A Call to Reason

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  • hopfrog
    Rookie
    • Feb 2003
    • 22

    #1

    A Call to Reason

    "ASB cursor batting sux...HH rulz you!"

    " HH looks like crap...WSB ownz!"

    I'm sure that you recognize this. These are only two examples of the....(ahem)..wit that seems to pass for rational discourse on some baseball forums recently. That such venom and vitriol can be expended over something such as a baseball game is quite confounding.

    There is nothing at all wrong with discussing the merits of baseball games, nor is there anything wrong with having a favorite game that you play. But when discussion leads into endless bickering over which game is "objectively" the best game of baseball is when the arguments tend to go terribly off course.

    Take batting for example. There are now several different methods being tried in baseball games to represent "real" batting and which fans of those respective games claim to be the "true" way of representing hitting. But what is the "true" way anyway? Ask ten different major leaguers what hitting is all about and you're likely to get a variety of responses. After all, has any sports game achieved "true" authenticity when it comes to performing activities? Is using a power and accuracy meter the proper representation of hitting a golf ball? Or lining up arrows the right way to shoot free throws? The simple answer is that there is really no "true" way of representing hitting, as any video game method of doing so is really just a mere simulacrum of the real thing. As long as there is ambiguity as to how to represent it, there are going to be different methods tried in different games, methods that depend on the programmers view of what hitting is truly like. Similarly, there are methods that will appeal to different gamers as being "authentic", and that elusive quality, "fun". Arguing over a standard that is itself created by the programmers and does not really exist outside the game is an exercise in futility. Some people like cursors, some don't. Calling someone an idiot who doesn't know "real" baseball does not change this. Seriously, if I was to go around praising Coca-Cola and calling people who drank Pepsi "idiots who know nothing about what a real soft drink is like", I would be wearing a jacket with sleeves that tied in the back.

    Basically, the games are made to stand up on their own and really need nobody to wave the flag for them. If you like a game, that should be good enough. If someone prefers another game, that's fine. Do I really care if they are playing "my" game? No, so long as they are having fun. Mature debate is good for the industry and it is a good way of working into the developers minds certain ideas of what we like to see in our baseball games. The issue is whether we can overcome "holier than thou" attitudes and come to an understanding that each game has merits and faults, and that "subjectively", each game is relevantly real, fun, and true to separate people. Instead of "I'm going to have more fun than you because I'm playing the right game", it should just be "i'm having fun".

    Thank you for a forum to entertain these thoughts(some would say trivialities). As Socrates said, " I drank what?"....a little humor never hurt.
    We are Tottenham,
    WE ARE TOTTENHAM,
    Super Tottenham,
    From the Lane....
  • Randor2000
    Pro
    • Feb 2003
    • 849

    #2
    Re: A Call to Reason

    Yeah and these Pepsi Drinking Fools Need To Hear The Truth
    WORLD SERIES OWNZ!!!

    Seriously though you would think some people around here own stock in some of these companies. If Sony went under today, I would buy an XBOX tomorrow. I don't owe any company or software developer a thing. I just wanna play games man.
    Well Said hopfrog
    "We All Have Sizeable Scars"

    Randor's MLB The Show PS3 Wallpapers

    MLB The Show March Madness Mascot Challenge

    Comment

    • Randor2000
      Pro
      • Feb 2003
      • 849

      #3
      Re: A Call to Reason

      Yeah and these Pepsi Drinking Fools Need To Hear The Truth
      WORLD SERIES OWNZ!!!

      Seriously though you would think some people around here own stock in some of these companies. If Sony went under today, I would buy an XBOX tomorrow. I don't owe any company or software developer a thing. I just wanna play games man.
      Well Said hopfrog
      "We All Have Sizeable Scars"

      Randor's MLB The Show PS3 Wallpapers

      MLB The Show March Madness Mascot Challenge

      Comment

      • snaz16
        *p*r*t**n Sp*rts J*nk**
        • Jul 2002
        • 661

        #4
        Re: A Call to Reason

        vitriol:See sulfuric acid.
        Any of various sulfates of metals, such as ferrous sulfate, zinc sulfate, or copper sulfate.
        Bitterly abusive feeling or expression.
        tr.v. vit·ri·oled or vit·ri·olled, vit·ri·ol·ing or vit·ri·ol·ling, vit·ri·ols
        To expose or subject to vitriol.
        sim·u·la·crum

        n. pl. sim·u·la·cra
        (-lkr, -lkr)
        An image or representation.
        An unreal or vague semblance.
        am·bi·gu·i·ty

        n. pl. am·bi·gu·i·ties
        Doubtfulness or uncertainty as regards interpretation: "leading a life of alleged moral ambiguity" (Anatole Broyard).
        Something of doubtful meaning: a poem full of ambiguities.

