Note from the Editor: So there already exists a Twitter feed called Good Gaming, so I am re branding this column. I also already have a blog and Twitter with this brand so I might as well stick with it. Follow me @cultureofgaming and at www.cultureofgaming.com.
So the topic for today and impatience, and what it means for gamers, and gaming as a whole. It’s not an easy topic to tackle, as I feel like our impatient culture is harming games in a way that isn’t quite visible to some people.
Let’s begin with a case study. Diablo III, a game that many waited for, some patiently, some not. As some waited patiently for a release, like they do for most games, a vocal on line community was impatiently waiting the release of this game that was supposed to fill some kind of void in their lives.
Long story short, it didn’t, and the Internet let out a great and powerful cry of pain and anger that was heard the world round. Not really, but almost. The game turned out not to be what was expected, and there was no end to the complaints. Some features weren’t available when the game shipped, due to the need to get the game out the door.
Whether or not it was due to a shortened development cycle and the need or profits, or it was because of the large outcry for a release isn’t certain, but I believe the latter had something to do with it, and that’s a problem.
We live in a digital age. Information is everywhere, especially about video games. It’s hard to go anywhere without seeing an ad or an article about a game that is about to come out, and that is a problem to me.
I grew up in a time where video game information took a while to disperse itself through gamers. A small article in a gaming magazine, talking with friends, hell sometimes the only way I’d know about a game is from seeing it at the local Wal-Mart.
The information was limited, and games were released when they were done, and if they weren’t they didn’t sell as well, except for Superman 64. That’s just the way things were before Internet news took hold and everyone could write about everything they new.
Impatience has grown almost out of hand for our culture. It seems as if something isn’t ready now, people get upset. Then, when they finally get their hands on it, if it has a flaw they get upset. That isn’t o say people shouldn’t be happy with flawed games, but that’s a completely different topic.
The thing that bothers me most is the nature of these complaints. I don’t know what else to say about it, because it may well be in our rights as consumers to demand that our entertainment be provided in a timely manner, but to complain about how long something is taking, then complaining again when the release feels rushed and full of bugs just disturbs me.
Patience is a virtue, and it’s important now, more than ever. Games are expanding and becoming these massive story telling endeavors. As they progress into the future more time will be required to make them, and make them right. Can’t we be just a little more patient and forgiving? If not, can’t we just not buy the ones that release broken?
As a video game consumer it is not only my right, but my responsibility to provide criticism and let my voice be heard when an issue arises with a video game I purchase or am considering purchasing. Many other industries would kill to have the kind of vocal and instant feedback that the video game industry possesses. I would like to think that I can influence the future of a hobby that I enjoy with my vocal feedback. Not all of the feedback is negative. Perhaps instead of attacking the gamers, the anger about the negative feedback and impaitence of gamers should be directed toward the publisher-developer relationship, where many delays and sacrifices/compromises have to be made. Some of the highest rated games of our time come from those developers and indie producers who are left to their own devices.
A good analogy is this: Do we blame the voters for being overly picky when they complain about their choices in representatives or presidential candidates? Or do we blame the system for not listening to what the voters want or just plain ignoring what the voters want? I vote on video games with my wallet and I feel free to criticize any games or game franchises I have invested time and effort into.