But there is a flipside to all the fun. I can also contact people I don’t know at Guessing what the community wants all in an instant. I can find a forum, incorrectly sucks. That speculation by website or chat room dedicated to pretty Ahhh, The Community. It is the community can sometimes do more much any topic I’d want. I can and do simultaneously the reason for and the damage than good, i.e. overhype, talk to several people from many In Response to “Hurry Up and Blog bane of the existence of entertainment incorrect speculation being accepted as different countries everyday. People from Me” from The Escapist Forum: producers (no, not just games), media fact. And undoing erroneous speculation several dozen countries read this site Bloggers aren’t journalists. publishers and politicians the world over. or negative rumors is tough business. every month. All of a sudden the world is It is an odd grouping of people, a much smaller place. Bloggers are to journalism what your publishers, producers and politicians, but Knowing this, people have always had to grandmother is to medicine. That is, like the truth is, we do not exist without a pay attention to the community. But that And dealing with communities has your gramma, bloggers can provide community. We also get no rest with a alone is no longer enough. In the past, become an entirely different ball of wax. remedies to some typical problems you community; a community keeps us on our communities have been severely We now have people of all different might have. Gramma knows what to do our toes, calling us on our every slip-up, limited by geography. The farther away walks of life – religions, ages, native when you have a cold or a sore throat. purposeful or not, and wanting ever someone was from you, the harder it languages, socioeconomic status – Bloggers are good at telling us how more from us in the form of product, was to maintain a relationship – the mingling together on the forums of the many people are in line for a PS3 or why information and promises. travel time was longer, the post took internet. Creating a solid community that they think the latest Gears of War review longer, the phone calls were more feels comfortable for different cultures, is unfair. But bloggers, like I’m not complaining – it is what it is. In expensive. but similar interests is a difficult task. grandmothers, are not professionals at fact, the careful dance between This, layered on the careful dance what they do and lack the required community and the “owner” of said Enter: The internet. mentioned earlier, makes Community amount of training to do the job a community can be quite entertaining and one of the most challenging aspects of professional would do. Gramma can’t exciting. Trying to guess what the It hasn’t made travel take any less time, business today. And for this reason, treat you after you fall down the stairs or community wants, and guessing but it’s made ticket booking easier. Email we’ve chosen to focus on community in come down with pneumonia. Just like we correctly, is exhilarating. Watching the is a button away in many homes and at this week’s issue of The Escapist, “Block shouldn’t do away with doctors, we speculation of a community about some the workplace. With IM and message Party.” Enjoy! shouldn’t do away with trained journalists new Thing being released or revealed is boards, phone usage has declined, as just because a bunch of people have highly amusing, especially if you have have phone bills. I can contact nearly Cheers, started keeping online diaries. the inside info. anyone I know in an instant. - arrr_matey In response to “Game Journalists on criticizing is not that Gears of War, or journalism should challenge and educate Game Journalism” from The Escapist indeed any specific game, has these developers/publishers to make more Forum: I would really like to see some continuity errors, but that the game intelligent offerings... and grow the true criticism. Example: Gears of War, industry by and large considers it industry. best game ever and maybe it is. But, it’s acceptable for a game to have a plot got ridiculous things like guns with even more threadbare than the female I think The Escapist is doing a great job glowing parts that would give a soldier’s lead’s costume in a summer blockbuster. of this. location away, 4 inch thick body armor Why, in short, the no middle ground but nothing projecting the most between the fluffy and the cerebral is so I’d like to see a game review site solely important part of the soldier - his head, bare. Why the only times when the story written by critical minds, taking the robots that appear and disappear for no isn’t just used as a half-assed excuse for reason, missing scenes “we found the the gunfights (in such times when a resonator” (O RLY? when did that story would add any value to the game, happen), women that show up in a that is) is when it’s deliberately created combat zone without shielding, Cities for the purpose of telling that story. that look like Roman ruins and yet all the buildings are full of automated doors. - Bongo Bill

I’m only picking on GoW because it’s the In response to “Game Journalists on most recent game but many games are Game Journalism” from The Escapist filled with story/setting BS like this and Forum: How can we expect meaningful yet “game journalists” rarely bring it up. criticism (appreciated by adults, that is) We don’t except these kinds of things in when the latest, greatest games are other media. They exist in other media tamed down and catering to kids? Will an and they are called out on it. Not in independent videogame company risk its games though. Why? livelihood on a game made strictly for a mature audience? - greggman When we talk about videogame In response to “Game Journalists on journalism being in its adolescent phase, Game Journalism” from The Escapist it’s also a reflection on the products the Forum: I think the thing we should be industry offers. However, I think game gaming industry to task. So, Escapist ... someone can just “qualify” for by X In response to “team Humidor on when are we going to see a game review amount of hours or money spent. It’s not Used Games” from The Escapist section to your portal? a definition but it’s a start. I like to Lounge: If book publishers can cope consider myself a gamer and my with used books market, why not game - Echolocating significant other would definitely agree publishers? I’m sure. Whether anyone else cares is In response to “Miss Video Game” irrelevant to me, but I know I love lots of - iod from The Escapist Lounge: It’s games for many reasons and I’m not perhaps a little terrifying that everyone going to join a contest to make myself chose to ignore the gender implications feel more like a gamer. of said contest, and what it says about gaming culture. - luminousshadow11

