This edition of the Bitmob Community Spotlight anchors a fascinating week at the website. Alex Gagne starts it off with a post about horrible games that you’d play for charity, and Alex Long makes the contrarian argument on the otherwise-tired games-as-Art topic. I’m still on the fence about the subject, but Alex certainly stirs the community into discussion.
With our posts-by-people-named-Alex quota out of the way, game developer J Eckert poses an equally controversial question about the sale of used games — are they bad for the industry?
Gerard Delaney has spent the past few days roaming around the Monteriggioni Villa in Assassin’s Creed 2, and I think he’s become a homebody. Finally, Michael Edwards airs his criticisms of the current state of adventure games (too easy, apparently).
Discussion Topic: What is Your Personal Desert Bus?
By Alex Gagne
Inspired by the annual fund-raiser Desert Bus for Hope, Alex asks, “What game do you find so repetitive and sleep-inducing that the only way you would want to play it is to raise money for sick children?” It’s an interesting question, and my answer would have to be Big Rigs: Over the Road Racing. Considered by many to be the worst game ever made, I doubt that I would last more than an hour with that game — even for charity.
An Argument Against Games as Art
By Alex Long
Here’s an angle you don’t see very often. Alex has a problem with the baggage that comes with artistic recognition. It’s not that he dislikes Art-with-a-capital-A per se; he doesn’t like the pompous and judgmental opinions of its fans. He writes, “I hope, as the young medium of video games moves forward, we can keep pretentious airs out of it.” You and me both, buddy.
Do Consumers See a Focus on Used Game Sales as Bad for the Industry?
By J Eckert
What happens when a retailer’s sole method of business is the sale of used games? For a game developer like J Eckert, it’s a scary prospect. But it seems like most games retailers try to sell a used copy of the game before offering a newly packaged version. More of a question addressed to the community than a conclusive article, Eckert invites us all to participate in the discussion.
On the Virtual Home in Assassin’s Creed 2
By Gerard Delaney
Not having played the game myself, I can’t comment on the importance of the Monteriggioni Villa in Assassin’s Creed 2, but according to Gerard’s detailed description, it’s no ordinary in-game hub. But can you unlock a Lay-Z-Boy?
Missing: One Half of the Action Adventure Genre
By Michael Edwards
Michael Edwards can’t seem to find the “adventure” in today’s action-adventure games. Neither can I. It seems as though the exploration and discovery elements of the genre have gone missing. But Michael is here to explore and rediscover the genre, with no hints along the way!