You know what? It's really not my style of game either and it's so outside of my preferred genres that I had to make myself go through a crash course to figure out the basics of it (I think I've played a sum total of one hour on Animal Crossing throughout my existence).
But it suits my purposes, which is to have an online co-op game that is very relaxed and which allows for chatting. I had been kicking around the idea of using VR Chat but that seems to be a lot more resource intensive and while you can play without VR gear (at least I think you can) I didn't want to create a very visible distinction between the people who can afford VR gear and people who cannot, nor to expect that everyone can afford a gaming rig (I know I can't) or a suitably specced-out computer.
So it's basically a proletarian VR Chat surrogate that I'm using to hold an online peer support space in.
If people want to hang out and play in the server then that's a bonus and, in my experience, having a drop-in space is always miles better if there is something else, anything else, to do besides just chatting because if it's exclusively chatting without any other activity then it can get pretty awkward and the drop-in starts getting the same vibe as sharing an elevator or being in a waiting room with someone else. Since the game allows you to fish, run around and explore the world, buy stuff and customise your character, do metal detecting, do chalk art, and play guitar it's a big plus because it means that there's probably an in-game activity that people can engage in that they don't mind doing.
If you absolutely cannot stand fishing games that's cool, you're still very welcome to join just to chat or to try the other activities. I'll try and make sure I have enough in-game cash to buy any items that are required for the minigame activities so I can give them out to people who don't want to do the fishing but want to do a different activity.
And if it doesn't appeal to you whatsoever that's cool too, I respect that. I'd make it suit everyone if I could but the best I can do is to settle on something that has the broadest appeal while fitting with the purpose for an appropriate drop-in peer support space.
That's fair, it does seem like a good way to chill and socialize in a third space, especially with the drama going on here lately. I just have enough on my plate as is, and I wouldn't want to take up the slot of someone who's actually neurodiverse.
It's only the second round at it and the time slot is unsuitable for most North Americans so I'm expecting a very small turnout this time around. (I don't want to turn people off by giving the impression that it isn't popular because there's something wrong with the space but honestly I'm expecting maybe one person to drop in this time. If it's zero, I wouldn't be surprised. If it's two people then I'd be thrilled. But three people? If that happened I'd be writing about that in my diary with boundless enthusiasm.)
Also this has been a soft-launch of the peer space. I didn't want to go all-in and overcommit only to underdeliver because I didn't have my shit all sorted out. I figure that most neurotypical people aren't really spending much time in here so I figure it's a little corner that I can work away in where I'm not getting the full attention of Hexbear's larger comms prematurely. Plus I think I have an established reputation with this comm's users so there's some trust and goodwill I'd hope that I've built up which I can lean on if there are any hiccups. So with all that said, it's not a neurodivergent-only space and it was never intended to be that way.
This isn't like me to talk about myself like this but I'm actually really comfortable in negotiating competing demands on myself in this sort of space so I know how to make a queue and how to negotiate meeting different/conflicting needs in a group setting in a way that is collaborative with everyone in the space. If you are considering dropping in then don't worry about taking "someone else's" place. I can virtually guarantee you that I'll be sitting in the server by myself on waiting mode, twiddling my thumbs or practicing guitar while I await someone coming in. If this is your concern, I'd be happy to come to an agreement with you that as soon as I'm overloaded I will let you know and I'll politely ask you to bail on the server.
But don't let me convince you either way. You're welcome to do as you please. I'd be happy to see you in there but if you decide it's not for you then I'm glad that you know what you're looking for. Just don't convince yourself that you don't belong or you are somehow less worthy of using the space than others - that's the exact opposite of the spirit of this peer space.
I looked more closely at the time and unfortunately I work grave shifts, so I'd be at work while it's going on. :/ I hope some comrades decide to stop by though, I'm sure it'll be fun
Hopefully I'll plan a session that fits your schedule soon.
I'm going to shift around in the time slots to cover different time zones/shifts for people. If I'm lucky there will be enough interest one day that either a regular timeslot will naturally appear, or people might even start asking me for when they want it to happen.
Who knows? It's early days so I'll keep my expectations low and my hopes high.
