Winning eRepublik (Part 1)
Ananias
In past articles, I have often referred to the value I place on “progress” and “leadership”. The widespread use of these terms, especially in the heated rhetoric of presidential political campaigns, I believe, leads to a dilution of their power of the words, and misunderstanding of the very definition of the terms as they apply to eRepublik, to such a degree that the terms are most often paired with words like “military” and “economic” which serve only to narrow their scope.
So, let’s get back to basics with a couple existential questions: Why are we here? Why do we invest time and personal efforts, however minor, in eRepublik? Why do we substitute minutes and hours that may be better spent reading great literature, spending time with our family or improving our job skills, with reading eRepublik media, socializing on IRC, and gaining experience within eRepublik?
While I cannot speak for others, and while it may sound simplistic, my personal motivation for spending quality time here is:
Unlike real life, eRepublik can be won.
While we may disagree on the definition of “winning” eRepublik, unless you are here purely for the social network, the fact that we believe that there is a path to winning the game remains central to our engagement. The moment we decide individually that victory, at whatever level, is not achievable, then we become disengaged, inactive, or worse, obstructionist to those that remain committed to the belief that victory can be achieved.
It would be negligent for me to omit my personal definition of “winning” eRepublik, and since I really don’t want to spend expansive parts of my weekend trying to address such an omission, my definition of victory in eRepublik is:
“When the eUnited States of America becomes so populated with engaged players, so organized militarily and socially, so well developed in the distribution and strategy of our infrastructure, so efficient in the management of our economy, so profitable in our international trade and domestic markets, and so unified in our focus to extend our influence to all corners of eRepublik, that the administrators of eRepublik are compelled to reset the game in order to re-establish game parity for fear of losing players (consumers) internationally, then regardless of the rationalization made by the creators of eRepublik, the eUnited States of America has won.”
This, of course, is just my definition of victory, there are probably as many different definitions out there as there are citizens, but for the purpose of this article, let’s assume that this definition meets with general agreement by the majority of eAmericans.
Then we also must assume that there is a “critical path” to reaching that goal; the most efficient course between point A – the establishment of the eUnited States of America within the game by the creators of eRepublik, and point B – the recognition by the eRepublik creators that the eUnited States of America has effectively won the game, and modifies the game to reintroduce parity in response.
Then “Progress” in eRepublik then can be defined, in simplest terms, as any action or decision which increases the distance from point A and by equal measure reduces the distance to point B along that critical path. True progress, within eRepublik, is never change for the sake of movement away from a point, but change for the sake of movement toward the ultimate goal of winning the game.
The first reason I will support President Scrabman for re-election as President of the eUnited States of America, and Moishe as Vice President of the eUnited States of America, on April 5th, 2009 is because, though I think all of the other candidates have great ideas to offer and eAmericans are fortunate for their many quality options, President Scrabman and Defense Secretary Moishe, over the last 10 days, have proven their commitment to progress, through action rather than rhetoric, toward my definition of winning the game.
So I guess the question that you have to ask yourself on Sunday when you vote is: Are you playing eRepublik to win? If so, then vote for those that not only share your goal, but are making quantifiable progress toward it.
In the next installment I will discuss the second reason I will be supporting Scrabman and Moishe: Leadership
Comments
I agree with the first part, but I think you need to say what these actions are that have proven your candidates commitment instead of a bald conclusion.
I look forward to the next article
Fair enough Eugene, it was just getting a little too long. I will make sure to add those in with the next article when I can "connect the dots" so to speak regarding the connection between leadership and progress that I have witnessed from Scrabman and Moishe recently. Thanks for the comment, I am glad that we are in agreement regarding the first section, I will hope that we are in agreement with my conclusion when I am done.
Sounds like a damn good definition of winning the game to me.
The only problem with the definition is that it's nigh-impossible.
Still though, it would be amazing to play the admins into submission.
The US has untold and unrealized potential.
It only needs to be well led.
Until very recently, we've just been spinning our wheels.
I think we have won erepublik when we take over the entire world.
@WahooBob, thanks!
