It’s no surprise that gaming companies are looking for ways to encourage players to be nice to each other. People have been being jerks to each other over games for years. (I can’t even begin to count the number of times the Monopoly board was thrown in my house. You’re sitting there playing and suddenly, little red houses and top hats everywhere!)
Of course, no one can throw the game board in an online game, but players still manage to find plenty of ways to be nasty to one another. And of course game companies give players ways to report such behavior and have bullying or trolling players punished.
But what about those players that are are not only nice but are examples of good sportsmanship? Well, companies are looking into that too.
Riot has introduced a positive feedback system called “Honor” in League of Legends. Think of it as the reverse of the system for reporting “toxic” players. When players come across another player who is helpful or just generally nice to them, they can show their appreciation by giving them honor.
According to Riot designer Jeffrey “Lyte” Lin, Honor will feature measures to prevent reputation padding. The Riot team hopes to reach those people who are sitting somewhere between good and bad behavior and encourage more of the former by enforcing the idea that it’s “easier to be good than it is to be toxic.”
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