Jimquisition: Videogames Are Not Movies, Get Over It

[Headbiter]

I agree with the message. But that's about it.

Seriously, we already have someone at the escapist who's critisizing things that are wrong with the industry and although that might be the general opinion of Joe Escapaverage, he already puts a bit more effort into his work than cursing every two words.
This video just seems so completely glued together. Sure, you brought the thesis, and some examples, okay A example, on how it's done wrong but there is no elaboration, no thought about how to improve, just generalized statements.
It's honestly baffling how I can start the video and click on any position on the time bar without getting the slightest impression of missing something important.

All that's left is a rather useless internet-forum-post, read out by an obese man in a cheap suit and oversized sunglasses that just yell "I have no confidence!", taking nigh 6 minutes to say something that can be said in about 10 seconds with the exact amount of information delivered.

Sorry, but there's just nothing here that isn't done way better on this very site already.

Oh and by the way:
Introducing yourself as a douchebag on your first show is not that appealing as you might think. Not even sure if the 12-year-old-brigade thinks that's cool anymore. "Hello, I'm an asshole." is NOT a persuasive introduction, even on the internet.

 

[The_Splatterer]

I'll stick to the higher etiquette and knowledge and understanding of the industry that is Extra Credits, one that tries to educate and support the industry, not bash and insult it. I hope this doesn't become a regular as i always saw The Escapist as a website with quite high standards and class - this guy clearly has none.
Sure Yahtzee doesn't always show that but he's entertaining and just trying to critic games, he still comes across as trying to help, and certainly doesn't seem like he thinks he is god's gift to the medium and we should get in line.
Sure Movie Bob can come across a bit Rant-ey too but once again he does it in an entertaining 'this is my opinion and heres why' kind of way. We've got all the opinionated people we need on this website. And they're a hell of a lot better than this guy.

 

[lead sharp]

If he tried to have his own character rather than the one he's putting on and got to the point faster and made the whole thing visually interesting then hooray there's a new video in town.

 

[JoeBPlenty]

What I learned from this:
Hideo Kojima is the Steven Spielberg of film. (?)
Jim should find a better use for his energetic left hand.
Rants are not made funnier by an obnoxious presenter.
A serious contender for biggest douche in the universe presents himself.
5 minutes of my life have been lost forever. (a bit old, but still good.)

 

[RowdyRodimus]

Ummm, I've been her over a year now. Unless that was directed to the person I quoted in which case I apologize for the misunderstanding there.

Ahh sorry I was looking at someone else's join date instead of yours. So yeah it was more directed at all the people that joined today.

No hard feelings, eh? Hell, I don't know why we are all getting worked up over this (mainly myself), it's just a video about games. It's not like they got Richard Dawkins, Pat Robertson and Osama Bin Laden to do a video series about what religion, if any, is the one true religion lol.

I want to formally apologize to everyone I have upset with my comments and want it to be known that I do respect your opinions on Mr. Sterlings work no matter if we agree or not.

 

[jboking]

Which one handles it well? The Blade Runner game or Heavy Rain? You're probably referring to the Blade Runner game. I don't think the killer remaining unchanging is that big of an issue, the story itself wouldn't have benefited from another opportunity to gain more holes, and the main conflicts do change depending on what happened before and whatnot.

I was talking about Heavy Rain. Does the end result in that game ever change?

As much as I loved Bioshock, I don't think it's really that good of an example mainly because it still centers around killing and violence. There's nothing wrong with that, and in all honesty it gets its points across better than Heavy Rain's, but if a game is still falling back on the old "shoot man in face" aspect of gameplay it's main points could be overshadowed by the action.

It's like saying that Modern Warfare 2 central theme is about the ever growing political-economic conflict between the US and Middle East as the reliance on them increases. Sure, it may have that theme, but it's overshadowed by the 'splosions and more 'splosions.

I'm not saying you can't have a deeper, more mature theme or whatever with action and such, but I would be interested to see how a political thriller game would turn out with little to no violence.

A games main points being overshadowed by their gameplay segments can occur in any video game. For example, there was a point to be made in the story of professor layton and the diabolical box. I couldn't tell you what it was, but I can solve every one of the puzzles in the game. Personally speaking, Bioshock is one of the few games out there I've played where the main point doesn't get overshadowed by the action, but instead is enhanced by it. Heavy Rain included.

As for a non-violent political thriller could be interesting, or just incredibly boring. Heres the thing, I don't see why the game has to be forced non-violence. I've always enjoyed it when games give me the option to finish them without violence (MGS), but removing violence all together as an option doesn't seem ideal.

Eh, PR talk to me. Uncharted, Mass Effect, and others have all be touted as "cinematic" and whatnot. I see it more as buzz words to get people hyped rather than the developer's philosophy.

Yes, they are buzz words. [HEADING=2]ASK YOURSELF WHY!?[/HEADING]

and more importantly, why game developers continue to use those words to hype their game instead of talking about gameplay elements.

There are certainly aspects of video games that can be used to elevate them above other mediums. Doesn't mean we can't learn a thing or two from those mediums.

You're right, we can learn a thing or two from other mediums. However, holding them above our own medium is not the answer to finding the things we can learn from them.

Overall, I just like innovation of all kinds, even the "shitty" ones.

