Normal person blogging about Steal Away Jordan.

Misery tourism, then, is complete bullshit as a design principle.

That was interesting.  I'm curious as to who buys these games anyway (assuming anyone does).  As you so aptly noted, misery tourism doesn't go very far.

I've known hundreds of gamers over the years I've been playing rpg's and I can honestly think of one of them who would buy this or even play in it....unless maybe you get to kill the slaveowners and take their stuff, but even then I doubt it.

I can maybe see someone playing a game like this once just so they can feel all enlightened and whatnot but I'm skeptical.  It is just a shame that people associate these "games" with rpg's at all, as the author of the blog did (although he did contrast them to his (her?) credit).

It was interesting, I agree. Thanks for the link, SB.

Someone posts this on storygames, now?

Finally the sweet validation of random blogger guy.

No, but seriously, that game looks godawful. Would not play.

Also, white kid plays an RPG about being a slave and from this he learns that slavery isn't so bad, and you can still achieve if you just don't let society get you down? Am I reading this right? What the fuck.

Quote from: Insufficient Metal;403732Also, white kid plays an RPG about being a slave and from this he learns that slavery isn't so bad, and you can still achieve if you just don't let society get you down? Am I reading this right? What the fuck.

"Make melonade out of your watermelons, brother!"

What the fuck indeed...

Quote from: Grimjack;403718That was interesting.  I'm curious as to who buys these games anyway (assuming anyone does).  As you so aptly noted, misery tourism doesn't go very far.

I've known hundreds of gamers over the years I've been playing rpg's and I can honestly think of one of them who would buy this or even play in it....unless maybe you get to kill the slaveowners and take their stuff, but even then I doubt it.

I can maybe see someone playing a game like this once just so they can feel all enlightened and whatnot but I'm skeptical.  It is just a shame that people associate these "games" with rpg's at all, as the author of the blog did (although he did contrast them to his (her?) credit).

It sounded like the author has a fair bit of RPG experience, so I would assume they weren't associating them with RPGs in general, but I agree that a casual reader might make that assumption.  I think the blog minimized the connection to a degree, although the 'this is what RPGs have come to' can be read between the lines.

Quote from: Benoist;403719It was interesting, I agree. Thanks for the link, SB.

Someone posts this on storygames, now?

I think their brains might explode.  

If all indie games were equal, I would give a shit.

*edit*

To clarify, I avoid misery tourism, but not indie games, the same with trad games, too.  There's just some subject matter out there I don't find to be very fun or very game-able, regardless of who published it.  Even WH40k can get un-fun at times if you're in a group who takes the fluff too seriously.

Actually, go to the link from the blogger's article, it links to the original "white guy" article on the Forge here.  The guy was saying he used to think that way, but now that he said "Yes massah" it's all become clear and he is rethinking the black experience.

On the plus side, he's apparently a child abuse survivor who didn't mind minor physical contact during the game, so I guess Misery Tourism can be used as a type of psychotherapy.

Back to the blogger...Man, what I wouldn't have given to have played in the blogger's Star Wars campaign, from the description, it sounded awesome.

If he really wanted to say "yes, massah" - then he should have found a willing partner instead of a lame excuse for a role playing game.

Bad 'game'.

 Bad idea all around.


- Ed C.

"Yes, it is terrible, this idea." - Samir Nagheenanajar

Also: why the fuck do people do this?  I - and everyone, literally each and every person I have ever met who plays RPGs and games that are sort of like RPGs (historical skirmish games, etc.), and games that sort of came before RPGs and so bear lineage to them games as entertainment for some escapism.

I swear to god if we'd had to put up with these idiots in the Avalon Hill heydays they'd have been pressing ziplock bags of homemade paper chits and mimeographed rules into our hands for games like RISING SUN: ACCURSED GAIJIN - Experience the metaphysical thrill of plotting your Kamikaze assault on the hated white-faces as they come to destroy 2000 years of culture!  Extra action points awarded if you can muster tears if you lose an aircraft carrier.  (Special rule for Nippon player: you win even if in the last round all units are placed with "Destroyed" side up, should the white barbarian mention Nanking, you slap the board to the ground and stomp away angrily.)

Sheesh.

Quote from: thedungeondelver;403750I swear to god if we'd had to put up with these idiots in the Avalon Hill heydays they'd have been pressing ziplock bags of homemade paper chits and mimeographed rules into our hands for games like RISING SUN: ACCURSED GAIJIN - Experience the metaphysical thrill of plotting your Kamikaze assault on the hated white-faces as they come to destroy 2000 years of culture!  Extra action points awarded if you can muster tears if you lose an aircraft carrier.  (Special rule for Nippon player: you win even if in the last round all units are placed with "Destroyed" side up, should the white barbarian mention Nanking, you slap the board to the ground and stomp away angrily.)

Sheesh.

I'm sure some guy somewhere at the Forge would think of this as an Excellent Idea™.

Quote from: Insufficient Metal;403732Also, white kid plays an RPG about being a slave and from this he learns that slavery isn't so bad, and you can still achieve if you just don't let society get you down? Am I reading this right? What the fuck.

Understanding failed me as well.

I just don't get an rpg about being a slave in the real historical deep south.

You angry and/or confused guys should listen to the interview linked from the article. Julia's pretty articulate about her design goals and didn't create the game in a vacuum. And it's not like she lives on the moon; you can ask her questions directly. She's very nice and I'm sure she'd address your concerns thoughtfully.