The internet is a funny place.  It’s full of entertainment in every nook and cranny, especially the forums and comments sections.  Not since the Sega Saturn/N64 days have I seen so much contempt in the form of video game advocacy.  It’s gotten to the point of disgusting.  It’s Playstation fanboys vs. Xbox fanboys and we are on round 100.  It’s time for the fans of the next generation systems to join hands and fight for what’s really important…the games.

You must understand two things before I go on.  First, the internet is the most powerful tool of the century.  With the internet, you can inform and make change and communicate with millions of people all over the world.  Secondly, you have to understand that us gamers have the power to make change.  WE control the video game industry.  Knowing this can lead you to wonderful things.

I consider myself to be a true gamer.  I play for the games and have no loyalty toward any company or game system.  Crackheads get their crack wherever they can.  If you truly love gaming, then you should try your hardest to get every system that has games that you love.  I was skeptical in the beginning.  Want some quotes?

“I’m not going to buy an Xbox 360 OR a Playstation 3!”
“I’m still enjoying my PS2 and Xbox.”
“They are rushing the new systems out!” 

Today I happily own a 360 and my PS3 should be on my desk in 2 weeks.  I’ve changed my mind because there were games I just had to have.  Why can’t we all think like this?

There is a constant cycle of trash talk that invades our forums and comments boards.  It’s always about who’s gonna win the console war and which system has better graphics.  Name calling usually ensues while some others strengthen their weak arguments by listing the games that will soon come out for their system.  It goes on and on with no resolve.  Of course theirs no resolve because these futile arguments are just rants.  It’s a waste of energy that could be used in a much better fashion.

I do realize that not everyone can afford both a PS3 and a 360.  Brand loyalty DOES exist for good reason.  Hating on another piece of plastic and silicone proves nothing.  It shows that you are jealous, thoughtless, immature and brainless.  Why not take all of that negative energy and use it to make your gaming experience better?  For instance, when you first played Bioshock, didn’t you want all of your friends to play?  Did it matter whether they owned a PS3 or a 360?  If you love a game so much you should be happy that more people get to experience the same enjoyment.  There are millions of 360 owners that would cut off a limb to own MGS4.  If you are a PS3 owner you shouldn’t be upset about this.  Every gamer deserves to play good games.

3rd party exclusives are nonsense.  A publisher gives a developer millions of dollars to keep a game exclusive in hopes that said game will sell more systems or keep more people in their camp.  What this really does is hurt the consumer.  Once a 3rd party title that had a chance to go multiplatform goes exclusive, possibly millions of gamers that can’t afford both systems miss out on great games.  Case in point, Sony bought exclusivity of the first GTA3 games for several years.  Thankfully, Xbox owners eventually got the games too.  If Konami keeps Metal Gear Solid 4 on the PS3, they are losing out on millions of potential sales.  Whether Sony paid them off or not doesn’t matter.  The bottom line is that there is a percentage of gamers that won’t get to play it unless they pony up dollars for both systems.

First party exclusives make sense.  They pretty much separate one system from another.  Halo 3, Super Smash Brothers Brawl and Grand Turismo HD are good examples of this.  However, do you honestly think that if a game like MGS4 goes multiplatform that it will hurt the PS3?  The PS3 has 6 million sold already.  Konami will make their money from PS3 owners.  They also stand to make millions from 360 owners.  No system is going to die out because of a 3rd party game going exclusive.  It’s just not gonna happen.  You have nothing to fear. 

I remember seeing a petition AGAINST Capcom going multiplatform with Devil May Cry 4.  Don’t you think it was in their best interest to go multiplatform?  Don’t you think that they are doing us gamers a service by giving us all access to this great game?  That petition was the epitome of internet ignorance and I can’t even believe it got signatures.

So what SHOULD we be doing to make this industry better for us?  Well for one, each and everyone one of you gamers pays the salary of Nintendo, Microsoft, Sony and all of their 3rd parties.  Without your money, they wouldn’t be where they are today.  It’s the gamers that control the industry and you should exercise that control to it’s fullest extent.  For instance, if you really want to get a game on your system, go straight to the publishers forums and start posting.  If they don’t have forums then find an email address and start sending emails!  Fuck that petition online website.  If you own a 360, then bombard Konami’s website asking for a next gen MGS game.  If you are a PS3 owner, then you make sure EA doesn’t release another Madden game that’s not 60fps!  You can do this because if you don’t buy their game, then they are screwed!  Let your dollars speak loudly and let these companies know that your dollar means a lot!

In order to achieve ultimate control over your dollar, I highly encourage you to stop the flame wars and work together as GAMERS to get the absolute best service and entertainment from this industry that you can.  You work hard for your money and as a united force of Nintendo, Microsoft and Sony GAMERS, you can change this industry for the best.