Poll: Does anyone else feel like "Extra Credits" is full of shit?
- Thread starter Hallow'sEve
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I think they have a different opinion I don't always agree with, but that makes it interesting to watch them and see something from a different angle. What annoys me the most is when they read too far into things and you can easily tell they're grabbing the bottom of the barrel when it comes to examples. Like that loneliness one, I don't really think that says much about your personality. I just hit all the dots because that's what you're suppose to do in games, or avoid all of them but my first instinct is to walk up to it and see what it does.
They will ocassionally make some BS point or say something very controversial just to be controversial, but they're mostly pretty good about what they say. The only that seriously annoys me is how pretentious they sometimes feel. That said, I look forward to hearing their five minutes on whatver they're talking about that week for the most part. So I guess, from time to time would be my answer.
^This summarizes it perfectly.BeeGeenie said:
I'm also never particularly annoyed by optimism, and I'm always confused when people ARE annoyed by it.
I don't always agree with what they say, but they tend to be pretty realistic about what they do and talk about, they just have a positive outlook.
When they talked about things like this is what the development process is this is what this kind of manager does or this is how the industry works, it was all well and good.
And soon as they started giving out their opinions I chalked them up as pretentious armchair idealists.
The whole thing with "gaming addiction" doesn't exist, it's just "gaming compulsion" was absolute nonsense.
Calling out "Call of Juarez" and throwing arguments like oh I thought there would be some historical accuracy...when there are 2 games previous that have nothing to do with historical accuracy or proper portrayal of the period you suddenly expect the 3rd to do it. Seriously the game was garbage but to harp on it because you disagree with how it portrays things is nonsense.
Or there was some game they were talking about in the games you might have missed episode. They were like zomg this game makes you really think it lets you do a mundane task as having team with your friends, who woulda thunk it. Yea.. I tried it, it's basically an invite for your friend to sign up for the game.
How about that awesome idea of muting everyone in a game's multiplayer until they reach a certain progress....because those foul mouthed piss ants that spew vile probably aren't already prestige 8 when you're not even prestige 1. Or the auto punish system of you get a few votes to mute you and the system auto mutes you forever. Yea I'm sure little Timmy and his idiot friends won't have a field day with that, not only will they be able to spew their bullshit but they'll get to shut you down with the automated system too.
To sum it all up, their informative pieces are excellent, the opinion pieces on the other hand are garbage.
And soon as they started giving out their opinions I chalked them up as pretentious armchair idealists.
The whole thing with "gaming addiction" doesn't exist, it's just "gaming compulsion" was absolute nonsense.
Calling out "Call of Juarez" and throwing arguments like oh I thought there would be some historical accuracy...when there are 2 games previous that have nothing to do with historical accuracy or proper portrayal of the period you suddenly expect the 3rd to do it. Seriously the game was garbage but to harp on it because you disagree with how it portrays things is nonsense.
Or there was some game they were talking about in the games you might have missed episode. They were like zomg this game makes you really think it lets you do a mundane task as having team with your friends, who woulda thunk it. Yea.. I tried it, it's basically an invite for your friend to sign up for the game.
How about that awesome idea of muting everyone in a game's multiplayer until they reach a certain progress....because those foul mouthed piss ants that spew vile probably aren't already prestige 8 when you're not even prestige 1. Or the auto punish system of you get a few votes to mute you and the system auto mutes you forever. Yea I'm sure little Timmy and his idiot friends won't have a field day with that, not only will they be able to spew their bullshit but they'll get to shut you down with the automated system too.
To sum it all up, their informative pieces are excellent, the opinion pieces on the other hand are garbage.
I wouldn't say they're full of shit but.....eh, I dunno, maybe it's just that a lot of the stuff they talk about are things that your average gamer wouldn't really think about? To be honest my personal opinion of the show went waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay down after than 2-parter on "Game Addiction" that was just James mumbling into the camera.
I still watch now and then if I see a particular episode that piques my interest.
I still watch now and then if I see a particular episode that piques my interest.
I was just making a comparison. Einstein was an impractical dreamer, and he wasn't always right, that doesn't mean his work had no value. Different people think in different ways, just because you don't like their approach doesn't mean it's invalid, and some of their theories could inspire others to innovate.More Fun To Compute said:
Unrecognized geniuses? not particularly, but they provide a unique perspective.
I stopped watching them before their exodus and was really surprised by the shit-storm that was caused by their leaving. I don't know if they're full of shit though I mean they've made valid points in past videos but I don't know anything about their recent ones so for all I know they could have done a 4-part series on the supremacy of the Phillips CD-I after all. I stopped watching because of how preachy the show got honestly. It seemed like every episode was more doom and gloom while I don't remember it starting that way.
Having this poll set up on the Escapist forums, of all places, is frankly the highpoint of irony.
Cynicism primarily.Lono Shrugged said:
I was mainly making a bad pokemon joke. Please forgive me.
Not really. They can get a bit pretentious or preachy And even if I don't agree with them on everything, they bring up stuff I would never even think about. So no I do not think they are full of shit.
On a similar note, I apparently missed the memo that we were all supposed to start hating them or something.
On a similar note, I apparently missed the memo that we were all supposed to start hating them or something.
