Dealing with Lateness and Self Justification

February 22nd, 2009

I occasionally fall into the trap of beginning articles with a short sub-story justifying why I’m playing whatever game at such a late time. It’s a terrible habit and I really out to kick it already because as you know I’m rarely ever up with “what’s now” in video games.

I write about whatever because I play whatever. Sure I lose my ticket to discussion on the super-fun ferris wheel ride of popular games blogging – that is popular within the niche – but I’d rather discuss the merits of some random game from the past 20 years than limit myself to a 3-5 game quota of popular hits. It doesn’t really work out favourably in my case – I guess my popularity can vouch for that, but isn’t this what we need?

I love the line which loosely goes: “In 20 years time people aren’t going to care what percentage X publication gave X game, what will really matter is the content which extends our understanding of X game”. I honestly couldn’t agree more, which is why I try to serve up content which does just that, well if I can help it.

There’s also the fact that such content is very, very hard to find. I mean honestly with a few exceptions who looks at old games from a design/culture/critique perspective, let alone talk about these games out of a “reviewing” standard? I don’t intend to talk myself up as the God of some super-niche (because if so, I’m a lousy God) but I honestly struggle to find this sort of stuff myself on the net, even within the blogosphere.

On one hand I love writing about what I do, and slowly improving on what I’m doing. Having made some category edits to older articles the other day, I realized how embarrassing some my previous stuff was. But the loneliness of writing in such a way can also feel like a bit of a burden, which is why I appreciate so many of your comments. I don’t know what I hoped to achieve with this article, just wanted to dispel a few thoughts and justify my standing on some issues, some of which I touched upon back here.

Ah, that’s it! I forgot to say, I changed the permalink structure of article so they now look like this:

Yakuza 2: The Cultural Dynamite

and not this:

https://danielprimed.com/gaming/culture/yakuza-2-the-cultural-dynamite/

Since I thought it worked better if I ever had to change categories. What I learnt though was that WordPress automatically redirects to the respective article on URL changes so really it doesn’t matter. I guess that’s what I wanted to say.

Stepping Up

January 26th, 2009

Just a small buzz to all of you who play games online; I registered for a Playstation Network and Xbox/GFW Live ID last week. I never play games online and I expect that even with these two screen names in hand that’ll probably not change much. Actually I don’t even have an Xbox 360 – I was forced to create a handler for a friend’s Rock Band – so that will make chances even slimmer.

Since I don’t have (and don’t intend on buying) an Xbox 360, the Playstation Network ID is the only address worth sharing. I have Call of Duty 4, Resistance: Fall of Man and Metal Gear Online which all have multiplayer online componenets, as well as Home and whatever other features come built in. To be honest I don’t even know if I will even bother playing these games online, I will give it a shot no doubt but perhaps just to see what it’s like. I honestly don’t have the time, nor commitment to any one game to be an active participant in the online community. Hell, I rarely ever leave comments at other people’s blogs.

In ancase, if you’re online and want to add me; DanielPrimed is the screen name for both services. I have a head set too and would love to play/talk games with you.

I’ll See You Soon

January 6th, 2009

Hello Readers,

I’m aware of the massive inconsistencies in my posting schedule of late and feel significantly bothered by it everytime I load up my browser. My life over in Shanghai has been consistently pack to the rafters everyday and when I am not studying or going out, I am trying to recover from what seems like an eternal state of exhaustion.

If this all sounds like terrible news to you then don’t let it be. I’ve been learning so very much from my experience away. I feel consistently bogged down in language, cultural differences and personal development that its an effort for my brain to compress it all. Of course, I plan on writing much more about what I have learnt in my two blogs in due time.

It is true, I do have the time and perhaps energy to continue producing articles but currently my head is in the wrong mindset for writing. At he moment, English runs secondary to Chinese in language of choice, combine this with the cold chill of a Chinese winter and the treadmill of everyday foreign life and I would rather conserve my time for rest than attempt to put it to work in my muddled state.

Perhaps the most painful part of all this drama is that I feel as though I’ve finally hit my stride but haven’t had the time to apply it. Most of my time writing here has been a process of evolution; trying to find my respective path. Having been separated from my regulated 2/3 day schedule, I have finally clicked and over the past few months I have mentally formulated a new(ish), more evolved direction of where I was heading.

It’s with this that I am much anticipating my return to regular writing. For the meantime though, I have about 10 days before I arrive back home to the comfortable land of summer. So basically the off period will continue for another short stretch until I get home and began putting bricks to cement again. Thanks for your enthusiasm and patience. If you hadn’t caught on I also use Twitter which should provide a bit more insight.

-Daniel

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