A more objective, less ranty attempt at a column... (Part 1!)

Rightyo then. Sorry this wasn't as timeous as I intended, my teachers are absolute slave drivers. And I fixed my computer. So the time that didn't go to homework went to StarCraft instead :P

But! Here is Part 1 of Attempt 2, complete with less rants and more relevant analysis! This is just regarding the future of LANs; I'm going to do the rest (the future of gaming online) tomorrow. Phoreals (lol) this time. It sure as hell beats the Reading Project (cue dramatic music!)

So, what I think about it:
I managed to say more stuff that mattered, while maintaining my writing personality - I was aiming for more personality in the last one, but overcompensated horribly.

So, in terms of personality:
- Was it enjoyable/lolable/fun to read?
- Do you, as my loyal friends and readers, think I was true to my writing style?
- Did it flow nicely?

And in terms of content:
- Did I make sense?
- Do you think I did the right amount of analysis?
- Is there anywhere my analysis was inadequate/should I have elaborated more in some places?

Overall, did any problems with the last one recur in this one?

Analysis I think I might edit in:
- Dealing with developers justifications of removing LAN support/looking at LANs from a developer's point of view
- More on games. Unfortuantely I have written a TON today (Reading Project is a bitch), and I'm a tad too burnt out to think about what I should have said where

Thanks a lot kids, much <3

Column starts here:






Being the mature near-adult that I am, I have decided to approach the topic of the dying nature of LAN support in a manner different to that of previous drafts lesser columnists. To ranting, raving (in a negative manner, of course) and general QQ, I say “Nay!” and opt instead for a far more objective, rant free analysis of what happens now that the evil corporate monkeys at Activision, Infinity Ward, Bobby Kotick and all affiliated companies and bureaucracies have ruined the upright and venerable pastime of PC LANning for gamers EVERYWHERE. Rant free that is, starting now.

Now, naturally the first issue which springs to mind is the future of big LAN events such as the NAG LAN at rAge, Organised Chaos (OC) and FRAG; or, more accurately, whether they have a future.

No doubt, on the surface their prospects look grim, but let’s dig a little deeper and establish whether or not LAN events are really in any danger at all.

Now, on the surface a person goes to a LAN for one of two broad reasons:
1) To play games
2) To ‘leech’ completely non-copyright protected, totally legal reenactments, recreations and reproductions of a wide variety of media and games, in a completely legal and morally upstanding manner, of course

So, let’s take a closer look at reason 1. People go to LANs to play games, right? So, if developers are removing LAN support from games, LANs are going to suffer, right? No! The thing is, people (the majority, at least), don’t go to LANs to play the latest game to be released. They go to play what other people are playing, and other people play what is established. Games such as Call of Duty 4 and DotA (to name what are probably the top 2) are still played the by the majority of people, regardless of newer releases. The only reason Counter-Strike isn’t on that list is because Call of Duty 4 usurped it. Point is, these are games that were released four or more years ago which people have been playing up until now, are enjoying and will continue both playing and enjoying for the foreseeable future. On those grounds, I would say that it is unlikely that we are going to see a drop in LAN attendance because of the disappearance of LAN support (if that still sounds contradictory, give the paragraph one more read).

Before I say anything else, try saying Reason 2 three times fast! The 'to 'leech' completely non-copyright protected' bit, not the words 'Reason 2'. Anyway, it doesn’t require much elaboration at all. Naturally, whether or not a game supports LAN play has no bearing on how much completely legal software one can or will ‘leech’.

Even if either of those were true, however, I believe LANs would continue to be blessed with enough attendance to prosper. Why? LANs aren’t events where you exclusively game or exclusively leech – in fact, those two are the sole focus for but a few attendees. Most people go to LANs (especially monthly LANs, such as OC, which build up communities) to gather with their fellow nerds and socialise in a significantly more awesome setting than normal. Sure, games are fun on their own, and getting free (though completely legal) stuff is nice, but how fun would LANs really be if you weren’t able to rant about about how developers hate PC gamers to people who actually listen, or teabag your buddy in an old-school game of Counter-Strike 1.6?

Conclusion? LANs, regardless of what developers do to the games they are releasing, are under no real threat.




Tell me what ya'll think. Based on your criticisms and my recovery, I shall hopefully have an edited version (and, with any luck, Part 2 as well) done by tomorrow evening!

Once again, thanks a lot for the help with the last one - I appreciate the honesty, sincerity, and bro solidarity. <3.

Duncan
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