Also any RPG or game that ends with "Humanity was the true evil all along" while being created by a massive global corporation that refuses to pay taxes for social programs and forces the populace at large into poverty. Hard to not be evil when you are struggling to feed yourself or pay for a doctor visit while the richest of the rich hoard the world's wealth like Scrooge McDuck.
Yeah, gaming journalism is in a rough place. There's no winning in that industry. Either you water down your reviews so much you essentially say nothing to not offend anyone or you get hate either from the AAA companies or the fans of the companies. Granted, there are some seriously compromised reviewers out there that have friends in the industry and carry the water for the AAA companies, but there's also a lot of legitimate criticism that gets shut down due to fanatics.
The companies mainly did that back in the 90s and 00s when they would threaten to withdraw advertising if the reviewers gave their AAA games bad reviews. That's why every AAA got 5/5/5/5 in GamePro and similar big name magazines and only ever got less than that in EGM (who lost advertisers more often than the competition). Not that they wouldn't do that today; it's just that they are more likely to get called out on it now that there are more ways to get the word out.
But ya, all too many AAA reviewers are stuck writing "this game has some flaws, but we are going to be very vague about what they are and only mention the least controversial ones. It's not a bad game in a bad game sense, and maybe I don't know but who knows it's kind of good and you might buy it. But we are giving it our lowest score: 8/10." And then the readers scream their heads off that they didn't get the proper 10/10 virgin sacrifice. And that's why the reviews suck that much in the first place.
The companies mainly did that back in the 90s and 00s when they would threaten to withdraw advertising if the reviewers gave their AAA games bad reviews. That's why every AAA got 5/5/5/5 in GamePro and the like and only ever got less than that in EGM (who lost advertisers more often than the competition). Not that they wouldn't do that today; it's just that they are more likely to get called out on it now that there are more ways to get the word out.
But ya, all too many AAA reviewers are stuck writing "this game has some flaws, but we are going to be very vague about what they are and only mention the least controversial ones. It's not a bad game in a bad game sense, and maybe I don't know but who knows it's kind of good and you might buy it. But we are giving it our lowest score: 8/10." And then the readers scream their heads off that they didn't get the proper 10/10 virgin sacrifice. And that's why the reviews suck that much in the first place.
I agree with your point about reviewing games as art. I try to do that in my reviews on this site. I personally don't care too much on how well a game plays or how addictive it is if I consider the themes and message of the game to be abhorrent. I would probably get a lot of hate for my reviews if I were a professional.
Dude quit the drugs my man I never considered games as art what I care about is I get a good fun game that brings enjoyment I could give less shit if it´s art of if it pushes your personal left wing or right wing propaganda keep you politics to your self.
Resident evil 5 racist stereotypes it´s takes place in a land with people of color it make sense to have people of color and it was not stereotypical of them being evil they where all infected Las Plagas parasite in fucking Africa.
But wanna know the fun part of white people are evil or you make the stereotypical white man/woman no one complains what so ever but make black people evil or stereotypical then it´s racism. Sorry to bust your bubble racism does not work one way.
But you know the biggest issue is people that look for or see racism in everything are the biggest racist them self.
If you wanna defend gaming jornislm trash talking players then you can join them when they go under which they are doing I mean people get rather sick of being blamed for shit.
Oh no dragon age veilguard sold poorly it´s gamer´s fault they are racist or Concord fail because gamer´s are asshole. No the games failed because they where bad and people don´t wanna play bad game. And that´s why gaming joornlist is dying becuse we don´t want to be treated like shit becuse we don´t align with you polictal bullshit. We want good and fun game and seeing they start demanding 70 even 80 bucks for games we want games to be bloody worth the money.
So please take your infected mushrooms and go smoke them somewhere else and I will still say the day Kotaku and IGN and so on goes under will be all better for gamers. You politcal freaks will lose your proaganda paltorm and we gamer´s can get our information from other games that care about games and not about politcal propaganda.
