Critical Failure: When Criticism Becomes Activism Part 1 Dean Takahashi Vs. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare
Written By TonyTGD
Let me start off by saying you can criticize anything. You can criticize things I like, things I hate, things I agree with, and things that I object. I have absolutely no issues with anyone having a difference of opinion on any subject, even those I feel exceptionally strong about. Am I being clear enough? I feel like I am being clear enough. With that said, we need to talk about the current trend in video game journalism to push past mere criticism and right into activism. You see, it is fine to say a game is too violent, sexual, long, expensive, or any other adjective you feel like slapping on it but it is another thing to call for the removal or change of something you don't like in a game. You see, when you go from simply giving your opinion to telling a developer what to do or asking your fans to do that then you have become nothing but a hack activist.
Now, I'm sure you want an example of what it is I am implying and lucky for you I have come prepared. Today's topic is the ever impressive Dean "The Pigeon Machine" Takahashi and his grievence with Call of Duty: Modern Warfare. Dean is impressive because I honestly believe he is the kind of person that needs instructions on his wet-naps package. For those out of the loop, Dean "the Pigeon Machine" Takahashi is the "journalist" who was unable to pass the tutorial for Cuphead, despite instructions being visible on the screen, even though a pigeon was able to do it. Now, Dean recently wrote a piece on the newest installment of Call of Duty, the recently announced Call of Duty: Modern Warfare. That is not a typo, it really has the same name as the first Modern Warfare game. Anyway, within three sentences Dean questioned whether or not Modern Warfare should even be made. Well excuse the shit out of my goddamn French but who the fuck is Dean Takahashi to question whether or not a developer has the right to make a video game the way the want to make it? No one, that's who!
Now, Dean goes on to mention the recent financial woes of Activision but make no mistake this isn't because Dean is worried about the company or looking to inform the reader of what is riding on the release of Modern Warfare. No, it is to remind Activision all they have to lose should they choose to go ahead with this game as is and not bend the knee to Dean's sensibilities. It is all part of Dean's activist push to stop this game from being made. Dean goes on to bitch and moan about the game no longer being black and white, but featuring a war in shades of grey. He whines that the characters are so realistic that you might mistake people playing the game for people watching a movie, which is goddamn ridiculous because as good as the graphics are in this game only someone with a vision issue of the brain of a toddler would mistake gameplay footage for real people. Dean does, or he pretends to, in order to hammer home his point that the game is just too real to be made. Think of the poor children who won't realize they put the controller down and start to mow down innocents at the local mall!
After crying about a scene involving domestic terrorist and civilians and another involving you playing as a young girl Dean makes a mealy mouth claim that he doesn't want the game censored or the developers to self censor themselves, no Dean just wants to know if such a game should even be made. His reasoning being just because we can do something doesn't mean we should. Well Dean, and all the wannabe Deans out there, just because you can slam your paws on a keyboard and pump out activist crap pretending to be fair and honest games journalism doesn't mean you should.
Dean ends the farce of an article by reiterating his objection to this game being made, or at least shipping with the offending scenes still in them. You see, Dean, and people like Dean, don't want to take your video games away they simply don't want them to be made. Look, the bottom line is not every game is for everybody. Not every game will appeal to everyone and that is okay because you are under no obligation to buy every damn game that comes out. It's perfectly fine not to like certain things but the second you try to use your position as an "authority" on video games to force a game to conform to your beliefs then you no longer deserve to call yourself a games journalist and you drag down the public's opinion of actual good video games journalist. As always. feel free to comment, like, share, tweet, or whatever other thing you kids do on your social media these days.
*All images are owned by their respective copyright holders and are used under fair use guidelines
Now, I'm sure you want an example of what it is I am implying and lucky for you I have come prepared. Today's topic is the ever impressive Dean "The Pigeon Machine" Takahashi and his grievence with Call of Duty: Modern Warfare. Dean is impressive because I honestly believe he is the kind of person that needs instructions on his wet-naps package. For those out of the loop, Dean "the Pigeon Machine" Takahashi is the "journalist" who was unable to pass the tutorial for Cuphead, despite instructions being visible on the screen, even though a pigeon was able to do it. Now, Dean recently wrote a piece on the newest installment of Call of Duty, the recently announced Call of Duty: Modern Warfare. That is not a typo, it really has the same name as the first Modern Warfare game. Anyway, within three sentences Dean questioned whether or not Modern Warfare should even be made. Well excuse the shit out of my goddamn French but who the fuck is Dean Takahashi to question whether or not a developer has the right to make a video game the way the want to make it? No one, that's who!
Now, Dean goes on to mention the recent financial woes of Activision but make no mistake this isn't because Dean is worried about the company or looking to inform the reader of what is riding on the release of Modern Warfare. No, it is to remind Activision all they have to lose should they choose to go ahead with this game as is and not bend the knee to Dean's sensibilities. It is all part of Dean's activist push to stop this game from being made. Dean goes on to bitch and moan about the game no longer being black and white, but featuring a war in shades of grey. He whines that the characters are so realistic that you might mistake people playing the game for people watching a movie, which is goddamn ridiculous because as good as the graphics are in this game only someone with a vision issue of the brain of a toddler would mistake gameplay footage for real people. Dean does, or he pretends to, in order to hammer home his point that the game is just too real to be made. Think of the poor children who won't realize they put the controller down and start to mow down innocents at the local mall!
After crying about a scene involving domestic terrorist and civilians and another involving you playing as a young girl Dean makes a mealy mouth claim that he doesn't want the game censored or the developers to self censor themselves, no Dean just wants to know if such a game should even be made. His reasoning being just because we can do something doesn't mean we should. Well Dean, and all the wannabe Deans out there, just because you can slam your paws on a keyboard and pump out activist crap pretending to be fair and honest games journalism doesn't mean you should.
Dean ends the farce of an article by reiterating his objection to this game being made, or at least shipping with the offending scenes still in them. You see, Dean, and people like Dean, don't want to take your video games away they simply don't want them to be made. Look, the bottom line is not every game is for everybody. Not every game will appeal to everyone and that is okay because you are under no obligation to buy every damn game that comes out. It's perfectly fine not to like certain things but the second you try to use your position as an "authority" on video games to force a game to conform to your beliefs then you no longer deserve to call yourself a games journalist and you drag down the public's opinion of actual good video games journalist. As always. feel free to comment, like, share, tweet, or whatever other thing you kids do on your social media these days.
*All images are owned by their respective copyright holders and are used under fair use guidelines
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