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 Posted: Tue, 4th Apr 2017 10:57 Post subject: A USELESS caffeine-induced post. Just ignore it. |
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TLDR: a USELESS caffeine-induced post. Just skip it. Thanks.
It started with me just looking at a typical video game PR image of some Destiny 2 'swag'... 'is all. I don't know where I'm going with this.
This game swag stuff is in my opinion 100% fine. The physical extras and swag people can choose to get, or not get, doesn't affect anyone else ingame, and if it isn't too cheaply put together it can be fun to find it again at a later date and be reminded of a specific game.
Shouldn't it be the other way around?
As in, I'd rather grab something if I found myself playing a game a whole lot, creating some good memories, instead of buying something physical up front like in a pre-order situation. Some of this is usually exclusive to versions and limited in quantity, never to be made again type of stuff, so I can understand; at least for a sequel, that a fan of Destiny 1 automatically feels buying an expensive version of Destiny 2 with physical stuff is 'worth it' just in case they like Destiny 2 as well.
Is buying/receiving game swag similar to visiting a country and buying or receciving object X as a souvenir?
You don't really know, in the moment, whether that item will hold some sentimental value at a later date. For some I guess, it is simply a collector's thing to do or as a token of achievement. "I went to country Z". There are only so many 'unique' real life settings, many countries look more or less the same; although tend to differ in terms of culture, history and have their share of remnants of ancient times, like in terms of architecture and whatnot. Games can sometimes create that feel of being unique, but we also have a shit-ton more games than we do countries, so while you could try to remember every game you played, it isn't practical nor do all games even offer physical items for someone to hold on to.
I'm a simple guy. I'd be thrilled with a physical manual again that I'd probably, if that, check out once and never touch it again. Some basics, hints/tricks, bits of lore and images. Used to look at that as a game was installing.  Now you can just google or visit a wiki, still not the same as having something offical and physical though, so again I understand.
More so than the really overt physical trinkets and whatnot, I'd prefer a lot more subtle stuff.
Presented as iconic. A cap with a bland symbol and a piece of cloth? If it had any significance to me or to others who saw me wearing it, I'd get with that. But this is not iconic, and it will never become iconic.
NOT that I want actual in-game fictional stuff as it is represented in the games to be subtle. A good example is Ubisoft calling everything ICONIC. The dude in Watch_Dogs wore a cap. They called it ICONIC. It was just a cap, dudes. They tried so hard to create 'iconic' this and that; but they don't get to decide what's iconic or not. Something gets that status once people see it as significant in order to identity the game or character or whatever in question. Ubisoft, man.
Keeping whether something is iconic or not to the side, in terms of wearing or using something gaming-related in public; a t-shirt, cap, whatnot with a simple, clean symbol or logo - something in that vein - is indeed a lot cooler, and easier for random people to accept, in my opinion. Talking real life. If person A can wear a t-shirt with a band's name or something, a gamer certainly can wear a /insert game name/series name or even if he likes a specific dev studio or even fictional concept/character on his shirt - that's np at all, as long it doesn't scream I PLAY VIDEO GAMES AND FOR SOME REASON I NEED TO SHOW IT. It isn't special to play video games.
Still, it isn't fully acceptable socially - you don't score any points by admitting you spend time gaming. I believe it will be though. It has gotten a long way, actually by a lot. Personally, real talk, I don't find it a big deal really, but when I meet someone new and I find out they don't like tv-series, movies, games; you know; any entertainment based on fiction - such as becoming attached and interested in a setting or be invested in the struggles of a fictional character within the context of the game - something isn't right.
If you think about it, most games/movies/books whatever, try to play on human emotion and tries to create situations where the reader/gamer/consumer try to imagine ourselves being in, and characters we can relate to on a human level. With a book, you get descriptions of your surroundings, and your mind tries to paint what it looks like. In a newer game, a lot more is defined by the visuals, and it leaves less to the imagination - it is more convenient sure, but if it isn't done well, a game's graphics and attention to detail can work against its purpose as a vehicle to drive a meaningful and emotional story.
It's fine to think fiction is stupid, but I think someone can be pretty narrow-minded to generalize this form of entertainment and isolate themselves from it, either because they find it shallow, anti-social or childish to become invested in something 'fake' and 'not rational' compared to the value of investing time into real life activities.
;; As if you have to \only/ like gaming or /only\ like some other real life hobby, there are no rules or norms; just old stereotypes that still refuse to die.
I'm thinking its a generational thing. Sub-5 yo's get smartphones and tablets for personal use now. It is already becoming integrated and invaluable; mainly in practical and rational ways; but also in terms of entertainment. There's no way stereotypes can survive this.
I'm convinced I was born at least one generation too soon. The coming generations will really enjoy the social foundations and growing acceptance of digital/fictional entertainment, but still not feel the consumption to be 'required' or overwhelming. We might get to that point, too, but not in a long time.
TLDR: a USELESS caffeine-induced post. Just skip it. Thanks.
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HubU
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| Posted: Tue, 4th Apr 2017 15:12 Post subject: |
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Well, I can feel your pain... But what do you want to put in those manuals nowadays? Follow the red icon, shoot everything that moves, press Q/W/E to win the quicktime event? 
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