Caught Beneath the Avalanche
The entertainment industry as a whole is beginning to overwhelm me. I find that no matter how many DVDs I put into my Netflix queue or how many games I try to cover, I can't even begin to make a dent in the industry's barrage of entertainment material. I mean, it used to be Mario Bros. and Duck Hunt. Welcome to the era where Hollywood and the titans of gaming pull in revenues that better the GNP of most countries in the world. From every angle you will find an onslaught of choices with which to frivolously waste time at any given moment of any day. And from the looks of it, there is no end in site. As long as people buy, the industry will continue to serve us with an indefatigable march of games, movies, and music.
I used to roll my eyes when a sequel would follow an already horrible movie, thinking that such a follow-up would surely end in a revenue disaster for the producing companies. Even further amazing to me were the so-called "critics" who somehow ended up giving the movie a "two-thumbs-up." Then, somehow, I find myself one of the many shuffling into the same theater, proving that I might not be as savvy as I thought, having succumbed to the relentless marketing flash and hubbub. Whatever the case, the gaming industry and movie industry appear to mirror each other's behaviors, especially where producing in quantity is favored over quality is concerned. The sheer volume of choices available amazes me. I am reminded of the scene from The Matrix where Neo says, "Guns, lots of guns," except in this situation, walking into your local electronics store and saying, "Games, lots of games." In a much less thrilling experience, you suddenly find yourself surrounded by a numbing aisle after aisle of games. All wrapped in shiny boxes, and assuredly each having a "thumbs-up" or "9/10" rating from somewhere.
Wading through this sea of boxes, it's often difficult to find "the right game"; there are just so many choices. Oftentimes a game will be a clone of one you already own, except this one is wearing a deceptively shinier box, and with a new title! Oh Boy! Since it is new, it must be better! While I'm on the subject, how many times can the industry milk WWII for yet another era-themed shooter? Is it really necessary to release a new Madden every year? I mean, I might buy Madden 2004, but only because I feel like I am getting a game from the future. Then there are the truly stellar titles--the ones that somehow make it to store shelves, despite an amazing lack of redeeming qualities. Spending nine bucks to see a flop movie sequel is one thing, but plopping down 50 for a game that could end up underneath a cold drink on your desk is an expensive way to buy coasters.
So I turn to the reviews; the credible ones of course. I want to know where my cash should go and be warned of what titles are hiding their meager frames behind a shiny box and flashy screenshots. I want to know who the innovators are--you know the ones. These developers make games that don't reuse the same ol' story, with the same ol' types of characters, using the same ol' 3D engine that has been worn by so many titles. Funny thing is, in my quest to find perfect titles, I spend more time reading reviews and less and less time playing. For every game, there is a review to be read. Instead of wading through boxes, I now wade through the sea of reviews.
I appreciate the effort though, on behalf of the likes of GameSpot, to divvy up the industry and give credit where credit is deserved. I think they do an outstanding job. I just find myself reeling from trying to keep up with the Joneses, who are busier now than ever before--I stand awash in this myriad of choices. Nonetheless, even in my intimidated state, my appetite remains strangely insatiable. Thus, my Netflix queue remains well-buffered, my pockets full of torn movie stubs, and my quest for great games will assuredly end in many a wasted dollar on games that don't deserve it. This, after all, is precisely what the industry wants. As long as you check your dollars at their doors, they will only care enough to keep the profits coming. I only wish they cared more about what comes out those doors.
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