Hype: How much is too much?

Written by Jim Squires

Monday, 02 June 2008 05:00

I have a little confession to make: back when I was a teenager I thought I was "too cool" for video games. I know, I know -- nobody can be cooler than Mr. Driller, so who the fuck did I think I was? But still, it happened and there's not much we can do about it. So what turned me around?

There were a few small things that had me dabbling. Ocarina of Time was my foot in the door, and FFVIII got me to buy a PS1. But it was the release of Metal Gear Solid that turned me from mere dabbler into full-time hobbyist. When 2 came out, I loved it (fuck you, confused masses -- it was great.) I snagged up Snake Eater on launch day and played through it with my wife in tow. When the PSP launched, what was the first title I brought home with it? Ac!d of course.

So when word of MGS4 first crept out you can no doubt guess how excited I was. And that excitement lasted, too. From the first suggestion of it at E3 2005 right up until the close of the MGO beta, I was in. But these last few weeks? These last few weeks have been hard. It just seems like everywhere I turn , there it is -- and it's been that way for a year. Big game releases like GTA4 would give us a month off from MGS4 news, but as soon as they were on store shelves the Snake news would just keep sneaking out.

I just don't know if I care about Metal Gear Solid 4 anymore. Will I still be picking it up? Sure -- but I feel so burned out on Snake right that I honestly don't know when I'll be putting it in my PS3.

What about you guys? Has the hype machine killed your interest in MGS4? Did it kill it for other games like Halo 3? Let's talk hype.

Comments (6) Add Comment

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written by Brisk317, June 02, 2008

I look at the hype that surrounds certain games as just the "business" side of video games and I try not to let it affect my take on the games. Games like "Halo 3" "GTA IV" are basically forced down our throats and there can be a blacklash from all the hype claiming that these are the best games ever! But I try and ignore most of this because I don't need an advertising firm to twist my arm to buy these games, and once I have the game I can make my own impressions on them.

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written by Snakes & Patriots, June 02, 2008

I've blocked out all info on MGS4. I know they hype/fanboy hate is out there. But i must have. i turn a blind eye to comments and the hype machine. I wont let it ruin Snakes last grand adventure.

I simply must get my ! on

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written by Tralfaz, June 02, 2008

Same thing happened with me and Final Fantasy right around the time everybody wouldn't shut up about how great XII was. And honestly, it happened to me with MGS around the time MGS3 was being hyped. Enough time has passed though, that I've picked up the MGS Collection to get back into the swing of things and will more than likely be picking up MGS4 sometime this summer, if not at launch (too many other things to play and do).

I guess the lesson here is to just try and ignore any news past what you really want to know: Hey, there's a new MGS game coming out! Woo!

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written by Daniel Primed, June 03, 2008

Yeah I have felt the same way about MGS4 as well. I have read so much into the series and the games that I am just getting sick of waiting. It isn't really that bad I think.

Super Smash Bros Brawl is probably a worse offender and is more akin to what you are talking about. The hype surrounding this game made me so frustrated that I just didn't care anymore.

I think that people need to realistically look at these games. I have a good feeling that MGS4 will live up to expectations for me; someone whom loves the MGS mythology. If other people want to claim other things then that shouldn't concern me.

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written by Ryan Hewson, June 03, 2008

I just selectively read/view. Not so hard to avoid the hype.

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written by TheBBPS.com » From the D, June 12, 2008

[...] sure on some level it has something to do with the hype train that I’d discussed in an earlier post. On an even bigger level it has to do with where I am as an adult. Family begets responsibility, [...]