Is it just me or are some people taking MMO blogging way too seriously lately?
I enjoy blogging when I have time and something to say. I don’t really care who reads it. I don’t care too much about who comments on it, I’m happy I wrote it even if I get zero comments. I don’t ever check my reader stat numbers, I am blogging here for myself. I know that every blogger has a different reason for doing what they do and whatever floats their boat.
Disclaimer: The below paragraphs are based on *MY* response to why I don’t read theory posts (for the most part). I’m not meaning to “kick anyone in the nuts” I’m just referring to what is relevant reading to me right now 
Tobold asks – do you even read theory posts? I’ll answer the question for myself personally – I don’t read MMO theory posts from those who don’t work in game design or production. Why? Because it’s far easier to design foolproof awesome-sounding game experiences when your spec guidelines are “write it good so your blog readers like it”. Designing professionally involves topdown specs, it involves scope, it involves metric and playstyle analysis, sometimes involves focus groups, involves a team worth of buy-in, involves money, and involves tasking and prioritizing. Figuring out the picture-perfect experience is easy – getting it into the game is what takes the skill. Everyone and their mother can play an MMO and evaluate what they think is wrong with it. But do they take into consideration market research? The game’s metrics and trends which they have no insight into? The other simultaneous efforts that a team is working on that might put your idea onto the back burner? Your boss who has a radically different vision about what is fun? The future timeline and creating backwards-compatibility? The phased approaches and iteration?
I’d love to see more game design theory posts from people who do it for a living. ” Pipe dream” posts don’t really have too much value for me, but I can see how others like them. It’s unfortunate that game design ideas from blogger-types often have very little translation to the game design process in reality, but it explains why I rarely read long-winded design ideas from bloggers. I understand why you guys write them, because it’s fun. I used to do the same thing It’s all very tired feeling to me now though…
Tami Baribeau is the Associate Producer for Metaplace, Inc, currently working on Island Life. She is also the Lead Editor of feminist gaming blog The Border House, and the National Facebook Games Examiner for Examiner.com. She can be reached on Twitter or by email.
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I can really understand your point. It largely comes down to what sort of articles you want to read. Obviously I’m bias because I do write such articles but I can’t really agree and say there is no value to them just because I and other bloggers aren’t employeed in the industry. Is it true a lot of the time? Absolutely. It is also a straw man though. Sometimes outsiders actually provide pretty useful information.That at least has been my experience in my industry.
There are obviously large degrees of difference though. Some of us try to focus very narrow and others make broad strokes. At the bare minimum though the articles are, in some way, the market research you mention.
Bloggers can sometimes be like a congressman. They might represent a small (and in some case really large) demographic. If they all agree that one particular mechanic is broken that is probably worth pursuing.
At any rate, for as much as I want to say there are a lot of quality articles out there, I’ll just say I really understand your point. There are plenty of miracle promises out there that probably don’t have a lot of footing in reality.
one of these days wannabes will figure out that it’s 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration. it’s not just cliche. it’s all about execution. ideas are a dime-a-dozen and nobody wants yours cause they think theirs is better.
pssst. here’s how to get your epic design and sweet theory into a game: make it.
these days, there are enough tools, kits and other bootstrappy things out there for just about anyone to get it done. if you have the will, there is a way. in other words, theorize and daydream in one hand, shit in the other. at the end of the day, whatcha got fistfuls of?
m3mnoch.
Sadly most industry folks don’t post much design theory. At least not for current projects they are working on.
It seems that the amateurs want to tell you constantly what they think should be done, while the professionals just want to talk about some new version of a development tool or complain about long hours…
I do think that armchair development does need to take a backseat to the very real methodology that governs MMO design. But I don’t agree there is little to no value in it. Not everyone has the luxury of simply designing what they feel is a good game experience. There’s also a certain kind of perspective brought from the players who don’t develop that developers themselves should at least consider, if for nothing else to avoid “not seeing the forest for the trees” syndrome.
If there was no value in theorycrafting there wouldn’t be community teams gathering that feedback and at least gleaning it for gems in the rough.