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Rooting for the Fail?
username509
Member CommonPosts: 635
http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/02/the-soapbox-rooting-for-the-fail/#continued
I'm going to start this with a strange admission: I love MMOs. I love them as a lumpy, imperfect collective; I love specific ones immensely, and I love being a fan of the genre. I feel that I have to clarify my stance when I sometimes -- often -- see people who apparently follow MMOs quite closely become a neverending fount of bile and venom toward these games. Apparently, not all MMO fans love MMOs, and that perplexes me.
Odd as that may be, whatever, I can accept that we live in a topsy-turvy world. What I really don't get are the folks who hate specific games so greatly that their entire bodies and minds have been honed into a dedicated game-loathing entity. Mention that title anywhere on a forum, a blog, or in a post, and these people come out to scream through clenched teeth how this MMO sucks beyond the telling of it and that we are all fools, fools for getting anywhere near it.
They aren't just content to say their piece and be done with it, oh no; their vitriol literally knows no end. They will rant, they will attack, they will laugh with derision, and above all else, they will root for the fail. Their greatest desire in life is for this specific game to die so that they can rend their clothes and let out a blood-curdling victory howl. And I don't get it. I feel like an alien in their presence, perplexed at their rage and fixation. Why do people root for MMOs to fail with such intensity? What motivates them and what do they hope to achieve?
A small difference of opinion
Let's back up a second before I start painting with too broad of an argument brush and clarify. I'm not talking about anyone who's ever not liked an MMO, as that would probably be all of us. It happens. We burn out or just don't care for a title for whatever reason, and that's that. I'm not even speaking of those who want to lay out in a detailed essay why Game X doesn't succeed and why Game Y does. Being part of a hobby means that you debate these things as a matter of fact.
What I'm talking about are the crusaders, the shriekers, the bitter and malcontent posters who simply have it in for a game. These are the gamers who don't let a good argument pass them by, particularly if they can start it themselves. These are the people who, if a positive piece of news about an MMO is released, will be the first in line to say why it's actually a sign of the game's imminent demise. These are the voices that predict failure repeatedly before, during and after a game's launch, confident that given a long enough timeline, they'll be proven right eventually.
I've seen them in every MMO forum I've visited and in almost every game-related post here on Massively. There's no one-and-done philosophy of taking a stance with them, and there's no mercy toward those who think differently. Even though these are, let's face it, just games, they can't let it go. They want the game to fail, they want others to stop playing them, and more than anything else, they want you to agree with them.
Why do they do it? I have a theory that most of these folks fall into one of three categories. The truth is probably more complex, but in my observations, these three work for a good deal of the trolls out there.
The jilted lover
These are the gamers who were fans -- perhaps even super-fans -- of this MMO, followed it for a long time, and probably played it for even longer. But something went wrong along the line, such as a game-breaking patch or just nasty burnout, and they've flipped from affectionate lover to bitter enemy.
I can understand this, since I've been there. You probably have too, right? You and an MMO have a falling out, you move on, but some anger and resentment linger. You need to get it out, to drain the wound. This is why I don't mock "I'm quitting" posts like so many do, because I understand the need to put into words why this game's no longer for you. It helps you move on with your playing career once you get that closure.
But sometimes saying it once isn't enough, because there's been a real or imagined personal slight. It's like breaking up with someone only to badmouth that person to everyone you know for years afterward because you can't get over the hurt. It's somewhat more pathetic when it's a video game and not a live human being that's causing this, but I don't doubt it happens.
The insecure advocate
As faulty as I'm sure my observational powers are, I sense that there's a strong current of insecurity that runs through our little industry. When we latch onto a game we love, we want to protect it and support it -- and defend it from attacks, real or imaginary.
The problem (and this is probably best left for a different Soapbox) is that we are still very fractured as an overarching MMO community, clinging to specific games while not lending support and encouragement to the ones we don't. The insecure advocate is a ranter who wants their game -- which could be either live or in development -- to be Number One, and that means everyone else must go down in flames.
