He gained years of experience as a moderator of the MMORPG subreddit – Now Protobear shares his impressions with us in an interview.
Protobear or U/Proto_bear has been one of the moderators of the MMORPG subreddit for 7 years. He’s been around the longest among current moderators, aside from reddit’s AutoModerator itself.
Anyone who travels a lot in the MMORPG subreddit will certainly have read his name at some point. Proto_bear, next to it the title “God of Salt”. You can read exactly what that means in the interview.
We talk to the moderator about changes and problems in MMORPGs. For example, why is the second rule, right next to it, “Don’t be toxic”? We also asked what he plays himself and what the community is most looking forward to.
“The MMORPG community always resists change”
Anny from MeinMMO: You’ve been moderator of the MMORPG subreddit for 7 years now. How did you become the “God of Salt” and what does the title mean?
Protobear: I became an admin or “God of Salt” when a new admin was needed because the previous one left. I had shown initiative before and managed to build an engaged community on Discord.
The title refers to the subreddit, which is often referred to as the “salt mine” as people can sometimes get very “salty” about their favorite games [Anm. d. Red.: “Salty” bedeutet umgangssprachlich so etwas wie “wütend” oder “sauer”]. The name “God of Salt” comes from an interview with Steven from Ashes of Creation.
MeinMMO: In recent years, the MMORPG genre has experienced many flops and failed releases. What are the biggest changes you’ve seen as a subreddit moderator over the past few years?
Protobear: I’ve noticed some changes. First I observed that smaller games can exist and a successful launch is not the key to a game’s success. ESO, for example, has done well because Zenimax Online stuck with the game even though it was far from a commercial success at launch. It’s better to grow slowly than to start with explosive numbers.
On the negative side, I’ve observed that games take the safe route and follow a standard formula, which is why many are very similar. Even though details may differ, due to the slow evolution of the genre, small changes seem much more significant and are therefore welcomed. And when a game tries new things, it’s said to have “not enough of an MMO” despite having the same qualities.
On a positive note, New World has shown the industry that gamers want MMORPGs. Additionally, Riot adding weight to the genre could result in new MMORPGs appearing on the market. However, if the riot MMO fails, the genre could face tough times. […]
MeinMMO: How has the subreddit changed with the genre? Has the community changed?
Protobear: The MMORPG community always resists change. This is because of their strong attachment to their favorite games or fear of losing them. Despite this, the subreddit has undergone significant changes.
We took inspiration from other subreddits and collected feedback to make big changes to our rules. For more positivity, we’re working with developers again this summer and have launched a Spotlight program. [Anm. d. Red.: Bei dem Programm können Entwickler kostenlos mitmachen. Ihr MMORPG wird dann für mehrere Tage im Subreddit gepinnt, wodurch es Aufmerksamkeit und Feedback von der Community bekommt.]
In addition, there now seems to be less emphasis on player counts. People are turning away from the idea of a single game dominating a genre. These changes reflect how the community’s attitude towards the potential of an MMORPG is changing.
In the video you can see the trailer of the anime MMORPG Blue Protocol:
The new MMORPG Blue Protocol shows its colorful anime world – takes place 2,000 years in the future
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“Toxic behavior has been tolerated by developers for years”
MeinMMO: Many MMORPG fans believe that the community is becoming more and more toxic and that everything used to be better. What do you think about this?
Protobear: My take is that the subreddit hasn’t gotten more toxic over the years. While there are some toxic cases, we’ve reduced them by encouraging positive content and strictly moderating it.
However, the problem with the MMORPG genre is that players can become very passionate about their favorites. This sometimes leads to toxic behavior towards other players who speak out against the game because of a negative experience with it. This is the case with Black Desert Online, for example. Players feel the need to defend it because they don’t want it to go away.
Additionally, inclusivity in the industry has increased, marginalized communities are now more visible. This can lead to resistance from people who resist change. Women, people of color and members of the LGBTQ community are also becoming more visible. Some players are openly hostile to them.
This creates a toxic environment in the gaming community that developers are responsible for managing and improving. Toxic behavior has been tolerated by developers for years, which ironically leaves a “safe space” for abuse.
My point is that toxicity is a multifaceted issue – with a culture created by MMORPG studios on the one hand, and a fundamental us-versus-them mentality of the players on the other.
Still, there are games that have cultivated a positive community – such as Final Fantasy XIV and Guild Wars 2. It takes effort and commitment from both the developers and the players to create a healthy environment. And it will still take a while before the necessary changes have fully arrived in the industry.
Which MMORPGs does Protobear play itself?
MeinMMO: Which MMORPGs do you play?
Protobear: That’s a tough question because I haven’t been able to play much lately. I played Dragonflight at release because WoW has always been very important to me. But because of my work, I’m rarely at home these days and usually have to switch to my Steam Deck.
ESO has been working really well for me lately because the combat system is designed for controllers and you don’t always have to put that much time into it. Currently my main MMO (if you want to think of it as an MMO) is Destiny 2, which I play to fill the void.
I’m also excited to catch up on Guild Wars 2 and FFXIV now that the main storylines have been expanded.
MeinMMO: Which upcoming MMORPG is the community most looking forward to and why?
Protobear: It’s important to note that I don’t speak for the entire community. In my opinion, the Riot MMO and Corepunk are two of the most anticipated MMORPGs. Riot has a huge following and there are high expectations for their entry into the genre.
Corepunk, on the other hand, has garnered a lot of attention for its unique blend of MOBA and MMORPG elements.
We thank Protobear for the interview!
Are you on reddit a lot and did you already know the moderator? What is your opinion on the topics? Write it to us in the comments here on MeinMMO!
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