Xi: Continuum — Surpassing Its Own Heritage
by NorseGamer, HSM Editor-in-Chief
You can feel the excitement building as Xi‘s sequel finally approaches.
More than three years after the original Xi departed, it is still cited by many as Home’s high-water mark; and the problem with any such experience is that it becomes enshrined and built up to the point where nothing could possibly touch it. Particularly since the original Xi was subsidized by Sony, and was so logistically complex that nDreams only produced one other Alternate Reality Game (Lewis Hamilton: Secret Life) in the intervening years.
Make no mistake: creating an ARG is miserably hard work. And now, more than a thousand days after the original Xi — in which time Home itself has dramatically changed and grown, including a significant chunk of the population which never played the original — we finally have the sequel. Xi: Continuum.
The clues were there, staring everyone in the face, for months. The slow buildup was masterfully executed. And now it’s finally upon us. Formally announced, out in the open, and ready to swallow up the Home community once more.
Well, this certainly has my attention.
But not everyone seems to be quite as on board with this as they were with the original, are they? The structure of the game — that it can be enjoyed at the player’s own pace, rather than being forced to adhere to a rigid schedule — takes something away from the communal urgency of working against the clock. A necessary concession to an even greater revelation:
That this time, nDreams has to actually make some money off this thing.
Oh, what a beautiful stake through the heart of entitlement this is for me to enjoy. For more than three years, I’ve had to listen to people clinging to the original Xi as the ethical summation of All That Was Right With Home. Because it forced the community to “come together” and because it didn’t cost a dime to enjoy. And how, after Xi left, Home went from being this free utopia that was all about community and turned into an evil, soulless, capitalistic money grab.
I’ve. Had. Enough.
There’s just no getting through to these people. It’s fairly common knowledge that Sony subsidized Xi. And it’s plainly evident that Sony gave away the house for years just to build up a stable consumer base of sufficient size to make a freemium gaming platform concept work. But it’s amazing how many people just don’t want to acknowledge basic business realities: that things cost money to create and maintain, and somebody’s gotta foot the bill. No, it’s just all about the freebies, and how Sony is somehow obliged to keep things as free as possible (and yet somehow make the balance sheet stay in the black) if they really care about fostering community.
Lend me a hand. I need a triple facepalm for this much insanity.
Meanwhile, another obvious truth is in danger of being overlooked — that Xi: Continuum is going to kick ass.
Think about it. This time, nDreams’ own money is on the line, which means they have the ultimate financial incentive to deliver an outstanding product. Further, nDreams has more ARG-building experience now, and Home itself has evolved tremendously in its capabilities. And, lastly, nDreams is motivated to top itself, as any good business is.
I’m massively excited for Xi: Continuum. Because if the game is a financial success, the odds are decent that more such ARG projects will be created for Home. And I’m firmly rooting for that. ARGs like Xi turn virtual reality inside out. If Home is to live up to Sony’s PR tagline of becoming a game itself, then it frankly takes these sorts of intricate, high-cost projects to make that happen.
So if you want more ARG experiences like Xi in Home, now’s your chance to put your money where your mouth has been for so many years. The Xi Continuum Axiom Agent Pack is only $8.99.
Nine bucks. That’s it. Nine bucks for more Xi.
No, I’m sorry, but if you can’t put up nine bucks for Xi‘s sequel, and drive the Axiom Agent Pack onto SCEA’s top-ten sales list, then you are officially grounded. If Xi really is as important to you as you’ve led everyone on to believe for the last three-plus years, then this should be the one experience which you’d gladly be willing to pay ten times that amount for. So let’s see it.
I’m also quite grateful that its commercial requirements force it to be a long-term experience that’s enjoyed at the player’s discretion. Oh, I have no doubt that there will be an avalanche of players all throwing themselves into the immersion of Xi: Continuum each and every day during the game’s initial release — and more power to them, because what they’re craving is that communal connection, which I understand — but the great flaw of the original Xi is that when it was done, it was gone. You were either there for it or you missed it. Now, while that’s great for elevating something to the status of myth, and giving a percentage of users some social bragging rights, it doesn’t necessarily make for good business. If a game isn’t available to play, then you’re losing money on it. And, further, a good video game of any sort should have a high degree of replayability. But you can’t replay a game if it’s gone, now can you?
Xi: Continuum might not duplicate the magic for those few who still cling to an over-romanticized memory of a Home that never truly existed. But for the rest of us, buckle up — because we’re about to go on one hell of a ride.
December 12th, 2012 by NorseGamer | 3 comments
NorseGamer is the product manager for LOOT Entertainment at Sony Pictures, as well as the founder and publisher of HomeStation Magazine. Born and raised in Silicon Valley, he holds a B.A. in English/Creative Writing from San Francisco State University and presently lives in Los Angeles. All opinions expressed in HSM are solely his and do not necessarily reflect the views of Sony DADC.
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Totally agree with this. So, 9 bucks here and what, 5 or 6 in EU? So I’ll be paying about 15 Sony-nuggets for it in total? SOLD!
Both places I hear you say? Yep. You heard that right. I love Xi THAT much, I’m gonna do it twice!!! Though I think I’ll make my start in EU first since the Xi crew over here are just fantastic people, and they’re clever folks too, really, it’s like being in an overcrowded A-Team/Charlie’s Angels come 007 training camp!!! Lovit lovit lovit!
Can. Not. Wait…
Oh and ( sorry for the double post but) last night some of the original Xi crew decided to have a party in the commencement of the next Xi, by the binary doors in the Museum. They started at around 8pm and wouldn’t stop until the servers booted them off for maintenance!
Now that friends, is dedication!
That Home DID exist and it WAS great. XI did foster community and was a great investment by Sony. It would be nice to think Sony would invest like this again, but I (reluctantly) agree things move on.
I don’t know the financials, but Home still feels good value for me, however it does have a credibility problem if my friends are anything to go by.