underscores

Hello, I've been a premium member for 4-5 years. I don't usually (if ever) post. But heres an album that I spent three years of my life working on. Would appreciate a listen if you have some time.

SETUP

There has been a lot of talk lately about video games needing to "evolve" and "change", As if now taking it's first wonky steps through adolescence it reflects back on it's childhood as a mistake. As if before hand it was childish and profited of the fact that it's consumers just didn't know any better. As if now that it's evolving it will take on such heady issues as, mans inhumanity to man, the nature of love, death, social satire, and stuff like that...

Not to get too psychological but this is normal, man can only comprehend the confusing barrage of things happening around him by relating those things to his human nature and experience. E.G when people use phrases like "The death of film." That phrase may be used hyperbolically but it comes from an incredibly primal fear, something which all people understand. Other then the occasional jokester as a mass the community surrounding games (be it the makers or you) have never so strongly talked about games in such a personifying way until now. (Except maybe about specific guns and we all agree thats rather silly.)

CHOICE

This is the choice the individuals of the hive mind of games has to make. Do we continue down this path of bending the cultural idea of games to that of human nature (Like art, comedy, film and music,) using it as another microphone to sing the un-understandable all be it making pretty sounds as we do so? Or do we fudge that and just say that games are about nothing but games? getting a high score... getting from a-b and having fun (You know... super Mario)

We are given a very strange opportunity a significant opportunity, due the incredibly fast nature of the internet you can clearly see the medium-person of video games shaping. (Films and Books have gotten to the point of medium-adult-hood and they are well thought out, smart, stuffy teachers.) Due the internets shaping of that person we can decide if they "grow up" or stay kids for ever! Be Peter Pan! Be Bob Marley! And those people had much more interesting things to say then a person of "logical" thought.

WHY CHOOSE? AND WHY WE SHOULD IGNORE THE NEXT LOGICAL STEP?

It is inevitable that we are going to soon create a next state for video games (not in the literal sense but in the hive mind perception of it.) And as humans can only create things in there own image then shouldn't it be created in the image of the best kind of person. The kind that didn't grow up and give in to the temptation of formality, the kind that people attract followings. Said lovely things.

How do we do this then... well by individually deciding make the hive mind perception of games be that of a child. If films and books (The adults of mediums) seek to teach and and illustrate, then the child-medium will look at things from a weird, random, awesome, mind boggling, "hey whats over there, isn't that funny" sought of way. We know whats down the road of the adult-mediums, tortured artists and questioning consumers. You can be the cause of something other then art, joy.

Ignore this struggle for games to become grown up, A child medium like this will string out great fun games for the found and inspire the lost.

"I have no name;

I am but two days old."

What shall I call thee?

"I happy am,

Joy is my name."

Sweet joy befall thee!

William Blake

Looking forward to that Patrick. It's great watching a really admirable journalist evolve over your time here (Not that the others don't evolve and change, just that your younger and all.)

Most areas (New and Old) of game journalism seems to have rooted themselves as soon as they become established, keeping the same style and technique at the apex of their success. The fact that you didn't do that and decided keep to wading your way though the stupidity pool that is journalism is F-ing inspiring. Please never stop wading and giving us swimming aids as you do so.

@Patrick Klepek Obviously if talented women aren't making games because of there sex then almost everyone would like them to. But saying "Because we need strong female role models, and more of them. It won't solve everything, but it's a start." doesn't really make a whole lot of sense. Men are inspired by women and women by men. News stories like this only tell kids that there is a problem and a separation between the sexes, Isn't the whole point of this thing to tell kids that they can be whatever they wan't? "So our children can see women succeeding in tech and games, and not know why it would ever be any different"Kids today are growing up without a perception of sexism and thats perfect. Again if this is for the female kids (who will one day be making executive decisions) doesn't this only serve to make them feel alienated from men? Sexism shouldn't be told to kids it should be something we try to keep out of there minds. I'm a boy and my favourite young new develapor is Kim Swift, she inspired me to try make a puzzle game and she doesn't even have a willy! the only reason that men are usually video game designers is because programming in the 70's to 90's was dominated by men, Why? Because there was a perception, that is now gone that programming was for pathetic "nerdy" men. Now that cultural glitch is gone and there are many-many young female programers who will become developers one day.

Likely bloody? Bloody likely.