Maybe The Gaming Industry Just Isn't Glamorous Enough
See Full ImageYou can't go Hollywood if you don't have the Hollywood glitz and glamor.
What if the reason more gaming people (i.e., directors, producers, artists, etc.) aren't in the spotlight is simply due to materialism? What if it's simply due to the fact that we may not have the pretty people?
For the record, we've removed our article concerning voice actress Ali Hillis' Facebook comments concerning the Spike TV Video Game Awards. She contacted us and politely asked us to take it down; she provided an explanation as to why, and we understand it. She didn't want her words to be taken out of context but you know, it got me thinking (as these things usually do).
The VGAs will be loaded with personalities from TV, music, and movies. Sometimes, gamers wonder why we don't see more of our own stars and visionaries, and I'm afraid the answer is pure, simple, and mildly depressing- gaming doesn't have the glitz and glamor of the other entertainment industries. Thing is, those other industries require certain physical qualities (and if you say it doesn't matter for musicians, you're living on another planet), as the popular people tend to photograph well.
We have talented people, but they're not required to be in front of a camera for any reason. Even the actors aren't really part of it, although their likeness may be used (i.e., Uncharted, Heavy Rain, etc.). We've addressed the subject in the past; when we interviewed Ian Bogost, we spoke at length about why gaming isn't a bigger part of the mainstream culture; in other words, why we aren't seeing Cosmopolitan or Vanity Fair spreads for guys like David Jaffe or Hideo Kojima. Besides the stereotypes and stigmas still attached the industry, there might be another reason.
We have unbelievable talent. We don't have models. And in this culture, if you can't be in front of a camera, that poses a significant problem. Materialism may strike to the core and indeed, it might be one of the primary stumbling blocks for gaming...as depressing as that sounds.
P.S. Hillis has offered to talk to us, so if we do an interview, we'll ask you to submit some questions.
Tags: video games, gaming, gaming culture
12/4/2011 10:38:52 PM Ben Dutka
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Comments (20 posts)
Neo_Aeon666
Monday, December 05, 2011 @ 9:17:23 AM
Now add some conjugal violence between Batman and Catwoman and we got ourselves a real healthy industry right? XD Now it can be on par with Hollywood XD
Last edited by Neo_Aeon666 on 12/5/2011 9:18:21 AM
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BikerSaint
Sunday, December 04, 2011 @ 11:25:22 PM
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Even though there's nowhere to click on it for you, it's still a great big "1 Thumbs up" for catching an Ali Hillis interview too.
Damn, I love this site!
BTW,
Hell, I'd model for the the video games, but I don't think Spike want's to hear my Harley while it's roaring down their red-carpet runway.
Last edited by BikerSaint on 12/4/2011 11:30:08 PM
3 up, 1 down
wenezz
Sunday, December 04, 2011 @ 11:40:26 PM
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Last edited by Ben Dutka PSXE on 12/5/2011 12:22:48 AM
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Axe99
Monday, December 05, 2011 @ 12:18:46 AM
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Excelsior1
Monday, December 05, 2011 @ 12:21:30 AM
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I guess we don't do that as much here in the west. I don't know what to make of that. On the one hand I would love to hear more from the people in the industry, but on the other hand I understand that might make for a dull show from a television producer's point of view. The VGA's can already be tough enough to watch for me becuase they feel so 360 centric. Another thing, it is almost painful to watch some random TV celebrity trying to pull off a joke about a game that I'm almost sure they have never touched in their lives. That kind of thing shows.
Please tell Ali I loved her as Lightning.
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Lawless SXE
Monday, December 05, 2011 @ 12:46:41 AM
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At the same time... that's a load of tosh. I don't give a damn how pretty someone is if they're a talentless fop, or some kind of vain, selfish trash. Just because they skate by in their life on their looks and ability to please those of the opposite gender doesn't mean that they deserve to be fawned over. Honestly, I think that, in film, writers should get more credit than the actors because they are the ones that supply the roles. Sure, the actors are important, but how many of them could improvise to create a truly memorable character?
Same goes for gaming. Although the glitz is what draws a crowd, it shouldn't be what the industry focusses on. It should be about rewarding those that rightly deserve to be awarded. And that isn't some poncy, puffed-up popinjay who says they once held a controller. Sure they raise the profile, but it should promote the developers over these pretenders and bring to light the people that will entertain the next generation: Ueda, Kojima, Mikami, Cage, Chen, Itagaki, Levine, Asmussen, Blow, Notch, and the remainder of their ilk. Not only that, but seeing these people recognised for their achievements will attract more creative entities, who will see gaming as a legitimate way to get their names in the limelight, and as long as they build their reputations on being unique, rather than simply good, so much the better.
/rant.
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Fane1024
Monday, December 05, 2011 @ 2:02:16 AM
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The VGAs are like the MTV movie awards: candy-coated crap.
Last edited by Fane1024 on 12/5/2011 2:03:04 AM
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dmiitrie
Monday, December 05, 2011 @ 2:53:26 AM
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And even if more people identified developers by name, theres still the matter of recognizing them at an event. The people here certainly seem more knowledgeable than most, but I'd doubt even they know what many developers look like. So, while video game people may not have movie star good looks, I think a bigger reason why we don't see then at the VGAs is because most of the audience wouldn't know who they'd be looking at if they did.
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Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Monday, December 05, 2011 @ 9:54:41 AM
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D1g1tal5torm
Tuesday, December 06, 2011 @ 7:21:32 AM
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D1g1tal5torm
Monday, December 05, 2011 @ 4:06:45 AM
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The real stars are the devs, not the actors being paid to do motion capture.
I'd much prefer to have some ugly programmers making games as opposed to stunning ones with a preference for hanging out in front of camera instead of a monitor.
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Underdog15
Monday, December 05, 2011 @ 8:46:17 AM
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Some artists boycott the Grammy's and Oscars as well. In fact, some have even turned down nominations. So it's not fair to say it's just a gaming thing. It's like how you suggest, that it's just our entertainment industry as a whole.
It's not the way it should be, mind you... but it is the way it is.
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Havoc
Monday, December 05, 2011 @ 8:55:06 AM
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WorldEndsWithMe
Monday, December 05, 2011 @ 9:08:57 AM
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Qubex
Monday, December 05, 2011 @ 9:23:28 PM
The glamour is in the result...
I don't think we need Hollywood plastic glitz to leak into gaming.
Q!
"play.experience.enjoy"
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GuyverLT
Monday, December 05, 2011 @ 9:24:18 AM
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JLB1
Monday, December 05, 2011 @ 1:40:21 PM
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Game insiders would be cool, but the gamers themselves can be in the spotlight. Gaming doesn't need to be this Hollywood-esque type of thing. I love gaming for what it is, how it is! Anything else, and the industry may change with it.
Last edited by JLB1 on 12/5/2011 1:43:31 PM
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BigBoss4ever
Tuesday, December 06, 2011 @ 12:00:23 AM
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Last edited by BigBoss4ever on 12/6/2011 12:00:59 AM
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Yukian
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Sunday, December 04, 2011 @ 11:16:13 PM
But it's kinda true 'cause we don't have a physical representation of our beloved hobby and the masses must have someone to idolate to(spelling?)... or gossip about, or hate upon... you know masses stuff. lol