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I want to touch on a subject that is not mentioned here so much yet, and that is online gaming. Specifically, Quakeworld and games coming after that. I still r

I want to touch on a subject that is not mentioned here so much yet, and that is online gaming. Specifically, Quakeworld and games coming after that. I still remember fondly how small the circles were, especially with Quakeworld. You could play on a server, and there were not that many, and actually see the same people there night after night, getting to know them and feel respect when you saw the more veteran ones entering the server. And actually talk to those same people in IRC afterwards. Nowadays, there are so many players everywhere that it's very difficult to have a sense of connection to the people, as most times you might never see the same players again or connect with them in any way. There was just so much more fun stuff happening there, when games were not nerfed to death and designed for everyone. I mean, nowadays when you play a online game, it's just so goddamn balanced and researched and overdesigned in many ways in modern games, and don't me let even start on the loot boxes and experience and all the crap around the core game logic that is not even relevant. Sometimes I miss those days where everything was smaller and not everyone was on the internet.

cybwraith 8y ago
> And actually talk to those same people in IRC afterwards. Nowadays, there are so many players everywhere that it's very difficult to have a sense of connection to the people, as most times you might never see the same players again or connect with them in any way. Its not just that theres so many players. The big issue there is lack of server lists and player-run dedicated servers. Matchmaking largely kills that 'close-knit' sense of community where you play with and against the same rotation of players and get to know them. The only way to accomplish something similar is to find a community on discord, make a party together, etc. Its far simpler for everyone already owning and in the game to just click "Bob's great Quake CTF server" and know they'll be with whoever is normally on that server.
- jungler 8y ago
  The money incentives have changed things too. People stream their gameplay for cash, and that has led to a rapid professionalization of gaming that wasn't there in the era of demo recordings and an occasional LAN event. It makes for more incentives to hide cheating or gatekeep your game sessions behind private Discords etc. Since the rise of Minecraft the games themselves have also gradually shifted towards being long-term platforms for streamer content, vs simply providing a fixed experience. Free-to-play economics likewise aim towards maximizing total lifetime value of each user(with a built in expectation of user turnover) instead of marketing towards the initial purchase.
  - jackfraser 8y ago
    > People stream their gameplay for cash This is still such a very strange thing for me. Truly one of the first things that has made me (as someone in my mid-30s) feel disconnected from the next generation. Why would I want to watch someone else play video games? If I had the time to do that, why wouldn't I just play the games myself? Where's the joy in it? The commentary? If I wanted commentary to listen to, wouldn't it make more sense for it to be about something real? I guess I'll just tie that onion onto my belt and call it a day.
    - kls 8y ago
      Same reason people watch sports. Many of the streamers are top of their game and people watch them to pick up tips and the learn new skill-sets in the gaming world. I am 44, I don't watch them but my boys do and I get it, where at first I had the same reaction. Which was basically why would you waist you time doing that.
karatefylla 8y ago
Ah QuakeWorld and the golden era of gaming. I have fond memories from playing QW not online but also go to these small LANs in the middle of nowhere and meeting some of the top players in the world in person and getting to each other IRL. I'm still friends with some of the players from that time.

cybwraith 8y ago

> And actually talk to those same people in IRC afterwards. Nowadays, there are so many players everywhere that it's very difficult to have a sense of connection to the people, as most times you might never see the same players again or connect with them in any way. Its not just that theres so many players. The big issue there is lack of server lists and player-run dedicated servers. Matchmaking largely kills that 'close-knit' sense of community where you play with and against the same rotation of players and get to know them. The only way to accomplish something similar is to find a community on discord, make a party together, etc. Its far simpler for everyone already owning and in the game to just click "Bob's great Quake CTF server" and know they'll be with whoever is normally on that server.

jungler 8y ago
The money incentives have changed things too. People stream their gameplay for cash, and that has led to a rapid professionalization of gaming that wasn't there in the era of demo recordings and an occasional LAN event. It makes for more incentives to hide cheating or gatekeep your game sessions behind private Discords etc. Since the rise of Minecraft the games themselves have also gradually shifted towards being long-term platforms for streamer content, vs simply providing a fixed experience. Free-to-play economics likewise aim towards maximizing total lifetime value of each user(with a built in expectation of user turnover) instead of marketing towards the initial purchase.
- jackfraser 8y ago
  > People stream their gameplay for cash This is still such a very strange thing for me. Truly one of the first things that has made me (as someone in my mid-30s) feel disconnected from the next generation. Why would I want to watch someone else play video games? If I had the time to do that, why wouldn't I just play the games myself? Where's the joy in it? The commentary? If I wanted commentary to listen to, wouldn't it make more sense for it to be about something real? I guess I'll just tie that onion onto my belt and call it a day.
  - kls 8y ago
    Same reason people watch sports. Many of the streamers are top of their game and people watch them to pick up tips and the learn new skill-sets in the gaming world. I am 44, I don't watch them but my boys do and I get it, where at first I had the same reaction. Which was basically why would you waist you time doing that.

karatefylla 8y ago

Ah QuakeWorld and the golden era of gaming. I have fond memories from playing QW not online but also go to these small LANs in the middle of nowhere and meeting some of the top players in the world in person and getting to each other IRL. I'm still friends with some of the players from that time.