Let's discuss a major divide on this sub...

Arc Raiders is a special game. It's one that combines the excitement of in-depth gunplay with the allure of immersion in a heretofore unprecedented way. It has caught my attention/admiration and I consider myself a sort of pseudo-game philosopher so I naturally spend most of my free time thinking about it.

I believe I have analyzed the root cause of the major "cultural" divide that is playing out on this sub and probably other online communities. First, let’s discuss “the spectrum” of gamers who are drawn to AR.

The spectrum:

Enjoyers <--------> Competitors

• "Enjoyers" - those who play to enjoy the pursuit of victory
  • Likely the first wave of players who saw value in Arc Raiders
  • Far more likely to play "friendly"
• "Competitors" - those who seek glory in obtaining victory
  • Likely came recently, drawn by the success of AR
  • Far more likely to play “competitively”

Next, let's identify the divide that we're seeing.

The divide:

“To shoot or not to shoot?”

Pick almost any post or thread on r/ArcRaiders and you will probably see at least one of the following debates:

1. “That person is an asshole” vs “It’s just a game” (i.e. Extraction camping)
2. “Please fix this bug” vs “Check out this new “tech”!” (i.e. Key room doors)
3. “Please nerf xyz” vs “Why nerf things that people are enjoying?” (i.e. Venator/common tier 4 guns)

These examples can all be associated with the spectrum, but the one causing the BIGGEST online divide seems to be #1. To put it into other words: “when is it “ok” to shoot Raiders and when is it not?”

Now, let’s dig a little deeper into the 2 sides of the spectrum.

The 2 sides:

PvP is a high stakes interaction that gives the interesting and intense opportunity for either a regrettable setback, or an exciting boost.

• "Enjoyers"
  • Understand that occasional setbacks are what make the journey so interesting and therefore enjoyable, and that’s why they are here. Journeys have to have a visible and attainable destination though, otherwise it just becomes aimless suffering which doesn’t make sense to voluntarily subject yourself to during your precious free time. This means that they would rather occasionally experience PvP in order to enjoy the overall "spice" that it brings but are discouraged by constant PvP, especially when some encounters are egregiously demoralizing such as with "extraction camping" or with people who yell slurs on their way out.
• "Competitors"
  • Have faith that “obtaining victory” will be the ultimate reward, so to speak. They see the Streamers that are online who are “famous” and making lots of money while also partaking in their favorite hobby and they believe that path could be in their future one day.
  • They believe that every interaction is an opportunity to take a step towards their perceived “greatness” as opposed to an opportunity to experience enjoyment.
  • They are far more likely to take every opportunity to shoot and kill as SOON as they believe they have the upper hand. Most of them understand that there’s strength in numbers, but they are also likely fixated on the fact that each piece of powerful and valuable loot can only go back with 1 person.
• “The divide” manifests from 2 separate ideologies:
  • “I’m going to do everything I can to enjoy myself for as long as possible”
  • “I’m going to do everything I can be achieve victory”

The conclusion:

So which side of the spectrum is correct? Well, as with any good spectrum, there’s no right answer. You CAN literally shoot at anyone you want at any time, but you CAN also be labelled an asshole and ridiculed for it, in certain situations.

If that’s true, what CAN we learn from this analysis? Fear not empathy enjoyers/sufferers, we can hang our hats on something! 

As it turns out, there is no such thing as “ultimate victory” in this game (or in life, really). The people at “the top” of gaming communities aren’t enjoying their time any more than you can be. Their efforts appear to be validated by fame and money, but those too are transient splendors that don’t actually do anything to “enrich” life. “Life” is happening all around us at all times, equally and it’s up to each of us to “harvest” that “richness”.

• Holding your fire on a rando
• Introducing yourselves to each other
• Partnering up and forming a plan of action
• Protecting each other
• Sharing success/defeat

THIS is exactly how one “harvests the richness of life” and it’s how you’re already playing! The “competitors” have no concept of this and are so blinded by their delusional ideas of “victory” that they’re not actually putting any real effort into savoring their experience, and the vast majority of them are destroying themselves when they ultimately suffer defeat. I would know, because I used to be one of them. Trust me when I say this – I’m having more enjoyment than I ever had before, and I’m also not crashing out anymore (slamming/breaking controllers, monitors, etc.) even though betrayals and KoSers can at times temporarily demoralize me.

P.S. This analysis can actually be tied to larger Western ideologies and their definition of “winning” or “greatness”, but this is a sub for a game lol.

See you top side and “Wanna team up?”