It's been interesting to watch the next generation of console wars unfold over the past several months. Part of that has not just been about observing the thoughts and opinions of others, but also becoming aware of the changes in my own thinking. This year, I personally went from having extremely high hopes for the Wii U, to dismissing it almost entirely. Then there was the hornet's nest that was Xbox One and it's incendiary DRM scandal. I was pretty riled up over that, then I was pleasantly surprised by Microsoft's reversal (though I still believe it was a decision made reluctantly). Then there is Sony, who has quite frankly blown away my expectations for them.
But, if there is one thing I've learned about life, it's that being patient and observant can have tremendous payoffs. In the heat of emotion, we rarely take time to consider the full range of consequences to any one choice. So it is with gaming. If you give yourself enough time, a cooler head prevails, and usually you end up being better off for it.
With Nintendo and their Wii U, I've come to realize that although it's not the next-gen powerhouse we'd hoped for, it does have value. Whether that perceived value is consistent with Nintendo's $300+ asking price will be something each gamer must decide. As for me, IF I was going to spend that sum of money, would I buy a Wii U? No. I'd rather plunk down a few extra dollars for the PS4, or upgrade my PC. But, at a lower price, the Wii U would definitely be appealing to me simply because of it's backwards compatibility with old Wii games that I never had the chance to play.
With Xbox One, I still have skepticism and suspicion towards Microsoft. But damn it, Titanfall looks GOOD to me, and I know that the new Xbox will suffer no shortage of quality games. Even if you believe the claims that "the Xbox One is 50% less powerful than PS4", do I really care? No. I'm still guaranteed a gaming experience that will be far beyond what is possible on current gen systems.
But here's the thing. In recent years, the gaming community has been overwhelmed with sensationalism, endless hype, gossip, intolerance of different opinions, and cliques. Every console, every device, every software developer seems to have their own personal army of rabid fanboys who seem obsessed with brand loyalty.
In fact, brand loyalty has simply become a cover for what is truly "mob mentality". If a guy has a close group of friends who love the Xbox, then he's locked into that world. If he dares to warm up to any other brand, he is a traitor. If Sony fans buy an Xbox, they can look forward to facing the same problem. Nintendo fans, usually being fiercely loyal, often view any criticism as a personal attack which must be crushed.
Then there's the so-called hard core gamer. Core gaming is strictly playing in front of a huge 46" inch screen, right? And "real gamers" don't play casual games, or flash based-games. Got an Android or iOS device loaded up with games? Sorry. Doesn't count.
Somehow, it seems that a unhealthy air of peer pressure has crept into the world of gaming. There's a lot of people who literally make major decisions based almost entirely off of what "the group" is doing. To these types, it's more important to fit in than to make more informed choices that fit their individual needs. The generic AAA shooter of the year becomes a smash hit, simply because "everybody loves it".
Try telling anyone that you own a PS Vita and are in love with the darn thing. Or, confess to your friends that you are totally satisfied with the Wii U as a console. Or for the ultra brave, try letting it be known that your personal gaming nirvana is playing Farmville.
Though some of the gaming interests I just mentioned may seem odd, or even lame to others, the truth is that there are no set rules, no gold standard for gaming. Video games, like art, are subjective.
As things are now, I believe that the game industry has suffered from the effects of peer pressure. Peer pressure is about conformity and the destruction of individualism. Those kind of pressures can easily keep a gamer from trying new gameplay styles, genres, or IP's. Games with fresh ideas that are absolutely worth your time and investment may go ignored, which in turn tends to perpetuate the notion that gamers are only interested in getting rehashes of what's already been done many, many, many times before.
One of the most common complaints I see within the gaming community is the lack of new IP. We all say we want something new, but how badly do we really mean it? Fortunately for all of us, this is a time when Indie game development is red hot. While large publishers and developers may have little stomach for risk taking, indies don't. And as a result, we are now getting some of the greatest gaming experiences ever. Maybe, just maybe there really is life beyond the mainstream?