stories to discover, goals to achieve and systems and items to advance. But once you’ve done all these things and find yourself doing dailies just out of obligation and a way to kill time, then it may well be time to move on to something else.
Star Trek Online has not had any new story content added since the anniversary event. And that two part adventure “The Measure of Morality” wasn’t exactly what you would call a long term, episodic, story arc. Developers Cryptic seem to be focusing at present on short term events that are dependent on repeatable content which get very old quickly. I have abandoned the latest grind as it’s not fun and do I really need any more Tier 6 ships or another cosmetic pet? Similarly, I’m tired with the new gear treadmill that accompanies the addition of any new zone in The Lord of the Rings Online. I still need to level my Legendary Weapons but that is a ponderous and singularly uninspiring undertaking. As for returning to The Elder Scrolls Online, I must resist the allure of an expanded Skyrim as I still have so much older content to play through. Plus whenever these three MMOs add new material, it is always just a variation on a theme. They never do anything radical or innovative.
So in recent weeks I’ve made a conscious effort to step away from MMOs and try other types of games. I finally experienced the Battle Royale genre and have had fun for the last month playing Call of Duty Warzone. It makes for a pleasant change to be able to enjoy a game where you do not have to worry about keeping up with a complex story or having the best gear. The matchmaking system has its foibles but finding a suitable game is not a problem. You can get your quick fix of “action” within minutes of logging in. I also bought Man of Medan on a whim, which is best described as an interactive drama survival horror video game. It is a curious beast but I must admit it has kept me engaged, with its multiple outcomes and endings. I also played through Deathtrap Dungeon for a second time and was once again impressed how “less is more”. I really hope that developers, Branching Narrative, produce more games like this.
I suspect that I will spend less time playing video games in June as I’m becoming a little jaded at present with this pastime. I have written recently of the need to find myself a new project of some kind to keep my “head straight” as the lockdown continues. Games are simply not providing that level of engagement at present, especially the MMO genre which is my traditional mainstay. I’ll probably keep playing Call of Duty Warzone for a little longer as it provides sufficient stimulation and dopamine fixes. It would appear that Season 4 may bring some major changes to the game match, which would certainly shake things up. Another “radical” idea would be to actually finish some of the other games that I’ve started and then abandoned. I really would like to see the end of Red Dead Redemption 2. Perhaps that can be my gaming goal for the month. Maybe having some targets may make this hobby more enjoyable.
The Problem with Voice Chat
I was reading on Kotaku (as a Vic Reeves fan I always want to say Uvavu) about yet another internet brouhaha. This one stemmed from comments made by live streamer and social media commentator Steph “FerociouslySteph” Loehr (no, I have no idea who they are either), about the use of voice chat in video games. Her comments were willfully taken out of context by the usual suspects and yet another internet drama kicked off. As I have only a passing interest in live streaming and the competitive gaming scene, I don’t feel obliged to wade in and express an opinion about this particular situation and those involved. But the actual sentiments that were originally expressed about voice chat are of interest to me, although they’ve long been forgotten in this particular drama which has now become yet another culture war bunfight.
I was reading on Kotaku (as a Vic Reeves fan I always want to say Uvavu) about yet another internet brouhaha. This one stemmed from comments made by live streamer and social media commentator Steph “FerociouslySteph” Loehr (no, I have no idea who they are either), about the use of voice chat in video games. Her comments were willfully taken out of context by the usual suspects and yet another internet drama kicked off. As I have only a passing interest in live streaming and the competitive gaming scene, I don’t feel obliged to wade in and express an opinion about this particular situation and those involved. But the actual sentiments that were originally expressed about voice chat are of interest to me, although they’ve long been forgotten in this particular drama which has now become yet another culture war bunfight.
Voice chat is essentially just a tool, designed to facilitate communication between gamers. But the problems associated with voice chat stem from its use and not the actual service itself. Conversations have a social dynamic and a degree of etiquette to them (or at least good ones do). If they are to be considered equitable, there is a need for all parties involved to have equal opportunity to express themselves. Hence we are taught at school (or at least I was) not to monopolise a conversation, to listen to what others have to say and to be courteous at all times. I try to remember this ethos when using voice chat and therefore I find it to be a comfortable form of communications. But I am a white, middle aged, middle class man with all the cultural baggage that comes with that and being British. My experience is not necessarily universal.
Not everyone “enjoys” voice chat, the same way as some folk will sit in a group at the pub and listen to the conversation but not contribute much. For some it’s a confidence issue, for others it’s just a question of personal choice. Women often treat voice chat with a greater degree of scepticism as it is yet another medium by which they may be discriminated against or marginalised. The same is applicable to ethnic minorities or anyone for who is not a native speaker of the language being used. A person’s voice can provide a lot of information about someone quite quickly. It can also do the complete opposite and too often verbal cues are a stepping stone to bias and prejudice. Disability may also be a factor with voice chat. And even if you manage to bypass the sociopolitical issues associated with voice chat, there are still etiquette issues to face. Some people just dominate chat channels, using such platforms to just drone on and on about themselves. It can be a narcissists and ego maniacs paradise.
My use of voice chat is also dependent on what genre of games I’m playing. MMOs are by nature social and therefore if I join a new guild, I’m more likely to use either in-game chat or Discord to get to know the other members. Trust is built over time and you get to know the verbal foibles of others. This is important to ensuring that voice chat stays a welcoming and accommodating medium to all. However, I’m far less disposed toward speaking with strangers when playing a competitive game and will often have all voice communications muted when playing via PUGS. I don’t want to be given instructions by some self appointed “leader”, nor do I wish to listen to the garrulous inanities of adolescents, gamer malcontents and the furiously hard of thinking. But I’m not averse to a degree of friendly chat and “suggested” tactics. However, all that can be done via text chat and in-game mechanics such as pinging items and “instruction wheels”. IE “Move left”, “cover me” etc.
