The Christmas Rush
Renn Shion
T027@ACADEMIC.TRUMAN.EDUFirst I would like to thank all those who support my editorials. I would especially like to thank DaveZ for putting them up time after time. I'm sure he is a busy man.
The issue today questions whether or not we can put an end to the System Wars by Christmas or will the tensions between systems and gamers only be heightened? I'm sure it is no coincidence that the gamers have seen so many delays lately. Undoubtedly, most companies would like to wait for the Christmas rush. So what is the effect on gamers now? Tensions are running higher than ever as Sony players want to see more exclusive companies, N64 owners want the onslaught of games, and Sega owners want new management. With all the gamers in a period of drift, it may be possible for some walls to finally be broken down between gamers. With no blockbusters coming (at least for a few months anyway), this late Spring and Summer has united some players, despite efforts by the system companies to drive a further wedge between us. For example, Sega owners in spite of Sega management and bad decisions, have started to look at Playstation games to get their fix while waiting for Christmas. Likewise, some N64 owners have closeted their systems and invested in Sega or Playstation till Nintendo releases more games. And some Playstation owners find quality lacking over quantity at the moment and are looking into purchasing an N64 or Sega. Could it be that the plan of the companies to show up the competition has resulted in a frustration leading to a gamers unity? RPG fans have announced the purchase of classic sequels of Phantasy Star, Lunar, Final Fantasy, and Zelda in the same sentence, not caring about the system. This could be the first step towards gamer unity, where gamers are starting to recognize quality and leaving the game magazines on the shelves. It is truly a hopeful sight to see.
Of course, gamers are far from united and much like the early unions of the end of the 19th century, we are still separated not by race, but by age and our ideology of what good gaming is. The ongoing battle between 2D and 3D continues, and younger gamers tend to go for the graphics over gameplay. There has even been resentment and cynicism over incidents such as the Eidos buyout and the Working Designs departure. And obviously, all gamers will never see eye to eye, especially in the competition of 3 unique but powerful systems, the most competition ever seen in gaming history. And no gamer will ever fit the stereotype companies have labeled on us, whether it's labeling us as anti-Japanese, or assuming that 2D has no place in the 3D gamer's life. Therefore, it is naive to think that a system is better than another because it is 3D or because it comes out with more games. We all have specific interests, but one common joy...games. It is speculation that when the new Sega system comes out, Playstation popularity will drop, because it is the most powerful system. And perhaps it will. But sales will never meet expectations, because Sega of America never saw fit to listen to the gamer. I can only guess that video game sales on the whole will decline as gamers aren't sure which system will stay and which system will go, as the sense of stability lives in the Playstation and is chaotic in Sega, and unsure in N64. Gamers will have tough choices to make in the future and will no doubt be spending more money than they ever have.
But to the more immediate future, the Christmas storm will certainly mark a change on gaming society. With blockbusters on all systems, gamers will either learn to love all systems, or stop arguing with his neighbor if he wants to play his system's greatest hits. This is the hopeful scenario, but the exclusiveness of many of these blockbusters creates a counterscenerio game of who can advertise their hit the best, a game Sega plays with little skill. If Sega can't sell over Christmas, it will only reiterate the point in the minds of the corporate executives, that the Saturn has no present and they must devote even more attention to the new system, leaving present Saturn owners even more gameless than they were in early summer. Here's hoping Santa puts some advertising in the Sega Christmas stockings. It's clear we don't need electronic's shows to show us who's gonna stay on top, we need Christmas.