Editorial On Teamwork
World in Conflict is a game that revolved around the concept of team work. For those of you that are curious, the definition of team work, rendered by Merriam-Webster is: work done by several associates with each doing a part but all subordinating personal prominence to the efficiency of the whole. So what teamwork should be thought of is the idea that a group of people work together in a game in order to claim a victory. These people recognize they are part of a group, and are working for the good of the group, not for the good of themselves. That means that a good team player shouldn’t care as much about being a high-scoring player and launching all these high cost tactical aid. Unfortunately, in my experience, I have never seen anyone, including myself, choose something good for the team that doesn’t somehow benefit them.
This game is so focused on teamwork, and at the same time, so against it. Teamwork is a required item for claiming the win. Unfortunately, there are rewards available and beautiful weapons bombardments waiting for those players that score big. Therefore, the game is asking for a player to do two things at the same time that really don’t go hand in hand quite so well. Yes, it is possible to claim a fair amount of points if everyone is working for the good of the team, but if you’re trying to be a team player while everyone else is out to score points and elevate themselves, you’re gonna be in trouble. While you’re trying to help out the armor player with repairs and anti-air, he is chugging off to fight mindlessly, not even caring about what kind of support he is receiving. Then, when all his units are dead, courtesy of some choppers, he’s gonna yell and scream about how no one helped him. As if we can all read each other’s minds.
So it comes down to what’s more important: Winning the game through teamwork or scoring a bunch of points and having some pretty medals. Most of us are swayed by the medals. We all want to look good, we all want respect. Here’s the thing though: Respect doesn’t come from medals. Yeah, some people may be swayed by it, but if I’m working with some twelve-year-old general who’s cussing at me to get my infantry out of his way, I’m gonna tell him to shove it. You’ll claim respect by proving what you know what you’re doing and leading people to victory. And odds are, if you lead successfully, you’ll collect more points than you ever could have just ‘going for it’ by yourself.
Now it’s time to make the choice. Do you keep going for the points, or do you try for some teamwork? The choice seems obvious, but will it be that way once you get into a game? I doubt it. You’ll get discouraged. People won’t cooperate. Life’s not fair. Get over it. Make the effort, and if it doesn’t work, it doesn’t work. Suck it up and deal. If they aren’t willing to work as a team, go for the points. But if you don’t make the effort and wait for someone else, you’ll never know how things could have turned out. Make the effort, someone has to. Even if it doesn’t work, you can at least say you made an effort, and if that doesn’t earn you respect from someone, you don’t need it.
Questions? Comments? Let Shanks13 know by sending him an email at mastamind_130(at)yahoo(dot)com