I mean, you have the right to play games just to play them but these types of reviews should be permitted. Should they be considered actual product reviews or should they belong in the editorial section? That is an valid question to ask. And criticizing racism in video games is not left nor right wing propaganda, that's an absurd statement. You need to touch grass.
I get that you love resident evil but if they put out thematic trash, people should be allowed to criticize it in some way.
Man I hate it when people don´t fucking read. If you don´t wanna read don´t even comment.
I never said about criticizing racism in video games I said they call gamer´s fucking racist for not liking their slop just like what the gamer did calling gamer´s racist and biggot for not buying Dragon age veilguard or calling people bigots and gooners for enjoying games like stellar blade or first descendants.
Attacking gamer´s and go all political is not game reviews. A proper journalist stays partial. And don´t piss and shit all over a game because it does not feature a gay charter. That is what children do and not a professional journalist.
And I can touch grass when you fucking read or learn to read if that´s to damn hard.
Sorry I couldn't take you seriously when you wrote all of the talking points of the rage bait youtube gaming channels. There are plenty of reviewers who deserve criticism for their political stances, but I actually find it useful that they communicate those preferences instead of hiding behind a veneer of neutrality. The reality is everyone has their biases and those will inevitably color the way you see a particular piece of media. Those people who claim to be neutral but are rage baiters are often on the other side of the political spectrum.
As far as specific reviews go, I haven't played Resident Evil 5, but even resident evil 4 felt vaguely uncomfortable to me killing a bunch of brown Spanish speaking zombies. Obviously that one hit closer to home than the one about black people, but I can understand the sentiment behind the criticism.
Dragon Age Veilguard I can understand the argument that it got a lot of unnecessary hate because it was labeled a Dragon Age game and it had prominent Trans characters. If it was a generic action game, nobody would've cared. Objectively speaking both Stellar Blade and Veilguard are incredibly mediocre action games being pumped up by different sides in a senseless culture war.
I think it depends if you mean this as a good thing or a bad thing. There are games that have contempt and are hostile to the player, but that is by design and is part of the appeal. (things like QWOP, Getting Over it, and various other rage bait games). In terms of movies the first one that comes to mind is Monty Python and the Holy Grail which exists entirely as a joke on the audience for watching it. And then of course the intended effect is you immediately show it to everyone you know to inflict that same "fuck you" energy you received on your first watch.
But then there are games and movies which feel like they have malicious design to them, which I think is something completely different. It's more than just being a downer like 'The Mist', it's like the thing itself is punishing you for engaging with it.
Honestly the first thing that comes to mind is that Velma cartoon. Which feels like it's insulting you for watching it.
I mean, you have the right to play games just to play them but these types of reviews should be permitted. Should they be considered actual product reviews or should they belong in the editorial section? That is an valid question to ask. And criticizing racism in video games is not left nor right wing propaganda, that's an absurd statement. You need to touch grass.
I get that you love resident evil but if they put out thematic trash, people should be allowed to criticize it in some way.
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Sorry I couldn't take you seriously when you wrote all of the talking points of the rage bait youtube gaming channels. There are plenty of reviewers who deserve criticism for their political stances, but I actually find it useful that they communicate those preferences instead of hiding behind a veneer of neutrality. The reality is everyone has their biases and those will inevitably color the way you see a particular piece of media. Those people who claim to be neutral but are rage baiters are often on the other side of the political spectrum.
As far as specific reviews go, I haven't played Resident Evil 5, but even resident evil 4 felt vaguely uncomfortable to me killing a bunch of brown Spanish speaking zombies. Obviously that one hit closer to home than the one about black people, but I can understand the sentiment behind the criticism.
Dragon Age Veilguard I can understand the argument that it got a lot of unnecessary hate because it was labeled a Dragon Age game and it had prominent Trans characters. If it was a generic action game, nobody would've cared. Objectively speaking both Stellar Blade and Veilguard are incredibly mediocre action games being pumped up by different sides in a senseless culture war.
