For awhile I loped about - collecting garments and boots - aimless, but addicted to this outstanding element. Then I met a couple guys in-game. We ran by each other in a sodden alley and paused.
"Hey, Landslide, wanna group?"
"Sure, why not?"
A few days later, I was a member of their guild. Now, I've been a member of a number of guilds in the past, in a wide variety of games. Never have I been in a guild like this. I attribute meeting them to the cultural melting pot represented in MXO.
Teamspeak and Ventrilo are old hat to me - there's just no other way to communicate with fellow players anymore. From past experience, I'm used to the stereotypical straight 'n narrow vernacular exhibited by the average nerdy, white geek. I neither like nor dislike the nasal-sounding explanations of how to treadmill properly, it's simply the standard fare. In sharp contrast, these guys, mostly from the New York City area, were interesting.
I've never been very hip to the jive, as it were, so comments like, "Yo man, this s**t is tight!" were unusual to me for awhile. As a running joke (to this day), I would enter the Ventrilo server and state in a loud, theatrical voice, "Greetings my brothers, how fare thee on this fine day?"
Funny stuff.
The game appealed to these guys because it represented something extremely familiar to them. They could quickly and easily identify with the setting and style. They played Star Wars Galaxies because Star Wars is ubiquitous. They played MXO because they dug it. It was visually dope, hip, cool, tight and splendidly designed. And although the game itself has faltered on the tightrope of internet criticism, the fact remains that - unlike most MMOGs - The Matrix Online took an important step in connecting with communities who are not usually catered to. My thoughts?
Do it more.
Jonathan Hayter is the Producer of The Escapist. He likes long walks on the beach and encouraging people to design outside the box. Actually. He hates the beach.