- Dr. Wiley In response to “team Humidor on Used Games” from The Escapist In response to “Miss Video Game” Lounge: The only people that really from The Escapist Lounge: I benefit from used game sales are was never a big fan of pageant type retailers. Some would say that the things anyway, so this doesn’t endear consumer benefits too and to an extent me anymore. I’m a girl and I play video they do. They get to buy their games for games. Does that make me a gamer? I a few dollars less in the short term, but like to think so but I’m not going to in the long term the developers are debate with anyone about it. In addition shorted and we end up with less to considering myself a gamer, I am also innovative games and publishers a feminist and a contest like this one unwilling give new ideas a chance. makes me cringe. My mom always says “you get what you A pretty picture does not a gamer make, pay for.” obviously. I tend to think of gaming as more of a passion than something -Lex Darko I think all responsible should have their l yes it is, pirates take income from the heads cut off and sent to their mothers. creators; They are scum and should be accountable for the full worth of l no they don’t, the pirates wouldn’t anyone’s PC who is affected by their have bought the game; DRM BS. Anyone who thinks otherwise deserves death also. l without copy protection, the companies – “ME BIGGD01” commenting on Geek. would go broke and stop making com post “DRM causes big trouble games; again,” March 22, 2006 l copy protection punishes honest users Piracy, or filesharing, is computer and doesn’t stop pirates; gaming’s West Bank, a bitter cycle of struggle across generations. Even l blah blah, yammer yammer, mama choosing a term, “piracy” or “filesharing,” mama please make it stop! can revive the debate, which began on Usenet in the 1970s, then moved to Yet in this spastic litany, one topic has 1200-baud BBS FidoNet feeds – to finally united both sides: the widely used roundtables on Compuserve and GEnie – Windows copy protection software to Slashdot and Digg and a hundred StarForce. forums. The argument has become ritualized, a pathological fugue state. In Choke It Down, Gamer Kid every era, in every iteration, combatants Thirty publishers have used StarForce unfailingly, compulsively restate the copy protection on over 150 PC games, exact same points, often in precisely the including popular titles like Splinter Cell same order: 3, Rainbow Six: Lockdown, King Kong and the TrackMania series. Some l It’s theft; publishers even use StarForce on demos intended to be distributed widely and l no it’s not, it’s copyright infringement; freely, to prevent hackers from using the demo to crack the protected full version. when public relations manager Denis to know, and control, what happens on Consumers unwittingly install StarForce’s Zhidkov threatened to sue Cory their system. ... [Users] should be hidden drivers along with the game Doctorow, contributor to mega-popular presented with clear notice of what software. In theory, you need never blog Boing Boing, for calling StarForce StarForce wants to do to their system become aware StarForce is on your hard “anti-copying malware” and thereby and possible side effects – they shouldn’t drive. In theory! violating “approximately 11 be left to wonder why some of their international laws.” other software/hardware suddenly To about the 80th percentile, gamers – doesn’t work correctly.” or anyway, the gamers who post online – In a post on CNet in November 2005, passionately loathe StarForce. In any Zhidkov (after threatening to sue Clear notice? Not likely. On issues of forum topic about StarForce, embittered another user) claimed, “The percent of copy protection, most game publishers players across the spectrum speak in one users that had compatibility problems maintain a stony silence. For this article, voice about crippled operating systems with StarForce is 0.3%.” (For a million- I contacted nearly a dozen companies and ruined CD drives. Many players selling game, this would be 3,000 users. that use StarForce, asking them to report they bought honest, legal copies Zhidkov was citing an October 2005 summarize their position on copy of StarForce-protected games, could not Ubisoft study that called the problems protection and to comment on the idea make them run and finally, in “consistent with any Windows of listing a game’s copy protection on its desperation, visited pirate sites to application.”) “The drivers are installed package. Not one company replied. download no-CD cracks or warez with the protected software,” Zhidkov versions. A dominant theme in these said, “and it is up to the software They may have asked themselves, “Why posts is resentment toward StarForce developer how they will be uninstalled. should we? We don’t have to tell anyone and game publishers for screwing up StarForce offers many ways to make the anything.” their customers’ computers without integration of protection flexible and warning. Publisher representatives user-friendly. And if some developers My Way or the Highway seldom post to apologize or ask details. choose to select the option of manual Steven Davis, CEO of gaming security driver uninstall, it is their sole right.” firm SecurePlay, has written about Some complaints mention the system’s StarForce on his popular blog, combative publisher, Moscow-based Zhidkov was responding to, and implicitly PlayNoEvil. Speaking to The Escapist, StarForce Technologies Inc.. Among confirming, a point by the user “W0lfe”: Davis says the StarForce controversy providers of copy protection, who are “StarForce is asserting, on the game’s diverts attention from the larger issue. usually subdued, StarForce Technologies behalf, that the game’s owners’ rights “Several major game companies are the gained a high profile in January 2006 are more important than the users’ right real culprits. They allowed, very sponsored by effectively, the StarForce brand to be the immutable natural law: “When you install Games that follow a different sales focus of consumer ire about anti-piracy. a game, you have to install all of its strategy need worry less. The Stardock That we are talking about a small libraries; you don’t get prompted on each Systems space strategy game Galactic Russian programming firm, and not the of them. Either you agree to install the Civilizations II: Dread Lords, released in huge companies that use the product, is game, including its protection, or you don’t.” March 2006, drew attention partly a testament to the effectiveness of this because Stardock CEO and designer Brad tactic – the StarForce Trojan Horse.” StarForce itself is only a symptom, and Wardell publicly disavowed all disc-based the disease will continue until we address copy protection for the game. “I’m not a Meanwhile, game publishers keep its cause: the industry’s obsession with crusader against copy