Return of the Rage

http://kotaku.com/347350/keighley-sets-mass-effect-record-straight-or-tries-to
I am woeful of my absence in the video game blogging world. Between a now officially ridiculous work schedule, a full plate at school and as much flailing and wailing I can muster in Rock Band, my brainchild has been left unnourished by my incessant ranting and raving. But no more! It is time for action, not idle thought.

My unmitigated anger at the talking heads over the “Mass Effect Scare” has forced me to return to this forum of discontented discussion. Please, your comments are welcome. Anyhow, this whole hullabaloo over half a breast has been stewing for a little while, seemingly sparked by some lying, logic-stunted halfwit whose name I won’t waste my spit on who has just a slightly larger audience than yours truly. So now we have Fox News pissing away airtime to condemn a game in which I’m sure the anchors discussing it could never navigate through the first open door. Great, you know how much fair spin we gamers get. *Sigh* At the very least I’d like to commend Geoff Keighley for keeping up the faith against a clearly biased speech-schedule. ”Any thoughts Geoff OH We’re out of time!”

I don’t even know where to start in saying how bass-akwards this how thing is. The woman of the ‘supported’ side made a statement I found so mind-blowing I started to question my own place in this world as a well spoken proper gentleman (yeah right). “Dear God! I don’t know if I just ran a blade into a man’s skull in Assassin’s Creed or if it was real life!” Get real. I’m sure I’m not alone in saying that I’ve played video games since I was in diapers and I’ve never once mistaken my controller for a AK-47 with a grenade launcher attachment. Who do they study in these groups? “Hey, you, the kid in the Babylon 5 t-shirt with the lazy eye and drool coming out of your mouth! Wanna help us study video games?” What kind of mutant trolls do they take us for? Certainly the worst kind.

My wife and I where both pretty upset over this whole thing, especially the fact that the parents just want to dump the blame on the game developers and producers instead of, you know, parenting? That thing where you set limits and expectations upon the spawns of your loins and help them become well-adjusted members of society. I know, I know, it’s a novel concept, to be sure. It’s much better to let the television raise your children anyway. God forbid your kids ever do anything bad that you have to take credit for. Just pin it on the media, teachers, everyone but yourself. “That is flawless logic,” says the mother who microwaves her infant. (If that statement doesn’t make you mad, nothing will.)

I was close to putting this whole argument to bed, just accepting that things aren’t going to ever change, when it hit me. I asked myself, “Why does the media focus on these negative points, never assessing the valuable increase in spatial skills acquired through gaming,” when I had an epiphany; because, more than ever, games are kicking other media outlets asses! Just like porn, the gaming industry is silently making a mockery of Hollywood hits and news viewership! All of these major networks are scared that they will be made obsolete by the ever-growing “Nerd Demographic.” This explains nicely the often demeaning and inaccurate Hollywood image of nerds as socially inept with no love life and issues with human contact. They make gaming out to be isolationist, even though multi-player games have ruled the market for years. Every gamer I know has a strong social network, usually bonding through gaming. I think back to a few weeks ago, when my little home contained more people than the fire marshal would allow playing vocal cord-ripping renditions of “Run to the Hills” and “Won’t Get Fooled Again.” That’s right, games ENHANCE relationships, they don’t discourage them. I’ve created more tight friendships due to video games than any other similar interest I can imagine. If that is frivolous and meaningless, than I don’t need to have a purpose.

We gamers have the power to change things. We are a massive demographic, and we need to move in the right direction. We have to speak out against the lies that unenlightened sources spew forth and rise up. We’re already smarter than them. We just need to become more organized. Think about it.

“You gaze upon me – I can tell what you see – A simple man – With simple thoughts and – Simple needs – Superstition – Preying on a mind filled with fear – Opposition – To all your ‘enlightened’ ideas – Yet I will show you more than – You can comprehend – Beware delusion is a - Dangerous friend.”
Sabbat, The Best of Enemies