Crusading against the hardcore...

[IcePak]

Personally, that's what I'm resentful off. I simply don't have the time or the energy for people who aren't willing to have an open mind and accept different viewpoints.

With regards to EDGE. Well, to be frank, they are all over the place at the moment. You've got RedEye one month openly preaching the virtues of Sega's cream and MAME, and then the next textually obliterating the hardcore community for perceived arrogance. Another month you've got RedEye throwing up concerns about the cynicism of the industry collaborating and throwing up yet more licensed titles, then the next moaning why there aren't more people from the film industry getting involved to create more products.

Then you've got the magazine. One month the editorial is bitching about the arrogance of the "hardcore" community towards the mainstream. Another month the editorial is focused on how you shouldn't be ashamed of being "hardcore" by what people think, and don't be afraid of carrying that Steel Battalion case away from the store. At one point, you've got the editorial claming the quality of videogames has never been higher and we shouldn't have any reason to complain, then another recent month fretting over the fact that the quality and depth of software just isn't there anymore.

Put simply, there is total lack of balance in terms of philosophy with EDGE. A magazine with a lack of focus, if I ever saw one.

Not to be rude or anything, but you're being hypocrytical there. At one moment you're asking for people to have an open mind to accept different viewpoints, then you're critising Edge for portraying different viewpoints.

I'm not trying to justify what Edge is saying, or their current quality, but I've always seen them as a magazine who will give both sides the the same arguement , and letting the readers decide on which opinion they want to go with. Isn't this giving readers an opportunity to be open minded?

Nothing ANY magazine prints should be taken to heart. They are merely there to provide you with information. Portraying only one opinion is very narrow minded, and is something that no magazine should do (although there are plenty out there that do this, specifically platform specific mags).

That is why I find your criticism of Edge's varying opinions hypocritical.

[IcePak]

There's hundreds of gaming genres to be found.
Develoers are becoming more experinced and new ones are poping up.
Publishers are becoming more risk taking.
Publishers that arent are dying out.
Movie licences (Rambo wasent the best movie tie in after GoldenEye) are better than there 8 bit, 16 bit counterparts.
The ratio of good to bad games is still even.

I'm not sure I agree with that entirely. To me is seems like the ratio between good and bad games has changed in recent times. Maybe not on a huge scale, but there are certainly more good games around these days then there was in the past.

However, this is becoming a bad thing in itself. With the general quality of most games reaching a certain point, the market feel oversaturated with good games, leaving consumers left with the decision of what good game to pick out of a large range of good games. This gives a lot of games a "samey" feeling, because with so much available, the difference between each game isn't going to be much at all.

This increase in quality also rises the expectation of gamers, who expect more from a game everytime they buy a new one, and this is something that not every game can provide. Revolutionary games such as Mario 64 only come along so often, but to me it seems like most gamers expect for nearly every game to be of this quality these days. Developers can only do so much at any one time, and expecting the next Mario 64 in every game is unrealistic. Revolution takes time, so we need to learn to learn to accept games for what they are at the time of release. If you want to only play revolutionary games, then your games collection is going to be very small.

[IcePak]

This certainly is a very interesting topic, and there has been plenty of good posts.

On the point of analysing gaming to a certain standard, I feel it to be a bad thing in my opinion. An over analysis of something can make you become aware of a lot of bad things, and this can put you of it. I've recently been through a period of negativity towards a lot of media formats, specifically games. Recovery from this negative point-of-view has taken a long time, but I finally feel that I am starting to enjoy games again (not all, but some) to a similar degreee that I used to a few years back.

Perhaps from a developers point-of-view, analytical study of game would be beneficial, because they can discover what makes certain games tick to hopefully produce a better game themselves, but as a games player, I feel that there is no need for it. It detracts from the fun that games are meant to be, and introduces doubt and negative thoughts when playing games.

[Shevek]

It's very interesting to see that this thread has been revived, especially in light of EDGE's recent issue. They are still crusading against the "hardcore" and their motives are now all the more transparent. The irony of it all though, is that they think they are defending themselves from a force of subjugation (eg - the "hardcore" gamers), but in reality they are instigating a surreal form of totalitarianism (which exceeds the purposes of journalism surely?). It seems that the gamers are the ones that care, and that the journalists need medication.