I got called an “RPG noob” in Call of Duty Warzone last night via text chat (much to my amusement). I’m sure if I had voice chat enabled I would have endured a barrage of criticism throughout the game. I may well have been tempted to waste my own time and energy trying to counter with my own witty ripostes and waggish badinage. However, because I had elected not to use the service to begin with, all potential unpleasantness was avoided. For me voice chat is a binary choice. Sadly for others it is not always as clear as that and it is something to be used with caution. On a few occasions I’ve seen voice chat demonstrate the unconscious bias that many of us carry around. It’s funny how a woman can answer a question but the answer isn’t acknowledged until it’s reiterated by a man. So to conclude, I think the internet drama I referenced at the start of this post just highlights the fact that it’s not voice chat that needs fixing but society. Sadly, the bug list for that just keeps growing.
It's Okay to be a Bad Player
According to the ESA “Over 164 million adults in the United States play video games and three-quarters of all Americans have at least one gamer in their household. As the leading form of entertainment today, video games are an integral part of American culture”. So when you factor in the rest of the world, I think it’s safe to say that a lot of people play video games and that still surprises some people. Now it’s been known for a long time now by video game developers that two thirds of their customers never complete a single player game. It’s a similar story in other game genres. The majority of MMO players never play any endgame content such as raids. A lot of players don’t make it to level cap either. Yet, so much of the game related content produced by gamers themselves does not represent this. So much of the gameplay videos you find on YouTube comes from technically adept players. Similarly, many popular live streamers gain their audience through being competent.
Never played it
According to the ESA “Over 164 million adults in the United States play video games and three-quarters of all Americans have at least one gamer in their household. As the leading form of entertainment today, video games are an integral part of American culture”. So when you factor in the rest of the world, I think it’s safe to say that a lot of people play video games and that still surprises some people. Now it’s been known for a long time now by video game developers that two thirds of their customers never complete a single player game. It’s a similar story in other game genres. The majority of MMO players never play any endgame content such as raids. A lot of players don’t make it to level cap either. Yet, so much of the game related content produced by gamers themselves does not represent this. So much of the gameplay videos you find on YouTube comes from technically adept players. Similarly, many popular live streamers gain their audience through being competent.
Now you can cogently argue that there’s not a major market for watching footage of people playing badly, unless it’s presented in a humorous fashion. You can also argue that the term “bad player” is loaded to begin with, as it implies that there is a mandatory skill curve that we all have to progress through and abide by (guess what, you don’t have to). It’s a classic false axiom that so many gamers still cling to. So when I use the phrase “bad player” in this post, I mean it as “someone who is playing in a manner that may not be optimal or even unorthodox, who isn’t driven by a need for continuous self improvement or a sense of competition but is still deriving enjoyment from their approach to the game”. Now if we go with this definition, I think it’s safe to say that not only are there a lot of bad players about but they make up the majority of the player base. And that is fine.
Something, something Tyler "Ninja" Blevins
There is still a major cultural divide in the video games community. Those who see games as inherently competitive and those who play games for “fun”. I’m painting with broad brush strokes here but it usually comes down to some variation of these two philosophies. However, this is not an even split. I’m sure there is sufficient data out there to show that the latter group is the larger. From my perspective, it certainly seems that way anecdotally speaking. When you consider how many games genres have evolved over the last two decades, adding quality of life improvements such as quest trackers, auto looting and fast travel it seems that the developers know this as well. Games with corpse runs, excessive penalties for failure or death, or punishing learning curves tend not to find mass appeal and settle into niche markets. And any game that relies heavily on twitch mechanics is going to face a dwindling player population among the middle-aged. This is why not every game is not Dark Souls.
Just like the cult of youth and beauty that blights popular culture despite it not being applicable to most of us, we also see the equally unrealistic myth of the Über Gamer everywhere. However, if all the distinctly average players decided that they were a disgrace to gaming per se and subsequently took up train spotting, the video game industry would go bust (and freight yards,railway sidings and bridges would be very crowded). So not only do I support and extend a sense of solidarity to all bad players like myself (because I hate arbitrary hierarchies) but I actively encourage players to do things their way. Not only are we keeping a lot of regular, decent people in work but we’re challenging capitalist dogma that everything is about conflict, winners and losers. We may be keeping Bobby Kotick rich but we’re wearing our mediocre, poorly organised ,“I don’t even know what these skills are for” play style as a badge of honour. And so this is why I will continue to RPG spam in Call of Duty Warzone.
A Month in Gaming
April has been an usual month. The ongoing lockdown here in the UK (and elsewhere in the world) has afforded me more gaming time than usual. The policy of social distancing has reduced my caring duties to just three hours a day. Hence I and many others like me have much more leisure time available. I initially thought that this situation would be the perfect time to try some of the many of the games that I have stockpiled over the years. However, despite trawling through many titles, I still failed to find anything that immediately took my fancy. So I decided to take stock of my overall gaming activities and whether it was time to revise them and try something new. And by new I don’t just mean just buying a new game but taking a step out of my current comfort zone into a genre I don’t usually play. So that’s exactly what I did and the results have been very interesting.
April has been an usual month. The ongoing lockdown here in the UK (and elsewhere in the world) has afforded me more gaming time than usual. The policy of social distancing has reduced my caring duties to just three hours a day. Hence I and many others like me have much more leisure time available. I initially thought that this situation would be the perfect time to try some of the many of the games that I have stockpiled over the years. However, despite trawling through many titles, I still failed to find anything that immediately took my fancy. So I decided to take stock of my overall gaming activities and whether it was time to revise them and try something new. And by new I don’t just mean just buying a new game but taking a step out of my current comfort zone into a genre I don’t usually play. So that’s exactly what I did and the results have been very interesting.