Again, this is understandable to a degree. Fans like to attach themselves to specific teams, shows, and franchises, cheering for them while booing the others. The thing here is that such actions only serve to hurt MMOs instead of help any, as they stir up anger and dissolve friendships. It's also completely futile, since there's no proof that by tearing down all these other games you'll be helping yours. I know that I'm not going to suddenly jump on board another MMO just because a fan of that game tells me that what I'm playing is crap. And yet that's what's being said, over and over again.
The prophet of doom
Unlike the first two types, prophets have no love left in them, just a black ooze that resembles seven-day-old coffee. These are the folks who simply cannot be pleased by anything, no matter what, and yet they're still hanging around. Why? I think it's because they get great pleasure out of saying, "I told you so!"
Prophets will moan that MMOs were better back in the day and are all crap now. They will set themselves up as arch-nemeses for developers, shredding anything a studio might say about an upcoming or existing title. Sometimes you get the feeling that they desire this perfect, unattainable MMO that should be made but isn't, which is why they stoke the fires of their hatred toward game studios. How dare they work on this game when they should be doing something completely different? This title should fail just on principle! DOOM!
Live and let live
Right there are four words I have to remind myself of anytime I want to spew a little meanness at an MMO. Live and let live. The truth is that there are always people who really like any given game, people who are playing for the enjoyment of it, and what right do I have to try to convince them otherwise? I may not like an MMO, I may put down into words why, but the spirit behind it shouldn't be to ruin the fun players are having.
Ultimately, there's a lot of futility in these rehashed rants, because at the end of the day they're just ineffectual arguments that will probably never convince anyone to stop liking something they do, and will make people avoid you over time. Nobody likes the "I told you so!" guy or gal, after all.
So I ask that when you (not you, of course, the person behind you) sit down to write your 50th post about why RIFT, or Vanguard, or The Old Republic, or Star Trek Online, or Hello Kitty, or RuneScape, or whatever sucks, think about what you're trying to accomplish. Are you being part of a smart debate? Are you sharing an interesting viewpoint? Or are you being the Grinch hating all those Whos down in Whoville who dare to enjoy something you don't? And if you keep rooting for the fail, what happens when everythingfails? Will you be happy then?
So what one are you, the jilted lover, insecure advocate, or prophet of doom?
[Mod Edit]
Never trust a screenshot or a youtube video without a version stamp!
Comments
Truth. With a capital T. On this forum more than anywhere else.
But you remember what happened to the last guy who delivered Truth. Stay away from Roman hilltops.
Self-pity imprisons us in the walls of our own self-absorption. The whole world shrinks down to the size of our problem, and the more we dwell on it, the smaller we are and the larger the problem seems to grow.
I like to think of myself as a anti-complainer and sometimes a moral knight when the mood strikes me, I almost never Bash,Lie,cheat,talk down a game but I do offer honest personal experience and view to things, If I dont like a game due to its underdeveloped gameplay I would say it if the thread or mood ask for it and 99% of the time explain the how&why.
that said, a game company can only go sofar before it looses any sympaty whit me, and mortal online is a game that has digged its own grave from the start, I usaly avoid these parts of the forum,( as i would have only negative things to say) but sometimes like now I jump in in these well writen but compleetly wrongly posted threads in a section about a game were every single warning to potential customers is compleetly justivied.
If you -the OP- would have posted this lovely writen post in the general section or even in a section it should belong ( rift,wow and alike) I might have skipped it or writen a nice personal view on things.
Mortal online, and mainly the development team behind it is a total piece of garbage, and not by design, but by uttlerly and compleet mismanagement and judgement of the game developers.
Live and let live, one of the best things to do in "digital" on "real" live but sometimes, just sometimes. to do the good thing is to do the bad thing.
Ofc, Like in everyting you have folks who tend to go overboard and make ten post aday how bad a game is mostly compleetly unjustivied and full of personal bias but thats kind of the age we live in, its not just games, check any news sites the amound of compleet bullshit comments on things people know nothing about but need to say someting about just for no other reason but to say someting.
and here comes live and let live into play again, I might not like the trolls and biast comments on games and other things but every person has a right to voice his views in any way they like aslong they do not hurt fallback on racism ,name calling and things like that.
Every coin has two sides, the ball always bounces back
It's unfortunate that article was posted here, when it concerns the posting behavior pretty much across the spectrum of this entire forum.
