Hypocrite, the New Word for "Gamer?"

With the games industry seemingly at one of the highest points in years and more games than one could ever conceivably play, one would think that all gamers would be brimming with joy. Sadly, this isn't the case, and the only thing brimming is flamebait and hypocrisy. Sadly, as with previous generations, these people are no longer the minority, they have become the overwhelming majority, especially on well established sites. The biggest issue is the unrelenting defense of their preferred platform, to the point of complete and undeniable hypocrisy.

Our first matter of subject will be "timed- exclusives." In previous generations there was no question in the general consensus, timed-exclusives were by most considered shady business. (I personally never saw the issue, still don't) However in recent times, we have come to a point where timed-exclusives seem to only be an issue in very rare instances. Some Examples:
http://n4g.com/news/1567383...
http://n4g.com/news/1698547...

Now, I would say that these views could just be reflections of previous outcries against such practices, but along side these articles, in which timed-exclusives are begrudged, come articles praising these same practices, never a single article in complaint, even in the comment sections for these complaints are slim.
http://n4g.com/news/1746268...
http://n4g.com/news/1742700...
http://n4g.com/news/1740275...
In fact, a few sites even went as far as to claim a time-exclusive won E3 for Sony:
http://n4g.com/news/1746220...

However, this is far from the only time when we see such a double standard being shown. In fact, one of the most egregious sins many attribute to MS was buying third party exclusives rather than making first party games. However, don't share that same disdain with other games that are doing this, in fact are given praised by the authors of these articles and comments. such as:
http://n4g.com/news/1640456...
http://n4g.com/news/1635182...
http://n4g.com/news/1559928...

Yet again, this is still far from the end of the hypocrisy, we have these same double standard in views of multimedia functions (such as TV) of the consoles, Timed DLC deals, and almost every single aspect of the consoles that one could imagine. I believe this double standard all stemmed from the uproar that was created by the launch of the Xbox One and those opposed to the things it stood for. However, those issue are no longer part of the console and those leaders who made those decisions no longer reside at MS.

Sadly, this double standard seems to be increasingly apparent. These short-sighted and incredibly inaccurate statements used to only exist in comment sections and rage induced forums. Now, these kinds of things are being created as Primary news stories on websites in order to get hits, many of which obtaining the highest views on certain sites. Many people will even go to lengths of creating stories, based on complete fabrications of their imaginations, that when Sony does these things that they are doing it to save the company/game in question. On the flip side they make even more outlandish stories that MS always buys exclusives content/games/timed that have already been created and that it is just a bankroll. (however, many times this is still largely seen in comment sections and forums, although increasingly from websites) The reality is though, those stories are just that, stories and frankly they change nothing for the consumer. If a 3rd party exclusive is bought, regardless of how or why, as a consumer what difference does it make if it was one way or another? The game is still exclusive and it is still paid for by the console manufacturer. Unfortunately, this trend doesn't seem to have any indication of stopping any time soon.

I personally think as gamers we should be praising publishers for bringing the quality content that they are bringing and enjoy what it is that we enjoy. Rather than bashing what we don't for no reason other than to appease our own bias. We are in a time where games are more abundant and, in many cases, of higher quality than ever before. Some people would rather focus on belittling what they didn't choose than focusing on what they did.

[Godmars290]

"I personally think as gamers we should be praising publishers for bringing the quality content that they are bringing and enjoy what it is that we enjoy. Rather than bashing what we don't for no reason other than to appease our own bias."

Aretn't you doing just that with this article? Damning one group because in your mind they seem to be rubbing an advantages they have over another group? Nevermind that this second group has long been accused of doing the exact same thing.

How about taking to some of the spirit of your own article and just forget the fanboy BS?

[IrisHeart]

I agree also Nihilism.

[Bansai]

MS does timed exclusive with TR - everybody is throwing shit at them, Sony buys SF exclusivity, all hail Sony, this is good for them this is a big deal.

If it's not hypocrisy I don't know how else to call it.

[donthate]

Unfortunately I think this site is haven for this type of attitude, and it is magnified because the Playstation is more popular now.

Reality is that Xbox and Playstation has more or less swapped places from last generation.

Oh, the irony!!!

