-
Since this blog post got a hell of a lot of coverage (compared to the usual coverage the blog gets :), I'd like to say one thing first:
I do not think that the ideas of left and right I mention here are related to the political left/right of any country. It was just a nice wording to describe 'welfare epics' as 'left'. That's all. Actually I thought about reversing the left/right, just to confuse people, but didn't do that in the end.
-
Here's a hypothesis:
As most of us know there are two groups of MMO players: Let's call them Left and Right.
Left:
Likes welfare epics
Wants easier content
Everybody should be able to access all content
Downtime sucks
Vanilla WoW sucked
Gameplay >> Virtual World
Theme Park >> Sandbox
Likes Instances
PvP has to be balanced and instanced
Group content should be optional. Players should not depend on each other
Anonymity is not a big problem
...
Right:
Hates welfare epics
Wants harder content
Wants only some people to beat the hardest content
Downtime adds to the experience
Vanilla was nice, Original Everquest even better
Virtual World >> Gameplay
Sandbox >> Theme Park
Disklikes Instances
Why shouldn't I be able to hit the guy in front of me?
Group content is important and requires players to depend on each other
Anonymity is a big problem
...
Now, most people belong to one of these groups. This is also true at Blizzard.
Hypothesis:
When working on WotLK the two groups made a deal:
One group would design WotLK and the other will design the subsequent expansion. The management liked it as they could use some social experiment data for the new MMO. So the groups threw a coin and the Left got to design WotLK.
They made raids accessible to everybody. They turned heroic dungeons into AoE theaters. They made outside mobs hit for 0.5% of players health. Etc. etc. etc.
Now .. CATACLYSM comes around and the RIGHT is back:
Outside mob damage is increased 400% !
Outside mob health is increased 100%.
No AoE in dungeons. CC is back!
Considerable downtime is re-introduced.
Much less itemlevel progression this time.
Slow mounts for the dead.
Let's see what else they have in store.
If you were representing the "gaming right", then how come you are such a strong supporter for piracy? I'm pretty sure that the right would rather pursue video game pirates harder, while the left would be more lenient. And how come you wouldn't even consider ATitD, which fulfils all the conditions in your "right" list?
ReplyDeleteAlso the idea that the "right" is taking over in Cataclysm is ridiculous, because they don't even tick half of your boxes in your list. If you believe that Cataclysm will be more Sandbox, more free-for-all-PvP, and have less instances, you will be sorely disappointed by that expansion.
Basically you are grouping things together which have nothing to do with each other. A player can very well like the instanced themepark gameplay, and at the same time clamor for harder raid dungeons. There is no indication whatsoever that the people who complain about WoW being to easy want to play a sandbox game instead.
Also the idea that the "right" is taking over in Cataclysm is ridiculous, because they don't even tick half of your boxes in your list. If you believe that Cataclysm will be more Sandbox, more free-for-all-PvP, and have less instances, you will be sorely disappointed by that expansion.
ReplyDeleteThe turn to the left didn't came over night. The turn to the right won't, either.
I am well aware of the fact that I might be totally wrong here. Perhaps the sudden stagnation of sub numbers convinced the management at Blizzard HQ to get some old people and their ideas back into the design process.
Perhaps the current beta is a pure anomaly in modern times and will be nerfed hard before release. I don't know, but I can guess.
Basically you are grouping things together which have nothing to do with each other. A player can very well like the instanced themepark gameplay, and at the same time clamor for harder raid dungeons. There is no indication whatsoever that the people who complain about WoW being to easy want to play a sandbox game instead.
True. You realized an amazing thing of these 'left'-'right' stories: Totally unrelated things suddenly correlate.
For example:
If you want higher taxes you probably also favor more green energy and believe in climate change.
Totally unrelated, and in real life I consider myself indeed balanced. But in MMOs I am cleary part of the right and amazingly, if you read MMO forums this divide is real. Even though not every player supports 100% of the ideas of his group, most players belong clearly to one of the groups and usually even more so the more they discuss MMOs.
If you were representing the "gaming right", then how come you are such a strong supporter for piracy? I'm pretty sure that the right would rather pursue video game pirates harder, while the left would be more lenient. And how come you wouldn't even consider ATitD, which fulfils all the conditions in your "right" list?
I don't think my ad hoc definition of 'right' and 'left' can be applied outside of the game. In fact, I considered mentioning the idea that the real world 'left' tends to like the in game 'right' ideas and vice versa.
Why do I not play ATitD? I think I mentioned at your blog that I miss combat and destruction in that game.
Furthermore, these lists are not complete. That is why there are '...'
Besides: This is way off topic :)
"For example:
ReplyDeleteIf you want higher taxes you probably also favor more green energy and believe in climate change."
That's your example? Are you serious? Your penchant for Fox News/Rush Limbaugh is showing.
People take a devil's advocate approach in forums because readers support strong disagreement and controversy. It's much easier to write an opinion piece in opposition to an existing idea/policy.
I want to participate in the forum so I will exagerate my opinion to be heard.
Thus a strong dichotomy will appear to form, even though people's actual beliefs are likely much more centrist. Blizzard is merely looking to please and attract as many subscribers as possible to increase subscription revenue. They haven't divided themselves into camps that don't exist.
And really, who would WANT to pay more taxes?! What people want is more government services and oversight (typically in response to locally observed social ills), which in turn cost money and would likely RESULT in higher taxes.
Is "believing" in Global Climate Change really an option anymore?
Is "believing" in Global Climate Change really an option anymore?
ReplyDeleteThere are many who do not believe in climate change. But since I am from Germany I do. 90% here do ;)
And really, who would WANT to pay more taxes?!
Some people do. Sure - if they could get more services for lower taxes they chose that instead, but one party here in Germany has fallen drastically in favor of the electorate, because they asked for tax reduction although the governmant was increasing its debt. ;)
That's your example? Are you serious? Your penchant for Fox News/Rush Limbaugh is showing.
Fox News .. is that the sender you hear all those jokes about in Europe ? :)
Look: Most people fit into stereotypes. That's why they exist. That doesn't mean that everybody fits or even that everybody fits perfectly.
Make poll: I gurantee that most people who have no problems with higher taxes also believe in climate change and vice versa.
These things are unrelated. There is no reason for this correlation. But it remains a fact.
Similar things exist in most aspects of life - including MMOs.
Most MMO players who like skill based system instead of level based, also like sandbox worlds more than theme parks. Why? .. Tradition ?