When compared to other mass communication media like cinema, TV or print media, gaming is comparatively new in terms of widespread appeal, and has only started to move out from hardcore gamers to a larger audience. Only now do we have started to see gaming being accepted as a mass media for entertainment of all age groups. As a result, many people new to this media have a few misconceptions about what to expect from the world of games. So, as my first article, I just want to give my 2 cents about gaming….
1. Games are not the cause of violence
A controversy magnet if there ever was one. But what many people forget is that 99.99 % of gamers do not commit crimes. Most of us do not feel the need to kill someone after an hour of our favourite shooter. However, what is most strange is the ease with which people believe someone who says they did a carjacking because they wanted to recreate a scene from Grand Theft Auto. Um, even the Godfather had scenes of violence. So does every second film or book that comes out. So why are games the scapegoat for everything that is wrong with society? People say it’s because we can control the character in games. Well, most of us know the difference between reality and games. I’ll give you some hints:
A.)You are a scruffy guy with a shock of blue hair inside a shop. Take a look at all the goods, but don’t buy anything. Now do this a dozen times. A shopkeeper in the real world would have thrown you out by now. But the guy in the game still stands there, smiling, waiting patiently for you to buy something. Guess the difference?
B.)When I press the pause button, the thing stops moving.
2. Games are not here to change the world
It’s simple. Games are just a medium of entertainment. Let’s face it: would Devil May Cry would be half as fun if it was made to educate everyone? True, educational games can and are being made, but don’t expect them to have any more impact than educational films.
3. Multiplayer is not all fun and games
Multiplayer gaming, especially online gaming, MMORPGs and services like Xbox Live are often accused of being filled with racist, abusive and egoist players. But what people must realize is that it is up to them to make sure they steer clear of such people. It is like the internet – people show what they really are when they hide behind an avatar or a gamer tag. You can bet that even a game like Little Big Planet will have its share of “Halofags”.
4. Piracy and DRM will always remain a problem
As if the controversy about DRM is not enough, piracy is the beast responsible for the slow decay of PC gaming and the wariness of companies to develop exclusively for PCs. Here is my view on the whole issue:
To Pirates:
Guys, put yourself in the developer’s shoes. Imagine what it feels to have your game put up on Pirate Bay within 10 hours of release. I’ve seen pirate groups fight when someone steals their crack and publishes it as their own. If you don’t want it done to yourself, don’t do it to others.
To DRM supporters:
Guys, no matter what protection you apply, pirates are able to crack it. But this doesn’t mean you can treat your paying customer like a thief. He bought your game, you know. Let him backup his/her game and do not make purchasing a game equal to a rental by applying an install limit.
5. Casual is here to stay
As more and more gamers join the crowd, the percentage of demand for 80-hr RPGs will obviously pale against the demand of more casual offerings. The Wii is living proof that graphics alone don’t sell consoles. Let’s hope this doesn’t mean that hardcore gamers will soon be left out of the loop.
6. You PC will never run the latest game perfectly
Now this is a cause of heartbreak for me and almost every hardcore PC gamer out there. No matter how much money you pump into it, your PC never quite manages to run Crysis at 60 fps with all settings to their maximum. And believe me, its déjà vu, as our PCs were never able to run Far Cry on maximum graphics when it came out. And with the constant rush for photorealism, you can bet this is not going to change easily anytime soon.
7. There will always be bad games
Hypothetically, if we were living a world where every game would be an Okami or a Bioshock, those games would suck. Simply because games are a competitive field, meaning games are always measured relative to each other. Oh, let me assure you, companies are only concerned about art, so they wouldn’t release an un-original or half-baked game simply to make money. Honest.
8. Consoles have arrived
With the Wii and DS selling millions, and the Xbox 360 and PS3 showing strong sales, consoles are here to stay as a hub for home entertainment. And frankly, who can complain if the cheapest blu-ray player in the market can play games as well?
9. Gaming on Linux? Um…not yet
This topic came to my mind when one of my friends, an avid open source developer, encouraged me to start supporting open source games. I went to a few sites, checked the situation, only to finds things are improving – at a very slow rate. Linux games are a medieval land, with the tons of distros, lack of resources (for open source games) and the reluctance of publishers to make a game for an open source OS. For now, try Wine. It’s not an emulator, mind you.
10. They are just games, after all
Remember: you play games to have fun. So if a person calls you a n00b after you get fragged in Counter Strike for the nth time in a row, just calm down. Hey, for kicks, you can even call him a n00b. He can’t harm you. Or just blame the “f****** lag”.
Adios for now,
Arvind
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