[nicksetzer1]

"I personally think as gamers we should be praising publishers for bringing the quality content that they are bringing and enjoy what it is that we enjoy. Rather than bashing what we don't for no reason other than to appease our own bias."

"Aretn't you doing just that with this article?"

No actually, what publusher did I bash to suit my bias? The answer is none. How you came to aucha. Conclusion, or got any agrees for something so clearly inaccurate is just crazy. Pointing out double standards that are being practiced by "journalist" and commebtors is hardly the same as participating in said double standard.

What you are asking is if me thinking a double standard is stupid and pointing it out is the same and having a double standard, which it isn't. I clearly stated my feelings on each subject before hand and how I feel about said practices. That feeling is shared regardless of the perpatrator.

In fact, go ahead and point out where I did something opposing the quote you just posted, because I don't recall doing any of that. You posting a quote and then blaming me of something completely unrelated is absolutely baffling.

[nicksetzer1]

Also, I would like to point out for all those crying. I specifically pointed out that fanboys exist on both sides, and that both sides are capable of these kinds of views. The point was that "gaming websites" are now fueling this. Unfortunately, many here seem unable to read.

"Sadly, this double standard seems to be increasingly apparent. These short-sighted and incredibly inaccurate statements used to only exist in comment sections and rage induced forums. Now, these kinds of things are being created as Primary news stories on websites in order to get hits, many of which obtaining the highest views on certain sites."

Feel free to ignore this though, and feel free to ignore that it is an irrational double standard being practiced by more And more sites as well as commentors. Obviously it has always existed, and frankly, it is just as bad then. However it coming from "gaming sites" and "journalists" along with getting the overwhelming amount of "agrees" is different than the past. You just choose to forget that.

Also, to claim there is jo way to know how people really feel is immensely inaccurate. There is an agree/disagree system on this site, it is not hard to see what people really feel in relation to an articles content. Again though, it seems to be the general consensus to ignore all that because this article is pointing out things that most of those commenting here are participating in. Wasn't expecting anything other than those people to come in and give themselves pats on the back and upvotes.

[Godmars290]

What publisher do I mention? How in your "wall of text", even if it is well broken up by paragraphs, did you come to the conclusion that I meant anything close to publishers?

I was talking about fanboys, you were talking about fanboys.

Specifically you were talking about fanboys who couldn't deal with some kind of truth or other, where manipulating things among the gaming media community, and where somehow ruining it for the gaming community at large. Complaining about it so much in fact, that though you accused and tried to point them out, that you were only identifying yourself as being one of them.

"I think thou dost protest too much."

[nicksetzer1]

@godmars YOU posted this quote from me, a quote that has nothing to do with anything you just said.

"I personally think as gamers we should be praising publishers for bringing the quality content that they are bringing and enjoy what it is that we enjoy. Rather than bashing what we don't for no reason other than to appease our own bias."

To which you called me a hypocrite. However, I did not participate in any of the actions in that quote. Not only that, you continue to claim I am somehow pointing myaelf out, yet you haven't given a single example how.

So to be clear. You posted a quote irrelevant to what you actually meant to "prove" I am what I am complaing about. You then follow up pretending as if you are completely confused with how the english language works. Then you claim the quote had nothing to do with what you are talking about and that you are just talking about fanboys in general. None of your logic makes any sense, yet you are the one acting confused?

[Godmars290]

I'm not confused. You're complaining about Sony-positive opinion-pieces in the wake of E3 after they apparently used methods, buying exclusivity, that MS has been accused of and chastised for. You call out Sony fanboys as hypocrites to such a degree that you come off as a hypocrite. I merely pointed such out, and told you to let it go.

You're not letting it go.

[nicksetzer1]

"I merely pointed such out, and told you to let it go.
You're not letting it go."

I guess I just didn't realize that you telling me to "let it go" was a requirement. Especially when what you are really saying is to just accept your completely unfounded accusation.

"I'm not confused. You're complaining about Sony-positive opinion-pieces in the wake of E3 after they apparently used methods, buying exclusivity, that MS has been accused of and chastised for. You call out Sony fanboys as hypocrites to such a degree that you come off as a hypocrite"

You do realize that this entire comment makes no sense at all. In fact, you are literally just stating facts and following them buy "and that makes you a hypocrite too."

