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Ok, since the other thread has turned into a SPDG nostalgia /PBEM setup thread, I just wanted to share some thoughts on the original intent of Nathan's thread in a more on-topic way.
First of all, despite the fact that for the last two weeks I've been rather unattached to the game for RL reasons I can honestly say I've had fun since the first moment I joined the PTWDG. It is intense. It is passionate. It is not for the faint of heart.
I understand the reasons why some people have lost the fun part out of this game due to the aggresive nature of this competition, and the feeling that people have been insulted directly or indirectly. Whether that has been done is not the topic of this discussion, but more than one person share this sentiment, while many people simply view the trash-talking as a natural part of any competition and is to be taken lightly.
Yesterday night, me and Arnelos were talking about the demogames with AdrianHon, it was more of an interview really, but certain things come to mind that are relevant in this case.
First of all, we must understand the origin of the PTWDG and thes takes that are involved, and mind you, they are HUGE. Bigger than anyone will likely admit in public. The first SPDG was a team affair, everyone united for a common end despite the fact that the means to achieve that end varied and was the nature of the political parties. I wasn't in that game, but from what I've been told, it was ALL about the politics, yet that same political "dis-unity" created a common bond in the sense that people were nevertheless in the same boat together and like it or not, were in with each other to the end.
The PTWDG changed all that. For the first time it was not just "who had the better idea" but rather "who are the best civ players". No way to say the hawks could have done it better, or the DIA could like in the SPDG. Here the winner will be decided by who played the best game of civ, plain and simple.
Now many people in the PTWDG were not involved in the SPDG while the old SPDG crowd spread out among the various teams, more suited to their political inclinations of that first game. The Hawks went to GoW, and the DIA to RP and Lego for example. But new crowds got involved also. You had the strat forum regulars forming what many view as the Real Madrid of civ teams, Gathering Storm. Then you have the germans at ND, and the more aloof but no-less dedicated Voxians.
And you still don't think the stakes are huge?
It's all-or-nothing. There will be one winner. One group of select people who can lay claim to have been the winner of the first competitive democracy game in the world's biggest civ site. So much for being "just" a game. In this sense, the stakes may even be higher than the ISDG. Do we cross paths with CGNers, or GCAers or Firaxians every day? Nope. But we see each other here, the competeitive spirit is always with us, be it PBEM, MP, or just plain who kicks bigger ass in SP, and especially since many of the PTWDG teams have done much better than some of the ISDG teams from what I've seen. If the level of competition is more fierce, the satisfaction of winning, is invariably greater.
We all have a little bit to prove here. If GoW wins we can claim that realpolitiking and opportunism won the day. If GS wins, they will be proud that all that time in the strat forum paid off and prove that they're not just good at kicking the AI's butt. If ND wins, well, imagine a rival site beating out the best Apolyton has to offer! You get the picture.
So, for the sake of humility and sportsmanship, most people will say in public that this is just a game played for fun. But honestly I doubt any of them believe it, and if it were so, all this passion over other team's coments or actions would not be very important to some. Whether you are hyped, insulted, or just got caught rolling your ass off on the floor laughing, you can't deny that this game has grown on you and that for good or bad, feel a passion for it, and an overwhelming desire to win. That is the spirit of competitiveness, which though manifested differently by each person, is with us all.
So, all I can say is, get real, this is more than a game, it's Civ for christ's sake! It's our favorite game for some of us, played in our favorite community! It gets serious, it gets nasty, it gets heated, it gets comical, it gets to be everything at some moment. So enjoy it, have fun, be passionate, and most of all:
PLAY TO WIN
and don't be surprised if the others do too by all means necessary.
(and give yourself extra credit for having read this whole damn rant
)
First of all, despite the fact that for the last two weeks I've been rather unattached to the game for RL reasons I can honestly say I've had fun since the first moment I joined the PTWDG. It is intense. It is passionate. It is not for the faint of heart.
I understand the reasons why some people have lost the fun part out of this game due to the aggresive nature of this competition, and the feeling that people have been insulted directly or indirectly. Whether that has been done is not the topic of this discussion, but more than one person share this sentiment, while many people simply view the trash-talking as a natural part of any competition and is to be taken lightly.
Yesterday night, me and Arnelos were talking about the demogames with AdrianHon, it was more of an interview really, but certain things come to mind that are relevant in this case.
First of all, we must understand the origin of the PTWDG and thes takes that are involved, and mind you, they are HUGE. Bigger than anyone will likely admit in public. The first SPDG was a team affair, everyone united for a common end despite the fact that the means to achieve that end varied and was the nature of the political parties. I wasn't in that game, but from what I've been told, it was ALL about the politics, yet that same political "dis-unity" created a common bond in the sense that people were nevertheless in the same boat together and like it or not, were in with each other to the end.
The PTWDG changed all that. For the first time it was not just "who had the better idea" but rather "who are the best civ players". No way to say the hawks could have done it better, or the DIA could like in the SPDG. Here the winner will be decided by who played the best game of civ, plain and simple.
Now many people in the PTWDG were not involved in the SPDG while the old SPDG crowd spread out among the various teams, more suited to their political inclinations of that first game. The Hawks went to GoW, and the DIA to RP and Lego for example. But new crowds got involved also. You had the strat forum regulars forming what many view as the Real Madrid of civ teams, Gathering Storm. Then you have the germans at ND, and the more aloof but no-less dedicated Voxians.
And you still don't think the stakes are huge?
It's all-or-nothing. There will be one winner. One group of select people who can lay claim to have been the winner of the first competitive democracy game in the world's biggest civ site. So much for being "just" a game. In this sense, the stakes may even be higher than the ISDG. Do we cross paths with CGNers, or GCAers or Firaxians every day? Nope. But we see each other here, the competeitive spirit is always with us, be it PBEM, MP, or just plain who kicks bigger ass in SP, and especially since many of the PTWDG teams have done much better than some of the ISDG teams from what I've seen. If the level of competition is more fierce, the satisfaction of winning, is invariably greater.
We all have a little bit to prove here. If GoW wins we can claim that realpolitiking and opportunism won the day. If GS wins, they will be proud that all that time in the strat forum paid off and prove that they're not just good at kicking the AI's butt. If ND wins, well, imagine a rival site beating out the best Apolyton has to offer! You get the picture.
So, for the sake of humility and sportsmanship, most people will say in public that this is just a game played for fun. But honestly I doubt any of them believe it, and if it were so, all this passion over other team's coments or actions would not be very important to some. Whether you are hyped, insulted, or just got caught rolling your ass off on the floor laughing, you can't deny that this game has grown on you and that for good or bad, feel a passion for it, and an overwhelming desire to win. That is the spirit of competitiveness, which though manifested differently by each person, is with us all.
So, all I can say is, get real, this is more than a game, it's Civ for christ's sake! It's our favorite game for some of us, played in our favorite community! It gets serious, it gets nasty, it gets heated, it gets comical, it gets to be everything at some moment. So enjoy it, have fun, be passionate, and most of all:
PLAY TO WIN
and don't be surprised if the others do too by all means necessary.
(and give yourself extra credit for having read this whole damn rant
)
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