Anonymity is buffer for consequence. Perhaps that’s why in our era religious texts and pitchforks have been replaced by keyboards and broadband connections. Granted, we live in a time of donning masks: the lonely are led to Second Life, videogames imitate power fantasy, and intolerance is epitomized by a faceless crowd, who stare at computer screens and treat dissonance as a disease. Continue »
"This game is like attaining a state of Nirvana, within Nirvana" - A quotation predicted to appear in a 2009 game review
When an audience saw a reel of film projected onto a backdrop for the very first time, they were so taken with the reality of the illusion that they ran, panicked and screaming, to the back of the theatre. The moving image was that of a train rolling into a station; towards the camera, and, in turn, the mass of people in its path of motion. To them, it all but barreled through the screen.
If you frequent games press outlets upon the eve of a tentpole release, where thousands of smelly nerds wear down that F5 key at 11:59 for the long awaited review, you already know the likely outcome: Being told that game X will transcend review scales, be the best of all time, make the previous hyperbole darling a moot point, and redefine the gaming landscape, of course.
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When folks versed in their good book go out to preach the word, they don’t want to hear about a different book that you might adhere to. Tell the gallivanting doorbell sermon that you’d like to discuss the nature of their beliefs and yours – rather than them telling you how unquestionably right they are – the look on their faces will then turn from being bright as the Sunday afternoon, to harsh as a wicked storm.
Now, plenty of gamers subscribe to their games as resolutely as the millions enamoured with their untouchable beliefs, and if you show an inkling of opening discussion over that which they love religiously, the diatribe is heated, quick, and cruel. But rarely is the scorn against your words. Rather, it will probably be against the number by which you sum your praise and criticism of the game. Continue »