Here at Overly Positive, we understand that sometimes when it comes to games, your hopes and dreams are crushed beneath the cold, hard boot of reality. We realize that sometimes, things don’t live up to your entirely reasonable expectations of a perfect game and release that doesn’t have a single person whining on a forum. We know that there’s always that one thing that happens to you in a game that makes you think that maybe, just maybe your favorite game developers might not think the world of you and your personal experiences.
Well, aside from reassuring you that lots of people get caught crossdressing and having hot bondage cybersex with an oversized cow player, we’re here to say that it isn’t so bad when you realize your honeymoon with a developer is over. Yes, it’s nice to be in that nice glowy period where they can do no wrong and they appear to be holding the torch to light the way to your nerdgasmic gaming experience, but the aftermath isn’t as ugly as you think.
Perhaps the most recent example I’ve seen is the community’s relationship to Mythic Entertainment and their pet project, Warhammer Online. Up til a little while ago, the community was in a clear love fest with the developers. Bombastic and excitable Paul Barnett wowed people with his humor and energy, CEO Mark Jacobs was loved for his straightforward attitude and courage under fire, and many other game features touted by developers made WAR look like the savior of MMOs.
But just like any MMO community, WAR’s is now getting a dose of bitterness, a fly in an otherwise tasty soup of pre-release news. By cutting 4 classes, creating some confusion over the terms of pre-order sales, and seeming to move from a “release when it’s ready” attitude to one of “meeting a deadline”, the negative voice of the community is getting louder. Dashed on the rocks like a person whose betrothed cheated on them, many are feeling quite awful that Mythic is, indeed, human and they – devgods forbid – make mistakes. The nerve!
Honestly folks, this isn’t that bad, and it’s not just Mythic, it’s any developer. I mean, think about the benefits of knowing that your developer isn’t some divine, untouchable being. For one thing, you won’t burst into flames every time you talk to them or they so much as look in your direction by posting to you. Not dying is a clear benefit. What about the fact that your expectations are clearly lowered? I mean, with your outlook brought crashing down from the cliffs of idealism to the bloody, sharp pointy rocks of reality, you’re only setting yourself up to be pleasantly surprised. There’s no way you’ll be making a big stink about nerfs and cuts and other crappy things when you’re already so emotionally wraught. You can only go up from here, right?
Heck, your social life might improve, because instead of refreshing a forum looking rabidly for a developer tidbit like a starved castaway that resorted to cannabalism, you’ll actually go check out that “ultra-high” resolution of outside. You could make it a group therapy thing – Developerholics Anonymous or something. “Hi, my name is Kristine, and I was addicted to Mythic…”
And the best part about this is – the developer is still going to be there when you come around to it, and you’ll see them in a whole new light. Sure, that light is colored green with the jaded, biting cynicism on your face and the red of the simmering, boiled over rage of your betrayed soul, but at least they’ll look halfway decent, decent enough to shill cash out for them.
So the next time you realize your developer isn’t a god but more like a “butterface”, don’t worry so much about it. Just put a bag over their (or your) head and go to work with your wallet or purse opened like usual. You’ll live, you still won’t regret it in the morning, and you’ll have lots of geek company. We’ll be there shooting the videotape and encouraging you.
Good article!