Tencent & Charan

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鬼殺し wrote:

Really, it was when they got rid of FFA. That was when they realised the game could no longer be enjoyed competitively among friends or even strangers who won't take all very personally. I remember what beta was like. It was far more cut throat than anything now. As such, it paid to befriend people and to compromise. Melee players got first pick of items so if you played range, it was best to be with friends who would share and acknowledge your needs. That is very local thinking. Once the game no longer supported that, it was no longer quite the game GGG wanted to make. It became much more about the individual greed. Any semblance of party dynamic went out the window. Powercreep got out of control because everyone played ranged and most people traded, so mobs had to be scaled up, so items got stronger, and so on.

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鬼殺し wrote:

*snip*

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鬼殺し wrote:

Okay, so. This thread has my name on it and it asks for my stance, so I won't make a new thread even though this is a new development of sorts. We don't need new threads about this, even from me. :P

I have now spoken to Chris and my mind remains unchanged.

I don't really make it public knowledge but it's probably no surprise: there have been times where I've been contentious about something GGG has done, openly and loudly on here, but then I'll get some inside info about it later from Chris or another dev and I'll quietly ease off. Chris is *incredibly* good at defusing my rage, partially because he's generous with his time, partially because I just really like the guy...but mostly because there is always, ALWAYS a sound reason for what GGG do. I don't have to agree with it but I have to accept it is in the best interests of the company and by extension, the game and ultimately...the players.

My reaction to Bestiary's theme and implementation was explosive and largely mocked (who's surprised?) but it did preempt a lot of other issues with the league. If one typically smooth process is off-kilter, you can bet the overall operation of the machine will eventually be plagued with problems. Chris anticipated some negative reactions to how Bestiary was implemented and did tell me the 'sacrifice' part was optional but it wasn't enough for me. Something wasn't right and I skipped 3.2 altogether. That was the first time I've ever come away from a chat with Chris unchanged despite some background info and qualifications.

It seems that set the precedent for how this Tencent thing would go down. I want to stress: we're always friendly and civil, even when one of us is gently accusing the other of making a deal with the devil. I understand his stance and cannot, even now, speak against it in regards to GGG's future. As others have noted, expansion is survival. New Zealand is tiny. And China is where the money is.

But this is sort of like graduation. I can be simultaneously happy for GGG and for Chris that they've taken that next step...and terrified what it might mean, because we've seen so many graduates make a bad decision that led to ultimate unhappiness. Either way, I can't go with them. My role is done. I'll keep playing the game they made when they were still that same GGG from 2012 or even earlier, but it's silly to think that it will stay that way. Hell, if we're sticking to the graduation analogy, GGG were probably doing post-grad developments years ago, always pushing further and further beyond the basic undergrad 'ARPG' courses. For better or worse. They are that brilliant...and typically, that unstable. GGG were running long before they really figured out how to walk without tripping from time to time.

GGG under Tencent will have more resources to run even faster and further. In light of what I just said, that's scary. On the other hand, maybe it'll also give them the leeway to bolster some of those lacking core skills, things they only learned in the field along the way through trial and (much) error.

From the laughably misleading wording of the announcement (80% ownership defined as 'invested in') to the business-as-usual news announcements afterwards, it is exceedingly clear that GGG wanted to disclose what happened as honestly as they could and then get back to work. To pretend nothing's really changed. And before long, we'll do the same. Most of us. The game will improve. GGG will very likely grow. People will support, because who really, honestly cares where the money goes? If the product is good, you pay for it. I have absolutely no problem with anyone who feels that way. This is not their moral decision to make.

And yet I did say I want this Tencent-owned GGG to crash and burn. How spiteful of me! I want to take that back but I just can't. If TencentGGG dies today, everyone at GGG will still walk away a lot richer than when they arrived. The external shareholders listed publicly have all been bought out, and I bet they're happy as pigs in shit right now. We as players will have gotten years of good gaming out of the whole thing. The game would be euthanised in a pretty good place: all ten acts in, the story complete, its status as a classic confirmed. Most importantly, zero chance of the devil's bargain reaching a point of reckoning.

Because I just can't shake the feeling it's coming. No matter what assurances people make. We said once that GGG/PoE would beat these sorts of odds, back in Closed Beta when we said the community would stay great and the game would not be plagued by powercreep and trade scams and botting like That Other Game. It didn't. They didn't. So I don't exactly have the same faith I had in 2012 regarding GGG's capacity to beat odds. And the odds are right now overwhelmingly in Tencent's favour should they want to interfere. You can argue that those odds themselves are very low, and Tencent is indeed a very hands-off benefactor -- given they get their cut. Which they will get as long as it's business as usual around here. Every single 'support' pack sold now and henceforth will be used to some degree to maintain this peaceful arrangement. THAT is the devil's bargain GGG struck.

And anyone who plays PoE is a part of this now.

If you love and want to continue playing PoE as Chris and his want it to be, you will continue to support because you do NOT want Tencent to turn its gaze southwards towards New Zealand, wondering why this year's offerings aren't quite as abundant as the last. The status quo must be maintained.

But me, I don't love playing PoE, even though I've done quite a lot over the years. I loved supporting the NZ-owned and operated GGG. That supporting this is both no longer possible and would ultimately put money into a corporation I do not like makes my decision that much easier.

That my support has always been just a trickle into the ocean makes the decision to not support anymore *really* easy.

...And that I've put in enough to make it physically impossible to get my money's worth makes it a fucking no-brainer.

But I have one qualification, one exception: If TencentGGG put out a buy-to-play game that shows me they are still interested in making a true hardcore ARPG immune to player demands and whims, I'll buy it. From them. How could I not? It's all I've ever wanted from Chris, Jonathan and Erik all this time.