EDIT - Take Extinction Burst. Absolutely no content in it.
On the contrary, I felt it was quite informative, especially as a "bitter vet". My own
extinction bursts might give me a unique perspective, however.
Not everyone has the same tastes in fiction. CCP has shown a particular brand of storytelling that some do not like. I may not particularly like our friend Tony's particular take on storytelling, but I do understand the constraints placed on him. I can also see where his weaknesses lie, and I don't envy him the task of writing a novel set in EVE. From that perspective, I question his particular view on EVE, though oddly I trust his skills as an IP manager. Hopefully he stays more true to what the IP needs, but let's face it; if the last Fanfest said anything, it is that CCP wants the game to stay around for decades. To do that they need new blood, and perhaps the older players aren't going to particularly agree with the directions taken to draw in that new blood. Like it or not, Tony's got a hand in drawing in that new blood.
Sure, he has a tendency to use "handwavium" quite a bit. In my view he can't write a decent female character. He does have a good sense of the "big picture", even though it is difficult to put that picture into focus on the smaller scales he used in TEA. Tony could also do with reducing his overall amount of exposition. However, look at the CCP "culture" that was apparent at the time of TEA's release. Everything was "EPIC!". EPIC! storylines, EPIC! expansions, EPIC! everything. Similarly, look at the Empires as they stood pre-TEA. Would they have gone to war, save for some EPIC! intervention?
Everything was static, and designed to stay static. The game environment was dynamic from a mechanics perspective, and the universe seemed very, very huge back then. Looking at EVE now, from the perspective of veterans, there's not much we haven't done or couldn't do with proper time. Is a single novel enough to change this? Some complain that the meta story should be
shaped by player interaction. Is that not already happening, in it's own way? On the other hand, I myself believe that the meta plot of the franchise should be segregated from player interaction on the levels that some want.
Should players be able to assassinate Heth, for instance? I mean, he's the "big bad" in the eyes of some, but is that a bad thing?
To quote one of my favorite movies, how do you know who the bad guy is? He's the exact opposite of the heroes. You don't get much more opposite from a Capsuleer than a guy that is not a capsuleer, and indeed can't be cloned. He's as mortal as you can get.
For better or for worse, he's part of the landscape. He causes conflict.
This is good for a story. I mean, you are talking about it, right? You're going on forums to post about it. Is it enough to destroy your game experience? Is it enough to drive you away?
Or are you morbidly drawn to this, wondering just
when he's going to kick the bucket, and how big the explosion will be when things finally hit the fan?
Think about it for a minute.
Should there be blind hatred for Tony, or should there be a concerted effort in showing him what we have issues with? Trying to constructively work towards a better EVE is far more likely to get results than burning down the dreams of a man simply trying to make an interesting story. I think he succeeds, even though some of the details get lost in translation.
Like
psychic powers for instance.
