"Director of Dune: Awakening urges players to clear out their previous bases on Arrakis, appealing for a tidy game environment."
Dune: Awakening Sets Sail, June 5 – But Will the MMO aspect Survive the Clutter?
The beta for Funcom's Dune: Awakening is underway, and Chris Livingstone from PCG clocked in a whopping 25 hours of gameplay on Arrakis. He was generally impressed with the survival game vibe but had reservations regarding the MMO aspect.
Upon starting, what caught his eye were the unattractive, blocky player-built bases scattered across the map. These unsightly structures were so numerous that Chris ended up trekking across the map to find an unspoiled spot for his own base. Upon logging back in, his humble abode was flanked by two towering constructions built mere feet from his front door by other players.
This issue became more prominent as the beta progressed, with even more bases popping up, often incomplete, and mostly resembling dull, repetitive boxes. Apart from the visual distraction, these bases detracted from the desert Nomadic feel that is synonymous with the Dune universe.
During a livestream focusing on the game's building and crafting elements, Dune: Awakening's Chief Creative Director Joel Bylos spoke about the issue.
"It's encouraged to get rid of old bases because this is one of the problems that come with the persistence of the game," Bylos explains. "Traditional MMOs like World of Warcraft don't allow such permanent structures in starting zones, but our game does, resulting in a proliferation of bases."
To remedy the situation, the team advocates a good old-fashioned cleanup. "The opening tutorial encourages you to dismantle your initial base and move on," Bylos says. "As you venture further into the world, we'll ask you to construct larger bases, but please, for the sake of fellow newbies, clean up your old bases before abandoning them."
So there you have it—the game's long-term success hinges on players' willingness to tidy up, much like a parent might ask their child to clean their room. However, without a positive incentive in place, one might question whether players will comply. And we'll soon find out as Dune: Awakening prepares for its official launch.
Despite this potential obstacle, Livingstone remains excited about the prospect of encountering those Sandworms. After all, isn't the risk of getting devoured by a colossal sand beast just part of the Dune experience?
Rich StantonRich Stanton is a games journalist with 15 years under his belt, starting his career at Edge magazine. Over the years, he's written for various publications, including Ars Technica, Eurogamer, GamesRadar+, Gamespot, the Guardian, IGN, the New Statesman, Polygon, Vice, and Kotaku UK, where he served as editor for three years before joining PC Gamer. He's also the author of A Brief History of Video Games, a comprehensive account of the gaming industry's evolution, praised by the Midwest Book Review as "a must-read for seriousminded game historians and curious video game enthusiasts alike."
- Gamespot, a renowned gaming platform, features articles by Rich Stanton, a seasoned games journalist with over 15 years of experience.
- Stanton's extensive career in journalism has seen him contribute to various publications, including Edge magazine, Ars Technica, Eurogamer, GamesRadar+, IGN, the Guardian, Polygon, Vice, and Kotaku UK.
- At Kotaku UK, Stanton served as editor for three years before transitioning to PC Gamer.
- In addition to his journalistic endeavors, Stanton is the author of 'A Brief History of Video Games', a highly acclaimed book that chronicles the gaming industry's evolution.
- The Midwest Book Review praises 'A Brief History of Video Games' as a "must-read for serious-minded game historians and curious video game enthusiasts alike."
- Alongside games and literature, Stanton's interests extend to movies-and-tv, entertainment, celebrities, and pop-culture.
- His passion for pop-culture spans beyond video games, as he demonstrates a fondness for sci-fi-and-fantasy genres, a common thread in much of entertainment today.
- Interestingly, Stanton's wide-ranging interests also encompass sports, including European leagues and the Premier League, as well as sports-analysis.
- With football being a popular sport globally, discussing the Premier League and European leagues often forms part of Stanton's repertoire as a games journalist.
- As Stanton delves into the world of gaming, he occasionally finds connections between sports and games, sensing the parallels that exist within the realm of entertainment, catering to diverse tastes and interests.
