The lights are on
I had been kicking around some ideas for a new blog entry for a couple of days, but this morning inspiration came in the form of Blackheartedwolf's post on creativity. Which got me to thinking.
All too often great games are getting the crap kicked out of them, before they even come out, over what feel like technicalities. "Game X" plays too much like "Game Y." "There's no more originality." "What a rip off." And at the same time we'll complain about the lack of features found in other games of the genre.
Or we'll complain about how there's yet another entry for "Game Series A."
There is so much bashing of everything that comes out, that sometimes I wonder if I'm the only one who actually plays games for the sake of playing games.
I read on GIO the other day that a Lego Clone Wars game was in the works. So many people came out and bashed on it, that I had to scratch my head. If a game doesn't appeal to you, then it just isn't your thing, but why bash on it? Why can't you just accept things for what they are?
I'm a parent of a 6 year old who loves to play games, and the Lego games are awesome! For starters, it's something I can play with my kid. Yeah it's corny, but it's so much more fun than playing Wow Wow Wubbzy flash games on Noggin.com. I never have to bother with whether there is objectionable material and most importantly, my kid loves it!
Most recently, I've noticed a trend for the last few years that at least once a year someone compares a title to God of War. Most recently Dante's Inferno, but I also heard it when Darksider's came out. "Oh my God! It's a clone! It's a clone!"
So what?
Are you telling me that if they clone Megan Fox you aren't gonna look at her? I bet you would. I would.
So why wouldn't you want to play a game that is said to be the exact type of game play of a game that was really good? Is it a principle thing? If so, what's the principle to be taken away? That you're only willing to accept that type of game play when it's that character, in that setting and doing that thing? Isn't that a tad ridiculous? Fun is fun. And at the end of the day everyone needs to settle down and remember that not every game is about you. Sometimes games are about me. And sometimes they aren't about either one of us.
I am he as you are he as you are me and we are all together?
Your right. We need diffrent types of games for diffrent age groups. I know LEGO Star Wars sounds stupid to older games but to 6-12 years olds they are acctually keeping track of a game. I don't think we out to be saying how stupid these games are going to be when children love them.
Wow............. A voice of reason on the INTERNET...
"People are close-minded, obstinate, arrogant pieces of ****... I try to explain the notion of objectivity, and all i practically got was a blank stare".
I don't understand it either, fun is fun. What I REALLY don't understand, is why do people make it their business to go around, and try and tell other people what isn't fun, as if they are the fun police. They try to tell you, what is quality, what is excellence, as if some how, they are the sole beacon of truth in the universe that all will see; whether they like it or not. I ask them, "why is your opinion more valid than any other?" do they respond? of course not. Metacognition would likely cause them to explode... People are so concerned about WHO is right, they Forget about WHAT is right. Thus enter perpetual argumentation...
Heaven forbid anyone take facts into consideration...
Indeed and well said. I will as a study of the game culture point out places of potential improvement or lacking, but at the same time I have always maintained the motto, "If it is fun, play it" Take the boom of social network games as of late. They lack a lot in the way of graphic and technological prowess but they are not supposed to have that. I don't knock any one for playing a game like Farmville. It may not be my cup of tea and I will say why, however that does not mean I believe you a bad person for liking it. If you like it by all means don't let my opinion hinder that. It is more then acceptable to consider and discuss the features of a game and the culture that surrounds it, but to childishly denounce the credibility of a game just because it 'is' is foolishness.
good blog keep it up i agree 100%
Well said, a very good blog overall. The game-bashing here on GIO is one of the most confusing things I have ever seen. Every person seems to think that every game that comes out must be made for them I suppose. I dunno, I don't get it.
I tip my hat to you good sir. Great post.
Excellent blog, one of the best I've read on the site. I wholeheartedly agree on the clone thing; a lot of games seem to be compared to one central game. From what I can tell, Mario is to platformer, Halo/Call Of Duty is to shooter, and (like you said) God Of War is to action game. But so what? That doesn't make any of the other games based off of it any less fun.
The strange thing is, I'm noticing a lot more bashing than praise these days. I often give my honest opinion on a game and whether I like it or not, but I take the time to explain why I do or don't like it. It seems like a lot of other people put a game down just for the sake of putting it down. A certain GIO user (who I think got banned?) comes to mind for me.
Also, we need moar Megan Fox. Drewl... :-P jk
What's this? Is it...a reasonable blog? By Jove, we have found the Promised Land! Excellent post, and some great analogies. Regarding the game bashing thing however, some of those games are shovelware, and the majority of "hardcore" gamers take offense to those. Personally, it just depends on the case, but if Activision comes out with GH6, I will bash them to no end.
You make it sound so essay, but were human and we are really F***ed up, and we love to "judge a book by it's cover", but thanks for pointing it out so clearly
haha. People think its their duty to make fun of a game that obviously isn't even targeted at them. The only time you can justify bashing is if the game IS targeted at you, like say, an installment in a series you love. Like if they gave Kratos a sex change in game 4, after you loved the series, you can be mad. That's about all.