@Hari, we all gotta have a goal 🙂
@JBB, "Until very recently, we've just been spinning our wheels." I agree to great certain extent, but I will talk about that more in the next piece.
@Justinious - "I think we have won erepublik when we take over the entire world." While that would be the most obvious methos, I'm unsure that the Admins would allow that to happen prior to finding a method to restore parity and keep international citizens involved. Smart business I would think.
@All, thank you again for the comments!
Brilliant article Ananias, I always look forward to your stuff. Not just because I agree with you 90% of the time, but because you say it well and with class. Good job!
It's more that just speaking well and with class. Ananias is concise. I appreciate not having to wade through 12-20 paragraphs all the time.
I think that I've won the game 🙂
P.S. - I lost the game 🙁
Great article Ananias..as usual. I completely agree with you on the point that Scrab has shown commitment through action rather than rhetoric. I am afraid that the other candidates are basing their candidacy on empty promises..all talk and no do if you know what I mean.
We need a leader who has a proven succesful record..that person can only be Scrab.
Voted.
Great article. I completely agree and think that this goal should be the goal of every American!!
Now that's my type of game.
I have to say that this just might be my favorite newspaper. Nice article as always Ananias, you keep reminding me why I subscribed.
So how do we win???
By voting Scrabman
Inspiration +5. That was like that speech in Braveheart. Hail.
Breaking the game so it has to reset had been the defining point of victory in old arcade games.
However, unlike Pacman or Galaga which just get repetitive and harder each go around (OK technically, it was a memory issue at the time that forced resets, but still...), human intervention (aka the admins) can always step in and engineer 'victory' away. After all, while we're playing an econimics game, they're living with the economic reality of the game. If the game 'breaks' and ceases to be profitable, it's their RL job to 'fix' the problem and only use the reset button as a very last resort.
Nice, Ananias. Voted..
Being that this is V1.0 that emplies that they would have a V1.1 V2.0 or some other incarnation at some point.
I think that eRepublik will not be won until flaming hamsters of doom fall from the heavens spreading rabies and bubonic plague to every citizen of the eRepublik world. After this happens the gnomes will come up from their dwellings, repopulate the world, build flying cars, and live happily ever after. In all honesty, Obi-Wan Kenobi is our only hope.
@Eleknar, frankly I am disturbingly excited for the culmination of your vision of the future. Thanks for commenting!
Voted.
In order to maximize citizen efficiency, we need to work from the bottom as well as the top. I believe most of our potential is lost through uninformed decisions made by new players and by players leaving the game. As well as good leaders at the top, we need business owners, politicians, and military officers interested in building their followers into well informed and efficient small communities.
in order to force the reset, we would have to create an expansive empire. I don't really see scrabman doing that. if expansion is the longterm goal, giving mexico a Q5 hospital is counter to that.
I agree with the notion that whether stated or not, eRepublik can be "won". And Ananias' definition is an ambitious and inspiring one. I think though, as Chrisvalla alluded to, that the developers/designers have significant power to maintain parity without a full reset.
At the very least they could start a new game without shutting down the old. They may well do that in any case if the game grows enough. All the MMOs I can think of (save one) have multiple independent servers that host completely separate worlds, why not eRepublik?
With that option, it's hard to see them shutting down an eAmerica-dominated world. Disgruntled players who didn't like it could move to another server easily enough. And a shutdown would likely cost them thousands of eAmerican customers that had put their eblood, esweat, and etears into winning the game.
@Ryan_5
I've been playing this game for less than a day, and I concede that there is much I don't know. But it is pretty clear that world domination is such a long term goal that a Q5 hospital is a small thing. If the relationship it gains us with Mexico helps us economically, that's what matters most.
Thank you all for your comments, please do keep them coming.
@Ryan-While I see your point, I am not sure that and expansive empire is required to obtain victory. It may be, but I believe that expansion by proxy may be a course to entertain as well, where we redouble our efforts at possible geographic alliances.
@solublefish-Welcome to eRep, if your input continues at the level of discourse that you have offered in these comments alone, I have very little doubt that you will be a marvelous player in eRep.