The Escapist, Issue 31: In the Hands of the Enemy

[Evil Avatar]

Sometimes the worst enemy to gaming can be gamers themselves. The authors at The Escapist explore this problem, and how game developers feel about it, in this week's issue of The Escapist: In the Hands of the Enemy (http://www.escapistmagazine.com/issue/31). Articles include:

Pat Miller: Balancing Your Second Life (http://www.escapistmagazine.com/issue/31/4)
Although all games have the potential for problems, opening up a virtual sandbox to the world brings an entirely new level of issues. Pat Miller talks to Linden Lab's Cory Ondrejka on how they handle Second Life.

Patrick Dugan: Reimagining Challenge (http://www.escapistmagazine.com/issue/31/11)
"I am a gamer, my brothers are gamers, some of my best friends are gamers, but no matter how much it hurts, I must speak the truth: Gamers are what's wrong with the game industry." Patrick Dugan explains.

Bruce Nielson: Show Me the Money (http://www.escapistmagazine.com/issue/31/17)
"Are your avid fans your best fans?" Bruce Nielson looks at how modern games with content creation tools often have the same expectation of support as expensive professional development tools.

Joe Blancato: Fraternizing with the Enemy (http://www.escapistmagazine.com/issue/31/20)
It's common knowledge that game developers never play their games, or at least it is among the players of those games. It's also not true. Joe Blancato discusses playing your own game with Brian Green, Lead Designer of Meridian 59.

[Librum]

Well, 'Reimagining Challenge' is about the wordiest possible way to say that people want games with more interaction (multiplayer) and less railroading (freeform). Talk about using dollar words when a nickle word is all you need. I usually like their introspective style, but anyone who says 'the problem with gaming is gamers' is suspect in my book.

[captainstrombosis]

I have to agree with librum. I feel like I wasted my time and precious eyesight reading that particular article.

[Roc Ingersol]

I usually like their introspective style, but anyone who says 'the problem with gaming is gamers' is suspect in my book.
It isn't that different far saying: "the problem with movies is the idiots who pay to see [Inane Sequel/Remake]"

Are you honestly suprised that self-important elitist types are lamenting the taste of the masses?

[TheKeck]

You know, I think I've learned what there is to learn about Second Life. Come on, The Escapist, I love ya, but move on!

[captainstrombosis]

Roc your point made me feel rather sheepish :P You are 100% correct. I should have just stopped reading but I had hoped to gain some kind of new and usefull insight. But not this time around. Maybe next escapist.