Poll: Jim sterling VS Extra credits

[anthony87]

Jim is one of us, he talks to us like a friend and assumes that if we're watching his show, it's because we have an at least passable knowledge of video games.

Extra Credits do make some very interesting points every now and then, but the show is so pretentious.

James doesn't know as much as he thinks he does.

Oh god....you've just reminded me of those two episodes where James just moped into the camera the whole time.

Video game addiction? More like blowing something waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay out of proportion and then trying to come off appearing all deep and insightful because of it.

 

[Daystar Clarion]

Jim is one of us, he talks to us like a friend and assumes that if we're watching his show, it's because we have an at least passable knowledge of video games.

Extra Credits do make some very interesting points every now and then, but the show is so pretentious.

James doesn't know as much as he thinks he does.

Oh god....you've just reminded me of those two episodes where James just moped into the camera the whole time.

Video game addiction? More like blowing something waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay out of proportion and then trying to come off appearing all deep and insightful because of it.

Yeah, I laughed far more watching that than I think I should have.

Talk about melodramatic.

 

[hazabaza1]

At least Jim isn't pretentious as all fuck.

No his just a troll with uncommon good luck and some kind of voodoo curse that makes people view his shit as somehow "witty" or otherwise more then the self-serving bile that it is. I will never understand how people can take him seriously... Still waiting for the day the escapist fires his pointless ass. But until then I'll take my extra credits. They where informative well thought out and above all have yet to make me stop watching in rage. Something even moviebob's done a few times now

I never said I liked him. I just said he isn't pretentious.

 

[CAPTCHA]

Jim is one of us, he talks to us like a friend and assumes that if we're watching his show, it's because we have an at least passable knowledge of video games.

Extra Credits do make some very interesting points every now and then, but the show is so pretentious.

James doesn't know as much as he thinks he does.

Oh god....you've just reminded me of those two episodes where James just moped into the camera the whole time.

Video game addiction? More like blowing something waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay out of proportion and then trying to come off appearing all deep and insightful because of it.

Yeah, I laughed far more watching that than I think I should have.

Talk about melodramatic.

You know what I'm kind of in EC court in terms of support but that episode was fucking retarded. For a start what James had was Avoidance Personality Disorder, not game addiction. They can't blame a persons fucked up state of mind on the tool they indulge in to cope. If that were true then those "COD made my kid shoot up his school" arguments would also be valid. That episode was self-indulgent tripe and if it were me who'd created it I'd go out of my way to remove it out of sheer embaresment.

 

[Richardplex]

Extra Credits can be facepalmingly pretentious and painfully liberal, but they make good points. Jim makes good points and if your cool with his presentation, doesn't really have many flaws. So I'd go for both really, just bias more towards Jim. Depends which end of the sliding scale of idealism vs cynicism you want advice from.

 

[LostCrusader]

Is muting even still an issue for anyone on XBL? I haven't used the in game chat options since they implemented the party system. There is no need to mute any trolls when your on a private chat channel.

 

[Freechoice]

Extra Credits can be facepalmingly pretentious and painfully liberal, but they make good points. Jim makes good points and if your cool with his presentation, doesn't really have many flaws. So I'd go for both really, just bias more towards Jim.

Jim also showed dedication in trying to improve the show. EC... just keeps doing the stupid voice thing.

 

[doomspore98]

I have my reasons.
Basically, they over-analyse, patronise, have practically insulted people for liking certain games, and give a large "Holier than thou" impression.

I've never gotten the sense that they've insulted people. Hell, they're one of the few groups I can think of that actually avoids using ad hominem arguments, which is something I can't say for Jim or a large chunk of internet dwellers. Further more, how exactly do they over analyze things? Can you give any examples of them coming to a conclusion that isn't well supported by the evidence? I hear it said as gospel, but I don't see anyone trying to support it.

I forget what the name of the video was, but it was about the new Call of Juarez video and racism. From what I can remember, they essentially said that anybody who enjoyed it was wrong, and potentially racist.
In terms of over-analysing things, just go watch their Missile command video on "Morality". They look at a game where you try to get the highest score and start gushing over "HNNNG IT'S SUCH DEEP AND HIDDEN MORALITY"
[sub][sub]This post may contain some hyperbole.[/sub][/sub]

If you listened to the videos, it talked about how the game maker of missile command had nightmares of the towns he lived by getting nuked in the same way the towns in missile command's towns got bombed, and how he was emotionally traumatized for a long time.

