While I can see some value in playing and reviewing certain popular games on a console, the target of playing EVERY game on a FAILED console seems more like a Atlas quest unless it's given a specific purpose.
If you listen to Elvis' or Beatles' music, you can note the change in tone from early to mid to end. Playing all the games can give you the same sense: early games are adventurous and unique. Mid games are mature and challenging. End games are sporadic and largely horrible as they scramble to throw everything at the wall, but nothing sticks so they die.
Sometimes digging into the inner struggles of people at the company like the CEO, lead designer, or development team can reveal a lot. The behind-the-scenes politicking inside the company can also reveal why they did what they did which can be just as telling as seeing the results. It's like watching these videos of movies with so much potential lost in development hell by micromanaging production companies and producing lackluster results.
"While I can see some value in playing and reviewing certain popular games on a console, the target of playing EVERY game on a FAILED console seems more like a Atlas quest unless it's given a specific purpose."
My thought process back then for why I wanted to take on all the Sega games was partially exploration, expanding my own gaming palette, followed by an insatiable need to review games and try to make a living from writing.
The internet and the attention economy have broken a lot of would-be “content creators,” I think. No matter what you do, there’s always someone doing it bigger, better, and more attention-grabbingly. And anything you hope to get paid for, there’s always someone giving it away.
There’s nothing wrong with just slowing down and working faithfully at your craft. We can’t all be Mr. Beast (and I suspect those who can are deeply unwell).
I'm sad that it's taken me the better part of a decade to come to the realization you point out ("slowing down and working faithfully at your craft"), but also grateful that I was able to come back to a place where writing is enjoyable again. Took years!
I remember when Sega Does was still new and marveling at the ambition of the project. Really loved all the reviews and hearing you discuss the games with Sam on the companion podcast.
Donkey Kong classics was probably my favorite game growing up and I never saw a copy of Donkey Kong 3. Finally got to play it on an emulator a few years back and my impression was that Nintendo had moved all of their "A" talent to working on Mario -- the graphics were bad, the gameplay was bad, I'd put it in the lower rank of NES games!
Fair enough! If Donkey Kong and Donkey Kong Jr are top-tier for you, then yeah, I can understand that sentiment. Either way, it's strange that the sequel to two of the most successful arcade platformers ever is just a straightforward arcade game, sans the platforming. But dang, I love it!
I appreciate the kind words, Alex. Pretty amazing how, 10+ years later, we’d both wind up on Substack.
I think we’re both producing our best work now, and I’m excited to see where things head, regardless of the number of subscribers coming along for the ride!
By pure happenstance, I met a guy IRL who is doing a very large review project (though one that is much more under the radar than I think Questicle was). Don't want to say more because I don't want to identify him, but my take was that it was having an unhealthy effect on his lifestyle. He was years into and felt he had set out to complete this task, and he seemed to be letting sunk cost fallacy keep him going even after it was no longer close to fun and there were other things in his life he ought to be prioritizing, and his audience has remained tiny throughout. But how could he quit now when he was 40% done?
I think Questicle was a huge accomplishment, and it's honestly still an excellent resource and reference even today. There is absolutely no need to one-up that accomplishment.
It's definitely a hard pill to swallow. You feel like giving up is this shameful thing, but it can actually be quite liberating. I hope that guy you're referring to finds peace.
While I can see some value in playing and reviewing certain popular games on a console, the target of playing EVERY game on a FAILED console seems more like a Atlas quest unless it's given a specific purpose.
If you listen to Elvis' or Beatles' music, you can note the change in tone from early to mid to end. Playing all the games can give you the same sense: early games are adventurous and unique. Mid games are mature and challenging. End games are sporadic and largely horrible as they scramble to throw everything at the wall, but nothing sticks so they die.
Sometimes digging into the inner struggles of people at the company like the CEO, lead designer, or development team can reveal a lot. The behind-the-scenes politicking inside the company can also reveal why they did what they did which can be just as telling as seeing the results. It's like watching these videos of movies with so much potential lost in development hell by micromanaging production companies and producing lackluster results.
"While I can see some value in playing and reviewing certain popular games on a console, the target of playing EVERY game on a FAILED console seems more like a Atlas quest unless it's given a specific purpose."
My thought process back then for why I wanted to take on all the Sega games was partially exploration, expanding my own gaming palette, followed by an insatiable need to review games and try to make a living from writing.
The internet and the attention economy have broken a lot of would-be “content creators,” I think. No matter what you do, there’s always someone doing it bigger, better, and more attention-grabbingly. And anything you hope to get paid for, there’s always someone giving it away.
There’s nothing wrong with just slowing down and working faithfully at your craft. We can’t all be Mr. Beast (and I suspect those who can are deeply unwell).
Good points indeed, Luke.
I'm sad that it's taken me the better part of a decade to come to the realization you point out ("slowing down and working faithfully at your craft"), but also grateful that I was able to come back to a place where writing is enjoyable again. Took years!
I remember when Sega Does was still new and marveling at the ambition of the project. Really loved all the reviews and hearing you discuss the games with Sam on the companion podcast.
Thanks JT!
Just learning about your work for the first time tonight... looking forward to exploring the archives!
I hope you enjoy, although be warned, most of the reviews are quite old and, if I'm honest, embarrassing.
OK you could not be any more wrong about Donkey Kong 3.
Justice for Stanley the Bugman!
Donkey Kong classics was probably my favorite game growing up and I never saw a copy of Donkey Kong 3. Finally got to play it on an emulator a few years back and my impression was that Nintendo had moved all of their "A" talent to working on Mario -- the graphics were bad, the gameplay was bad, I'd put it in the lower rank of NES games!
Fair enough! If Donkey Kong and Donkey Kong Jr are top-tier for you, then yeah, I can understand that sentiment. Either way, it's strange that the sequel to two of the most successful arcade platformers ever is just a straightforward arcade game, sans the platforming. But dang, I love it!
All of those games are old, and many of them embarrassing!
I appreciate the kind words, Alex. Pretty amazing how, 10+ years later, we’d both wind up on Substack.
I think we’re both producing our best work now, and I’m excited to see where things head, regardless of the number of subscribers coming along for the ride!
Agree fully.
By pure happenstance, I met a guy IRL who is doing a very large review project (though one that is much more under the radar than I think Questicle was). Don't want to say more because I don't want to identify him, but my take was that it was having an unhealthy effect on his lifestyle. He was years into and felt he had set out to complete this task, and he seemed to be letting sunk cost fallacy keep him going even after it was no longer close to fun and there were other things in his life he ought to be prioritizing, and his audience has remained tiny throughout. But how could he quit now when he was 40% done?
I think Questicle was a huge accomplishment, and it's honestly still an excellent resource and reference even today. There is absolutely no need to one-up that accomplishment.
It's definitely a hard pill to swallow. You feel like giving up is this shameful thing, but it can actually be quite liberating. I hope that guy you're referring to finds peace.
Thanks for the kind words, Thomas!