Julys Roast and Toast

Epic Slant is pleased to host differing (or similar) opinions from other players and guest articles. As always please allow me to dispense with the necessary disclaimer. The following article and author’s opinions do not necessarily represent the opinions and/or views of Epic Slant, Ferrel, or any staff writers. -Ferrel

In this installment of Anar’s Roast-n-Toast I would like to raise the torch for a good ol’ fashioned roast on the gaming industry. I know Ferrel has already broached the subject of games using technology that is available now to add more immersion to a game. He also focused on the glaring fact that MMO’s could really benefit from this idea.

I don’t understand why the marketing boys and creative people that make games have not thought of utilizing a social networking site to add depth to their current and upcoming games. You can point to Facebook™ and see games like Mafia Wars that can be fun and addicting. Your progress can be checked at home with your computer or laptop. When you are on the go you can check or update your progress via your phone.

Even though I think Apple is a communist plot planning to overtake America, lol; I do think they are creative geniuses for coming up with the iPhone. Can you imagine for a moment that you are a paying subscriber to AoC, WoW, Warhammer, or LoTR and you/guild are tracking an ultra-rare mob that finally pops but only have a limited amount of folks online? What are you going to do and how are you going to inform others? I know in my past experiences a rapid fire down a vent call sheet would ensue. However, isn’t that passé and inefficient in nature because of tools available to us now? What if the game had a guild feature that let you preset and align your Blackberry or iPhone to auto message all your folks.

Hey I can already see or hear the commercial, “Sick of missing the LVL 80 Crazylewt Dragon?! Yep we have an app for that!” I don’t think this concept would be so hard to pull off considering the IT field has had built in alerts programs for decades now.

This avenue would defiantly add to the immersion value I believe. This logical question should be posed until we get a valid and reasonable answer. Why, dear gaming industry, have you not embraced this facet of gaming. If I had the time I would develop the app and maybe become some .app millionaire. I think we as a gaming community need to all raise our torches to the industry and demand they put this into their current and future games.

I and many other people love to game but gaming is not our life-support. I think if it is your life and you aren’t getting paid for it as an occupation then you should seek help. Yet, I don’t think there is anything wrong with me wanting to sneak off with my cell phone to update my guild mates. Or, if I want to setup my crafter in the craft hall, I shouldn’t have to been at my home base. Also what if I want to search the broker for a rare item and I missed my chance at it because, like most people, I have a real life and job that takes precedence.

In closing, I think it is high time that 3rd party applications be made available to the gaming community as a whole. The biggest avenue I can see for this feature is the MMO genre. I again have to raise the torch to the industry for not vigorously pursuing this avenue. What does everyone else think? You know the drill, light your torch, or raise your glass™ because it is time for a Roast-n-Toast. Sound off with your ideas on this month’s topic.