Never let it be said that I am a compassionate and understanding man, so it should come as not surprise that there a just things that go on in the gaming world that make me want flip out and break things, especially when people keep doing the same things over and over again.
SO, here are some things that have been going on around here and writ large that have been driving me up the wall lately;
Racism, Sexism and Violence
This has been something of a hot button topic around these parts, and I'm fucking sick of it. Look, I get it; white people have been born into a position of relative advantage to other races. Males have advantages over females, this is not a new phenomena. But just so we're clear; racism against whites is still racism, just as sexism against men is still sexism. It shouldn't matter who the target is ITS STILL WRONG. Not only that, but what do you want me to do about it? I don't have any power over what society does, the most I can do is not be racism or sexist. And what really gets to me is how the term racism has turned into the smart-bomb of debate; calling someone a racist is a surefire way to shut down all meaningful discussion. Either you deny it (in which case you're still racist according to the moon logic these debates run on) or partially accept it, but it doesn't matter because now you're arguing from a weakened position, you're basically forced to admit a blatant falsehood to be true.
Level-Unlocked Multiplayer
And now for something completely different. Ever since Call of Duty 4 became a mega hit, everybody and their mother has included a multiplayer component that has players leveling up to unlock newer and more powerful weapons. How nobody saw the obvious flaw in this is beyond me. It essentially locks newer players out from picking up the game, as they continually get curbstomped by fully leveled players who've been playing since launch day. And no, Jim Sterling, it's not the same as the mad-dash for the rocket launcher other games had, because learning the fastest route to all the best weapons does not require you grind for bloody days, getting killed over and over again, just to stay competitive. That's not to say there haven't been games that do this well: Crysis 2 rocked tits because it gave everybody superpowers, made the "perks" have actual tangible benefits, and having a smaller number of unique weapons, rather than a crap-load of weapons that have little in the way diversity. Plus if I'm going to get assassinated by a player I can't see, I'd rather it because they were literally invisible than because I can't see them from the clutter in the level. Blops 2, despite what Yahtzee says, is one of the better examples of this type of multiplayer, if for no other reason than they've dispensed with the stupid, self-sustaining killstreak rewards and instead used rewards based on score, each of which is fairly easy to counter. But stupid decisions abound; first by using the weapon leveling system that requires more grinding to get attachments, second by using having tokens to unlock gear, but still locking the gear behind a level gate. You have to unlock shit twice!
Pretentious Games as Art
This one is a tad more subjective than the other two, because the definition of art is a fluid and fickle thing. I'll just say I've had it up to here with games that try to be about something. Games like Spec Ops: The Line, one of the most frustratingly overhyped and rock-stupid games I've played in a long time (and I sat through Braid!). It tries to be anti-war and subversive, deconstructing the Modern Military Shooter (a genre that was heading toward self-parody anyway), but in reality is just an anti-videogame screed that'd make Jack Thompson proud. It knows it's blisteringly hypocritical, so the gameplay is made shitty on purpose. And people praise it for this! Were this any other game, it'd have been crucified upon a cross of fire. Mostly what I'm sick of is the constant praise games like these get, where any criticism is countered with "Oh, you just didn't get it! Here's a video of someone really smart sounding on the internet who I just parrot over and over again because trying arrive at the same conclusion as them on my own is hard." I had a similar problem with Braid, however it's actually fun and interesting to play, it's just the story is completely incomprehensible. I've been told it's about the invention of the atomic bomb, but the fact the game, at no point, makes it clear whats going on is a major strike against it. Another thing that gets to me is the fan reaction to these games; If thou darest speak ill of thine golden calf, thou art soundly bludgeoned for obviously being part of the unwashed masses flinging shit at the ivory tower of intellect. Just because a game has something to say, does not excuse it being told poorly, or having shit gameplay.
Motion Controls and Touch Screens
I'd put a long rant here, but what to say that hasn't already been said before and better? They're unimmersive, gimmicky, finicky, and add little to gameplay.
"Broader Appeal"
Oh EA; only Electronic Arts could be so despised as to beat out major banks as the most hated company in America. Can't say they don't deserve it though, they seem determined to make every game they have under development suck by, instead of focusing on one or two interesting elements, throwing every possible thing people liked about other games into an unrecognizable gray morass. I'm cautiously optimistic about Dead Space 3; on the one hand, weapon crafting and a conclusion to a series that I adore. On the other hand, Gears of Lost Planet, and I'm worried they'll axe what few scares remain because the game being scary didn't focus test well.
