This year's E3 and the world of "business"
tenguzero
07-13-2007, 01:23 PM
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070713/tc_nm/gamesexpo_showfloor_dc_2
Can anyone honestly say that they thought this format would be a big success? Yeah, sure -- maybe the suits like it, but I've got to say -- they can go screw if they think they'll get anywhere without consumer support.
See, I'm starting to realize something about the world of the 21st century: it really is all about revenues. Now, I'm not talking about regular growth here -- I'm talking about supergrowth. Every entity -seriously- aspires to actually become the company that runs the world. And even worse still, is the fact that everyone with any ambition seems to think that their calling is the world of business.
Much like seemingly anyone who's watched Sideways suddenly believes him or herself to be a damn sommelier.
Why do I use E3 as a reference? Because it illustrates my point pretty handily. It's a convention based around VIDEOGAMES. Friggin' VIDEOGAMES!!! I enjoy videogames as much as the next person, but why would anyone presume to link their primary function with business? Obviously business is the powerhouse behind game production, but that's just the point -- it's supposed to be behind. As soon as you turn GAMING into business, you've ruined the whole damn thing.
I wish I could express properly my thoughts on this subject, but it's very difficult to illustrate what is in my head. I guess I'm just dismayed by the way everything seems to be "business" nowadays. Not only have things like videogames become "business", but it seems like everyone and their siblings are going to college for their MBAs. Why? What the hell are YOU going to do with an MBA? "Look at me! I've got a suit and an MBA! I'm a young executive!..." You and everyone else -- a world of salespeople trying to sell salespeople. Add to this the fact that every company seems to be taking this new approach to employment whereby the employee makes sacrifices of their own time and sanity and character under the guise of "being a part of the team" and "contributing to the growth of the company."
"Let's turn gaming itself into business (and stick real ads into them while we're at it!) Let's work 50+ hour weeks! Let's sacrifice vacations! If you take on these additional commitments you're helping grow the company and yourself!"
My words can't do this justice. All I can say is: look around. Maybe it's just me, and maybe I'm just whining, but I can't shake the feeling that we're headed downward through a dreary path of revenues and meetings and automation and outsourcing and suits and lot's of other boring crap. I understand the desire to make money and live the life you want, but what the hell is the point if you're going to just turn that life into another boardroom meeting? It's obvious that the "knowledge-based economy" is the wave of the future, but why the hell does it have to be such a bleak landscape?
Can anyone honestly say that they thought this format would be a big success? Yeah, sure -- maybe the suits like it, but I've got to say -- they can go screw if they think they'll get anywhere without consumer support.
See, I'm starting to realize something about the world of the 21st century: it really is all about revenues. Now, I'm not talking about regular growth here -- I'm talking about supergrowth. Every entity -seriously- aspires to actually become the company that runs the world. And even worse still, is the fact that everyone with any ambition seems to think that their calling is the world of business.
Much like seemingly anyone who's watched Sideways suddenly believes him or herself to be a damn sommelier.
Why do I use E3 as a reference? Because it illustrates my point pretty handily. It's a convention based around VIDEOGAMES. Friggin' VIDEOGAMES!!! I enjoy videogames as much as the next person, but why would anyone presume to link their primary function with business? Obviously business is the powerhouse behind game production, but that's just the point -- it's supposed to be behind. As soon as you turn GAMING into business, you've ruined the whole damn thing.
I wish I could express properly my thoughts on this subject, but it's very difficult to illustrate what is in my head. I guess I'm just dismayed by the way everything seems to be "business" nowadays. Not only have things like videogames become "business", but it seems like everyone and their siblings are going to college for their MBAs. Why? What the hell are YOU going to do with an MBA? "Look at me! I've got a suit and an MBA! I'm a young executive!..." You and everyone else -- a world of salespeople trying to sell salespeople. Add to this the fact that every company seems to be taking this new approach to employment whereby the employee makes sacrifices of their own time and sanity and character under the guise of "being a part of the team" and "contributing to the growth of the company."
"Let's turn gaming itself into business (and stick real ads into them while we're at it!) Let's work 50+ hour weeks! Let's sacrifice vacations! If you take on these additional commitments you're helping grow the company and yourself!"
My words can't do this justice. All I can say is: look around. Maybe it's just me, and maybe I'm just whining, but I can't shake the feeling that we're headed downward through a dreary path of revenues and meetings and automation and outsourcing and suits and lot's of other boring crap. I understand the desire to make money and live the life you want, but what the hell is the point if you're going to just turn that life into another boardroom meeting? It's obvious that the "knowledge-based economy" is the wave of the future, but why the hell does it have to be such a bleak landscape?
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