SOE talks cultural naivety

By Robert Purchese Published 14 August, 2007

MMO genre has moved on.

Sony Online Entertainment business development chief David Christensen believes we're all a little bit naïve when it comes to other cultures than our own.

He was speaking following the unveiling of the publisher's new MMO, which takes inspiration from a holy Hindu poem, and aims to promote awareness of the religion to Western audiences.

"Unfortunately I think most people - not just those in the gaming industry - are a bit naïve when it comes to any culture but their own, which is precisely why SOE believes it is of the utmost importance to partner with local talent in every foreign market we enter," David Christensen told Eurogamer. "To be successful in a territory you have to think like the consumers there."

Virgin Comics will be joining SOE on the project, and will be using its Ramayan 3392 AD publication as the basis for the game. This retells the ancient story of the Ramayana in a futuristic science-fiction setting.

The game is being built predominantly for the Indian market, but Christensen believes it will find success around the world and might help teach us a thing or two in the process.

"The game is being developed in India for Indian gamers, but we expect it to be a success worldwide; to anyone that enjoys a rich and colourful storyline," continued Christensen.

"The comic Ramayan 3392 is meant to be entertaining, but at the same there are lessons in honour, duty and karma to be learned from it. I'm hopeful we can capture some of those lessons in our game."

It's all part of Sony Online Entertainment's plans to offer new gaming experiences to the MMOG audience. Christensen feels that although there is still space for high-fantasy games like EverQuest, in general the genre has moved on.

"I think it's more accurate to say we've moved on from the traditional model of MMOGs. There are many multiplayer games today that have a 'massive' number of players, all competing for the time of potential customers," he added.

"SOE firmly believes we need to create games in new genres, and also bring new types of gameplay experiences to them; The Agency and Free Realms are examples of these beliefs."

The MMO based on Ramayan 3392 AD is yet to enter development, and Christensen expects 2010 is a likely release date - although he insists it will be given as much time as it needs to ensure maximum quality.

Picture of Robert.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

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Comments (44) Latest comment 5 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • brooza #1 5 years ago

    Name too close to Rayman.

    NEXT!

  • Dizzy #2 5 years ago

    Basically he is saying "Damn WoW kicked our ass everywhere on the planet... let's try India" ;)

  • Gurgeh #3 5 years ago

    Less of this:

    <a href="http://www .youtube.com/watch?v=gqzub-Tw18k">http://www .youtube.com/watch?v=gqzub-Tw18k
    </a>

    More of this:

    <a href="http://www .youtube.com/watch?v=gkBAUlNVLRY">http://www .youtube.com/watch?v=gkBAUlNVLRY
    </a>
    Edited by 2 at 14/08/07 @ 15:10

  • mossychops001 #4 5 years ago

    Do we get free RINGDINGS with it?

  • Drpwnage #5 5 years ago

    "I think it's more accurate to say we've moved on from the traditional model of MMOGs. There are many multiplayer games today that have a 'massive' number of players, all competing for the time of potential customers," he added.

    "SOE firmly believes we need to create games in new genres, and also bring new types of gameplay experiences to them; The Agency and Free Realms are examples of these beliefs."

    In otherwords SOE mainstream MMO's got crapped on by WoW and now they have to try something new in the hope of finding a niche market.

  • Genji #6 5 years ago

    My my, aren't we all cynical today.

  • sickpuppysoftware #7 5 years ago

    Flip them over for massive karma

  • Dizzy #8 5 years ago

    Wow got it covered Gurgeh

    http://www .youtube.com/watch?v=cSHFosMvilE

  • SEVQA #9 5 years ago

    Christ----ensen “To be successful in a territory you have to think like the consumers there." Well I guess I must be naive to think that the majority of people in India will not be able to afford a PS3 or a 360 for that matter and that’s without games.

    So if the most profitable territory is Europe, then how about games we want to play rather than the pathetic crusading PR a corporation feels they need to spew out to appear PC and doing thier bit.

    By the way does anyone know how much a PS3 cost in India, id guess 425 rupees! Or is that being naïve?

  • Dizzy #10 5 years ago

    >425 rupees! Or is that being naïve?

