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The Economic and Social Consequences of "Evolve or Die"

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4/23/2011 3:28:04   
PD
Member
 

 Synopsis: Today, we breifly explore the deeper meanings behind the famous quote of "Evolve or Die"

We probably all know this... It's Shaniqua's theory of Epicduel Evolution. You might not think of how this relates to the economics and social structure of Epicduel... but there are deep underlying and absolutely appalling meanings behind this. Allow me to explain. In Epicduel, we can buy Varium, and then, there's Shaniqua's famous quote "Evolve or Die". The direct and un-refutable meaning behind this quote is from Darwin's famous theory of natural selection - If you fail to adapt to the current metagame, whether it is through the deficiency of Stats, Strategical knowledge, or Money, you will not survive.

Epicduel is no doubt a game that on the strategical level, evolves constantly with each and every update that influences the playing field. The Quote at hand is a reinforcement of this - If you cannot adapt, you cannot win; If you cannot win, you cannot survive. With Varium offering an advantage, this has been applied to the economic level - If you do not buy varium, you will not be at or above the "curve" of the average player power, and therefore, fall behind.

I'm sure we all know how capitalism works yes? And we all know what Consumerism is right? Let me apply them now. We all know what limited quantity shops are; There are too many people chasing too few items. The results are consistently replicated - The more items are available, the slower the items are sold out. The less items are available, the faster they sell out. For one, I can say that in the mind and viewpoint of the players - It's cruel and widely unfair. For the developers, it means a much faster and much more numerous cash flow. Since most items are made so that they are appealing, and the intended targets are often (and are mostly used) the highest level players who are competitive and are willing to pay for such advantage, it's an absolutely brilliant marketing strategy. Shaniqua's Quote not only encourages consumerism (Practice of unnecessary spending when you really don't need to in the belief that by spending more you are improving the status quo of things), but also encourages competition and excess spending.

With the addition of enhancements to 4 equipment types, this quote is brought to a whole new level. With enhancements, people are enabled to de-stabilize the one fixed and planned rates of growth. The quote encourages people to spend, spend and SPEND on enhancements, which means more varium spent, and therefore, more money to the developers. This has also indirectly, but still heavily caused Stat inflation, and therefore, the level difference problems, and stat abusage problems - I'll get into these something later

Now on the social level, the quote has just as profound, if not harder impact on the society of Epicduel. Needless to say, this quote has enables the widening of the power gap, enabling Elitism. Understand that elitism in it's original state is not bad: It only means that the few who are specially trained to be in said position have "more weight than everyone else when it comes to influence". Elitism is much like a modern republic: The Politicians and Wealthy control most of what happens, whether those changes may be good or bad. However, when this is corrupted (like it is most of the time), it causes the selfish behavior to erode and deride those who are deemed to be lower than themselves.

Epicduel easily succumbed to the forces of corrupted elitism - I don't blame it Epicduel - It's Hard to resist the adoption and accepting of a social hierarchy! But corrupted Elitism has negatively affected Epicduel - There are many threads about the social problems of epicduel in tandem with the balance problems. This quote has caused much chaos within the system of Epicduel - Both Social and Economic. Some have benefited greatly from this. The Majority? Well, let's just say they're not as fortunate as those who get to have "more weight" than others. Overall, I believe this quote has had a largely negative effect on Epicduel. However, there is hope...

I believe that if we changed our values to fit the needs of everyone instead of the select few, it could make Epicduel just a little bit better!


< Message edited by PD -- 4/23/2011 3:49:06 >
Post #: 1
4/23/2011 3:38:59   
Wind
Member

Long post PD and surprisingly i read it all (which i don't usually do on long posts) pretty interesting about Shaniqua's famous quoute you had facts about it too which are mostly true. ED does increase their cash flow by introducing limited stock items with high varium prices, them being limited makes other players want to buy them and of course they'll keep restocking them because ED knows people still wants them and ED needs money to keep the game running and to make some income aswell. It is pretty much fair though.

Evolve or die, is pretty harsh you don't need to keep getting the latest weapons in my opinion, i never needed the newer weapons, i could still beat them with the Old Frostbane which is really just as good as the Celtic Cleaver, the Old Imperial Acp is as good as the plasma acp and the Old Bunnyzookas are just as good as the new improved Eggzookas, plus they have more enhancements slots, its just that the power is less.


EDIT: I understand what your saying PD and it is pretty much true and supported

< Message edited by wind24 -- 4/23/2011 3:43:58 >
DF AQW Epic  Post #: 2
4/23/2011 3:41:59   
Shadronica
Member

You know I totally support your post PD so I don't need to say much more than a remarkable insight to the problems on a whole that we have all faced within this game.
DF AQW Epic  Post #: 3
4/23/2011 3:46:53   
PD
Member
 

 Yes, that is true Wind, this could affect the nature of future releases - In an economical perspective, it is far better to have every rare shop be a limited Quantity shop as it would significantly increase their cash flow.

