Nerd Rage: Attention Achievement Whores

By Roger Gaw

This is something that has been discussed by just about everybody but I feel the need to put my perspective in writing. Achievements and trophies are ruining gaming. Why do you say such things Roger? I’m glad you asked.


People are playing games for all the wrong reasons now. Games are supposed to be played for enjoyment. Games are supposed to be fun. Games are supposed to be an escape from your daily life of work/school. Games are not supposed to be something you spend 8 hours on trying to get a 50-hit combo just so you can get 20 gamer points. Seriously what have you achieved by doing this? You get a number. That’s it. At this point isn’t your gaming starting to resemble working? You aren’t having fun anymore but you feel like you have to keep doing it. That sounds like a lot of people’s jobs to me.You aren’t gaming the right the way if you aren’t enjoying yourself. When I stop having fun with a game, I stop playing that game move on to something else.


Another factor is that achievements are f***ing pointless. It is just a number. Achievements in my opinion are laziness on the part of developers. Instead of putting some unlockable content in the game they just say, “Here you go. 25 Achievement points.” Fuck that, developers. That’s fine if you want to have achievements in the game but I want a new weapon to go along with that achievement. I will never spend time purposely trying to get an achievement unless there is a prize accompanied with it.


To put it another way. Achievements are as useless as tits on a boar hog. So if you are an achievement whore then this is an intervention. Stop perpetuating this problem. Stop frustrating yourself over a meaningless number and make the developers stop half-assing there games by putting some random achievements in their game to keep you playing. Make them give you something that you can use to keep playing. You know something that will make you enjoy the game rather than get pissed off at it.

Posted by Nerd Boy Wonder 4 September Permalink

Nerd Rage: Used Games

By Roger Gaw

This is a hot topic right now between developers and retailers such as GameStop and GameCrazy. On one hand, you have the developers and publishers who are losing a lot of money and then you have the retailers who provide a service that all other products seem to have. So, let me weigh in on this one.


The argument that the retailers are posing is that video games are just like any other commodity and thus should be able to be sold and re-sold as any other commodity. This is a very valid argument but the counterpoint to this is that, unlike most products, video games do not depreciate in value. A car is not the same a game.


The argument on behalf of developers is that they should be paid for their work. Which is also a valid argument. When you go out and buy a new video game for $60 bucks the publisher and the developer are receiving a cut of that money. Now if you buy the same game for $55 bucks used at GameStop then all of that money goes directly to the GameStop’s pocket.


So, the question is which side do you take? I personally am on the developer/publisher side. Let me explain why. The difference between a new game and used game that just released is $5.00 dollars. If I am getting ready to drop that much cash for a game then $5.00 dollars does mean that much to me. The reason I don’t mind shelling out the few extra bucks is that if the developers get a cut of the sale then they can keep developing games. If the developer or the publisher doesn’t make money then they can’t stay in business. It’s as simple as that. Also, if they start losing money then the product might suffer. Also, I disagree with how much the retailers are selling their used games for. I can guarantee you that the publishers and developers are not seeing $55.00 dollars from every new game sale. So, why should GameStop make that much money on a used game sale? Retailers are overcharging the public and pocketing the cash. Personally, I am disgusted by the way they operate.


But, I also understand why people buy used games. If you are on a tight budget then spending $60.00 dollars on a game is probably out of the question. Renting or buying older used games is probably the option you have. And I say do what you have to do. Also, I’ve found that it is impossible to find new copies of most older games. I always try to buy new and if I can’t buy new then I look for an individual to buy from. A retailer is the last place I go to buy a used game. So, there are scenarios where I find buying used games acceptable. But if you are making enough money to spend $55.00 on a game, I doubt that $5.00 more dollars is going to send your checking account into the red. And if it does then you should probably look at your money management practices.


David Jaffe recently posted a video about what he thinks as well. David Jaffe is one of the more outspoken developers and always offers an interesting opinion. Some of his comments I agree with and some I don’t but I have to respect his opinion because he is directly affected by this issue. Here is his 10 minute vlog. It is worth watching.

Posted by Nerd Boy Wonder 1 September Permalink

Nerd Rage: According To CDC, Gamers Fat And Depressed

By Roger Gaw

The Center for Disease Control has reported the following “facts”. The average gamer is 35 years old, overweight and depressed. The study points out differences between males and females saying that males are more likely to be overweight and use the internet more while females reported more depression and lower general health.