protection,” invisibly messing with your computer – front-loaded, fast-selling hits. Big Wardell told The Register. (Stardock’s because it’s their “sole right” – and publishers earn a huge percentage of a utility software WindowBlinds uses really, how can you stop them? game’s total revenue in the first few product activation DRM.) “It’s just Regarding Digital Rights Management, weeks of release – because they’re good business. We make more money on a aka Digital Restrictions Management at working you into a lather in advance, game like this – a single-player, turn- (DRM), it’s unclear whether you have so you must-must-must own hot new based strategy game – if we don’t put enforceable consumer rights. Companies games the instant they debut. In theory, stupid copy protection on it.” aren’t even obliged to list their DRM in a DRM keeps cracked versions off the game’s documentation or End User filesharing sites long enough to boost Seemingly in retaliation, a moderator on License Agreement (EULA), let alone on sales in those first precious days. In StarForce’s copy protection forums its package; yet by accepting the EULA, theory! In practice, nearly every triple-A posted a link to a pirate site hosting an you legally accept the copy protection. In game hits every self-respecting pirate illegal copy of GalCiv II. Another a 2004 FiringSquad interview, StarForce site within hours of release, if not before StarForce moderator later apologized Technologies’ Abbie Sommer said, “Our release. The effect on sales is one and removed the link. Wardell says he product is licensed to our customers [the battleground in gaming’s incessant contacted the pirate site and persuaded publishers], and becomes part of their piracy debate. them to remove the illegal copy. product, so the user, by accepting the terms, is giving approval.” Regardless, if leading retail publishers Today, months after the game’s release, stopped using StarForce tomorrow, Galactic Civilizations II is still selling well, Fabrice Cambounet, producer for Ubisoft’s they’d still rely on other DRM systems aided by Stardock’s frequent online Heroes of Might & Magic V, in a choke-it- like SafeDisc, TAGES and SecurROM. updates. Brian Clair, Stardock’s director down post about StarForce on the Ubisoft Putting this stuff on your machine is of Games Publishing, told The Escapist, company forum, asserted this like their “sole right.” “We have no regrets at all on not using copy protection on the Galactic moderation.” Now, he says, “There are Civilizations II discs. We’re gamers many examples showing that the The Escapist contacted Moscow-based ourselves, and we don’t like the harsh boycott, and the increasing focus on the StarForce Technologies to learn how the DRM and copy protection methods that cons of StarForce by the gamers, has company is doing amid controversy. Public make legitimate buyers feel like they’ve forced some publishers to change relations manager Denis Zhidkov answered: done something wrong. We ran a poll of their mind.” registered users on GalCiv2.com, and “We have significantly improved our overall thousands of people said not having CD Community reaction has worked, but image this year. We started with going copy protection helped make the indirectly. Raufaste says his boycott site through Microsoft certification and passed difference in their decision to purchase helped inform American customers of ‘Designed for Windows XP’ tests. Shortly the game.” StarForce’s problems; “it was only a after that, we received a U.S. patent for our European problem before mid-2005, and optical media protection technology, as well If There’s a Lawsuit, We Win I kinda hoped the U.S. customers would as two Russian patents. We are growing Game journalists invariably frame the help in making the publishers change each year, and 2006 turns out to be even protection issue as “anti-piracy” instead their mind. That’s when a class action better than we expected. We are definitely of “why do we choke it down?” Still, was started.” pleased, especially considering the ferocious community opposition to unexpected challenges we faced last spring. StarForce, in particular, has brought The outcry against StarForce succeeded some change. only when it lured hungry lawyers. In “We are doing our best to make the most March 2006, in U.S. District Court in compatible and reliable systems that please French gamer Laurent Raufaste runs the northern California, Los Angeles attorney the publisher and the end users; however, oldest of several “boycott StarForce” Alan Himmelfarb initiated a $5 million it is not always possible, simply because sites. Along with a list of protected class action lawsuit against Ubisoft, copy protection will never be popular. games, Raufaste hosts forums for alleging its StarForce drivers can Imagine this – your car breaks down, and uncensored information exchange. compromise Windows system security. instead of taking it to the mechanic to be “Before, the population concerned by Himmelfarb had previously filed a fixed, you go online and start complaining. StarForce was widespread on every November 2005 class action against Such behavior cannot make anything publisher’s forum around the web, and Sony BMG after Sony secretly infected better. People that seem to run into every post related to StarForce was half a million consumer PCs with its problems with StarForce-protected products moderated or simply deleted by the Extended Copy Protection rootkit. Twelve need to contact directly our support moderators. The Boycott Starforce days after the StarForce filing, Ubisoft – service: [email protected].” website and forum are safe from easy after ignoring the months-long anti- StarForce firestorm on itsHeroes of It’s possible intrusive copy protection, Might & Magic V forum – tersely and maybe even the piracy debate, will announced it would drop StarForce finally wind down when online game protection from HoMMV and future distribution overtakes retail sales. Bill Harris, a financial professional in Austin, Texas, has written releases. As other lawyers have started Customers will authenticate purchases about StarForce in his unpretentious yet addicting game blog, sniffing around the class action money not through DRM, but online through (mis)named Dubious Quality. Commenting to The Escapist, tree, other publishers have started services like Valve’s Steam, WildTangent Harris says, “Our rights as consumers are getting absolutely publicly disavowing StarForce. and GameTap. This only begs the trampled. And the kind of protection we need is just common question, what will game publishers next sense.” Harris suggests this declaration of principles: Even so, some publishers grow ever shove onto your computer? Ad-service more brazen. Inside the box of Battlefield spyware, EA-style? Anti-cheating 1. If the copy protection scheme is not clearly labeled