Danc points out that a lot of games make a false constraint by trying to make meaningful experiences for the player through cinematics, music and a moving story.  In reality, the shortest route to create meaning is simply to get other human beings invovled in the same experience.

Kumbayah sound better in a group than alone in the shower alone

As an example, Danc points out the widely popular Facebook games like Farmville and Mafia Wars and how it has become meaningful to people’s lives because of its social aspect.  But I think that games like Farmville and Mafia Wars fall short on creating something truly impactful.  What truly makes a game impactful is not just that a game is social, but that it gives you choices and consequences.

Many single players give you the illusion of choices and consequences by showing how your actions impact the story.  But this is artificial and fake.  You can play through every scenario again and again, and even laugh at the differences when you choose the “jerk” option rather than the “nice” option.  But you can’t take those things back when you are making a choice with a real person that has real consequences.

For instance, in Mafia Wars, you can put bounties on people’s heads and “oops you’re dead, minus some experience.”  There really is no real bite to it.

Politics through Facebook

But in this not-so-well-known Facebook game, Starfleet Commander by Blue Frog Gaming, your interactions with other players have lasting consequences.

There is an invisible choice that is made when you play Starfleet Commander that most people don’t notice.  At some point in the game, you begin to realize that the fastest way to grow is to attack other players.  It takes time, and a lot of resources to build an economic infrastructure.  And while other people are doing the same, impatience grows to take from the weaker players so that you can quickly grow.

Mine!

Unlike Mafia Wars, if you attack another player’s planet, take their resources and destroy their ships, those things are really gone.  To add insult to injury, vultures can even harvest the debris of destroyed ships as well, destroying not only your fleet infrastructure, but also the resources you put into building them.  The consequences are harsh, lasting and have cause people to switch to a safer “diplomacy” mode where everything they produce is taxed or to quit the game all together.

The ironic thing is that like the real universe, Starfleet Commander’s playing field is infinitely vast and ever expanding.  Resources are unlimited and plentiful.  What is limited is time and patience.  So the choice is made whether or not to take from others.  This is a real and lasting choice and people can and will hate you for taking what is theirs.

Isn't there enough room for all of us?

For my section of the universe, one particular aggressor kept hammering away at weaker players until he grew to an enormous size and threatened all the players in the area.  Where I was once quietly gathering my resources by myself, I was suddenly called upon by others to gather together and defend against this bully.  I found myself digging in my heels and rushing up the technological ladder to create a fleet equal to or greater than the aggressor.

For people who know me in person, I am naturally a protector.  But I never expected to experience that personality habit in a game.  I found myself growing my fleets and colonies simply to push myself to protect others.

Our alliance, “Fading Suns” came together and we made another choice.  After vanquishing this threat, we decided that we were not going to become an aggressor alliance and simply to continue to be a defensive alliance while actively seeking out to go after other aggressor “bully” players in the game – of which there are plentiful.

Nobility in war

One of my friends was completely wiped out last night.  And as I write this, he is in correspondence with his attacker asking him questions like, “Why do you do this?  Do you feel better about yourself by doing this – attacking people who are so much weaker than you?”  And the usual replies come back:

“It’s your own fault for playing so stupidly.”
“It’s just a game.”
“Life’s unfair anyway.”

My friend in his wisdom said back, “If life is unfair, shouldn’t you work at making it better rather than worse?”

I don’t think that this conversation on morality would happen over something like Farmville or Mafia Wars.

How Farmville Wars got started

Some people may laugh this off and say, “Man you are taking this really seriously.”  I really don’t think so.  I think that not enough people really like to ask the only meaningful questions in life.

Who do I make myself to be by my actions – in work, in play, at home, with others, when I am alone?
Who do I like to pretend to be – in books I buy, movies I watch, games I play?
Who am I?

Those are the only questions that really matter.  And like it or not, how you conduct yourself in play does matter.  It’s something I have to constantly tell my boys, after all.