None of my friends have ever heard of my favorite games, but those computers and their considerable compliment of software have since redefined the term "Gaming" in my mind. Descent, Mechwarrior 2 and Mercs, Star Wars X-Wing, MS FlightSim 98, even Hover! are more familiar to me than nearly any game developed recently (Portal might be an exception
![^_^](https://static.mwomercs.com/forums/public/style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)
Even today, I can join a netgame of Descent 3 using Vortex, Mechwarrior 4:Mercs using MekTek, I accidentally started my own Descent 2 server using D2X-Rebirth, I had several clients connected including one from overseas within the hour. They still play like a dream, which is exactly why I use them as my primary escape from reality when it is required for the survival of my sanity.
In direct opposition of this, I have seen more modern games being consistently filled with greifers, hackers, spawncampers, racism, and general outright profanity. Basically every sort of malevolent behavior that can be imagined, and then some, I downloaded Ace of Spades today, and it is a prime example of the inverse of my hopes for MWO.
What is it at the "heart", if you will, of a game that determines the degree of maturity and sportsmanship that is mantained in the atmosphere of a game? The online communities of Descent and Mechwarrior generally are polite and orderly, allowing the games (and their inherently unique elements and tactics) to be enjoyed to the fullest. is it a flaw in the game that causes greifing and such? Or is it just the gradual vitiation of society in general?
I dunno, prob'ly just my distorted, rambling mind
![^_^](https://static.mwomercs.com/forums/public/style_emoticons/default/ph34r.png)