Yes, I did complain about the inequality of the gaming media's reactions to two similar events, and yes I did point out that the outcome of the news seems to hinge on the publisher. Also, not once did I mention fanboys and only twice did I even mention Sony, once of which was simply as a description.

It is sad that you are so hell bent on making sure you paint me as a "xbox fanboy" who is also a hypocrite that you are actually creating things in your own mind. Going back to the story you will see none of those things actually were said and honestly, it just shows your own insecurity about your own actions. I don't claim to have no preference and I clearly prefer xbox, however that doesn't mean I dislike Sony or Nintendo and I actually am Very fond of both. As one last meniton, I would like to point out that I do make sure to mention that it has always been an issue, the point of this blog post was simply to point out it is becoming more of the norm and even has extended itself to the gaming new media itself.

"Sadly, this double standard seems to be increasingly apparent. These short-sighted and incredibly inaccurate statements used to only exist in comment sections and rage induced forums. Now, these kinds of things are being created as Primary news stories on websites in order to get hits, many of which obtaining the highest views on certain sites."

Isn't it weird how you completely ignore that though?

[UltraNova]

You know I can list dozens of examples when MS bought 3rd party games and DLC from previously multiform IPs but I wont. We all know them.

WHy? Because that would be wasting my time in what is a COMMON BUSINESSES practice that should never upset me as a gamer since I can always play something else until that timed-exclusive arrives on my system of choice. Thankfully we have 15 of every type of games out there its actually getting ridiculous at this point to get upset if you wont get to play the damn dlc or even that game first!

We should all grow the hell up and stop winning on suit decisions and simply play something else, but most of all we should learn not to get carried away and fight with fellow gamers on trivial matters.

Take my following words as constructive criticism, if you will.

"Sadly, as with previous generations, these people are no longer the minority, they have become the overwhelming majority, especially on well established sites. The biggest issue is the unrelenting defense of their preferred platform, to the point of complete and undeniable hypocrisy. "

When you start your opinion piece with words like that^^^ effectively enveloping nearly all gamers ("the overwhelming majority")in a veil of hypocrisy and double standards, all in an effort to lure unsuspected gamers into believing they will read something un-biased and maybe true and you end up unleashing your biased opinion against SONY and their supporters in a manner so predictable its really hard not to be left in awe on how out of touch biased people can get...

...people like you, hypocrites.

So please heed your own advice and stop being biased and a hypocrite your self. And for the love of god please wake up, MS or Sony don't give a rats arse for us gamers, only our hard earned money.

Edit: for the record I do prefer Playstation over Xb1 for one simple and never changing reason, as far as I'm concerned, Playstation gives me more single player games, and a slough of new and weird IPs I enjoy more than your regular run of the mill shooter.

[Pogmathoin]

Xbox has been home to more than just run of the mill shooters.... A little narrow minded ya think?

[Godmars290]

Thing is, in trying to be more diverse, it comes off to many that the reason MS tried to be was to escape the stigma that they were only about shooters.

Something really not helped that when you look away then look back, like say during this E3, MS's biggest reveals where their best known shooters; Halo and Gears of War.

[Pogmathoin]

Fully agreed, but shooters are bread and butter for both Sony and Xbox, they do sell in huge quantities. PS has done a much better job in having others, whereas it is true that shooters are stigma for Xbox. Xbox got indies up and running on 360, could have helped to showcase everything else, but then they ignored it all. Shame when you see new IP show up, and not sell as well as it should. Alan Wake was an incredible game, but should have sold better. Annoying to see when something new is out, not selling, then hearing the argument that Xbox is all about shooters only. I understand your point about E3 and Halo/Gears, but ultimately, they are giving what fans want.....

[UltraNova]

Guys, I agree that lately Xbox is trying to diversify. But it would be narrow-minded if you think that this decade+ long 'norm' i.e. shooter box stigma can be shed off and forgotten overnight because MS has only recently "seen the light" called diversification.

That said, I honestly believe as things go that MS is genuinely trying to offer xbox fans a broader gaming choice, similar to what Sony has been giving theirs from the 1st PS. That will benefit all of us as Sony will be forced to up their game as well.

