A Writer's Paradox a Columns at MMORPG.com

SBFord

A Writer's Paradox a Columns at MMORPG.com

This week Tim Eisen writes about writing about MMORPG’s so…like, don’t click this if you want to read about MMORPG’s…which is kind of odd on a site where you go to read about MMORPG’s but whatever I, I guess…

Read the full story here

Forgrimm

The main mmorpg.com page was just down for a bit. Only the forum page was working.

Iselin

I know you're a fan of Black Mirror (as am I) and you've alluded to the Nosedive episode a couple of times. I loved that one too! It's an episode that should be included in school curriculum

As to your qualifications to critique games, that's simple: if you have passion for the games and the genre, you're qualified. Having the ability to communicate that passion is a bonus...

...and as Rock Paper Shotgun has shown, numerical scores are optional. I actually enjoy their reviews that much more because they don't use numbers.

Wizardry

I want to see the passion showing up in game design.
I don't want devs spending millions on marketing,spend that on the game is what i want.

I want a legit person to sit down and discuss the game design live with the developer and not just kiss each others ass to make money.You can ask tough questions of criticize without causing anger.
But devs don't want that,they are NOT serious about their work,only serious about their approach to marketing their games.

So yeah i'd like to see the passion show up instead of the business.IMO if you are so handcuffed by the business end of design that your game cannot flourish,i don't want it.

I can think of ANY trade outside of gaming and it is a whole different world.If i offer to frame someone's house,no marketing or websites or you tuber's will save BAD work.The customer will not come up and say "oh your Indie,ok fair enough,here is your money".
The customer will not say "oh your in early access framing,np i can wait forever,oh btw did we have a contract?".Oh no worries ,let's rip up the contract,i'll just live under the leaky roof until you can finish your work properly.

Kyleran

The intro into your story was priceless, don't click this if you want to read about MMOS.....

Following that advice I'd not get to click on anything here....

Its OK, I'm getting used to not reading about MMOs on this site, pretty much status quo.

As for the challenges you face as a writer or critic, keep this one key thing in mind...

Yours is the only opinion that ever really matters, let the unwashed masses eat their cake...

Wizardry

Point being that game studios are HIDING.
Hiding behind copyright laws and NDA's,hiding behind TOS,lawyers document's and hiding behind collaborative marketing and advertising.NOTHING is transparent ,even when using OUR money there is little transparency.
So ask yourself why?Well because hiding behind all those walls allows them to sell us subpar work,that is NOT accepted anywhere else in the world except the game industry.

Passion is like Zuckerberg or John Carmack or Tim Sweeney,NOT these giant industry businesses that do more lobbying than game design.You will know passionate developers from typical show up to work businesses because they will stand out.
A typical example,99% of the studios are just tossing together some npc's with a yellow marker over their head and triggering a quest to them. and repeat it over and over..LAZY design,BUSINESS like design and NOT passion.

Mendel

I wouldn't be nearly so upset with numeric scores if people would start using real and imaginary numbers instead of the integers and imaginary numbers they use.

MadFrenchie

TimEisen said:

Iselin said:

I know you're a fan of Black Mirror (as am I) and you've alluded to the Nosedive episode a couple of times. I loved that one too! It's an episode that should be included in school curriculum

As to your qualifications to critique games, that's simple: if you have passion for the games and the genre, you're qualified. Having the ability to communicate that passion is a bonus...

...and as Rock Paper Shotgun has shown, numerical scores are optional. I actually enjoy their reviews that much more because they don't use numbers.

I...you...(stands up and begins to applaud). On an overcast day you just handed me an umbrella, thank you.



Also, good idea, it should be in school curriculum along with a class on how to protect yourself from marketing and propaganda.

Unfortunately, at this point, we're closer to having a class fully dedicated to indoctrinating our children into the world of marketing and propaganda than a class preparing them to see through such matters. It's a sad state.

However, your article is excellent. Always enjoy not only reading your articles but seeing your follow up responses to critiques of and commentary on your articles.

Also, I just wanna take the wind outta the troll sails by being the first to (jokingly) say this:


WTF? I come here to read articles about MMORPGs, not this shit! Tim, you must've been paid to write that article!! SHILL!

vveaver_online

that pic from swg get me everytim. man i misss swg

AriesTiger

Iselin said:

I know you're a fan of Black Mirror (as am I) and you've alluded to the Nosedive episode a couple of times. I loved that one too! It's an episode that should be included in school curriculum

As to your qualifications to critique games, that's simple: if you have passion for the games and the genre, you're qualified. Having the ability to communicate that passion is a bonus...

...and as Rock Paper Shotgun has shown, numerical scores are optional. I actually enjoy their reviews that much more because they don't use numbers.

Why it gotta be black? Hmm?

francis_baud

long story short of a reply that would have been too long: Timothy, my hero =P