"Me too!!"

[Cacophanus]

I am getting somewhat perturbed by the homogeneity of opinion over gaming. Moreover there also seems to be a distinct lack of solid qualitative analysis on the medium these days.

There is no diversity in tastes, or in any urge to explore the medium. To make matters worse people take far too much heed in what the press say.

What happened to people finding funky stuff and going "Hey! Look at this!!". Where is the enthusiasm?

[Treble]

In a way, buying import games off the Internet, and reading about peoples' impressions of them on websites, has limited the discovery process for many people.

I only really started using the net for gaming knowledge and importing about 18 months ago - before that, I used places I had found in the backs of mags like Edge and Sega Saturn Magazine, and the odd import shop.

Back in those days, when information wasn't as freely available, I'd often just buy a game based on a couple of blurry screens in a mag, or because of the screens on the box, or merely because of the genre or the developer.

It was a good way to become pretty import savvy (the developer choices in particular helped forge life-long allegiances for me), and maybe we have lost a bit of this along the way, due to progress (ironically).

EDIT - ok, so my focus is a bit off there, but I'll leave it written down, as it has a part to play in understanding the issue. ^_^

Simply put, I don't think there is any real problem here. Both posters on forums and magazines appear to have wildly differing opinions on individual titles.

[Garibaldi Biscuit]

*Goes off to look up 'homogeneity' in the dictionary*.

I'd agree with Treble in that the Internet has been somewhat a two edged sword in this regard. Due to this medium most of us now know far more about the latest releases than possible ten years ago, but much of the mystery and excitement is gone with familiarity breeding ( a degree of ) complacency and contempt - would I forgo all this new information for that feeling of walking into a shop and picking up a release just because it looked interesting? It's a tough one, but ultimatly I would have to choose what we have now, the ability to read of a game developing step by step and reading news as it happens without being forced into buying a magazine for the priviledge is a powerful draw indeed.

Enthusiasm, for many people ( myself included ), is a fragile thing. It may be immensely frustrating to hear someone start a thread bursting with ebullience over the latest import title, then to hear their joy and wonder slowly reduced as others state breaking message board opinions and official scores on the title, but at the end of the day you just have to believe in the strength of your own opinions.

It's like the mindset that a 6 or even 7/10 game is worth no investment of time whatsoever, as people only have enough time to spend on clear and precise gaming excellence, yet I argue that playing enjoyable games with flawed concepts is never a waste of time - this pass-time stretches from one extreme to the other, quality is elastic, it's what makes things so consistently interesting, and when we decide to only try the titles which pass a certain watermark we are limiting ourselves, and even limiting yourself to excellence is a sad thing.

[gamelife]

i think one of the main problems with the internet is that you get to see far more of unreleased games than you did years ago.

for example, i would always buy magazines, but it was quite limited when compared to the net. because of this i tend to loose alot of excitement for new games.

one game that i'm starting to get bored with seeing (but still gonna buy) is f-zero GX for GC , it's just seems as if i've been waiting for this game a lifetime because its been all over the net for ages.

[charlesr]

Look at the discussion arising from Otogi2 news. Wildly differing opinions and even some attempts at qualitative analysis. OK, it doesn't happen too often these days, so you have a point.

[Sieg]

Moreover there also seems to be a distinct lack of solid qualitative analysis on the medium these days.

The academic in me might appreciate that, true ... but on the whole I still view gaming as an amusing pastime - I probably wouldn't bother complicating that by reading such analyses, even if they were as prevalent as your common-or-garden magazine/website tripe... so no great loss ...

There is no diversity in tastes, or in any urge to explore the medium.

Gamers in general ? Well, If it were true (and I don't really think it is), and they're in some subliminal danger of falling into a certain genre-rut - if they're still having fun, does it really matter ?

To make matters worse people take far too much heed in what the press say.

Am I alone in not reading gaming magazines, or not visiting news-websites every half hour ? Or not posting in forums everyday ? Nope - there's loads of us out there who occasionally catch up in places like this, but otherwise get their gaming leads by experience and word-of-mouth, I'm sure.

What happened to people finding funky stuff and going "Hey! Look at this!!". Where is the enthusiasm?

I actually find NTSC-UK quite good for that sort of thing. On the other hand there are a lot of threads bemoaning the woeful state of the industry and the press (etc.) aren't there ?

S.

[Lebowski]

i rember when next gen magazine used to publish the daily radar site when it used to actualy have interesting stuff on about 5 6 years ago mind, i rember when i first found it, never had i seen so many new games all in one place and from that day i was converted,

now im working and have more time to browse the net you find that pretty much there isnt a game you dont Know about, or havent come across a hundred times or so. you tend to get more shots of games in mags thogh. the fact that you have seen read about half the stuff dose take the edge off, thats why mags have these demo dvds stuck on the front there trying to give something you cant get very easly of the net, footidge and demos of console games. or in Edges case interviews and opinions.

[womblingfree]

before that, I used places I had found in the backs of mags like Edge and Sega Saturn Magazine, and the odd import shop.

It makes me shudder to remember the outragous prices these stores often charged for imports. Thank God you can buy them online for retail price now.

You can always look in CEX for bargains and curios still.

[Xexex]

I am getting somewhat perturbed by the homogeneity of opinion over gaming.

I find this relates to the Big Brother household.

Stay with me.

The show on Sunday had a psychological analysis of the reception of Jon back into the household. They concentrated on Scott, and how he appeared to be pleased to see Jon but in actual fact wasn't - you could tell by the way his smile disappeared when he looked away, and so on. In fact, a few of the housemates had real emotions different to those they expressed.