And Poimathoin, next time you reply to me please make the effort or trying to really understand what I'm talking about, in this case my last point(the one you focused on) was about PS having more single player games than xbox and not shooters as in primarily multiplayer games.

Wasn't TitanFall, an online only multiplayer shooter the most marketed game released on Xb1 to date? Isn't it safe to assume that Quantum Break will not receive even half the marketing push by MS as Titanfall or Halo 5?

You see stigma are hard to shed off if you keep reinforcing them.

[Concertoine]

I dont feel the "overwhelming majority" are this way. Its easy to see everyone as two or three different hiveminds that all think the same thing, but it isnt true. Unless you can find proof that they said something contradictory, calling them a hypocrite is pretty bold. But I guess if you never mention names like you did, its a helluva lot easier.

Anyways this is just a thought:
The main argument from Sony fans for exclusive content and advertising is that MS "started it" and they needed to "fight fire with fire" to compete.

But, I would argue that this was the natural couse of the market anyway. In previous gens, the GC, PS2 and Xbox were all fairly different machines and the N64, PS1 and Saturn were VERY different machines with their own strengths and weaknesses. This, coupled with smaller budgets made each console have a very different library that was easy to tell from the other.

Last gen was the first case where we had two nearly identical consoles, and the beginning of the need to make games on several platforms to profit. This led to two consoles around the same price with largely the same games, and the natural evolution of this market would be vying over who gets to PRETEND to own the most popular multiplat games. Considering they never did this in the 6th gen with the Xbox, i really dont see it as this slimy practice that MS brought in for everyone else to do. I think it was going to happen regardless.

[SteamPowered]

You should know better than to put an Anti-Sony/PS4 rant on here, of all places. If you really want to escape this hypocrisy, come over to Pc gaming. All these timed exclusives seem to make their way to the common Pc platform eventually so you get the best of both worlds.
Plus there are many other perks too numerous to mention about Pc gaming. Rise above!

[Team_Litt]

I agree with you pal. Alas you cannot expect the very people who your blog is about to be anything but bias against what you have written, no matter how astute it is.

[MrBeatdown]

I'm sure it's all hypocrisy, and not just different people saying different things. No way would you ever find differing opinions on the internet.

[SilentNegotiator]

Matching actual people to contradictory comments sounds too hard...it's easier to just pretend like I've found a hypocrisy and confirm my own fanboy narrative.

lol

[memots]

Time exclusive is B.S
Hell if no exclusive at all existed i would be happy.

Now i understand that first party studio is fine. but anything else should be available across all platform.

I want all games available to all gamers simple as that.

[ABizzel1]

I agree to an extent, but if it's left up to the 1st party exclusives only, then that means it's really going to be harder to sell these 3 consoles to the masses, and at least one of them is going to crumble, because of it (seems to be Nintendo as of now, but I guess if they got full 3rd party it could help them).

It would really boil down to who has the best first party games (since 2nd parties are technically 3rd parties making exclusives owned by the console manufacturer), who has the best hardware, who has the best services, and who has the best value.

[memots]

"but if it's left up to the 1st party exclusives only, then that means it's really going to be harder to sell these 3 consoles to the masses"

How is that a problem. Like you said, It forces them to make their product /experience better to get people to buy their product.
Also it forces them to invest in studio's and property.

Look at the WiiU its not relying at all on Third party and what they are offering is quite good ( game wise )

[ABizzel1]

@memots

I never said it would be a problem, I said one of the consoles would die, since there would be no need to buy all three of them knowing that all games besides exclusives will be playable on your go to platform.

Nintendo has some good exclusives, but look at the sales of the Wii U still, their exclusives aren't enough to move PS4 / XBO gamers over to buy the system, and having inferior 3rd party games ins't going to help. And when it comes to hardware, services, and value they're dead last.

This would kill Nintendo, who are literally a generation behind the competition in regards to hardware and services. Outside of diehard fans, people would only buy the console close to the end of the generation when it's cheap and the can play the exclusives.

That would leave MS and Sony to go head to head, and on a global scale Sony is always going to win, unless MS completely dominates NA again, or Sony fumbles with another PS3 pricing and difficult development scenario again (which won't happen).

