Jimquisition: Videogames Are Not Movies, Get Over It
- Thread starter Jimothy Sterling
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I like the fact that the escapist is broadening it cast of commemorators even if it is another angry gamer guy, who rants. If there is more to the series then he could be really cool. On a production note, color correct in post or at least white balance, that off white wall looks horrible, and while you are at it, lav the guy up. His hands look like they have a lot to say, but are being chained down by holding that mic.
Wrong. Try playing Final Fantasy and telling me that games are not movies.
Spent fucking 20 hours on that game, and 14 of those were fucking cutscenes.
Spent fucking 20 hours on that game, and 14 of those were fucking cutscenes.
Man, I'd managed to forget that boss fight. .-.AngryMongoose said:Zorn and Thorn, alsosolidsnake101023 said:what was the name of those clowns i forgot and thats my favorite final fantasy
together they're called Meltigemini
Anyway, ontopic.
I'm surprised no-one's mentioned (as of page 9) the intro-theme thing yet. Allow me to remark on how utterly heavy-handed it was. How did the lyrics go again? "I'm different than you" or some such self-glorifying nonsense? And while I was listening to it, you showed me pictures of you humping a Sonic plushy. I'm sorry, you're a relatable figure how, Jimmy? Just from your intro I'd already decided I didn't like you. I did enjoy the music, though, you got yourself a free second chance by pandering to my utter fangirlishness for FFIX, but I'm afraid you wasted it. I don't know why an argument about video games not being movies is even necessary. You never established an audience so I wasn't sure if you were talking to developers or players. You didn't even make any good points that haven't already been done to death on the subject. And what's with the carpet F-bombs? That doesn't make you sound srs and jerky, it just makes you sound like a twelve-year-old trying to sound tough.
And why, oh why, did you need to throw in the poorly-drawn nudity? What did that add to your video, Jimmy? It wasn't funny, it wasn't amusing, it wasn't even well-drawn.
I stopped watching your video at about that point. I realized about then that I was only listening to hear Zorn and Thorn's themesong. I don't know why the Escapist thought you'd be a good addition to their cast. It'd be interesting to hear their reasoning behind that. Apparently you're some famous guy from some website I've heard of a few times but never had a reason to care about. If that's the reason, then that's a really sad reflection on the Escapist staff.
I'll give you a few more chances, Jimmy-bean. I don't have high hopes for you, but we'll see. Maybe you'll get better.
I liked this video. A little bit of polish and shine never goes awry, but overall it was good for a first vid
Will be patiently waiting for next weeks vid.
Will be patiently waiting for next weeks vid.
I'm sorry but that is a really old topic and you just ranted on about it. I know the stumbling in your speech was probably on purpose to give a sense of enthusiasm but I didn't like it. Personally I didn't find you engaging and I will not be following you work.
Not like you ever do but don't let the hate get you down Jim. I might not always agree with you but I do always love hearing what you say. Repost the "Nobody cares you're good at video games" episode. That'll blow a few minds. Also if you get a chance would you please ask Wardrox to post the last episodes of Podcastle somewhere? They've gone missing from the web.Jimothy Sterling said:
Why...why would this be allowed on the escapist...
I know people are allowed to have other opinions, and to be honest I didnt like heavy rain either, but I thought this video brought out so much of what is wrong with people...
He seemed to be angry, arrogant and immature...I'd be happy never to see him on the escapist again.
I know people are allowed to have other opinions, and to be honest I didnt like heavy rain either, but I thought this video brought out so much of what is wrong with people...
He seemed to be angry, arrogant and immature...I'd be happy never to see him on the escapist again.
Let me preface this review by saying I'm mildly intrigued, and certainly will be tuning in next week to see how this new serial web video will continue.
However...
His absolutist stance on the argument is a naive approach to a topic that Extra Credits have dealt/are dealing with in a much more balanced, productive manner, not to mention that it's not entirely true.
Movies and videogames share the same sensory outputs (moving visual and audio), and because of that they are intimately connected with each other. Movies and videogames are not the same, but getting on a soapbox and ranting that they are completely different is just as arrogant as someone claiming that videogames are just movies with gameplay. For each quantifiable difference, there is a quantifiable similarity. And there is no justifiable reason videogame designers cannot learn from other artistic mediums.