I believe the community would see the faults of competitively and try to at least realize that the actions and demands/desires of the previous generation directly defines the values and challenges of the generation after the preceding, therefore limiting the amount of balance problems significantly

Also... here's something to bring in mind... It's called Planned Obsolescence...

If you truly wanted to apply this quote, you'd need to intentionally make weapons obsolete, as it forces the person to keep buying newer equipment in order to adapt and survive. Of course making everything last as long as possible seems noble, but you can NOT have quality in a game of competition, lest you want to totally defeat the purpose of competition and the famous quote at the same time. I believe everyone has already felt the effects of planned obsolescence the hard way...

< Message edited by PD -- 4/23/2011 3:53:18 >
Post #: 4
4/23/2011 3:50:58   
8x
Member

"Evolve or Die" is old quote, it should change to "Pay or Die" now...

_____________________________
Epic  Post #: 5
4/23/2011 4:18:17   
chark5b
Member

Offtopic: On the previous thread made by Khannibal you said your post didn't get this much attention as his and that because of the minds of the players in ED. They don't really care about the issues all they care about is having fun and avoiding all the wrongs, thats why ED is going to keep on doing what there doing unless when can gain enough support of say at least 900 people.

OnTopic: All i can say is great observations but on that last sentence "I believe that if we changed our values to fit the needs of everyone instead of the select few, it could make Epicduel just a little bit better!" should be changed because everyone has there different needs and with so many different needs all of them cannot be accomplished. Ex: You have 4 children and each one wants a different colored shirt but you just don't have sufficient money for it. If i have any grammatic please errors excuse me because it is 4:20 am and i have been up all night. Good Night and we'll see how far this thread can get us .

< Message edited by chark5b -- 4/23/2011 4:20:06 >
Post #: 6
4/23/2011 13:48:43   
TheSlimSHADY
Member
 

 Hello, many of you know me as .Superman., I am here to discuss this theory "Evolve or Die". Many people have said this quote yet not fully understand it. Evolve or Die has been said countless of times yet people have fully understand this quote. Lets go in deeper about this quote. Evolve or Die if you break this up, this would mean change your ways or not survive. Yet not all people can change there ways the same way. If you don't understand let me explain. Some people cant get varuim or change cause they cant or there not economic functioned. Some people go hardcore and get everything possible in the game and they can change. Some people beg and plead there parents to get a little amount of varuim. Not all people can change cause of there situation. Players with varuim could change yet they cant. Free players on Epicduel can change yet they still get killed. The point I am saying is that F2P players cant "evolve" the same way as varuim players.
Post #: 7
4/23/2011 13:51:58   
Artimus
Member

The quote refers to strategy, if your strategy sucks, change it, if it can't beat a certain build, modify it.
AQ MQ  Post #: 8
4/23/2011 13:52:53   
PD
Member
 

 *cough*

All I will say is this quote has both economic and social consequences which affects everyone.
Post #: 9
4/23/2011 13:57:44   
Wraith
Member
 

 @8xrl0: It still stands.
AQ DF AQW Epic  Post #: 10
4/23/2011 13:58:28   
TheSlimSHADY
Member
 

 @ Artimus- Sometimes strategy cant help you win cause lets say your a level 33 with varuim and your up to date against a level 33 with no varuim and his strategy is better then yours yet you still win cause of your stat mods. Do you see the point I am saying. Sometimes strategy does not work.
Post #: 11
4/23/2011 14:21:07   
Agiluz
Member

I guess ill just play more to get credits for enhancements or i die...

_____________________________

Rogue Ninja
Post #: 12
4/23/2011 14:38:59   
Zean Zapple
Member

Honest to goodness SOUP, you always have to write a novel! Now to the point: Well spoken, and good point: But I think the Devs need to do a little evolving themselves... This MUST be a two way process


~Zean
Epic  Post #: 13
4/23/2011 16:42:49   
Light Stridr
Member

Awesome analysis PD, totally covers what I was close to thinking, and together with Khannnibal's reasonings the devs should really sit up and take notice

quote:

But I think the Devs need to do a little evolving themselves... This MUST be a two way process

They are the humans and we are the exploitable animals. WE need to evolve, and they can rest on their laurels, because once one of us deviates, we get shot down.


