The only problem with Remanum? I suck at, well, trading. I know that I can grasp the principles of "buy low, sell high" and other market staples, but I simply can't grasp the finer nuances of buying and selling. I have a brother who seems to have a natural way with numbers, but I've always been more of an artist. Numbers and me just sort of stare at each other from across the table.
So why do I like Remanum so much?
Remanum also packs in a great, easy-to-follow tutorial and help section. I've had great experiences with German developers and publishers. Innogames also comes to mind when I think of a foreign publisher that seems to have no issues with localization and building reliable, flexible titles. There's a balance that's hard to achieve when making tutorials, but Remanum has it. The help section is just as easy to use and pretty much covers most of the game's bases. Even for a player who generally looks at trade math as something to be suffered through, the ease of entry in Remanum kept me moving forward. It's a smart way to keep new players around.
Now, about that mathy stuff. Oh, sure, it's easy for many of you to grasp. It really is. But like a lot of other yous, I have no real issues with working the market or tweaking the numbers or whatever the stock masters call it these days, but getting deep into the nitty-gritty promises to bring a headache on. There's a certain flow to the game that I seem to be missing out on, a particular ease of play that eludes me. Sure, as I mentioned, the tutorials and help sections help me out, but I still seem to be missing a key ingredient.
Watch live video from massivelytv on TwitchTV
Of course, becoming a better player is sort of the point of gaming, isn't it? Well, it's one of the points. Playing poorly or in any way someone sees fit is just as important as becoming a master. I believe that, so then why do I want to become better at Remanum? Why do I want to contribute the most resources or denarii and gain the most reputation, or at least help my city grow large and prosperous? What is it about Remanum that pulls these standard gamer emotions out of me?
The answer must come from the fact that, from the beginning, new players are placed within a community, a community that is filled with other players who depend on each other in order to perform well. Sure, I can play solo and gain enough reputation to grow my own city, but I also want to help my larger city gain prestige and grow. As it does, I get the benefit of picking up some of the reputation that trickles down from the city. If all city members work together, we all benefit.
"Remanum and many seemingly simple browser-based games are quietly keeping the MMO in MMORPG alive. While social and mobile game mechanics entertain millions, they aren't always persistent." |
I think my desire to do well in Remanum must come from two main issues. First, I want to get better at something that I normally suck at. Or at least, I want to use my intelligence to conquer something that I haven't studied on in a long time. Second, I love how Remanum encourages playing with other players in real time, over persistent goals. Sure, there are a lot of persistent, "real" MMOs out there, but they will slowly taper off, mark my words. Those massive persistent worlds are very expensive to make. Browser-based games will possibly be some of the last truly persistent titles on the market one day.
Now, who can give me some trading tips?
Each week in MMObility, Beau Hindman dives into the murky waters of the most accessible and travel-friendly games around, including browser-based and smartphone MMOs. Join him as he investigates the best, worst, and most daring games to hit the smallest devices! Email him suggestions, or follow him on Twitter and Facebook.