Editor's Note: Off the Grid
- Thread starter tendo82
- Start date
Nice editorial, the internet really has changed the way we aproach games. I'm still pretty young but even I remember what it was like before the internet became as central a part of our lives as it is today.
For one thing it was a lot harder to judge the quality of a game, sure there were gaming magazines but today with the internet you have hundreds of sources at your disposal to help you make the decision.
For one thing it was a lot harder to judge the quality of a game, sure there were gaming magazines but today with the internet you have hundreds of sources at your disposal to help you make the decision.
Very nice editorial. I didn't really take to some of the fiction/humor content from this issue though.
Now that I think about it, the topic I really wish had been covered in this discussion of gaming without the internet is an investigation into the slow death of split-screen multiplayer.
If I may be bold for a moment, I hope the future of the Escapist holds more fact and less fantasy.
Now that I think about it, the topic I really wish had been covered in this discussion of gaming without the internet is an investigation into the slow death of split-screen multiplayer.
If I may be bold for a moment, I hope the future of the Escapist holds more fact and less fantasy.
The internet has improved the way games are purchased and improved the efficiency of reviews. It can cause people to make wise decisions as to which games they buy, because the overall opinions and reviews are instantly available at your finger tips. From these scores you can judge wether or not it is a wise investment to buy a game.
Before the internet the only way to see the opinions of games was either through your friends or magazines. Your friends are far from a professional opinion and magazines are a monthly publication, but they can cause a misinformed gamer to buy something they might not of if they had been informed.
Before the internet the only way to see the opinions of games was either through your friends or magazines. Your friends are far from a professional opinion and magazines are a monthly publication, but they can cause a misinformed gamer to buy something they might not of if they had been informed.
I shall agree that the internet have improved things massively. But to some extend, though. And sacrifises.
For instance. Now a game can be played by a dumbwit. It's a good game, maybe even a great game. The gameplay are insane (In a good way), the story is like your neighbours but the graphics could have been better. Nwo what this dumbwit does, is play the game and form an opinon. He decides that this game is totally crap. It's awful. This judgement is made pretty much on the basis of the graphics, and that the game was somewhat too complicated for him to grasp.
Now with the image of this game being crap, Mr. Dumbwit goes around on the internet telling everyone how awfully bad this game is. If our man would be honest, and share the real reasons why he disliked the game, it wouldn't matter too much.
But he does not. He goes on about how the gameplay and graphics and story was bad. It was horrible. Hence making some stupid person on the other side agree with him. Even without playing the game. And the rumor is on. This wouldn't be as destructive if it was a populare title, but in this case it's not.
It's a new game, that were brilliant. It were never allowed to shine properly, though. For the sole reason of the fact that there's more dumbwits than there's smart people. I mean why do you guys think there's more members at 4Chan than The Escapist?
I personally have to admit that I do follow the paths of these dumbwits some times. Mind you, they're disguised as intelligent people. Therefore I gullibly take their advice about the game, and do not buy it.
Back in the good old days, on the contrary. You would get recommendations on what to get and what to shy away from via your friends. Your network. And if you were a clever chap, you'd have the network made up by intelligent people. So no misguided impressions could reach you. Then the dumbwits could run around in their own circles complaining about how horrible this game was, while the rest of us enjoy it for what it's worth.
There are downsides about this, though. Games were not as widely known. I had a couple of gamer friends, and they told me about games that would be a good investiment. But I did'nt even hear abour nearely as many games as I do now. Thanks to the internet. Both good and bad sides, but I'd say that the good ones outnumber the bad ones.
For instance. Now a game can be played by a dumbwit. It's a good game, maybe even a great game. The gameplay are insane (In a good way), the story is like your neighbours but the graphics could have been better. Nwo what this dumbwit does, is play the game and form an opinon. He decides that this game is totally crap. It's awful. This judgement is made pretty much on the basis of the graphics, and that the game was somewhat too complicated for him to grasp.
Now with the image of this game being crap, Mr. Dumbwit goes around on the internet telling everyone how awfully bad this game is. If our man would be honest, and share the real reasons why he disliked the game, it wouldn't matter too much.
But he does not. He goes on about how the gameplay and graphics and story was bad. It was horrible. Hence making some stupid person on the other side agree with him. Even without playing the game. And the rumor is on. This wouldn't be as destructive if it was a populare title, but in this case it's not.
It's a new game, that were brilliant. It were never allowed to shine properly, though. For the sole reason of the fact that there's more dumbwits than there's smart people. I mean why do you guys think there's more members at 4Chan than The Escapist?
I personally have to admit that I do follow the paths of these dumbwits some times. Mind you, they're disguised as intelligent people. Therefore I gullibly take their advice about the game, and do not buy it.
Back in the good old days, on the contrary. You would get recommendations on what to get and what to shy away from via your friends. Your network. And if you were a clever chap, you'd have the network made up by intelligent people. So no misguided impressions could reach you. Then the dumbwits could run around in their own circles complaining about how horrible this game was, while the rest of us enjoy it for what it's worth.
There are downsides about this, though. Games were not as widely known. I had a couple of gamer friends, and they told me about games that would be a good investiment. But I did'nt even hear abour nearely as many games as I do now. Thanks to the internet. Both good and bad sides, but I'd say that the good ones outnumber the bad ones.
"Now, of course, they are very much on the grid and deciding to play a videogame can become a very complicated process. At least it is for the obsessive among us. It's easy enough to get lost in the hype machine of blog rumors, leaked screenshots, trailers and previews, to say nothing of the obscure pockets of fandom and ASCII decorated game guides. At times it can be overwhelming, but there is no doubt that our videogaming experience is much richer for it."
This is really the truth of it.
Overall, it enhances a lot of people's experience, but I do remember the days when my friends wouldn't go on IGN for the answer, and instead just put the game down for a couple days and think about solutions...
And honestly, every release that I see before I play ends up being kind of dull, or spoiled, or...I was like "WOAH DUDE THE TRAILER" and then it comes out and I'm not shocked, surprised, or excited about the gameplay because sometimes it ends up being very similar to the trailer things.
This is really the truth of it.
Overall, it enhances a lot of people's experience, but I do remember the days when my friends wouldn't go on IGN for the answer, and instead just put the game down for a couple days and think about solutions...
And honestly, every release that I see before I play ends up being kind of dull, or spoiled, or...I was like "WOAH DUDE THE TRAILER" and then it comes out and I'm not shocked, surprised, or excited about the gameplay because sometimes it ends up being very similar to the trailer things.