Untitled entry

THE ONE ABOUT THE LOST POST

Sometime last week, I was on the hiptop, typing a nice long post regarding online communities. Unfortunately, someone called me midway, I ended up chatting and eventually forgot abt the post. Since I am once again sitting on the train, on my way to work, guess I can attempt to write that post again...

I've recently started playing SG again. For the uninitiated, SG or Shattered Galaxy is a real time strategy game, much like StarCraft. Massive amounts of people are logged on the server each day and they try to battle it out to see who is the strongest. Everyone is part of a 'faction' and you try to help your faction achieve greatness by winning the war. Within the factions, some people are part of 'regiments'. Regiments are smaller, more specialised groups of people who coordinate their attacks rather then going to random battles. The competition, strategies and tactics that are conceived in this game can be amazing. Up til now, I cannot ceased to be fascinated by each battle idea that is thought up of by these unique players.

What makes this gaming community different from the ones I have been in? Unlike on Prophecy or on Utopia, I don't feel a need to take charge. I don't see a need to propaganda to change the game. The game is ever changing because the players themselves directly affect how the game is played. For every new battle idea that is played out, a solution to that idea will manifest itself within days or even hours. That is why, on Shattered Galaxy, I feel no pressure. I can enjoy each game as it is. The best thing about it is I have found a regiment that is laidback, yet still competitive. They are a tight knit group of mainly mature individuals. Many of them are in their twenties and some are even parents! It helps that we seldom have to deal with whiners. Sure, there are immature brats in other parts of the game, but we don't have to go near them to experience it. That's the best part! We chose our battles and we can chose the people we battle with!

Before everyone starts writing me off as elitist, let me just make it clear that as a regiment on a whole, 'Leaders of War' is not elitist. We do recruitment and enjoy bringing in new players who are willing to learn. The basis of having a regiment is so that you can play with people you commonly play with. It is so that your execution in battle gets better and better as you get to know your team mates better. I have enjoyed battling with my regi soo much due to the great sense of coordination there is in each battle. It is a wonderful feeling when everyone knows you, watches out for you and covers you in each battle. The sense of satisfaction achieved from that is amazing. And even though I'm still learning the game, my regimates have been amazingly supportive. My mistakes have been glanced over, my good work has been recognised...

So yeah, I'm addicted to SG again. Though I have to say, its more the enjoyment from my regi, rather then anything else.