May I ask the reason why people like orcs?

[tora_tora_tora]

well, as you see, in Japan and Korea's MMO,
I don't know why, but people like handsome human beings.

For exsample, in Granado Espada, every charater is kind of movie stars' appearance.
But, in U.S, and U.K, this is not likely. For exsample, in War Hammer online, you can play orcs.
And as you know, orcs are not so much good looking boys.

So why do you love orcs? Please give me some good explanations, and the way to appreciate orcs.
Is this a kind of cultural difference?

[duncan]

I like to have orcs in my games to crash them and kill them all!!!!!!!! Elves rooolz!!!!!!!

Don't know about our (western culture) orc fixation, I never had it...but (western) people tend to be lured by the dark side...remember Luke Skywalker???? We're allways thinking about what's good and what's bad and why it has to be THAT way. Maybe japanese people have things clearer than us (ethical). I usually don't like movie baddies, but Darth Vader was...GREAT (maybe because he was GOOD before becoming BAD). Maybe the orc fan club has something to do with it...and orks (from Warhammer 40k) are fun!!!!!!!

[miki]

Orcs are uncomplicated, direct, strong, warlike, hard to kill, ferocius and love a good old-fashioned head-on charge!

And, very important thing, they like to crush Elves!

[duncan]

And, very important thing, they like to crush Elves!

OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What he said!!!!!!!!!! We crushed you before and we'll crush you whenever we'll meet!!!!!!!!!! you orcs are just a misconception of elven race by Sauron (or the bigger baddie, I don't remember well, have to read Silmarillion again), so we're the original and you're just a copy!!!!!!!!

Long live the Elves. Namarie or whatever we say when we trying to say goodbye showing how elfesque we are.

[tora_tora_tora]

Yes, that's one point Japanese people are not so sure about War Hammer Online.
In war hammer orcs and greenskins are totally evil, and they seems to fight against dwarves.
And people can play either greenskins or dwarves.

From the short history of MMO in Japan(Uiltima Online is not decade ago),
some people think everybody loves dwarves and few might want to play greenskins in Japan.
One problem is due to graphics, people tend to decide which race to play depending upon what they look like,
and orcs seems to be crude and not so elegant.

Can there be sophisticated orcs? Well, crude and rough is what they are, so it's a bit odd question.
Though orcs do learn and study magic and master somekind of advanced war-machines.

And there are another problem. It's about killing other player charachters in games.
Well, there are multi-play first person shooter games in Japan, and some in game console title record smash hit, for exsample,
007 Golden Eye. But problem arise when everyone in game is not hunter and killer. When there are also herders and peace-loving craftmen in game, and yet you can kill him in game's rule and system, things could be rather difficult.

So war and competition is OK and everybody loves it, though when there is not only war and competition, but other aspect involved,
things could get messy and complex.


Anyway, arena warriors is not MMO, and player's self is not immersed into game characters, so this kind of problem never arise.
In some MMOs, player's character turned into player's self in the net, they are their character when they are in the net.

But can this means that there are cultural differences between East and West?

[honvedseg]

See my post under "Arena - Warriors". For some of us, when somebody says "orc", we reply "Hey, watch that! I resemble that remark!"

The current "misconception" of orcs doesn't fit at all with my own playing style, so I don't like to run them in games. On the other hand, it's no fun playing the cheezy elves "by the book". A little deviation back and forth "over the line" is much more interesting than a pure "good" or "evil" approach.

[IainMcNeil]

See my post under "Arena - Warriors". For some of us, when somebody says "orc", we reply "Hey, watch that! I resemble that remark!"

The current "misconception" of orcs doesn't fit at all with my own playing style, so I don't like to run them in games. On the other hand, it's no fun playing the cheezy elves "by the book". A little deviation back and forth "over the line" is much more interesting than a pure "good" or "evil" approach.

In that case I think you'll be pleasantly surprised

[tora_tora_tora]

See my post under "Arena - Warriors". For some of us, when somebody says "orc", we reply "Hey, watch that! I resemble that remark!"

The current "misconception" of orcs doesn't fit at all with my own playing style, so I don't like to run them in games. On the other hand, it's no fun playing the cheezy elves "by the book". A little deviation back and forth "over the line" is much more interesting than a pure "good" or "evil" approach.

Thanks, I also watch that thread. So there are many diffrent kind of orcs do exist, I guess.
And I start to wonder what graphics and music do for game systems.

some kind of giacometti's world human beings made of wire frame, or guy in gardboard box, or card box itself.
Or kind of huge chess piece, and did not motion at all.

Yes, it's true people do mind graphics, and graphics and music are important parts of game.

[Redpossum]

Tora, to answer your original question - Yes, it's a cultural thing.

Looking at Japan's history, looking at western history, looking at events which have passed between us in the few centuries we have known each other, thinking about that the fact that Japan was almost totally isolated prior to the 1830's, taking all this into account...

The surprising thing is not the differences between us. The surprising thing is how much we have in common, and how well we manage to get along

I would say that the cultural ties we have managed to make with one another, the friendship we have managed to forge with each other, these are accomplishments to be proud of.

But there will always be differences of perspective

[durin]

Undead!!!!

Orcs lost!