Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Dark Souls II: The Death of a Dream




The recent announcement of preorder bonus items for Dark Souls II disturbs me on multiple levels. Superficially, I'm concerned that certain players will gain an unfair advantage (which they essentially bought) by wielding these weapons, undermining the "achievement through perseverance" ethic that defines the Souls series. But more deeply, I'm troubled by what the bonus says is happening to the series.

I won't beat around the bush, but state straight-out what I mean. The Souls series seems to be being stripped of it's grassroots character. Instead, it is being transformed into a market-driven commodity that is more concerned with profit than it is with the integrity of its game world.

This shift from fan-base to corporate-base has been presaged by several announcements leading up to the preorder bonus. First, the maker's (From Software) partnership with the conglomerate Namco-Bandai for the sequel was ominous. Then, the director's mention of increased "accessibility" set off bells warning of corporate meddling. Many were later assuaged when journalists started reporting that the game was still difficult. But shortly after this, a bombshell hit when From revealed that Dark Souls II would feature voice-chat and mechanisms for facilitating co-op with friends, both changes in design which seemed to go against the core aesthetic of isolation that defined the earlier games.

The preorder bonus is thus just the most recent indication of the series losing its soul. More specifically, it is one of many signs pointing to the intrusion of for-profit ideologies into the very core of the game where once they did not exist.

In Dark Souls, for example, there was the Drake Sword. Though it could be acquired early in the game and would give players a distinct advantage, it was an in-game item only. It could only be acquired through gameplay, either discovering oneself or learning about it through others. The pre-order items are of another class. They are purchased by the player before the game even begins, not played for. The fact that you can also find the items in game (as From has stated) doesn't change this.

The difference is this: the Drake Sword was not COMMODIFIED. The preorder bonus items are commodified. The Drake Sword was a special item whose acquisition was completely bounded and contained within the artistic unity of the game and the free community of players that grew up around it. The preorder bonus comes from a system of values external to the game world and its community, a space governed by capital, i.e., private ownership, profit, and marketing, which the game community has little to no direct control over.

The contrast here between pure in-game items and pre-release DLC is of course one that has been the subject of much debate. For the Souls series in particular, however, it poses a special threat to one of its defining attributes: its community-led distribution. The Souls series has one of the most active communities in gaming history. Its success has largely been driven by a fan base motivated by personal passions rather than profit. The preorder bonus betokens a turning point in which that collective, community-based ownership of the series' past is being subordinated to the private aims of its corporate future.

The signs of this sea change are written all over the wall. Many of the game's most prolific and established community members have already been co-opted. Epic Name Bro, one the biggest voices in the community, has been officially silenced due to his paid work on a forthcoming strategy guide. Another major contributor known for his lore videos, VaatiVidya, after being invited by Namco-Bandai to try out a preview demo of the game, is now effectively doing PR videos for the company in which he dismisses legitimate concerns about the questionable changes to the series and tells fans to go preorder the game now! Other prominent community members have been invited to special preview events that subtly pressure them to talk up the game afterwards. Whereas once these people were free to express themselves as individuals within the community, they are now in part owned by and serve the corporate interests taking charge of the game.

It's sad that this is happening. Some might say it was inevitable. The Souls series could be said to be victim of its own success. The pure, genuine love of fans that propelled Demons' Souls and Dark Souls to Game of the Year status has come to the attention of capital and it is working hard to convert that affection into cash. We all know how it will end. The people that see Dark Souls II as a way to make money will never understand what made the game such a hit without their big advertising budgets and market research. They'll simply cannibalize the good-will of the fans until nothing is left but a hollow husk.

So begins the death of a dream in which art triumphs over greed. It was certainly nice while it lasted.









19 comments:

  1. Worst post I've ever seen

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    1. Indeed it seems very misguided, and I failed to resonate with any of the author's concerns. Where is that elusive down-vote/thumbs-down button...?

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    2. " Where is that elusive down-vote/thumbs-down button...?"

      it's a stupid system that encourages hivemind mentality and drowns out opinions just because they clash with the norm. i don't agree with the author but i respect their right to voice their concerns.

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  2. Hey yo - My name is J. and I'm the CM for Namco Bandai Games America - I'd love to talk about some of your points and clarify some of your questions if you were up for it. If so - You can always find me on Twitter - @jkartje

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    1. I'm certainly interested to hear your perspective J. Twitter, however, is a fairly limited medium for intellectual exchange and I'm not sure a back and forth there would be productive. But you can email me (thegamephilosophe@gmail.com) or write out your thoughts in the comments section here. I'll definitely respond.

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    2. - OP bitches about game, makes allegations about Namco Bandai
      - CM for Namco Bandai offers to talk
      - OP wusses out citing bullshit reasons

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    3. Oh yeah - I thought we would just exchange email addresses via Twitter - It's hard for me to check notifications here. I'll drop you an email though.

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  3. I think this really blows the whole thing out of proportion.

    These items can be found in game. This will not have any impact on PvP beyond (perhaps) the first couple of areas.

    The game is single player. If someone wants to ruin their experience by paying for a minor advantage, that's their prerogative.

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    1. > not have any imact on PvP
      > The game is single player

      Terrible, contradictory argument. Are you also claiming that these items can be found in the game by any and all users? It doesn't seem that way. They appear to be only for pre-order CE bought specifically from Gamestop.

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    2. I'm not the one your replying to, but yes, they can be found by anybody who plays the game, just at a later point in the game.

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    3. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  4. I think you bring up good, valid points. Namco Bandai appears to be pulling an EA/Activision with this franchise (pre-order bonus, pushing voice chat, and buying up trusted, formerly neutral voices in the community). If you do end up having a dialogue with this J Kartje guy, please share the outcome with us.

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  5. You are completely crazy and pretty much crying over every little detail that will be forgotten in a month.

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  6. I, personally, am very happy that FROM are making their/our beloved franchise more successful, they deserve the extra appreciation and money. I look forward to a new game from them, and any changes that are yet to be seen. Those who are resistant to the change I can only feel sorry for.

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  7. Whatever points you bring up are undermined by the terrible sensationalist style you employ. Calm down mate.

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  8. - Namco-Banda published the last two games.
    - "accessibility" was meant as streamlined, all aspect announced about the game make it seem harder.(Progressive loosing total health, slow healing, invasions while undead)
    - The voice chat is enabled through a ring that you can choose or not to choose to wear.
    - Pre order bonus are contractually mandatory in all AAA games. All the weapons can be found in game and even in Dark Souls you can find and use the Zweihander within minutes of starting the game.
    - You don't "purchase" Pre order bonus, and yes it does change the fact that they are in the game. From isn't locking out content like Pre order bonus's from other games.
    - There's lots of other people who say the game is hard as shit who aren't Vaati.
    - If you don't like the pre order bonus the don't pre order the game.
    - If you don't like the pre order bonus then don't use them.

    This isn't an easy mode. Stop acting like every tiny little aspect is the end of and era in video games. Pre order shit sucks, no one will ague against that, but it seam like this is the best compromise they could make.

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  9. I too am a bit worried, this is a game made by gamers for gamers, and now that the greedy rich publishers got their hands on it we already have a more accessible game with pre order weapon, it might not be bad now but but in DkS3 and DkS4 they are going to slowly push the game into something more casual and eventually we will have The Elder Souls: Casual Edition Easy mode bundle

    If you dont see this coming or are atleast a bit worried, you are a just another guilible dunce on the market which the publishers pray upon

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    1. It's the same publisher as the first, nothing has changed. FROM has just as much control as they did before.

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