    Rofl :)

    I think you can get a sixpack for that ;)

  • Wobble #11 5 years ago

    What does "To be successful in a territory you have to think like the consumers there." in relation to the way Sony treat Europe tell us about their view of us?

    They think we all like buggering each other??

  • Rash' #12 5 years ago

    "My my, aren't we all cynical today."

    People don't like being told they are naive. The irony of course is most cynics of relevent concern tend to ignore the observation, which then breeds ignorance. There was a very public face of ignorance this year; who was she...
    Edited by 1 at 14/08/07 @ 16:02

  • El_MUERkO #13 5 years ago

    SoE should stfu and make Planetside 2!

  • Slamhound #14 5 years ago

    Funny. The entire gaming industry since I've been truly aware of it has done nothing but prove that people are willing to play excellent import games from beyond their cultural boundaries. Ouendan? Phoenix Wright? There's a whole bumch of games successfully imported into western markets that were generally aimed solely at the Japanese market.

    Nintendo paid for it pretty hard in the '90s by adhering to the mentality of "well, okay we've got all these spiffy Japanese RPGs, but we think that Europe and America wouldn't like them". Ironically, it was Sony themselves who picked up that particular fumble during the 32-bit days. Now Nintendo are spending time and effort in bringing across those kerazy Japanese games rather than letting a huge slice of the market go to the grey importers. Okay, people still import, and it's a hell of a lot easier to do so today than it was in the 16-bit era, but even for those that would never import there's still the chance.

    SOE don't really see what the real problem is. I've always felt that gamers have always been willing to look towards other cultures in the pursuit of a good gaming experience, and typically that culture has been that of Japan. Seems to me that SOE have got things hideously wrong here: Seems to me that they're actually trying to exploit Indian culture to sell games, as an opposite to the interest in Japanese culture of the '90s, which was through people just being interested in good games that just happened to be from Japan.

  • Genji #15 5 years ago

    "People don't like being told they are naive. The irony of course is most cynics of relevent concern tend to ignore the observation, which then breeds ignorance. There was a very public face of ignorance this year; who was she..."

    ?

  • Rash' #16 5 years ago

    "... Seems to me that they're actually trying to exploit Indian culture to sell games,... "

    I'm not sure how accurate that is, being as the graphic novel is written and produced by Indians. I guess it all depends on how you look at it. If you want to be cynical then sure it can be seen that way.

  • Rash' #17 5 years ago

    Genji, I commented on here last week about how culturally uninformed gaming is. The issue is raised in a public domain and what are gamers responses? A load of cynicism and "we're only interested in jap cultural so Sony must be exploiting other culturals". In short: ignorant twats that think they know it all.

    Gaming is predomiately about America, Europe and Japan. The diverse cultures that exist within these terriotories are ignored in gaming and if they are used it's through exploitation (San Andreas you are no less guity). This is the first time a publisher has come out and made it an issue. Would EA have done the same? Gaming needs to stand up to it's responsibilities, so kudos to SOE.

    The face of ignorance this year was Jade Goody.
    Edited by 1 at 14/08/07 @ 16:39

  • gmmonkey #18 5 years ago

    Maybe soe should talk about game design naivety. Star wars galaxies, NGE, anyone? Pricks.

  • The-Bodybuilder #19 5 years ago

    >"He was speaking following the unveiling of the publisher's new MMO, which takes inspiration from a holy Hindu poem, and aims to promote awareness of the religion to Western audiences."

    Boy is this game gonna bomb.

  • Rash' #20 5 years ago

    "Boy is this game gonna bomb."

    I rest my case.
    Edited by 1 at 14/08/07 @ 16:50

  • The-Bodybuilder #21 5 years ago

    >"I rest my case. "

    I'm calling it as I see it.
    It doesn't mean I hate the game, or I'm too ignorant and cynical to accept it, it just means the game is gonna bomb.

    Are you saying that it won't?

  • SEVQA #22 5 years ago

    Rash’

    if SOE was a ‘not-for profit corporation’ I’ll be inclined to agree with you and take a less cynical view! BUT a profit organisation is what both Sony and Microsoft are! So ill stay cynical to think that the interests of these companies are most surely for their interest only, not yours mine or India’s.

    Id like to add that a plot from the far side of the universe, Africa, Iran or India is of little importance as long as the game as a whole (not just including the plot) captivates me in some way.

