A counterargument to Anthony Burch’s “Why Heavy Rain Proves Ebert Right”

I’ve played a few hours of Silent Hill Shattered Memories it seems. I must say… It’s been one of the most enjoyable games I’ve played in quite awhile. Perhaps I’m burned out on typical action games I spend time playing or maybe it’s uniqueness is what is drawing me towards it. Whatever the case maybe, I have found myself being quite satisfied with it. However, I can already foresee some issues rising regarding hardcore Silent Hill fans’ take on it.

What is art…? Are games art? Can they become art? It’s a debate that seems endless with no signs of ever being settled. While I could easily go on with in-depth looks as to how games can be art, there is one possibility that seems to be over looked: gamers being the actors?

Like film writers, authors, and song writers, developers try to find ways to affect our emotions and train of thought with their games. We are beginning to see an increase in ’story driven’ games where character development goes beyond just giving a summary on a character’s backstory. Developers are starting to explore the concept of making us relate to game character just as people have related to characters in novels or films for years. They try to make use care for the characters and feel what they feel, but our emotions can be messed with without a character even being present.

Written by request: A brief look into the confusion when passions regarding a hobby collide with stereotypes. What happens when you’re a minority that doesn’t even fit in with the rest of the minority? And why does it have to be this way?

Constant camping, shooting rockets in close quarters, walking around with mounted torrents…None of this is new though to the world of multiplayer gaming. People always find ways to “cheat” by either finding ways to get out of maps or into hard to reach places where its almost impossible to shoot them. Or they use the same cheap fighting move over and over again in a row to win. Or they use the same cheap weapon every time they play. Or they drive around in a vehicle just running people over. The question I am asking here with this is: Why?

GameStop…GameCrazy…Slackers…GameTraders…And now even Amazon, all have one thing in common: They sell used games and systems. A heated debate has arisen from the increase in used games sales. While they offer gamers a chance to save a few dollars, but it leaves the developers with nothing. Is it worth us gaining from the developer’s loss?

Digital distribution sounds great on paper. The idea of cutting out the middle man sounds convenient. Being able to purchase a game without ever having to leave your house sounds a like a great idea, but is it really…?

Imagine for a moment that you’ve just spent a number of hours trying to complete a game with promises of a alternate costumes as your award. Now imagine that you’ve finally finished the game and you’re award is well…Not what you were really expecting…Your new costume ends up being quite revealing to the point where you feel a bit uncomfortable using it.