I did not have the chance to log on to the Escapist over the past few days due to computer trouble- actually as I write these words I'm writing in google docs on a crappy net-book (which is a hell no one should have to suffer), so it came as a shock to me when I saw the news about Extra Credits.
Knowing that I haven't been the most active member on the forums, I do feel compelled to write about this topic now. I'll try to make it brief. I make no bones about it, I love this publication. I've loved the Escapist for several years now, been a publishers club member for about 2 of those years. I will admit what first attracted me to the site was Yahtzee's reviews.
I even have aspirations of working for this publication, in both the last Escapist film festival and the latest call for news writers. I have a very real fear that if what I'm about to say is read by a lot of people those aspirations may never be realized. Journalists and those aspiring to be journalists; however, must never be afraid to speak the truth. Even if it's against the publication they love.
Extra Credits isn't just a good and entertaining show. It's a major contributor to what make this publication great. It embodies the Escapist's ideal of being able to, "capture and celebrate the contemporary video gaming lifestyle and the diverse global video game culture." It is the first feature that genuinely convinced me that my favorite hobby of playing video games was more than just a entertaining diversion but an art. James, Dan and Allison truly made me believe that as a community, we gamers are more than just post adolescents who haven't grown out of a childish activity. We as gamers, do in fact love art, literature, music, history, science, story telling, pacing, immersion and how all of these elements inform and enrich our medium of choice.
If you had caught me before I watched Extra Credits I may have said that movies or novels were the ultimate in story telling. Today though, I am firm in the belief that video games, with their interactive quality, can resonate with their audience in ways that all of the prior mediums simply can't because video games can take on all of the strengths of those mediums. I also believe that a good video game, which represent the contributions of so many, are more than the sum of their parts.
Also, possibly for the first time, I have real faith that gamers can be reasonable. There have already been a lot of threats by all parties on every side of this issue. I won't say that there is any party who is completely with out fault. However, I believe that Extra Credits is worth saving and worth getting past all the disagreements.
Out of reverence to a publication I still love and believe in, I have chosen, instead of pounding my fists, threatening to cancel my publishers subscription or never visiting the Escapist again, to make a request. Please don't go down this path. Make things work with James Portnow in a reasonable way. If Extra Credits were to leave the Escapist it would be more than just a crying shame. It would be a mistake. It would also be the first real time the Escapist has deeply and profoundly disappointed me and I suspect I have the authority to say a lot of other people.
If you feel the same after reading this, I encourage you to comment in a reasonable and calm way.
Knowing that I haven't been the most active member on the forums, I do feel compelled to write about this topic now. I'll try to make it brief. I make no bones about it, I love this publication. I've loved the Escapist for several years now, been a publishers club member for about 2 of those years. I will admit what first attracted me to the site was Yahtzee's reviews.
I even have aspirations of working for this publication, in both the last Escapist film festival and the latest call for news writers. I have a very real fear that if what I'm about to say is read by a lot of people those aspirations may never be realized. Journalists and those aspiring to be journalists; however, must never be afraid to speak the truth. Even if it's against the publication they love.
Extra Credits isn't just a good and entertaining show. It's a major contributor to what make this publication great. It embodies the Escapist's ideal of being able to, "capture and celebrate the contemporary video gaming lifestyle and the diverse global video game culture." It is the first feature that genuinely convinced me that my favorite hobby of playing video games was more than just a entertaining diversion but an art. James, Dan and Allison truly made me believe that as a community, we gamers are more than just post adolescents who haven't grown out of a childish activity. We as gamers, do in fact love art, literature, music, history, science, story telling, pacing, immersion and how all of these elements inform and enrich our medium of choice.
If you had caught me before I watched Extra Credits I may have said that movies or novels were the ultimate in story telling. Today though, I am firm in the belief that video games, with their interactive quality, can resonate with their audience in ways that all of the prior mediums simply can't because video games can take on all of the strengths of those mediums. I also believe that a good video game, which represent the contributions of so many, are more than the sum of their parts.
Also, possibly for the first time, I have real faith that gamers can be reasonable. There have already been a lot of threats by all parties on every side of this issue. I won't say that there is any party who is completely with out fault. However, I believe that Extra Credits is worth saving and worth getting past all the disagreements.
Out of reverence to a publication I still love and believe in, I have chosen, instead of pounding my fists, threatening to cancel my publishers subscription or never visiting the Escapist again, to make a request. Please don't go down this path. Make things work with James Portnow in a reasonable way. If Extra Credits were to leave the Escapist it would be more than just a crying shame. It would be a mistake. It would also be the first real time the Escapist has deeply and profoundly disappointed me and I suspect I have the authority to say a lot of other people.
If you feel the same after reading this, I encourage you to comment in a reasonable and calm way.