I guess this is my soapbox: Absolute declarations are simplistic at best and usually meaningless.
Also, the level of polish in his script is much lower than any other popular show on the escapist. Note how he slipped up at 3:19, saying "...he's[Hideo Kojima] been called the Steven Spielberg of films..." when he meant to say "...Spielberg of games..." or something along those lines. Yahtzee manages to talk faster AND get his lines right...
The visual presentation was a mixed bag. I liked his outfit; the red tie contrasted nicely with the black suit, and the two combined made his emoting more expressive. But an emotive guy standing in front of a camera for five minutes isn't particularly interesting, so of course some art was added in. While there's nothing wrong with that in general, in this case the art is rarely anything other than crude images of dicks flashing in front of the audience for no apparent reason. The one meaningful image was a crudely drawn comparison of how videogames and movies are received differently by audiences, and it disappeared before I could absorb the meaning of it. I honestly wish it hadn't, and I went back and paused the video to see it again.
It's almost as if the show is ashamed of its art, dicks or no.
As I noted earlier, Extra Credits has discussed this topic several times, including once during their first episode on this site. Isn't there another topic that could have been discussed, or at least an original angle on this one?
In conclusion: I am far from impressed, and this show is going to need a lot more original work to be worth watching. Right now, it seems to be trying to mix Extra Credits, MovieBob and Zero Puncuation, and unfortunately the result is just a watery mess that's inferior to all of them.
Edit:
I've now seen Jim's response to critizism and other opinions, and I am glad he's taking it into consideration. Here's to hoping there are more touchy subjects in this shows future than rambling rants.
However...
His absolutist stance on the argument is a naive approach to a topic that Extra Credits have dealt/are dealing with in a much more balanced, productive manner, not to mention that it's not entirely true.
Movies and videogames share the same sensory outputs (moving visual and audio), and because of that they are intimately connected with each other. Movies and videogames are not the same, but getting on a soapbox and ranting that they are completely different is just as arrogant as someone claiming that videogames are just movies with gameplay. For each quantifiable difference, there is a quantifiable similarity. And there is no justifiable reason videogame designers cannot learn from other artistic mediums.
I guess this is my soapbox: Absolute declarations are simplistic at best and usually meaningless.
Also, the level of polish in his script is much lower than any other popular show on the escapist. Note how he slipped up at 3:19, saying "...he's[Hideo Kojima] been called the Steven Spielberg of films..." when he meant to say "...Spielberg of games..." or something along those lines. Yahtzee manages to talk faster AND get his lines right...
The visual presentation was a mixed bag. I liked his outfit; the red tie contrasted nicely with the black suit, and the two combined made his emoting more expressive. But an emotive guy standing in front of a camera for five minutes isn't particularly interesting, so of course some art was added in. While there's nothing wrong with that in general, in this case the art is rarely anything other than crude images of dicks flashing in front of the audience for no apparent reason. The one meaningful image was a crudely drawn comparison of how videogames and movies are received differently by audiences, and it disappeared before I could absorb the meaning of it. I honestly wish it hadn't, and I went back and paused the video to see it again.
It's almost as if the show is ashamed of its art, dicks or no.
As I noted earlier, Extra Credits has discussed this topic several times, including once during their first episode on this site. Isn't there another topic that could have been discussed, or at least an original angle on this one?
In conclusion: I am far from impressed, and this show is going to need a lot more original work to be worth watching. Right now, it seems to be trying to mix Extra Credits, MovieBob and Zero Puncuation, and unfortunately the result is just a watery mess that's inferior to all of them.
Edit:
I've now seen Jim's response to critizism and other opinions, and I am glad he's taking it into consideration. Here's to hoping there are more touchy subjects in this shows future than rambling rants.
So, basically, he's taken Anthony Burch's Rev Rants, removed the fancy green screen and added lots of swearing. This would work much better as an article rather than a video. Even then, this isn't what we need: another fat, angry, douche angrily using a large amount of expletives in order to get his point across.
If the point of the video series is "OMGZ, he's saying what we're all thinking!" there really isn't much of a point to it at all. I'm tired of condescending bullcrap that panders to the lowest common denominator.
If the point of the video series is "OMGZ, he's saying what we're all thinking!" there really isn't much of a point to it at all. I'm tired of condescending bullcrap that panders to the lowest common denominator.
