September Video Game News Highlights
Recap and commentary on the video game industry happenings from the last month
Gears of War 3 and Cliff's hissy fit
Haters gonna hate, at least that was the mindset of Gears’ Cliff Blezinski after the reviews for the third instalment hit the internet. The game didn’t review badly to any degree, reaching universal acclaim on Metacritic which is nothing to turn ones nose up about.
I can see that if you look at a game like a child, or some kind of genetically engineered life-form that you’re continually pooling your resources and knowledge into you expect it to become better over time. After all, of the time spent tweaking the grey and brown pallets, chest-high walls and bulging neck muscles you naturally assume that a better product has been conceived. So you send your child into the world and expect it to trounce the 'lesser' models out there.
Things don't always work out that way, and on paper the game may be better with various features improved but not everyone will see it that way. Critics have opinions, and though they stand on top of a soapbox with a megaphone it's still their opinion, no one is tied to a chair a fed that review. And with a game in its third high successfully instalment, reviews have a lesser chance of impacting a buyers decision.
I think the main problem with the 'outrage' was that a higher review score was expected and they were in some way entitled to it, it wasn't hoped for like with most publishers. Just look at long running franchises such as sporting games, their scores fluctuate more than other ones and previous games sometimes score higher, and sometimes they score lower. The developers don't immediately think that there's been a rip in the fabric of reality and rush outside to make sure the sky and ground haven't swapped places.
And on a final note, just because you think one thing is "better", it does not make it so. I think that a quality form of entertainment would be filming how long it takes an individual to bludgeon another with a plastic tray table at a fast-food outlet when they spend ages ordering their meal. Would it be better than Jersey Shore, perhaps?
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