on the 2142, Electronic Arts inserts a sheet that measures? In 2005, Blizzard secretly game box, and I decide not to install the game because of blithely informs you it will collect installed its Warden sniffer on at least the copy protection, I should be able to return the game information on your surfing habits, so IGA four million World of Warcraft clients. If for a refund. Worldwide can deliver in-game ads (in you play WoW, maybe you’re fine with the game you just bought for $50). Then, that. The point is, nobody asked you. 2. Any copy protection that’s going to be installed on my EA tells you, in CAPITAL LETTERS, to What won’t they ask you about next? system should be clearly identified – not by one line in a choke it down: “IF YOU DO NOT WANT five-screen licensing agreement, but by a separate IGA TO COLLECT, STORE OR TRANSMIT StarForce, whether it survives or dies, identifier entirely. THE DATA DESCRIBED IN THIS SECTION, changes nothing important. In the name DO NOT INSTALL OR PLAY THE of combating piracy or cheating, or of 3. After copy protection has been installed, I should receive a SOFTWARE” – that you just bought for serving ads – or, really, just because they notificationevery time it runs. And it should never run $50 – “ON ANY PLATFORM THAT IS USED can – publishers will keep deciding what unless I’m trying to start the game. TO CONNECT TO THE INTERNET.” to install on your machine, as is their sole right. And you, the honest gamer, will 4. If a copy protection program does find something it deems Blogger Bill Harris commented, “I keep choking it down. “suspicious,” it should notify me immediately. And if the wonder how much of this we will take. game isn’t allowed to start as a result, there should be a Gamers in general seem to be extremely Allen Varney designed the PARANOIA screen telling me where I can go for more information. complacent and entirely willing to get paper-and-dice roleplaying game (2004 kicked in the face (or, in this case, edition) and has contributed to computer 5. Any copy protection that adversely affects the performance somewhat lower). Is there a point at games from Sony Online, Origin, of my hardware is not “copy protection” – it’s malware. which even we get fed up?” Interplay and Looking Glass. You know who Brownbag Johnson is. thousands of rock neophytes in the That’s his wailing guitar in “Cheat on the Pantheon of Metal Mythology: Ozzy, Church”, the Graveyard BBQ song that Pantera, Motorhead, Megadeth. Thrashing won the first “Be A Guitar Hero” contest. in unison, we threw up the horns for You know because you rocked it out: You everyone from Palmer to Hendrix, and shouted the words to its shrill opening somehow, without even completely sermon; you head-banged your way realizing it, we all started thinking, “Man, through the whining glory notes; you felt Boston can totally crush it.” your fingers cramp and burn on those never-ending, face-melting riffs. Admit But even better was that secret thrill it: You played the shit out of that song. upon purchasing yet another indie gem And every time you did, you felt like you in the Unlock Shop. Really, who didn’t were 18 feet tall with cajones the size of stomp around their living room in cantaloupes and throngs of adoring fans Kubrick-esque glee to “Caveman prostrating themselves at your bedroom Rejoice”? Or kick it hoity-toity style with slippers. Basically, you felt like you were “Eureka, I’ve Found Love”? And who Brownbag Johnson. among us could resist the lure of that mournful organ and that thin, But when Brownbag Johnson played his unintelligible growl in Graveyard BBQ’s own song, he felt more like you. “Let’s dirtcore anthem, “Cheat on the Church”? put it this way: Our bass player’s little brother - who’s only 8 years old - can Tracking the Indie Scene kick my ass at it,” he laughs. “Even From the beginning, producers planned a though I wrote the song, I’m not totally Guitar Hero tribute to bands in the indie kicking ass at the game.” scene, because, after all, every Hall of Fame mega-group must start Ever since Guitar Hero descended upon somewhere. “All great bands start off as an unsuspecting public last year, regular small up-and-comers,” says Ted Lange, joes like you and me have become associate producer for RedOctane. He conquistadors of rock, sweating out our worked on both Guitar Hero games and souls over plastic guitars. The game sold helped run the “Be A Guitar Hero” over a million copies and schooled contest. “What better way to support rock music as a genre,” he asks, “than to both games and promised the winner a turn people on to new bands that may primo slot in the indie set-list. The only one day be headliners?” requirements for entry were that submissions had to be “hard rock” or The original Guitar Hero included 17 “heavy metal,” with a featured lead unlockable indie tracks (metal deities guitar. Committees from both Harmonix Zakk Wylde and the Black Label Society and RedOctane then whittled the songs notwithstanding). Some songs were down, choosing the winner based on relatively easy to acquire: Many of the sound and ease of adaptability into the bands, like The Acro-Brats and Anarchy game. Club, feature musicians who moonlight as Harmonix employees. For the other Dirtcore Pioneers it kept escalating,” says Johnson, lead Johnson. “Sure as shit, we landed a gig slots, however, developers scoured the Although the contest drew many guitarist. “We had no expectations for on the game.” local Boston scene, approaching dozens submissions its first year, Lange says anything like that, but we just kept going of bands in the hopes of finding someone that selecting a champion was easy. with it.” Soon, they ditched the fake When Johnson learned that “Cheat on crazy enough to sign up. “Graveyard BBQ was, without a question, beards and concentrated on perfecting the Church” had been chosen, “it was the winner,” he says. “As soon as we their thrash-metal dirtcore sound. Before pretty much the best thing that’s ever However, now that the franchise is heard that first slide on the guitar, we long, the band had enough material for a happened,” he says. “Obviously, to see established, Harmonix doesn’t need to knew we had something unique.” full record, and one year after forming, your song, which you pretty much wrote search so hard. For the second game, the group recorded their first album, out of your bedroom, in a videogame which expanded its indie offerings up to The band, on the other hand, had been Greatest Hits, Vol. 1. that has been exposed to millions of 24 tracks, the company was deluged by utterly ambushed by its own success. people - that’s just surreal.” mp3s from bands hungering for Graveyard BBQ had actually formed as a Johnson recalls discovering the “Be A videogame immortality. “It’s really great. joke in 2003. Four good friends would Guitar Hero” contest through The Noise