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Brad and Jeff Talk Play Style at Fanguard

By Lady Sirse

Recently we published an article that offered some definitions of the various play styles for MMOs. We talked about the hardcore player, the core player and the casual player. Did you have a chance to figure out which you are? Brad McQuaid, Chairman and CEO of Sigil Games Online, and Jeff Butler, President of Sigil Games Online, spoke in a panel at Fanguard in San Diego this past weekend about just this concept.

As a member of the audience, I was able to ask them to define these terms and to talk about what their target audience was. I am not alone in being pleasantly surprised by the answers. The first to speak on this was Brad. He took a few moments to put his thoughts together before talking about his personal experience. He mentioned that he tended to dislike the connotations associated with the term "hardcore" gamer. He and Jeff were both adamant that this was actually an unfair term to many that fit the description just based on the time and effort put in.

The negative connotations to this term bring to mind a player that is blinded to anything but their own desires and needs from the game content. They will power level through things at the speed of light neither looking right nor left to see what else or who else might be around. They take what they need without care to any that may be holding it and they are the ones that rush to the endgame and then complain that the game stinks because they have already "won". These are the folks that spend more time playing than most people put in at work in a given week.

Certainly, there are great players who are lucky to have the time and the ability to play countless hours who do not fit that negative connotation. They take time to quest, to talk to their guild mates or group mates, to enjoy the content without making a nuisance of themselves. It is this player that Brad and Jeff seemed to want to remove from the dishonor of the former example.

Brad explained that because of this, they had coined a new term, the core gamer. This term was much more inclusive and he felt from research that had been conducted, more appropriately described the gamers he hoped to reach. So what then was his definition of core gamer? To him, and to Sigil Games Online, the core gamer is the average Joe, or Jane, who likes to come home from work and after the familial duties are done sit down to play for a few hours. This gamer may play more on the weekends or on occasion, but nothing truly stunning time wise. This gamer is interested in all areas of content from working towards the endgame to crafting or other non combat activities.

At this point, I believe, Jeff pointed out that contrary to popular belief this group of player is in the majority. While many assume or feel that those rowdy and raucous gamers are taking over and making a nice home in your favorite MMO, the reality according to their research is that they only make up less than 10% of the gaming population. I wish you could have seen the looks of disbelief that masked those in the room. Both Brad and Jeff reiterated that it was true and in fact they asked for a show of hands. There was no denying it at that point. Most of the room claimed to fit in their definition of "core gamer". So the folks who play when they can, and often just a few hours at a time, you can rejoice because Sigil Games Online hears you! You are their target audience.

What about those who want to "win" the game as fast as they can, spending long hours each and every day? Don't worry. Jeff says you'll have content as well and he thinks you'll enjoy it. Just be aware that the game is not being focused to your needs. Vanguard: Saga of Heroes is a community that a game is being built around. A community includes many different kinds of folks with different wants and needs. We were assured that almost anyone would be able to find what they are looking for in the game. But that the main target audience where those stated above. Taking the needs of all the parts of the community in mind, it was even mentioned that those who like to solo will find content waiting for them as well.

I would like to mention, as they did a few times during the panel, that the game is not only targeted to the core gamer as they define it, but also to the group experience. What I mean by this, is that whether you are adventuring, crafting, working on diplomacy or even harvesting for components, there will be greater reward when working with a group. Why is this? The reason can be summed up in one word…community. A community that works and hunts together is a community that is strong and vibrant. This game is built for a community, by a community. If you were lucky enough to attend Fanguard, than you saw the many members of the Sigil Games Online team as they helped to demonstrate the game, answer questions and in general get to know the people that will one day populate the world of Telon.

I have no doubt that the world we will walk into sometime this year will be as energetic and vibrant as the team that is creating it. It will be rich with diversity and with surprises around every corner for every type of player no matter what term you choose to define yourself with!