Offtopic: Does Shaniqua still play and can somebody link to the char page?
AQW Epic  Post #: 14
4/23/2011 17:13:09   
Wraith
Member
 

 No, I don't think Shaniqua still plays.

http://www.epicduel.com/charpage.asp?id=shaniqua

Char page
AQ DF AQW Epic  Post #: 15
4/23/2011 17:18:25   
Sparticus
Member

Off topic: Shaniqua

More to the topic: The quote is taken out of it's original context. When he was discussing evolving, Shaniqua was not advocating purchasing better equipment to evolve. He meant your "build" needed to evolve, your strategy and perhaps even your class. This didn't involve consumerism. To the contrary, Shaniqua posted many times against the consumer side of this game including the class change OP and Nerf-go-round.

I don't disagree with the OPs opinion on the consumerism of this game but I wouldn't want to lay it on any one player.
AQ DF MQ AQW Epic  Post #: 16
4/23/2011 17:31:54   
Shadow Jester
Member

OFF topic: Shaniqua quited She was on e of the greatest GIRL BHs ...

On Topic: Good Post ,pommy...
When i learned about the quote... I tried testing builds :)..Now im a good build makers

Yea the devs need to evolve too... lol
AQW Epic  Post #: 17
4/23/2011 19:00:36   
Light Stridr
Member

quote:

Yea the devs need to evolve too... lol

They don't need to. They have the majority of players eating out of their hands already *shudders*
AQW Epic  Post #: 18
4/23/2011 20:09:26   
Matgon
Member

But we all missed the most important part... did shaniqua evolve or did he die?

Neither or them I believe but you could say he chose a more.... wise path... he quit.
DF AQW Epic  Post #: 19
4/23/2011 21:35:11   
Light Stridr
Member

quote:

Neither or them I believe but you could say he chose a more.... wise path... he quit.
I would think that 1 in 4 of those who read this will have quit already, though technically that is dying out.



< Message edited by Light Stridr -- 4/23/2011 21:37:01 >
AQW Epic  Post #: 20
4/23/2011 21:39:31   
Shadronica
Member

Indeed Shani did quit along with his brother who played Moesha. In fact Shaniqua joined the peace keepers in real life.

Yes I believe Shaniqua's quote was in relation to your build and strategy in regard to this game. However if Shani was here now I think he would be a little disillusioned with the way EpicDuel has evolved.
DF AQW Epic  Post #: 21
4/23/2011 22:11:26   
PD
Member
 

 @Sparticus: I'm not laying out that it's all Shaniqua's fault - It never was; he was a theorist, and a pretty darn good one at that. I also made it clear that this post was made to explore the deeper meaning behind the famous quote. Inevitably, you cannot deny that the quote has a profound economic impact - For one, ever releases has been portrayed for you to be stronger through the use of these new, powerful, or promotional weapons - this is not true, it is a lie.

The meaning has also evolved - Now thanks to the power strata of this game, it also applies to the theory of planned obsolescence - If you fail to be powerful, your chances to "survive" will be lowered, quite possibly entirely eradicated. Since varium items are destined to fall in line with planned obsolescence, no doubt it creates a perpetual system in which you advantages are only made to last, but you must keep using temporary advantages in order to survive. I wish It was separted from game economics... but it's not.
Post #: 22
4/23/2011 23:53:10   
Wraith
Member
 
quote:

Indeed Shani did quit along with his brother who played Moesha. In fact Shaniqua joined the peace keepers in real life.

Yes I believe Shaniqua's quote was in relation to your build and strategy in regard to this game. However if Shani was here now I think he would be a little disillusioned with the way EpicDuel has evolved.


Moesha's character is female.
AQ DF AQW Epic  Post #: 23
4/24/2011 0:25:52   
BlueKatz
Member

I personally think this way:

"Evolve or Die"

People who buy Varium: Evolve
Non varium: die

ED have more more than 50% non varium user
-> ED is more than half dead
AQ DF AQW Epic  Post #: 24
4/24/2011 1:02:13   
H4ll0w33n
Member

I think they need to listen to us more than making decisions on their own, im pretty sure no one would have supported gun and aux enhancements if it ment paying a extra 1000+ varium on each weapon.

What i have been seeing constantly from heal looping to strength abusive builds is that, we tell the devs the problem, they fix it by making us have to spend money.

Example:

To fix super abusive builds, they made 5 focus. You would therefore need to buy a bot.

To fix Strength Builds they made stats beyond 55, 85 more useless. They expect us to make it up by buying the gun and aux enhancements, so basically im back where i started.

Example:

Before my aux did 18-22
with nerf it is 15-19
i need extra stats from gun/aux
its back to 18-22

Why is it that they have to nerf everything, they need to buff things because its getting really boring to see that everything is slower paced and some skills not even being used.
Post #: 25
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