Within this world of magic and fantasy there is a seeming contradiction. How does wonder coincide with violence and the worst of mankind so simply and easily? Even more at the core: why does violence play such a prominent role in video games?

I don’t think I’m any more prepared to give an answer than anyone else, but I do have ideas. One sees in rock music, many movies, and certainly video games a primal tendency. In rock music, animalistic rhythms replace any important human utterings. In movies, the message is trumped by a hulking beast of violence. And in video games, violence is merely an abused slave to those looking to waste an hour, a day, or maybe a significant portion of their life. It is like booze to soothe the soul. It is the postponement of a terrible conclusion.

Of course, I don’t think anyone is looking to waste their time. It’s all so useful, controlling these pixellated personas. A headshot here, a grenade thrown there, and one never sees the reality of what is happening. Yet there is a reality present; it’s the degradation of a segment of the population.

Perhaps I expect too much. Maybe video games are just there to excite and entertain, and violence is the perfect tool for that end. But some music and a few movies once carried a message and a purpose. And I’m not about to say that video games ever did. But maybe, just maybe, video games could. But with a great many people too ready to indulge in the same, tired violence and pointlessness, and with companies even more ready to profit from such people, change is nowhere to be found.

However, I must really wonder, furniture aside, how SOE is going to remain competitive in the traditional genre of MMOs. Sure, they have the, literally, Free Realms. But what of the Everquests and SWGs? Even Blizzard knows that competing within the fairy tale MMO scene is a bad idea, thus resulting in their new MMO being a completely new intellectual property. Apparently Everquest 3 is in the works, continuing SOE’s line of traditional MMOs. But this seems like a grave mistake. It would seem that SOE has given up on creating a blockbuster traditional MMO. Making another Norrath MMO is proof of it.

But I wouldn’t say this blog is completely over. I’ve had some fun writing a few posts and I might continue to do so. But just to make it perfectly clear—I don’t play games anymore. Maybe you could consider this blog the commentary of an outsider to the world of gaming?

One of the few (only) games I’ve played recently is Call of Duty 2. It’s a fun game, and along with Call of Duty 1, makes for an epic singleplayer experience (though limited by its unfortunate brevity). The multiplayer is similarly fun, and for me at least, has always been the equivalent of chocolate truffles—small treats to be indulged in every now and then. I never play the game for more than an hour, nor am I so compelled to do so. But I still wouldn’t mind having a little indulgence the next day. This of course greatly differs from the MMO perspective, which is one of addiction. It is not a chocolate truffle, but rather is like a wretched drug that invites one to continue further and further.

But, rabbit trails aside, I’ve always thought it would be interesting if there were a German singleplayer campaign in a WWII game. I don’t believe I’ve ever encountered something quite like that in a WWII shooter-type game. The epic nature of Call of Duty’s singleplayer campaigns could easily make for an interesting adventure on the other side of the story—the German Anruf der Aufgabe.

Today, SOE implemented a spam filter in Everquest II. I don’t think much else needs to be said to those of you who play Everquest II.

Doesn’t sound exciting to you? You must not be from Everquest II, then. Everquest II, like many other MMORPGs, is plagued by a myriad of plat farmers and spammers from all around the world, otherwise known as China. The difference is, SOE actually did something about it. Yes, SOE did something good. *Waves hands* SOE is not the Grinch coming to steal your Christmas presents. Let that sink in.

Anyway, the implications of this spam filter are huge. Perhaps this will pressure other MMO companies into taking such actions, improving MMOs for all? Ah, well, you never know these days…

I was adventuring in Everquest II, namely in the dungeon of Stormhold. Stormhold is a spooky, mysterious abandoned fort. So, as my group slowly advances through the forbidden halls, a skeleton arises to challenge us!

The skeleton lets out a fearsome battlecry! Err, what? No, the skeleton does not let out a fearsome battlecry, quite the opposite, in fact. The skeleton says in a Mickey Mouse voice, “Dying didn’t feel good the first time!” I doubt anybody would be fearsomely trembling due to that.

I thought skeletons were supposed to be scary? For me, when I’m adventuring in an inheritably dangerous, scary place, when I hear the re-incarnation of Mickey Mouse in the form of a skeleton, how can that not break the atmosphere? Why on earth (or Norrath, for that matter) do my skeletons sound like Mickey Mouse filled with helium?

My addiction is, quite simply, holes! Holes—big holes, small holes, dirt holes, rock holes! The sheer amusement I find with crawling into a cozy hole while out adventuring is unparalleled.

Everquest II, quite simply, provides this amusement. In Antonica, there’s a patch of land dotted with holes that extend into underground tunnels. I truly think I’m pretty odd, but I find an incredible amount of amusement just by going into these holes. I could do it a thousand times and then a thousand times again, and I would never see a drop of boredom (well, perhaps that’s a bit of a hyperbole, but you get the idea).

But beyond that, is it just me, or does the MMO world need some more creative environments? I see the same, general themes in every MMO. Seldom is it that I see something incredibly creative that makes me want to stay and enjoy the scenery and environment. A breath-taking vista, a mysterious tree, the endless possibilities—where are they, Grandpa Developer? I can imagine the developer showcasing the environment now…

“Well, little Jimmy, here’s your desert, oh, and over here is your forest!”
“Jee wiz, Grandpa Developer, that ‘thar canyon looks mighty familiar!”

I’m sure there are plenty of people out there who would say such things are not content, but to me, that’s the best content I’ve ever seen. To me, questing and all of those wonderful things are only a portion of the content. Am I just horribly weird or are there others out there who enjoy such creative environments?