Join the new world

Excitedly logging in from my schools computer into one of the few browser games that were available was really something. eRepublik. I remember my joy of having a country simulator in which I, as a citizen of a nation could make such a large impact. The community was boisterous, excitable, and most importantly loud. Articles and discussion were often very common, and each country had its own flavor.

But seemingly, that loud, fun attitude seemed to disappear over the years. The characteristics of each political group seemingly melted away, the excitement of a potential PTO from Serbian enemies, nearly vanquished. The large community of those LARPing as Dioists, and having direct impact on foreign policy against the Swedes, well that was replaced with a more calm organized foreign policy. In a way eRepublik almost followed the real world, a once exciting place where almost anything could happen from Communists taking control of the Czech Republic to large cumbersome bureaucracies working to improve the lives of their players, seemingly has dried up. It has turned into a landscape of the status quo, we are all on other teams, but really, we are on the same team. There are pre-planned programs that persist no matter who is in office, foreign policy has been delegated to training wars and calm communications. Parties are rather homogeneous, seeming to be more interested in the business of running the country rather than the LARP of their ideology. (Seriously, tell me the difference between any in the top 5).

Did you know the eUS had an ambassador program? Yeah seriously, the game was large enough that it made sense to have individual players keep track of communications and statistics of foreign countries, we also had direct volunteer driven programs. While certainly the current system we run is more efficient there was something about being able to get involved and throw your name into the ring. But back then it was much harder to stand out when everyone was vying for the mantles of power.

Which brings me to the main point of the contest, why keep logging in? Well for me I keep coming back because I know we can make this game exciting again, I myself am a busy fella and have a bad habit of falling into peaks and valleys with this game. One minute I am on the top and want to be the President, the next I just want to get some strength and salary. But I still think there is a lot of potential fun to be had if we tap back into that LARPing mentality. Some months back there was a lull in the Presidential nomination process, and there were limited names. So what did I do? I ran as King. Was it goofy? Yes! Was it fun? It was for me! That is the energy I want to recapture, to have fun with things. Don't come at me in a suit and tie and layout the basic fundamentals of some project, approach me in a cape with a Hammer and Sickle on it and call yourself Captain Communism as you march along demanding free housing programs and changing the eUSA flag to a Hammer and Sickle. Try to have fun with it. Is it a recipe for success? No. Is it neat flavor desperately needed in this boiled water and lemon of a game? MOST DEFINITELY.

Also one final note, give me a reason to write. I don't mind putting out some articles here and there, I can't write about things if nothing is happening. Which nothing is usually happening. I also do not have the energy in my like SFP (no offense guys) to write long winded real life ideological pieces. For a man to write the news, news has to happen. I can't even write W-CUT anymore because every article would be about the budget.

I am Malpazar, thanks for coming to my Ted Talk.