Should Avatars Be Allowed To Fight?
“To fight is a radical instinct; if men have nothing else to fight over, the will fight over words, fancies or women. Or they will fight because they dislike each other’s looks, or because they have met walking in opposite directions.”
–George Santayana
I’m at Seaside of Memories, and I spot two female avatars being harassed. It’s an all too familiar scene.
“Grr,” one of them says afterwards. “I wish I could kick his ***!”
It was at that point a thought occurred to me: what if there was a public space in Home with a mini-game which allowed avatars to fight each other?
No, seriously. Hear me out. Home’s population is overwhelmingly male. And most of these males are in their teens to early twenties. That’s a lot of testosterone poisoning. How many times have you been in Home and watched these internet tough guys thump their chests and act like baboons with bandannas? How disruptive is it to have to witness such acts on a nightly basis?
So what if there was a space where such disputes could be settled? How nice would it be to go into a public space in Home and not see the plethora of angry text bubbles that inevitably pops up whilst you’re trying to enjoy your evening?
Further, the developer of such a public space would stand to make quite a lot of money. Imagine an arena; tickets could be sold so that spectators could watch the fights. Combatants could buy “rounds” of combat to spend as they wished. Not only could all these silly “fams” finally have a place to settle their disputes (a “Royal Rumble” option, perhaps?), but you’d have gamers lining up to test their skills against each other. Champions would emerge and eventually gain social renown. Someone would eventually become the digital equivalent of Manny Pacquiao. And someone else would forever be challenging it.
Seriously. Home needs a fighting space. It’s a ridiculously lucrative social gaming concept.
Karateka
Heck, the combat interface doesn’t even need to be particularly deep. Anyone who’s ever played Karateka, which is nearly thirty years old, will remember how simple — and yet engrossing — the combat interface was.
Because here’s the harsh reality: there are a lot of angry young men in Home. They use the veil of anonymity that virtual reality provides them to take out their frustrations that they keep bottled up. They lack the necessary social skills to interact on any meaningful level. And yet they constitute the single largest demographic of Home’s population. So, if I was Sony (or some other developer reading this…), it would only make sense to offer a PG-rated combat space which catered to this group and made quite a handsome profit in the process.
(Further, this would have the ripple effect of likely reducing the amount of public text-fighting throughout the rest of Home. Because there would finally be an outlet for it.)
Let’s face it: who wouldn’t love a space where you could de-stress and let out all of your aggressions? For me, beat-em-up games always helped me to get through my teens, when I myself was the victim of bullies. I would come home, lock myself in my room and load up a Street Fighter or Mortal Kombat game — and within minutes, I would feel okay again.
Because there is such a thing as mental aggression. And, growing up, I was just this angry kid that would lash out at everything. Yet playing video games of this type helped calm me; to be able to do nasty, violent things to a bunch of pixels and not cause harm to anybody else in the real world was something short of a miracle.
So it brought me back to that thought, right there on the beach. I saw the girl holding her own, ripping into the guy that was harrassing her by the only way she knew how: verbally. Eventually the idiot realised he was on a losing streak and she was no pushover, and so he walked away from the girl and her friend to find easier prey and start the whole process over.
If the idea of a PG-rated fighting arena for Home sounds too radical, consider this: it’s already been done in another virtual reality. Second Life.
Watching Zooey, KittyPaw & Gilbert 'Fight in a traditional Combat Sim.
As a Second Life user, I’m able to access actual ‘Combat Areas’ — and in such areas, there is a small element of real-time RPG action happening. And I’m not forgetting that in Second Life, each ‘Sim’ (area) is user created, whereas in Home all the public spaces are created by developers. In Second Life, there is no developer making these games or worlds, so yes, it’s a different setup. Somebody took their time and energy (and a social life in the real world that just went shot to hell) and designed, created and built the areas that you explore or partake in.
To participate in the combat areas (which are mostly huge arenas), you have to wear a Heads-Up Display (HUD). This tells everybody around you that you wish to play or simply explore. Some wear a Guest / Observer HUD to show people you do not wish to take part in any of the combat but want to explore the area and perhaps observe the gameplay running around them. In wearing this, you will not get attacked.
Of course, there are rules required in the wearing of these HUDS. There are signs clearly displayed before you enter a Combat Area, such as, “If you are seen without a HUD you will be asked to leave,” or, “If you are seen carrying a Weapon entering a Combat Area and not wearing a HUD you will be banned.”
As there are multiple combat areas in Second Life, it is also an offence to carry inappropriate weaponry into a combat sim it wasn’t designed for. You’re not going to walk into a hack n’ slash sim carrying an AK47. That’s an instant ban right there.