Dr. James Weaver III of the CDC has this to say about the data:

As hypothesized, health-risk factors specifically, a higher BMI and a greater number of poor mental-health days differentiated adult video-game players from non-players.

Video-game players also reported lower extraversion, consistent with research on adolescents that linked video game playing to a sedentary lifestyle and overweight status, and to mental-health concerns.

Internet community support and time spent online distinguished adult video-game players from non-players, a finding consistent with prior research pointing to the willingness of adult video-game enthusiasts to sacrifice real-world social activities to play video games.

The data illustrate the need for further research among adults to clarify how to use digital opportunities more effectively to promote health and prevent disease.

I never put too much thought into reports on gamers because most of them are put out by organizations who haven’t got a clue what gaming is about. I do however dislike them because most of these reports cast us in a negative role like this one. Not all publicity is good publicity ladies and gentlemen.


This report just puts us back into that stereotype that we are all too familiar with.

Posted by Nerd Boy Wonder 19 August Permalink

Nerd Rage: Take A Midol

By Roger Gaw

Everyday, I hear about how hard women have it in the gaming industry. I hear about how they aren’t looked upon as equals or they get less recognition and so on and so forth. And I thought to myself is this really true? Do women really have it worse than men?


F*** no they don’t. First of all, if you have a vagina and can play a Wii, you can get a job in our business. Those aren’t very steep requirements. In fact, you don’t even have to play the damn Wii if you are pretty enough. Hell, lets even go a little bit further because of the lack of women in this industry. Just about any woman who wants in, can get in. The girls don’t even have to be that pretty. Don’t get me wrong here. Once some of the ladies get in, some of them do a hell of a job. A good example of that would be Jessica Chobot. So to sum it up, please ladies. Don’t bitch and moan to me about how hard you have it in this particular area because I had to work my ass off to get the position I have.


Now, let’s look at how they aren’t looked upon as equals. Bullshit. In fact, they are put on a pedestal. I’ll be honest with you. I read more female writer reviews than I do male reviews. For a few reasons. Reason number 1 is I know who is writing it and I trust them and the second reason is I’d like to see what the other sex thinks. A third reason is I read them to show that female game journalists do get support. Even if it is from a male chauvinist pig like myself.


So far ladies, I’m having a hard time seeing your argument. But I’m going to give you some help. If you want to take over this industry, you could easily do. Trust me, it’s run by nerds and nerds love women. You have to stop hating each other so much. I cannot get on the internet for 5 freaking minutes without one female badmouthing another female. There are far too many “gamergirl” websites for the amount of female gamers around. Every girl out there wants to start their own and be the alpha female. Sometimes, it’s best to just contribute to a cause rather than try to take it over. Men unite behind a cause. Women stab each other in the back to be the leader of the cause.


Here is where I’m going to redeem myself a little but in the eyes of all the female readers out there. I welcome you with open arms into our world. I might give you a lot of hell but I want you here if you want to be here. But, I don’t want you here for the attention of 500 nerds. I want you here to help expand our industry. There are plenty of women who have entered this business whom respect just as much as a male.


In conclusion ladies, come one and come all but leave your bitching at the door. I’m not married yet and I don’t want to hear it.

Posted by Nerd Boy Wonder 2 August Permalink

Nerd Rage: Gaming Revisited

By Roger Gaw

This isn’t really a rage type article, but more of a random thought on gaming of the past and gaming of today. I started thinking about it yesterday when I paid way too much for a Super Nintendo, and twelve games on ebay. The SNES will turn eighteen this August and I thought to myself, “Eighteen years from now, will anyone be paying 100 bucks for an Xbox or Playstation 2?” I really can’t see anyone doing that.

Does that mean that games from the past have more staying power, or are better? Or is it a bunch of old people trying to hold onto their childhood? What makes Super Mario Bros. 3 so fun that I spend twenty minutes trying to get my original NES to work? It sure isn’t the graphics. It isn’t the stunning action. WHAT THE HELL CAN IT BE!?

