Ok, ok...so it doesn't suck. But I am glad it's getting mid-level reviews and being shown
as a mediocre game that held great promise. Why does this make me glad? Because I
am so tired of seeing game hype ALL THE TIME. There is always something about to come
out, always something in development, or always something on the horizon that is
promising to blow us away. And as a whole, we always fall for it. We always allow the
developers to get us hyped up, over something we usually know very little about.

'It's going to combine GTA, Prince of Persia and Theif!? Awesome! I can't wait!!'

'It's like Half-Life 2, but with the depth of Oblivion and the replay value of Star Wars
Monopoly? Give it to me now!'

'Spore is going to be the best video game ever made? I am saving up for it now and will
wait with incredible anticipation for as long as it takes because it's going to be so
awesome!'

Games are hyped so we buy them. Even if a review shows it to be mediocre, many
gamers were so excited about it to begin with they still go out and buy it. Because of how
much it was hyped.

Now, buying games you're interested in is fine. I'm looking forward to Fallout 3 because I
played both previous games many times over on my pc. I'll buy it regardless of how good
or bad it is, because that is one series I truly, truly love. And buying a game because
people (you trust) say it's fun or worthwhile is also great. But getting pysched that a game
is going to be something major, something notable for the year based on what the
developers say, the screen shots they release, the teasers that get 'leaked' or whatever is
simply allowing them to brainwash you.

Ghostbusters? Could be cool. I see people on other forums saying how kick ass it is. How
amazing it's going to be and how they can't wait to relive their childhood through it.
Sure...it might be those things. It might be terrible. It might be mediocre. But to say it's
going to be this huge, awesome thing....well, no one knows.

My point is this:

That hype doesn't do gamers any good. It does the companies good. They know that if
they hype a game, show you the best screenshots, release the best in-game footage, get a
massive buzz going, that people buy it. And that all they have to do is follow that same
formula in the future and we'll buy what they're selling then as well. Companies know the
internet is a great, almost the perfect hype building tool. And they use it. To their
advantage. To make money. This leads to situations like Assassin's Creed....something
suppoed to blow us all away and be a major game for this year. And maybe it will be...but
it seems doubtful from the reviews, and in my own personal opinion after having played it
some.

Basically I'm tired of the mentality that I should always be looking forward to something
that's going to blow my mind. Very few actual revolutionary games are released each
year. And to expect each 'Next Big Thing' to be truly revolutionary or completely
awesome only helps companies sell games, and not necessarily make better ones.

Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe no one buys games on hype. Maybe I'm making gross
generalizations about how gamers don't think for themselves. But I think there is some
truth in my thoughts. And that if they aren't currently happening to the degree which I say
they are, I think we're following a trend that will one day lead us to a place where it
becomes true.

And that is a bad thing.