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The video game industry is essentially the most valuable industry in the UK. It is the largest making industry, and its success has been ridden by chain shops such as Game. Investors in said shop have made millions, and it has grown to become one of the most well known and widespread shops in the country. Over the last half-decade, Electronic Arts has more than quadrupled in size, and is now the biggest UK publisher. Now, for all of our vanity and superiority, the minority of us who call ourselves 'hardcore' gamers have to admit one fact - if it wasn't for casual gamers and their stupidity, there wouldn't be such a massive modern day gaming industry.
My theory is that the perfect gaming world just cannot exist. Casual gamers thrive upon the trends, the brand names, that 'recognisable' look to games. Despite being infinitely superior, Pro Evolution Soccer sold awefully compared to Fifa 2002. This is because to the masses, Fifa is a brand name, easy to recognise, associated with football leagues and therefore much more appealing than an unofficial football game. Obviously to those 'clever' casuals, an unofficial game won't know how to play football and will be crap. When in fact this couldn't be further from the truth.
But for gaming to exist, brand names and series have to exist. The public would just lose interest in gaming if there were no cool games, nothing 'trendy' to follow. The PlayStation was the first console to break through into the mass market, and because of the 'cool' image, it sold by the bucketload. This is where gaming really became a mainstream thing, and the modern day gaming industry really has been built upon the success of recognisable franchises and licensed products, such as the Fifa series. No matter how crap, the public will buy it. The public are stupid. Hitler was a genius, a psychotic genius yes, but he knew that the public don't think as concious beings, but as a whole. And this is the case in gaming too. Casual gamers don't buy games they 'like' (if you get my meaning), they'll just go for what's hot. Whereas us 'hardcores' go for what's not. It doesn't matter.
So let me put it this way - what would you rather have? A PS2-esque game flow, where at least two games are released every week, or a gaming droubt like the N64's mid life crisis? I know which I'd prefer, and I know which you'd rather have too. It doesn't matter that less than 5% of all PS2 games are good, the sheer quantity of games out there rectify's this situation, in fact, improves it - it means that every Christmas there are at least 10 great games released.
I really couldn't give a damn that for every one person like me who'd buy Pro Evo, there are a thousand who'd go for Fifa. That really doesn't bother me. What bothers me, is the way that people hate casual gamers. The way they shouldn't belong to gaming, and the way all the crap that has somehow worked its way into everyday gaming lives shouldn't belong. What I hate, is not the people being picked on, but the people doing the picking. You guys out there who think Fifa should go, stop and think for a moment just how stupid you are. You love gaming, and there are tonnes and tonnes of games every Christmas just vying for your time. There have been countless occasions when people have said there are too many good games, and this just stands to strengthen my cause. If your wishes came true, and all the crappy 'brand names' and casual gamers just disappeared, chances are more than three quarters of all your good gaming brands would go too. Because the gaming industry has built itself around the mass market - not specified age groups or sections of society.
So for a change, don't put down casual gamers and aweful cash-ins. You should for once thank them for the gaming opportunities they have brought to your life. I'm sure you'll all probably laugh at what I'm trying to get through here, but casual gamers make up the majority of people actually paying for games. The gaming industry is the largest making industry in the UK, and I'm sure all that money isn't just contributed to by the dedicated people of these forums. The casuals are stupid, and the casuals will gladly hand over their money to developers - developers who will, once in a while, turn out a brilliant game which WE can then enjoy.
To get rid of all the clones, cash-ins and aweful licensed products in gaming would be to attack the very foundations on which modern day gaming has been built. We owe them much of our gaming pleasure, and I'm all too happy that I won't have to go through another gruelling period such as 1999 for the N64 when there was nothing released for months. The gaming industry is going strong, there are tonnes of brilliant games there for us to play, so for once in your life don't care about what others are playing. Ignore the fact that there are people out there who'd play Fifa 2002 rather than Pro Evo, people who'd rather play Monsters Inc than Jak and Daxter. Just go turn on your console - GameCube, Xbox or PlayStation 2, and play your favourite game. Glory in this new age of gaming, when there are hundreds of releases a year, and you are spoilt for choice. And for once in your life, just don't bother with all the insults when it comes to crap gaming. You know a game's crap, you won't buy the crap game, and that's all there is to it. Your life will be the same if its there or not, so just put up with it. It's the licenses and brands whom we have to thank for the state gaming is in today - NOT all the diehard fans who'll throw a stick at anything which is popular.