Winning the “Be A Guitar Hero” contest You never know when you’re going to get together and pretend to be redneck Board, a local scenester forum often marked a turning point for the band. hear the next big thing,” says Lange. yokels, complete with fake beards and frequented by Boston musicians and Before Guitar Hero, no one - especially “Sometimes, we find the rare gems in Confederate flags, while slinging out businesspeople in the industry. On a the members of the group - had taken the sea of music we get.” some serious tunage. lark, the band sent RedOctane a CD with Graveyard BBQ too seriously. Although a few songs, including the fan favorite they’d achieved some local notoriety, the RedOctane and Harmonix’s quest for But a funny thing happened on the way “BBQ Nation”, as well as “Cheat on the group had never toured, been interviewed songs also included the promotional “Be to the graveyard: The audience loved it. Church.” “Again, no expectations; just by any publications, or even released a A Guitar Hero” contest, which ran for “It started out as a few select shows, but send it in and see what happens,” recalls second album. “But once it exploded like that, with the whole Guitar Hero thing, it Graveyard BBQ doesn’t reappear in The Next Generation of Raw was just so huge,” says Johnson. “[The Guitar Hero II, but the band continues to “This year, the turn-out was insane,” band] turned into its own monster.” hunt for more exposure and fame. says Lange. “We listened to more mp3s They’ve just signed with new than you can imagine. It’s tough when Hits at the Graveyard BBQ website and management, and, although they still you can only choose one.” Myspace page skyrocketed. Fans started need a new keyboard player, they’re to demand tour dates, cover songs, t- currently shopping around for a record That one happened to be “Raw Dog,” by shirts, guitar tabs and CDs. Album sales deal. In early November, they went into The Last Vegas, off their 2006 album, also rose - which presented a unique the studio to record their second album, Seal the Deal. Unlike Graveyard BBQ, problem, because, until recently, which has been in the planning stages The Last Vegas has been pursuing Graveyard BBQ had no management. for over a year. Once the record’s mainstream fame for quite some time. “I’m literally selling CDs out of my released, Graveyard BBQ plans to hit the Started back in 2001, the Chicago-based bedroom,” says Johnson. road nationally in support. “At this point, band toured the States constantly over we’re full throttle,” says Johnson, with the last three years; they also completed Above all, Johnson notes, concert barely contained glee. a seven-week European stint over the attendance exploded. He attributes at summer. Their sexy, frenetic sound - a least half of the band’s new fanbase to Overall, Johnson can’t say enough chimera of biker rock, punk and raunch - the Guitar Hero exposure. “People were positive things about his band’s Guitar has spawned rave reviews in national curious to see us,” says Johnson. “A lot Hero experience, and for good reason: publications like Village Voice, Bass of people that played the game had no The game essentially transformed Player’s Magazine and Entertainment idea that we were from the Boston area. Graveyard BBQ from a “hokesy-jokesy Weekly. They’ve even appeared on So it’s definitely been a big exposure side project,” as Johnson calls it, into a MTV’s G-Hole, with music featured on bang for us.” Fans have even asked him real-life rock show. Johnson fully admits Fuel TV and MTV’s Pimp My Ride. These to sign their Guitar Hero controllers after that the band owes its current success to guys mean business. concerts, which he happily does. the franchise. “Without it, I’m not saying we wouldn’t have people interested in Before they’d entered the “Be A Guitar the band,” he says. “But Guitar Hero was Hero” contest, the band had heard of the such a huge thing that it’s definitely game but never played it, says John aided in building a buzz for the band.” Wator, lead guitarist. “We spend all our time traveling around,” he explains. “We The question is: Will history repeat itself don’t really have a lot of time for for this year’s winners? videogame stuff.” their song in Guitar Hero II. Initially, As of press time, the launch publicity tracks from the companies’ indie Wator was shocked. “Honestly, it was a boom hasn’t hit The Last Vegas just yet, archives. “We’re still planning everything lot harder than I thought it would be. but Wator can’t wait. “Pretty much the out,” he says, “but with downloadable You think, ‘Well, I wrote the song, I whole experience of this has been great,” content, we can do a lot.” shouldn’t be that bad!’” he laughs. “I he says. “Anytime you get something like was just on the middle level, too. There’s this that can open more doors, that’s As for the indie bands themselves, both definitely some people out there who will pretty exciting.” Johnson and Wator were impressed by blow me away playing the game.” how accessible Guitar Hero is for non- Tommorow’s Guitar Heroes musicians. Johnson says he likes how the “It’s really fun, though,” he adds. Lange affirms that as long as theGuitar games inspire people who’ve never “Definitely up my alley.” I ask him what Hero franchise continues, it will definitely picked up a guitar in their lives. “It’s the band liked best about the game, and include indie bands. “We’re always going opened up so many avenues for people he replies, “Chad [the lead singer] was a to support the indie scene,” he says. to really get back into rock ‘n’ roll,” he big fan of ‘Shout at the Devil,’ but “The indie scene is where most great says. “To pick up a guitar and mess personally, I enjoyed any song that let bands start.” around with it, and turn yourself into a you use the whammy bar a lot.” guitar hero.” As the Guitar Hero franchise moves to Wator laments that the indie scene is the next-gen systems, particularly the Freelance journalist Lara Crigger, whose difficult to escape, and for most bands, Xbox 360, online content distribution previous work for The Escapist includes They’d only heard about the competition mainstream success will always be may prove surprisingly promising for “Playing Through the Pain” and “The from a friend, who forwarded them the elusive. Still, he’s cautiously optimistic future indie bands. Some of the material Milkman Cometh,” had way too much fun Harmonix email explaining the contest about the Guitar Hero II exposure. that couldn’t fit intoGuitar Hero II’s final writing this article. She plays a mean rules. Intrigued, Wator submitted “Raw “When you’re on this level, it’s really release will appear on Xbox Live - Expert-level “Symphony of Destruction.” Dog,” but he figured nothing would come hard to get out to new people, especially including, suggests Lange, maybe a few of his entry, since the odds