Castle
Ch!ld0fV!si0n
- Joined
- Oct 24, 2012
- Location
- Crisis? What Crisis?
- Gender
- Pan-decepticon-transdeliberate-selfidentifying-sodiumbased-extraexistential-temporal anomaly
Video games are a passion, of that there is no doubt. It's an indulgence that gamers are very fond of, as well they should be. But it seems to me like there used to be a lot more in the way of websites dedicated to facilitating that indulgence. The now (deservedly) defunct Game(F)ailers (GameTrailers) website used to host series retrospectives for fans to gush over, developer interviews and in depth analysis of video games (before the site decided to turn on its consumer base and commit cultural seppuku). The Escapist website used to be a bastion of nerd culture with game and movie reviews, analysis, commentaries, developer interviews and overviews of video game history and culture until they went insane SJW and obliterated all of their feature content. Publications like Nintendo Power and Playstation Magazine (which I think still exists in web form at least) used to be veritable shrines to nintendo and playstation fanaticism and a go-to staple for any fan with features, exposes', insider guides, contests and merchandise. In North America there was even a cable network channel devoted to video games - G4, before it completely lost its way and went defunct - with review shows like X-Play and Judgement Day, multiplayer showcases like Arena and Portal, and an assortment of other shows showcasing video games and various nerd culture.
Sure, now there are a plethora of youtube channels devoted to all aspects of gaming interests. ExtraCredits, AVGN (who's still on Cinemassacre), GameTheory, DidYouKnowGaming, SmoshGames - even more independent standalone channels like EmceeProphit, RetroAhoy, Chris Stuckman and The Rageaholic feature reviews, commentary, and veritable love letters to all things video games.
But is youtube all there is? Video game print publications have all but disappeared. Nintendo Power is no more. GamePro is defunct. Is PC Gamer still in print? As far as I can tell only GameInformer still exists in print mostly because Gamestop gives it to Powerup Reward customers as an added bonus.
What happened? Was there a cultural shift a-la Gamergate and the whole "gamers are dead" fiasco? Is commercialism to blame? Changes in technological trends and the rise of content creation on Youtube? Or has interest waned? Is there simply no want for these outlets for fan devotion anymore? Does anyone else miss these temples to gaming greatness, or am I just not looking in the right places for them?
Sure, now there are a plethora of youtube channels devoted to all aspects of gaming interests. ExtraCredits, AVGN (who's still on Cinemassacre), GameTheory, DidYouKnowGaming, SmoshGames - even more independent standalone channels like EmceeProphit, RetroAhoy, Chris Stuckman and The Rageaholic feature reviews, commentary, and veritable love letters to all things video games.
But is youtube all there is? Video game print publications have all but disappeared. Nintendo Power is no more. GamePro is defunct. Is PC Gamer still in print? As far as I can tell only GameInformer still exists in print mostly because Gamestop gives it to Powerup Reward customers as an added bonus.
What happened? Was there a cultural shift a-la Gamergate and the whole "gamers are dead" fiasco? Is commercialism to blame? Changes in technological trends and the rise of content creation on Youtube? Or has interest waned? Is there simply no want for these outlets for fan devotion anymore? Does anyone else miss these temples to gaming greatness, or am I just not looking in the right places for them?