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One example of this is the upcoming war on Iraq - rather than giving facts and letting the people decide for themselves on where they stand on the issue, they have told the public that this war is all unnessecary and that the government is in the wrong. The fact is that Iraq have no proof that they have ridden themselves of weapons and if they haven't they could build up a huge amount and hold the world at ransom and take it over with ease, or kill us all.
And, before you say I am nothing but a violent youth who thinks war is cool, I am totally against war, but not because the press have told me so - because I have used my knowledge of the situation to make my own mind up, as well as my fear of dying.
But this is not another rant about the war, oh no - the post is about gaming and it's press coverage. Games journalism is the reason why Nintendo are no longer cool, the reason Sony now own the market and the reason why the X-Box is perceived as cool. I love games magazines as much as the next man - there is nothing I enjoy as much as soaking in the bath whilst reading new, previews and reviews of the latest games, and I am not starting an attack on Games magazines here. I am starting an attack on games being covered in Newspapers.
Quite simply put, I believe that all games should never be put in anything that covers major issues like Politics and how a 43 year old woman from Wycombe got stuck in a pothole for 6 months, surviving only on a packet of Polos in her pocket.
A newspaper is for one thing and one thing only - the news. News articles are facts, not something someone believes in - how would you feel if you woke up and found the front coverof every paper stating 'The Gorvernment is a load of crap and should be abolished'? I'd be appauled - it's not news, so why should anything other than that get in a paper? People buy the paper for facts, and when they see statements like 'X-Box Live allows you to play the best console games online' they take it to heart. No, we not all be feeble minded, but when a Mother is looking for her kids birthday present, what would she picke - a console that has the 'best console games online' or one that has been branded childish, if even getting that much media attention?
Mario Sunshine is a good example of newspaper journalism badly covering a game - instead of getting the rave reviews that it deserved, the press brushed it off as a childs game, branding it too colourful and immature, whilst leaving it blatantly obvious to anyone who'd actualy played the game that the reviewer hadn't even unwrapped the case.
This is the reason the PS2 sells so well - not because it has good games, but because it has great media attention and is the in thing to have - yes you could argue that the 18 month advantage had a large part in the advantage, but without the coverage it would have sold little during those few months.
I can't wait for 5 years time - by then gaming will be for geeks only once again, and only a few will survive from the gaming craze of recent years, for now consoles are nothing but a fashion accessory, and once nobody thinks they are cool, nobody will want one.
When that day comes great games will be truly appreciated and not mocked for having a colourful exterior, Nintendo and SEGA will be the 2 biggest players again and Newspapers will stop trying to pass on their views to the public.
:-p
> Bah - spelling? Got my A grade English Lit A-Level under my belt,
> they send you a wee certificate saying you're allowed to make up your
> own variations of words then.
Sorry - couldn't resist.
> The sport thing was just an example. When people are apathetic about
> politics you want them to get involved. Read papers and think, not
> simply absorb a list of context-less facts.
I do read papers and think, it is just the millions of others who instantly believe what they read in the papers because it 'must be true'.
The sport thing was just an example. When people are apathetic about politics you want them to get involved. Read papers and think, not simply absorb a list of context-less facts.
All i was trying to say was that Newspapers should state the facts - not everything should, just Newspapers and newspapers alone.
and passion.
People like to read opinion, facts are sterile and of limited scope without context/interpretation. Imagine if a football report simply gave you the score, teamsheets and times of the goals. Where's the pashion? Where's the judgement calls that'll get people excited and talking. Dubious penalty decision's wouldn't be known of - all that goes on record is the facts. How do we know if Team X were battered for 90 minutes but somehow managed to fluke a 2-0 win? All we get are the facts - nothing qualatitive. We need to hear about these talking points. We need to encourage people to get involved and derive their own opinions. This is forced when you have to read someone elses as you then naturally decide whether the logic is justified.
If some fools take it for gospel, that's their issue. However, I think you are mearly having problems with people not agreeing with you, rather than people toe-ing the published line.
But nice.
:)
One example of this is the upcoming war on Iraq - rather than giving facts and letting the people decide for themselves on where they stand on the issue, they have told the public that this war is all unnessecary and that the government is in the wrong. The fact is that Iraq have no proof that they have ridden themselves of weapons and if they haven't they could build up a huge amount and hold the world at ransom and take it over with ease, or kill us all.
And, before you say I am nothing but a violent youth who thinks war is cool, I am totally against war, but not because the press have told me so - because I have used my knowledge of the situation to make my own mind up, as well as my fear of dying.
But this is not another rant about the war, oh no - the post is about gaming and it's press coverage. Games journalism is the reason why Nintendo are no longer cool, the reason Sony now own the market and the reason why the X-Box is perceived as cool. I love games magazines as much as the next man - there is nothing I enjoy as much as soaking in the bath whilst reading new, previews and reviews of the latest games, and I am not starting an attack on Games magazines here. I am starting an attack on games being covered in Newspapers.
Quite simply put, I believe that all games should never be put in anything that covers major issues like Politics and how a 43 year old woman from Wycombe got stuck in a pothole for 6 months, surviving only on a packet of Polos in her pocket.
A newspaper is for one thing and one thing only - the news. News articles are facts, not something someone believes in - how would you feel if you woke up and found the front coverof every paper stating 'The Gorvernment is a load of crap and should be abolished'? I'd be appauled - it's not news, so why should anything other than that get in a paper? People buy the paper for facts, and when they see statements like 'X-Box Live allows you to play the best console games online' they take it to heart. No, we not all be feeble minded, but when a Mother is looking for her kids birthday present, what would she picke - a console that has the 'best console games online' or one that has been branded childish, if even getting that much media attention?
Mario Sunshine is a good example of newspaper journalism badly covering a game - instead of getting the rave reviews that it deserved, the press brushed it off as a childs game, branding it too colourful and immature, whilst leaving it blatantly obvious to anyone who'd actualy played the game that the reviewer hadn't even unwrapped the case.
This is the reason the PS2 sells so well - not because it has good games, but because it has great media attention and is the in thing to have - yes you could argue that the 18 month advantage had a large part in the advantage, but without the coverage it would have sold little during those few months.
I can't wait for 5 years time - by then gaming will be for geeks only once again, and only a few will survive from the gaming craze of recent years, for now consoles are nothing but a fashion accessory, and once nobody thinks they are cool, nobody will want one.
When that day comes great games will be truly appreciated and not mocked for having a colourful exterior, Nintendo and SEGA will be the 2 biggest players again and Newspapers will stop trying to pass on their views to the public.