The main thing is that everyone instantly tried to assess what the group reaction would be, and tried to fit in with it. Nobody actually expressed a differing opinion.

Now, that's obviously it taken to extremes. Those people have to live with each other for at least another two weeks. But look at how ostracised people can feel on here if they dare to venture an opinion different to others'. If someone says they're waiting for a PAL release, whatever the reason, they are often thought to be inferior. Didn't like Rez? You have no soul then. Think the PS2 has a better game lineup than the Gamecube? Heretic.

To avoid confrontation, people will rather ignore posts they don't agree with, rather than post a contradictory comment.

Now, this doesn't affect this forum as much, but it was a big problem on the old Edge fora - there was in effect just one view, the forum view, and anything else was sneered at. As a result, the forum became dull, lifeless, full of pettiness, and worthless. Luckily, NTSC-UK doesn't seem to be going down this route, since there's still occasional debate. But there's still a reluctance for anyone to post exactly what they want to say, instead of waiting to check that it'll fit in with what everyone else believes.

It's almost as if you're playing a game, where you've got to choose the correct response to continue. We shouldn't do that - in this game, there's some very advanced AI, and whatever we believe can be the right way forward. Remember that.

And with that, I'll post a new topic.

Tim (tm)

[Valken]

I am getting somewhat perturbed by the homogeneity of opinion over gaming. Moreover there also seems to be a distinct lack of solid qualitative analysis on the medium these days.

There is no diversity in tastes, or in any urge to explore the medium. To make matters worse people take far too much heed in what the press say.

What happened to people finding funky stuff and going "Hey! Look at this!!". Where is the enthusiasm?

You seem to assume that most people bothered posting stuff like "Hey! Look at this!!" in forums. It is my opinion that forums are simply a place for people to argue about the same old crap.

Unless you have evidence of this occuring in places than online bulletin boards. (and the "undedicated" gamer who enjoys the occasional go of a PS2 don't count)

[Vaipon]

What happened to people finding funky stuff and going "Hey! Look at this!!". Where is the enthusiasm?

Nothing has happened to it as far as I know. I often get excited about a game and want to tell the world about it. Even if it doesn't contain the most original new-school ideas, as long as it's enjoyable to play and provides me with an entertaining diversion, I'm happy. I'll often want to tell friends about it when a title sparks my interest. I was raving about ICO to one of my mates before I'd even received it from the importers because I was so wrapped in the screenshots I'd seen.

I think you've identified a problem that simply isn't there...

[EddieG]

I am getting somewhat perturbed by the homogeneity of opinion over gaming.

Surely the homogenous nature of the gaming industry has more to do with the fact that it is now run by big corporates rather than the old cottage industries.

Gaming has moved from Hobby to Business, and now the suits are saying "show me the money", which means companies are forced by management to produce huge mass appeal games hence the same old **** that appeals to teenages and below.

The money factor also explains another of your points

There is no diversity in tastes, or in any urge to explore the medium. To make matters worse people take far too much heed in what the press say.

Of course not, when money is the overriding factor, risk is not allowed, so niche market games are not made, so exploration is not allowed

It's not that people heed what the press say, but more that we aren't given a choice.

What happened to people finding funky stuff and going "Hey! Look at this!!". Where is the enthusiasm?

That's why we look at the import market, because it seems only Japan believes in diversity of choice. I have plenty of enthusiasm, but just can't find anything to be enthusiastic about in the Pal market.

[Smeghead]

nothing enthusiastic in the PAL market?

most my gaming lately has been PAL with the exception of Initial D as I like to still go into some games completely blind as I just fancy a new game, I find reading reams and reams on the latest software Zelda and Mario to name but a few, getting all hyped, then ultimately feeling dissapointed completely screws up your gaming experience. This will sound really "casual" but if I like the look of a game, I tend to buy it regardless of what people say. Yes you get serious turds, but at the same time, you've experienced them to be turds in your own eyes, not spoken lowly of them coz a magazine reviewer or forumite said so.

The most rewarding titles for me, have been ones I've gone into not expecting much from, and generally I find not expecting much from any title and judging it at face value brings far more reward, than finding out every little niblet of detail on a title, I was really hyped about Initial D, but I didn't go reading into it at all and it appears to have paid off, I havn't read over excited previews blowing aspects out of all proportion claiming them to be revolutionary, I haven't taken reviews and people saying it's the best game ever as fact, I jus dived straight in on it and loved it.

I may be missing the point of this, but I think alot of people on here read far too much about titles, blowing their anticipation levels too high for any game to meet, definitely something u can only do thanks to the constant flow of new information given by the internet.

[EddieG]

I may be missing the point of this, but I think alot of people on here read far too much about titles, blowing their anticipation levels too high for any game to meet, definitely something u can only do thanks to the constant flow of new information given by the internet.

I certainly agree with this, all the "big" titles get so over hyped you can't help but be disapointed. Despite my beliefs, I'm still a victim of this culture, and find myself waiting for rehashes of the same old games, (F-Zero, R-Type[which is about as old schools as you get these days], etc.)

The last time I bought something I thought was really innovative, (excluding the recent Gamepark purchase) was Super MonkeyBall, and of course that could be considered a rehash of marble madness!

[Cacophanus]

It's almost as if you're playing a game, where you've got to choose the correct response to continue. We shouldn't do that - in this game, there's some very advanced AI, and whatever we believe can be the right way forward. Remember that.

Me too!!