It'll be another situation of 2:1 in favor of PS. 75m Xbox sold, 150m PS sold, with no more Nintendo. And with that kind of power Sony would bring back the 3rd party exclusive anyway.

All this has a potential to lead to a 1 console future, which honestly would be fine with Me. Have Sony make the hardware, MS develop the software and online, and all 3 making games for that device.

I'd gladly pay $600 for a NinPlaybox, and call it a gen with only having to buy that one console and my PC.

[DigitalRaptor]

Fancy that..... a person who leans towards a specific console/company writing a blog post on hypocrites of one fan base whilst forgetting to look in the mirror or at least look in the opposite direction to see the exact same thing going on in his garden.

However, this is just another example of one person believing that differing opinions from a large and diverse number of people is equal to hypocrisy from the exact same people every time. I mean, where is the proof of this overarching and large-scale hypocrisy that is apparently only inherent to Sony fans? Cause those are the only examples you give, and for obvious reasons.

Are you going to post the overwhelming list, and do the research to prove this is genuine blog post and not just a personal vendetta against Sony fans, due to you clearly acting like a victim due to the way in which things have played out for PS4 against XB1? Notice, how there's no mention of the hypocrisy going the other way from you.

The worst part of your blog, Nick? Well it's the part that slips in a stealth troll of Sony's clear E3 win about a "timed-exclusive" that is a gargantuan win for PS4 whichever way you slice it. Only insecurity makes you mention that, when you aren't even proving that these websites that said Sony won E3 based on a timed-exclusive, have actually condemned timed-exclusives in the past or not. You are jumping to conclusions based on nothing but personal bias and a desire to make this about Sony and its fans, without actually paying attention to reality.

Then there's your disingenuous, without context claim that relates to TV focus of the two companies ignoring that the XB1 vision was heavily TV-focused to enable MS to "own the living room" in the way that they've always wanted to, with them dedicating an embarrassingly MASSIVE amount of time at their XB1 reveal event to TV functionality, VS. the very brief segments in any given Sony conference that relates to TV. Why are you being this disingenuous with such examples when you know well enough that as many people were hating on MS initially for far more legitimate and offensive reasons than what Sony does with their TV services and features on a console, which have been there in respectable and moderate form since the PS3.

This blog failed because we all know why you wrote it, and how it basically proves your own indecent hypocrisy. Now go and write a blog post about the Xbox fanboy hypocrisy and the lies and misinformation they tell themselves and provide to others. Although, you won't.

[guyman]

"Fancy that..... a person who leans towards a specific console/company writing a blog post on hypocrites of one fan base whilst forgetting to look in the mirror"

My thoughts exactly. This guy doesn't seem to realise his own pathetic hypocrisy and bias. I only had to click on the articles he linked to see how much of a phony he really is.

[nicksetzer1]

It is funny, you claim I am a hypocrite as well, yet you don't seem to provide a single instance in which that is true. I have the same standards and hold the same expectations for any publisher and any game. There isn't a single time it has been otherwise. I have never praised sony for something and blamed MS for the same thing, nor vice versa.

You have nothing to even provide that shows me as a hypocrite, and you have nothing to even show I have a bias. I have made it clear since day 1 I am an Xbox fan, but that doesn't make me biased or a hypocrite. What does is being such a fan of one company that you become a blind follower. To the point that you will accept anything from them, no matter how many times you bashed another company for the same.

You feel free to ignore the double standard, I won't though.

[Godmars290]

Look at this way: By all rights MS is poised to rule Gamescon because of the three games they purposely held back from E3 and whatever else they announce. When that happens there will be tons of articles proclaiming that fact, as well as opinion pieces saying that the Xbox will own 2016. Nevermind that at least two of the big games mention wont be out after 2017.

When that happens, and other articles saying that Sony actually won come out, you'll be among those dismissing sour grapes. And it will be just as pointless.

[rainslacker]

You missed an opportunity.

Title should have been, "Hypocrisy, thy name is gamer"

Play up the classics a bit, because it asserts your point, and starting any written piece with a question, the answer is "no".

Anyhow, in response to your entire blog, it's easy to find specific examples to prove your point on this topic. There are numerous news outlets, and one outlet(or many) do not often speak for the common consensus. There are also many people that comment, and most of the time they do not speak for the majority.