Well they do work on games... since you know, that's there day job, and they are trying to fund the release of an indie game. Then there's the fact that there videos are usually shorter then something like a Yahtzee video while trying to provide substance, instead 10 minutes of comedy like Yahtzee. Of course if you think that's pretentious you could listen to somebody like egoraptor, he has some videos that give the same information but in a different format, that of a kid screaming into X-box live over a game of Halo for a half hour. On topic though, no I don't. I think they do a good show and I think any aspiring developer should watch them. What's more I think if you can't stand there video you'll probably never be a developer because if you can't stand their videos you probably won't be able to stand most of the actual discussion that happens in game development and be able to work with people as people are far more annoying.
Not gonna lie, considering everything else he's associated with, I'm surprised at how comprehensive and informative Sequelitis episodes are.Promethax said:
OT: Eh, I followed them back when they were here on The Escapist, and it was a mildly informative show, but they did often seem to put themselves on a pedestal higher than the people they're talking to. It's one of the reasons I can't be arsed to keep following them now.
I don't think they are pretentious because they're pretty damn honest. They tell you when they don't know, and tell you that this is what they have thought up.
It's all about the philosophy behind game design, if you think philosophy is pretentious you aren't going to like it.
It's all about the philosophy behind game design, if you think philosophy is pretentious you aren't going to like it.
I do like them. My biggest annoyance that I have with them is that they seem to interpret many simple game aspects and mechanics as something profound. It's something I find frustrating, because it sends the message to developers that all you need is a central gimmick of solely artistic importance and it will carry your entire game. What we really need is deeper games, not shallow games with a creatively ambiguous coat of paint on them.
Beyond that, they offer a number of valuable insights into game development; some of which I disagree with, but it's mostly still worth listening to.
Beyond that, they offer a number of valuable insights into game development; some of which I disagree with, but it's mostly still worth listening to.
Pretty much. I enjoyed their first few episodes, but after that they moved towards giving their opinion in a manner I found condescending and preachy, so I dropped them.Rednog said:
By halfway down the first page, it became clear the OP is the one that's full of shit...
Loneliness is a pretty impressive game. It's not particularly fun to play, but it's not really meant to be. I found it interesting to play with 'third thoughts', as Sir Terry might say; I played, and tried to actively be aware of my playing of the game.
I recall some specific instances; the desire to avoid the groups, particularly the ones with nice patterns, so as not to disrupt them emerged after several false starts at moving through them.
As the game went on, I noticed the absence of other dots, and when the screen began to darken I considered turning back, but concluded it was likely pointless.
Is that not a perfect metaphor for depression? "It's pointless to try and turn back". I have to give the game designer a slow clap moment for making me come to that epiphany.
Loneliness is a pretty impressive game. It's not particularly fun to play, but it's not really meant to be. I found it interesting to play with 'third thoughts', as Sir Terry might say; I played, and tried to actively be aware of my playing of the game.
I recall some specific instances; the desire to avoid the groups, particularly the ones with nice patterns, so as not to disrupt them emerged after several false starts at moving through them.
As the game went on, I noticed the absence of other dots, and when the screen began to darken I considered turning back, but concluded it was likely pointless.
Is that not a perfect metaphor for depression? "It's pointless to try and turn back". I have to give the game designer a slow clap moment for making me come to that epiphany.
'Pretentious' means over-inflating your own importance, merit or value, and I don't get that vibe from Extra Credits. They don't go on about how great they are or how important the show is. I would describe the tone as pretty humble and earnest, actually. What they are is preachy. I almost throw up every time they repeat the same old line about games reaching their potential or transcending whatever. I don't disagree, I just wish they would put down the hammer and stop making it so saccharine. Sometimes they don't really do their research very well, or use an example that makes me think they don't really know what they are talking about. Or they neglect to mention details that contradict their point, even if only to argue against them. I guess you could say they don't mention those things because they don't illustrate their point and time is a factor. But it understandably leads to accusations of cherry-picking. My final criticism is they often address topics to which they have very little to say, except: "Who the fuck knows?"
Despite all that I like Extra Credits. I like their message, I like what they're trying to do and I think they do a pretty good job over all. They try to get at the heart of why something does or doesn't make for a good game and offer practical suggestions for making your game good. They're like the anti-MovieBob. Their research isn't exhaustive but they are constructive and earnest, even on the few occasions where they really should have known better.
I have played Loneliness before without knowing what the title was. I didn't pay attention to it, I just clicked the link and started playing. I'm glad I didn't know the title going in because it didn't create expectations or clue me in to the metaphor, which instantly hit me like a ton of bricks. Easily one of the best games, or not-games, I've played this year.
If I must criticize, and you know I must, I would have put the message that appears at the end of the game down below or somewhere else, so the player could end the experience feeling the power of the metaphor.
Despite all that I like Extra Credits. I like their message, I like what they're trying to do and I think they do a pretty good job over all. They try to get at the heart of why something does or doesn't make for a good game and offer practical suggestions for making your game good. They're like the anti-MovieBob. Their research isn't exhaustive but they are constructive and earnest, even on the few occasions where they really should have known better.
I have played Loneliness before without knowing what the title was. I didn't pay attention to it, I just clicked the link and started playing. I'm glad I didn't know the title going in because it didn't create expectations or clue me in to the metaphor, which instantly hit me like a ton of bricks. Easily one of the best games, or not-games, I've played this year.
If I must criticize, and you know I must, I would have put the message that appears at the end of the game down below or somewhere else, so the player could end the experience feeling the power of the metaphor.