I have been curious about the Battle Royale genre for a while, since the explosive growth first of Player Unknown’s Battlegrounds and then Fortnite. I’ve read a lot about the success of both these games and the way that, despite offering essentially the same experience, they have pursued different audiences and markets. I have often considered trying either one of them but the demographics of their respective playerbase has put me off. The arrival of Call of Duty Warzone subsequently provided a tipping point, as I have prior experience of the franchise and the game offers a Battle Royale experience in a format that is acceptable to me. I’ve written elsewhere about the game and my attempts to improve my gameplay performance but to summarise here, it has been a positive experience to try something new. Although there is a strong element of twitch gaming in Call of Duty Warzone, it is not the only defining factor. There is much that a player can do to succeed in the game and progress through the ranking system.
As a result of trying something new, I have temporarily sidelined The Lord of the Rings Online. I was surprised how quickly Update 26 (now called Mists of Wilderland) was released so soon after being previewed on the test server. And as a result the new zone launched with a lot of bugs. I don’t especially like questing in new areas when they’re swarming with players and find forming an orderly queue to kill a specific mob somewhat immersion breaking (and annoying). So I’ll return to LOTRO in a month or two when the area is a little quieter. My other MMO of choice, Star Trek Online, has been pulling out all the stops to keep players engaged and to entice those who have moved on to return. At present, I’m just logging in once a day to do a featured Task Force Operation. This earns a token that can be handed in for either a C-Store ship or for a stash of Lobi Crystals (which can be bartered for fancy gear, crew or yet more ships).
I briefly dusted off Sniper Elite 4 but my overfamiliarity with the maps soon put pay to that. I am really looking forward to the fifth iteration of the game as it really is such a different experience to the hectic pace of other game genres. As for May, I think I keep playing Call of Duty Modern Warfare. I’m still working my way through the campaign, playing multiplayer against bots as a means to practice my aiming and familiarise myself with the maps. And despite only being a distinctly average player, I am having a lot of fun in Warzone. My only complaint is that I play Solo Battle Royale and would like at some point to play as part of a four man squad. But I don’t know anyone else who plays the game and I am reluctant to join a PUG. However, with an excess of time on my hands, even that may change. No doubt next month’s post will highlight yet further changes in my gaming habits, as this seems to be a theme at present.
The Problem with Housing in MMORPGs
Housing in the MMORPG genre continuously fails to reach its potential. Despite the scope it offers both in functionality and gameplay, it has seldom progressed beyond offering storage and some arbitrary customisation. Hence this is a perennial subject of debate for many MMO communities. Given the popularity of this subject, it would appear to indicate that there’s a potential market for expanded housing functionality. And yet many MMO developers still display a blindspot for this issue. You’d think that the scope for monetisation would prove a big enough incentive but housing just doesn’t seem to be especially high on their priority list. It is odd considering that the MMORPG genre is a fundamentally social one. Housing in theory offers so much scope to capitalise and explore this aspect of gaming. Yet it remains a cul-de-sac and an afterthought.
Housing in the MMORPG genre continuously fails to reach its potential. Despite the scope it offers both in functionality and gameplay, it has seldom progressed beyond offering storage and some arbitrary customisation. Hence this is a perennial subject of debate for many MMO communities. Given the popularity of this subject, it would appear to indicate that there’s a potential market for expanded housing functionality. And yet many MMO developers still display a blindspot for this issue. You’d think that the scope for monetisation would prove a big enough incentive but housing just doesn’t seem to be especially high on their priority list. It is odd considering that the MMORPG genre is a fundamentally social one. Housing in theory offers so much scope to capitalise and explore this aspect of gaming. Yet it remains a cul-de-sac and an afterthought.
I have a Deluxe Premium House in The Lord of the Rings Online. It has crafting stations, storage, a “visiting banker” and a summoning horn which calls a vendor NPC. I have made an attempt to decorate it stylishly but beyond that I seldom visit it as it doesn’t offer anything else. There are some minor quests in the Cape of Belfalas housing zone but they are not repeatable. This is a real shame as they are quite enjoyable. Especially the one where you take an old and faithful dog out for a walk. The only real advantage my house offers is a fast travel skill that has a 1 minute cool down. I specifically chose a house at Bay Road as it is the nearest to a cluster of NPCs offering Auction House, Provisioner and Stable services. So my house mainly provides a travel hub service and nothing else. It all seems such a waste of resources. I suspect that the new Rohan based housing coming with Update 26 is not going to be anything radically different.
Star Trek Online deals with housing in a somewhat different way but ultimately still faces the same issues. Your ship is your house to all intents and purposes, providing shared storage and in some cases, access to the Exchange (auction house). You can visit Engineering, Sick Bay and your ship’s councillor and the NPCs will provide Duty Officer Missions. But again, there’s not much on offer beyond this. You can place trophies in the Captain’s Quarters and in the communal lounge. And you can also visit the bridge of your ship, although there’s only so many times you can sit in the Captain's chair and hit the “engage” emote before it gets old. Again this feels like a major missed opportunity. Some vessels offer minor variations on these services, such as bespoke Duty Officer Missions but it’s hardly a major selling point. Considering the amount of customisation you can do to your build and gear in STO, it would be nice to see the same ethos extended toward your ship interior.
If you ask a hundred MMO players what they want from housing in their game of choice, you’ll get 100 different answers. Perhaps that is one of the reasons why developers are reticent to tackle anything housing related. Personally, I’d like to see in LOTRO some sort of collective undertaking, similar to the Fleet Projects in STO. A system that allowed those living in a specific housing phase to contribute to group endeavours that would upgrade community resources. I’d like to see quests and tasks in housing areas. Why not give players a reason to visit their house and interact with their neighbours. Offering unique items can certainly be an incentive. In STO I’d like to see some quest content that offered you a chance to customise and augment your ship’s interior. Rather than just duty officer assignments, it would be nice to have some bespoke missions that involved the crew of your vessel. Something that would make your frequenting your ships various departments more than just a cosmetic exercise. It would certainly be useful to have all resources you find on Earth Spacedock available on your ship.