You know what? It's really not my style of game either and it's so outside of my preferred genres that I had to make myself go through a crash course to figure out the basics of it (I think I've played a sum total of one hour on Animal Crossing throughout my existence).
But it suits my purposes, which is to have an online co-op game that is very relaxed and which allows for chatting. I had been kicking around the idea of using VR Chat but that seems to be a lot more resource intensive and while you can play without VR gear (at least I think you can) I didn't want to create a very visible distinction between the people who can afford VR gear and people who cannot, nor to expect that everyone can afford a gaming rig (I know I can't) or a suitably specced-out computer.
So it's basically a proletarian VR Chat surrogate that I'm using to hold an online peer support space in.
If people want to hang out and play in the server then that's a bonus and, in my experience, having a drop-in space is always miles better if there is something else, anything else, to do besides just chatting because if it's exclusively chatting without any other activity then it can get pretty awkward and the drop-in starts getting the same vibe as sharing an elevator or being in a waiting room with someone else. Since the game allows you to fish, run around and explore the world, buy stuff and customise your character, do metal detecting, do chalk art, and play guitar it's a big plus because it means that there's probably an in-game activity that people can engage in that they don't mind doing.
If you absolutely cannot stand fishing games that's cool, you're still very welcome to join just to chat or to try the other activities. I'll try and make sure I have enough in-game cash to buy any items that are required for the minigame activities so I can give them out to people who don't want to do the fishing but want to do a different activity.
And if it doesn't appeal to you whatsoever that's cool too, I respect that. I'd make it suit everyone if I could but the best I can do is to settle on something that has the broadest appeal while fitting with the purpose for an appropriate drop-in peer support space.
That's fair, it does seem like a good way to chill and socialize in a third space, especially with the drama going on here lately. I just have enough on my plate as is, and I wouldn't want to take up the slot of someone who's actually neurodiverse.
It's only the second round at it and the time slot is unsuitable for most North Americans so I'm expecting a very small turnout this time around. (I don't want to turn people off by giving the impression that it isn't popular because there's something wrong with the space but honestly I'm expecting maybe one person to drop in this time. If it's zero, I wouldn't be surprised. If it's two people then I'd be thrilled. But three people? If that happened I'd be writing about that in my diary with boundless enthusiasm.)
Also this has been a soft-launch of the peer space. I didn't want to go all-in and overcommit only to underdeliver because I didn't have my shit all sorted out. I figure that most neurotypical people aren't really spending much time in here so I figure it's a little corner that I can work away in where I'm not getting the full attention of Hexbear's larger comms prematurely. Plus I think I have an established reputation with this comm's users so there's some trust and goodwill I'd hope that I've built up which I can lean on if there are any hiccups. So with all that said, it's not a neurodivergent-only space and it was never intended to be that way.
This isn't like me to talk about myself like this but I'm actually really comfortable in negotiating competing demands on myself in this sort of space so I know how to make a queue and how to negotiate meeting different/conflicting needs in a group setting in a way that is collaborative with everyone in the space. If you are considering dropping in then don't worry about taking "someone else's" place. I can virtually guarantee you that I'll be sitting in the server by myself on waiting mode, twiddling my thumbs or practicing guitar while I await someone coming in. If this is your concern, I'd be happy to come to an agreement with you that as soon as I'm overloaded I will let you know and I'll politely ask you to bail on the server.
But don't let me convince you either way. You're welcome to do as you please. I'd be happy to see you in there but if you decide it's not for you then I'm glad that you know what you're looking for. Just don't convince yourself that you don't belong or you are somehow less worthy of using the space than others - that's the exact opposite of the spirit of this peer space.
I looked more closely at the time and unfortunately I work grave shifts, so I'd be at work while it's going on. :/ I hope some comrades decide to stop by though, I'm sure it'll be fun
Thanks for the support!
Hopefully I'll plan a session that fits your schedule soon.
I'm going to shift around in the time slots to cover different time zones/shifts for people. If I'm lucky there will be enough interest one day that either a regular timeslot will naturally appear, or people might even start asking me for when they want it to happen.
Who knows? It's early days so I'll keep my expectations low and my hopes high.