Always Wanting More

As a culture, it’s safe to say that we expect way too much from our celebrities. We build these people up based on their incredible talents, only to break them back down once they show some signs of actually being human. And the same thing is true for celebrities in the gaming community. Just look at the reactions Miyamoto got after the release of Wii Music, or Will Wright after the disappointing Spore. The industry moves so fast that it often becomes a case of “what have you done for me lately?”, even though these are some of the most influential creators gaming has ever seen.

Read the complete article at DONT.

On Videogame Movies

There are a few near-universal truths in gaming. Anything developed by Blizzard or Nintendo will sell more than you thought, message boards are a place to discuss which console is best, and movies and games don’t normally get along too well. Sure there has been the occasional good game tie-in for a movie, and the first Resident Evil wasn’t entirely unwatchable. But for the most part, movies based on games and games based on movies are awful. Which is why I find it so surprising when news pops up about an excellent game being adapted for film, and people actually get excited.

Read the complete article at DONT.

Collecting in the Digital Age

Like a lot of geeks out there, I’m somewhat of a pack rat. I continually outgrow bookshelves, and have a hard time simply finding a place to keep all of my games, books, and movies neat and organized. It’s a bit of a pain, but at the same time, I enjoy it. There is something about scanning through a bunch of spines, and pulling one off the shelf that is very satisfying. Of course, my collection would be significantly bigger if it weren’t for the advent of digital distribution.

Read the complete article at DONT.

Why We Need E3

You may have noticed that a little gaming convention took place last week in Los Angeles. It was full of all sorts of announcements, including Microsoft unveiling a motion sensing camera, Sony showing off a new, smaller PSP, and Nintendo continuing to surprise the gaming world with the Wii Vitality Sensor. What you may have noticed is that, unlike the past few years, this convention was pretty damn big. There were plenty of press conferences, new hardware and software announcements, and a swarm of media coverage. And while it may seem like nothing more than a circus at a glance, and while the journalists who cover it often loathe the experience, the truth is plain: the games industry really needs E3.

Read the complete article at DONT.

Gamers: A Confused Bunch

I wanted this column to be a place to discuss the people who play games, and the culture that surrounds them. Use it as a tool to celebrate just what’s so great about games, and why we love them so much. But while racking my brain trying to think of a good topic to kick things off with, I came to a realization: gamers are one confused bunch of people. By gamers, of course, I mean the vocal minority who post on forums, read gaming blogs, or maybe even buy and sell games on certain online marketplaces. And while they are certainly a minority, they’re also very vocal, and hold some strong opinions.

Read the complete article at DONT.