Game Development Reference
In-Depth Information
Though the legal system can certainly set the terms for play, other add-ons
have pushed both designers and other players to rethink what WoW is and
how it should work. In the process of announcing the fi rst expansion to
the game, Blizzard made it clear that the rules for add-ons were about to
change and they were going to break 64 “almost every UI [user interface]
addon that's required by most guilds for endgame raiding” while other
mods would be “built into the expansion.” 65 The mods in question had
altered what it was to play WoW and automated certain tasks that the
developers wanted players to perform. In developing, installing, and using
the add-ons, players had pushed the boundaries of what WoW was, leading
to a developer response to clarify their intentions. Although this example is
buried in the annals of WoW history, the back and forth between design-
ers and the player community continues. In The Wrath of the Lich King
expansion, positioning was at a premium for many key battles, which led
to the development of the Augmented Virtual Reality mod, which let play-
ers draw in the game world and share information with other players who
had installed the add-on in an ef ort to “aid in raid strategy and position.” 66
The mod made it much easier to circumvent spacing issues on crucial fi ghts
by altering the appearance of the game world. As soon as the mod became
a staple in the raiding community, Blizzard acted quickly by breaking the
add-on's ability to function and warning that any ef ort to make a similar
modifi cation would warrant “further, more drastic steps.” 67
WoW is a complicated, constantly emerging game that is constructed in
a dance between designers and players. Players talk back through guiding
feedback about everything from quest design to specifi c zones and how they
function. These discussions take place in both public spaces and through
their actions (or lack of actions) in the game itself, often changing the terrain
of what the game intended. Mods add another surface for player participation
where players can design and install them to alter the game, redefi ning what
WoW is and potentially warranting a strong response from developers.
THE CONTEXT OF PLAYERS
The audience's relationship with the author of a text can be a tricky one,
and video games make that relationship even more complicated since games
are frequently updatable, modifi able, and without a fi xed end point. As a
result, the power of the audience to use word and deed to shape, reshape,
and redefi ne game design and play is quite profound. Wordplay helps iden-
tify a feedback loop of developers putting forth a game; players engaging
it and their actions and feedback dictating how the game is dynamically
rearticulated. Poor reviews can mean that a game never really catches on,
while good reviews can send the number of players through the roof, ensur-
ing sequels will be released. Players can fi le complaints with government
bodies that cause game companies to react in a conservative fashion or
 
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