My theory is that the perfect gaming world just cannot exist. Casual gamers thrive upon the trends, the brand names, that 'recognisable' look to games. Despite being infinitely superior, Pro Evolution Soccer sold awefully compared to Fifa 2002. This is because to the masses, Fifa is a brand name, easy to recognise, associated with football leagues and therefore much more appealing than an unofficial football game. Obviously to those 'clever' casuals, an unofficial game won't know how to play football and will be crap. When in fact this couldn't be further from the truth.
But for gaming to exist, brand names and series have to exist. The public would just lose interest in gaming if there were no cool games, nothing 'trendy' to follow. The PlayStation was the first console to break through into the mass market, and because of the 'cool' image, it sold by the bucketload. This is where gaming really became a mainstream thing, and the modern day gaming industry really has been built upon the success of recognisable franchises and licensed products, such as the Fifa series. No matter how crap, the public will buy it. The public are stupid. Hitler was a genius, a psychotic genius yes, but he knew that the public don't think as concious beings, but as a whole. And this is the case in gaming too. Casual gamers don't buy games they 'like' (if you get my meaning), they'll just go for what's hot. Whereas us 'hardcores' go for what's not. It doesn't matter.
So let me put it this way - what would you rather have? A PS2-esque game flow, where at least two games are released every week, or a gaming droubt like the N64's mid life crisis? I know which I'd prefer, and I know which you'd rather have too. It doesn't matter that less than 5% of all PS2 games are good, the sheer quantity of games out there rectify's this situation, in fact, improves it - it means that every Christmas there are at least 10 great games released.
I really couldn't give a damn that for every one person like me who'd buy Pro Evo, there are a thousand who'd go for Fifa. That really doesn't bother me. What bothers me, is the way that people hate casual gamers. The way they shouldn't belong to gaming, and the way all the crap that has somehow worked its way into everyday gaming lives shouldn't belong. What I hate, is not the people being picked on, but the people doing the picking. You guys out there who think Fifa should go, stop and think for a moment just how stupid you are. You love gaming, and there are tonnes and tonnes of games every Christmas just vying for your time. There have been countless occasions when people have said there are too many good games, and this just stands to strengthen my cause. If your wishes came true, and all the crappy 'brand names' and casual gamers just disappeared, chances are more than three quarters of all your good gaming brands would go too. Because the gaming industry has built itself around the mass market - not specified age groups or sections of society.
So for a change, don't put down casual gamers and aweful cash-ins. You should for once thank them for the gaming opportunities they have brought to your life. I'm sure you'll all probably laugh at what I'm trying to get through here, but casual gamers make up the majority of people actually paying for games. The gaming industry is the largest making industry in the UK, and I'm sure all that money isn't just contributed to by the dedicated people of these forums. The casuals are stupid, and the casuals will gladly hand over their money to developers - developers who will, once in a while, turn out a brilliant game which WE can then enjoy.
To get rid of all the clones, cash-ins and aweful licensed products in gaming would be to attack the very foundations on which modern day gaming has been built. We owe them much of our gaming pleasure, and I'm all too happy that I won't have to go through another gruelling period such as 1999 for the N64 when there was nothing released for months. The gaming industry is going strong, there are tonnes of brilliant games there for us to play, so for once in your life don't care about what others are playing. Ignore the fact that there are people out there who'd play Fifa 2002 rather than Pro Evo, people who'd rather play Monsters Inc than Jak and Daxter. Just go turn on your console - GameCube, Xbox or PlayStation 2, and play your favourite game. Glory in this new age of gaming, when there are hundreds of releases a year, and you are spoilt for choice. And for once in your life, just don't bother with all the insults when it comes to crap gaming. You know a game's crap, you won't buy the crap game, and that's all there is to it. Your life will be the same if its there or not, so just put up with it. It's the licenses and brands whom we have to thank for the state gaming is in today - NOT all the diehard fans who'll throw a stick at anything which is popular.
I think you're right in that we shouldn't dig casual gamers buying games, more likely the actual games they choose.
It would be tolerable if they actually liked good games such as Rez. Unfortunately as you said, if it ain't licensed, it ain't popular, which is exactly why relatively unknown games (to them) such as Rez don't sell well. Great post, by the way.
It would be tolerable if they actually liked good games such as Rez. Unfortunately as you said, if it ain't licensed, it ain't popular, which is exactly why relatively unknown games (to them) such as Rez don't sell well. Great post, by the way.
That's an interesting point you've raised there, and, for the most part, I agree. 'Casual' gamers don't normally read the reviews, or rather, the reviews that matter. For the big boys in the industry, the hype machine is a wonderful thing.
