Original_Name wrote:
I have the utmost respect for every statement you made here, and I applaud you for your well thought-out statements. The thing is, I don't understand why it should be one thing to expect integrity from developers, but another thing entirely to expect integrity from console manufacturers. Even if it's ridiculous to demand integrity, I'll continue to do so. I'm here to support the interactive arts -- call that deluded or pretentious if you like, but I can't help but feel scorn at the notion that I have to support corporations which have, in my view, done little but dilute the gaming gene pool in order to experience a handful of niche titles. I recognize that I'm in the minority here -- I just don't understand why the majority of long-time gamers seem to be in this weird middle-ground, where they overwhelmingly state that this generation is unequivocally the worst in gaming history, yet they continue to throw their money into the pockets of the culprits.
If I could buy a console used and every cent I spent on games went to the developers and publishers, I would be all-in for gaming this generation. Obviously, that's not the case -- but I don't want to support Sony or Microsoft's presence in gaming at all. I'm not in their better interests, so why should they be in mine? If so many people dropped Sega after the 32X, I don't see why it should be controversial that I've dropped Sony and Microsoft after a string of business decisions which I disagree with. But to reiterate, I recognize that I am clearly in the minority here.
I want to say that I hope you don't think I was attacking you. I have a lot of respect for you and the things you've said here on Racketboy. And after reading your post here, its clear to me that we don't disagree on this as much as I had thought.
To clarify my position a bit, I appreciate that you're pointing to this generation as a whole being a problem. My annoyance comes when people choose one company, bubble over with rage at how horrible they are, and then point to the other guys as though they're some shining example of how to do things right.
I'll be the first guy to say that I don't like where the industry as a whole is going right now, but for anyone to claim that one company is more responsible than another is ignorant and strikes me as fanboyism.
And its that very middle ground gamer you're referring to is the most hypocritically vocal about this subject. As I said in my last post, if so many gamers
really had such a problem with the way things are, they wouldn't spend their money on it. Rather, they would take the road you have and choose not to support it at all. Which is a perfectly fine position to take. But they don't do that. Instead, they yell and scream as gamers love to do and immediately defeat themselves by feeding the beast with their wallets. Either the available systems have something to offer them and they simply don't want to admit it, or they have extremely poor judgment when it comes to spending their money.
As for your choosing not to support Sony and Microsoft, you're right that you're in the minority, but I don't think its weird or pretentious at all. I would never expect you to support them, and you have good reason not to. At least you've taken a stand, and decided where the line was for you. I respect that. If that means you can't get behind the games themselves either, then so be it.
I don't have any love for the companies themselves. But here's the thing. The industry has changed, and call me a pessimist, but its never going to go back to the way it was. The current model makes big money, and as much as I'd like it to be all about the art and the fun, the truth is it never will be. At least not on a larger scale than indie development.
Having said that though, I can't allow myself to walk away from the games. Whatever their motivations, there are some wonderful games being released in this generation, and while I might not like it, I'm willing to give in on some things in order to experience those games.
I love games too much to deny myself access to them based on principal. I respect the idea and in other areas of my life I've done the same. But in this case I simply can't. Maybe that's irresponsible of me, I don't know. But I don't pretend that its anything other than what it is.
I hope I've explained myself a bit better. Stuff like this comes much easier to me in actual conversation rather than back and forth writing on the internet.
. It's not every day that you find people online that resort to arguing with the sole intention of defaming whatever they don't like. I'll humbly bow out from any chance of starting a flamewar, but I'll say 'good on ya!' for some nice constructive criticism.
