Okay, so I’ve been seeing this for a while: People are asking for Substack to put a section in for gaming. I’ll see some things posted on notes about every other day. That’s all good, and hey, I hope Substack does do something.
But let me ask a simple question here, something that has been in my mind, maybe to you dear reader, it has been in the back of yours or more at the forefront of it.
Do we need a section?
Sure, it sounds appealing, and yes, it is even validating that there could be a new section in gaming, and people will be able to find all our stuff a hell of a lot easier. So yes, that is appealing, but is it truly important to what we’re doing? Many of us are doing this as a hobby, something we are passionate about, and have opinions on all manner of things. We also may feel that the world of gaming journalism does not represent what we see and want to hear. So much so that many have made their Substacks as a result.
In gaining that validation, we do get that much easier to find the section, and a lot of us will gain something. But with that, in time, could we lose what many of us see now in the media and become just like them? The line from “The Dark Knight” sticks out in my head: “You either die the hero or live long enough to see yourself become the villain.” Getting that validation will come with sacrifices, easier access does not always mean growth.
Okay, smart guy, what do you suggest we do?
When you don’t get what you feel is needed, you naturally take matters into your own hands. I’ve seen the writers here do that, Alex Antra has taken charge of this over at Reconnect and has been working their ass off getting this community going, we’re all finding one another because of the work they have done. So that’s one person doing it. We also have a network of people who can reach out to one another and collaborate with one another or even if we see something that we don’t like. Refer it to someone we know who may be interested. Wow, this sounds something like having a section on a hugely popular website devoted to writing done by the writers. This is where the crux of my argument lies: why do we need a section when we have a thing that connects all of us.
That is sort of what punk rock is, isn’t it? You are not offered a seat at the table, and so instead you go “fuck it, I’ll make my own table.”
The doors are locked on us.
Money buys the access
And we can't pay the cost
How can we expect anyone to listen
If we're using the same old voice
We need new noise
New art for real people
Those are lyrics from the song “New Noise” by The Refused, or as some of you know them, “Samurai” from Cyberpunk 2077. But that is the point I’m getting to here: maybe we don’t need the section; we’re just doing it ourselves. There is something more authentic to that than there is to getting validation. People see it also.
The old ways are not working anymore.
I don’t know if you guys have seen most of the modern gaming websites. I go on to a few anymore and see fewer reviews, unless they are of the big companies’ games, and more and more I am seeing ads for sales on various sites. Hell, I won’t lie I’ve looked at the sales but when did gaming websites turn into link dumps for companies to sell their shit that I’m going to find is on sale when I look at their site anyway?
I also have been of the thought that “gaming journalism” is odd. Well, anything that covers moves, music, or whatever form of entertainment isn’t journalism to me. It is the people who are working to inform us of the world. A person doing that type of stuff is, at best, a presenter or someone with an opinion that they want to share, and they may or may not be paid for it. I mean, when you look at the guys from Top Gear/Grand Tour, you don’t think of them as journalists, even though they have written for car magazines and have pieces in the paper that are opinions. You just think of three idiots doing stupid and funny things in cars.
When you think of X-Play, you don’t think of hard-hitting journalism that holds gaming companies and developers accountable for bad games or how they treat workers; you think of skits and reviews done usually by interns. I have seen some of what I call the “New Wave” sites like Second Wind and Aftermath sharing opinions and thoughts on things, some of them will scream about how conditions for employees are awful. Well, where was this spine when they were on a platform that was listened to? Could you imagine if a gaming website called for returns of games that they felt screwing customers or setting bad precedent for future things? Not only would they have been fired, but if they were not, they would be afraid of losing access to preview events and getting copies in advance to post on launch day with a score telling you to buy the game you were going to buy anyway. I mean, I don’t expect some sort of Woodward and Bernstein for gaming, but imagine if these presenters said something and used their platform to say these things we all think.
This is where I feel the advantage is given here. Yes, without a section, we are put on the back foot. I would propose that if we feel so strongly about things, maybe we should put the work into it. I still don’t exactly see creators on YouTube or Twitch or any place else using their platform to talk about the state of the hobby. All they do is say “X is bad” but offer no real thoughts as to maybe how to make it better. They just scream and drive fervor so they can get the clicks they need to keep the advertisers happy and the lights in their homes on.
And let me be clear here: I don’t begrudge anyone from making a living or finding a way to do it in a way they like doing it. If you are doing your job and are happy and fulfilled, you won the lottery, and I tip my hat to you. Just do not look at me and tell me you’re the paragon of something when you are taking the freebies and perks of your status. You could still go out on launch day and buy (or download) your game and play it just like the rest of us in real time.
Or you could check out demos companies give out for free that everyone has access to and use your platform and status to raise awareness of things you think are worth others time instead of going to private events you get controlled access to things as long as you speak positive about it you can keep coming back for more exclusive stuff they control.
We could be the new noise.
The people who are writing here are working hard to write what they want, and they are good at it. I’d argue we don’t need a section as we’re doing pretty well in getting our stuff to one another. Instead of asking for a new section, let’s make them take notice of us instead, make them want to have us. We have people who are invested and are finding new ways to do things and are trying to build a better future, an alternative to the media we are expected to look to and eventually join in exchange of our ideals and to tow the line in exchange for all the nice things most gamers have to pay or wait for.
But we should instead help one another build our gaming section that isn’t in gaming help build up and when one of us needs a hand or maybe something we have no interest in, share it with another and build together. We often look to the past and see the magazines of our youth or maybe even websites and think, “Wow, it would be cool if I could do that.” That cycle continues, and I don’t know if I want the next generation to look at what is there now and think that.
So, for the TL:DR crowd, here it is simple
Fuck the section, let’s just do it our way and help one another out, fuck the old ways let’s make some new noise.
With that, I ask one more thing…
Who’s with me?
-The Chaos Director
Great article! Can really feel how you view the topic and I echo so many of thoughts about the industry.
Wasn’t expecting the three idiots In cars reference, gave me a good chuckle.
I'm not one of the people who's been asking for a category but this didn't come to mind either. Great article.