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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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FantasyMeister wrote:
> Me too, except when I think of that time when David Beckham tripped that
> footballer off and got sent off in the World Cup...
Yeah, what the heck was he thinking of? :D
> Me too, except when I think of that time when David Beckham tripped that
> footballer off and got sent off in the World Cup...
Yeah, what the heck was he thinking of? :D
Me too, except when I think of that time when David Beckham tripped that footballer off and got sent off in the World Cup...
It seems that I have taught my brain well. I may not like something but I give credit where credit is due.
I like to think that I have an open mind. I own a PS2 and I'm interested in the Gamecube and X-Box. All I have ever wanted to do is enjoy playing games.
I've never been picky and I just want to play games, no matter what console or subject it is based on.
The only thing you have my number on is the Liverpool/Man Utd thing. I'm a Liverpool fan and I dislike Man Utd, but i still give credit to Man Utd players when they play for England.
I like to think that I have an open mind. I own a PS2 and I'm interested in the Gamecube and X-Box. All I have ever wanted to do is enjoy playing games.
I've never been picky and I just want to play games, no matter what console or subject it is based on.
The only thing you have my number on is the Liverpool/Man Utd thing. I'm a Liverpool fan and I dislike Man Utd, but i still give credit to Man Utd players when they play for England.
Oh great, I can't win with this one then can I?
I can try to write impartially, but my reticular formation might just be telling me that I'm writing impartially because that's what I am trying to do. When in fact I'm probably dissing a console without realising it.
And my retciular formation is telling me that I'm enjoying a PS2 game when in fact I shouldn't be because it could be perceived my others as a bad game (unless that's their own reticular formation telling them it's a bad game, when in fact it's not really).
It also sounds like a good cop out in the courts: "Honest m'Lord, it wasn't me, it was my reticular formation that informed me that what I was doing was right, so I didn't think I was breaking a law..."
So I'm inclined to believe that this reticular formation stuff isn't all that overwhelmingly powerful and that I have the presence of mind to override it as necessary. (Or is that my reticular formation telling me that?)
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 dunno. (or do I...)
I can try to write impartially, but my reticular formation might just be telling me that I'm writing impartially because that's what I am trying to do. When in fact I'm probably dissing a console without realising it.
And my retciular formation is telling me that I'm enjoying a PS2 game when in fact I shouldn't be because it could be perceived my others as a bad game (unless that's their own reticular formation telling them it's a bad game, when in fact it's not really).
It also sounds like a good cop out in the courts: "Honest m'Lord, it wasn't me, it was my reticular formation that informed me that what I was doing was right, so I didn't think I was breaking a law..."
So I'm inclined to believe that this reticular formation stuff isn't all that overwhelmingly powerful and that I have the presence of mind to override it as necessary. (Or is that my reticular formation telling me that?)
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 dunno. (or do I...)
Another excellent and original post from the brain of Meka_Dragon. Yet another GAD win there, so it seems.
I'm not really sure how to comment on this, but I'll give it a go.
You're right there at everything you said. We're always finding out so much information that we don't have time to think about anything else that is of less importance so we concentrate on the things that are important and as a result forget the things that are equally excellent but go unnoticed.
The Gamegears success may have been done to misunderstanding. No one wanted to pay it any attention as the GameBoy already owned the Handheld Console market and will probably continue for the next x years.
Nintendo make some good games but the Playstation made hundreds of games with about 40% of them being worth the price tag on them. But because of the choice it automatically makes the Playstation better?
I'm not really sure how to comment on this, but I'll give it a go.
You're right there at everything you said. We're always finding out so much information that we don't have time to think about anything else that is of less importance so we concentrate on the things that are important and as a result forget the things that are equally excellent but go unnoticed.
The Gamegears success may have been done to misunderstanding. No one wanted to pay it any attention as the GameBoy already owned the Handheld Console market and will probably continue for the next x years.
Nintendo make some good games but the Playstation made hundreds of games with about 40% of them being worth the price tag on them. But because of the choice it automatically makes the Playstation better?
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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