Link Dead Radio: Feedback, Food and FtP

The links

• The MMO Gypsy started a little Debate this week regarding player feedback and impact on a games direction. She is a little exasperated as to how developers figure out what the players want or more, how they use that as baseless justification. The Chindividual weighed in to say that the forum horde is stupid, or a very poor place to gather information. And if your after my own opinions about the reliance on gathering data and the reliance on metrics head over here.

• Inventory Full discusses the development of food and drink over the years in mmo and the changes from hunger debuffs to a buff that’s almost required for progress. It’s a funny change really that feels like a quality of life change yet diminishes something in play. The last paragraph is especially good.

Perhaps the disorganized deserve to be penalized, but as one of them I am no doubt that the original methodology worked more strongly in my favour than the current one. Perhaps one day game developers will begin to learn some of the lessons that economists are just now beginning to assimilate, namely that there is no such thing as a rational consumer. If and when that ever happens we might once again see fewer carrot soufflés and more big sticks.

• The ancient Gaming noob explores an industry article at IGN regarding F2P and the industries incistence that everything now needs to be free to play. Reminds me of a recent Jimquisition rant regarding a communication he had with a developer and how, FtP is now so popular simply because of the profit margins and the fact there are no pricing points

• Gamer by design discusses Complexity and Depth, in particular WoW’s talent trees and the recent changes of removing needless complexity.

• A writer over at Comic’s Alliance writes about Sexual harrasment in geek culture and how he has come to realise it’s pervasiveness and effect.

Sexual harassment isn’t an occupational hazard. It’s not a glitch in the complex matrix of modern life. It’s not something that just “happens.” It’s something men do. It’s a choice men make. It’s a problem men enable. It’s sometimes a crime men commit. And it is not in the power nor the responsibility of women to wage war on this crime.

• XP Chronicles talks about a principle called the “big Lie” and it’s use in creating and perpetuating stereotypes and group think

The Vids

Age of Wonders 3

Civ: Beyond Earth talk

Wildstar Warplots

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