Slipping Down the Slope: A Guide to Common Logical Fallacies

Recently I had an exchange with Sam Killermann, founder and head of Gamers Against Bigotry, where we debated our positions on a hot-button social issue that was on the activist website. I won't get into specifics, but our cordial and respectful back-and-forth led to a common-ground understanding of not only where we stood (which was together on the same soapbox), but also a request from Sam for me to write an article for GAB. Reasoned and respectful debate leading to a positive outcome? Who woulda thought! I'm very grateful to Sam for this opportunity, as I fully stand with the message GAB is trying to send to the gaming community at large. Here is the article I eventually submitted.

Free to Rage

When gaming first entered the home, the goal of console manufacturers was to deliver the experience you get at an arcade without having to dump hundreds of quarters into the game. Arcade games were built as a monetization platform, designed to be difficult so as to maximize the number of quarters fed into them. Home consoles changed that by being able to provide fun and challenging games you can play with your friends for a one-time payment.

Sadly, folks, we've come full circle on a steep, downward spiral. The latest money-making trend goes by different names: free-to-play or F2P, freemium, pay-to-win. There are different forms of it that I'll cover, and many share common traits. But the primary goal is to leech as much money out of the player as possible.

Much Ado About Nothing

Recently, an awful thing happened. Rare, at Microsoft's 2013 E3 press conference, debuted a new Killer Instinct game, and it will be Free-To-Play with only one free character, and all others will have to be bought. But that's not what everyone is focused on...

Rotten Apples

There's a saying that goes something like "everyone is a saint when they're dead". That was never more true than when Steve Jobs died of pancreatic cancer and blatant stupidity. The wailing from the Cult of Mac was heard around the world, and the Applepologists crushed each other in their stampede to begrudgingly admit that it was a tragic loss of a genius innovator, and how they had so much to thank for of Steve Jobs for making their lives so much better and simpler.

Pfft.

Wasted Opportunity - A Post-Mortem of the Sony Ericsson Xperia Play

The Xperia Play was the first serious (we don't talk about the N-Gage) mobile gaming phone. Built by Sony, sold through Verizon, and marketed with exclusives such as Minecraft Pocket Edition, it was destined to be a force of reckoning in the smartphone and portable gaming world. Let's see if it lived up to the hype.