Hey there, it's been a while.
Anyway, I logged in because wanted to share my two cents on the upcoming console generation. Ever other time a new batch of hardware has been released, I've always been really excited. Not this time.
Why? Well, reason number one is that the Orwell-boxes on offer, simply aren't good enough. I deserve better. You do too, regardless of whether or not you're getting on the band-wagon this time. This generation of consoles is one of the most transparent, shameless displays of cynical corporatism I can recall. These companies are of a scale such that they no longer see you as customers, but as resources to be exploited. I don't think we should encourage them to pursue this methodology any more than we already have.
Reason number two, is that gaming has left me behind. I don't think I need to explain this in too much detail, many will know exactly how I feel. There are exceptions, but the overwhelming majority of trends in this industry are tremendously unfriendly to innovation, sophistication, and sadly, depth.
Reason number three. I'm not sure whether I should post this or not. There may not be a "market" here for some of my ideas. I'll take a chance though, and just go for it (I'll probably get flamed though. Oh well, "shields up").
I understand that there is fairly strong "futurist" crowd here, ones that are eager to see the "singularity". I'm probably not going to sway the opinions of those of that persuasion.
Regardless, I wish to say this, The world of "cyberspace" (I lack a better term) is real, as these things go. I have been a "gamer" for a long time now. I have also immersed myself in the internet, after a manner of speaking. "cyberspace" (I dislike that term but keep using it) has a culture, rhythm, texture and "feel" all it's own. However, even though it is a "real" space, it is not the space we physically occupy. If you are familiar with "embodied cognition" you will understand the importance of this fact. The use of electronics is harmful to "mindfulness" and "centredness". Now, I'm not advocating Luddism (I write this from my computer, after all), I just think that we should mind our bodies and be aware that the world is changing at a bewildering pace.
In short, pay careful attention to the implications of embodied cognition.
Anyway, I logged in because wanted to share my two cents on the upcoming console generation. Ever other time a new batch of hardware has been released, I've always been really excited. Not this time.
Why? Well, reason number one is that the Orwell-boxes on offer, simply aren't good enough. I deserve better. You do too, regardless of whether or not you're getting on the band-wagon this time. This generation of consoles is one of the most transparent, shameless displays of cynical corporatism I can recall. These companies are of a scale such that they no longer see you as customers, but as resources to be exploited. I don't think we should encourage them to pursue this methodology any more than we already have.
Reason number two, is that gaming has left me behind. I don't think I need to explain this in too much detail, many will know exactly how I feel. There are exceptions, but the overwhelming majority of trends in this industry are tremendously unfriendly to innovation, sophistication, and sadly, depth.
Reason number three. I'm not sure whether I should post this or not. There may not be a "market" here for some of my ideas. I'll take a chance though, and just go for it (I'll probably get flamed though. Oh well, "shields up").
I understand that there is fairly strong "futurist" crowd here, ones that are eager to see the "singularity". I'm probably not going to sway the opinions of those of that persuasion.
Regardless, I wish to say this, The world of "cyberspace" (I lack a better term) is real, as these things go. I have been a "gamer" for a long time now. I have also immersed myself in the internet, after a manner of speaking. "cyberspace" (I dislike that term but keep using it) has a culture, rhythm, texture and "feel" all it's own. However, even though it is a "real" space, it is not the space we physically occupy. If you are familiar with "embodied cognition" you will understand the importance of this fact. The use of electronics is harmful to "mindfulness" and "centredness". Now, I'm not advocating Luddism (I write this from my computer, after all), I just think that we should mind our bodies and be aware that the world is changing at a bewildering pace.
In short, pay careful attention to the implications of embodied cognition.
