Comments on: Standing Upon A Burning Span http://www.5wgaming.com/2010/07/06/standing-upon-a-burning-span/ The evolution of gaming journalism Sun, 20 May 2012 01:26:53 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.4 by: DaveDQ http://www.5wgaming.com/2010/07/06/standing-upon-a-burning-span/#comment-99532 Wed, 14 Jul 2010 14:02:03 +0000 http://www.5wgaming.com/2010/07/06/standing-upon-a-burning-span/#comment-99532 I agree that these comments, especially the tweets, need to go. It becomes far too personal and counterproductive. I'm sure competition between game companies has always been there. The internet, like it does with everything else, presents so much saturation and leaves so many open doors to allow people to act juvenile. Last year presented silly "tweets" between the Live and 2K team and it seems Ronnie hasn't learned his lesson. Sometimes insecurity manifests itself in odd ways. I think this is the case here. Let your development of the game speak for itself. I agree that these comments, especially the tweets, need to go. It becomes far too personal and counterproductive.

I’m sure competition between game companies has always been there. The internet, like it does with everything else, presents so much saturation and leaves so many open doors to allow people to act juvenile. Last year presented silly “tweets” between the Live and 2K team and it seems Ronnie hasn’t learned his lesson.

Sometimes insecurity manifests itself in odd ways. I think this is the case here. Let your development of the game speak for itself.

]]> by: Andrew http://www.5wgaming.com/2010/07/06/standing-upon-a-burning-span/#comment-99436 Wed, 07 Jul 2010 03:19:34 +0000 http://www.5wgaming.com/2010/07/06/standing-upon-a-burning-span/#comment-99436 Well said Shawn, I couldn't agree more. Even as an NBA Live/Elite afficionado, I have no issues giving credit where credit is due when it comes to NBA 2K but in general I'd say the fanboyism is out of controls on both sides and the last thing the companies should be doing is pandering to it. It just comes off as childish, unprofessional and unbearably smug; in fact, I'd liken it to some of those "I'm a Mac" ads that Apple produced. Even though there's merit in what they're saying about their own product, the jabs at the competition come off as petty and fanboyish. It's one thing to talk up your own product, that's expected, but as you said quality work speaks for itself. To me, smugness and snobbery are very unappealing forms of advertising. I'm sure developers love the fanboy comments as they stroke the ego, but for the sake of getting constructive consumer feedback they need to be stamped out. A couple of the comments that have been posted on NBA Live 10 videos I've uploaded to the NLSC's YouTube channel have been sarcastic jabs at the graphics, likening them to PS2 and even Super Nintendo quality and deeming them "cartoonish" and "horrible" which to me is absurd hyperbole. Words like "cartoonish" and "lazy" have become, in my opinion, irritating buzzwords amongst armchair critics who are - ironically - too lazy to provide thoughtful or constructive feedback about their likes and dislikes. There's no way anyone could or should take fanboy trolling "critique" seriously and developers really shouldn't encourage it. Smirk to yourself privately if need be, but don't reward the fanboys for inane chatter. It's disrespectful to consumers, it's disrespectful to your peers and as you note, potentially disrespectful to people who will become your colleagues or perhaps even your bosses one day. I've seen people defend Ronnie's comments with "He's right, Live sucks, 2K is the better game" and of course everyone's entitled to their opinion, but it's not even about which game is better or whether he or anyone who shares his sentiments is right or not. It's about professionalism, maturity and dignity. Take the high road, especially if you are the party on top. Well said Shawn, I couldn’t agree more. Even as an NBA Live/Elite afficionado, I have no issues giving credit where credit is due when it comes to NBA 2K but in general I’d say the fanboyism is out of controls on both sides and the last thing the companies should be doing is pandering to it. It just comes off as childish, unprofessional and unbearably smug; in fact, I’d liken it to some of those “I’m a Mac” ads that Apple produced. Even though there’s merit in what they’re saying about their own product, the jabs at the competition come off as petty and fanboyish. It’s one thing to talk up your own product, that’s expected, but as you said quality work speaks for itself. To me, smugness and snobbery are very unappealing forms of advertising.

I’m sure developers love the fanboy comments as they stroke the ego, but for the sake of getting constructive consumer feedback they need to be stamped out. A couple of the comments that have been posted on NBA Live 10 videos I’ve uploaded to the NLSC’s YouTube channel have been sarcastic jabs at the graphics, likening them to PS2 and even Super Nintendo quality and deeming them “cartoonish” and “horrible” which to me is absurd hyperbole. Words like “cartoonish” and “lazy” have become, in my opinion, irritating buzzwords amongst armchair critics who are - ironically - too lazy to provide thoughtful or constructive feedback about their likes and dislikes. There’s no way anyone could or should take fanboy trolling “critique” seriously and developers really shouldn’t encourage it. Smirk to yourself privately if need be, but don’t reward the fanboys for inane chatter.

It’s disrespectful to consumers, it’s disrespectful to your peers and as you note, potentially disrespectful to people who will become your colleagues or perhaps even your bosses one day. I’ve seen people defend Ronnie’s comments with “He’s right, Live sucks, 2K is the better game” and of course everyone’s entitled to their opinion, but it’s not even about which game is better or whether he or anyone who shares his sentiments is right or not. It’s about professionalism, maturity and dignity. Take the high road, especially if you are the party on top.

]]>