Jim's Magnum Opus

[Xprimentyl]

Luckily EA fucked up with Battlefront 2 and made the lootboxs so shitty that even the general mouth-breathers started to notice. the fact that governments and lawmakers are looking at these things and starting to ask questions is great news. Honestly I think we've reached the peak scumbag in terms of AAA and it will be forced to pull back for a while and try to figure out some other bollocks to try and sell else later.

Well, something we finally agree on. The fact that these shitty practices are finally being looked at from a position of legality is a good thing, imho. I was an avid gamer for decades, and after the past several years, I can hardly say I recognize it anymore. I?ve watched this industry not only get away with, but openly proliferate these criminally unethical monetization practices whilst simultaneously watching the quality of what?s on offer diminish. I?ve watched as billionaire publishers knowingly release rushed and incomplete trash for a full $60, then have the gall to put their hands out for more money from customers. At first, it was a quivering lower lip and a sob story about increased development costs, but now, well, fuck us; they?re blatantly pissing in our wallets and laughingly gleefully as all the cash spills onto the floor.

 

[IceForce]

"Default" is now an insult and pejorative within schoolchildren circles.

Fuck me, what has the world come to.

 

[Lufia Erim]

What did his sex tape drop? No?

Damn. If only he'd released this video three years ago instead of waiting until socially expedient, and getting aped by dozens of gaming YT'ers who were smaller then, but now just as big if not bigger. His channel growth might not have stalled out and he'd have a reputation as a leading consumer advocate in gaming, as opposed to an industry trend windsock.

Actually, I think that's what I'll call him from now on. Windsock Jim.

He talked about it. 3 years ago.

https://youtu.be/LWTsJZD3YFQ

(edithttps://youtu.be/fHszeYz5Mi0


Here's one about crunch from Three years ago also.

https://youtu.be/Z8RCV0UWJgE

Heres one about Early access AAA games, again three years ago.

https://youtu.be/i6mRRGOwQjM

How about you pay attention next time.

 

[SolidState]

Like I'm going to pay attention to anything that dogmatic and evangelistic puppet has to say.

 

[CaitSeith]

Like I'm going to pay attention to anything that dogmatic and evangelistic puppet has to say.

Sorry, but he has a point.

 

[BrawlMan]

Saw this morning. I am going to show this to parents whose kids constantly play or ask for Fornite things.

But the point will be mooted to them by him dressing up and acting like a fucking dingbat if it?s anything like most of his other videos. Haven?t watched it yet but am planning to, with some consternation.

I?m sure his personality has something to do with his popularity, or vice versa, but him trying to make a serious point in the face of his act is like watching The Joker painting googly eyes on the Mona Lisa at an art exhibit.

You let me worry about that. Some of these parents I know have seen way weirder than whatever Sterling can come up with.

 

[CritialGaming]

Are people really trying to invalidate Jim's points because of the nature in which he presents the show? As if his character somehow negates the fact that everything he has said, and predicted, has come true in regards to the gaming industry as a whole.

If you really think that then you must be part of the problem. As that is the shallowist defense of the AAA behavior's I have ever heard.

 

[IceForce]

Are people really trying to invalidate Jim's points because of the nature in which he presents the show? As if his character somehow negates the fact that everything he has said, and predicted, has come true in regards to the gaming industry as a whole.

If you really think that then you must be part of the problem. As that is the shallowist defense of the AAA behavior's I have ever heard.

I heard Jim called far worse back when that... ahem... gaming shitstorm was raging on these forums. A great number of people handwaved away his videos or simply refused to watch them due to perceived injustices that they'd conjured up in their minds.

 

[Silentpony_v1legacy]

Like I'm going to pay attention to anything that dogmatic and evangelistic puppet has to say.

Dogmatic about his beliefs, maybe, but Evangelical? I haven't picked up any christian overtones in his work.

 

[Squilookle]

What did his sex tape drop? No?

Damn. If only he'd released this video three years ago instead of waiting until socially expedient, and getting aped by dozens of gaming YT'ers who were smaller then, but now just as big if not bigger. His channel growth might not have stalled out and he'd have a reputation as a leading consumer advocate in gaming, as opposed to an industry trend windsock.

Actually, I think that's what I'll call him from now on. Windsock Jim.

He talked about it. 3 years ago.

https://youtu.be/LWTsJZD3YFQ

(edithttps://youtu.be/fHszeYz5Mi0


Here's one about crunch from Three years ago also.

https://youtu.be/Z8RCV0UWJgE

Heres one about Early access AAA games, again three years ago.

https://youtu.be/i6mRRGOwQjM

How about you pay attention next time.

Game, Set, and goddamned Match.

Not a fan of using sad piano music over real people's personal anecdotes. Or any music designed to elicit a specific emotion out of the viewer from a real, troubled experience. It's a lack of faith in the viewer to feel empathy from the words alone and comes off as unfortunately manipulative or a piss take (imho).

