So, Auto-chess is a Thing Apparently

[Hawki]

...and that makes me angry.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFBhR4QcBtE

But that aside, while this is the epitome of "not real problems" or "first world problems" in a world that's burning before our eyes, this is still a games site, and fuck it, I'm entitled to complain (shadup, I am!)

So, auto-chess. Quick read (https://www.kotaku.com.au/2019/06/a-guide-to-auto-chess-2019s-most-popular-new-game-genre/) if you need to get up to speed. Long story short, it's basically MOBAs all over again. As in, the leaders in the genre are now Riot with Teamfight Tactics, and Valve with Dota Underlords. Because, y'know, Riot can't make any other game outside the LoL IP, and whatever they make is F2P stuff. And Valve can't make Half-Life 3, but they CAN make a stand-alone game based on a mod from their game, which was based on a mod from a game that wasn't theirs. Because Valve is Valve, and beloved by all because...reasons.

I mean, is the battle royale craze over yet? Is the auto-chess craze a craze, or is it just a flash in the pan? Is Blizzard going to try and cash in on it, only to come too late to the party like HotS? Am I the only one depressed that crazes are in games are in genres I barely care about? I mean, right now, the platformer craze of the 90s is feeling far more palatable.

Anyway, rant over.

 

[Kyrian007]

The cycles of what constitutes a craze is just getting shorter. Someone innovates and creates something interesting... and it generates interest. Then every publisher pounces on it in a race to get "their share."

And, it's Blizzard's fault.

Just kidding, but they are an example of how this works and why publishers act this way instead of trying to innovate the next craze themselves. Everquest becomes the next big thing with the mmo in the late 90s, Blizzard makes their version better and starts generating golden cocaine money. Same thing happened in battle royale, only it was Epic with their home-owned game engine and vast resources improving on the formula and reaping the profits.

And in a lot of ways that's not so bad for the end user. Many times the corporations coming in trying to cash in on a craze DO have more resources and CAN make a better game. Where it does become a problem, is that those same publishers and big developers ALSO have more resources to direct toward innovating and experimenting to find that next big thing. But they generally direct all those resources to chasing the latest craze. Its kind of corporate-level FOMO. Or as their shareholders CFPs would put it, minimizing risk.

 

[Thaluikhain]

Where it does become a problem, is that those same publishers and big developers ALSO have more resources to direct toward innovating and experimenting to find that next big thing. But they generally direct all those resources to chasing the latest craze. Its kind of corporate-level FOMO. Or as their shareholders CFPs would put it, minimizing risk.

Well, yes, but then leaving innovation to small indie types gives them something they can compete in. Notch comes to mind, Minecraft would have looked much better if it'd had a zillion dollar company behind it, but it's not bad that smaller stuff can compete.

Not that innovative big companies would totally kill innovation from the little guy, though.

 

[meiam]

I think auto chess is doing well because it's easy to play on mobile, so it's not really replacing battle royal but rather replacing those clash of clan type of game.

 

[Dreiko_v1legacy]

That's not new though. That's just 2 player turn based plants vs zombies with more depth of customization. It legit sounds like a simplistic take on a jrpg battle system that I'm told people don't like any more due to being "dated". I guess if enough time passes old things become new again.

This is if anything more of a show of the fad-making-power those twitch influencers hold. Doesn't take much to get 200k kids aged 8 to 12 playing a simplistic turn based combat game between the audiences of all these streamers.

Maybe if they didn't turn actual plants vs zombies into a shooter and just made the gameplay deeper and more complex, they'd be cashing in now instead.

 

[Pseudonym]

I am disappointed to learn that it is not a variant of chess.

 

[meiam]

That's not new though. That's just 2 player turn based plants vs zombies with more depth of customization. It legit sounds like a simplistic take on a jrpg battle system that I'm told people don't like any more due to being "dated". I guess if enough time passes old things become new again.

The problem with JRPG combat is that company refused to innovate and kept the system extremely stale, but well done turn based combat can be extremely interesting.

 

[Lufia Erim]

That's not new though. That's just 2 player turn based plants vs zombies with more depth of customization. It legit sounds like a simplistic take on a jrpg battle system that I'm told people don't like any more due to being "dated". I guess if enough time passes old things become new again.

The problem with JRPG combat is that company refused to innovate and kept the system extremely stale, but well done turn based combat can be extremely interesting.

