I ponder this question quite often when I read forums for any type of electronics or video game systems. People always trying to justify the money they spend on anything, overhyping its features as if their job and life depended on it. When in reality, they are just things that we enjoy. So why can't we enjoy them without preaching our preferences to others? Is it built into human existence and emotion? A part of our DNA that forces us to justify our likes to others?
Keeping up with and bettering ourselves over our neighbors seems to be what modern society does to justify their existence. Where others likes and desires cannot coexist with our own. Almost robot-like in intention: you must like what I like, if you don't... you're wrong.
Maybe it was me looking through the eyes of the child I once was, but I don't remember this being so prominent until the 2000s. When technology took over human existence and became a part of the blood that flows through our veins. Lately, I've tried to step away from technology and just enjoy life through the eyes of those who lived before it's existence. Step back into the 17 and 1800s, when lincoln logs and wood carved trucks and trains were the rave. Having to make up your own backstory, using your imagination, as to what you were doing with your toys at the time. Not that I have totally turned my back on technology, but I'm trying to step away from it so I can enjoy the simple things in life and prove that I can live without it.
You see, it wasn't that long ago where I caught myself online 8 to 10 hours a day or more. Technology had turned from a hobby to an addiction. I spent most of my time either thinking about technology or using it in one form or the other. Whether I was at home, on a bus or simply walking down a nature trail. Attached to me like a parasite, sucking the life from my bloodlines. Then I started opening my eyes and seeing those around me, doing the exact same thing, except worse. A girl on a roller coaster at Universal Studios in Florida beside me, texting while we are riding a high-speed roller coaster before, during and after departure.
It was at that point I realized just how much it had taken over my life and what I needed to do to step away from it, so as not to have it be such an integral part of my day. Then opened up my eyes to those who will argue till they're blue in the face to try to get people to see things their way on these very forums. Xbox versus PlayStation versus Wii. And the PC guys have to ring in to show their technological superiority over the human race. Acting as if you don't own a PC, you don't own a gaming system. Trying to preach to anyone who will listen, to justify the thousands of dollars they have spent to play the exact same games that console owners play in nothing more than a higher resolution and maybe a higher frame rate. Condemning those who don't think the exact same way.
Why does it matter so much what other people think, if you are enjoying what you are enjoying without them? Does it matter how many bytes are used or pixels are on screen, if you are having fun? There was a great article just the other day of a man who watched his children play games and point out the positive aspects of what they were seeing, while all he could do was point out the negative aspects of what he wasn't. It was the difference between the child gamer and the adult gamer. The adult gamer seems to be spoiled and expect developers to develop games around their wants and needs, child gamers enjoy what they are playing and don't care what developers implement, just as long as they are having fun.
What changes when we get older? Is it because we now have our own money to spend and feel entitled to perfection? Or does it come back with keeping up with the Joneses, and it isn't the games we are enjoying, as much as bragging about the systems we are playing them on? Arguing with others who don't share our opinions. It always makes me happiest when those around me are enjoying what they're doing. I like to ramp up excitement, to share in and spread that excitement to others. Especially when it comes to games and systems.
I will admit, I generally am a one console person per generation. For one reason or the other I will choose one companies console over the other, with no real loyalty to brand, just playing better games... But will always look at peoples choices to choose a different brand over mine and see the positives in that. I frown on those who try to bring others excitement level down for their system of choice. Wondering why it matters so much to someone else. So much so, that they would make another human being mad or sad over it. Aren't the systems put on this earth for our enjoyment? So why does it matter so much which one each person chooses, as long as they are enjoying themselves? Or does it really affect another human being that deeply that someone would choose something different then their brand?
As human beings we have a choice to be nice to each other, or not. When it comes to gaming, we all have a common denominator that we enjoy, so much so that we will talk to total strangers about it online. A hobby that has a passion like no other. So I'm begging of those who read this article, be a fan of your system without being a fanboy. We are all in this gaming thing together. No matter what brand we choose, it should be all about the games and the enjoyment we get from them. Instead of keeping up with the Joneses, why don't we befriend them and all enjoy this hobby together...
Despite No Man Sky's rocky launch, Hello Games managed to turn it into one of the best space exploration RPGs out there.
I hate the whole concept of "comeback story" because at the end of the day it doesn't remove the core issue we had in the first place, that we were lied to, it was disappointing and it launched with bare content to what was promised for years.
Any bad game can have a comeback story if it's supported enough after launch but for me if you launch in a terrible state then you had your chance. I can applaud you for what you've done after but at the end of the day there's not much of a choice since most gamers would blank your next product if you ditched your last game so fast, it's not about repairing the game but spending your time repairing gamers trust before you launch your next product otherwise it would be dead on arrival.
With these stories and the games being updated, the only way is up most of the time so of course it's going to improve the game and feel better over all, getting better and better as time passes. No Mans Sky, Sea of Thieves, Fallout 76 etc but then you have games like Anthem, Suicide Squad, Redfall and The Avengers where the devs just clearly moved on, now if they have another product people won't be as exited for it, I mean hell Guardians of the Galaxy was a great game but because of the Avengers it didn't help its sales since people were obviously still sour at that point.
I still think despite the improvements to games like No Mans Sky and Cyberpunk along with being better now overall the games are still not up there to what was promised and hyped as for years.
If we keep celebrating these “comeback stories” then unfortunately it only strongly supports the concept that these studios / publishers can continue to push half arsed broken products out for the sake of quick sales instead of waiting until they are fully finished. We need to condemn this awful behaviour or sadly we lose all voice and power as consumers.