Yes, I'll agree that some games deserve a little derision, from time to time.
My only objection is to posters who make a full-time career of it.
Self-pity imprisons us in the walls of our own self-absorption. The whole world shrinks down to the size of our problem, and the more we dwell on it, the smaller we are and the larger the problem seems to grow.
Considering the global attitude and amateurish approach of the devs (actually, Henrik and mods are to blame, other guys seems to be hardworking and modest people suffering from bad leadership) I simply don't think MO deserves to success. You don't waltz into game industry with outdated dreams and amateurish team, to then make your fanbase suffer from your trial and error approach while you figure out the basics of design, that sets a bad example.
What type am I? You tell me. However I try keeping my attitude and opinions to my self lately when it comes to MO, even thou I do jump into more general topics such as this. As for the article.. shrug, it's the basics of human nature, jealousy, hatred, love.. If we are allowed to express such things IRL about topics/items we love or hate, why should not same apply on internet, where we are all same humans (with exceptions of bots)?
You are overthinking this... Internet forums are for PVP, that's why all the dialogue and hatred, one side has to see the other side "lose", which is problematic since it's hard to win in a battle of opinions.
And the beat goes on.
"True friends stab you in the front." | Oscar Wilde
"I need to finish" - Christian Wolff: The Accountant
Just trying to live long enough to play a new, released MMORPG, playing New Worlds atm
Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions. Pvbs 18:2, NIV
Don't just play games, inhabit virtual worlds™
"This is the most intelligent, well qualified and articulate response to a post I have ever seen on these forums. It's a shame most people here won't have the attention span to read past the second line." - Anon
If a game is going to fail it will no matter what. And sometimes the more people complan about a game the more people will want to check out the train wreck, or what they read as a train wreck. It like an auto wreck on the highway everyone slow down to take a look. They think it can't be that bad, and if the game has a free trial. Where all they loss is time to download they will download to play.
You know, to be honest...I think the majority of "rooting for the fail" talk starts off as something fairly innocent and just goes downhill because of differing opinions and human propensity to get defensive. Sure, you have your trolls that start threads like "this game will FAIL lololololol" but in my experience, most of it goes something like this...
John starts a thread declaring his enthusiasm for game X, and proceeds to describe how awesome the game is.
Mary replies to the thread with something negative, but not too offensive like: "I don't know, I'm not interested in game X...it just seems like a WoW clone."
John responds: "Game X is definitely not a WoW clone! It has features a, b, and c that WoW NEVER had! And besides, WoW was a great game!"
Mary responds: "Yeah, but features d, e, and f are EXACTLY like WoW. And WoW is KILLING the industry! We need a game that is like <insert ancient game here>"
John responds: "I don't get what it is with people like you. Everyone hated <insert ancient game here> and everyone loves WoW. You're just a dying breed."
Mary responds: "Whatever, you are a child and have no idea what you are saying. I seriously hope game X fails so we can finally get a good game like <insert ancient game here>"
Are you team Azeroth, team Tyria, or team Jacob?
The angst posts are easy enough to navigate. Its the aloof posts that state their opinions as fact that get to me. The ones that look down on the poor fools that have yet to be enlightened. They dismiss anyone who disagrees with them as ignorance. Hate that shit haha.
What it boils down to, sad to say, is this: Many MMO players ae undersocialized punks with deep-rooted feelings of inadequacy. So they shore up their own sense of self-worth by tearing down what others like. This of course doesn't really work, so they keep on doing it instead of finding some happy equilibrium. Eventually, they have to make a decision: realize what they're doing and work to become a less verminous person, or continue as they are until they become writhing cesspools of self-loathing.
And yeah, I know this becuase I went through it too. I like to think I wisely followed the former, smarter path. Find the joy in what you like to do, and let others have it for themselves. It's a better world that way.
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Especially when official game forum PvP is better than the game itself.
"I have only two out of my company and 20 out of some other company. We need support, but it is almost suicide to try to get it here as we are swept by machine gun fire and a constant barrage is on us. I have no one on my left and only a few on my right. I will hold." (First Lieutenant Clifton B. Cates, US Marine Corps, Soissons, 19 July 1918)