- last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT
Posted by: Recon Number 54
While in the shower this morning I think that I may have come up with a possible understanding of the divide between the happy and unhappy. Or as they are called by the other side the whiners and the fanboys.
I'm going to try to not call either side names, I am going to try to only mention what I observe of this "difference". I am going to try VERY hard to not attribute reasons to the differences as those are what usually causes more problem and disagreement. For example; using terms like "we real fans" or saying "Bungie is just counting their money" is a person attributing motivation to someone they do not know. It's neither accurate, nor true and only serves to cloud the issue.
The unhappy folks (referred to as "whiners by a percentage of the happy folks) really like Halo. Perhaps they first discovered Bungie because of Halo, perhaps they didn't. But they developed a very strong appreciation and relation with the game. When Halo 2 came out, it was not the same game (or what they felt they were promised, or expected, or deserved). They feel betrayed and let down.
The happy folks (referred to as fanboys by a percentage of the unhappy folks) really liked Halo. Perhaps they first discovered Bungie because of Halo, perhaps they didn't. When Halo 2 came out, it was not the same game. They don't appear to have as much of a problem with this fact.
That to me seems to be the core difference between the happy and the unhappy people in this community. That is said with no animosity or favoritism for or against either group. I think that I also see the key and focal point on the divide as well. It's got nothing to do with maturity, it's got nothing to do with being a "good" or "bad" or even a "true" fan, or anything along those lines. It has to do with how each of us views and defines a game.
Is a game a product or is it a form of entertainment? I believe that this is the key question for either group.
If a person who didn't like Halo 2 believes that games (such as Halo and Halo 2) are a product, like a car, or a hardware console, or a pair of shoes, then I suspect that they are likely members of the "unhappy" group.
If a person who didn't like Halo 2 believes that games (such as Halo and Halo 2) are a form of entertainment, like a movie, or a book, or a music album then I suspect that they are NOT likely members of the vocal "unhappy" group.
If Bungie made shoes and the "consumer/customer" (terms that I hear used frequently by the unhappy) spent their money and is dissatisfied with what they purchased, they are understandably and deservedly upset. As far as they are concerned, the PRODUCT failed to live up to their expectations or desires and they feel as if their money was not wisely spent. They expect satisfaction and understandably so. People who view a game as a product and who aren't disappointed, well, they have no complaints and would fall into the "happy" group.
If Bungie made music (they do, but it's a component of the package) like say a pop-music group, and the "consumer/customer" spent their money and was displeased, disappointed or otherwise unhappy with the entertainment they expected or the performance of the artist, what does a consumer of entertainment do? I believe that unhappy consumers of entertainment typically move along and find something else that DOES entertain them. Similarly, people who view a game as entertainment and who aren't disappointed, well, they have no complaints and would also fall into the "happy" group.
Now, I don't think that one perception is "better" than the other. Each person comes to their own conclusion about whether they see a game as a product or as entertainment. But I do think that understanding a potential root of the disagreement might POSSIBLY lower some of the anger and animosity generated by the differences.
And by this point I was running out of hot water and so my brain stopped working. I think that I might make a thread with this observation in Zanzibar and watch it fall off of the first page in 30 seconds.
This should be stickied in every forum and made an front page artical. I agree fully. I'll just stay in The septegon untill this whole thing cools over. Well worded Recon.
- Toji