Only Fools Fight in the "Console War"

It's hard to be a gamer and not see the people around me bickering over gaming systems and developers. Everywhere I look on the internet, it seems that gamers are too busy arguing like children over which console is better to actually have the time to use the console they seem to pray to. It's almost impressive to see how little most of these console fanboys know about their own beloved product, randomly spewing out facts they know little nothing about. On top of that, it is beyond me why gamers would argue over gaming rather than enjoy it together as a community. I remember in 7th grade when I would get in console arguments. Of course I didn't know any better, being about 13, but to see two grown men arguing between next gen consoles makes me sad not only for the faith in humanity, but for the future of gaming. 

It's a bit unfair to only pick on consumers in this "War" with no purpose. With all of these companies recently doing unbelievably stupid things, it makes me frown and wonder what goes through CEO's heads. Between EA, Microsoft, and Machinima all paying people off to support the Xbox One, developers forcing consumers to always be connected to the internet to play single player games, micro transactions for necessary content, the failure of the Xbox One announcement, the Playstation Move (a bandwagon jump-in for motion gaming)... It's hard to say I'm proud to be a gamer with my brethren yelling at each other next to me like livid animals, all the while the companies making my games and consoles trying to screw me over. 

But don't worry, dear readers. All is not lost. There are bunkers in the gaming war zone, those bunkers being mobile gaming, PC gaming, Nintendo gaming, and smartphone gaming. Yes, I'm aware there is still a console feud within mobile gaming devices, but it's way more civil and way less frequent than the big consoles. Yes, I know there are many people who post "PC Master Race" jokes on Reddit and Facebook. Yes, I am aware Nintendo is a big time gaming company, but these Console War soldiers simply laugh and scoff at the idea of Nintendo, even though that company revolutionized gaming more than any other gaming company still out there. And finally, yes, I know many don't even consider smartphone gaming to be "real" gaming, but this is a new avenue for game developers, especially for people getting into the industry fresh and new. All of these little things are still ways to get away from the heated and vicious "Console War."

Gamers, please. I know you have it in you, all of you. You guys need to cease fire for a second and think about what you're really doing. I dream of a day Halo players will stand side by side with Uncharted players in a fight not against each other, but against the real enemy. Soccer moms, the Chinese and Australian government, and everyone else who hates the joyous and awesome gift of video games. When we unite, then it will be impossible for developers and big companies to screw us over, as WE will control how we play, not them. 

Call a truce. Let us hold our controllers, mice, smartphones, and portables in the air. Unite as the group of zombie slaying, grenade throwing, coin collecting, XP farming, car racing, and barrel jumping gamers we are.

Originality is Dead in The Music Scene

I wrote an editorial on my personal blog that everyone should read with an open mind. It's called, Originality is Dead in The Music Scene.

The point I’m trying to make with this editorial is that band’s should be writing original music. It’s understandable if you have influences and wanna pay homage to them. Ripping them off is a completely different story.