I wish you a cool Wednesday and hope that you don’t get upset about many other things in the heat – because you have me for that. But I also don’t want to get too worked up in these temperatures that even melt demons. So let’s talk about something that actually sounds positive: bonuses (or alternatively bonuses, for the word fetishists among you).
Play me! Play me! I offer you extras!
I already mentioned it last Wednesday when I ranted about the new weekend events in World of Warcraft. Through bonus events, they wanted to achieve that players play certain game content more often. Ultimately, this has led me to only desire the respective content as long as a corresponding bonus is granted.
A few days ago, I asked a friend if we wanted to play some Heroes of the Storm. The reaction was: “No… or is there currently bonus XP? Otherwise, let’s play Smite, as you collect fantasy points there right now“. Setting aside that “fantasy points” is an immensely fitting name for a relatively silly currency, the statement jolted me. With almost all multiplayer games, I only spend time when some bonus is waiting. That can be extra experience in HotS, extra apex crystals in WoW, or a skin in the weekend challenge of Evolve. And somehow… that makes me sad.
“In the past, everything was better”
Yes, yes. I am doing it again and feeling a bit nostalgic. But you know, I used to play games primarily for one reason: they were fun. They still are today, but – at least in the mentioned examples – it is slowly becoming a tedious chore. From all sides, the games seem to be shouting at me, saying: “Play me now, or you’ll miss out on bonus XYZ and you will regret it!” Especially disturbing are these thoughts with boosters that are time-limited. During the free 7-day booster, I played HotS like crazy. And why? Because every minute I play another game would be a waste regarding my gold status in HotS.
Slowly it tears me apart. I rush from one bonus event to the next and whenever I want to relax at a game after work, all games scream at me again from the side: HERE! ME! ONLY NOW! SUPER GREAT AND EXTRA AND WITH CREAM!
“Not paying attention to these events anymore” is easier said than done. The cold calculation of efficiency is always part of the game. Because if I don’t win two games tonight, I can’t buy the new hero tomorrow. Or to compare it metaphorically with a German trait: If there’s already an “All you can eat” buffet, then I’ll take as much as I can carry and also pack something for home. After all, you want to take everything you can get for your money. And then a little more.
But enough complaining, I will lie down in some virtual snowy area. Don’t let the sun roast you and let me know in the comments how you deal with these countless bonus events that are currently pouring down on us. Until next week!