    The grip I have is about the article which just seems we as European gamers are being pissed on and told it’s raining.

  • Rash' #23 5 years ago

    The Bodybuilder, It's got nothing to do with the topic, so yes, even if it's not conscience, you are being cynical. I couldn't care whether it bombs or not. I'm interested in the game.
    Edited by 1 at 14/08/07 @ 17:25

  • Rash' #24 5 years ago

    SEVQA, Well of course they're a profit organisation. They run a business not a charity. That doesn't automatically mean cynicism is the only form of response to this thread. There's the naivity. The thread isn't about the SOE's ulterior motive but the issue. If you can't discuss the issue than what is there to discuss; Naive cynicism that breeds ignorance?
    Edited by 2 at 14/08/07 @ 17:24

  • Rash' #25 5 years ago

    "So ill stay cynical to think that the interests of these companies are most surely for their interest only, not yours mine or India’s."

    Broading the market, reaching out to new people: that's only of interest to Sony and Microsoft, I take it then. Not to you.
    Edited by 1 at 14/08/07 @ 17:28

  • SEVQA #26 5 years ago

    Yes

  • Rash' #27 5 years ago

    SEVQA, good for you.

  • SEVQA #28 5 years ago

    No good for Sony and Microsoft!

  • Rash' #29 5 years ago

    Not my problem.

  • Azgarth #30 5 years ago

    I was naive for buying SWG, but I think i learned my lesson after they changed it.

  • SEVQA #31 5 years ago

    Well I take the stance of cynicism as a default so I can objectively view sources of information and formulate my own decision, if you think I should have more faith in corporations or just more faith full stop then screw that! Is the most intellectually appropriate phrase I can think of!

    The comments in the article were offense to a demographic as are yours to way people wish express themselves on this subject matter!

    Your comment “In short: ignorant twats that think they know it all.”

    Here is a word from the dictionary for you, (Hypocrisy).

  • Rash' #32 5 years ago

    People could have a little more faith, but as you say "screw that" seems to be the consense so who am I to change that.

  • Kami #33 5 years ago

    It's not just that WoW kicked SOE's ass.... SOE has done more than its fair share to kill off its own products with pissing off the fans, rushing roducts and updates etc.

    It's an interesting idea for an MMO. But with SOE behind it, I don't fancy its chances of taking off...

  • Shanucore #34 5 years ago

    Cynicism does not permit objectivity. Check a dictionary. The term you're looking for is skepticism. And when skeptics want to make an objective decision, they usually don't start spouting ill-informed nonsense on comment threads without even bothering to investigate a country's economy, currency or demographics (quite aside from everything else).

    Good luck to SOE. Whether or not Christensen is on to something with his culturally ignorant gamers meme (and, really, I don't think he is - importing quality games from another country does not equate to an understanding of culture), this project stands out simply by attempting something different. I think it's worth keeping an eye on and withholding judgment until we can actually see, read or play something of substance.

    The kneejerk cynicism all over EG comments threads is really starting to get on my tits, so don't take the above personally. This is just the thread I chose to comment on.

  • kangarootoo #35 5 years ago

    @Rash'

    "People don't like being told they are naive."

    Well of course they don't. But the true irony is that someone who IS naive won't see it because of their own naievity. On that basis, they are hardly likely to accept the accusation as valid are they? Doesn't mean its not true.

    "The irony of course is most cynics of relevent concern tend to ignore the observation, which then breeds ignorance."

    Maybe I'm being dense today, so please humour me, but I have no idea what you are actually saying there. Simpler terms for a simpler mind please :)


    @Slamhound

    "The entire gaming industry since I've been truly aware of it has done nothing but prove that people are willing to play excellent import games from beyond their cultural boundaries."

    The people that play import games such as you describe are very much in the minority. The overwhelming majority of gamers don't import titles. They are the exceptions, and of course every generalisation has them.

    @SEVQA

    This whole "its for profit" angle is entirely irrrelevant. Mr Sony said "most people.... are a bit naïve when it comes to any culture but their own".

    What have Sony's motives for making the game in question got to do with that statement and whether you agree or disagree with it?

    Seems to me that you and Rash' are not actually disagreeing over the same thing.

