Dear Media: STFU!

[The_Deleted]

These days, the all encompassing power of the internet makes it far too easy to find any and all information about a game. This in turn makes it far more difficult for a game to really surprise us. This, coupled with the general air if cynicism that seems to affect people today, takes a lot of the joy out of what is a fucking amazing past time.

In the past I sought out every snippet of information about GTAIV. Could not wait for the game to be released and was desperate to buy a console to play it on. Luckily I got my PS3 just in time. The game came out, traded in my DS Lite and a few games to be able to play it on release day and after a few hours play... realised the game held no surprises and was, to my mind, a disappointment.

Now, think back a few months or so... we were on the cusp of the biggest game release in history. It was going to be massive. Magazines had a tsunami of information about the game and it only got more apparent the month before it's début. And then they let out a huge, huge part of the game. No Russian.

This one level has generated a huge deal of debate. And it was all based around the perceived notoriety of allowing for just this kind of game play. You, to all intents and purposes, are a terrorist. Just think about the connotations of that. Regardless of what you think of the franchise, that's pretty hardcore. We've all slaughtered innocents as a hoodlum or just being crap at a game or just down to piss poor controls, but being actively encouraged to slaughter innocents as part of an terrorist cell while playing an undercover operative... heavy stuff.

The problem was, we all knew about this part of the game before we'd even got the game home. There was no shock outside of the level being what it was. There was no WOW! factor because we'd been forced into the situation without prior knowledge. Because, we were, let's be honest, looking forward to it. You know when a friend tells you Movie X is great because of this one scene, so you spend the whole time waiting for that scene without concentrating on the part it play on the whole..?
Imagine how effective the scene would have been if you knew nothing about it. Imagine how much more involved you would have been in your character if the scenario was as alien to you as it was to him.

Note: And before anyone pipes in, it's easy to try ignoring something, a lot harder to do.


Do you go out of your way to get information or do you avoid anything at all to do with a game you're looking forward to?
Have you finally learned that the more hype you expose yourself to the more overwhelming your disappointment?

 

[Kollega]

Completely agreed. But unfortunately, No Russian was a marketing stunt - there's no such thing as bad publicity, blah blah blah. It was supposed to be revealed prior to release (and generate lots of hot fast oozing controversy). So this point is not as strong as it could be.

I mainly wait for not-so-overhyped titles, so for me it's less of a problem. But it's still a problem.

 

[Cargando]

Hype is bad, I know. That is exactly why I am ignoring everything about the production of Fable 3. Hype, hype hype hype. I suppose, we as gamers are partly to blame for some of it. After all, we discuss it, we tell each other how amazing it will be and expect it to be so.

Still, the companies are mostly to blame for overexaggerative marketing.

Note: And before anyone pipes in, it's easy to try ignoring something, a lot harder to do.

Not is isn't hard. I avoided all the hype for Modern Warfare 2. I heard a small amount about the No Russian level, but apart from that, practically nothing. You just have to avoid clicking on news stories about the game and tell people to shut up if they start talking about it. Only more politely that that obviously.

 

[Cherry Cola]

This is why I want to be a film or games critic because they get to see the piece of media before it's been tainted by controversy and trailers explaining every little bit of it.

Then on with your reviews, man!

I myself share your dreams in becoming a critic.

 

[Editos]

I agree to a degree but most of the time its the devs who give them the info to print to drum up interest.

There have only been a few big twists not spoiled for me such as

Spoiler

Playing as Raiden for most of MGS2 and the whole Revan thing in KOTOR

 

[Cherry Cola]

This is why I want to be a film or games critic because they get to see the piece of media before it's been tainted by controversy and trailers explaining every little bit of it.

Then on with your reviews, man!

I myself share your dreams in becoming a critic.

We could be like Siskel And Ebert...

Only not dead or mute!

 

[Cherry Cola]

I agree to a degree but most of the time its the devs who give them the info to print to drum up interest.