When you DO wear the Combat HUD, some new meters will appear on your screen, depending on what kind of combat you’re enjoying: Health, Magic, Poison, Damage, Blood Count (for vampires) and some will have a RAGE meter for some species of Avatar. Which is, by and large, a ‘Special Attack’ that takes a huge swipe at an opponent’s health.
There is a HEART Icon and a percentage next to it (usually at 100%) on a bar above you which basically tells you generally that on some sims you can and WILL be hurt. When the percentage drops to zero, you will be returned to your Homespace or area of which you spawn when starting Second Life.
On these worlds, depending on theme, you can play as Vampire, Demon, Werewolf / Lycan, Witch, Sorcerer, Warrior, Elf, Orc, Amazonian Warrior or beyond.
Some combat sims are based on popular TV shows and movies. For example, in a Star Wars Sim you can play as Jedi or Sith if you really want to. The list is truly endless.
Some combat sims are based on popular films and TV shows.
Like any combat RPG, you may want to upgrade; and it is possible to get most basic items such as armour & basic sword for free in some of the stalls you come across just before you enter the Combat Sim. Upgrades, of course, can be big business for developers. Hellfire Games has doubtlessly generated a nice stack of cash off of their Nebulon Boosters, for instance. And the list of SodiumTwo upgrades is astonishing. So imagine how much money Home users might spend on upgrades for a fighting game in Home in which they take on other users?
Some combat sims in Second Life can replicate the feel of being in a modern military, using modern weaponry and body armour to survive. These games can mostly take the shape of a first-person shooter. These games are just as much fun as the big commercial shooters out there (Call Of Duty, Battlefield) — and, as before, all user-created. Which I sometimes find incredible to believe.
You can purchase upgraded weaponry to use on a Military Combat Sim.
My point is this: combat spaces in virtual reality are big business. And, if Sony’s smart, they’ll get in on this with Home. Not only will it forever quash the objection that “There’s nothing to do in Home,” but it’ll finally give the testosterone-poisoned masses somewhere to go if they want to go ram their digital skulls against each other.
And maybe, just maybe, the rest of us will be able to enjoy Home a little bit more.
May 17th, 2011 by CheekyGuy | 20 comments
CheekyGuy is a loveable, mischievous Brit who first entered virtual reality via Second Life, and now frequents Home as a Grey Gamer to keep in touch with friends. In real life, Cheeky is a video editor who has just completed a Master's degree in screenwriting from Liverpool John Moores University.
This is one of the best ideas for Home that I have seen in ages. I really hope someone at the decision-making level of Sony reads this and puts it on the table for development.
I didn’t even read the article, but I swear I will, tomorrow, at a more suitable time for reading, a time that is not 3 AM, all I have to say is the following:
Playstation Home Fight Club? PLEASE, FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, YES!
I would pay to go to a public space, and just watch people on Home duke it out.
I’m completely and totally in support of this idea.
Whether anyone likes it or not, there are a lot of text-bubble wars in Home every night. HSM’s biggest criticism of Home, ironically, has nothing to do with Home itself, but rather a fair percentage of the people who inhabit it. Giving these borderline-illiterate knuckle-draggers a place to get it out of their systems will go a long way towards confining much of that nonsense to one space.
And, beyond that, a fair number of Home users would be curious to try out user-versus-user fighting (which, if PG-rated, would be a lot more tame than most of the fighting games presently on the market and perfectly in line with Home’s broad-spectrum appeal). Upgrades would be big business. And, just like Arena mentioned, people (myself included) would pay to spectate and watch other users fight.
Criticize the behavior all you like, but even the Romans had the Coliseum.
Killer article, Cheeky.
WoW, You have my full attention with this articles subject and hopefully a future objective for home. What a splendid idea!!! You have my vote and who can you contact to make this possible? I would definitely partake in any demonstration of fighting online especially against those who need the humiliation and purchase its availability like Conspiracy on home. Playing the game called SIMS can be very addictive so its a good comparison. People maybe be hesitant about producing a fighting PG-13 public space, but while reading your written solution to most disputes I couldn’t agree more and developers should feel the same. Gaming shouldn’t even qualify for having a bad reputation when meeting others and myself use games to overcome stresses which by encountering people with a negative effect from games is 0 percent. 8-45 years of age are frequent explorers to home and playing a fighting advanced feature would only intrigue many more psn cosumers wanting gaming services that includes interaction would come.
willing to splurge.(limited word usage when on my ps3) Just ask yourself what are the best sellers in ps3 history..? I’m going to list some with fighting sequences and these are Uncharted 2, Call a Duty: Modern Warefare, Metal Gear Solid 4, Final Fantasy Xlll, Grand Theft Auto lV, Killzone 2, Heavy Rain, Resident Evil 5, well you get the point, PG-13 gaming would appeal to youngsters new to psn and anyone else who owns a console. CheekyGuy , you did a tremendous job and the overall concept has me excited (O_o). VOTE!