Think about it. If you have an Xbox 360 or a PS3 how often do you really power up the old Xbox or PS2? I know I haven’t played a PS2 game in probably two years. But I powered up the NES two days ago. First of all consoles from the past were built to last. I know for a fact two decades from now most Xboxs will have red-ringed and Microsoft will have pulled support from them by then. And I’m not so sure the PS3 will last that long either. So that leaves the original Xbox and PS2. With the exception of Halo nuts I don’t know anyone who plays an original Xbox. Leaving us the PS2 which I guess I could see people playing down the road but not like old Nintendo or Sega consoles. The games just aren’t as notorious. There is only one Mario and there is only one Sonic.

To be honest, I don’t really know why games have increasingly shorter life spans. Part of it may be that developers want you to forget about them, and buy their new product. The best example of this is probably Madden. Things are just different now. I can’t explain it. Not all of the changes are for the worse though. The present day is the most exciting time I’ve ever seen in the gaming industry. Every game company is trying to top the other which is good for you and I. I guess we have to take the good with the bad.

Posted by Nerd Boy Wonder 21 June Permalink

Nerd Rage: ABC’s “Nine Games That Went Too Far”

By Roger Gaw

1. Rendition: Guantanamo
2. Six Days in Fallujah
3. Super Columbine Massacre
4. JFK Reloaded
5. Miss Bimbo
6. Faith Fighter
7. Rapelay
8. Manhunt 2
9. Grand Theft Auto 4

There’s the list. Now I am going to scrutinize it. I’ve only actually heard of five of the games on that list. Rapelay is no longer available and was available only in Japan, two of the games were freeware with one of them being no longer available, number one and two on the list have no publisher, and Manhunt was a disaster.


So that leaves Grand Theft Auto 4 as being really the only notable game on that list. But does it really belong on this list? Along side a rape simulator? MADD went after that for the drunk driving in the game. I mean as far as blood and guts go Soldier of Fortune is the most gory game I’ve played. It just seems that the media has it in for the folks at Rockstar don’t they? I believe that Grand Theft Auto made this list because of previous notoriety from its predecessors and it actually you know sold well. You can actually watch a video of ABC’s coverage of the GTA launch here. And might I add if you know your head from your ass, it’s pretty damn funny.


I mean when I can go to a movie theater where children can be admitted to a movie with parental consent that shows pictures of a man receiving oral sex then why all this attention on our little corner of the entertainment pile? Are we doomed to be looked on forever as a subculture by mainstream media that has some special force hold on young children’s minds? It is not fair that we have to take the blame for today’s youth anymore than any other form of entertainment. When everyone knows that maybe we should start holding parents more accountable. It’s the elephant in the room that no one talks about except for people involved in whatever form of media is being poorly represented on the evening news.


When I see the gaming community being represented as a bunch of mindless robots seeming to have no self-will whatsoever that go out and massacre a college because we shot somebody in a game I just give the “really?” stare. How do you respond to such blatant ignorance? When you do try and retort someone about our culture the other party is typically older and brush you off as a “kid who doesn’t understand”. I’m just saying I know a lot more non-raping, non-killing, and non-stealing gamers than I know ones who happen to do those things. In fact I can’t think of anyone who does I know who does those things.


Story via Kotaku

Posted by Nerd Boy Wonder 6 June Permalink

Nerd Rage: Get A Job

By Roger Gaw

Let me give you a little background on me before I begin. When I got my Playstation 3 in 2006 I had been working 40+ hour weeks in the rain, wind, snow, cold, heat for about 2 years as an electrician. That’s right I busted my ass in the construction field and as a 1st and 2nd year apprentice during those years believe me my work was not easy. I dug ditches carried equipment that weighed hundreds of pounds and so forth for very conservative pay.

So what am I getting at? For everyone who bitches about the PS3 being too expensive if you want one bad enough get a job and work for it. If you don’t want one that bad then shut up and play Xbox. And some things are worth saving for. I had to save my money for my PS3. At the time for a PS3 and a game it costed me about 3 weeks pay. But I wanted it. So I worked my ass off and got it. I didn’t blow my paycheck every week on stupid shit. I set a goal and I achieved it. When I decided that I wanted a giant 4-wheel drive diesel pick-up truck I understood that I had to save and build my credit for about 2 years before I could finance one. But you know what? I did it. Because I wanted it. And believe me they didn’t lower the price because I didn’t make enough money.


In conclusion if you want something then get off your ass and go get. I’m sick of my generation wanting something but not having the ambition to get it. Or if you say I’m not paying that much then you don’t really want it do you?

Posted by Nerd Boy Wonder 1 June Permalink