were stacked younger kids, because they can’t come so high against the band. But sure out to a lot of clubs that we play,” he enough, “Raw Dog” blew everyone at says. “Now you get this opportunity, Harmonix and RedOctane away. where people might not even be looking to find a new band, and they come As part of the winner’s package, The Last across something that perks their ears Vegas traveled to New York City to and makes them think, ‘Hey, that’s kind conduct press interviews and test drive of cool.’” strength or weakness of these documents cooking, you cannot just go “voila” and that good or bad games are born. have the whole friggen game there. It takes time, it takes massaging, it Too often, though, perfectly good games takes patience. get confused, turned around and bashed over the head by those who claim to love You, my hardcore friends, lack patience. them most. It’s tragic, really. They enter beta, with all their bright ideas and shiny The hardcore, for the most part, play new toys and then some 14-year-old games in beta the way they’d play any screams, “This sucks!” At a company old game they got from Best Buy. They with strong leadership and vision, this is try to get better, they try to win. When read, digested and considered, but rarely they find something boring, they scream do they succumb to the mighty weight of and yell. Yet, for some reason, those one 14-year-old and a few of his egocentric screams are fatal. opinion should be ignored. Your thoughts buddies. At a not-so-steady company, a must be digested – it’s hard to ignore loud post or 10 like that can be fatal. It is extremely hard to build a work of screaming - but discarded. art while people piss and moan about Welcome to a world of reactionary how much they hate it. Imagine It sounds harsh and definitely won’t be a development. Every time the community Leonardo da Vinci with a group of art popular opinion, but the most dangerous screams, the developers shift focus and critics in his studio as he painted the thing a developer can do is listen to his try to put out that fire. Suddenly, the Mona Lisa. He’d end up with a brown hardcore community. game is no longer in development, but canvas. When too many people are rather in commercial service, and this is yelling contradictory opinions, and You’re wrong and should be ignored, but The hardcore can and have led wrong. Testing phases are for testing developers try to accommodate them all, don’t worry, you’re loved. developers astray. Before a game and there is no way to say with any idea they get a brown canvas; something that undergoes production, developers write of accuracy that something truly does is entirely innocuous, but completely If you’re reading this article, you’re likely what’s called a design document. suck until all the spices are in the pot. pointless. These are also known as a hardcore videogame fan. You read Detailing various technical and operational unremarkable or - dare I say - bad games. message boards, and you’re not afraid to aspects of a game, it functions as the Games are huge undertakings. Clever tell developers what they’re screwing up. team’s battle plan, but it’s hardly a static designers, like good cooks, need all the Yet it happens every day, and I blame I’m here to tell you that if you’re a member document. It is fluid, evolving as different ingredients to work together the increased importance of online of a specific videogame’s community, your development progresses. It is on the for the final result to be appetizing. Like communities for the current dilution and sameness of so many games, especially snazzy little trick, right there in the client. It can be done. The trick is to have that something “sucks,” developers must in the MMOG genre. That is good feedback. Kind of. The only smart community relations people. learn to tell them how much they love problem there is this: Only the hardcore These are people who can rationally use them and tuck them in for the night. So, the skeptic may point out that I am beta test. How many vaguely interested a message board to talk to players. basically suggesting developers ignore Wal-Mart shoppers camp forums waiting There, they post, they discuss and they the very people for whom their games for a beta sign-up? Not many, I would explain. They let the community know Dana “Lepidus” Massey is the Lead are made. Not exactly. wager, but it is these people that end up they’re reading and that they’re not Content Editor for MMORPG.com and paying the bills and it is they that wasting their time. former Co-Lead Game Designer for Wish. I suggest only that game developers developers need to keep happy. ignore their hardcore fans. By hardcore, In reality, though, the community better I mean anyone who uses videogame- Videogame developers need to avoid the be wasting their time. Community related message boards. Like it or not, temptation of showing off their toys until management is public relations when it’s the people posting are not a they’re totally painted. Bean counters at its best and cause for reactionary representative sample of your won’t like it, but beta tests should not development when it’s at its worst. community. There’s a reason no one exist until the game is nearly ready. believes that girls play videogames They should not be about development, Developers must learn to stick to their despite constant studies saying the only polish. If studios want to know what guns and see their visions through. Half- opposite. They have better sense than to prospective players think, they should finished products are always going to dive into the acid culture that exists on learn some lessons from other industries inspire hate, and no mater how much it most videogame message boards. and show it to representative focus stings, making drastic changes in They’d most likely just get asked if groups once it’s done. response to community complaints they’re “hawt.” There goes half the invites disaster. When the hardcore yell audience from that sample so many The nefarious trick for videogame game developers listen so intently to. developers is to ignore their community without telling them. It’s evil, it’s I am all for interaction between underhanded, but if you can still fool the developers and their customers. The hardcore into buying into your brand, so Vanguard development team much the better. In order to get them, implemented feedback forms in their beta they need to think they were only this test that asked people what they thought far away from getting their names in of what they just experienced. It’s a the credits. Richard and I sat on opposite sides of a huge mahogany desk. In his world, he was a success. He had been the vice president of a large international bank, and now he owned his own financial consultancy group, of which I was an employee. His manner suggested he had some serious news.