Honestly I have stopped reading gaming journalists altogether. Between the watered down reviews that try to please everyone and all the focus on pushing their politics and drama (since when political trite has anything to do with high art?), I believe they have very little to contribute with the advancement of the medium. Nowadays I mostly like to read a few of both positive and negative users review and that is.
I remember watching this when it came out. Hbomberguy basically concludes that Steven Moffat and Sherlock hates you if you watch the show and are a fan, and makes that very clear.
Honestly I have stopped reading gaming journalists altogether. Between the watered down reviews that try to please everyone and all the focus on pushing their politics and drama (since when political trite has anything to do with high art?), I believe they have very little to contribute with the advancement of the medium. Nowadays I mostly like to read a few of both positive and negative users review and that is.
Unfortunately, everything has an ideology behind it. Even video games. Unless it is the most banal game ever like Mario Bros or Sonic. (Even Sonic has an environmentalist message, and that could be construed as political under the right circumstances). Divorcing art from politics is impossible.
Unfortunately, everything has an ideology behind it. Even video games. Unless it is the most banal game ever like Mario Bros or Sonic. (Even Sonic has an environmentalist message, and that could be construed as political under the right circumstances). Divorcing art from politics is impossible.
One thing is having some political undertones and whatnot, the other is being straight political propaganda. I've often seen this kind of phrase abused to defend the later.
One thing is having some political undertones and whatnot, the other is being straight political propaganda. I've often seen this kind of phrase abused to defend the later.
Problem is gamers are incredibly selective of the propaganda they get offended about. Gamers get bombarded with pro-militaristic, pro-guns and violent messages and don't really say peep about it. That really should offend people as war is one of the most harmful things to society as a whole. But put one LGBT character in a video game and then it is the most offensive propaganda.
I have witnessed certain popular propaganda that gives myself and the Empire a woefully inaccurate and negative image. That youngling thing COMPLETELY deprived the viewers of context.
Lord Vader also agrees with @RustySK about Funny Games.
Most Fromsoftware's enemy animation for killing you seem made with the explicit purpose to make you sit down to see your characters get slowly killed to piss you off in purpose
Problem is gamers are incredibly selective of the propaganda they get offended about. Gamers get bombarded with pro-militaristic, pro-guns and violent messages and don't really say peep about it. That really should offend people as war is one of the most harmful things to society as a whole. But put one LGBT character in a video game and then it is the most offensive propaganda.
You are just repeating the typical speech of the journos SwordBreaker was complaining about at this point. Would a game like Baldur's Gate 3 win GOTY in a bunch of sites if it was true?
You are just repeating the typical speech of the journos SwordBreaker was complaining about at this point. Would a game like Baldur's Gate 3 win GOTY in a bunch of sites if it was true?
Note that I never said that pro LGBT games don't get praised by the media. Or that it is wrong to call them propaganda. I just find it silly people are talking about political propaganda now that it is focused on minorities and LGBT when it has always been there with games like Rainbow Six, COD, Splinter Cell, Counter Strike, America's Army, etc... Its just now this particular brand of propaganda offends a certain group so its now a problem.
Note that I never said that pro LGBT games don't get praised by the media. Or that it is wrong to call them propaganda. I just find it silly people are talking about political propaganda now that it is focused on minorities and LGBT when it has always been there with games like Rainbow Six, COD, Splinter Cell, Counter Strike, America's Army, etc... Its just now this particular brand of propaganda offends a certain group so its now a problem.
I always hated these pro militaristic games, but there is a difference: that kind of propaganda was almost exclusively focused on military shooters. I could safely ignore that stuff. Nowadays the culture war is slowly touching every single thing. That's why it has become such a problem.
I always hated these pro militaristic games, but there is a difference: that kind of propaganda was almost exclusively focused on military shooters. I could safely ignore that stuff. Nowadays the culture war is slowly touching every single thing. That's why it has become such a problem.
