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Alright, I've already failed my mission to write an article a day but I'm getting back on the wagon.
In my defense, I had to be at a meeting the other day in the middle of my usual sleep cycle so... that was fun!
I'm happy to report that our Alliance, which I had felt lacked definition and structure, agreed and we're drafting an updated charter. We also secured a deal that should free up damage to support us against the UN.
It's worth noting that we've been fighting our battles mostly on our own, with most of our allied support coming from Sweden. Which I really appreciate. There has been some very hard feelings between our two nations for about a year and, for them to our aid with no questions asked as they have, really means a lot to me. My deepest regards go to the boys of Solution and their CP, Erka (whom I voted for to be our new Supreme Commander). But, you've really been kicking ass America. Keep it up and make me proud.
I'd like to take a moment to address MU commanders, at this point. I have a lot of time on my hands and I use that time to misdirect and terrorize our enemies. That being the case, I need our military units to be paying attention when they read DoD orders. I will probably direct DoD Orders to one battles, but have our MU's elsewhere and DoD Orders will reflect that. If it says not to set orders, please do not set them and allow someone who is in IRC or in contact with me or the Department of Defense to set them.
We are fighting a lot of battles and I need everyone to play it cool. I appreciate that people are excited to fight for America but, in order to do America your best service, that may not be what I need. If you're in one of our Primer Military Units, follow your MU orders. If not, follow DoD orders.
In other news, after freeing Jeolla, China proposed a referendum which considers a Cease Fire with the United States. It is currently passing but, thus far, I have no further information on the matter. Still, I'm pleased. A war with China was never something we'd wanted and, frankly, caught us a bit off our guard.
I'd like to talk about something else, though.
Recently Primera was converted into a 'gold buy' server. There has been a lot of criticism about this already. I'm perhaps a bit late with this, but I've still two cents I'd like to throw in.
e-Sim is not a charity.
When you buy a game for your home console, you're buying it from a company that produced it in order to make money and, frankly, the ability to monetize is what makes or breaks a game.
Now, this is clearly not a AAA title for the PS3 but, at the same time, you don't have to pay for it and paying for it doesn't gain you a great advantage over other non-paying players. It gets you the ability to catch up to established players. That is a very important distinction.
The question should not be if they monetize, but how that monetization is implemented and, more importantly, how that implementation effects the game play experience. And, I would argue, e-Sim is a prime example of monetization that puts user experience first. railman has tried several systems that would monetize primera in ways that would avoid direct gold buying but, in the end, they didn't work.
With the proliferation of ad-blockers, I use one myself, advertisements have become ineffective. The 'Bonus Gold' system was quickly discontinued and, I think, the main reason for this was because it was so unfair to the users. I think I'm still owed around 60 gold from questionable software I installed and surveys I finished that, for whatever reason, didn't click over and my attempts to claim that gold from the company that ran those promotions (who were responsible for dispersing payment) simply ignored.
In my mind, this confirms to me that as much as this is not a charity, railman is working to be as charitable as possible.
The reason I say this is, with all the backlash over Secura and gold buying without consideration of how this was implemented in such a way to preserve the game play experience, we sort of give the impression that we're just going to call them a sell-out no matter what they do, unless they offer the game without any monetization structure.
And, if railman believes that no matter what we do, we're all just going to call him a cash-crazed sellout... why shouldn't be be one?
If we're going to just act like he's a whore, why not just do what eRep did and milk this for all it's worth? Why not give people the ability to fight infinity, so long as they're willing to swipe their card? Why not give people the ability to buy strength to no limit? Why not create an economic structure in which local currency is useless and absurd amounts of gold are required to do anything more than two-click or have any meaningful impact on the game what so ever?
Why hasn't he done that already?
Because, whatever people say about him, I believe railman doesn't want this to be eRep and that he wants this to be a game that is as accessible to the unemployed as it is to stock brokers.
And I think he's succeeded in that.
Now, there are a couple counter points.