And with call of Juarez, he said that some small percent of the people will probably think what the game said was true, even a small percentage of gamers thinking that mexicans are stealing american woman is a bad thing.

 

[TheDrunkNinja]

That's what I think all this EC hate is about. There isn't true backing to it. It's just pure emotion with no real direction as far as I'm concerned.

Thank you for that post. This reflects my thoughts a lot better than I could sum them up.
I just watched the most recent EC episode and looked over all those I missed since they left the Escapist, only to find myself wondering: "What on earth are they talking about?"

For me, being a bit of a niche gamer usually found in very committed, small and friendly communities (as opposed to mainstream audiences, I guess), many of the things they bring up feel as if they are only a problem because EC names them a problem. Most of these things do not bother me, and so I feel somewhat confused by EC taking them on. That doesn't mean that their topics are not relevant to society at large (I don't really think there is such a thing as a "gamer community") but to me, they just aren't.

Extra Credits are very emotional about their points, which is something that invalidates any argument in my book almost automatically, also in real life. If you can't be rational and realistic about your point, why should I trust you to offer a solution?

Well, perhaps you misread my post. I was referring to the hostility that a lot of people have been giving EC in this thread. If you read my full post, it's clear in pro-EC as well as pro-Jim. Nearly all of my points are in reference to why people love or hate either show. Here, let me make it clearer:

That's what I think all this EC hate is about. There isn't true backing to the hate toward Extra Credits. The hate toward Extra Credits is just pure emotion with no real direction as far as I'm concerned.

Now, you made some very good points about why you personally are more indifferent to the arguments EC have made, so I wouldn't put you in that category of hate. I'm more referring to the people who have said that they "hate" Extra Credits because they're "self-righteous" and "preachy". There have been a lot of people in this thread that have used those exact words, and it bothers me a bit. Re-read my whole post, and you'll see what I mean.

 

[doomspore98]

Jim is one of us, he talks to us like a friend and assumes that if we're watching his show, it's because we have an at least passable knowledge of video games.

Extra Credits do make some very interesting points every now and then, but the show is so pretentious.

James doesn't know as much as he thinks he does.

Oh god....you've just reminded me of those two episodes where James just moped into the camera the whole time.

Video game addiction? More like blowing something waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay out of proportion and then trying to come off appearing all deep and insightful because of it.

Because almost losing your entire highschool life is blowing something waaaaaaaaaaaay out of proportion.

 

[DustyDrB]

Oh god....you've just reminded me of those two episodes where James just moped into the camera the whole time.

Video game addiction? More like blowing something waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay out of proportion and then trying to come off appearing all deep and insightful because of it.

Ugh...I had to stop watching those because it was just too awkward. Dude was making more deep, vacant stares than Don Draper.

 

[anthony87]

Jim is one of us, he talks to us like a friend and assumes that if we're watching his show, it's because we have an at least passable knowledge of video games.

Extra Credits do make some very interesting points every now and then, but the show is so pretentious.

James doesn't know as much as he thinks he does.

Oh god....you've just reminded me of those two episodes where James just moped into the camera the whole time.

Video game addiction? More like blowing something waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay out of proportion and then trying to come off appearing all deep and insightful because of it.

Because almost losing your entire highschool life is blowing something waaaaaaaaaaaay out of proportion.

In the sense that they'd dedicate two episodes on "Video game addiction" to it?

Yes. Blown way out of proportion. Rather than use the chance to make a decent couple of episodes they just had James whine about not being able to manage games and a social life.

 

[runnernda]

Extra Credits tends to talk down to their audience quite a lot. That said, I liked their solution to this problem. The first one, about the default mute. Taking away the ability to message other players seems pretty draconian.

Xbox live is a nasty, immature community, and I've abandoned most online gaming because of that. Microsoft really should start taking steps to clean it up.

