Video Games: Death By Hype
Hype, huh, yeah. What is it good for? Absolutely nothing! Hype is generally considered to be testament to how good a game really is. So, for example, the more column inches a game receives leading up to its release, and the more buzz that surrounds it or the bigger the marketing campaign, the better the game is expected to be. However, I’ve always subscribed to the train of thought that hype can typically be the downfall of what is actually a decent game. For that reason I’ve never bought into hype. I generally approach any game with a lack of expectation, and for that reason I’m rarely disappointed.
Leading up to the release of a game I’m particularly interested in, I’ll deliberately avoid previews and development reports of how the game is panning out. I’ll inevitably hear or see tidbits as I’m scanning Twitter and perusing my feeds, not to mention I’ll obviously know the basic premise to be interested in the first place, but I never actively seek out information or spoilers. I leave any surprises ’till I have a controller firmly in hand, and this even includes the story, which generally means I’m rarely disappointed due to initial expectations not being met, because I haven’t had an opportunity to form any.
Tomorrow, Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising hits the European market. I’ll be buying it based on… Well, I don’t actually know, because other than it being a tactical shooter known for its realism, I don’t know anything about it. This is how I approach gaming, because I believe conforming to the buzz media places around certain games can actually affect your enjoyment of them.
I don’t have anything derogatory to say about Alan Wake. My advice to you? Spend a night in Bright Falls and soak up the eerie atmosphere. Alan Wake excels at thrilling you psychologically. Which is why it’s called a psychological thriller, I guess…
