Game crack is a many splendored thing.
15 March 2007
Okay, so, as some of you may, or may not know, I have been heavily into research and design lately. And one of the things I have been heavily researching lately is game economies. Let me just state right now, I love my brother dearly. He and I have played a fuck of alot of video games in our time. So, I say this without wanting to insult him. But, I feel deeply this needs to be said: Xbox 360 Fanboy fucktards need to realize that a little badge in a game is NOT a fucking tangible item.
I play alot of games. Its been recently that my game perspective has changed somewhat, due to the research I am performing. I own an Xbox, and a PS2, and a PS1. I have a plethora of video games, and lets leave it at that. But, lately, one thing I have gotten REALLY sick to death of on the web? Xbox 360 fucktard fanboys talking about how great “achievements” are.
I will hand this to Microsoft: they made the Live console market. Sony spent the PS2 years playing with themselves. Yes, there is a network adapter for the PS2, but it had nowhere NEAR the level of integration and “tightness” of design that the Xbox had. With the 360, they basically took xbox live, and added features. But when I look at what’s happening in the world of sub game economics, xbox live fails.
In a world of Second Life, Puzzle Pirates and the like, they had an oppertunity to create a subgame econ system that not only hooked people, but also gave a return value. In the end, the 360 hasnt revolutionized anything in this area. A console’s time is still limited to its half/shelf life. The Second Life’s of the world provide a return on investment. And make no mistake: at the prices the current consoles are running ($400-800 a pop) a console is an investment.
While this particular rant is completely a pundit kind of opinion, I feel its a valid one. The console makers, specifically Sony and Microsoft (My jury is still out on Nintendo and Wii) dropped the ball. They basically created the World Of Warcraft iteration of a live service. Sure, its addictive. Sure, it makes them money. But in 3 years of playing, you’ll have nothing really to show for it, but an outdated console, and a sore thumb.
I think the real world to game economic factor has yet to really hit the peak. And when it does, look out.
