- Oct 24, 2000
- 17,254
- 44
- 91
I'm cross posting this from Software, not to get into a debate about Doom 3 or any other game for that matter, but just because I think people should read it that dont go into the Software forum.
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In the world of video games, there lurks a dangerous force. An entity so harmful to the industry itself, that it causes gamers to turn on the games they love playing. It's generated by the media and if you're of the influential type, it can get to you as well.
I am referring to The Hype Machine.
The process goes like this: A game is announced with a specific feature set, followed by interviews, screen shots, and possibly video. Concrete information may be few and far between, but if the studio producing the title is big enough or the rumor mill has generated the buzz, the media will take the little information they are given and as any artist will do, paint the most alluring picture they possibly can. Before long, every gamer on the planet is salivating and talking about the next big thing. If this game is delayed, people actually get angry and start spitting ill words because that 'Second Coming' is not coming as soon as they want. Like Verucca Salt, they want it NOW.
While this process certainly will generate huge sale numbers, the delusions created by the media just cannot turn a game into something it is most certainly not. This causes an outpouring of anger in the gaming community about how they were duped into buying the Hype Machine product.
The biggest outcry as of late amongst gamers is how 'boring' Doom 3 was. This opinion is based upon the past few years of being inundated with press about how fantastic and revolutionary it was supposed to be. Anyone who had played and loved the originals knew exactly what to expect: a beautiful 3d-engine housing a scary run-and-gun expedition through Hell itself. This is exactly what was produced. Nothing more, nothing less. What the media did in this case was lift people's aspirations (purposely or inadvertently) so much that no game could EVER live up to them, thus forcing people to come away disappointed and angry.
On a personal level, I love what Doom has become. The third installment is frantic, beautiful, and quite honestly, the first game since the Resident Evil was released back in '96 that I have literally jumped out of my seat playing.
It's very strange what happens to gamers that have been run through the Hype Machine. The rational, thinking side of their brains get turned off and they're only left with lust and rage, similar to what happens with all the marines and civilians in Doom 3.
Get excited about games coming out. Be at the store on release day with cash in-hand. Just don't do it because the game magazines and websites tell you to. Do it because you think "Hey, this game may be fun." Lofty expectations get you nowhere, except with a one-way ticket to Dissapointment City.
----------------------------------------------------
In the world of video games, there lurks a dangerous force. An entity so harmful to the industry itself, that it causes gamers to turn on the games they love playing. It's generated by the media and if you're of the influential type, it can get to you as well.
I am referring to The Hype Machine.
The process goes like this: A game is announced with a specific feature set, followed by interviews, screen shots, and possibly video. Concrete information may be few and far between, but if the studio producing the title is big enough or the rumor mill has generated the buzz, the media will take the little information they are given and as any artist will do, paint the most alluring picture they possibly can. Before long, every gamer on the planet is salivating and talking about the next big thing. If this game is delayed, people actually get angry and start spitting ill words because that 'Second Coming' is not coming as soon as they want. Like Verucca Salt, they want it NOW.
While this process certainly will generate huge sale numbers, the delusions created by the media just cannot turn a game into something it is most certainly not. This causes an outpouring of anger in the gaming community about how they were duped into buying the Hype Machine product.
The biggest outcry as of late amongst gamers is how 'boring' Doom 3 was. This opinion is based upon the past few years of being inundated with press about how fantastic and revolutionary it was supposed to be. Anyone who had played and loved the originals knew exactly what to expect: a beautiful 3d-engine housing a scary run-and-gun expedition through Hell itself. This is exactly what was produced. Nothing more, nothing less. What the media did in this case was lift people's aspirations (purposely or inadvertently) so much that no game could EVER live up to them, thus forcing people to come away disappointed and angry.
On a personal level, I love what Doom has become. The third installment is frantic, beautiful, and quite honestly, the first game since the Resident Evil was released back in '96 that I have literally jumped out of my seat playing.
It's very strange what happens to gamers that have been run through the Hype Machine. The rational, thinking side of their brains get turned off and they're only left with lust and rage, similar to what happens with all the marines and civilians in Doom 3.
Get excited about games coming out. Be at the store on release day with cash in-hand. Just don't do it because the game magazines and websites tell you to. Do it because you think "Hey, this game may be fun." Lofty expectations get you nowhere, except with a one-way ticket to Dissapointment City.
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