LogFAQs > #912679948

Unbridled9 posted...

The issue here is not that they are, or are not, treating games fairly but, rather, that the reasons for what they say and do hold no basis in the game itself.

This is a pretty extreme opinion! I am specifically listing games that are about certain thematic elements because it should be uncontroversial to say "this game is about X, as noted by the developers themselves and in the text itself. We're going to discuss how it falls short in its ambitions." You, however, are suggesting that's off limits, that subject matters discussed in a game shouldn't be mentioned in a critical evaluation of the game. Look, if you only care about a games' mechanics, that's fine. We're probably not going to find much common ground, but if you don't care about about the history of misogyny in God of War, or how its rigid definition of masculinity limits true reflection and growth, or how it represents fatherhood vs motherhood, and only care that it's fun to throw around the ax and has surprisingly good boss fights, that's fine. You do you. But you do not get to set the limits of debate, and discussing God of War's thematic elements does have a "basis on the game itself."

Unbridled9 posted...

The people outraged about it had no clue what they were talking about and it showed to anyone who had even a basic knowledge of gaming. Likewise, a lot of the people outraged at the lack of 'strong female characters' often do so at the expense of throwing multitudes of strong female characters whom have existed in a multitude of games under the bus. Effectively because said characters didn't agree with their own personal interpretations of what such a thing should be. It becomes clear that these people are casuals at best whose knowledge of the industry doesn't go beyond trailers, mobile games, and the occasional AAA title. As such they hold no place criticizing the industry since they hold little to no actual knowledge of the industry.

if you're gonna get upset about being lumped in with GamerGate you might not want to repeat GamerGate talking points about Anita Sarkeesian verbatim.

Unbridled9 posted...

I'm going to assume from here on out that you are referring, in general, to the far left desire to censor media including video games.

I guess I'm pretty far left? I mean, I'm Canadian, so by default I'm to the left of where the internet typically defines a left/right spectrum, and moreover, I find myself constantly disappointed by how often our social democratic party capitulates on matters that should be central to the party. And I'm pretty far left in regards to free speech, which is to say, I don't think we talk enough about how oppressive forces (poverty, over-policing, limited social movement, etc) are intrinsic attacks and limits on free speech, and talk too much about trivial matters that don't actually exist (video game censorship. video game companies are not currently under threat of reprisal from the state).
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ICON:
Kiwami means extreme.