Previous Faculty Grind Was the Actual Participation Trophy

When individuals discuss fashionable conveniences in MMOs — like extra accessible gear and higher high quality of life options — inevitably you’ll have some individuals chime in that it was so significantly better within the good outdated days when individuals needed to “work arduous” to attain issues in video games. The phrase “participation trophy” comes up lots to explain fashionable perks.

A cutscene from Riders of Icarus

That phrase and the encompassing mentality are what I wish to deal with at present. I believe individuals have it totally backwards. I believe the old fashioned grind was the actual participation trophy.

The notion appears to be rooted in the concept video games have been more durable again within the day, however many of the issues individuals level to once they make that time weren’t really tough. They have been simply inconvenient.

Lengthy journey occasions, low drop charges, unclear quest instructions, glacial leveling pace… these are all issues that made video games extra time-consuming, however they often didn’t require any actual talent to beat. Anybody can achieve an atmosphere the place grind and tedium are the principle obstacles. It simply takes time and endurance.

However in case you spend tons of of hours working towards an in-game purpose, it’s straightforward to really feel such as you’ve achieved one thing vital. And that, actually, is what the entire idea of a “participation trophy” is about: Making you are feeling such as you’ve achieved one thing when actually all you probably did was present up.

By comparability, the relative generosity of extra fashionable video games, the place loot is plentiful and high quality of life is best, may also present one with a false sense of accomplishment, however that’s extra of a aspect impact. The purpose there’s to get individuals engaged with the sport and let everybody benefit from the content material.

Making gear and content material extra accessible was by no means about messaging the egos of informal gamers. It was about ensuring individuals really acquired to expertise the entire of a recreation. Earlier than the Raid Finder was added to World of Warcraft, raids have been seen by such a small portion of the sport’s inhabitants that it was changing into tough to justify spending growth sources on them.

Nor do I believe it’s totally correct to say video games have gotten simpler, although they are often too straightforward at occasions. Extremely difficult content material can nonetheless be present in just about all MMORPGs, however that problem is far more skill-based than grind-based. It’s now far more about your abilities than how a lot spare time you must dedicate to the sport.

A space combat mission in Star Wars: The Old Republic, a game with many modern conveniences

And I wish to be clear that I’m not penning this to trash followers of old-fashioned design. In the event you benefit from the outdated methods, that’s completely wonderful. There’s no unsuitable to play video video games, so long as you’re not making hassle for anybody else. I’m not saying that liking lengthy grinds and inconvenient techniques is an ethical failing, or that it means you’re dangerous at video games.

However I’m saying let’s name a spade a spade. Being a grind fan doesn’t make you dangerous at video games, but it surely doesn’t make you good at them, both. Spending 100 hours tenting for a uncommon merchandise doesn’t make you a talented participant or a tough employee. It simply makes you somebody with a number of free time. Any feeling on the contrary is an phantasm, and it’s an phantasm the builders in all probability crafted deliberately to maintain individuals coming again for extra.

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