Well, the culture war has existed for as long as I could remember. The gaming space has not been immune to it over the years. It started as a counterculture hobby promoted by nerds and outcasts. Religious folks and politicians from both sides attacked the hobby as a whole early on. Its not a new thing if you have been paying attention.
"There's so much hostility" because that kind of gamer creates it. They invent a non-existent enemy and attack without considering that maybe the writer has a point, and that maybe the soulless corporation that fails over and over to hire good writers and demands that gamers just pay $60+ for mediocrity is the one actually doing something wrong. And as they blow their money on trash they themselves don't like again and again, they never stop to think that maybe they should have considered the fact that sometimes the thing you want to be good simply is not.
Seriously, this crowd would have never said "f*** Konami" if Konami didn't stop making games, but instead just gave them shovelware. Fire Igarashi? Fine, just give us more garbage CV. Fire Kojima? Fine, who cares if MGS has a story? Fire del Toro? Who needs an actual high art writer working on a game? But stop making games? Then and only then do they see the soulless corporation as anything less than a god.
Going to be for real, wtf are you on about with the whole anti fuck konami rant, these fuckers are straight up making it unviable for anyone outside of japan to participate in the KAC, region lock every single bemani game and then refuse to make actual home versions besides stupid subscription services and then have the gall to not even look at how much money they are actually missing out on.
Also "non-existant enemy"? The fuck are you on about, both the gaming companies and the journos defending them are what people are going against. I mean, seriously, isn't EA one of the most hated companies ever? Also, where are the examples for mediocre 60€+ games that sell like hot cakes that aren't cod or fifa? And in addition, we've been defending mediocre or even bad games since forever, either because of fond rememberence or simple sunk-cost fallacy.
Well, the culture war has existed for as long as I could remember. The gaming space has not been immune to it over the years. It started as a counterculture hobby promoted by nerds and outcasts. Religious folks and politicians from both sides attacked the hobby as a whole early on. Its not a new thing if you have been paying attention.
I think you are missing the point. If you think the stuff that happened in 90s and 00s is somehow in the same level of what is happening now I don't know what to say.
Unfortunately, everything has an ideology behind it. Even video games. Unless it is the most banal game ever like Mario Bros or Sonic. (Even Sonic has an environmentalist message, and that could be construed as political under the right circumstances). Divorcing art from politics is impossible.
This feels like it's missing the point, for example, yes, the point of OpenTTD is to make the most money with your transport company by growing it into a literal monopoly of transport, does that mean that this game intends to promote or propagandise for capitalism? No.
Another example, Need for Speed Most Wanted has you racing through a city, demolishing an entire police force on your way to becoming the most wanted racer, does that mean that the devs intended to turn kids into little street racers? No, and the devs even say that you should drive safely every time you boot the game up.
There absolutely can be games with ideologies behind them, say, America's Army or Metal Gear, both going into way opposite sides, but at least in the case of the latter, it's a ideology that is more so, bi-partisan, which for most people, means it isn't really political, despite Metal Gear being about one of the most political games out there. It's not that you can't seperate art from politics, it's that this statement is usually used in a partisan way.
Funny Games.
An Austrian horror (or maybe thiller?) film from 1997. It also got an American remake at some point, as is dictated by law, but I never saw that one. I'm sure it sucks as per usual though.
It's a deconstruction of the Slasher film genre that deeply, deeply despises not just the Slasher film genre, but also fans of Slasher films and wants you to know that.
As a fan of Slasher films, it's a good watch - intentionally irritating and purposefully smug. Rare combination.
Yes, this is the film that inspired the question. I believe the director is Austrian, and I think he has some contempt for the viewers. In a playful way. Also that "remake" is so fascinating because it is by the same director, and is a scene per scene remake of the Austrian version. Like completely accurate but with English. The game I think of is Farcry 2.
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