Honestly I think it's one of the few ways he could present the material without being completely insensitive about it. Yes the music tells us what emotion we're supposed to feel while hearing the testimonies, but... that's music's job. Always has been. I'm fine with it.

I just wish he'd stop putting on a a stupid voice every time he said 'the AAA industry', simply because it pushes new viewers away by making him look like a whiny child.

 

[Abomination]

I just wish he'd stop putting on a a stupid voice every time he said 'the AAA industry', simply because it pushes new viewers away by making him look like a whiny child.

I think he even addresses this very point in the video stating he does it to show his complete derision and disgust towards those who claim the "title" of being AAA publishers. Namely that the term "AAA" is supposed to be a reflection of excellence, craftsmanship and adherence to good practice. In reality almost all publishers of that ilk have been producing titles that are Skinner boxes with gambling mechanics or pay-to-solve quality of life solutions to problems specifically designed by the publishers then told "Player choice" when the micro-transaction solutions are presented.

That said, if the tone of his voice or whatever is going to turn people away from his message... leading horses to water, I guess. He's one of the most outspoken and genuinely up front consumer advocates for video games out there. Anyone who calls him otherwise is either delusional or a shill.

 

[Phoenixmgs_v1legacy]

Does it matter that a once-joyous and engrossing fantastical art form and pastime has been subverted by predatory capitalism into a finely-crafted manipulative machine of Mammon which has no concern for the lives it ruins? Nah, fuck it, shit's fine.

If that's in reference to me, I'm questening Jim's Magnum Opus mattering since the damage is done, the evil is set. I don't think these videos funstion as anything more than a lament. That's not me criticizing these videos, it just puts a spotlight on how pointless of an endeavor it is.

Except he's been saying it for years and y'all ignored him.

I agree with Shinji, the companies ain't going to go back to making less money and the government, at least in the US, isn't going to outlaw lootboxes. There's tons of other things that kids partake in that are setup basically the same way (e.g. Magic) so all that stuff would be outlawed too, plus the lobbyists will stop any bill from passing anyway. While Jim is really well known by hardcore gamers, the average gamer does not know of people like Jim. If everyone that watches Jim's videos listens to him and does what he says, that's still easily less than 10% of gamers. Who do you think publishers care about under 10% of their customers or over 90% of them?

I wonder if any other business could get away with celebrating and sharing their shady and manipulative practices like in this video: a bank detailing how they trick people into predatory loans, a used car dealer giving step-by-step details on how to sell cars in bad condition at a premium price, etc., openly admit to manipulating and abusing consumers.

I really hope this is sarcasm.

 

[Eacaraxe_v1legacy]

How about you pay attention next time.

Two videos about microtransactions in general, only one of which discusses the habit-forming (read, addictive) nature of loot crates in a throwaway line about peer pressure, not the actual topic at hand which is the equation of loot crate mechanics as gambling, and the ethics and legality thereof. And that's the one you couldn't even find at first, and had to edit the post after the fact to add. Two videos that have fuck-all to do with the topic at all, which you just threw in as red herrings to try to prop up Jim.

That's the best you can come up with to defend Windsock Jim. Well done, well done indeed.

 

[Lufia Erim]

How about you pay attention next time.

Two videos about microtransactions in general, only one of which discusses the habit-forming (read, addictive) nature of loot crates in a throwaway line about peer pressure, not the actual topic at hand which is the equation of loot crate mechanics as gambling, and the ethics and legality thereof. And that's the one you couldn't even find at first, and had to edit the post after the fact to add. Two videos that have fuck-all to do with the topic at all, which you just threw in as red herrings to try to prop up Jim.

That's the best you can come up with to defend Windsock Jim. Well done, well done indeed.

So, are you admitting to not watching jim's latest video or being unable to connect dots?

The two extra videos, on crunch and AAA early access, were to point out,the current hot Topic du jour, that's going on about crunch and unfinished AAA early access games, were warned about literally 3 years ago.

And i specifically chose 3 year old videos because YOU said he should have blown the whistle 3 years ago.

He has made many, many more recent videos, but i took your criteria and found the relevant material.

Accept it or don't. But you got served.

 

[Eacaraxe_v1legacy]

The two extra videos, on crunch

Literally the first result on a Google search for "video game crunch" is a Kotaku article from three years ago [https://kotaku.com/crunch-time-why-game-developers-work-such-insane-hours-1704744577]. That is a revised and republished article from 2015. That references an IGDA study from 2014.

Windsock.

AAA early access

Literally the first result on a Google search for "AAA early access" is a Gamespot article from five years ago [https://www.gamespot.com/articles/aaa-publishers-now-eyeing-steam-early-access/1100-6417174/]. Here's a 2016 gamesindustry.biz article [https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2016-03-29-shifting-from-aaa-to-early-access] and a 2014 Polygon article [https://www.polygon.com/2014/1/24/5338478/early-access-exposes-the-lie-that-the-best-games-should-or-even-can] about early access and triple-A development.