I agree with this entirely. It doesn’t even have to be a set aside space! Just a new set of actions in the R1 menu that cause the Home users to interact. A simple “Slap”, “Hug”, etc. Simple, amiable, and still PG.
There’s a difference between RL war and video game war.
I don’t like shooter war games. I’m not very good at video games period for one thing.
When I get to the western Redemption I would rather ride around and be peaceful.
Seeing the boxing robots in EA Sports Center I wished they were functional. I believe I would pay to play on that one and even pay to watch others duke it out. I would even pay a nominal fee to enter the Fight Boxing area to watch others fight with the robots (depending on price and quality of the game).
The Slap Happy demo in Central Plaza is fun, and funny. I might buy the game when available. I hope there’s a watch option with good seats.
A fighting game setup based on humor sounds like fun.
In the Feva Arena I met someone from over seas who had an outfit that allowed martial moves. I asked for a demonstration and got one and thought it was cool. Then I said “Watch this” and used the Cheer jump option and pushed forward and flew through them and said, “I can do that too.”
It would be fun to have a martial arts suit and a place where people could practice their craft on each other if they buy the outfits.
A mention was made of a verbal “joust” between a female avatar and a male avatar and the female was cutting up the male. I’ve that that happen and it’s a joy to see a cad cut to pieces with words. Perhaps a verbal jousting area. Maybe even something intellectual such as a debate would be enjoyable for some.
I’ve never played Second Life or anything similar online and I did not like a very very brief foray into The Sims years ago.
It was a very nice article, CheekyGuy and something we and SONY might want to seriously think about.
But for now, I’ve got to look up George Santayana and find out who the hell that is.
Yes you can watch matches. So take your disagreements there! The problem with having combat in Home is it would not be a way to settle disputes. The girl who said she would like to kick the guys a** would be in for a rude awakening if they were able to combat and she got her block knocked off. We hear so much about what a big issue bullying is IRL and combat could just exasperate the bully situation in Home. Get a jerk that is really good at whatever combat system and that person would just be validated. Their desire to harass other players would only increase because they could then just kick the ever loving digital snot out of them if they were to mouth back.
Would Slap Happy Sam’s Stage Show not be considered away to combat in Home? There are physical attacks, blocks, and a clear winner. While I agree that Home does need combat, the simple fact of the matter is that the Home system wasn’t designed for real time split second interaction. Have you ever tried to run side by side with someone in Home? You can’t. If you’re running side by side on your screen you will not be on your friends. It’s one of those issues where they didn’t foresee user desire in the initial design of the program. IF you were to have a combat sim in Home it would need to be turned based somehow. The article was a great read and I really agree with everything you say; Home has a lot of untapped potential. While there might be some way to program these sorts of experiences I wonder if we could just use the existing fighting games that are available and the game launching function of Home to start up a match of Street Fighter 4 to settle disputes. Would that be an option? Lastly, comparing the features of Second Life to those in Home is like comparing a sprawling metropolis to a gated community. Sure you can do more in the wide open metropolis but there are a lot more undesirables. The gated community is nicely maintained and carefully guarded. You can exist the same way in either but just because they have similar “living conditions” doesn’t mean what works for one will work for the other. Good ideas, but I’d be surprised to see them happen. Prove me wrong, Sony. Please. LOL.
I am 100% agree with gideon!
I am European and costume karate-kid was a memorable fail!
I explain: all Kikoolol of the home put it and harass people, especially women (which she did not have that costume!).
for me it is a false good idea …..
let’s be realistic! we know what is the nature of 70% of people on home! do not give them weapons!
I do not want to open a debate on the difference between the USA and Europe (France) on the legislation of firearms, but I think it’ll be the worst thing to do! especially in a metaverse so short moderated, when looking at who enroll!
gideon is absolutely right to talk of happy slap!
this is a game that allows very easy in the right mood to settle accounts ^ ^
let violence and weapons at the door of home! there are so many beautiful things to do instead of fighting …..
I hope that despite my broken English I managed to make me understand!
Good day to you all!
Ok -- I’m new to Home, but, I’ve already seen a few times that I wish I could, “call someone out!” Wow -- you could really have a LOT of fun with this concept.
