I’ll get back to the grovelling “Sorry I haven’t posted a lot recently, I’ve been busy” stuff in a second, but if I don’t say something about this, it’ll totally leave my head.
You may or may not know that Richard Bartle has been blog topic du jour a lot recently, all stemming from an interview he did with Massively in which he said:
“I’ve already played Warhammer [Online]. It was called World of Warcraft. “
Which apparently, is the Quote That Was Heard Around The World. Assuming your world consists of nothing except reading MMOG-focused blogs and then getting very upset that either:
(a) your new favourite (unreleased) MMOG is being ‘dissed’ or
(b) your old favourite (out right now and doing very well) MMOG is, er, also being ‘dissed’ or
(c) Someone has an opinion on either game.
A few days ago I might have tried to weigh in on the reaction to Richard’s comments, but better people have beaten me to it - read this very good summary by Alec Meer over at Rock Paper Shotgun if you want a good overall view (and read the comments too).
All I really wanted to say is, I’ve met Richard Bartle a couple of times, and very nice he is too.
Now, considering Richard seems to be ‘doing a Derek‘ and appearing at every blog that mentions his name, I should probably qualify even that statement. (And yes Richard, the Derek Smart reference is a joke.)
I think I probably saw (as in, saw speaking) and possibly even spoke to Richard before the two times I met him this year, but I can’t remember where or when. Recently though, he sat opposite me while I gave a suddenly very intimate presentation to some people at The Guardian’s inaugural Gamecamp, and then I met him again when I spoke at Staffordshire University three weeks ago now.
In both cases I came away with the very definite feeling that the man isn’t short of an opinion, and that he’s pretty damn smart, so that meant he was someone worth listening to.
Richard, in case you were wondering, is pretty much a career academic, but he’s best known in gaming circles for being credited with designing the original MUD. For most of us, that puts him up there in the Gygax and Arneson pantheon for being one of the guys who started it all. You can pretty much trace a direct line from Bartle to Garriott to (whoever did EverQuest!) to today’s MMO creators.
The MMO industry being the young, vibrant, devil may care place that it is, however, we’re not exactly respectful of our elders, much of the time. Hence, it seems, the ‘outrage’ that’s been thrown around over the fact that Richard would express an opinion about the industry and how it’s developing, even though he was part of the reason it ever started.*
I’m not even going to try and paraphrase what Richard said, as you can go do it for yourself - and besides, see the ‘Derek’ bit above.
I will say that I think, to a certain degree, he’s right. Assuming my interpretation of that comment is correct.
(And by the way? While lots of people have talked about whether or not the comment was ‘in context’ or not, no-one seems to have mentioned this fundamental issue when an Englishman - especially an opionated, outspoken Englishman like Richard - speaks to an American: certain stuff just doesn’t translate.)
As I was saying: he’s right. Because MMOGs haven’t evolved very much since MUDs. They just haven’t. They’re still in the main about killing stuff, levelling up and getting better statistics.** Sure, we have better communications, obviously nicer graphics, and here and there some interesting non-combat activities… but that’s it.
What Richard is crying out for - and (here’s the point) he has every damn right to, as he’s been around the block a few more times than most of us - is something new and different and exciting than another MUD in pretty clothes. He wants to see MMOGs truly expand gaming and offer experiences we’ve never even thought of before. I do too. Seriously; who doesn’t?
Then of course, the rubber meets the road, the commercial reality meets the artistic fantasy… and we advance by inches as an industry, rather than jumping forward by miles.
Why not call for that ‘quantum leap forward’ to be made, though? Amen to that.
Y’know, each time I’ve met Richard he’s made casual comments about wanting to see big changes happen ‘before he dies’. Considering he’s 48 (according to Wikipedia), I certainly hope this is possible. Because if it isn’t, Richard, it’ll be guys like me who have to take up the cry before too long.
(Oh and by the way; I’ll come to Essex to talk, any time. Just ask.)
* Something which he never really claims, by the way. He might feel more like he’s the guy who pioneered the use of polyhedral dice, complaining about how they’re used in D&D 4th Edition now. Or not.
** Reminds me of a quote from a very old RPG buddy who I lost contact with years ago. When trying to explain why RPG mechanics were essentially just a pointless waste of time, he said something along the lines of “Alright then, I’m going to look at my parameters, we’ll compare parameters, roll some random parameters, and then one of us will reduce our parameters. Then repeat.” His point being, it’s all just stupid numbers, and if that’s what you’re roleplaying for, God help you. (Thank you, Ian Kershaw.)
