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Ever heard of the reticular formation?
It's the central core of the brain stem, and, amongst other things it controls consciousness.
Now what the hell does this have to do with gaming, you may well ask (that's if you haven't already given up and hit the 'Back' button), well, I'll tell you.
Well have you ever watched a football match with somebody, only to find that the things they say about it are completely different from what you think? As an example a Man Utd fan could watch an England match and praise everything that a Man Utd player does, and notice every mistake a Liverpool player makes. A Liverpool fan watching the same match may do the very opposite, notice Beckhams bad tackle, and Gerrards superb runs.
Our brain is constantly being bombarded with information, and it is a function of the reticular formation to filter this information to things that will interest you, and in an attempt to prove you right. If you hate David Beckham then the reticular formation will ignore a superb cross or shot, but filter out a bad haircut and bring it to your attention.
It works exactly the same with games and consoles.
If you think that the Playstation sucks, you'll find plenty of evidence to support that.
Nintendo 64 owners have been saying for year sthat it's quality over quantity when it comes to software releases. It's the way they have picked out the positves, rather than the negatives to support the console. It doesn't matter that these same people are now saying "The Gamecube has loads of 3rd party support!" Their reticular formation is now filtering this information, and bringing it to their attention as a good thing - though they never saw it that way when the Playstation had masses of titles on the shelves.
I hate the Xbox. I reserved judgement upon it initially, until those first press conferences. The things that they were saying didn't impress me, they spoke too much of the power of the console rather than the fun the games can bring. Since then my reticular formation has been ignoring any good facts about the Xbox whatsoever, and picking out the bad things, games with crap names (Ace Combat, Mad Dash Racing), big chunky uncomfortable controller, looks bulky and uncool. See?
Whenever I play on a Playstation game I find something wrong with it, be it too much FMV, or the old style controllers making my fingers hurt! Yes I see that the gams are fun to play, but the good old reticular formation is working it's hardest to find those flaws. Damn dirty biased brain!
When I look at the Gamecube, and it's games I can't see why they're considered to be childish, that information doesn't get through the filter. All I see is the fun aspects of Nintendo games.
Ever wondered why something so hyped often lets down?
With hype often comes mis-information. The reticular formation is expecting things that don't appear to the extent you have been lead to believe. With a lack of the good coming through you often feel cold to something, or distant from it initially. You may watch or play it again, beginning to think that it's not as good as you expected, and start to notice all of the bad things.
Those that don't get so carried away by the hype often still find a very, very good game, their reticular formation is able to filter because it hasn't received the mis-information that those that have taken in all of the hype.
So next time you read one of those console wars threads, those really biased ones, that say how bad the PS2 is it's likely that the person writing them really does believe it, and thinks they have evidence to back it up!
That brain works hard to try to prove you right, no matter how wrong you might be.
It's the central core of the brain stem, and, amongst other things it controls consciousness.
Now what the hell does this have to do with gaming, you may well ask (that's if you haven't already given up and hit the 'Back' button), well, I'll tell you.
Well have you ever watched a football match with somebody, only to find that the things they say about it are completely different from what you think? As an example a Man Utd fan could watch an England match and praise everything that a Man Utd player does, and notice every mistake a Liverpool player makes. A Liverpool fan watching the same match may do the very opposite, notice Beckhams bad tackle, and Gerrards superb runs.
Our brain is constantly being bombarded with information, and it is a function of the reticular formation to filter this information to things that will interest you, and in an attempt to prove you right. If you hate David Beckham then the reticular formation will ignore a superb cross or shot, but filter out a bad haircut and bring it to your attention.
It works exactly the same with games and consoles.
If you think that the Playstation sucks, you'll find plenty of evidence to support that.
Nintendo 64 owners have been saying for year sthat it's quality over quantity when it comes to software releases. It's the way they have picked out the positves, rather than the negatives to support the console. It doesn't matter that these same people are now saying "The Gamecube has loads of 3rd party support!" Their reticular formation is now filtering this information, and bringing it to their attention as a good thing - though they never saw it that way when the Playstation had masses of titles on the shelves.
I hate the Xbox. I reserved judgement upon it initially, until those first press conferences. The things that they were saying didn't impress me, they spoke too much of the power of the console rather than the fun the games can bring. Since then my reticular formation has been ignoring any good facts about the Xbox whatsoever, and picking out the bad things, games with crap names (Ace Combat, Mad Dash Racing), big chunky uncomfortable controller, looks bulky and uncool. See?
Whenever I play on a Playstation game I find something wrong with it, be it too much FMV, or the old style controllers making my fingers hurt! Yes I see that the gams are fun to play, but the good old reticular formation is working it's hardest to find those flaws. Damn dirty biased brain!
When I look at the Gamecube, and it's games I can't see why they're considered to be childish, that information doesn't get through the filter. All I see is the fun aspects of Nintendo games.
Ever wondered why something so hyped often lets down?
With hype often comes mis-information. The reticular formation is expecting things that don't appear to the extent you have been lead to believe. With a lack of the good coming through you often feel cold to something, or distant from it initially. You may watch or play it again, beginning to think that it's not as good as you expected, and start to notice all of the bad things.
Those that don't get so carried away by the hype often still find a very, very good game, their reticular formation is able to filter because it hasn't received the mis-information that those that have taken in all of the hype.
So next time you read one of those console wars threads, those really biased ones, that say how bad the PS2 is it's likely that the person writing them really does believe it, and thinks they have evidence to back it up!
That brain works hard to try to prove you right, no matter how wrong you might be.
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Ok, ok I understand now, ignore what I just said I was babbling on about nothing, I was being shouted at by my sister at the same time as reading see.