When it comes to slap-happy it’s not the best for settling disputes for a couple of reasons.1st the game can be fixed for a predetermined winner,Ppl can agree ahead of time to”gang-up” on some1 and then you get an unfair fight.2ND there is no way to enforce the outcome to be enforced,this is a problem for many games used for conflict resolution the decision will only be enforced by “Honorable” ppl that keep their word.3rd ppl have to buy the game,at $2.49 i believe,just to watch seems pretty steep just to watch one or two times.As for keeping weapons and violence out of home,it’s probably not practical because in my experience “violence” in Home basically consists of ppl disagreeing forcefully verbally.In order to stop that everyone would need to get along 100% of the time,seems like a pipe-dream to me.If you think of all the ppl you have met in your life can you honestly say that you have gotten along with all of them?I’d bet not.Many fights are between ppl that were once friends and involve more complicated issues than a simple butt-kicking in a game can solve but this fight club idea would work quite well in the example Norse gave,to act as a Coliseum-like diversion for the masses.For true conflict resolution a process that would here all the facts,consider them honestly and without regard to the participants names,then come up with “verdicts” which are somehow enforceable would be best.Which is why i like the debate idea or a court room setting where the decision’s are somehow enforced as the best ideas for conflict solving,but if it’s entertainment value we are looking for here the fights are the way to go,just don’t count on them solving any serious differences between ppl that once loved each other but now are looking to destroy each other.
Correction: hear
One thing Sony could do even is have to “fight clubs” a free minimal one that would have simple boxing matches and a “pay to use” premium one that could allow more MMA style of fights and advanced boxing if so desired. Then it would help more of the population, because quit frankly not every person adds money to their PSN wallet. Yes Most of us do add funds to our wallets, but we are talking about the young males who may not have the extra money because they are paying for school.
Btw also by Santayana “Only the dead have seen the end of war.”
It is why I play DCUO sooooo much….
In answer to some of your replies, Sony has associations with some of the best developers out there, Namco being one of the biggest, they could take this concept to them and say ‘Could you do this for us’ And I couldn’t see them say No as it would bring in a new audience to them, Or EA Sports with their popular Boxing or MMA Franchise, of which they could develop something for Home. On Second Life, you had to wear Boxing Gloves which become Animation Overriders (AO’s to us) that animate the punch movements, though it doesn’t feel the same as using a Joypad, of which this type of game is more suited towards.
I like the arena based fights, based on simple Gameplay models, NES title Punchout comes to mind as a more scaled down model, or Karate Champ, in using the twin sticks like it did in the Arcade version. (Which works well in Emulation btw on my Playstation pad for PC)
But the real trick is having ‘Your’ Home Avatar doing the fighting. Not some other Character model, otherwise it would take the ‘personal’ touch out of the fighting.
I’d tap that- However if there ever was a fighting space I’d only want it to be based on skill as opposed to level-up gimmicks. Give me some fighter interface where the requirements are to memorize and tactically implement strategy for a win. Other than that I’d just see it as fluff.
My personal take on this is:
A smart developer needs to create a Fight Club Arena for Home. They would need to create an avatar with built in moves that you rent at the Arena (like the pinup girls with the weird walk animation). Those who want to fight go to the Arena public space, rent a ‘fighter’ for 24 hours who can be used ONLY within that space, go to an assigned ring (like the way bowling alley spaces are allocated), and fight alone or in teams. Make the rental cheap enough that anyone can afford it (.49 cents?) to cover the cost of creating and maintaining the space.
Base the fight moves on the rock-paper-scissors concept. Rock = uppercut, Paper = roundhouse, Scissors = clinch (not the best examples -- I know zero about boxing). 10 tries in one round. High score wins. Green Arena = 5 rounds. Red Arena, must have won fight in Green Arena to qualify = 10 rounds. Black Arena, must have won fight in Red Arena to qualify = 15 rounds. Leader board for each level. No chips -- no gold crowns -- no reason to cheat.
Space around the arenas for fans to gather and watch the fights. Free.
The animation work is what I presume would make this a job for a master programmer. The fighter (you) would be controlling the choice of the three moves.
I think it would be worth the time and expense to create this, however, since it would quickly become one of the most popular spaces in Home. It could even be expanded later to include team ‘classic boss’ battles. (I would love to be in a team of 4 to take on Sephiroth). Or new, even more fiendish bosses crated by the programmer.
If the moves can only be used when wearing the fight avatar -- and then only inside the Arena ring, it would eliminate the possible problems identified by DangerDad and lordrinja. By building the moves into the costume, there would be no possibility of taking the fight outside that space.
Thanks for the ideas! Keep the comments coming.
Make it like V world on Caprica..once your avatar dies it can’t come back to that realm…