The.Z.Man on 24/6/2006 at 16:53

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I've been lurking on these forums for almost a year, and just started posting this past week, and last night, (while playing TDP), a question came to me. What makes the Thief Community so strong? I'm a fairly avid gamer, and have been in many communities. Counter-Strike/Half-Life, The Elder Scrolls (Daggerfall Bitch!), Lucas Arts, and various others included, and whenever I look back, this community is always the strongest, and thats curious, because it doesn't nearly have the volume that a CSS, or Oblivion has. So, I asked myself why. Why? Why does this very powerful fanbase exist around a game made almost 10 years ago.

Let's first look at Thief, the series. It is complete, to my knowledge there are no Thief: IV plans, which is sad...and yet, we still linger here. The series is very old as well, first coming out in the late 90s, and the most recent release a few years ago. It was not as far apart as TES (92, 96, 2002, 2005), but was released fairly close together. There is nothing technologically amazingly with the series. No radient AI, or glittery Source graphics, nor Havok physics.

Alright, with that out of the way, why is it so powerful? Here are my ideas and theories why.

1. a. Due to the lack of amazing graphics, or AI, or physics, the game focuses on gameplay and story. The kind of people who like Gameplay and Story tend to be more dedicated towards a game. Due to the incredible story, and imersing gameplay, (wow, it superises me that a non-RPG can get this kind of story excitement out of me), people get totally caught up in the game, with no flashy graphics to distract them. And the people, who like that, like to stay dedicated, because the game is so powerful, and it's in their personality.
b. This is seriously a kick-ass set of games. But what makes a good game to us, doesn't make a good game to everyone, and Thief isn't all that popular. This is because a lot of people either like their games to be RPGs, or FPS, or RTS, and nothing imbetween. But we adore the difference of the Thief series, and we appreciate how good of a game it is. Whats more fun, blasing through 3 marines, 5 zombies, and a vortegaunt Gordan Freeman style, or passing swiftly and silently, the 3 gaurds who are ready to kill you, and blackjacking them for unneccesary fun on the way out? Well, most people like Gordan Style, and I do too to an extent. But we like the stealth more, and we are willing to talk about it more.

2. Some people have a natural affinity for stealth and theivery, and there are not that many games out there. Hell, I know that I love stealth and stuff like that, so I knew Thief would be a perfect game for me, and people who are really into stealth and thievery, can get very into a stealth based game like this, and to extend their gameplay, they become dedicated forum-goers. Also, I think that the game's simpler timeframe, makes for a general happy feeling with the game. A medival thief, is very attractive, compared to the modern day thief, who has restrictions to be a con-artist. The age of easy theivery is over, but lives on in Thief, making it very attractive to people like me, and I get very into it.

3. Subliminal Messaging in the games. This is particularly apparent to me in TDP and Gold. Note: I am not accusing anyone really, it's just a theory. But if you're familiar with Gold, the level where you pwn up the mages guild, the music in the air tower, makes me totally love Thief. I AM NOT LYING, when i say, that i sat there, on top to the tower, for nearly 1 full hour. No lie, and when I left, I needed to go back, it was like a strong addicion. This is just my personal experiance, like, whenever I see the background of the City (you know, the crappy contruction paper looking one), I think of how amazing Thief is. It's weird, and I cannot explain it. But these happened before I even played Thief, so it cannot really be learned addiction. wierd, and just a theory.


Well, thats all for now, feel free to post your ideas on why the Thief Community is so great. Thats just my take, Taffers....

:joke:

Komag on 24/6/2006 at 17:44

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The Thief fanbase is older as well, more mature in general, compared to the more popular games

jtr7 on 24/6/2006 at 20:46

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For myself, it fills a gap in the gaming industry:
On a whim, I can play in whatever style I want.
As uncoordinated and ADD as I am, I can take my time, stand in a shadow and walk away, quickload until I get things right.
There's no need for speed (unless you bungle, or 'cause you wanna).
The cutscenes.
The obvious love the developers had for the game.
The story and its setting.

Then there's:
Fun and insane experimentation with the level design and/or engine.
DromEd.
Effective use of sound and Eric Brosius's music.
Great voice-acting.

It just hits the spot for me.

themetalian on 24/6/2006 at 22:54

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Thief is ground-breaking because it is the first ever proper stealth game. Also, Thief makes a significant change from ordinary, boring games like Grand Theft or Tomb Raider because you have to use your head and plan carefully to complete your objectives. Heck, you can go through the whole game without killing anybody!

Also, without Thief, stealth gaming will be very different, and i dare say non-existant. There will be no Hitman, Splinter Cell, et al. So that's why there is a strong community here. Thief is original because it started something.

june gloom on 24/6/2006 at 23:46

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i've been into thief for well over two years now. it was generally good reviews of DS from cartoonists who were thief fans (specifically, their mentioning of certain aspects of gameplay that are in all of the games) that got me interested; i found a copy of thief gold and the rest is history. now i have a marathon: every year around september i play through TG, T2X, TMA, and TDS, and a load of FMs in between. takes me months, and i wouldn't have it any other way.