I feel the same way about Cyberpunk 2077. I'm glad you mentioned that. I'm not a fan of comeback stories as well. But No man sky developer was a small indie team compared to CDPR. It's worse when it's coming from a AAA developer
"Any bad game can have a comeback story if it's supported enough after launch"
You make it sound so simple and easy. It's not. After release Hello Games poured countless hours into getting their game closer to what they originally wanted, without charging a penny to anyone. That's not normal.
The reason NMS and HG are held in such high esteem and calling them liars is a weak stance is the amount of work they've put into it, for free. They're not chasing a quick buck, they've dedicated their lives over the last few years to giving their fans the game everyone wanted.
They are liars though...
We are not revising history here, I'm sorry but we're not
They built this game up for years and they launched it knowing full well it wasn't up to scratch to what they originally showed off or hyped it up to be.
"They're not chasing a quick buck, they've dedicated their lives over the last few years to giving their fans the game everyone wanted"
And like I said above most of that comes from the fact that if they had just moved on straight away nobody would have supported their next game. They've washed most of that sour taste away after supporting No Mans Sky so now they are doing a new game which more people feel like they can support and get excited for.
Anyway how can you say "You make it sound so simple and easy. It's not" and then make the point that "Hello Games poured countless hours into getting their game closer to what they originally wanted, without charging a penny to anyone"
This means that if a small team like this can turn a game around then big AAA games like Suicide Squad, Redfall, Anthem and the like should have been able to do it no problem, oh but that's right they didn't want to put the time or effort into it. They can do it but some people just decide not to.
I really enjoyed it at launch and had every trophy by August 2016.
The experience I had is no longer in the game: It was just me and my ship. It was a survival game and the feeling of loneliness in the universe was pervasive. There was no way to ruin too far from your ship and, in an emergency, you grenaded a hole in the ground to survive.
I miss that aspect, but since then, I love what they've done.
Asura Kagawa from NoobFeed writes - Vindictus: Defying Fate is the upcoming action RPG game by NEXON, and it has the potential to have a significant impact on the action role-playing genre. Expanding upon the immense universe of its 2010 predecessor Vindictus, this installment is being developed using state-of-the-art Unreal Engine 5, ensuring an immersive and graphically stunning experience.
A ton of leaked Marvel's Wolverine PS5 test gameplay have surfaced showcasing boss fights, Rage Mode, wall running, combat and more.
Scumbag journalists who post leaked gameplay for internet points are as bad as the leakers.
You can choose not to be a scumbag.
As a person with Crohn's disease i take issue with you telling people to "shit up."
Am I crazy for being glad they showed this? Like, I’ve been wanting to see something for a long time. They actually do some journalism and we hate them for it?
Hate them for giving leakers a platform.
I want to see more too. But that's up to Insomniac.
Insomniac: “have you got a good tv, with HDR”
Player: “no”
Insomniac: “your screwed”
For someone to actually step out on a site like N4G of all places and discuss something like this is rare; but my friend, you make an awesome point.
I've tried to talk about this before - but that didn't get much attention.
Regardless though; I wish people would step back and see the bigger picture. In my eyes, it's just the fact that humans today are spoiled. They're being showered with all different kinds of wonders - wonders that most grandparents could tell you was nothing more than an insane dream when they were young. For that matter, when they get their hands on one of these wonders, they hold on to it as if it were some kind of precious jewel - and naturally - they don't want anyone around them to have something that outclasses their jewel, so they go up in arms and defend their treasure.
I don't understand why that mentality has taken suit - but all I can do is simply ignore the deranged and try and carry on sensible conversations with the logical and reasonable.
I'm also a one-brand owner. I just bought my first console three years ago (the Wii) and moved onto the Wii U in 2012. I had played the PS3 and 360 beforehand and they are awesome systems, no doubt - but the majority of their games didn't suit my criteria. So after extensive use of the Wii; I ultimately bought it. I bought the Wii U as a result of my fascination with it's predecessor, and I'm happy with my purchase.
I'm not gonna down-play anyone who buys a PS4 or even an XBOX One. That's their choice and their choice alone. Buy what you want and enjoy it. That's it's purpose, after all.
Not even the personals in these companies what most of these fan-boys defend with their lives have a even a fraction of the animosity we see on forums like these. They probably have tea-parties in their garages for all we know. (Just kidding).
But honestly; well written blog post. Please, build a website or blog if you haven't done so already and create more of these articles.
Awesome points, more people should be reasonable like yourself.
I really enjoyed the part with article you referenced about the man watching the kids play. They simply enjoyed themselves, and all he could see was faults. Kinda points to the cynicism of adults and the innocence of children, and that we should all be a little more like children.
I agree that we should enjoy life (and by extension video games) by what we merit. not on the backs of others faults or different opinions.
And the girl really texted the entire time she was on a rollercoaster? I never though it would say this but "what is this world coming to?"
I think some don't even really know why they do what they do.
I was honest with myself recently and determined that I was strongly attached to one console over the other. Not to the extreme though. I would never bash another person's preference ever.
I have my reasons...and they have there's. The problem I always have is...why does one party feel it's there life's goal to berate others who didn't purchase what you did.
Look at the articles with the highest heat. What do they have in common???
It's rare to get a comment section that doesn't eventually crumble into a back and forth pissing contest.
Humans enjoy debates. Politics, sports, videogames, religion.
...wrestling.
Everyone feels that they have the right idea/thing and get frustrated if someone challenges them with opinion.