11
« on: February 26, 2011, 10:48:47 PM »
Crud, I ran out of popcorn. I guess I'll post something to take my mind off of my hunger. I bet it'll be a philosophical rant about the truth behind the ugly truth behind the video game industry.
In the industry as we know it good games don't matter since the term "good" is almost completely subjective. Sales hardly matter either since success is fleeting. Just ask Atari or Sega. My own personal preference matters to me, most definitely, but to the industry as a whole I am but one consumer among countless. I understand why we discuss quality, sales, and personal preference. We want to know if our favorite developer or publisher is doing well, we want to defend our interests, and we want to know that we are not alone in our convictions. Plus it can be fun. Kevin Butler can deliver a nice speech about how we need to embrace the bigger picture, insinuating that there should not be divisions among gamers, but many of us look at the bigger picture, ignore or fail to embrace its flaws, and we're suddenly back to arguing. Human nature, as it seems.
But what really matters in the grand scheme of things? What really shapes the industry and pushes it forward? Vision. People involved in the video game industry tend to have it. A creator's vision makes or breaks a game, since the perception of the vision determines the game's legacy.
I don't believe that there are good or bad games, just strong or weak visions. A truly revolutionary vision can spawn a beloved franchise that contributes much to how video games are designed. A vision could also be too different, failing to resonate with most. Sales are not necessarily a great judge of vision, however. Wii Play's vision was accepted so greatly because it came with a Wii Remote. While it made money, sales are fleeting, and Wii Play's legacy, unless it resonates with someone who can carry the torch, will not last. Critical acclaim is not a judge of vision either. Subjectivity denies absolution.
The only judge is the individual gamer. The only thing that matters in the long run is a legacy. A vision can create a legacy. Gamers and future creators can support the legacy.
What does any of this have to do with fanboyism? This isn't about who is screwing you out of your money or which game is better or what you like. This is a struggle against the cold, hard truth that nothing is permanent (though it can last for quite some time) and each company wants to stay relevant and continue making an impact. This is about relevancy, and since each one of these corporations by universal nature cannot exist forever, they strive to make as much of a difference as possible. The only war here is the Big 3 tripping over each other. Accept that everyone has a different means of staying relevant, realize that each of the Big 3 have already become relevant, and for the love of God try to coexist like Kevin Butler told us to.
Show Posts
It should arrive this Thursday.