Anyway..
So it's the reticular formation that filters all the good aspects of something if we particular hate that something, it would seems as though this is true with me, I like Nintendo and Sony but I dislike the X - Box probably because of the same reasons as you that all they would talk about was the specs of the system and not the games, so now I ignore what reviewers say are good about the X - Box and I pick up and remember what they say is bad.
"The X Box is bad because you need a roofrack to carry it home from the shop"
:-)
Anyway..
So it's the reticular formation that filters all the good aspects of something if we particular hate that something, it would seems as though this is true with me, I like Nintendo and Sony but I dislike the X - Box probably because of the same reasons as you that all they would talk about was the specs of the system and not the games, so now I ignore what reviewers say are good about the X - Box and I pick up and remember what they say is bad.
"The X Box is bad because you need a roofrack to carry it home from the shop"
:-)
So reticular formation is the cause of those dirty console wars, stupid brain!
Wait, no, what you've wrote is biased to saying that it's the reticular formation's fault for our nitpicking where other factors could really be involved but you're overlooking them and blaming the reticular formation.
Then again I could have just done the same thing..
I've confused myself now, i'll read it again.
My brain.
Wait, no, what you've wrote is biased to saying that it's the reticular formation's fault for our nitpicking where other factors could really be involved but you're overlooking them and blaming the reticular formation.
Then again I could have just done the same thing..
I've confused myself now, i'll read it again.
My brain.
FantasyMeister wrote:
"One thing's for sure, Grix and his Brain are going to have a lot of fun with this. (Or is that just what I think because my reticular formation filters out the fact that Grix might NOT read every single post on here and that he might miss it altogether)."
I would have a lot of fun indeed. However:
1) My brain is not here.
2) Me and Roger Moore got drunk last night.
3) I can't think straight.
3) My brain isn't here.
2) Roger Moore doesn't really like Dalton, he just says he does.
1) I'm hungry.
3) My brain isn't here.
4) All of the above.
"One thing's for sure, Grix and his Brain are going to have a lot of fun with this. (Or is that just what I think because my reticular formation filters out the fact that Grix might NOT read every single post on here and that he might miss it altogether)."
I would have a lot of fun indeed. However:
1) My brain is not here.
2) Me and Roger Moore got drunk last night.
3) I can't think straight.
3) My brain isn't here.
2) Roger Moore doesn't really like Dalton, he just says he does.
1) I'm hungry.
3) My brain isn't here.
4) All of the above.
lets see how it works with me...
Dreamcast:
Loads of cool games
half of that number suck
Grey
Small
heavy
Internet
I really like it!
PS2:
whats that smell?!
GC:
looks cool
good prospects
dont really know too much bout it
Xbox:
bit big
broadband modem yay!
game line up looks good
looks like it's in perfect working order
=D
Dreamcast:
Loads of cool games
half of that number suck
Grey
Small
heavy
Internet
I really like it!
PS2:
whats that smell?!
GC:
looks cool
good prospects
dont really know too much bout it
Xbox:
bit big
broadband modem yay!
game line up looks good
looks like it's in perfect working order
=D
Only in a Perfect world Venombyte, only in a Perfect world...
Strafex wrote:
I know that I look for the best in the Gamecube and the flaws
> elsewhere.
I know that PS2 owners generally do a similar thing.
*visions of mentally underdeveloped PS2 owners' brains accientally looking for the best in the GameCube and the flaws elsewhere*
I know that I look for the best in the Gamecube and the flaws
> elsewhere.
I know that PS2 owners generally do a similar thing.
*visions of mentally underdeveloped PS2 owners' brains accientally looking for the best in the GameCube and the flaws elsewhere*
I noticed this before but I could never put it in the right words. Bonus didn't believe me when I pointed out he'd looked for the very worst in his Gamecube review.
I know that I look for the best in the Gamecube and the flaws elsewhere.
I know that PS2 owners generally do a similar thing.
As a result, console wars will never be won.
But that doesn't mean we can't argue for the fun of it!
Childish immaturity RuLeZ! :-)
I know that I look for the best in the Gamecube and the flaws elsewhere.
I know that PS2 owners generally do a similar thing.
As a result, console wars will never be won.
But that doesn't mean we can't argue for the fun of it!
Childish immaturity RuLeZ! :-)
VenomByte wrote:
> So hang on... what it basically does is try to make you think that what you
> already think is right, is in fact, right?
*wow*!
Yep, that's part of it's function.
Drivers out there, (or passengers) next time you go on a journey, look out for how many cars are for sale on the side of the road. You'll notice many many more, because you're looking for them. Normally you'd see them but your reticular formation would keep it from your conscious mind.
If you need a new TV, or video, you always seem to be suddenly bombarded with information on them, the reticular formation is now just letting that information through.
> So hang on... what it basically does is try to make you think that what you
> already think is right, is in fact, right?
*wow*!
Yep, that's part of it's function.
Drivers out there, (or passengers) next time you go on a journey, look out for how many cars are for sale on the side of the road. You'll notice many many more, because you're looking for them. Normally you'd see them but your reticular formation would keep it from your conscious mind.
If you need a new TV, or video, you always seem to be suddenly bombarded with information on them, the reticular formation is now just letting that information through.
So hang on... what it basically does is try to make you think that what you already think is right, is in fact, right?
*wow*!
*wow*!
Grandprix wrote:
> Yeah, what the heck was he thinking of? :D
He plays for Man Utd., what else would you expect?
*snigger*
> Yeah, what the heck was he thinking of? :D
He plays for Man Utd., what else would you expect?
*snigger*
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