• 14Aug 08

  RE: The Gamespot Advantage

  

  In case you guys haven't already seen it go check out Doug's soapbox addition on Gamespot now. You need to read it to understand my feelings about it.

  I was discussing this infact with both -TheWormsMan- and despa1r_fact0r with both having the same response as me. DouglasBuffone may be a popular guy on GS, I can accept that, but the Gamespot Advantage ticked me off in so many ways. Not only did it present he was a fanboy to the cause Gamespot presents, ignorant to any past events such as the Gertsmann fiasco or Giant Bomb for that matter, but it just showed his lack of a decent opinion simply put.

  

  I felt no emotion or belief in what Doug had to say, there I've admitted it. His cause was to treat us like morons, like we all lacked knowledge of gaming in the slightest

  "how many people work to make "children's toys" (which, if you haven't already discovered or accepted, is a completely false stereotype)"

  but like he was a God in the industry or something. Seriously guys, he thinks he is a God the way he wrote the flippin' thing.

  "Gamespot became a part of CNET yet I find that they are still more inclined to make the individual's experience the best possible"

  What you mean the few remaining staff that haven't left? The few remaining people that have kept on going only because it will be the only work they'll get? Be real! GS has worsened because of CNET. I know that IGN aren't exactly very good with this either, but atleast their staff are experts when it comes to game reviewing, articles and content, something everyone would prefer over 1 or 2 per month.

  "A large part of the reason is that the people who are actually working for Gamespot, appreciate us."

  So you've never seen them look down on us ever? You've never seen them not comment back to all those who talk about their work? I'll admit it now, the only GS member I've spoken to properly is hardly ever even on the damn site, nevermind contributing. And he has probably made the best contributions out of the entirety of the staff even if he isn't active.

  "Another huge component about Gamespot's success is the Unique user-staff relationship. The fact that they allowed someone like me to come to their offices, and then to treat me with respect and kindness, should persuade you that they are all fans at heart."

  But why were you invited in the first place Doug? Why? Granted you're a talented writer, but say if it was someone normal like myself, would I be allowed to visit. Heck, they wouldn't mind if the under-preivlaged and disabled would visit right? And the user-staff relationship is poor to say the least. No one respects the mods, the actual staff are considered lazy and those who did like the original staff in the first place, have all left for Giant Bomb.

  "In fact, most of the staff are longtime workers or former users. More than anyone else, these people sustain and improve the original doctrine of Gamespot--creating a site that is always improving, and with the user's best wishes primary."

  No Doug, most of them left.

  "With their new parent company (CBS) at the helm, Gamespot is poised to create a more interactive, informative, and fun experience while improving the cornerstones of what has made this place great"

  It would still be a great place if the Kane and Lynch problem never happened. And by the looks of the new layout and reception from the users (something GS are likely to ignore anyway) no one would be happy about changes at all. In fact, if any chnages are made I doubt they'll positive at all now, even if they do prove beneficial in the end.
  

  "No one asked me to write this--I wanted to. Frankly, I cannot think of an appropriate way to thank all the people at Gamespot, but hopefully this serve as an adequate start."

  Why tell us then Doug?

  Overall, I wasen't convinced by what he had to say at all. The way he presented his snobbish, ignorant attitude of the future of the site, or even its present problems made me wonder why he bothered to talk about GS in the first place. Now I can't go around accusing anyone of anything without the right evidence, but this really feels like the work of a fanboy.

  To me, Doug is someone who can't accept that his favourite site is crashing down faster than the wall street crash did during the 1920s. His fake attitude to the general opinion on Gamespot may be considered admirable and optomistic, but to me it looks ignorant and very corrupt.

  Now I know that I'm going to get a bad response from this, so go ahead flame me. But for those out there who agree with me that this kind of thing can't go un-noticed, mark yourselves here and say yes. Because, believe me, once unions are up in Giant Bomb, this place is going to be history --- Lets see the happy Gamespot Advantage then...

  

  EDITED NOTES: For some odd reason, I can't add italics to my text. Another brilliant flaw of GS, ladies and gents.

  Thanks for reading.

  Loopy_101

  • Posted Aug 14, 2008 11:03 am PT
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• 14Aug 08

  Three Years On Gamespot...