“We’re going to have to let you go,” he said. “I don’t feel there’s really a place for you here. I’m sorry.”

And that was the end of my unpromising career in finance. In Richard’s world, I was a failure. But I didn’t care. I had been sacked because my attention was focused elsewhere: Quake III Arena. id Software’s Quake III was honed to a special kind of perfection over years of patching and layer after layer of mod coding. It was transformed from the basic idea of people running around in an arena blasting each other with outlandish weapons into a competitive experience which has yet to be paralleled by gaming science.

I was happy to be fired, because I clearly had better things to do. I might have been an unemployed bum with an ever-decreasing bank balance, but I had a Quake team to run. In that, at least, I was determined to be a success.

Yet, I hadn’t started out all that seriously. At the time Quake III landed, I was playing the deathmatch version of hoodlum-shooter Kingpin and explaining to my Dad that yes, these were real people in the game and no, he couldn’t use the telephone tonight. I joined a team, a “clan,” and was happy to irregularly play in matches on Tuesday nights.

Soon, I was the top scorer in our team, and I was pretty pleased to leave my online gaming at that. As other games came out, though, the Kingpin scene began to disperse. Just to support my weekly habit, I found myself looking beyond Kingpin for the first time. I Soon, I became acquainted with a couple were able to book servers on which to could be tuned for better response and decided I liked the techno-goth horror of players who weren’t particularly good play privately, and our time gaming on greater signal stability. I rebuilt the look of Quake III. I hadn’t enjoyed but were keen to learn. I had rapidly open servers meant that we were quickly Quake III configurations of the team, Quake II all that much, but hey, maybe picked up tricks of the game and spent acquainted with other teams – many of fine-tuning the setups as one might fine- this would be different. all day browsing forums and reading these wanted sparring partners with tune a race car. Visual embellishments advice on gaming websites (instead of whom to practice. After a few trial runs, were stripped away, leaving a flat, It was. While Quake II’s deathmatch had doing my work at the financial we signed up to the leagues, entering at polygonal caricature of the original game been oddly ponderous, with rockets that consultancy). I began to train my a fairly low rung, as befitted our obvious – all the better to see our enemies. strolled along like pedestrian bricks, friendly newbies in the art in which I inexperience. Quake III was twitchy, precise, faster. I myself was only just beginning to excel. Dial-up modems also meant that for the was suddenly presented with a different They, too, progressed quickly. Each By this time, I was obsessed. I was a first few months of play, voice over IP order of challenge. I was hugely excited night, we searched for empty game player-coach, unable to focus on anything communications (now standard in online and asked the remaining Kingpin players servers on which to practice together. beyond making my team stronger, faster gaming) were impossible to use. The to try this incredible new game. and more efficient. In those early days, team developed a huge array of “binds” Then, one night, I dueled a player I had there was almost no broadband internet - messages sent to the team at the They did, but for various reasons, they never met before. He was a far better in the U.K., and most of the team played touch of a key. For instance: “I HAVE were uninterested or uninspired. I player than I, which was no surprise, but via dial-up modem. I meticulously THE FLAG, WILL GO LOW.” The team continued to play organized competitive it was the first time I had played a researched the ways in which modems games of Kingpin, but I soon realized genuinely talented player who wasn’t that the older game was small potatoes already in a clan. Did he want to join us? compared to what was going on in “Sure. … When do we start?” And so the Quake III. team was born.

In Quake III, I had been on a server Suddenly, we were contenders. From where one player had killed 20 others being just a few people messing around before my map had even loaded. He was in the casual space, we transformed talking about high-end clan play to other ourselves into a practiced team. We gamers on the server. He killed multiple played systematically for four hours, assailants at will. He was showing off. I three times a week. We registered with was in awe. the now-defunct “Barrysworld” (a non- profit player-run gaming organization) and entered into competitive gaming. We responded with a practiced defense of We lost players, we recruited more, we ordeal of split-second timing and the low route on a capture the flag map. upgraded to broadband, we mastered agonizing combat management. Every Our best players dove headlong into new maps and new techniques. We won victory was a triumph and every loss a enemy blockers, splattering them across Razer mice and GeForce graphics cards – disaster. Exhausted, we took a voluntary the level as the flag carrier sprinted for we even designed our own tournament- drop in league placing in the next season the enemy base. level map. and never quite recovered. People slowly dispersed into other games, and, It was frenetic. Adrenaline was limitless. Eventually, we elected one player to be a eventually, I closed the books. I was ecstatic. full-time in-game coach. Inventive modders had created the possibility for And all this lost me my job. Technical issues dogged us constantly, one player to spectate four or five other but they were nothing compared to the gamers’ views on his screen at any one Was it worth it? Giving up gainful time I had to put into people. We had to time. Immediately, all pro Quake teams employment to not even be a significant play on public servers constantly to look adopted it, and we had to have a coach success in a gaming scene that would out for new talent. We were competing to compete. Adapting to a constant dissolve into nothing with the passing against dozens of other clans to recruit stream of verbal information from a years? Hard to say, but I eventually told decent players, but we were also single player who could see it all was this story to stubble-faced men in a competing internally. If the best players bizarre and to this day unparalleled in room full of gaming paraphernalia in the got too good, they would want to move my gaming experience. It was also the west of England. A week later, they on to a more proficient team, and many moment when I realized just how far we called to offer me a job as a game did. It was my task to balance egos in a had come: Nothing else was like this, journalist. Not everyone would call that a way that made sure everyone was anywhere in history, and we were at the happy ending, but it was good enough happy. If I didn’t field less talented heart of it. for me. players regularly enough, they would not feel valued and end