However, overall, I wouldn't say the situation is as bad as you've made it out to be. Yes, there are many games out there that are painfully over-looked and there are also a heap of stinkers that have done far better than they deserve to. However, generally, the big games in the industry aren't overlooked by press, publishers...and therefore the gaming public.
P.S. I never knew Hitler could be related to the videogames industry. ;)
However, overall, I wouldn't say the situation is as bad as you've made it out to be. Yes, there are many games out there that are painfully over-looked and there are also a heap of stinkers that have done far better than they deserve to. However, generally, the big games in the industry aren't overlooked by press, publishers...and therefore the gaming public.
P.S. I never knew Hitler could be related to the videogames industry. ;)
The video game industry is essentially the most valuable industry in the UK. It is the largest making industry, and its success has been ridden by chain shops such as Game. Investors in said shop have made millions, and it has grown to become one of the most well known and widespread shops in the country. Over the last half-decade, Electronic Arts has more than quadrupled in size, and is now the biggest UK publisher. Now, for all of our vanity and superiority, the minority of us who call ourselves 'hardcore' gamers have to admit one fact - if it wasn't for casual gamers and their stupidity, there wouldn't be such a massive modern day gaming industry.
My theory is that the perfect gaming world just cannot exist. Casual gamers thrive upon the trends, the brand names, that 'recognisable' look to games. Despite being infinitely superior, Pro Evolution Soccer sold awefully compared to Fifa 2002. This is because to the masses, Fifa is a brand name, easy to recognise, associated with football leagues and therefore much more appealing than an unofficial football game. Obviously to those 'clever' casuals, an unofficial game won't know how to play football and will be crap. When in fact this couldn't be further from the truth.
But for gaming to exist, brand names and series have to exist. The public would just lose interest in gaming if there were no cool games, nothing 'trendy' to follow. The PlayStation was the first console to break through into the mass market, and because of the 'cool' image, it sold by the bucketload. This is where gaming really became a mainstream thing, and the modern day gaming industry really has been built upon the success of recognisable franchises and licensed products, such as the Fifa series. No matter how crap, the public will buy it. The public are stupid. Hitler was a genius, a psychotic genius yes, but he knew that the public don't think as concious beings, but as a whole. And this is the case in gaming too. Casual gamers don't buy games they 'like' (if you get my meaning), they'll just go for what's hot. Whereas us 'hardcores' go for what's not. It doesn't matter.
So let me put it this way - what would you rather have? A PS2-esque game flow, where at least two games are released every week, or a gaming droubt like the N64's mid life crisis? I know which I'd prefer, and I know which you'd rather have too. It doesn't matter that less than 5% of all PS2 games are good, the sheer quantity of games out there rectify's this situation, in fact, improves it - it means that every Christmas there are at least 10 great games released.
I really couldn't give a damn that for every one person like me who'd buy Pro Evo, there are a thousand who'd go for Fifa. That really doesn't bother me. What bothers me, is the way that people hate casual gamers. The way they shouldn't belong to gaming, and the way all the crap that has somehow worked its way into everyday gaming lives shouldn't belong. What I hate, is not the people being picked on, but the people doing the picking. You guys out there who think Fifa should go, stop and think for a moment just how stupid you are. You love gaming, and there are tonnes and tonnes of games every Christmas just vying for your time. There have been countless occasions when people have said there are too many good games, and this just stands to strengthen my cause. If your wishes came true, and all the crappy 'brand names' and casual gamers just disappeared, chances are more than three quarters of all your good gaming brands would go too. Because the gaming industry has built itself around the mass market - not specified age groups or sections of society.
So for a change, don't put down casual gamers and aweful cash-ins. You should for once thank them for the gaming opportunities they have brought to your life. I'm sure you'll all probably laugh at what I'm trying to get through here, but casual gamers make up the majority of people actually paying for games. The gaming industry is the largest making industry in the UK, and I'm sure all that money isn't just contributed to by the dedicated people of these forums. The casuals are stupid, and the casuals will gladly hand over their money to developers - developers who will, once in a while, turn out a brilliant game which WE can then enjoy.