So what are some trends you despise, Escapists? Are they anything like my list? Or is this just going to descend into anarchy because I brought up racism?
SO, here are some things that have been going on around here and writ large that have been driving me up the wall lately;
Racism, Sexism and Violence
This has been something of a hot button topic around these parts, and I'm fucking sick of it. Look, I get it; white people have been born into a position of relative advantage to other races. Males have advantages over females, this is not a new phenomena. But just so we're clear; racism against whites is still racism, just as sexism against men is still sexism. It shouldn't matter who the target is ITS STILL WRONG. Not only that, but what do you want me to do about it? I don't have any power over what society does, the most I can do is not be racism or sexist. And what really gets to me is how the term racism has turned into the smart-bomb of debate; calling someone a racist is a surefire way to shut down all meaningful discussion. Either you deny it (in which case you're still racist according to the moon logic these debates run on) or partially accept it, but it doesn't matter because now you're arguing from a weakened position, you're basically forced to admit a blatant falsehood to be true.
Level-Unlocked Multiplayer
And now for something completely different. Ever since Call of Duty 4 became a mega hit, everybody and their mother has included a multiplayer component that has players leveling up to unlock newer and more powerful weapons. How nobody saw the obvious flaw in this is beyond me. It essentially locks newer players out from picking up the game, as they continually get curbstomped by fully leveled players who've been playing since launch day. And no, Jim Sterling, it's not the same as the mad-dash for the rocket launcher other games had, because learning the fastest route to all the best weapons does not require you grind for bloody days, getting killed over and over again, just to stay competitive. That's not to say there haven't been games that do this well: Crysis 2 rocked tits because it gave everybody superpowers, made the "perks" have actual tangible benefits, and having a smaller number of unique weapons, rather than a crap-load of weapons that have little in the way diversity. Plus if I'm going to get assassinated by a player I can't see, I'd rather it because they were literally invisible than because I can't see them from the clutter in the level. Blops 2, despite what Yahtzee says, is one of the better examples of this type of multiplayer, if for no other reason than they've dispensed with the stupid, self-sustaining killstreak rewards and instead used rewards based on score, each of which is fairly easy to counter. But stupid decisions abound; first by using the weapon leveling system that requires more grinding to get attachments, second by using having tokens to unlock gear, but still locking the gear behind a level gate. You have to unlock shit twice!
Pretentious Games as Art
This one is a tad more subjective than the other two, because the definition of art is a fluid and fickle thing. I'll just say I've had it up to here with games that try to be about something. Games like Spec Ops: The Line, one of the most frustratingly overhyped and rock-stupid games I've played in a long time (and I sat through Braid!). It tries to be anti-war and subversive, deconstructing the Modern Military Shooter (a genre that was heading toward self-parody anyway), but in reality is just an anti-videogame screed that'd make Jack Thompson proud. It knows it's blisteringly hypocritical, so the gameplay is made shitty on purpose. And people praise it for this! Were this any other game, it'd have been crucified upon a cross of fire. Mostly what I'm sick of is the constant praise games like these get, where any criticism is countered with "Oh, you just didn't get it! Here's a video of someone really smart sounding on the internet who I just parrot over and over again because trying arrive at the same conclusion as them on my own is hard." I had a similar problem with Braid, however it's actually fun and interesting to play, it's just the story is completely incomprehensible. I've been told it's about the invention of the atomic bomb, but the fact the game, at no point, makes it clear whats going on is a major strike against it. Another thing that gets to me is the fan reaction to these games; If thou darest speak ill of thine golden calf, thou art soundly bludgeoned for obviously being part of the unwashed masses flinging shit at the ivory tower of intellect. Just because a game has something to say, does not excuse it being told poorly, or having shit gameplay.
Motion Controls and Touch Screens
I'd put a long rant here, but what to say that hasn't already been said before and better? They're unimmersive, gimmicky, finicky, and add little to gameplay.
"Broader Appeal"
Oh EA; only Electronic Arts could be so despised as to beat out major banks as the most hated company in America. Can't say they don't deserve it though, they seem determined to make every game they have under development suck by, instead of focusing on one or two interesting elements, throwing every possible thing people liked about other games into an unrecognizable gray morass. I'm cautiously optimistic about Dead Space 3; on the one hand, weapon crafting and a conclusion to a series that I adore. On the other hand, Gears of Lost Planet, and I'm worried they'll axe what few scares remain because the game being scary didn't focus test well.
So what are some trends you despise, Escapists? Are they anything like my list? Or is this just going to descend into anarchy because I brought up racism?
