TERA interview attempts to decipher "westernization"

@Somnicide

From the look of him, I reckon it'd be lunch.

@220683 Yeah, I got the same thing out of it.

@220683

It is because when the game finally comes out its going to be nearly identical to the Korean version, as far as mechanics/gameplay go.

Not because En Masse haven't westernised it, as they put it, but because to date, everything they've asked to be changed has been changed in all versions, not just the American version.

Credit to these guys for getting the developers to change their game, but I suspect they are just all too aware of the fallout that could happen when players realise nothing is different between the versions. The players are likely to claim En Masse has done nothing and the delay wasn't needed.

@aurickle

It's vague because they don't really know what makes western games different. They think they do, but by their response, I think they are fooling themselves. Hard to teach a communal society what it means to be "selfish" and a solo player I guess.

@MMOaddict
I don't really care if their definition differs from mine. What matters is that they actually HAVE a definition that they can quantify.

Westernization means that they are changing the game from one thing to another. In order for those changes to be effective, they have to KNOW what they're changing it to. They have to be able to quantify it in very specific terms. If they can't, then they're just throwing paint at the wall and hoping they get a Monet. Sorry, but it ain't gonna work!

@220683

It's 300% platinum-grade PR....

@Utakata It depends on your definition of intelligence. As in Artificial Intelligence there is a very formal definition of it by Occam.

Look up MDL here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minimum_description_length

The more you can be succinct, them more information you pack in a small space. Being able to do this means higher intelligence.

Obviously, natural (human) intelligence is kinda impossible to measure.

@bate

To be fair to the ZAM folks, I imagine they did ask those direct questions, I know I would have.

Unfortunately the devs/game companies have the power in this situation, and normally don't answer anything outside of their talking points.

The game journalist, if they're even in a position to ask a follow-up question, is left with very little to do because En Masse (or any publisher) will just find another website that is willing to publish their non-answers for page hits.

@Jef Reahard Yes, that's true. Yet there shouldn't be any hesitating in answering those two questions.

1. Westerners generally want short level times and a nice world to exlpore, as well is a good endgame. Leveling isn't as important to most people.
2. RNG isn't exactly the favourite anymore. Some of it is still nice, for crits and stuff. But don't make it god over everything.

So how come they can't answer these? I mean, they KNOW it, don't they? This is what we want, that's all they gotta give us. It may be much, but damn, we have the right to get what we want for our money.

@Jef Reahard

"Unfortunately the devs/game companies have the power in this situation, and normally don't answer anything outside of their talking points. "

The only reason these companies have any "power" is because folks of your job description continue to pander to them (not you specifically Jeff, we can use the persons asking the questions as prime examples). Everyone in your business is so worried about the next exclusive or one up, after all, thats what brings recognition to a site, the big score for your readers, the traffic, advertisements etc, the messy ball of business.

I could go on but business talk bores the average gamer since they cant see past their next fix, let alone stand together and make themselves heard.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rP10Vi6fV2A