There can always appear to be common consensuses, but realistically, the vocal minority tends to be the most noticed, and those kinds of things can only be taken as broad generalities with tons of evidence to back up those consensuses.

If you care to focus on the people and articles that stir stuff up, then don't be surprised to find exactly what you are talking about in this blog. If you care about the actual topic, just ignore those articles, and instead, only discuss with people who don't try to make something into a bigger deal than it needs to be. For every article you try to point out, there are tons of comments that aren't blowing things out of proportion, and that are making sound arguments, but almost none of them ever get any responses because people like the sensationalism, and instead feel they have to defend against the rampant misinformation that gets spread on a daily basis, often without ever verifying facts from either side, and just basing things off speculation.

You want a better community, then be the example, and not the judge. In 20 years, you'll realize how fruitless it is...I certainly did, which is why my arguments tend to be more confrontational than actual discussion nowadays, because no one ever responds when I try to discuss, so what's the point in saying anything?

Fan boys of all colors are either hypocritical or idiots. They only care about being right, and trying to incite hate among the community. The press is much the same way, but their motives are more geared towards profits than any sort of good will or betterment of the industry or representing the gamers. So no, gamers are not hypocrites, fan boys are.

Also, over time, new information, and arguments can change people's views on things, so if someone said something 3-4 months ago, then something came along to change their mind, and then they say something contrary to their original belief, it doesn't make them a hypocrite, it makes them intelligent enough to think critically.

In closing, I'd like to point out to anyone reading this comment that there is a bubble down option for responses that says, "Not a reply". If someone decides to bring up some sort of counter-argument, that doesn't not actually address your comments, and instead tries to stir things up, I suggest you simply mark the comment as such. At the same time, stop trying to defend your arguments against people that don't actually respond unless you feel it pertinent. most of the time, it just devolves into the whole one side has the biggest hypocrites threads anyways....and I know you know this because I see you do it all the time, and you constantly get called a hypocrite with specific examples linked, and without fail, you end up making an entire group into hypocrites because they won't lay down and just accept your arguments as absolute truth. You rarely look at the middle ground, and you almost never bother to look at things other than in black and white.

[iceman06]

This might be the most well thought out and potentially helpful post that I have seen on N4G in ages!!! No wonder you have a billion bubbles!!! LOL In general, address the person and not the people. Judge not lest ye be judged. Keep an open mind and understand that YOU are not everybody and everybody is NOT you. Oh, and remember that none of this really matters to most people and shouldn't matter so much to you. (it's a bunch of faceless people on the internet...do they REALLY matter!?!)

[Kingdomcome247]

Spot on, brother.

[The-Marb]

Think all sides are guilty of hypocrisy really and it makes posting on here difficult at times.

That said, anytime you have a moderate opinion which doesn't either burn one side down, or build the other up to the heavens you are usually voted down faster than a gigolos boxers.

Not to say that there isn't reasonable debate (with interesting, well considered and thought-provoking comments) to be had, but the partisan inability of some to see any flaws in their thing and any advantages in their perceived rival is rather frustrating.

Fair enough if you feel differently but as a fan of games in general I could do without any of f-boy waffle.

[Kingdomcome247]

Well said.

[Aloy-Boyfriend]

Aaahh, it's Nick crying for Microsoft, again. That's all you've done these past days. Quit gaming if 3rd party exclusivity hurts you so much. They've been here since forever.

[paranoid1971]

he needs to see a doctor, there is far too much salt In his diet

[InTheLab]

Here's where you went wrong. You started out neutral, then slowly exposed your true motive. If you start and finish from a position of honesty, I think many issues facing our community would not exist. All this blog did was thrown another log into the fire.

You're real point appears to be, when MS does it it's bad but when Sony does it, it's good. Why hide behind fake neutrality? You clearly have an agenda when you say things like "all the people responsible for the Xbox 1 horrible reveal are gone"....especially when Phil himself walked out on stage and stammered through a the worst price announcement since the Ps3. Greenburg is still there. Major "switch flipper" Nelson is still there. Phil is still there. Mehdi is still there. The only person missing is Don. Remember Kudo the Kinnect man? Still there.

And that's just one line of a blog. I could run out of bubbles talking about this one line. Imagine if I tackled the main point.......