  • kangarootoo #36 5 years ago

    @Kami

    I think you'll find that Everquest did pretty well for itself. WoW is simply an anomaly, an mmo that captured people like no other. It doesn't mean SOW did a bad job of their own products.

    As for them pissing people off.... its an mmo ffs. Getting pissed off and complaining to the admins is what mmo players do best. Its the nature of the beast. Someone always feels their chosen class if getting a hard deal, or the object they love using has been underpowered. You think WoW isn't full of annoyed people?

  • macksed #37 5 years ago

    if you check out the virgin comics website they look pretty cool, and they were on some BBC doc a couple of weeks ago too, but basing a game on ramayan is like basing a game on the bible or the karan, you don't need to replicate holy stories to create awareness - they should have just set it in India or something.
    official verdict: psssssshhhhhht

    ALSO - india is the most exspensive place in the world to get a PS3, i believe it's about £650 but budled with lots of stuff - but the comment about no-one having 360's / ps3s is mistaken anyway, because a lot of indians have PC's or access to them, and if only a tiny percentage of them can and do play this game that's still potentially a lot of people in addition to western audiemces.
    Edited by 1 at 14/08/07 @ 20:27

  • Kami #38 5 years ago

    @ kangarootoo;

    Nope, I never said that. The issue is SOE have had some hugely high-profile cases of pissing off its userbase - the great SWG Exodus, for example, and lest we forget the more recent rushed bodge-job that was Vanguard. SOE may have Everquest under its belt but that only gives me a "WHY?" moment when it seems to get other titles so very badly wrong.

    WoW, I grant you, is one of those anomalies. Like any MMO, it's a timesink. However, it is very well designed and has a lot of humour in it, so whilst an anomaly - the fact it keeps getting bigger is no surprise.

    I hope SOE have learned from the fiasco of Vanguard. But the simple fact that it isn't the first of their many known mistakes doesn't exactly inspire confidence in their ability, that's all I am saying.

  • GordonJ@work #39 5 years ago

    Be fair Kami, Vanguard was a write off way before SOE tried to rescue it.

    With regard to this game though, who cares where it's set. If it's a good game word of mouth will spread and people will look at it.

  • Kami #40 5 years ago

    Rescue? Basically what I read on Vanguard from SOE was "Publish it now or we'll pull funding!".

    That's hardly a rescue. I kinda understand the funding side of it and all but why oh why force a release of a game that was so clearly from the public beta not even remotely ready for commercial release?

    Wreck it may have been, but it's a wreck on SOE's name.
    Edited by 1 at 15/08/07 @ 00:39

  • TheStranger #41 5 years ago

    Wow, I actually can agree with something someone from Sony is coming out with... Sign of the apocalypse.

    "It's all part of Sony Online Entertainment's plans to offer new gaming experiences to the MMOG audience."

    Still though, the above containing Sony and MMOG are two red flags.

  • SEVQA #42 5 years ago

    @Shanucore

    I was being cynical, you gullible fool! (And I looked that one up but it was not there!)

    @Kangarootoo

    “Seems to me that you and Rash' are not actually disagreeing over the same thing.”

    Would you mind pointing that out for me! As I still disagree with Rash’s mantra of the moron.

    “What have Sony's motives for making the game in question got to do with that statement and whether you agree or disagree with it?”

    I was actually disagreeing with Rash’ and trying to lay my case for not having, what seemed like blind faith towards mega corps which Sony is at the end of the day!

  • bdgr #43 5 years ago

    thought that was a rayman mmo then!

  • kangarootoo #44 5 years ago

    @SEVQA

    As I understand it, Rash' was in agreement that gaming in general is quite culturally naive, and that publishing a game of this type was a good thing. He also suggested a majority of people were being needlessly cynical (perhaps reflecting the naivity first discussed).

    In response you said that Sony were only making this game for profit.

    I don't see the two things as mutually exclusive. Maybe I've misunderstood.


    Also, its worth bearing in mind that all corps do stuff primarily for profit. Its not a bad thing to expect to make a return on an investment. No profits, no companies, no games for anyone. The number one reasons WoW exists, if not the only reason WoW exists, is because of profit. Sony can't compete with WoW so they do something else, for profit. If by way of them making profit a few more gamers learn something about another culture, no bad thing says I.