Although I never really warmed to the rebuilding of Hytbold in LOTRO, some of the systems found in that part of the game could be augmented and used in a housing scenario. Any form of interactivity is an improvement over just functionality. Perhaps a housing area could also have some sort of bespoke story quest line. Something that gives some character to an area, so it isn’t just a glorified storage service. What I don’t want to see is just an increase of cosmetic items. Although it is fun to be able to personalise the look of your virtual house, there needs to be more to it than just another collection to grind for. If customising leads to unlocking content then that would certainly add more depth. But I suspect that many developers simply prioritise PVE content development over everything else, for practical reasons. Although you can argue that taking a risk with housing could well pay off. But I suspect that it will remain an untap resource and all we’re likely to see in any new MMOs will be the straightforward “by and collect” approach we see in The Elder Scrolls Online.
Bullroarer Update 26 Preview #1
Standing Stone Games are currently previewing Update 26 for The Lord of the Rings Online on the Bullroarer Test Server. The new zone, the Wells of Langflood, follows in the idiom of Vale of Anduin with a comparable aesthetic. However, as this region is further north and at a higher altitude, there is a prevailing mist in most areas. The landscape also slowly climbs North as you approach where the arms of the Misty Mountains and Ered Mithrin meet. Overall it is a bright and colourful zone filled with wildlife. However, there are also various mobs from Mount Gundabad and several advance camps of Trolls and Orcs. There are also numerous Dwarven ruins indicating their historical presence in the region. The Eagles also feature in the area and obviously appear in several of the zones quest storylines.
Standing Stone Games are currently previewing Update 26 for The Lord of the Rings Online on the Bullroarer Test Server. The new zone, the Wells of Langflood, follows in the idiom of Vale of Anduin with a comparable aesthetic. However, as this region is further north and at a higher altitude, there is a prevailing mist in most areas. The landscape also slowly climbs North as you approach where the arms of the Misty Mountains and Ered Mithrin meet. Overall it is a bright and colourful zone filled with wildlife. However, there are also various mobs from Mount Gundabad and several advance camps of Trolls and Orcs. There are also numerous Dwarven ruins indicating their historical presence in the region. The Eagles also feature in the area and obviously appear in several of the zones quest storylines.
There are four stables in Wells of Langflood. Limlók is the main Beorning settlement in an area called Floodfells. Further North there’s a second smaller settlement, Thokvist, just off the central road that traverses the zone from North to South. This area called Misthallow is quite small and penned in by mountains to the East and the river Anduin to the West. Further North there is the area known as Framsburg, which was the ancient home of the Éothéod, the ancestors of the Rohirrim. Many of the ruins are now home to Trolls and Orcs. And at the very Northern Apex of the map there is a third stable of Hlithseld. This area is more mountainous with narrow, twisting paths, overlooking ancient Dwarven remains. The new zone ends here at Elderslade and obviously will lead at a future date into Gundalok. There is a road that leads to the North East to the West of Rushgate.
The fourth stable is by far the most intriguing. It is located in the hidden village of Lyndelby which lies to the West of Framsburg on the opposite side of the river. It is accessed via a narrow winding path through a mountainous ravine and lies nestled in the arms of the Misty Mountains and North of the river Langwell. This secret valley is lush and fertile and home to Holbytlan, possibly the River Hobbits that SSG alluded to recently. It makes sense canonically that such a settlement could exist and their proximity to the Éothéod explains why Holbytlan appear in the legends of the Rohirrim. The mountain also shields this Hobbit community from an enemy enclave at Sundergrót. Among the Dwarven ruins, the enemy has siege engines and other weapons of war. Access to this area is via a makeshift bridge that traverses the Anduin and along a path West.
The Wells of Langflood is an agreeable new zone. If you enjoyed the ambience of the Vale of Anduin, then this is more of the same. There are numerous mountainous vistas with impressive views and the ambient music is once again integral to the atmosphere of the zone. As ever, about a third of the area shown on the map is inaccessible and SSG have done their usual trick of using the environment to funnel the player from quest hub to quest hub. I am definitely looking forward to returning to such a bright and verdant zone region having spent several months in Imlad Morgul, which I found to be a depressing and gloomy environment . As ever please note that Bullroarer is a test server and there is always scope for content to change prior to its release to the live game.
In addition to the pictures in this post, here is a link to a gallery of screenshots via Google Photos. All are available at the original screen resolution of 1920 x 1200.
LOTRO: Producer’s Letter 2020
After several month’s delay and various rumours about internal corporate dissent, Standing Stone Games have finally released this year’s Producer’s Letter. Its arrival has produced a collective sigh of relief from the playerbase, as neither Executive Producer Severlin (Rob Ciccolini) or Community Manager Cordovan (Jerry Snook) seem to shine at corporate communications. In fact there has been an information vacuum for over six months. As for the letter, it certainly promises a lot of new content for The Lord of the Rings Online coming over the next year to eighteen months. And at first glance it sounds as if there’s something for everyone. A catalogue of PVE content, adjustments to the Legendary Items systems, a designated PVP server, more Premium Housing (this time in Rohan) and a further Legendary Server offering greater content difficulty. However, as ever the devil is in the detail and until we know more the vagaries are somewhat frustrating.
After several month’s delay and various rumours about internal corporate dissent, Standing Stone Games have finally released this year’s Producer’s Letter. Its arrival has produced a collective sigh of relief from the playerbase, as neither Executive Producer Severlin (Rob Ciccolini) or Community Manager Cordovan (Jerry Snook) seem to shine at corporate communications. In fact there has been an information vacuum for over six months. As for the letter, it certainly promises a lot of new content for The Lord of the Rings Online coming over the next year to eighteen months. And at first glance it sounds as if there’s something for everyone. A catalogue of PVE content, adjustments to the Legendary Items systems, a designated PVP server, more Premium Housing (this time in Rohan) and a further Legendary Server offering greater content difficulty. However, as ever the devil is in the detail and until we know more the vagaries are somewhat frustrating.