        I thought I'd pass along the definitions to some of those words,since you'll lose half the posters on this forum


        Comment

        • snaz16
          *p*r*t**n Sp*rts J*nk**
          • Jul 2002
          • 661

          #5
          Re: A Call to Reason

          vitriol:See sulfuric acid.
          Any of various sulfates of metals, such as ferrous sulfate, zinc sulfate, or copper sulfate.
          Bitterly abusive feeling or expression.
          tr.v. vit·ri·oled or vit·ri·olled, vit·ri·ol·ing or vit·ri·ol·ling, vit·ri·ols
          To expose or subject to vitriol.
          sim·u·la·crum

          n. pl. sim·u·la·cra
          (-lkr, -lkr)
          An image or representation.
          An unreal or vague semblance.
          am·bi·gu·i·ty

          n. pl. am·bi·gu·i·ties
          Doubtfulness or uncertainty as regards interpretation: "leading a life of alleged moral ambiguity" (Anatole Broyard).
          Something of doubtful meaning: a poem full of ambiguities.

          I thought I'd pass along the definitions to some of those words,since you'll lose half the posters on this forum


          Comment

          • undertow1969
            Rookie
            • Feb 2003
            • 133

            #6
            Re: A Call to Reason *DELETED*

            Post deleted by Heelfan71

            Comment

            • undertow1969
              Rookie
              • Feb 2003
              • 133

              #7
              Re: A Call to Reason *DELETED*

              Post deleted by Heelfan71

              Comment

              • Heelfan71
                Hall Of Fame
                • Jul 2002
                • 19940

                #8
                Re: A Call to Reason

                keep the smart a$$ comments to your selves guys please.
                My Fan Page http://theusualgamer.net/MyFanPage_Heelfan71.aspx
                Heelfans Blog http://www.operationsports.com/Heelfan71/blog/

                Comment

                • Heelfan71
                  Hall Of Fame
                  • Jul 2002
                  • 19940

                  #9
                  Re: A Call to Reason

                  keep the smart a$$ comments to your selves guys please.
                  My Fan Page http://theusualgamer.net/MyFanPage_Heelfan71.aspx
                  Heelfans Blog http://www.operationsports.com/Heelfan71/blog/

                  Comment

                  • gamer
                    Rookie
                    • Jul 2002
                    • 289

                    #10
                    Re: A Call to Reason

                    All of hopfrog's posts have been very intellectual. I respect this guy and his opinions.

                    Comment

                    • gamer
                      Rookie
                      • Jul 2002
                      • 289

                      #11
                      Re: A Call to Reason

                      All of hopfrog's posts have been very intellectual. I respect this guy and his opinions.

                      Comment

                      • arenas809
                        Pro
                        • Oct 2002
                        • 859

                        #12
                        Re: A Call to Reason

                        didn't one of the mods LOCK this thread before??

                        I thought JRod did...

                        Comment

                        • arenas809
                          Pro
                          • Oct 2002
                          • 859

                          #13
                          Re: A Call to Reason

                          didn't one of the mods LOCK this thread before??

                          I thought JRod did...

                          Comment

                          • Emjay
                            Pro
                            • Oct 2002
                            • 546

                            #14
                            Re: A Call to Reason

                            I think this needs a bdoughty translation.

                            Seriously, I agree with hopfrog. Whether it be baseball, football, hockey, soccer, badminton, jacks or whatever as long as there are two versions of the game, you're going to get the "mine is better you fools". You want to really lose half the posters here? Just tell them that they can't argue the merits of their favorite game.

                            Comment

                            • Emjay
                              Pro
                              • Oct 2002
                              • 546

                              #15
                              Re: A Call to Reason

                              I think this needs a bdoughty translation.

                              Seriously, I agree with hopfrog. Whether it be baseball, football, hockey, soccer, badminton, jacks or whatever as long as there are two versions of the game, you're going to get the "mine is better you fools". You want to really lose half the posters here? Just tell them that they can't argue the merits of their favorite game.

                              Comment

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