On this week's Soapbox, Adam responds directly to you, the readers. Apparently many of you were unhappy with the references made to other games in the Shadow Complex and Batman: Arkham Asylum reviews. Well The Sess took it upon himself to explain to you why it's important to include those references when talking about any form of art, including games. So put on your thinking caps, this Soapbox will test your noodle.
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an_album_cover
Hey Adam I am well aware that I am very late in the party but I just started watching your soapboxes from the beginning yesterday and I feel the need to comment on this one and all I have to say is that your last comment brings to mine the Oscar Wilde quote "Most people are other people. Their thoughts are someone elses opinions, their lives a mimicry, their passions a quotation."
thats all I have to say and keep up the good work
FrontLineSpartan119
Very good job Adam. I agree with all of the points completely that you made.
It is very important to make references to something when you're trying to convey how best to describe it. It's a good thing reviewers make references to other established games when comparing to new games because as a gamer, I don't want to buy a game I know nothing about, slap down 60 dollars, and hope that it's a good game, ironically not being able to trade it in to gamestop for more than 20 bucks for credit. I give him extra props for the art references because as an artist myself, I know for a fact that none of my work is original. I look at the art that inspires and influences me and hope to create something that is a mix of all that I admire in the art world, such as video games especially.
solidsnake21122
I think you bring up a good point over to which is of how you judge from the past you can't look forward with out looking back.
ArrenKae
Adam, you're bringing me back to art classes and that guy who said Americans need Disneyland to distract us from our country being the real theme park. He was french.
http://www.stanford.edu/dept /HPS/Baudrillard/Baudrillard_S imulacra.html
If you're interested that's the article. But I've a sneaking suspicion you've read it before.
texestiger2069
you can allways reference a gameplay element or something in a game
yet you can look at a game on its own merits and judge it on what its trying to accomplish succesfully or unsuccesfully
tobz1000
Deep...
cowboysfan92
I agree with Adam because if your talking about a certain game and you dont reference it to anything from the past nobody really knows how good or how bad that game is. Say for instance someone came up to you and asked if Infamous was worth their money well of course I would say yes because that game is just amazing but they probably want details so you could tell them it has alot of free open world like maybe a fallout 3 or the GTA series and it has kind of a gears of war aiming system. So the point im trying to make is you cant tell someone how good a game is without referencing a past game of its type and by doing this I think you keep the referenced game alive just a little bit longer.
haavokguitarist
Consider this, I work in a Gamestop, and the first question I'm asked about any game is "What's it like?" You can't describe how something is revolutionary without providing 1. a counterpoint or 2. a stepping stone of sorts. Generally speaking, the easiest way to convey an idea is to use what people already know to describe it.
Juicelee
hahah I feel like the feed read my comments about heavy rain and how everyone says this is all revolutionary when games before it have laid the groundwork I always say shenmue was a game that came out 10 years too early but yet many elements from major games that came after were heralded for their "innovative features" such as gta3's open world when shenmue did it first or the depth of interactivity with charcters and the focus on doing realistic things originated in shenmue but seen in heavy rain
I just think it was a benchmark game that had a bunch of stuff that very popular games ended up getting their recognition for
Jimi0088
I like melons also...
Jonsted
I have no idea what you said, but I think thats why you play videos in the background. :D
Lalo666
DOWN WITH SESSLER!!!
AMDBadass81
I am really enjoying your soapbox segments Adam. Once again showing off your intelligence. The concept of who is the real you, is a concept I have contemplated many times, from T.V. personalities, to simply how one is at work, and not. Just a simple thanks for adding a discussion on video games with depth, that can transcend to other mediums.
foilchewer
Adam i agree with you 100%. you need need to use references to point out the familiar, so that other people can relate to what you are talking about. with games especially, when you have those references you can point out what that game did and how they used it (for better or for worse). listen adam people are dumb and will try and fight with you about everything you say what they dont get is its your opinion and if they dont like it they can STEP OFF ! haha Stay strong man i love watching you every week (big fan) !
zimmy91
games are a very much built on top of each other. for example the light bulb is invented then someone makes a better one and then the next thing you know you have lcd tv that show light in many colors and produce images. this only happened because of the first one so you can reference back to the first one that did the innovation to let people know how something is or works.
good point
loonypalooza
Thanks for another intelligent soapbox Adam.
NetNapoleon
Oh Adam you speak so well.
Homey_D_Clown
I think it's extremely difficult to judge a game when the medium is technologically based.
Top 3 rules to remember when judging a game:
#1. Did time fly - All great games will make you loose sleep, and/or forget time.
#2. Where you thinking or talking to anybody about the game.
#3. Can't wait for the next one.
But the one thing we can all agree is when a game sucks.
JimMD102
Firstly , I agreed with the comments about a need for video reviews and that was another issue that needs to be addressed. Now that's said, I had no idea people were so whiney and treated "metroidvania" like "disasterific". If you got that reference, I feel sorry for you. I think it's very necessary to compare past games. Not just because it's noting the amount of advancements and innovation, but also because it gives the buyer a better idea of what they're getting. Just saying a game has this and that and gets a 4 out of 5 isn't good enough sometimes. Besides, I reference games all the time when I tell people how good it is. I told one friend that wolverine was like god of war with wolverine elements and lock on. I also told someone else that Metroid Prime was like goldeneye with lock on and double jump because of how clunky the aiming seems when compared with MP trilogy. Still a great game for the time.
lilbrinkie
I wouldn't say that Metroid Prime originated the idea of exploring an environment that becomes more vast as you gain new upgrades. I would have to give that one to Zelda. And yes, it does go back to the first one.
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