  Three years on Gamespot since yesterday...I honestly can't believe I've stayed on the site for this long. Since my early days and the outrage I caused during my first six months in the forums, it really is a wonder I'm still here. If it wasen't for people like madman608, kingkilla3, finalfan789, Asakurahao2004, Garfield360UK and Brickmanfalcon....I would've been gone ages ago. So yeah, thanks you guys. Thanks for three great years of giving me a reason to keep coming back to this site. Without us, GS would never be a place worth visiting.

  

  Your prize is cake, so eat up!

  Loopy_101

  • Posted Aug 14, 2008 5:39 am PT
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• 30Jul 08

  Video Games: Changing For the Better Or For The Worse?

  Selling video games is an odd business, and in recent years it has become perhaps its most unusual in all of its history. Where the old terms of better graphics and more high tech conponements meant the difference in winning a console war or not a few generations ago, today, it is all down to innovation that makes games and systems sell. An example of this would be the optomistic Wii, which has been changing everyones perspective on gaming for the last year or so it has been in business. Problem is, it is because of the Wii, the job of selling games has become a much harder task, especially for eastern game producers. How does a strategy work for everyone in gaming? How can games be altered to suit all audiences world wide rather than just one?
  
  Back in the past, games were almost completely changed for the western audience when this question arised. Take Contra for example, the game was shaped into almost a different game when it was released as "Probotector" in Europe. The design was changed almost everywhere on everything! Interestingly enough too, into robots! Another example is the Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest games. Both of these had scenes of kissing and romance cut out as well as a few references due to the audiences Square were working with over in America. We as gamers, we're too serious and edgey about the content in our games, and with Japanese audiences being mainly open about subjects we darn not to discuss, we sadly missed out on key features and devices in several games.

  
  
  Today however, that story almost seems the absoloute reverse. It is something that really isn't necessary now. Games in Japan are being changed there in bizzare ways. Infact take a look at Soul Calibur 4, it almost lives and breaths fanservice the way characters have been presented in the game. Namco have gone to use some skimpy revealing clothes, similar to something found in Dead or Alive simply to sell a few extra copies of the game. What the hell?
  
  Now Soul Calibur 4 is actually a good game, no doubt about that, but when it comes down to developers doing changes like this for the sad, sad perverted gamer something seriously has changed in gaming. Whether its for the better, I seriously don't know. But all that outrage about explicit content in games has been thrown out the window now. Don't get me wrong on this, explicit content should be in games, if it is a gameplay element or realistic element, but this is a mainstream game we're talking about!

  
  
  Just imagine it yourself, what if your favourite game was changed just so it could suit everyone? Rememeber the Jak and Daxter games? The game was originally a cutesy, beautiful 3D platformer, and it took the old platformer roots from Mario, Crash and Sonic making a fantastic game just by mixing the 3. Yet with its sequel, everyones jaws dropped when they saw how gritty the game had become. Jak now had a gun, he now had a voice, he now swore his head off! And the whole plot of the first game was just ripped up to shreads. In fact, the game was no longer a platformer following this change, but rather an action adventure game. It followed as a GTA clone, something that became increasingly popular following Jak's release.
  
  This seriously effects Japanese games. Not long ago, a game known as Okami was released. The game was a wonder for those few people who played it. The game had a tranquil atmosphere, it made a few unique touches to be a game worth remembering but sadly it sold very poorly. That isn't the end of it though. The Katamari games, also unique of a game, and an excellent game indeed, also did badly as far as sales were concerned due to how different it was.

  
  
  Gamers no longer like something that is original, there I've said it. We no longer want to experience anything that is different or unique, but rather for assembling our love for guns and boobies. The reason I say this is because there are just so very few new games in developement and many more sequels in the works. Sequels can be good, but the sequel list was through the roof this E3. Call me mad or crazy for saying that I don't want a sequel to Fallout, I don't want a sequel to Metal Gear Solid and I don't want a sequel to Halo but is that really the only future for gaming? Sequel after sequel?
  
  I could be wrong, but unless change is made for soon we could be developing a fatal pattern to an eventual downfall in gaming. It has already begun in the platform and puzzle genre and it is slowly working its way through the fighters. I could be just paranoid but look carefully at what games you're buying this year, just tell me, how many sequels are on that list? Is there anything starting, fresh as baked bread that you'd actually play? Because I honestly can't think of just one game off the top of my head.
  
  Thanks for reading anyway though.
  
  Take care guys!
  
  Loopy_101
  

  • Posted Jul 30, 2008 7:56 am PT
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