Unnecessary Good

( 1 Vote ) It never ceases to amaze when I see calls for an end to rude, obnoxious “fanboyism.” Forum posts, blogs, and videos regularly pop up with mighty pleas for a flame war ceasefire. Lovers of peace and appreciation for all games plead with an online mob rule. Their language is elevated and the requests are desperate. These people fancy themselves the MLK of the digital age, but I’m not buying it.

Though it remains mostly in his Soapbox segment, even G4’s Adam Sessler frequently references this topic. Don’t get me wrong; I love the Sess, and it’s been a pleasure watching his career blossom over the last decade. However, his time invested in repeated rants about the collapse of civil fan culture could be better spent elsewhere.

Sorry, tree huggers, but fanboyism isn’t going anywhere; publishers, developers, and “journalism” sites love, crave, need it. If it were such a bane on the industry, why would forums and user blogs even be available? A moderator may be around to delete the most verbally obscene; other than that, sites have chosen the path of facilitating visitor input. This isn’t because the plebeian voice is meaningful; seriously, nobody, and I mean nobody needs to read a six page, single-spaced tract on why Snake Eater concluded the best trilogy in gaming history. No, the shrill, polluting, caps-lock ridden messages of fans are profitable! Otherwise, Obama would have appointed a task force of legislatures bent on a web-vironmental message board cleanup during the first one hundred days.

An increasing number of web sites are thirsty for writers but lack an ability to pay. Unless it’s with overpriced, tangible magazines, game sites don’t really sell anything. Nevertheless, a few sites still make money and sign paychecks. For the few bastions of legitimate gaming “journalism” left, revenue earning is accomplished through something called ‘advertising.’

Advertising is a strategy businesses use, for good and evil. The affects of this ‘marketing’ vary from product to product. Though you may see hundreds of commercials for a brand of dishwasher soap, it’s not like the advertisement has any real impact of what you buy at the grocery store. It’s just soap. On the other hand, marketing video games has proven much more effective; thus, many publishers want their games plastered in key locations. Television is one avenue, but the next best place just happens to be on the banners and pop-ups of your favorite gaming websites.

Here’s the point: game sites tend to post articles that generate controversy. Site “hits” are one way to prove to prospective advertisers that people are visiting the site and see the promotions. But an article with heavy forum traffic indicates that users are more invested in a site. If users are posting comments, then they’re registered with the site. If they’re in the middle of a flame rant and want to read who’s responded to their idiotic comments, they’re coming back to the site.

Upset about your favorite game not being in a “Top 10 List?” Don’t like the financial reports about your favorite platform, developer, or publisher? Think a review is unfair or too generous? Well, offer an opposing view! How about the other way around? Want to bask in the glory of a preferred product getting the spotlight? Well, log in and gloat! Look, fanboyism isn’t going anywhere - as long as publishers and web sites have their way. So stop whining already. If you don’t like bickering, just don’t read the forum posts. If controversy just isn’t your thing, why are you scrolling through N4G’s user content?

I’m not saying the online fan community is great. It’s just the way it is. If you’re reading this and disagree with me, then you’re obviously very impressionable. Thus, edgy, satirical cartoons are probably your thing, right? Remember how South Park lampooned Wal-Mart? Of course you do. But how about that ending? The secret to defeating Wall-Mart wasn’t burning or unionizing it; the message of the episode was that you, the customer, keep Wal-Mart in business. The next time you feel like venting about total strangers trash-talking your product of choice, do us all a favor, and don’t. The world doesn’t need another manifesto about how competition benefits all gamers. Two hundred years of successful capitalism doesn’t need your verification.

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