A new PVE Epic Storyline “The Legacy of Durin and the Trials of the Dwarves” is scheduled to run over 2020-21. The first instalment called Mists of Wilderland, that will take players to the Wells of Langflood, is to be released in late spring. Later in the year after the release of Aragorn and Arwen’s wedding, SSG are adding the War of the Three Peaks. This is scaling content open to all players allowing them to come to Durin's aid, as the Dwarves advance to Mount Gundabad to deal with the Orc threat. All of this content is the “meat and potatoes” of LOTRO. Raids, instances and PVE quests are the things that keep players engaged and playing. If the overhaul to the LI system is fair, sensible and not yet another grindfest, then I shall be pleased. Legendary Weapons are a great concept that have never met their full potential since their introduction in 2008.
I am however, somewhat reticent about some of the other ideas mooted in the Producer’s Letter. I’m not sure what the population is of the two current Legendary Servers but is there any real value in offering a third? Offering more difficult combat in the manner described by SSG, with the Eye of Sauron boosting mob performance sounds intriguing but if this is then met with a reciprocal boost in player performance, exactly what has been gained? It sounds somewhat similar to the existing “Inspired Greatness” mechanic that allows single players to solo content that was originally intended for groups. And where I welcome a new PVP combat server for fans of such content, for any competitive and ranked gameplay to have any longevity, it will require regular updates. Other competitive games have seasons, themed material and a great deal of developer/community interaction. If the LOTRO PVP players are simply encouraged to relocate to an environment that is static as the Ettenmoors in the existing game, then it’s not much of an improvement.
Spreading the LOTRO playerbase across multiple servers is both a risk to business and community cohesion. If players old and new, commit to one of the new servers and it doesn’t work out the way they hoped, will they return to their old servers? Certainly for new players it means starting afresh. And for established players returning to alts that have fallen below level cap, catching up can be an uphill struggle at times. It’s a shame that SSG cannot offer a variety of play styles and activities on the current live servers thus ensuring that LOTRO players although pursuing different goals are at least in the same virtual Middle-earth. I also don’t like to see such words as “temporary” in any road map style communication. These are after all public business plans. Short term objectives don’t always inspire confidence. However, once again I will reiterate that LOTRO is a 13 year old MMO and frankly having any timetable for new content is a good thing compared to the alternatives. Let us see what comes of it all.
MMO Etiquette
A lot of MMORPGs are experiencing high levels of new or returning players at present (for some particular reason). Despite this particular genre of games having radically evolved over the last two decades, there is still one fundamental component that has remained a constant. Namely the human factor. Hence there is plenty of scope for both old and new players to clash, disagree and fall out. Why, you may ask. Well mainly because behavioural and social norms that prevail in the real world, do not necessarily translate so well to a virtual environment. Visual cues such as body language are not available and it’s harder to pick up on tone and nuance from plain text, typed in global chat. However, we can all take steps to prevent any misunderstanding that can lead to a “wee stoushie”, by refreshing our respective memories about some basic MMO etiquette.
Whose round is it?
A lot of MMORPGs are experiencing high levels of new or returning players at present (for some particular reason). Despite this particular genre of games having radically evolved over the last two decades, there is still one fundamental component that has remained a constant. Namely the human factor. Hence there is plenty of scope for both old and new players to clash, disagree and fall out. Why, you may ask. Well mainly because behavioural and social norms that prevail in the real world, do not necessarily translate so well to a virtual environment. Visual cues such as body language are not available and it’s harder to pick up on tone and nuance from plain text, typed in global chat. However, we can all take steps to prevent any misunderstanding that can lead to a “wee stoushie”, by refreshing our respective memories about some basic MMO etiquette.
So here are some simple tips in no specific order. Some are more important than others but all can contribute to a better player experience and a less fractious atmosphere.
No Ninja invites to groups or guilds. Do not random spam complete strangers with unsolicited invitations to groups or guilds. Always ask first. Failure will just get you instantly placed on an ignore list.
When in a PUG (Pick Up Group), always address the various members by their screen names and not by class. Courtesy is king in a social game.
Do not aggro dump. IE if you’re being chased by every mob in Christendom, don’t run through groups of other players in an attempt to lose the mess of trouble that’s following you.
Call people out on racism, sexism and homophobia. Don’t let it slide. Alternatively, take a screen capture of any text based abuse or bigotry and report the offender to the GMs. MMO players get the community they deserve. If you facilitate assholes by giving them a free pass, then you’re shitting in your own virtual watering hole.
Do not tolerate ill manners or bullying in raids and other group activities. Give offenders one warning to cool their heels and if they continue, then kick them from the group. If you don’t have control of the group, then leave, citing the offender as the reason for your withdrawal.
A pre-agreed time for a raid is not optional or flexible. It is absolute. Be punctual. Kick or exclude those who are late, so that they learn to tell the time. Most children can master this.
Only roll on loot that is relevant to your class. Always agree upon rules regarding the division of loot prior to starting and group content.
Never beg for gold in chat in any zone. Just don’t. It’s just unseemly. We all earned our gold. Why the fuck can’t you?
Don’t crowd the mailbox or any other public interactive resource. Get the fuck off your mount and stow your pet. Be as cognitive about virtual personal space, as you would real life personal space.
Don't just walk out on your group without saying a word. If something comes up and you have to leave your PC, then let all others concerned parties know. If a raid is not going well or you’re running out of time, then politely point out that you’d like to leave at the first convenient juncture.
If you’re in a specific zone farming resources or pursuing a slayer deed and you encounter another play, consider playing collaboratively, rather than playing against each other. A simple exchange of “tells” can remedy this matter. Sometimes people prefer to play alone. If that’s the case maybe start your activities as far away from the other player as possible.