[Sketcz]

Im still waiting to hear the gist of Redeyes recent column.
Anyone feel like giving a detailed summary?

Anyway, Shevek, do go on, not having the latest issue, (my sub has finally run out ), I find the comments people make gripping.

EDGE defending themselves against a serious gamer backlash?
Interesting.

[tankplanker]

I've read through this months redeye coloum twice now, and I still can't be 100% what hes on about, but to me, it seems like it is written in that breathless, helium voiced, pr babble that plages press releases.

I would guess that its a thinly veiled personal attack on a person or persons unknown to most people. Or, I could be totally wrong, I suggest you read it for yourself.

Edges stance makes little sense to me, they are trying to distance themselves from their core readship - they have the highest population of multi console owners, and biggest spenders on games (according to their reader surveys) - this in my mind makes someone pretty comitted to gaming.

I would have prefered they dropped the hardcore label and named what they really want to challenge - elitest, snobby gamers.

[Shevek]

I would have prefered they dropped the hardcore label and named what they really want to challenge - elitest, snobby gamers.

Indeed, but I think their evasive attitude over this social subset is because they know that in a direct fight they would most probably lose. Both EDGE and the gaming snobs are elitist, the only discerning factor between the two is that the snobs are considerably more knowledgeable than EDGE's current staff of writers and editors. I think this recent set of attacks on the "hardcore" belies the fact that EDGE think they are outgunned. Wars of attrition never end well.

[tankplanker]

I would have prefered they dropped the hardcore label and named what they really want to challenge - elitest, snobby gamers.

Indeed, but I think their evasive attitude over this social subset is because they know that in a direct fight they would most probably lose. Both EDGE and the gaming snobs are elitist, the only discerning factor between the two is that the snobs are considerably more knowledgeable than EDGE's current staff of writers and editors. I think this recent set of attacks on the "hardcore" belies the fact that EDGE think they are outgunned. Wars of attrition never end well.

especially when the one you are attacking pays your wages.

[Max M]

I would have prefered they dropped the hardcore label and named what they really want to challenge - elitest, snobby gamers.

Well said. That's the problem with Edge's banal rants about gamers; they make out everyone is the same and tar everyone with the same brush. They also come across as hypocrites, as the magazine sounds just as 'snobby' as anyone else when they're moaning about the masses buying too many sequels and licensed games.

Then again, it could all be pre-emptive damage control, if, as the rumours suggested, they intend to make the magazine even more mainstream in the future.

[Shevek]

Stature is the problem here, both in its acquistion and sustenance. Most importantly of all however, it is utterly unecessary. EDGE needs to be a lucid magazine, and not one that wields self-confessed (and inadequate) wisdom as a weapon.

I never thought I would utter the above in conjunction with EDGE, but I see no reason to bury one's head in the sand.

[Sketcz]

If I didnt know better, Id say we were being graced with Mr Pooles presence.
So, are you steve?
if not, no worries, but you have a similar writing style.

[Ady]

Then again, it could all be pre-emptive damage control, if, as the rumours suggested, they intend to make the magazine even more mainstream in the future.

Despite one or two interesting points, this issue certainly seems to be a statement of intent for the magazine (and I can only assume RedEye's article is an unfunny joke...).

It's kinda cute in a way; Edge wants to be 'down with the kids'... aww, bless.

[Chadruharazzeb]

So ironic that the most pompous, elitist, and aloof gaming publication is chastising what it percieves to be pompous, elitist and aloof gamers.

RedEye is one of the most opinionated tits in journalism. Who gives a **** what he thinks anyway?

[Ady]

So ironic that the most pompous, elitist, and aloof gaming publication is chastising what it percieves to be pompous, elitist and aloof gamers.

Maybe that's why they're doing it.

They want you to think they're unpredictable and edgey. Woo!

RedEye is one of the most opinionated tits in journalism. Who gives a **** what he thinks anyway?

I actually like RedEye a lot, but this month was taking the piss. So he's trying to parody 'mainstream' writing in line with the issue and the rumours. Har-har.

[Chadruharazzeb]

Edgey... BOOM BOOM!!