I, on the other hand, demand that a game developer trying to be 'innovative' is also trying to make the innovation work with the medium. Shitty forms of innovation that can't accomplish this serve no purpose in my mind. The 'it's an example of what NOT to do' excuse doesn't work for me. It's like saying everything should be appreciated and liked, even if it's awful, just because it is. For a real world version, smoking meth is an example of what not to do with your life, however, I still shouldn't praise it's creator for showing us what not to do with our lives.

I think we'll all just have to agree to disagree on that stance, so, yeah.

But you see, that ends conversations instead of fostering them. So, no.

 

[RowdyRodimus]

Now... After watching the rant of this Jim Cornette kinda-look-a-like

A Jim Cornette pic on my Escapist? Have the gods finally smiled upon me? I love the Louisville Lip, even though he did block me from his Twitter after mentioning him in the same tweet as Vince Russo (and right after he retweeted about three of my comments to him about ROH). He's a curmudgeon, but dammit, we all love him.

(Oh and if you're a wrestling fan have you heard Honky Tonk Man's new blogspot radio series? It's every Monday night from 6:30-8:00 pm Central time. He takes calls and nothing is off limits to him.)

 

[revjay]

A fellow fat bastard with a caustic tone? What's not to like? I think I disliked Heavy Rain a bit less but I'll give that a pass.

 

[The Funslinger]

Yay, a yahtzee and a movie bob hibred. cause that wont be troll feed.

Anyway, this one didnt impress me, but I dont like the argument. I'll have to wait and see with the next vid.

I miiight have liked him if it weren't for two things:

1) Douchebags for entertainment's sake have always just irritated me. "HAR, it's funny because you're a prick, but not really because you're acting that way for a show!" personal thing, I guess.

2) I feel like he's missed the point, nobody thinks videogames should be likened to movies. What's happening is video games are becoming as big as movies. They haven't been solely a kid's toy since the 90s(?) and essentially, the four cornerstones of modern media are: Music, Movies, Television and Video games. Nobody's saying music is like television, are they? It wouldn't really work if all those factors of media were the same.

 

[Aldan9]

5 minutes of my life I'm never getting back. This show shouldn't be on the same site as Extra Credits and Zero Punctuation. Whatever point he was trying to make got lost in a sea of swearing and excessive hand movements. Get some proper visuals to accompany your random babbling if you want to have a good show.

 

[The Funslinger]

Look at the LoZ games... any one of them can be made into a film without having to change a single word.

They might have to give Link a voice XD

Otherwise, I agree with you perfectly. (See above post) The man comes across as cretinous.

 

[Levethian]

Ugh.

Presentation might pass if the content was worth the extra focus.
Is it unscripted? Perhaps try scripting it.

 

[beema]

Maybe it's just because I'm so sleepy, but a minute or so in, Jim started looking like a giant vibrating beetle of some sort. I think it's the sunglasses.

As far as this being the jumping off episode for a new feature... I found it kind of "meh." I don't think he really brought any new or fresh insights to the table, and it wasn't particularly comical or anything.

For the topic discussed:
I don't know why this isn't more obvious to everyone (or maybe it is?).
The games industry really needs to stop comparing itself to film, stop trying to be film, and stop living in the shadow/acting like the little-brother to film. There's no need for a game of catch up.
It's not the same and that's not a bad thing! Vastly different experiences for vastly different desires.
Sometimes I want to play a game, sometimes I want to watch a movie. I've never said "I want to watch a movie... oh I guess I will play Uncharted 2 instead because it's so cinematic!" (which, btw, is total crap)
I've similarly never said "I want to play a really cinematic game, oh I guess I'll go watch a movie instead."

and yeah David Cage is a giant douche (lol'ed at that clip from Indigo Prophecy), but I still liked Heavy Rain. Even though all of its promotions likened it to a film, I think it pushed some cool developments for GAMES as well. Just wish that would be more focused on instead of the film comparison and everyone harping on Cage. I feel like Heavy Rain reviewers fell prey to the marketing pitch, as they almost universally review it as bad by comparison to film (narrative, dialogue, etc), but never review the really FUN gameplay aspects of it.

also, Jimquisition ad while watching Jimquisition... woo

 

[Stryphoon]

Didn't raise any new issues really (although not his fault if he is jresonding to twitter questions) and the whole appeal of the video seems to be solely based on vulgarity (look, clothes, voice, choice of words, ms paint crap, etc). Will see how it goes, mainly for treno theme.

 

[funguy2121]

Videogames Are Not Movies, Get Over It

Let gaming's biggest douchebag explain to you how games aren't films, films aren't games, and David Cage will never be a moviemaker.

Watch Video

About time. Enough with the friggin' excess cinematics.

 

[Anchupom]

Standard Escapist welcome message:
Welcome to The Escapist, you'll have lots of fun here but don't go into the cellar.

Right, that aside, I have a new bookmark. This could turn out good, a nice counterbalance for Extra Credits. Same goal, different messages.

 

[DannibalG36]

Thanks for the smackdown on Heavy Rain.

But there is a War and Peace of film: it's the film adaption of War and Peace the book.

 

[FallenTraveler]

yeah, I'm not seeing the appeal, yes games are not movies, but aspiring to be an art form that has a very artsy side is a bad thing? I agree that they are completely different, but I would actually like a game with a cinema quality story, maybe not told the same way, but at least a decent story... I think Uncharted got it right...