Ogre to slay? Outsource it to China

Affluent online gamers are paying workers at Chinese game-playing factories to play games' early rounds for them.
The New York Times

The story "Ogre to slay? Outsource it to China" published December 9, 2005 at 5:05 AM is no longer available on CNET News.

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[Christopher Hall]

REAL Gamers...

Real gamers take pride in raising a character from the lowest low to the highest high, overcoming all obstacles along the way. Sure, it takes time, but accomplishment can only be purchased with time. I fail to understand what money buys you in a video game such as World of Warcraft, save a character with zero history, zero personality, and a complete and total lack of understanding of the game world.

Then again, people who are willing to do this sort of thing wouldn't really classify as "real" gamers, now would they?

[just_some_guy]

Make the games fun

It sounds like the developers of these games need to make the games fun. If all these people paying the Chinese farmers actually enjoyed the process of getting the best levels and gold or whatever, they would stop paying others to have the fun for them. No ones pays others to play Unreal Tournament for them, or Counter Strike, or Halo, etc.

Playing a video game shouldn't be about taking pride in doing something tedious, in my opinion. It's just a game - make it fun.

At least it is preventing a pool of workers

from competing for software jobs.

Steve Larrison
<a class="jive-link-external" href="http://www.surviveoutsourcing.com" target="_newWindow">http://www.surviveoutsourcing.com</a>

[ProfessorDino]

Outsourcing the news to China

I'm too lazy to read the news, so I'm going to outsource it to some kid in China. He can email me back news digests every day, and I'll pay him a few bucks.

For that matter, the news should fire all of their reporters and simply outsource news reporting to China, India, Romania...where ever. Who cares.

All this typing on my keyboard is too much work, too. And chewing food is a bit strenuous...hmm...

[aabcdefghij987654321]

For more information

For a different take on Gold Farming check out our lengthy November article about the same topic:

<a class="jive-link-external" href="http://www.gameguidesonline.com/guides/articles/ggoarticleoctober05_01.asp" target="_newWindow">http://www.gameguidesonline.com/guides/articles/ggoarticleoctober05_01.asp</a>

[Bob_Barker]

The problem is flawed game design

Forcing a gamer to into redundant and meaningless battles simply to gain levels is bad game design. Plain and simple. To get to the "fun stuff" and compete on an even plain with everyone the force you to endure at least month of repetitive and menial tasks. MMO developers need to wise up. Take away the "work" and you won't have the desire a Chinese kid to do it for you.

I've been playing MMO's for 7 years, across 7 different games in which I've leveled to the max. Average about 60 levels to "max out" for each game is 420 levels worth of leveling across all those games and then add alternate characters. A LOT of time sank and a failed college course to boot. Why you ask? Mostly for the fun/social interaction I had with friends real-life and 'virtual'.)Needless to say, I don't play MMO's at the moment. Not until MMO devs get a clue.

[just_some_guy]

I agree

The developers just need to make the games fun, from beginning to end.

[Christopher Hall]

Not necessarily

The game design isn't flawed, you're just burnt out. Try telling the four million plus WoW players the game's design isn't up to snuff. I'm sure Blizzard's balance sheets refute that easily enough.

You do anything similar for as long as you put into your 7 MMOs, you're going to get tired of it, no matter what gets thrown your way in the form of "special events." Because the fundamentals don't change. You play a character, you grow it, and perform all tasks, no matter how menial or mundane. That's what's commonly referred to as a "role playing game." If you buy your way to the top, what role are you playing?

They call that role a "cheater."