QQLog

Boycotting Rock Band

qqmonster — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 20:57:07 +0000

Instead of learning to play a real instrument, musically challenged individuals everywhere can pick up a copy of Rock Band and become the rock god they always dreamed of. I am all for instant gratification with little to no effort, but there are times of the night when no one should have to listen to this racket. Like 2:00 a.m. on a Wednesday. So I get up out of bed and yell at my roommates to turn it off before stumbling back into bed. 10 mins later they are still playing. I am so furious by now that I jump out of bed, walk in front of their game, and turn off the power strip. Peace and quiet at last!
Things like these make me question why I was ever enjoyed the company of these people in the first place. Am I really that desperate?
Anyway, I refuse to play Rock Band for like ever…or maybe at least until we get that second guitar.

Microtransactions: the Future of Gaming?

qqmonster — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 20:04:51 +0000

So I generally try to avoid casual games in general because I don’t find them very rewarding. Lately, though, I haven’t had time for any hardcore games and my game design class has sparked my interest in the area. Some of my favorites include downloadable games VVVVVV, Braid, and World of Goo as well as online titles FarmVille, Run Elephant Run, and Super Karoshi.

None of these games really take advantage of microtransactions except for FarmVille. So what sparked my interest in this topic? A representative from Zynga came to talk with my game design class the other day and someone asked him how they manage to make money if all their games are free. Microtransactions, or small monetary transactions used to buy special items and additional content. Zynga seems to be making a fortune with their games so they must be doing something right.

I was fervently against this idea until I read this article about making microtransactions more socially acceptable. I never really realized how spoiled we gamers actually are. We pay a large sum of money or a subscription for a lot of content, some of which we may never even experience–end game mmo content, for example, which requires a considerable amount of time and dedication. And then we complain when game producers release trivial DLC that costs a few bucks…oblivion horse armor anyone? With piracy so prevalent lately, it is no wonder game companies are trying to find a way to boost their profits.

Microtransactions are around us every day–buying a pop instead a case of soda, shopping for a single hard to find ingredient, getting that book you have been longing to read, purchasing that new song on iTunes that is stuck in your head. We spend most of our cash on things we need now and rarely stop to think about how we may need in the future. So why shouldn’t games work the same way? In an ideal situation, the amount of content you receive depends on how much you pay. Free play and minimal content for new users while access to deeper content or items to pimp out your character require a small fee. There are many ways this can go wrong, however, and microtransactions have to be balanced very carefully. No one wants a pvp game where the more you pay, the more powerful your character is.

Initial lump sum and then cheap DLC seem to be the norm for most AAA console titles these days while free initial play and cheap optional items are more popular for casual online games. I still am not aware of any mmo that utilizes microtransactions in lieu of subscription fees which are more of a macropayment. Guild wars has no monthly fee, but they don’t have any microtransactions. WoW has optional paid content like pets and mounts, but they have a monthly fees. Removing subscription fees removes barriers to entry which could be a disaster for many hardcore players, but it would encourage more casual gamers to give mmos a try. Anyway, it will be interesting to see what kind of role microtransactions will play in the future of gaming.

–qqmonster

An Introduction

qqmonster — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 05:36:58 +0000

So what do I mean when I say QQ? I can’t remember when I was first introduced to this interesting tidbit of IM vernacular, but I believe it involved a chat conversation, WoW, and my friend who I will call Suzanne. I do quite a bit of chatting with Suzanne, and I like to think that we are pretty close, but our relationship isn’t much more than walls of complaints and disinterested replies. And as for WoW, I have been playing off and on for longer than I would like to admit.

Anyway, this is how I think the exciting conversation played out:

Suzanne: qq

Suzanne: this meanie horde is camping me outside bb

qqmonster: =(

qqmonster: what is qq?

Suzanne: you know, like crying eyes

qqmonster: ohhhh

Since then QQ has pervaded my use of IM, so much so that I now use it almost like an emoticon.

Just recently while procrastinating schoolwork, however, I discovered this interesting fact on urbandictionary.. According to damasterbishop, alt + Q + Q was a keyboard command used in warcraft’s RTS days to exit the game. Thus QQ was a form of telling other players that they sucked and should just quit the game now. Personally, I feel that this use of QQ is still very fitting for me. I often discuss with Suzanne how I am a failure at life and should just quit school and become a professional hobo.

So yeah…sorry for such a long history briefing, but I figure if you are going to read this blog, you should at least know what the hell I mean when I say QQ. It might be used to express complaint or unsatisfaction. It may mean I suck at life and should just quit now. I might actually be crying. Just think of it as a warning that the next thing you will read is a waste of your time. I mean who wants to listen to other people complain about their lives?

–qqmonster