Hot Corner 22 Jan 2016

Virtonomics - Lien Ledger |

Hot corner is here.  Time for the weekly gossip.

 

Let's talk about the current Virtonomics Blog competition this week.


The blog competition rules/guidelines:

• what to write: chronicle how to start-up, how to win competitions, how to run establish company, newspaper/current events.  Whatever is written, it should teach game's rules, mechanics, principals and tricks. 
• key words should be used: Virtonomics, online game, browser game, games for learning economics/economy, economic simulation game, Tycoon game, turn-based online browser strategy, etc.
• use links to Virtonomics main page, forum and pages in the game. 
• use good language, connection to real economy and recent news, connecting between Virtonomics and real economy theories, etc.
• provide valuable and interesting information. Blog should be interesting to read. People should learn new things from blog posts and discover the game deeper. Talk about new things in game, post news, political events, goals and achievements, etc.
• Rewards are based on quality of blog and adherence to guidlelines, # of view, # of comments, links to social media

Reading between the lines, the competition and resulting blogs have an underlying purpose --> to hopefully get the word out about Virtonomics and bring in new players.

Based on reading the Virtonomics in-game forum, there is some positive and some negative vibe regarding this competition. 

On the negative side, some thoughts are:

• isn't this contest players giving free advertising/propaganda to the game
• is the compensation (virtual game points) high enough for players to write the blogs
• aren't there better set-ups and reward systems for the blog competition
• the game has some issues (one of which is playing for free is not as easy as if you buy game points) so why are we saying all nice things in the blogs
• aren't current players the only ones who will read the blogs anyway
• however the winner is picked will be unfair

I will say, some of those criticisms have merit.  Others, in my opinion, are closed minded.  The one I'm most concerned about myself is "aren't current players the only ones who will read the blogs anyway"

That's because I'm very excited and engaged on this project.  I absolutely love this game with it's flaws and all.  Additionally, I'll do anything I can to bring in new players.  I believe in the long-run that the devs are committed (and they've shown it recently!), but if we don't attract new players this game will be gone in 5 years.

So I look at the game positively and at the competition positively.  As mentioned, I agree that this game and also this competition are not perfect.  I don't view anything as us (players) vs. them (administration who does collect real money).  I view myself as a stakeholder in this game and I'll do what I can to help. 

Regrettably, unless search engines pick up this blog when four eyed number crunchers search google for a business strategy turn based game, this particular effort will not be very effective.  But as you may have already guessed, a little problem like that will not impact my enthusiasm for Virtonomics or this project.

Best,
G

P.S. Feel free to leave comments in agreement or disagreement and perhaps we can have a civil debate.