up leaving for other After many months of gaming, we Jim Rossignol is a writer and editor based teams that needed them or would quit eventually found our highest in the South West of England. He writes the game entirely. We had to make sure achievements in the second division of about videogames, fiction and science. we had practice partners we could beat the European leagues. We were, at least 50 percent of the time or morale perhaps, in the top 1,000 players in would collapse. I was, in effect, running Western Europe. It was almost too much a sports team. for us, and each match was a 40-minute to keep them happy. Word of mouth is whether it’s via email, instant messenger, one of the best ways to get new phone, or any other medium. Being customers for any game, and players accessible is invaluable. I also wrote trust other players more than they do the Letters from Blackguard monthly, sent via company trying to sell them something. snail mail to community leaders, which included a personal message, a gift and During my time at SOE, we had a few even a signature from your’s truly. really big community-centric wins. The most significant one had to be the SOE Last summer, the community team at Fan Faire--a gathering of the members of SOE came up with a great idea: an event online game communities from SOE during Comic-Con designed to draw fans games in the real world. That’s right, closer together. Thus, the SOE Block people actually met each other and Party was born, where hundreds of socialized in person. Such events helped players came, drank, tossed baseballs at build a tight-knit community that me in a dunk tank, played the games and transcended the bounds of a single hung out. It was a great way to foster a game, strengthening not only the game’s good community-developer relationship brand, but the company’s. on minimal budget, which reflected well in the media as well as our players. In addition to the Fan Faire, we ran Community Summits. Influential members There’s no doubt that focusing your What is a grassroots effort, in relation to of the community were identified and attention on community leaders will grant gaming? They’re essentially methods of flown out to speak one-on-one with you big returns, but what about the getting people to play your game by developers, give feedback, receive everyman unconcerned by what happens appealing to the community in a variety feedback, get to know each other and on message boards and just wants to of ways. To me, grassroots efforts focus generally have a good time. These small play your game? Despite the massive size on one thing: the gaming community events are amazing for spreading the love of MMOG communities, it’s not that hard and treating them the way they deserve from the top down - happy community to reach out personally to hundreds or to be treated. leaders help lead to happy communities. even thousands of people at one time.

Working for an MMOG developer, I’ve always made sure to keep in contact On occasion, I would make an in-game communities are incredibly important to with key members of the fan base, appearance with my avatar, Blackguard. the longevity of our games, so we want Whether it was leading a snowball raid it in our heads that it would be a great Spread connectivity to your game all the way from the gates of Freeport to idea to contact guild leaders from other further. Let people chat with players in- the stone walls of Qeynos or doing battle games and offer them free access to game from their cell phones via text with a famous dragon from the game, EQII. Bad move. It backfired, earning us messaging, email, etc. Keep everyone in every time I appeared in the game, I got negative press and very little positive touch, and they’ll want to keep playing an amazing response. Sometimes I response (if any). Long story short, and spreading the word. would simply log on and chat with some guild leaders took great offense to people. I loved doing it, and players us approaching them, and it engendered Keep up with the trends. Blog, make loved being part of it. What’s more, I a lot of ill will toward SOE and the game. podcasts, create videos for the game, make probably spent all of one hour a week to It took a whole lot of effort and returned MySpace pages and simply make sure to make such a huge impact. badly, even though we never expected take advantage of every free or cheap anyone to be insulted when we offered method you can use to get to players. The way you treat your players when them free stuff. communicating with them is also very Don’t ever ignore your game’s important. I’ve always made sure to be For future reference, here are some community. They are the lifeblood of an upfront and honest when communicating general guidelines when you build your online game and should be considered with players. They are intelligent. They next community and want to take it more than just customers. Stay in touch see through the BS. Tell them the truth, further than the norm: with the players, and treat them with and tell it to them as early as you can. I respect. Be honest, and don’t be afraid never made false promises I knew I Do things that are genuinely kind. to have fun - after all, that’s why we play couldn’t keep. Give the military a discount on their games in the first place! subscription, give students a discount on I also make sure to be fun and open with their subscription, give seniors a Ryan Shwayder has been named players. The post that went over better discount on their subscription. Create Community Relations Manager/Designer than any I can remember was “A Closer family plans that allow for a certain at GMG and will be working to establish Look at SOE,” in which we played on a number of accounts to fall under one the company’s presence through the web post made by a player and made fun of blanket, making the per-account and other media. He volunteers his time ourselves, complete with pictures. subscription cheaper. Donate a portion of for local IGDA chapters and is well- the proceeds to charity. People know known for his game development blog at But there’s no success without failure, when you’re truly trying to be a helpful Nerfbat.com. and during my time at SOE, I definitely company, and that builds reputation. had a few. In one particular case, we got EDITORIAL PRODUCTION BUSINESS Executive Editor Producer Publisher Julianne Greer Jonathan Hayter Alexander Macris

Content Editor Layout Artist Associate Publishers Joseph Blancato Jessica Fielhauer Jerry Godwin Russ Pitts Jason Haile Gregory Lincoln

Contributing Editor Lead Web Developer Director of Advertising JR Sutich Whitney Butts Susan Briglia

Research Manager Web Developer Chairman of Themis Group Nova Barlow Erik Jacobson Thomas S. Kurz Tim Turner Contributors Lara Crigger IT Director Dana Massey Jason Smith Jim Rossignol Ryan Shwayder Allen Varney

Issue 72, © 2006. The Escapist is published weekly by Themis Group, Inc. Produced in the United States of America. To contact the editors please email [email protected]. For a free subscription to The Escapist in PDF format please view www.escapistmagazine.com