There have only been a few big twists not spoiled for me such as

Spoiler

Playing as Raiden for most of MGS2 and the whole Revan thing in KOTOR

You lucky (and unlucky) bastard fellow man!

I had the Revan thing spoiled incredibly much before I could play KotOR.

Although I got the Raiden thing spoiled to, so I guess we're even.

 

[Jasper Jeffs]

Not is isn't hard. I avoided all the hype for Modern Warfare 2. I heard a small amount about the No Russian level, but apart from that, practically nothing. You just have to avoid clicking on news stories about the game and tell people to shut up if they start talking about it. Only more politely that that obviously.

I agree.

I'm really looking forward to Splinter Cell, and a walkthrough video just got put up on IGN. I'm not gonna watch it though because I know it'll ruin some of the surprise and affect the overall gaming experience. If you know that, you should have no problem ignoring information on the game before it's released. The only thing I do watch for unreleased games are trailers, because they're usually well made and interesting. What I don't watch is some guy sat there telling me what I'm going to be playing, I'll figure that one out when I've got the game.

 

[Editos]

I agree to a degree but most of the time its the devs who give them the info to print to drum up interest.

There have only been a few big twists not spoiled for me such as

Spoiler

Playing as Raiden for most of MGS2 and the whole Revan thing in KOTOR

You lucky (and unlucky) bastard fellow man!

I had the Revan thing spoiled incredibly much before I could play KotOR.

Although I got the Raiden thing spoiled to, so I guess we're even.

I feel bad for you!

The Revan twist was so epic and it came as a total surprise.

 

[BonsaiK]

Note: And before anyone pipes in, it's easy to try ignoring something, a lot harder to do.

Do you go out of your way to get information or do you avoid anything at all to do with a game you're looking forward to?
Have you finally learned that the more hype you expose yourself to the more overwhelming your disappointment?

If I know I'm going to buy something I avoid look at ALL information about the game/movie/thing. I don't even read the back of the box when I buy it except the bit about system requirements.

I don't watch TV channels at all, ever, nor do I read newspapers or magazines, so I find it dead easy to avoid hype. I also only listen to local community radio. With the internet, because I generally get to choose what I look at, it's easy to avoid hype there too. I'm often not aware that things are even all that hyped in the first place. (When Blair Witch Project came out so many people judged it on the hype machine around it but I was oblivious to all that so I just saw a film and judged it on its own merits.) If I get disappointed by something it's usually just because it was disappointing, not because hype raised/lowered my expectations.

If you really don't like the media - well, they're never going to STFU. Ever. I just switch off the stuff, that's a lot easier than expecting them to grow a brain.

 

[Baby Tea]

I totally hear what you're saying.
Every new game release is like a Christmas or birthday present that you've already shook or peeked at. So when the big day comes and you tear off the paper, you're left with...no surprises. Where is the shock and awe of discovery?

I mean, way back when I first played the original Prince of Persia as a lad, the whole thing was new!
I din't know how to beat the puzzles, or navigate my way through the dungeons.
I didn't know what enemies awaited down the road, or what secret thing to look out for.
Every new screen was a new discovery, and I loved it.

Now? Everything about a game is shoved in your face.
Everyone tells you what you're getting for your birthday so that, when it comes, it's nothing special anymore.

 

[Cargando]

Not is isn't hard. I avoided all the hype for Modern Warfare 2. I heard a small amount about the No Russian level, but apart from that, practically nothing. You just have to avoid clicking on news stories about the game and tell people to shut up if they start talking about it. Only more politely that that obviously.

I agree.

I'm really looking forward to Splinter Cell, and a walkthrough video just got put up on IGN. I'm not gonna watch it though because I know it'll ruin some of the surprise and affect the overall gaming experience. If you know that, you should have no problem ignoring information on the game before it's released. The only thing I do watch for unreleased games are trailers, because they're usually well made and interesting. What I don't watch is some guy sat there telling me what I'm going to be playing, I'll figure that one out when I've got the game.

