Scaling the Wall: An interview with Catsch73

Day 2,576, 14:26 • Published in USA USA • by Delyruin

On the surface, eRepublik is a wonderful concept. People working together to make their eCountries strong, while conquering the others. It's a concept that has allowed the creation of wonderful, vibrant communities which soon became the real treasures of this game. In recent days, however, eRepublik has been dying....and we eReppers have been almost celebrating its demise. This creates a level of pessimism which pervades our community right down to the bone and accelerates this destruction. Who would want to join a game full of eDespair?


That doesn't look very fun

Only a select few, one of them being a new player by the name of Catsch73. She has broken through the malaise that has destroyed so many ebabies before her, and is now director of the Pony Express. I've asked her to share her thoughts on the game and its state, so we may see it from a pair of fresh, objective eyes....and perhaps do better in the future.


It is possible to get there again

Without further ado, let us begin.

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1. Delyruin: How did you find out about eRep?

Catsch73:
I know Custer and for the last year or so he’s been telling me about the game and what was going on in it. I was there when he was on eNpr and it all sounded really interesting.

2. Delyruin: Why did you join eRep?

Catsch73:
I had pneumonia and was down for awhile. When Custer brought me home from the hospital he asked if I wanted to join and helped me to sign up.

3. Delyruin: What were you expecting when you joined? How was the game different?

Catsch73:
I expected people to be into the game, playing because they enjoyed it. Instead, there was a totally negative vibe. One of the first comments I saw was that the game was dying. when I asked why they said that the response was “because the game is dying”. I would love to see people here rise up and use what’s left to make things better. Being inclusive and coming together as a community is an important part of the equation. Plato may have fu-ked up the game in a multitude of ways, but how can we work within that construct to make it fun again?

4. Delyruin: What are your thoughts on eUSA's new players program? Were you contacted by anyone in your first days?

Catsch73:
Yes, I was contacted and Bee Bee Bee was extremely helpful. The bitch of it was that I didn’t understand the game itself. I squandered my gold and money on shit and would end up destitute even with all their help. I’m digging my way out again so it’ll be okay, but I wish I had known some of the things I know now. I got into IRC but didn’t understand how it worked. Only today did I finally asked Custer and he explained it to me. Most new players don’t have someone that they can go to for clarification.

5. Delyruin: What was integrating into the metagame like? How did you break in? What do you think of it?

Catsch73:
I didn’t even know what the “meta game” was at first. I just figured community was built on the forums and IRC so I went searching. I do find that, like anything, the people there have all known each other for awhile and are not quick to accept strangers. I’m sure it feels like a stranger intruding on a private conversation to those who have been here for awhile.

6. Delyruin: What do you think the US should do different in order to integrate new players effectively? What kind of help did you need as a newb?

Catsch73:
Encourage newbs to join in the meta game, and if they show up, make them feel welcome. Encourage them to ask questions. Sometimes we feel stupid so we don’t ask. Realize that we may know absolutely nothing about eRep and make your responses very specific. Until yesterday, I didn’t know there was an eRepublik forum and the eUSA forum outside the game.

7. Delyruin: Any advice to new players?

Catsch73:
Don’t be afraid to ask questions. and if you don’t understand the answer ask for clarification. And make an effort to visit the forums and IRC. Also, don’t waste your money and gold on shit.

8. Delyruin: What is your favorite moment in eRepublik so far?

Catsch73:
My favorite moment has been the days leading up to the PoTUS election and the election itself. The positive attitudes and the way everyone joined in was amazing. This is the kind of community I expected to find when IO joined eRep. There was no mudslinging, no nastiness. Everyone was simply having a great time. Rah!!!

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There you have it, I'd like to thank Cat for agreeing to this interview. It certainly showed me a new perspective and gave me some new ideas and I hope she has a long, productive eLife ahead of her.

Thank you for reading,