Hi all, Below I have selected interesting pieces from an article from PC Plus Magazine from the UK, what do you guys think, has anyone ever listened to these? Out of character
Orestis Bastounis explores ways to move gaming out of the game itself When a game achieves any kind of popularity, and involves at least more skill than Pong, there's guaranteed to be a massive amount of user-created material surrounding it. Forums, guides, chat rooms, player gatherings, even radio and TV shows, are all examples of 'metagaming', where players' actions outside the game directly benefit the experience inside the game. Metagaming means the player not only enhances the gaming experience, but also modifies their play style with knowledge only accessible outside the game realm. For example, a player is metagaming if they keep open a detailed map of the best sniping positions in a Counterstrike level, or a diagram of exactly which spots to brake at in a racing title. A complex game mechanic may need explanation, so players rather than developers will put information online about how it works. This could be a website, a Wiki, a set of spreadsheets or an application designed from the ground up. SWGcraft, a huge database of harvestable resource locations for Star Wars Galaxies, relied entirely on content submitted by that game's players and soon achieved legendary status. After time, it was impossible to harvest anything if you didn't use the site. Some players spend considerable amounts of time and money on services to complement a game world. Online radio shows are a good example; the DJ can talk about the game and different play styles and then use this position of power to influence others. They can promote their own organisation, taunt their enemies and gain valuable publicity for their own character. Of course, for a niche feature within a niche audience, listener numbers won't rival Radio One. To get more people tuning in, the station has to be promoted in game, with similar tools to those used by real radio presenters, like competitions and interviews. When it comes to running TV shows about a particular game, it usually falls upon the developers to cough up the cash needed. One of the first, EVETV, ran a PVP tournament where select players and developers were filmed discussing tactics between matches broadcast with live commentary. EA is working on something similar for the Command and Conquer franchise, with the exception that much of the content so far comes via downloadable episodes, rather than broadcast live. There's so much more that can be done with metagaming. Developers of online titles could expand the content beyond 3D worlds, by integrating support for live video and audio streaming into the game. How about a central radio station, run by the developers, with up-to-the-minute news about the game world, accessible within the game, and outside it? Live 'phone-ins' via VOIP are a possibility, engaging the player in a way that hasn't been done before. Actually, one title has been there and done most of it already. Virtual World Radio Network ( www.vwrn. net) is a radio station run by Second Life players. It's comparable to local radio, with similar news, features and discussion, but just focused on the Second Life world. Players can even purchase advertising slots, which are paid for with in-game money, helping the organisers run the station. Ari --- Gamers mailing list __ [email protected] If you want to leave the list, send E-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] You can make changes or update your subscription via the web, at http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org. All messages are archived and can be searched and read at http://www.mail-archive.com/[EMAIL PROTECTED] If you have any questions or concerns regarding the management of the list, please send E-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