Windsock.

the current hot Topic du jour...

...are actually years-old industry issues that are only now getting widespread attention, completely independent from Jim and all of which predate him saying a goddamn word about any of them. Might I suggest extending the full breadth of your industry news consumption to "someone besides Jim"? At this point, I'm sure we can expect a Jimquisition video about at-will and temp-contract employment in the games industry somewhere around the year 2022. That is, when he's not faffing around with videos about unionization, once again playing the windsock to Polytaku, like he did six months ago.

Accept it or don't. But you got served.

lol k

 

[Meximagician]

...Who do you think publishers care about under 10% of their customers or over 90% of them?...

Well, according Swrve, a market analysis company specializing in mobile apps, in 2014 0.15% of players contribute to 50% of monthly revenue for freemium mobile games. So it's less about if 10% hears this, and more about which 10% hears about it.

Admittedly, that was the freemium mobile market and maybe things are different enough in the premium games market (hell, my username and first post was based on complaining that someone was making an apples-to-oranges comparison). Still, gives new meaning to the phrase 'save the whales', eh?

 

[Squilookle]

I just wish he'd stop putting on a a stupid voice every time he said 'the AAA industry', simply because it pushes new viewers away by making him look like a whiny child.

I think he even addresses this very point in the video stating he does it to show his complete derision and disgust towards those who claim the "title" of being AAA publishers. Namely that the term "AAA" is supposed to be a reflection of excellence, craftsmanship and adherence to good practice. In reality almost all publishers of that ilk have been producing titles that are Skinner boxes with gambling mechanics or pay-to-solve quality of life solutions to problems specifically designed by the publishers then told "Player choice" when the micro-transaction solutions are presented.

That said, if the tone of his voice or whatever is going to turn people away from his message... leading horses to water, I guess. He's one of the most outspoken and genuinely up front consumer advocates for video games out there. Anyone who calls him otherwise is either delusional or a shill.

Look, I get that, and I'm totally with him about what the AAA industry is supposed to be vs what it actually is. I'm definitely not disputing that he has a point there and that his disgust is well founded and well researched. My deal is that his childish voice for it every time he mentions it (without the context you mentioned appearing in any of his other videos to explain it) comes across as petty and unprofessional. It's probably the single least professional thing he does in his vids, and to a first time viewer, hearing him referring to an industry title in a smarmy voice with no context really would be enough to put people off the channel, because it makes the channel look far less reasoned than it actually is. And that's a shame, since it's such an easily avoided pratfall.

How about you pay attention next time.

That's the best you can come up with to defend Windsock Jim. Well done, well done indeed.

It's more than he needed. You got flattened there. Probably best you quit while you're not too far behind, before you start truly embarrassing yourself. And I mean that in the kindest possible way.

 

[Phoenixmgs_v1legacy]

...Who do you think publishers care about under 10% of their customers or over 90% of them?...

Well, according Swrve, a market analysis company specializing in mobile apps, in 2014 0.15% of players contribute to 50% of monthly revenue for freemium mobile games. So it's less about if 10% hears this, and more about which 10% hears about it.

Admittedly, that was the freemium mobile market and maybe things are different enough in the premium games market (hell, my username and first post was based on complaining that someone was making an apples-to-oranges comparison). Still, gives new meaning to the phrase 'save the whales', eh?

My point was more about the amount of gamers that care enough (negatively) about lootboxes that they won't buy the game (aka Jim's audience) than who actually buys said lootboxes. The fact that Battlefront 2 sold 9 million in its 1st 3 months says that people just don't care about the issue enough to not buy those games, and Battlefront 2 got massive bad press before release. I believe there was some article saying a rather large percentage of gamers buy lootboxes (even if it's just a couple of them) but can't find the article. I'm sure large percentage of revenue from lootboxes does comes from a small minority though. I, myself, play Golf Clash on my phone (solid overall golf game) but it's loaded with microtransactions and quite a decent amount of players use limited time special balls that you can only get by paying for whereas I've only used the standard ball even though I've got 100s of better balls that I've unlocked in its lootboxes (though I never paid for a single one).

 

[Kwak]

Well we're all grizzled old cynical pieces of crap that see the shit being served and know it for that, but kids have no reference points and defenses against this stuff. It's pure psychological manipulation for profit.

 

[Abomination]

It's probably the single least professional thing he does in his vids, and to a first time viewer, hearing him referring to an industry title in a smarmy voice with no context really would be enough to put people off the channel, because it makes the channel look far less reasoned than it actually is. And that's a shame, since it's such an easily avoided pratfall.

*Rubs neck*.

Yeah, I agree there. It would convince more people if he was not so derisive... but he has to be a showman as well, and that attitude brings in the clicks and Paetreon subscribers. If he didn't get paid he would not be able to deliver the message, but if he delivered the perfect message he wouldn't get paid enough to deliver it.