Epic Default Productions

(Apologies to those who saw this early: lawl WordPress scheduling. Also, this is tagged LTTP because it fits the profile to a degree, and also because CW’s idea is a damned good one.)

I acquired a copy of Call of Duty 4 for 360, used, after continued insistence from a console-supremacist friend. CoD4 itself was nothing new to me — having owned the game on PC since release, in addition to previously being a fan of the series — but I figured it afforded me a chance to make a straight apples to apples comparison between platforms. Indeed, CoD4 has been hailed as a truly sublime console shooter, came in second only to Microsoft’s Halo 3 for Live activity in 2008, and was only recently usurped by its Treyarch-developed sequel, World at War, while still regularly appearing in the top ten. In all, it’s pretty clear that Infinity Ward did something very right in every version of their game, PC and 360 alike.

To be entirely honest, though, I played my 360 copy only once. One time. I started CoD4, played a round online with the aforementioned friend, and then immediately shelved it. My mind had already been made up; there was no way the console version could match up to the Windows release. This is a typical line of thinking for me, one challenged more and more as I’ve come to own current consoles, but still a common first assumption.

This past weekend, I played a few intense rounds of laser tag. In an effort to be, and I quote, “tactical as hell,” I spent most of the game crouched — an action, which, as it turns out, is a lot harder than it looks. As my thighs ached, reminding me just how out of shape I really am, the urge came upon me to play some Call of Duty 4. This left me with two options, and I chose the option that allowed me to recline comfortably at the couch. “At very least,” I thought as the 360 began spinning the disc, “I can give the two a proper comparison.”

(continue reading…)

(I don’t even know what this is supposed to be, but it showed up under a Google Image Search for “memetics.” Speaking of which, it’s worthy of note that I use the term “memetic” in an odd way here: take it to mean ideas spread compulsively, rather than ideas that spread themselves.)

I-realize-now-that-I-will-probably-cut-everything-I-write-at-Epic-Default

So I guess this is nothing new but it’s interesting looking back on it now. The development that has taken place to the existence of video games in the main stream.

The way the world worked beforehand was that people that played video games were flat out nerds. If you played video games and you had a semblance of a social life, you more then likely didn’t talk about your gaming. The gaming industry was fine with closet nerds funding their investments. Then it became not enough. I’m not sure if it was a few too many random break outs that crossed into popularity or the video game industry trying to expand or a combination of the two or a JFK assassination-esqe consipracy involving every facet of the power structure that controls every aspect of our lives. But either way we suddenly started to get to video games being popular. “Cool” even.

With the popularity though, eventually the inevitable was brought upon us. Video games for every god-damn thing. Fantasy games, I understand; sci-fi games, I understand, war games, I understand (and liked the movie). Barbie games… what the fuck?! I hate to sound sexist but when the fuck does there need to be games about playing dolls? If you can afford to get something for cheaper then the game and system, and you like to do it, then just go ahead and do it. Although I would say that GTA does not apply to this little philosophical application I just laid out. Yes you could get a hooker for a cheaper price then the game, but I just wouldn’t recommend it. For your safety above all else.

To be honest though, I feel the need to turn the tables on the other end of the spectrum. Does there need to be playboy games? Does a game purely about sex and fucking different women really need ot be released. I’m going use this point to take a couple steps into the fan service bit. WTF mates?! You are truly perpetuating the stereotype of gamers by making every woman in every video game “Smoking hot”. It’s bullshit. You push high expectations for guys that have enough brains to know that they can never meet them. So what ends up happening? Too many times (even once being too many) you end up breeding guys that become assholes when it comes to women or guys that would rather just not attempt to socialize with members of the opposite sex. That is wrong. I’m not for one second saying that the video game industry is the only one to blame, but they certainly aren’t helping.

In the end, I like that video game culture is becoming larger. Though I will say this. I was never afraid to admit to people that I played video games. If I got shit for it, so what. The fact that now I can do the same thing and actually have a conversation with someone over it is pretty damn cool. But I don’t see the need for video games for everything. Let those other genres of media cover it. I’ll just relax and relish in my RPG in peace and tranquility. Just please refrain from the main character TOO frackin’ emo.