What FF are you talking about? XIII?Machiavellian007 said:
Then also stay away from MGS4. I think it was Graham from LRR who once said (prolly in Unskippable I'm not sure) something along the lines of:
"Hideo Kojima does not let you play because he is afraid you might ruin his movie."
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.Frozengale said:
Positive: I like the concept of these series and I might watch more, but...
Negative: Jim, you're on the escapist, a magazine and community that has a high regard of itself. Please don't use words for genitals and excrements to empower your arguments, because it only makes your argument look stupid and it doesn't make you look as classy as, say, someone drinking from a golden cup with a big smile while wearing sunglasses.
Negative: Jim, you're on the escapist, a magazine and community that has a high regard of itself. Please don't use words for genitals and excrements to empower your arguments, because it only makes your argument look stupid and it doesn't make you look as classy as, say, someone drinking from a golden cup with a big smile while wearing sunglasses.
Thanks for that.Frozengale said:
Basically, it's a rehash of what I've heard/seen a hundred times. He may have valid points, but it wasn't anything I haven't heard from a dozen other sources already. I'll give it time, but I wasn't very impressed. He's kind of annoying to listen to.
I dunno about the Steven Spielberg of the gaming industry, but I believe we've found its Lewis Black
Why does he say comparing movies to paintings is the same as comparing games to movies?
A more apt analogy would be comparing movies to novels. Movies can bee thought of as novels which engage sight and hearing directly, instead of describing it to us. Similarly games can be thought of as movies with interactivity added, at least partially. Now, this analogy only holds as far as plot in both cases as the added element drastically changes the product. A novel, movie and game made to follow the exact same plot will, even if the development team behind all three tries their hardest not to, have the consumer have a different experience. Why is he so against comparing the plot of a non-branching video game to that of a movie, or even any individual plot line of a game with a branching plot. The narratives created by a game are probably going to be the same or similar to those a movie can produce, and thus it is quite reasonable to compare them. Sure, the experience of playing a game is different to the experience of watching a movie, even if they tell the same story, but the same could be said of movies and novels. Does that mean we should stop comparing the movie adaptation of a novel to the original?
In my opinion the comparison between games and film comes from games attempting to become a story telling medium. As a story telling medium it is perfectly logical for people to compare it to one that is more wide spread and accepted. I'm sure that there where plenty of people comparing novels to movies when movies where an emerging story telling medium. And now that it is the dominant one it has become the measuring stick for the next medium to attempt to emerge. And though not all games are trying to tell a story ( i can think of three whole genres of games off the top of my head that don't) it is never those games that get compared to movies, because they are "pure" games. I feel the need to mention this as Jim talked about the re-birth of the games industry, but when talking about games comparing to movies i do not know a single person who would bring up something from that era, baring outliers that drove the games towards becoming a storytelling medium.
A more apt analogy would be comparing movies to novels. Movies can bee thought of as novels which engage sight and hearing directly, instead of describing it to us. Similarly games can be thought of as movies with interactivity added, at least partially. Now, this analogy only holds as far as plot in both cases as the added element drastically changes the product. A novel, movie and game made to follow the exact same plot will, even if the development team behind all three tries their hardest not to, have the consumer have a different experience. Why is he so against comparing the plot of a non-branching video game to that of a movie, or even any individual plot line of a game with a branching plot. The narratives created by a game are probably going to be the same or similar to those a movie can produce, and thus it is quite reasonable to compare them. Sure, the experience of playing a game is different to the experience of watching a movie, even if they tell the same story, but the same could be said of movies and novels. Does that mean we should stop comparing the movie adaptation of a novel to the original?
In my opinion the comparison between games and film comes from games attempting to become a story telling medium. As a story telling medium it is perfectly logical for people to compare it to one that is more wide spread and accepted. I'm sure that there where plenty of people comparing novels to movies when movies where an emerging story telling medium. And now that it is the dominant one it has become the measuring stick for the next medium to attempt to emerge. And though not all games are trying to tell a story ( i can think of three whole genres of games off the top of my head that don't) it is never those games that get compared to movies, because they are "pure" games. I feel the need to mention this as Jim talked about the re-birth of the games industry, but when talking about games comparing to movies i do not know a single person who would bring up something from that era, baring outliers that drove the games towards becoming a storytelling medium.