I'm becoming more and more confused and upset between my idea of future technology and how it can help us, and large corporate ideals regarding the 'best way' technology is to be applied...
There are many facets to this story, but I'll briefly focus on the gaming side of things...
After E3 2012, my feelings of separation between the games I enjoy and the services that supply them have become more and more apparent.
My brief history regarding gaming is as such:
ALL GAMING CONSOLES I CAN POSSIBLY AFFORD!!! :)
This is including MS, Nintendo, PS, and all the retro consoles and Pc's from Comodore 64 to Atari ST (my fav)...
Anyway, the main problem I have is this weird 'snowball' effect feeling of marketing and advertising that seems to be prevalent within newer releases and future gaming technology.
My beef...:
We seem to be accelerating towards some kind of media enabled, always online gaming structure that absolutely no one I personally know wants to be involved in...
No one wants DRM, online only, DLC or any other bullshit marketing structure that enables companies to have ultimate control over a medium that is supposed to ensure freedom of thought and escapism...
Likewise for movies and tv shows (I have just bought and stocked a media center because I cannot access everything I want to watch on Netflix)...
Now, looking at the start of this problem from my perspective is the perception of the average gamer. Especially before the 'casual' revolution...
Gamers used to be labeled as 'lazy', 'loners', 'male!', 'nerds', etc...
Plus many more negative names... But, in actual fact, gamers I knew were;
Family members, Musical Artists, Programmers, Children, Girlfriends and partners (shock horror), Artists.. Etc...
So.............
Gaming to me has always encompassed this enclusive possibilities.
But, now apparently, we want;
Always on internet connection
DRM protection (that pirates will always get around)
Social games (that will sucker in new paying players)
A focus on 'social' connecting (that no one actually wants)
Now,
The problem is the combination of pure genius from certain developers being absolutely steamrolled by the collective bullshit being enforced from Corporate collectives....
I was so looking forward to the Wii U... Until I saw that god awful presentation by the company elites at NIntendo E3... Now I just feel sick regarding the next gen.
I only hope Sony and MS really pump some power into their upcoming systems and relax their focus on media streaming etc.... But that is not looking likely.
Anyway, my real question is...
Are we making a collective choice regarding the future of our technological advancements or are we quickly advancing towards a corporate goal of media control...