You may not know the intricacies of a specific raid, especially if it is new content. Sometimes all involved are learning on the fly. However, if you have been asked along specifically because of your character’s class, then make sure you’re up to speed with the basics.
If a group activities requires consumable, then bring consumables. Not a bunch of damn fool excuses for forgetting them.
Keep text based chat clear and concise. Do not lapse into slang and esoteric terminology unless all our au fait with such things.
Use public chat channels for the purposes they were created for. IE restrict trade enquiries to trade channels, for example. And remember players have usually logged into an MMO to play the game and not listen to your “armchair views” of identity politics, the Eucharist and its theological implications and Etruscan pottery. Confine your bloviations on the contentious to private channels.
Some games have recurring events that happen at regular intervals. Sometimes there may be an in-game timer that can inform you when they’re next available. Alternatively, there may be third party websites with scheduling information. Use these facilities. Do not just ask the obvious, like that guy you had in your class when you were 12, who was a total twat and had no sense of the dynamics of human interaction.
Do not steal other player’s kills. Do not interfere with other players' activities without their consent. They may be setting themselves a personal challenge and may not actually want your help.
Not everyone likes, or feels comfortable using voice chat. When grouping, always have options when it comes to communicating. If someone doesn’t want to use chat, respect their stance and leave it at that. Don’t cross examine them.
Don’t assume the gender of a player is the same as their avatar. Don’t assume all players are the same age as you. Don’t assume that your primary language is the same for everyone.
Remember that you can charge whatever you want for an item on Auction House. If anyone complains about undercutting prices, ignore them. They can always purchase your items and take them off the market. Unless the developers have set specific rules regarding pricing, do what you want. Funny how people only like capitalism while it serves their purpose.
If group content goes badly, be very careful with regard to assigning blame because the player whose competence you’re questioning, may well think the same about you. If in doubt, bid everyone goodnight and leave without comment.
You’re not totally anonymous, despite your fancy onscreen name. Players can gain a reputation within a gaming community. It’s up to you whether that’s good or bad.
People play MMOs for all sorts of reasons. You are not the arbiter of fun, nor deputised to enforce your own interpretation of how the game “should be played”.
Finally, never let anyone called Colin join your guild. Just don’t. You’ll regret it.
I’m sure I’ve barely scratched the surface when it comes to MMO etiquette. Please feel free to leave further helpful tips in the comments below.
More Gaming Amnesia
I wrote back in January 2018 about “gaming amnesia” and how if you step away from a game for a while, then often you can forget not only the basic control layout but the essential mechanics as well. Well I’ve had a couple of further instances of this recently and it got me thinking as to whether there’s a finite amount of game related data you can retain at one time. I suspect the answer is yes and that it all comes down to the old “use it or lose it” maxim. If you’re not playing a complex game regularly, then the knowledge gets superseded by information you have a more pressing need to access. Hence I do not think I’m experiencing the early signs of dementia of anything like that. Nonetheless, it can be quite frustrating and age is also a factor. Our reactions do slow as we get older and quickly recollecting information becomes more of a chore.
I wrote back in January 2018 about “gaming amnesia” and how if you step away from a game for a while, then often you can forget not only the basic control layout but the essential mechanics as well. Well I’ve had a couple of further instances of this recently and it got me thinking as to whether there’s a finite amount of game related data you can retain at one time. I suspect the answer is yes and that it all comes down to the old “use it or lose it” maxim. If you’re not playing a complex game regularly, then the knowledge gets superseded by information you have a more pressing need to access. Hence I do not think I’m experiencing the early signs of dementia of anything like that. Nonetheless, it can be quite frustrating and age is also a factor. Our reactions do slow as we get older and quickly recollecting information becomes more of a chore.
I decided to log into Read Dead Redemption 2 a few days ago. I bought the game last November and played it regularly until early January when I decided to focus on another title. I found my character at the edge of a lake with my trusty steed nearby. There is a very close bond between the main character and his horse in this game and it’s a central theme of the story. So I walked up to my horse Roach (yes I did name him thus) and pressed what I thought was the key to mount up. Instead I delivered a robust right hook to his body. Naturally, my equine chum took a dim view of this and promptly lashed out, kicking with his back legs. I lay twitching in a pool of blood, contemplating that this never happened to Randolph Scott or Audie Murphy. To cut a long story short (as Spandau Ballet would say) I couldn’t recollect any of the key mappings.
Another example I would like to cite is navigating the depth of the Mines of Moria in LOTRO. Now I spent a lot of time back in 2009 learning the quaint and esoteric routes around this sprawling subterranean metropolis. There was a time when I could ride an in-game goat from Durin’s Threshold in Eriador, right the way through to the First Hall and out into Rhovanion. Furthermore, I could do all this from memory, while eating a sandwich and recording a podcast. I recently found myself utterly lost around Zelem-melek, endlessly going round in circles in Khufdul-tharâkh, shouting at no one in particular about how it would be bloody useful to have a GPS system in this bastard game. I eventually started writing down my route and making notes of landmarks, so I wouldn’t keep looping back to the same locations.
Joking aside, there are several good reasons that mitigate my bout of “gaming amnesia”. Read Dead Redemption 2 is a console port and the thing I often find about such games is that they map the keys in a most unusual way. You often find that WASD doesn’t control movement but some other utterly bizarre alternative permutation. And with regard to Moria, I was reminded by a fellow player that the area has been extensively redeveloped since its initial release in 2008. So perhaps I’m not as incompetant as I initially thought. However, I do think that it would be useful if more developers included a tutorial that could be accessed at any point during the proceedings. All too often, your hand is held purely at the beginning of a game and it is assumed that once you’ve learned the basics, you’ll forever have them at your fingertips. Patently that is not the case. I’m also sure that I’ll experience “gaming amnesia” again quite soon.Especially in light of me returning to both Neverwinter and Call of Duty.
