Saturday, January 11, 2025

The Sad State of HR-Mandated Gaming

The coverage has turned against D&D, and the tide is going out. D&D YouTube is now defending the game, indicating everyone knows that views and popularity are dropping. The five-year fad, "Pandemic D&D," has run its course, and gaming is moving on.

But what we are left with is a complete mess.

The last people left on the sinking ship playing the game argue "how to play it" instead of just playing. The companies making the game feel a new edition is needed, telling you "what is right and wrong."

Any creator telling me, "I am doing it wrong?" - unsubscribe! Sorry, I know how to play these games, and whatever this is feeds into negativity.

I'm sorry, and I don't care; your books are getting sold or tossed in the recycling bin. There are enough petty dictators on social media spreading shame and anger; that era is over, too. Both sides do it, and I don't have the time to worry about "how a game is played."

When I can be playing it.

The hardest part of playing D&D is not learning the rules but knowing how to avoid offending people. Getting your feelings hurt replaced character death as the way to lose the game. To play D&D, I now need to learn the game and the attached list of political and cultural "do's and don'ts," which have now been codified as rules in the game.

It feels like playing Diablo 4, killing a monster the game presents as a legitimate foe, and being forced to click through 50 dialog boxes, video essays, and quizzes on why your actions were wrong and insensitive just so you can keep playing.

The HR departments of corporate America have invaded our games, and they all suck now.

Because everyone at these companies must watch these HR-mandated workplace sensitivity workshops, we now see those same things written into our games. It is like the employees are punishing the customers because they can't say no to management. It is likely "sick company syndrome." The shops with their "stuff together" don't feel they have to ship HR-mandated sensitivity content to punish customers for wrong-think.

News flash, you can work at a company producing "potentially insensitive content" and still treat each other in the workplace respectfully and decently. What goes out the door is a different thing. A company can ship a game like Cyberpunk 2077 with all sorts of offensive content yet still be an inclusive and progressive workplace that doesn't reflect what it shipped as an entertainment product.

I am all for excellent, inclusive, respectful, and sensitive workplaces. I am all for HR departments that make workplaces better. Great workplace cultures keep the best people.

But there is a line drawn at the front door.

Watch out for end-stage companies trying to "sell their values" instead of "a product you want."

You are being guilted into supporting a fading brand.

No comments:

Post a Comment