Adverts are allowed, but only in small amounts even then. I mean, if they appear on the television you can't avoid them, can you?

 

[Glademaster_v1legacy]

These days, the all encompassing power of the internet makes it far too easy to find any and all information about a game. This in turn makes it far more difficult for a game to really surprise us. This, coupled with the general air if cynicism that seems to affect people today, takes a lot of the joy out of what is a fucking amazing past time.

In the past I sought out every snippet of information about GTAIV. Could not wait for the game to be released and was desperate to buy a console to play it on. Luckily I got my PS3 just in time. The game came out, traded in my DS Lite and a few games to be able to play it on release day and after a few hours play... realised the game held no surprises and was, to my mind, a disappointment.

Now, think back a few months or so... we were on the cusp of the biggest game release in history. It was going to be massive. Magazines had a tsunami of information about the game and it only got more apparent the month before it's début. And then they let out a huge, huge part of the game. No Russian.

This one level has generated a huge deal of debate. And it was all based around the perceived notoriety of allowing for just this kind of game play. You, to all intents and purposes, are a terrorist. Just think about the connotations of that. Regardless of what you think of the franchise, that's pretty hardcore. We've all slaughtered innocents as a hoodlum or just being crap at a game or just down to piss poor controls, but being actively encouraged to slaughter innocents as part of an terrorist cell while playing an undercover operative... heavy stuff.

The problem was, we all knew about this part of the game before we'd even got the game home. There was no shock outside of the level being what it was. There was no WOW! factor because we'd been forced into the situation without prior knowledge. Because, we were, let's be honest, looking forward to it. You know when a friend tells you Movie X is great because of this one scene, so you spend the whole time waiting for that scene without concentrating on the part it play on the whole..?
Imagine how effective the scene would have been if you knew nothing about it. Imagine how much more involved you would have been in your character if the scenario was as alien to you as it was to him.

Note: And before anyone pipes in, it's easy to try ignoring something, a lot harder to do.


Do you go out of your way to get information or do you avoid anything at all to do with a game you're looking forward to?
Have you finally learned that the more hype you expose yourself to the more overwhelming your disappointment?

You do know every single little mission in Far Cry2 makes the No Russian mission seem like a picnic and stuff like is used to abuse the media for free advertising.

Yes I do agree that the media should fuck off about giving out random spoilers.

 

[Ragsnstitches]

I agree that coverage on a game prior to a game's release can damage a game for the audiance (hype kills anything, thats a fact)... but in all honesty, you bought the game and therefore this coverage succeded to do what it's meant to do. Coverage, previews, trailers, sneak previews and even certain leaks are all intended to get your attention. It's a big form of advertisement that has the ability to not appear as advertisement.

But, it's the individuals fault for looking into a game to the extent that when you play it you already know it. My formula is simple... early trailers make me aware of it's existance, it comes out eventually, i look at the reviews (sometimes i just hit metacritic and see what it gives it) and act on wheter it has got good appraisel or not.

I don't read reviews or previews in their entirety, I glance over them at best.

 

[The_Deleted]

Brilliantly Put, Mr. T

I also enjoy Movies and books, but companies don't insist on telling you every plot twist or development. So why do game publishers feel the need to spoil any sense of wonder?
If you were told by Movie mags any plot points or twists, you'd not bother with the movie.
If you were told how an author had structured a story, you'd not bother reading it.

I LOVE GAMING! I enjoy reading about my hobby and talking on forums such as this about gaming, so why should I avoid mags and websites for fear of a game being spolit in advance.

