E3: The Biggest Disappointment

As E3 is rolling along there have been so many things shown off. The amazing looking gameplay from The Last of Us, the announcement of Pikmin 3, the surreal experience that Watch Dog's will most likely present, and so much more. But what is the biggest let down? the biggest folly of E3 2012? The Fans.

Never before has a medium had such a loyal and hate-filled community like the video game industry has today. E3 was a simple stock holders conference for companies to show investors what their money is going towards, and for small IP's to try and gain some investors so their visions can be brought to life. The same principles still stand, it's just become a far larger event. This conference, though great to see all the new games and tech companies are working on, are for the stockholders. The gamers are technically second. Which is why I'm confused by the acidic comments that people are saying about the press conference. Were they entertaining for the common gamer? No. I will agree with you there; however that's not who they are trying to impress the most. They are trying to show the share holders of the companies "this is our market plan for the following year to maximize your return on investment". So Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo have to show off the not so crowd pleasing stuff like WonderBook, Streaming Sports, or the nitty gritty of the new system. It's not to please the gamer, it's to please the ones that invest.

It's not just hatred towards the "big three" as well, it's hatred towards companies unjustly. Why are so many people up in arms about Resident Evil 6 abandoning the gameplay of previous ones? Why are people upset about the new multi-player style of Gears of War? Why do people hate "scripted" gameplay so much? The first two are easily summed up as: fear of change. It's weird in an industry that is so rapidly moving forward, how afraid of change people are. Call of Duty is a prime example. For the most part (and I think many people will agree) it is the same game we've been playing since Modern Warfare changed the series. And people will call this out until they're blue in the face. They say they hate the game because it's the same thing. So here are big franchises that are trying to give you a whole new experience, something crafted from user requests (in an interview with a Gears creator about Judgement, the creator said that a lot of the multiplayer was created with user requests in mind) and fan favourites coming back and getting tossed into the spot light. Gamers then start complaining about the direction they're going and that it looks like crap. It's just interesting to see the hypocrisies between two franchises. It's "ok" for Call of Duty to stay the same (just look at the sales) yet when another franchise decides to change to keep with the times, it's time to grab the pitch forks? That's fun. And the scripted gameplay? God of War is one of the biggest franchises in syndication, and it's entire game mechanics are based around scripted gameplay. I don't hear people crying about that though...

Who won E3? That question is being tossed around. A lot. And that question should not exist. It's a bottomless pit. It comes down to preference of console (for the most part) rather than actual insight into the entire conference. It's like comparing apples to Jeeps. Every company went in there with the mindset of "Ok, we need to impress the Stock Holders and the Press". That's it. It's not a game to be won. Sony wont be getting an award for showing off The Last of Us. Microsoft wont be getting a parade because they had gameplay for Halo Four. Nintendo wont have a medal ceremony because of Pikmin. There is no winning or losing, there are conferences that increase the potential to bolster investors and educate the Press on their goals for the year to come, and that's. In that sense, they all "won". Everyone now knows about the titles, how fantastic (for the most part) they look, and the innovations that the companies are bringing to the table. They were all successful in that.

I'm an avid gamer. I love this industry and everything about it, but I hate the majority of the fans. These people are crafting things that they want to play. That they want you to play. They want fun and happiness. Or emotional connections to the games. If you don't particularly like a game or genre, don't play them. It's as simple as that. Appreciate the games for what they are though. I have one request: be excited for the games. Maybe not all of them, but "your games". The ones you want to play. Don't nit pick them to death before you even get to play them. Remember they're video games. And games are meant to be fun. It feels like the video game community has forgotten this, and that's really depressing and disappointing.