Completing the Minas Morgul Expansion
Despite taking a short break out of pure frustration, I decided to grit my teeth and try to finish the Minas Morgul expansion for The Lord of the Rings Online over the last few days. As I suspected, once you start questing in Minas Morgul itself, it all becomes very homogenous. The circles of the city are deliberately ponderous to navigate and the quests are padded out with generic filler content that requires you to kill multiple types of mobs. Furthermore, Minas Morgul itself is a “lagfest” and you can often find yourself instantly in combat with a mob lurking immediately outside the door of the Rangers camps. The density of the enemies means that you’re continuously pulling aggro when travelling form A to B. And you often find yourself rubberbanding and stuttering due to the poor build of the city. Completing all of the various tiers of the city is a grueling task and upon completion you’re immediately sent to Thuringwath which has many of the same problems. Although some of the quest stories are well conceived, the realities of completing much of the content in Minas Morgul make it very much an uphill struggle.
Despite taking a short break out of pure frustration, I decided to grit my teeth and try to finish the Minas Morgul expansion for The Lord of the Rings Online over the last few days. As I suspected, once you start questing in Minas Morgul itself, it all becomes very homogenous. The circles of the city are deliberately ponderous to navigate and the quests are padded out with generic filler content that requires you to kill multiple types of mobs. Furthermore, Minas Morgul itself is a “lagfest” and you can often find yourself instantly in combat with a mob lurking immediately outside the door of the Rangers camps. The density of the enemies means that you’re continuously pulling aggro when travelling form A to B. And you often find yourself rubberbanding and stuttering due to the poor build of the city. Completing all of the various tiers of the city is a grueling task and upon completion you’re immediately sent to Thuringwath which has many of the same problems. Although some of the quest stories are well conceived, the realities of completing much of the content in Minas Morgul make it very much an uphill struggle.
So far I have completed the Circles of Wrath, Sorrow, Madness and am currently working on the aptly named Circle of Despair. To break up the monotony, I decided to tackle the Epic Story as I wanted to see the conclusion of the Black Book of Mordor. I was suitably impressed by the way the writers tied up all the loose ends, especially the manner in which Gothmog met his fate. The link to Golodir and the lineage of his sword Dúnachar was intriguing. I also liked the way that the author of the Black Book, the Zhelruka Dwarf Voin, turned out to be a benign character and was rather moved in the final scene in which he said goodbye to his wife and son and went off to die. I enjoyed the subtle inference that he may have found Thafar-gathol. Once again the musical score by Bill Champagne was outstanding and greatly enhanced the drama. The final epilogue where you have to decide who gets the Black Book proved interesting and presented three interesting choices. I decided it should be returned to Khîl Tale-spinner as he is a descendant of Voin. But I did flirt with the notion of giving it to Karazgar.
As ever with LOTRO, it is the strength of the stories and characters, along with the realisation of the world itself which are the game’s greatest strengths. Hence these have been the aspects of the Minas Morgul expansion that I’ve enjoyed the most. As I approach the completion of this expansion I am pleased that I have reached level cap with a relatively robust build. The gear I obtained from opening 22 Adventurer's Steel-bound Lootboxes has made a significant difference to my performance. In recent weeks I have added additional tiers to my LI Legacies and have also upgraded most of the settings. I am also levelling my slotted virtue traits, now that the level cap has been increased to 68. Yet despite these positive points, I cannot help but feel that this expansion is very much a product of two very distinct parts. I very much enjoyed the first section set during the Second Age. However, the second part feels notably weaker, with a lot of arbitrary content thrown together in a slapdash fashion. As for the new raids, I have not experienced these as of yet and am not likely to due to my kinship being quiet of late.
Waiting for the New Middle-earth MMO
In late 2018 it was announced that Amazon Game Studios and Leyou were collaborating on massively multiplayer online game for PC and consoles set in Middle-earth. Ongoing development is being handled by Athlon Games, a global developer and publisher of free-to-play console and PC games. The studio is a subsidiary of Leyou Technologies Holdings Limited. But beyond the fairly vague press releases that can be found on the Athlon Games website (the last was posted in July 2019), little detail has emerged about the project. There has been unsubstantiated rumours that the project may well tie-in with the forthcoming Amazon Prime TV show that is set in the Second Age of Middle Earth. However, there is little information at present in the public domain to fully substantiate this or any of the other ongoing speculation. Hence, the entire situation raises some interesting questions and I’m sure like me, you have probably pondered some of them. Here are just a few that have crossed my mind.
In late 2018 it was announced that Amazon Game Studios and Leyou were collaborating on massively multiplayer online game for PC and consoles set in Middle-earth. Ongoing development is being handled by Athlon Games, a global developer and publisher of free-to-play console and PC games. The studio is a subsidiary of Leyou Technologies Holdings Limited. But beyond the fairly vague press releases that can be found on the Athlon Games website (the last was posted in July 2019), little detail has emerged about the project. There has been unsubstantiated rumours that the project may well tie-in with the forthcoming Amazon Prime TV show that is set in the Second Age of Middle Earth. However, there is little information at present in the public domain to fully substantiate this or any of the other ongoing speculation. Hence, the entire situation raises some interesting questions and I’m sure like me, you have probably pondered some of them. Here are just a few that have crossed my mind.
Will this title be directly competing with Standing Stone Games MMORPG The Lord of the Rings Online?
Exactly what sort of MMO will this new LOTR based game be, as the very term MMO is extremely elastic these days.
Will the appropriate licensing body allow two games from the same genre to exist simultaneously?
Exactly what business model will this new MMO have?
What iteration of the franchise will this game be based upon? Will it draw directly from the Peter Jackson movies (like games such as Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor and Middle-earth: Shadow of War) or will it create a unique vision of Middle Earth as with SSG’s LOTRO?