I mean different strokes no? I like Turn based Jrpgs, they are relaxing ( unless you are playing any SMT on hard, then it's heart attack season).

I recall even people who don't enjoy Jrpgs and turned based combat like Persona 5.

I am disappointed to learn that it is not a variant of chess.

Pretty much this. But i've kind of given up all hope for mobile games. It's as if no one actually wants to make a good one and are only interested in microtransactions and gachas.

 

[wings012]

I feel like Autochess isn't something really that new. It's just a sorta development of the whole Clash Royale formula. I feel it definitely has similar DNA to the 'Battle Simulator' type games. I can see the appeal - even just against myself in TABS, I had fun just experimenting and shoving groups of enemies at each other. Also kinda similarly in games with console commands, I definitely wasted a fair few hours spawning groups of stuff and having them fight one another. I think in a sort of way it appeals to that satisfaction of building a deck in TCGs - something I somewhat enjoy more than actually playing the game itself when it comes to MTG. I'm not too familiar with twitch culture but the relatively hands off nature of the game probably allows people to play effectively while watching streams.

I don't really feel anything regarding this new 'fad'. Stuff become popular, people get tried of them, new things become popular, everybody tries to copy the popular thing.

 

[Specter Von Baren]

I don't understand why this makes you angry. News outlets will ALWAYS talk about what's new and shiny, streamers that are not dedicated to a single game will always jump around to different genres. The consumers that are into these games though, are not likely the same people that were excited about the Battle Royale games.

I see no reason to be upset over this, it's just a gameplay style that's currently getting some traction with media and people.

 

[Hawki]

I don't understand why this makes you angry. News outlets will ALWAYS talk about what's new and shiny, streamers that are not dedicated to a single game will always jump around to different genres. The consumers that are into these games though, are not likely the same people that were excited about the Battle Royale games.

I see no reason to be upset over this, it's just a gameplay style that's currently getting some traction with media and people.

Angry? No. Irritated? Yes. And it's nothing to do with it being reported, more that:

a) It's trend jumping, and while that's always been a thing, it seems that it's going on faster, the flashes in the pan becoming forever briefer.

b) Not a trend I care about (which is entirely subjective of course)

c) Not that I've ever been that enamored with Valve, but it's a case of them cashing in on a mod, claiming it as their own, while not developing anything more...let's say, substantial. Like, something, anything with the number 3, perhaps.

d) Riot's spent years saying that they'd make a new game eventually (like, it's Riot GAMES, not "Game,"), but nup, auto-chess, still set in the LoL universe.

e) If history remains true, Blizzard's going to try and cash in as well, because they did that with Hearthstone, Overwatch, and HotS, and like Hearthstone, it won't be something I care about.

So yes, these are all little irritations, but little irritations build up to big ones. And if your spleen gets full, sometimes you've gotta vent it.

 

[SckizoBoy]

I am disappointed to learn that it is not a variant of chess.

Likewise... to the extent I take (mock, if that wasn't clear) offence that it isn't...! -.-

It irritates me enough that the significance of ELO-rating is borderline pointless in these games... whereas an amateur CM fucking well earned those letters.

 

[Silentpony_v1legacy]

You all shame yourselves:

 

[Dirty Hipsters]

What's an auto-chess?

*reads link*

Oh, it's a game that takes absolutely no effort. Yes, I see why it's doing well.

 

[Specter Von Baren]

SNIP

Ah, so it's not really the genre but companies jumping on it that's annoying you.

 

[McElroy]

Yeah, it's like a fast-paced traditional card game. Easy to pick up and winner is decided by rng with a bit of tactics mixed in.

 

[Neurotic Void Melody]

I am disappointed to learn that it is not a variant of chess.

Also am disappointed it isn't chess that plays itself. Maybe with some sort of betting mechanic, giving the player the least amount of responsibility possible while still allowing an illusion of taking part. It would include cosmetic lootb...err, surprise mechanics where you can dress up the cute little chess pieces in cute little pirate hats and seasonal holiday themed packs you find. Kinder-Chess!

 

[Thaluikhain]

I am disappointed to learn that it is not a variant of chess.

Also am disappointed it isn't chess that plays itself.

Yeah, I was wondering if it was about playing chess against yourself.

At least have chess-pieces that look like cars (or maybe Transformers) if you are calling it "Auto-chess".

 

[bluegate]

Chess with cars?

 

[Kae]

Never even heard of it before.