LockSixTime has been doing an amazing Countdown to SOE Live talking about the various features of EverQuest: Next that we do know about. While I disagree with him at points they are really wonderful. On the latest one he briefly talks about the importance of Sociology In Gaming. Go ahead and listen to it (the video footage is unrelated), then come back.
Some of you might know that I am a student of sociology and I have previously done research on the Sociology Of Gaming, but this is quite a novel consideration. Not only looking at the social aspects of gamers getting together, but modeling the NPCs to behave in truly social ways to draw players into a more immersive experience and, potentially, teaching them something about real people around them as they think about how their choices in game effect what NPCs will do in response.
While not limited to gamers by any stretch, there is quite a stereotype of immature gamers who never learn social skills. The main skill that these people (players or not) fail to learn is Empathy, or as we call it, Sociological Imagination. Most people learn this skill to some degree as they grow up and hear about the lives of people they care about, they start to realize that not everyone thinks like they do and other peoples lives are different than theirs giving them a different perspective. Classic literature also helps people learn this, and it looks like the Emergent AI developed by Storybrick will allow major games to have the technology to not only tell wonderful stories, but also engage players in Social Imagination.
There are a few games that build Sociological Imaginatin well, but most of them are Indi titles that don't reach a very large audience and tend to be fizzles in a pan, barely appearing on the market before being forgotten about. EverQuest: Next on the other hand is an AAA quality game by a major production studio with a track record of continuing successful MMORPGs, some of which have revolutionized the industry like this one aims to, and the only major MMOFPS (though, FireFall will be giving them some competition in that market very shortly).
Showing posts with label Social Change. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Social Change. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 16, 2014
Welcome to World Builder Thorn
Hello, World Builder Thorn here, I've been writing things all over the net regarding various games and project and it was recently recommended that I create a blog to share my ideas and link to these rather than directly to shared google docs, which I have been doing. While I'm at it, I would also like to highlight other reviewers and content developers in the field.
So, what should you expect to see on this blog?
First and Foremost you will see my thoughts on video games and literature; the creation of, the culture around, and the playing/reading of. Culture... yes. I am a student of Sociology, so cultural analysis is very important to me and it is a very major part of how I look at all things in life. Which leads to another portion of this blog, social change. I will be talking about social change as we see it in literature, TV and movies, social media, and yes, video games.
At present I am working on two major projects and you will likely hear a lot about them for some time.
EverQuest: Next & Landmark
These games by Sony Online Entertainment are so unique and interesting and I am involved in the largest development team in history trying to build them. I am a Trailblazer member in the Closed Beta of Landmark at the moment. I am not much of a builder yet, but I'm trying to learn. Expect a small flood of posts regarding these games as I have been creating documents for them for several months. While I won't be attending, SOE Live is not very far off, so I've been scouring over every interview and scrap of information I can to see what the devs have said is coming, either on purpose or by accident.
Xamesh & The Galactic Commonwealth
This is a very large social change writing project I have been working on for the past several years. It is mostly presented in the form of vignettes (very short stories covering one event or encounter) that are knitted together to form a much larger story of the entire world and events. It will touch on all kinds of social issues while hopefully remaining fun at every step.
Some content discussed will be things that are not typically 'allowed' to be discussed, however, I will avoid treating these topics flippantly. Everything on this blog should be either SFW or require clicking through to the NSFW content. I will try to tag my posts appropriately so you can skip content you don't want to view.
So, what should you expect to see on this blog?
First and Foremost you will see my thoughts on video games and literature; the creation of, the culture around, and the playing/reading of. Culture... yes. I am a student of Sociology, so cultural analysis is very important to me and it is a very major part of how I look at all things in life. Which leads to another portion of this blog, social change. I will be talking about social change as we see it in literature, TV and movies, social media, and yes, video games.
At present I am working on two major projects and you will likely hear a lot about them for some time.
EverQuest: Next & Landmark
These games by Sony Online Entertainment are so unique and interesting and I am involved in the largest development team in history trying to build them. I am a Trailblazer member in the Closed Beta of Landmark at the moment. I am not much of a builder yet, but I'm trying to learn. Expect a small flood of posts regarding these games as I have been creating documents for them for several months. While I won't be attending, SOE Live is not very far off, so I've been scouring over every interview and scrap of information I can to see what the devs have said is coming, either on purpose or by accident.
Xamesh & The Galactic Commonwealth
This is a very large social change writing project I have been working on for the past several years. It is mostly presented in the form of vignettes (very short stories covering one event or encounter) that are knitted together to form a much larger story of the entire world and events. It will touch on all kinds of social issues while hopefully remaining fun at every step.
Some content discussed will be things that are not typically 'allowed' to be discussed, however, I will avoid treating these topics flippantly. Everything on this blog should be either SFW or require clicking through to the NSFW content. I will try to tag my posts appropriately so you can skip content you don't want to view.
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