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 I would just like to send a special shout out to "Weird Al" Yankovic. Today (October 23rd) is his birthday. I encourage everyone to head over to his site and don't hesitate to tell him that EgoAnt sent you.
I know it might be nerdy to say this, but I have the deepest respect for Al. In fact, I think that there are a lot of things about Al that video games should aspire to be when they grow up. (You honestly didn't think you were going to get away without me talking about video games, did you?)
Lets draw some paralells, shall we? First of all, Al's first album was released 22 years ago, in 1983. His self titled album hit right around the big crash of 1983. Although it was a dark time for the video game industry, it also paved the way for a little company named Nintendo to grab a bit of market share in the U.S., and we all know how that turned out.
Anyway, on with the show... Basically over the years Al has continued to maintain a steady balance of both parodies and unique hits, showing his ability to read and manipulate the pop market. He has eleven albums, has made dozens of guest appearances, hosted his own TV specials, and even had his own movie. And to my knowledge he has done it all without resorting to dirty humour, swearing, or even anything terribly offensive! It's actually a little bizarre, but I honestly can't remember ever hearing Al swear.
Other comedians have come and gone, and many of the musicians that Al has parodied are forgotten. And yet if Al were to release an album tomorrow I can guarantee I'd be right there in line to buy it, and I wouldn't be the only one.
I think, in the long run, it's his integrity that has kept him going. He asks for permission to do his parodies, and he tries to keep them accessible to the whole family. These days there are very few video game companies that can claim that. It's something that developers need to consider. Sure, they could make a good chunk of cash by making a gorier, more offensive, version of Grand Theft Auto... But is that business model sustainable? I don't know if it is. Eventually people get tired of shock value products and move on, sometimes they move on to other shock value products, but shock value doesn't win customer loyalty.
I tell you one company that HAS earned my loyalty, Bioware. I know I am jaded because they are a local company, but they are committed to making great games, with intruiging stories and great gameplay mechanics. When I play their games I can feel the care that has gone into every aspect, it doesn't feel like anything was thrown in because it would ship units. It feels like every portion of the game was put in there because it enhanced the experience.
Am I saying that there is no place for the Grand Theft Autos, Mortal Kombats, and Postals of the world? Nope, they all have their place, and are all entertaining in their own way, but twenty years from now am I going to sit back in my chair and regale my children (or grandchildren!) with tales of my digital whore stabbing? Somehow I don't think so, but I guarantee I will look back fondly on Baldur's Gate and Neverwinter Nights.
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