First, monotization should be a positive synergistic system. It should mean that players that buy gold results in more players which results in more gold which results in more players. Thus far, that hasn't happened and, I think, that has something to do with my next point.
Second, there is no longer a distinction between Secura and Primera. Both servers now play by the same rule-set, so why do both still exist?
My solution is this. Merge the servers.
I'm told 'that's not possible' but I know that's nonsense, too.
It's possible but it might be uncomfortable.
But, it might be fun too.
Consider for a moment.
What if players with accounts on both servers were allowed a month to submit to merge their accounts? They could keep the stats from whichever account is better and would have the same assets from both accounts. After that month, both servers would be closed and a new one would be opened. Every country returns to its borders and every country fights a civil war, to determine which CP and Congress retains power until the next elections.
This would throw, what has become a rather dull system (as evident by the recent constantly reforming alliance structure), on its head. The future would once again be unpredictable and full of possibilities and potential. There would be momentus shifts in political structures. There would be unprecedented civil discourse, as player bases with opposed ideologies tried to reconcile them.
It would re-invigorate the game and it would boost the player base, while ceasing to divide the game administrators attention and eliminating confusion to new players about which server to join.
The United States of Secura is a very different place and there would be quite a lot of fighting. But that's what makes this interesting, isn't it?
Conflict is what defines us.
Anyway, those are just my thoughts.
I'm pretty drunk, at this point, so I'm going to go see if anyone needs supplies and, I think, play Civilization V.
Love,
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About the game:
USA as a world power? In E-Sim it is possible!
In E-Sim we have a huge, living world, which is a mirror copy of the Earth. Well, maybe not completely mirrored, because the balance of power in this virtual world looks a bit different than in real life. In E-Sim, USA does not have to be a world superpower, It can be efficiently managed as a much smaller country that has entrepreneurial citizens that support it's foundation. Everything depends on the players themselves and how they decide to shape the political map of the game.
Work for the good of your country and see it rise to an empire.
Activities in this game are divided into several modules. First is the economy as a citizen in a country of your choice you must work to earn money, which you will get to spend for example, on food or purchase of weapons which are critical for your progress as a fighter. You will work in either private companies which are owned by players or government companies which are owned by the state. After progressing in the game you will finally get the opportunity to set up your own business and hire other players. If it prospers, we can even change it into a joint-stock company and enter the stock market and get even more money in this way.
In E-Sim, international wars are nothing out of the ordinary.
Become an influential politician.
The second module is a politics. Just like in real life politics in E-Sim are an extremely powerful tool that can be used for your own purposes. From time to time there are elections in the game in which you will not only vote, but also have the ability to run for the head of the party you're in. You can also apply for congress, where once elected you will be given the right to vote on laws proposed by your fellow congress members or your president and propose laws yourself. Voting on laws is important for your country as it can shape the lives of those around you. You can also try to become the head of a given party, and even take part in presidential elections and decide on the shape of the foreign policy of a given state (for example, who to declare war on). Career in politics is obviously not easy and in order to succeed in it, you have to have a good plan and compete for the votes of voters.
You can go bankrupt or become a rich man while playing the stock market.
The international war.
The last and probably the most important module is military. In E-Sim, countries are constantly fighting each other for control over territories which in return grant them access to more valuable raw materials. For this purpose, they form alliances, they fight international wars, but they also have to deal with, for example, uprisings in conquered countries or civil wars, which may explode on their territory. You can also take part in these clashes, although you are also given the opportunity to lead a life as a pacifist who focuses on other activities in the game (for example, running a successful newspaper or selling products).
At the auction you can sell or buy your dream inventory.
E-Sim is a unique browser game. It's creators ensured realistic representation of the mechanisms present in the real world and gave all power to the players who shape the image of the virtual Earth according to their own. So come and join them and help your country achieve its full potential.
Invest, produce and sell - be an entrepreneur in E-Sim.
Take part in numerous events for the E-Sim community.
