If you have a moment to spare...

Right off the bat, I'd like to tell you I happen to have a certain...knack for video games. Therefore, my opinions might be a little skewed. One is naturally inclined to like the things that they are good at. And I don't want you to think I'm bragging, either. I don't like to brag; I'm not good at it. I have such little practice. My real accomplishments are usually quite impressive enough. Seriously, though, I prefer not to alter any situation beyond what's necessary. Sherlock Holmes, I think it was, said something about equating modesty to lying. I wouldn't go that far, but it is a good observation. He is, after all, Sherlock Holmes.

Before I started to ramble, I was trying to lay out my thoughts on video games. I actually started this post out of nowhere, just as something to do, but about the point I got to Sherlock Holmes there was a news story on television. The gist of it was "Are video games responsible for recent school shootings?" Only my extensive training in restraining myself from emotional outbursts saved my mother's television set. How...how, I ask, is this given airtime? Sadly, as I type this I realize I already know. Video games are controversial, and, as such, are put all over the news at every possible opportunity. "Is Super Mario responsible for recent turtle stompings? Doom III/Cheney shotgun incident connection found! Hundreds injured after recent Barbie's Horse Adventure rampage." Actually, I can kind of see that last one happening. And of course, putting video games on the news to get more ratings works. After all, I watched it. Since I had planned to talk about other aspects of video games, I'll just sum up the important parts of the video game violence arguement here: It's garbage.

Thank you for your time.

In other news, I-

What?

Oh, you want validation for the above statement?

Good.

I have trained you well.

Apparently, some wrong-minded individuals believe that playing violent video games makes a person violent. I disagree. For me, personally, playing a bad video game makes me violent. Playing a violent video game doesn't make me want to shoot a gun any more than playing a flight simulator makes me want to get a pilot's license. That's not applicable, they cry, a pilot's license requires an application process, you need to be a certain age, you need special training...Not at all like getting a gun. Not to mention, all the video games they mention as corrupting North America's youth? Yeah, they're all rated M for Mature. That, ladies and gentlemen, means they are not meant to be played by North America's youth. They are meant for adults, and I hope to play one someday. No, that's not true, I've played a few M-rated games in my day. Oddly enough, I've never done anything illegal. Gah. I just don't feel the ability to enunciate exactly what I feel about this, so I'll try to move on to a more positive aspect.

Video games create fan communities. The one I go 'round sometimes is a Halo fansite, one http://halo.bungie.org/. Now, Halo is a great game, powerful storytelling, pick-up-and-play controls, hugely fun multiplayer, the list goes on, but it's the people that play it that, in my mind at least, set it apart as an amzing game. Then again, if millions of committed fans played E.T., it would still be E.T....Hmm. Of course, if millions of fans played E.T., they'd have to be committed. To an asylum. So I guess the question is, is it the fans that make it a truly great game, or does a truly great game make the fans? I suppose either way it's a moo point.

You know, a moo point.

It's like a cow's opinion.

Doesn't matter.

It's moo.

[No, I'm not just mentioning HBO here so I could have an excuse to mention my new blog on the forums there. How dare you suggest such a thing?]

Nonetheless, there are plenty of great games that not many people have played. Psychonauts springs to mind. What makes the difference? I'm not going to say that one game is better than another, any more than I'd say eating Bavarian cream pie is better than spelunking, but why are some games embraced by the populace and some left to fend for themselves in the bargain bin at EB Games? It is a question that has puzzled the greatest philosphers for literally thousands of years. Is it just marketing? Bad press? No press? Is the Internet to blame? But this is one of those things that just escapes me.

I honestly don't know.

Trust me, it took me a while to type that. I don't usually say things like that.

I'm not exactly complaining, though, since I buy most of my games from the bargain bin. Whenever I find an amazing game for just a few bucks, I click my heels with the best of them. I'm still not allowed into Gamestop for the Simpsons: Hit and Run incident.

So, to summarize: video games--good. Jeff's blog--long winded.

With all due respect,
jdogmoney

221b Baker Street,
London, England