Opinion: The New World Order
How the state of gaming would look if ruled by the King of the Casuals.
There is an age-old question that comes up in all sorts of conversations. Whether it’s in politics, news interviews, podcasts, or even ridiculous conversations with your friends and family, everyone has a vision for how they wish the world would go. Everyone has been asked before, “If you were ruler of the universe, what would you make different? How would the world look?” As a self-proclaimed King of the Casuals, I was asked a similar question by one of the gracious hosts of the CCP:
If you had a magic wand, what would the gaming industry look like?
Since I don’t believe in magic, I prefer to imagine (for the sake of the question) that I’ve been granted divine authority to shape what I see as a just and competitive world for gamers. Without further delay, here are my decrees.
1. History Shall Be Preserved
As anyone knows from my previous writings, I have a long list of games I wish would be brought back. Remastered titles are, by and large, good. They allow you to revisit great pieces while keeping them fresh and up to date with new technology. If you are tired of the remaster market, my solution is simple. Don’t indulge. But the idea that no one wants old games and we should only focus on the new is an ignorant position.
2. Free Markets, Unconditionally
There is no shortage of mega corporations that have engaged in price gouging, price fixing, and resource manipulation, all of which have driven up costs for gamers today. That is not right, and I would never support it. However, if we want innovation, new stories, and cheaper platforms, we need people willing to compete. I am rooting for Xbox and, as a lifelong PlayStation defender, hope Project HELIX changes the game. If Xbox can deliver better gaming and more choices by morphing the console into a PC, that will be a game-changer for the industry. Will it be expensive for the industry and consumers? Most likely, yes. But if it is successful, it will eventually become the norm, and costs will come down. God willing, we can have a “Ready Player One” gaming experience within our lifetimes with new innovations. Innovation will only occur when there is an incentive to take the risk.
3. Unify The Marketplace
Microsoft, PlayStation, Steam, and Nintendo have failed to recognize what I think truly separates them. It’s not the exclusive titles that keep players coming back; it’s how they create the best gaming experience. Consoles have been losing this battle to PC. The reality is that PC gaming allows you not only to play more titles but also to be more competitive. Cross-platform should be on every game made from here on out, and a majority of AAA games already include cross-play, which is a major step in the right direction. Games should not be limited by platform, and companies should focus on the next steps to make games play better on their platforms.
4. No More ‘Master Race’
As stated previously, PC gaming has a major competitive advantage. This is primarily due to the major hardware differences between PC and consoles. Yes, some accessories make PCs really shine, such as monitors instead of TVs, but consoles still struggle to deliver even 1440p resolution at a smooth 60 FPS, while PCs can reach 300+ FPS at 4K resolution if the game allows. Closing this gap will justify unifying marketplaces and eliminate the static pricing we see on separate closed markets. The ‘PC master race’ shall and should be no more!
5. Gamers Shall Practice What They Preach
Today, gamers complain about droughts between seasons for new games to play. However, when companies take risks and make something new, they immediately grab their megaphones to ensure a game fails publicly. Even if the game is successful, they still complain about the higher price tag, which is necessary in a world with rising costs to make things new. Gamers need to support AAA and indie successes while justifiably abandoning lackluster creations.
6. No More Censorship
We see censorship today in two forms, in the content we purchase freely and in how that content is used. Companies should be bold and take risks by creating taboo stories that may offend. They should also be required to remove their ability to censor our own speech when engaging in competitive play. Just as in the United States, you cannot threaten or incite direct violence. However, the names and sarcastic threats we make toward each other in a Call of Duty game chat should be permissible without risk of penalty. If you do not like what takes place in a game, you shouldn’t be playing that game.
These are your King’s first decrees. I strive to rule justly and to create a world where casuals and sweats can join forces, so that we can have better gaming not just for our own sake, but for children’s sake and their children’s sake. We can only achieve our goals if we all work to make things better. Games were designed to offer an escape from the sorrows of our world, and we should be able to do so as freely as possible.