To get rid of all the clones, cash-ins and aweful licensed products in gaming would be to attack the very foundations on which modern day gaming has been built. We owe them much of our gaming pleasure, and I'm all too happy that I won't have to go through another gruelling period such as 1999 for the N64 when there was nothing released for months. The gaming industry is going strong, there are tonnes of brilliant games there for us to play, so for once in your life don't care about what others are playing. Ignore the fact that there are people out there who'd play Fifa 2002 rather than Pro Evo, people who'd rather play Monsters Inc than Jak and Daxter. Just go turn on your console - GameCube, Xbox or PlayStation 2, and play your favourite game. Glory in this new age of gaming, when there are hundreds of releases a year, and you are spoilt for choice. And for once in your life, just don't bother with all the insults when it comes to crap gaming. You know a game's crap, you won't buy the crap game, and that's all there is to it. Your life will be the same if its there or not, so just put up with it. It's the licenses and brands whom we have to thank for the state gaming is in today - NOT all the diehard fans who'll throw a stick at anything which is popular.
My theory is that the perfect gaming world just cannot exist. Casual gamers thrive upon the trends, the brand names, that 'recognisable' look to games. Despite being infinitely superior, Pro Evolution Soccer sold awefully compared to Fifa 2002. This is because to the masses, Fifa is a brand name, easy to recognise, associated with football leagues and therefore much more appealing than an unofficial football game. Obviously to those 'clever' casuals, an unofficial game won't know how to play football and will be crap. When in fact this couldn't be further from the truth.
But for gaming to exist, brand names and series have to exist. The public would just lose interest in gaming if there were no cool games, nothing 'trendy' to follow. The PlayStation was the first console to break through into the mass market, and because of the 'cool' image, it sold by the bucketload. This is where gaming really became a mainstream thing, and the modern day gaming industry really has been built upon the success of recognisable franchises and licensed products, such as the Fifa series. No matter how crap, the public will buy it. The public are stupid. Hitler was a genius, a psychotic genius yes, but he knew that the public don't think as concious beings, but as a whole. And this is the case in gaming too. Casual gamers don't buy games they 'like' (if you get my meaning), they'll just go for what's hot. Whereas us 'hardcores' go for what's not. It doesn't matter.
So let me put it this way - what would you rather have? A PS2-esque game flow, where at least two games are released every week, or a gaming droubt like the N64's mid life crisis? I know which I'd prefer, and I know which you'd rather have too. It doesn't matter that less than 5% of all PS2 games are good, the sheer quantity of games out there rectify's this situation, in fact, improves it - it means that every Christmas there are at least 10 great games released.
I really couldn't give a damn that for every one person like me who'd buy Pro Evo, there are a thousand who'd go for Fifa. That really doesn't bother me. What bothers me, is the way that people hate casual gamers. The way they shouldn't belong to gaming, and the way all the crap that has somehow worked its way into everyday gaming lives shouldn't belong. What I hate, is not the people being picked on, but the people doing the picking. You guys out there who think Fifa should go, stop and think for a moment just how stupid you are. You love gaming, and there are tonnes and tonnes of games every Christmas just vying for your time. There have been countless occasions when people have said there are too many good games, and this just stands to strengthen my cause. If your wishes came true, and all the crappy 'brand names' and casual gamers just disappeared, chances are more than three quarters of all your good gaming brands would go too. Because the gaming industry has built itself around the mass market - not specified age groups or sections of society.
So for a change, don't put down casual gamers and aweful cash-ins. You should for once thank them for the gaming opportunities they have brought to your life. I'm sure you'll all probably laugh at what I'm trying to get through here, but casual gamers make up the majority of people actually paying for games. The gaming industry is the largest making industry in the UK, and I'm sure all that money isn't just contributed to by the dedicated people of these forums. The casuals are stupid, and the casuals will gladly hand over their money to developers - developers who will, once in a while, turn out a brilliant game which WE can then enjoy.
To get rid of all the clones, cash-ins and aweful licensed products in gaming would be to attack the very foundations on which modern day gaming has been built. We owe them much of our gaming pleasure, and I'm all too happy that I won't have to go through another gruelling period such as 1999 for the N64 when there was nothing released for months. The gaming industry is going strong, there are tonnes of brilliant games there for us to play, so for once in your life don't care about what others are playing. Ignore the fact that there are people out there who'd play Fifa 2002 rather than Pro Evo, people who'd rather play Monsters Inc than Jak and Daxter. Just go turn on your console - GameCube, Xbox or PlayStation 2, and play your favourite game. Glory in this new age of gaming, when there are hundreds of releases a year, and you are spoilt for choice. And for once in your life, just don't bother with all the insults when it comes to crap gaming. You know a game's crap, you won't buy the crap game, and that's all there is to it. Your life will be the same if its there or not, so just put up with it. It's the licenses and brands whom we have to thank for the state gaming is in today - NOT all the diehard fans who'll throw a stick at anything which is popular.