Due to the lack of any definitive information, all we can presently do is speculate about the answers to these questions. Firstly, as to “do we need another The Lord of the Rings themed MMO”, I certainly think the market can sustain one. Competition can be a healthy thing and it is nice as a consumer to have choice. Products can co-exist harmoniously if they provide different experiences. I am always interested in seeing different people’s visions of Professor Tolkien's work, such as artists like Alan Lee, John Howe and Ted Nasmith, so for me a new game would be welcome purely from an creative and aesthetic perspective. There is also a wealth of lore that is available to be developed into new storylines. This is something that Turbine and Standing Stone Games have managed to do successfully over the past thirteen years. Any new game can easily explore an aspect of Tolkien’s work that hasn’t been touched by any previous product. There is no need to simply tread old ground.
Now if this new The Lord of the Rings themed MMO is marketed in direct competition to LOTRO, then I would expect it to be a very different beast, based around the mechanics and systems that are currently popular within the genre. I do not see any benefit in simply creating an MMO that replicates what exactly LOTRO does. I would not be surprised if this new MMO was closer to The Elder Scrolls Online in its systems design. It is also worth considering licensing arrangements. When Star Wars: The Old Republic was released in late 2011, a decision was made to close the older MMO Star Wars Galaxies. Exactly why this happened has never been officially discussed, so we do not know if this was solely about concerns over competition. However, the legal rights for Tolkien’s work are administered by a completely different body, so it doesn’t mean that a similar fate necessarily awaits LOTRO. But it is prudent to at least reflect upon what happened to SWG.
Personally, I would like to see a less linear game with a far more open world environment, dynamic content that is proximity based and the chance to develop charterers that aren't solely based around combat. To be able to lose oneself in a virtual Middle Earth, where you are free to explore, craft, farm, trade or simply aimlessly meander, would be a massive step forward for fans of the IP. But I am fully aware that what delights me may well deter other gamers and that ultimately any game is going to have to find a balance between the new and established systems that are economically viable. The development costs required to create a truly open world version of Middle-earth would be substantial and more importantly, the risk of such an experimental project would potentially be the biggest obstacle. Conversely, just using Tolkien’s world for yet another PVP or Battle Royale game would in my view be a waste of the franchise.
I'm sure that many interested parties will be keeping an eye on Athlon Games over the next year to see how this new MMO pans out. Let us hope that further information is forthcoming regarding its development and its specific nature. However, a quality MMO is not made overnight and so I’m not optimistic that I’ll be playing this new game any time soon. If it is tied to the Amazon Prime TV show, then the games launch may also depend on whether that show gains any traction. Furthermore, the TV show may well be intended to run over numerous seasons and try and emulate the sustained success of Game of Thrones. If that's the case then this new MMO may not appear until the TV show has hit its peak popularity. And if the show is not well received the game could well be cancelled before release. Therefore, it may well be best for Tolkien fans to simply just keep an eye on this project and continue to focus on those games such as LOTRO that do currently exist and provide a specific service.
Old is New
If you keep up with news in the MMORPG community, you’ll be aware that there has been a recent resurgence in “rogue server” offering emulation services for titles that have officially closed. City of Heroes and Star Wars Galaxies continue to sustain a player base and the level of interest clearly indicates that this is not just due to mere nostalgia. Simply put these games maintain an audience because they are good. They’re well designed, engaging and rewarding to play. Similarly, remastered games are proving to be both popular and commercially successful. Resident Evil 2 which was released last year has sold over 5 million copies and received critical acclaim. It currently has a rating of 91% on Metacritic (for those who put stock in such things). Pundits are already predicting that the remake of Final Fantasy VII will enjoy similar success. Again when you analyse the reviews and critiques available online, you find that these remastered titles fare well due to their inherent quality. Is this something newer games are lacking?
If you keep up with news in the MMORPG community, you’ll be aware that there has been a recent resurgence in “rogue server” offering emulation services for titles that have officially closed. City of Heroes and Star Wars Galaxies continue to sustain a player base and the level of interest clearly indicates that this is not just due to mere nostalgia. Simply put these games maintain an audience because they are good. They’re well designed, engaging and rewarding to play. Similarly, remastered games are proving to be both popular and commercially successful. Resident Evil 2 which was released last year has sold over 5 million copies and received critical acclaim. It currently has a rating of 91% on Metacritic (for those who put stock in such things). Pundits are already predicting that the remake of Final Fantasy VII will enjoy similar success. Again when you analyse the reviews and critiques available online, you find that these remastered titles fare well due to their inherent quality. Is this something newer games are lacking?
Games commentator Jim Sterling touches upon this subject in the latest edition of The Jimquisition (09.03.20). He strongly believes that too many contemporary so called “triple A” games are hobbled by microtransactions and content gated behind paywalls. Season passes promise future content thus justifying incomplete titles to be released and that creativity and innovation are sidelined when creating a game as a “live service”. Hence he states it is customer dissatisfaction with current games that makes remastered titles more appealing. They present an opportunity to play through a game with any impediment, interruption or requirement to pay more money to access further content. Furthermore, these are titles that hail from an era where the creative focus was on the gameplay and new ideas were not subordinate to business imperatives. All are cogent points that I broadly agree with, as I’ve experienced all of these over several decades of gaming.
The mainstream video game industry is not known for responding quickly or adapting promptly to new situations. Once a successful trend is established it is frequently slavishly followed. Hence multiple genres have each experienced a brief time in the sun. All too often a couple of games will arrive late to the proverbial party and fail to find an audience and quickly close. Some titles will even get canned while in development, if the marketing tide has turned. However, sooner or later the boardrooms of these multi billion dollar companies have got to notice what is selling and what is not. EA stated a few years ago that single player games were done as a genre and yet Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, a conspicuously single player game without live service trappings, has proven very successful. No matter how glacial the rate of change may be, sooner or later major publishers are going to connect the dots and see what is selling and more importantly why it is doing so. At this point will the old become new? Only time will tell.