Expectations

Having a creative mind particularly in the often eccentric industry that is gaming, is generally considered a natural advantage. It allows you see things from various perspectives and veer off on a creative tangent that few would consider pursuing, with the aim to do something remarkable. Outside the virtual world, it’s down to the continuing efforts of collective, visionaries that someday significant strides would have been made to ensure that no child will perish from malnutrition, that cancer will become a far more treatable affliction, and that significant strides would have been made to rid the worlds governments of corrupt and disreputable morons (maybe). Of course, being granted with a creative mind does have its perils, particularly with the announcement of a game you’ve been nervously expecting.

The anticipation of a game that’s 6 months from general release, especially one your hugely excited about, does mean that there’s a suitable window of opportunity for your aspirations to be raised, and subsequently tainted by supposition. You concoct so many unsubstantiated scenarios in your mind, that a game, no matter how well designed can’t realistically replicate, and is elevated to such an unfathomable level, that your expectations will plummet quicker than Mel Gibsons reputation. You confine your preconceived creativity, and find yourself adapting to the product; sympathising with the developers ideas like a mild form of Stockholm syndrome. But when your fabricated creation is so vivid, it’s difficult to adapt to the understandable, realistic alterations.

The build up to Skyrim was simply tortuous for me, as I absorbed every available nugget of information regarding this fantastical landscape, I established a fabricated world built purely out of my own whimsical assumptions. And when released, my initial response is one of distressing realisation that it’s not quite as I had envisioned. But how can we protect ourselves from such despondency? Or more importantly, why should we? How can a game compete with the fantasies and expressive sentiments, of so many imaginative gamers? The greater worry is “if” developer’s ever equal or even exceed our prodigious expectations; now that’s something to be truly weary of.

What games have failed to live up to your expectations? Let me know your thoughts. Cheers

You know how it is, you’ve been patiently awaiting, and nervously anticipating the announcement of a particularly game, so much so, that it literally dictates your thoughts on a continuous nauseating loop, until finally, the news that you’ve been so eagerly anticipating is announced, Yeah! The leading information maybe scarce, but its enough to instill fractious, excitement and perhaps, anxious anticipation. But as time passes, and fresh information is divulged by developers and reiterated by various magazines, blogs etc, your confidence escalate’s, to an obstinate extent. Your unofficially promised titles that are refered to as “The best in the series” or “Generation defining”, that when the title is released, your assurance has been so greatly magnified, that its very difficult not to feel slightly underwhelmed. This has to controlled, we need to lower our sometimes unachievable expectations, if we want to continue enjoying games.

Many of us, including myself, crave perfection so adamantly that anything less is deemed a failure. For example, Uncharted 3 has been bombarded with so many petty and moronic criticisms, its baffling to see why anyone of these buffoons would purchase it. I’ll be the first to admit that Uncharted 3 isn’t without its irritations, like the difficulty spikes that continually frustrate like Tourette’s, but to criticise the (admittedly) linear story, is beyond comprehension. *SARCASM ALERT* “Oh no! I’m being helplessly led into a deeply engrossing, and thoroughly, gratifying narrative, cul-de-sac!” I mean come on!! Look, I’m not suggesting that we shouldnt strive for quality, but we need to be pragmatic, put things into perspective. I’m certainly not suggesting however, that we should lower our expectations to such a degree that we should expect Uncharted 4’s acting, that resembles Kim Jong Il, mourners, or an Arkham City spinoff, involving Batman’s hellish torment….over an ingrown toe nail. (You heard it here first!)

Having such high aspirations will almost certainly, damage any pleasure you would have otherwise experienced, if it hadn’t been for moronic imbeciles (like me!), telling you how great the game is going to be. Sorry.

95% of this frustrated rant, is directed toward myself, and the remaining 5%? Well, that’s reserved for the Uncharted 3 haters and people who take me too seriously, you fools!

Do previews and hype ruin games for you? Or is ignorance bliss? Let me know your thoughts.