 

[GodKlown]

I don't know that I agree with this. Granted, some of us prefer to wait to develop our own opinions of something and avoid the hype that precedes it, but some of us prefer to want to take a look at how things are developing to stir up more excitement about the future project.
I didn't want to play MW2 as I didn't care much for the entire franchise to start with (my brother bought the game and does play it so I've watched from the sidelines and can't see what the big deal is), so I can't really comment there on that.
On GTA4, I was disappointed after I had read some of the pre-release info to find some of the details of what they wanted to put in the project ended up being left on the cutting room floor in the final version (like climbing poles to snipe at people). Overall, it didn't ruin the effect the game had because regardless of what you see, I don't think it should ultimately ruin or effect the enjoyment you get out of something. People are individual and often weird, so you still take your chances with something you'd like to see what you get out of the experience. Everyone works off their own personal agenda and sometimes they have a grudge against a company based on a prior experience, therefore, it ruins any integrity they have towards future releases from said company. This isn't hard to see when people have had so many problems with 360s dying on them within the first year and they jump over to PS3s and then spend time bashing anything on the 360 based on their prior bad experience. Maybe you've gotten food poisoning at a resturant, and whenever someone suggests going back there you strongly decline based on your past experience. How is this any different than what you are talking about?
It never hurts to take a look now and again at something you are anticipating to keep your interest up. Projects such as video games and movies are likely to change from concept to delivery date, so it is more beneficial to keep an eye on the progress of the project. A good example is Mass Effect 2 and the marketing campaign that is going on there. I agree that Bioware is letting out too much footage of in-game without showing off more of the newer features of this sequel (aside from the new characters), and in a way gives you less to look forward to when you play the game when you recognize a scene from a commercial. But for others, they see that same scene and can't wait to get to that point in the game to relive the excitement they felt at seeing it on the television before the game was released. It's all a matter of prospective.

 

[T-Bone24]

I went in to Mass Effect not knowing anything but the basic setup. I was astounded by it and the twist was all the more amazing, a feeling only surpassed by Okami. I had no clue about these two games. But now, for Mass Effect 2, I've absorbed evry tantalizing bit of info I can, and I hate that. I'm just thankful that BioWare haven't revealed much of the story, but I still feel bad for peeking at the Christmas presents.

 

[Jasper Jeffs]

Not is isn't hard. I avoided all the hype for Modern Warfare 2. I heard a small amount about the No Russian level, but apart from that, practically nothing. You just have to avoid clicking on news stories about the game and tell people to shut up if they start talking about it. Only more politely that that obviously.

I agree.

I'm really looking forward to Splinter Cell, and a walkthrough video just got put up on IGN. I'm not gonna watch it though because I know it'll ruin some of the surprise and affect the overall gaming experience. If you know that, you should have no problem ignoring information on the game before it's released. The only thing I do watch for unreleased games are trailers, because they're usually well made and interesting. What I don't watch is some guy sat there telling me what I'm going to be playing, I'll figure that one out when I've got the game.

Adverts are allowed, but only in small amounts even then. I mean, if they appear on the television you can't avoid them, can you?

True. I hadn't seen anything on Assassin's Creed 2, and not long before it was going to be released I saw an advert on TV showing Ezio take out 2 people with the hidden blades by dropping down on them. That was quite annoying.

 

[InsanityRequiem]

I kinda don't really pay attention to game stuff before release dates. It'll intrigue me and make me want to get it (Not buy. I no longer buy. Thank you Gamefly!), or the intrigue goes away and I take it off my list, only to put it back on at a later date. I do tend to read what people on forums(Looking at you, Escapist folks!) and see what the masses think of a game before buying/playing it, just to chuckle and laugh at their idiocy. Yes, I'm a-calling people out for berating/glorifying games before they play them.

Just saying. I've played games that were all hyped and given high expectations and didn't enjoy them, and also played games that were bombed for failure and I had lots of fun with them.

 

[BaldursBananaSoap]

I don't listen to all that bullshit anymore. I decide if I want the game after watching videos on youtube and reading about the game. I don't buy games based on what some biased review site thinks and was probably paid off to say.