Why draw triangles on a map?
GreenVam
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A question from an agent, why draw triangles on the map? The plot does not justify what exactly the green or blue field gives.
And after the exogenous creatures disappeared, and the factions lost all essence, the functionality of the fields generally became incomprehensible and in no way expressed in the game.
It is also easy to demolish the triangle and draw in its place another triangle of a different color. That is, most triangles are short-lived.
And yet I ask why there is no detailed plot justification of the most important game mechanics?
And why does the field not affect the surrounding in-game world in any way?
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A question from an agent, why draw triangles on the map?
And yet I ask why there is no detailed plot justification of the most important game mechanics?
Mind Control Fields are used to influence the mindset and outlook of people under the fields. Ingress the Animation provided the best description (paraphrased).
The world is in danger. Many forces seek to harness the power of XM. Those forces are divided into two factions. The factions are in conflict. The Enlightened and Resistance hold each other in balance.
XM has always been around us and it's been exerting its effects on humanity since the beginning. XM is ordered data, a key, a signal. One that touches and unlocks parts of the brain. The factions are divided by a mysterious difference in perspective.
The Enlightened feel XM is a way for us to discover ourselves and our true destiny. They say our relationship with the portals is symbiotic. A part of nature.
The Resistance disagree. They see XM as a threat. They want to understand it, contain it. They want to use this power but only if it can be controlled and bent towards humanity's interests.
A gift or a threat. It's a battle for minds.
The XM in the fields influences the people it touches. Each faction want's to influence people touched by XM towards their mindset. Mind Control Fields can't completely control their minds, but it can influence ideas towards a given faction's mindset.
I know all this. But why draw a triangle if nothing happens next? I drew a Green Triangle, for example, over a small country such as Switzerland, and I have been holding it for more than a week. What has changed from this for the inhabitants of this country? Has the conditional inside-plot parliament of switzerland become more supporting agents of enlightenment by issuing additional bonuses?
No. It's just a triangle and that's it. It can be demolished to draw a new one and the effect, except for the number in the winning score, was not and is not. Or maybe, thanks to the influence on the minds of citizens, the infrastructure has somehow improved, which, in theory, should have helped to fight the rival?
No.
Mind control does not manifest itself in any way in the game process, and if it does not manifest itself, then there is no benefit from it, and therefore why then capture the minds of people? Even agents under the field are not affected by any effects.
What has changed from this for the inhabitants of this country?
I'm gonna stop you right there. It is still just a game.
Mind control does not manifest itself in any way in the game process
The primary scoring method for the game is Mind Units Captured at checkpoints in the Regional Score. The periodic "Win Condition" for Ingress is winning the Regional Septicycle.
That's the game.
It's like saying that Chess is lacking a key component, because the winner of a match doesn't get an advantage in the next match.
Why do we do it as Agents? See above.
Why do we do it as player? Because that's how you play the game.
Sadly this isn't the anime world. Agents aren't empowered by fields. Sensitives don't exist in the same sense as the anime describes.
As Perringaiden said, Ingress Prime is still and will continue to be only a game.
To add to @Perringaiden, the mental effects of Control Fields are not meant to be overt. Regular people aren't going to suddenly change dramatically while under a Control Field for a few days. They will, however, be influenced by the Field over time to make changes to their decision-making that favor a specific fraction. The Swiss Parliament won't suddenly hand out bonuses to Enlightened agents, but they may be more likely to vote in favor of, say, a new arts project that will expose more people to XM rather than a new investment in tech research.
The goal isn't sudden dramatic shifts in human thought, but long-term influence to steer humanity toward a Faction's goals.
(It is also, of course, just a game)
I agree with you. At least players should have some Buffs added when under the field of the same color. This would be a good game design.
Those Niantic defenders who disagree with you are whining that you are obfuscating the real world and in-game world, but I see that you have already emphasized the fact you are talking about in-game environment by asking "And why does the field not affect the surrounding in-game world in any way?"
I liken fields to the pioneer days of the 19th Century of Midwestern America. Put fence posts up, barb wire them. Their yours until someone does something about them.