A Study of Richness

C'mon HardOCP, don't let me down here. This article is pathetic. Not only do you limit your entire benchmarks to the two (or three) of the most expensive cards around, you simply lament about the rest of the entire video card market in a few sentences.

Sigh. I've been really focused on gaming journalism as of late, and it looks like op-ed pieces aren't the only ones in sad states. Don't get me started on the absolute mess that is IGN, because I just ate and I like my lunch safely in my stomach.

Considering I feel closely related to the writer-side of the industry, or at least the content-producer section, I want each piece to have some quality of some sort. Not a narrow-viewed, obviously rushed to get first dibs (and maximum hits) diatribe that would belong on a first-timer's site for the unwashed masses.

HardOCP has always been a quality site. Filled to the brim with ads like any other, but quality nonetheless. I wonder if considering the state of affairs right now I'm simply being too hard on them and the rest of the writers/sites out there.

But then again, I don't believe you ever get better by being complacent. Action and work are what is needed. And while it's obvious the writer did do some work to get this piece to press, it's glaringly obvious that he should've done so much more.

If you guys want to read something that is funny, entertaining, insightful, and well-written, check out this article on insert credit. Good journalism is hard to find, and define. But like porn, I know it when I see it. And that's the good stuff right there.

As The Words Turn

Brian Hook has a really nice article about what Game Journalism is (and certainly isn't) right now. He says that gaming journalism is weak. That is lacks substance, style, and god knows any sort of attitude.

And he's absolutely right.

There is such a chasm between actual content and smoke blowing that when you read a gaming article with substance (or a good gaming journalism site), you are flabbergasted at how good it is. And this is true, as most to all gaming journalism is crap.

I found another very recent example: Do Trade Shows Benefit Gamers?

That is one of the most worthless pieces I've ever read. It's a pompous history lesson, and a tells us absolutely nothing. So E3 has turned to booth babes. The PC is leaning toward the console arena. Some shows died because tech is more evolutionary than revolutionary.

Big fucking deal. This is the game industry. These shows were always meant to showcase new wares and new ideas. Whether they are evolutionary or not. Whether they are flashy or not. And usually, they are there for simple networking. They do not provide Joe Gamer with much of anything. Were they ever meant to? They are trade shows. That means you must be in the trade to even attend them. Why does this article exist?

I have no idea why. It doesn't tell me anything as a gamer. It doesn't tell me anything, even in my distant way, about the game industry that I am of but a drop in the ocean of talent.

This type of article, showcased on a good site (AVault really does have some good reviews), shows what kind of fluffiness passes for gaming journalism. There are no hard questions, or answers, merely denoument from a guy who wants to write how trade shows die and what goes in to killing them. People lose interest.

Tits are more interesting than a server box. Oh lord, stop the presses.

Do Trade Shows Benefit Gamers? Not directly. There's your 2-word answer, turned into 3 pages of bullshit.

Family Matters, Part Deux

Wowza, so blogger now has a new interface. Too cool.

In the realm of Family Matters, I got the pleasure of spending the day with my best bud's parents. This sounds like the story may drift off into a cringe-inducing diatribe of anguish and pain, tales of forced conversations and manners that would bring the most cordial person to their very wits end.

But this is not that story. I guess it's weird (at least it is to some) that I have a very cool, interesting relationship with Jeremy's parents. They are great people, and it was very nice that his grandmother (whom I affectionately call Memaw like the rest of the JRob's siblings) was there as well. She is too sweet for words, and I'm glad she got to see my family.

Me, Ericka, Annie and Abby were all there in full force, and it was so great to see Annie in the yard playing with the dog Belle. It's very interesting as a single person to see the joy in owning a house or land. Most see it as an anchor, or at best an investment. They want it to amount to something. Parents do as well, but just for other reasons.

It was really nice to have a space where Annie can run and play, something she is very limited to doing in an upstairs apartment. We have no real 'yard' to speak of, so it was the first time in months that she's gotten to just run around, squeal, play, and have fun. Those with houses are extremely fortunate. Our financial situation won't clear up for at least 5 years or more, and those with homes are in the position to allow their kids the freedom to be outside, to do things in the clean air, to experience the little things that those homeowners take for granted. I can't let Annie jump in the apartment. She has little room to run. We could never have a pet.

All of these things add up to a big ho-hum, but nevertheless it is a goal. I will own a house someday, hopefully a big nice one with room for an office and a bedroom for each daughter. In the Dream Big Scenario, this would include a Den with cool stuff like a pool table and a big screen, along with a pool to splash in during the summer. A grill to use when friends are nearby. A kitchen with more room than a small closet.

These are things I hope and strive for. Attaining them is a slow gradual process. Slow and sure wins the race, as they say. We'll see how I do in this one.