Last September (2008) I wrote an article for Virgin Worlds called "This is beta not Sparta" and it seems that it is time to revisit the subject again. Let me start out with a quote from a talented guy named "Mark Jacobs" about another beta - the Warhammer Online beta:"Why do some people feel it is okay to threaten, curse, abuse and be downright hostile to other people over a game, especially in this case when it is only over access to a game that is still in testing (Open Beta Test = Not Yet Ready For Prime Time, Players)? While I've become quite cynical over the decades, I still find myself amazed at times at certain people's reactions to stuff like this. I don't mind when people get upset but to treat other people in such a callous, mean and immature manner is really a bit much." - Mark Jacobs Let me use a tired old buzzword from business to counter the same tired "buzz-phrases" that are already starting out there...time to be PROACTIVE. Here is my proactive message to my fellow columnists/bloggers/podcasters: Give the B.S. a rest. Let me quote another person whose opinion I greatly respect... my co-host: "Talking to Paul Barnett has really opened my eyes about a lot of things." - Fran Kosac, co-host of the "No Prisoners, No Mercy" show So what buzz-phrase has me hopping mad? What is it that has opened Fran's eyes? I am glad you asked. What has opened Fran's eyes is talking to Paul Barnett about how much hatred he has heaped on his shoulders by the gaming community as a Creative Director for Mythic. What has me hopping mad is the fact that I am already seeing the same tired, cheap shots starting out there: WoW clone. No my personal opinion is that Aion is about as similar to WoW (beyond simple game mechanics like using the "WASD" keys that all games share) as an aardvark is to a watermelon. But the major point here is what has come up recently in the gaming community and that is about reviewing a game. I certainly understand about discussing a game that has just come out of the NDA phrase; after all most times people who write about games (myself included) are anxious to talk about w hat they have experienced. But what is not fair to the producers, developers, coders, artists and anyone else who talks about a game is to start saying negative things about it that writers KNOW will have seriously negative connotation before the game is even finished. So while some of my fellow columnists/bloggers consider calling Aion a "WoW clone" (or words to that effect) before it even gets out of beta let me coin another phrase in defense of the people working on the game. "Writer-clone" For God sake people if you are going to say something negative about a game before it even gets out of beta - and I have already seen comments that people are going to cancel their pre-order as a result, at least try and be original. See you online (like it or not), - Julie Whitefeather |