ECs solution, which I think would ruin multiplayer is to factor in A mute average. What if you are having A bad day and you trash talk the opisition? according to them you should be permenantly ostrisised, it is a dangerous idea.

Trash-talking isn't the same as harassment. I'm a Philadelphia sports fan, and I can trash-talk with the best of them. I'm also a lady, and I stopped playing online because as soon as I opened my mouth, the wave of "Make me a sandwich," "Tits or GTFO," and other things (which as distinctly not forum-friendly) I heard killed any fun I was having. Check out fatuglyorslutty.com for examples. I think a mute average is a good idea, since anyone is free to unmute you if they want to.

OT: I haven't watched any Jimquisition, but judging by the positive opinions in this thread, I guess I'll start. I really like EC, and I followed them to Penny Arcade. I don't think they're pretentious. When someone knows what they're talking about, there's always a danger that someone will feel they're being talked down to. The easy way they present their topics just makes it accessible.

 

[Dark Link]

I get the feeling that some people are still butthurting over the EC/Escapist split. It happened, guys. Regardless of what side you're on, move on.

That said, there's a place for both. Both shows make good points and explore them pretty thoroughly. Jim seems to come at it from a consumer/gamer perspective, while EC seems to go for the designer angle. Each approach will appeal to different people: Jim's more palatable to a mass audience, while EC tends to go for a more cerebral approach because holy shit you guys, game design is complicated.

 

[Sprinal]

To me a few of the responces are a matter of tl;dr.
SO what I say may have already been said but:

I personally think they serve different rolls
Jim plays the roll of the gamer and his opinions on things as a gamer.

Where in comparison EC explain the Dev's decisions and the like. Giving an insight into why and not just the how and what.

So I think both are worthy of being listened to

 

[hazabaza1]

I have my reasons.
Basically, they over-analyse, patronise, have practically insulted people for liking certain games, and give a large "Holier than thou" impression.

I've never gotten the sense that they've insulted people. Hell, they're one of the few groups I can think of that actually avoids using ad hominem arguments, which is something I can't say for Jim or a large chunk of internet dwellers. Further more, how exactly do they over analyze things? Can you give any examples of them coming to a conclusion that isn't well supported by the evidence? I hear it said as gospel, but I don't see anyone trying to support it.

I forget what the name of the video was, but it was about the new Call of Juarez video and racism. From what I can remember, they essentially said that anybody who enjoyed it was wrong, and potentially racist.
In terms of over-analysing things, just go watch their Missile command video on "Morality". They look at a game where you try to get the highest score and start gushing over "HNNNG IT'S SUCH DEEP AND HIDDEN MORALITY"
[sub][sub]This post may contain some hyperbole.[/sub][/sub]

If you listened to the videos, it talked about how the game maker of missile command had nightmares of the towns he lived by getting nuked in the same way the towns in missile command's towns got bombed, and how he was emotionally traumatized for a long time.

And with call of Juarez, he said that some small percent of the people will probably think what the game said was true, even a small percentage of gamers thinking that mexicans are stealing american woman is a bad thing.

I don't get how somebody having nightmares about nukes shows "deep and subtle morality".
And I hate to be insulting to anyone who believes this, but if somebody is honestly going to take on board the idea that "DEM MEXICANS AM STEELIN' ARE WOMANS" from a video game known for its awful writing... well, who gives a shit about the stupids? Or is it just me seeing this?
[sub][sub][sub][sub][sub][sub][sub][sub][sub]Yes people, that was a joke,(at least partly) don't go all fuckin' tits up at me or whatever.[/sub][/sub][/sub][/sub][/sub][/sub][/sub][/sub]

 

[Eric Morales]

Let's put it this way, Jim Sterling is one of those people who should be "auto muted"

 

[PrinceOfShapeir]

I watched one episode of Extra Credits and while I found their points to be more or less valid, there were two problems.

1: Fucking boring.

2: The speaker (James, i think)'s voice is fucking annoying.

That, and I think they were a bunch of twats in the Kickstarter debacle. So yeah, not sad to see them gone from the Escapist. I'm not a huge Jimquisition fan or of Jim Sterling in general, but the guy at least gets me to chuckle occasionally.