2011-07-05, 02:10 AM
I already talked about how strict adherence to the ToS is not the same as integrity or good morality, and I don't see any reason to revisit that so just this:
It seems like the tide of condemnation is on the idea that people are abusing a glitch. Let's examine that. What makes something a glitch in this game? It's a feature Nexon doesn't intend.
What is so sacred about Nexon's intent? Why are we now concerning ourselves with the minutia of what they intend, or announce, or encourage? The balance thats struck in the community regarding behavior doesn't reflect this, most of our actions in game don't reflect this, so why should our conclusions reflect it in this discussion? Most of the people condemning glitch abuse in this case are among those who repeatedly (and legitimately) bash Nexon for their many, many game-damaging mistakes and oversights. Some call being able to VPQ a glitch because Nexon didn't put giant glowing advertisements involving buying more NX for the return of the PQ doesn't change the real, mechanical accessibility and completely legitimate availability of this VPQ to every single 120+ character - thanks to a Nexon-provided item. Who cares if they may not have actively intended for us to enjoy something they actually did a decent job making back when it was blessed by Nexon's sacred attention. We're lucky to have things we enjoy in this game most of the time in spite of Nexon, so it certainly doesn't confer sacred authority to Nexon regarding our gameplay.
Now, why is actual glitch abuse still wrong, if there's nothing particularly sacred about Nexon's intent? There are economic distortions, restricted access to gameplay, and disproportionate advantages (ie leveling). These are the things that make the difference between a glitch, and glitch abuse. Does the availability of VPQ expose us to these things? Not really. And by all means, if you think of other reasons why glitch abuse is wrong and may apply to this case, chime in.
Economic distortions: the people who left mules at VPQ last time the npc was taken out lost their monopoly on VIP equips, boo hoo. That's not an economic distortion, that's a return to normalcy that reflects the availability of this pq. There is a sliver of cheapening the VIP weapons that came before, since VPQ is undeniably easier now as the mobs and damage haven't been updated to reflect rebalancing. Besides, that effect is due more to rebalancing than the pq, just as zak helms you got when it was actually a multiparty endeavor took more effort than ones people now solo in 5 minutes.
Restricted access to gameplay: it's a 120+ only pq, the only other requirement is someone who performed the prequests during the event to lead. Hardly an exclusive or problematic option for players. And there's an actual benefit here, since this is access to one of Nexon's better designed and more fun gameplay elements. If this is how people want to spend their in game time, what's the surviving reason they shouldn't? Basically, the only thing that restricts access to this gameplay, is your own choice not to participate. You don't have to be willing to do anything you didn't do before when VPQ was Nexblessed.
Disproportionate advantages: here's the best part. This pq is being played exactly as it was before, people take roughly the same amount of time, and get the same reward. This doesn't speed up leveling, this isn't the best way to make money (far from it). This is merely an option among many, as balanced as any other area or feature ignored in the latest rebalancing - and there are many.
So where's the abuse? Better phrased, where's the harm? That's what makes performing a glitch wrong, the effect on others, not the fact that we break with (our anyway often flawed interpretation of) Nexon's holy will. Where's the problem with this anywhere outside of: "Nexon didn't explicitly want us to do it, so it's wrong"?
All it takes is the existence of one hacker, to open entire playerworlds to this pq. That is the beginning and end of what is wrong or immoral about this situation: the hacker. Everything that comes after - people doing VPQ - isn't abuse. Or harmful. Or wrong.
I do concede it's a glitch though. Like any of the many things we currently enjoy and are glad Nexon created, provided, or left in, despite their nearly unrelenting incompetence.
It seems like the tide of condemnation is on the idea that people are abusing a glitch. Let's examine that. What makes something a glitch in this game? It's a feature Nexon doesn't intend.
What is so sacred about Nexon's intent? Why are we now concerning ourselves with the minutia of what they intend, or announce, or encourage? The balance thats struck in the community regarding behavior doesn't reflect this, most of our actions in game don't reflect this, so why should our conclusions reflect it in this discussion? Most of the people condemning glitch abuse in this case are among those who repeatedly (and legitimately) bash Nexon for their many, many game-damaging mistakes and oversights. Some call being able to VPQ a glitch because Nexon didn't put giant glowing advertisements involving buying more NX for the return of the PQ doesn't change the real, mechanical accessibility and completely legitimate availability of this VPQ to every single 120+ character - thanks to a Nexon-provided item. Who cares if they may not have actively intended for us to enjoy something they actually did a decent job making back when it was blessed by Nexon's sacred attention. We're lucky to have things we enjoy in this game most of the time in spite of Nexon, so it certainly doesn't confer sacred authority to Nexon regarding our gameplay.
Now, why is actual glitch abuse still wrong, if there's nothing particularly sacred about Nexon's intent? There are economic distortions, restricted access to gameplay, and disproportionate advantages (ie leveling). These are the things that make the difference between a glitch, and glitch abuse. Does the availability of VPQ expose us to these things? Not really. And by all means, if you think of other reasons why glitch abuse is wrong and may apply to this case, chime in.
Economic distortions: the people who left mules at VPQ last time the npc was taken out lost their monopoly on VIP equips, boo hoo. That's not an economic distortion, that's a return to normalcy that reflects the availability of this pq. There is a sliver of cheapening the VIP weapons that came before, since VPQ is undeniably easier now as the mobs and damage haven't been updated to reflect rebalancing. Besides, that effect is due more to rebalancing than the pq, just as zak helms you got when it was actually a multiparty endeavor took more effort than ones people now solo in 5 minutes.
Restricted access to gameplay: it's a 120+ only pq, the only other requirement is someone who performed the prequests during the event to lead. Hardly an exclusive or problematic option for players. And there's an actual benefit here, since this is access to one of Nexon's better designed and more fun gameplay elements. If this is how people want to spend their in game time, what's the surviving reason they shouldn't? Basically, the only thing that restricts access to this gameplay, is your own choice not to participate. You don't have to be willing to do anything you didn't do before when VPQ was Nexblessed.
Disproportionate advantages: here's the best part. This pq is being played exactly as it was before, people take roughly the same amount of time, and get the same reward. This doesn't speed up leveling, this isn't the best way to make money (far from it). This is merely an option among many, as balanced as any other area or feature ignored in the latest rebalancing - and there are many.
So where's the abuse? Better phrased, where's the harm? That's what makes performing a glitch wrong, the effect on others, not the fact that we break with (our anyway often flawed interpretation of) Nexon's holy will. Where's the problem with this anywhere outside of: "Nexon didn't explicitly want us to do it, so it's wrong"?
All it takes is the existence of one hacker, to open entire playerworlds to this pq. That is the beginning and end of what is wrong or immoral about this situation: the hacker. Everything that comes after - people doing VPQ - isn't abuse. Or harmful. Or wrong.
I do concede it's a glitch though. Like any of the many things we currently enjoy and are glad Nexon created, provided, or left in, despite their nearly unrelenting incompetence.