Game Hits Gamestore

02/13/00

Are you Biased, or are you a Biased Ass?

When you work and play in the field of Video Games as long I have, you basically find that your colleagues consist of two types of people: those are are biased, and those who are biased to the point of ignorance and annoyance, which I will hereafter refer to as "biased asses".

There is no such thing as a non-biased person. Everyone has their preferences: their likes and their dislikes. This will make anyone biased toward one thing, and against another. There isn't anything wrong with that. Our opinions and our tastes make us who we are. Just think how BORING everything would be if we all agreed with each other about everything. The most interesting writers and reviewers in the gaming industry, and all others, are those with a fresh perspective, that make you think about what they say.

Now, a "biased ASS", AKA "Fanboy", on the other hand, is someone who is biased for the wrong reasons. Someone who generalizes and places a final verdict on something without giving it a fair chance, and sometimes no chance at all. This type of person is usually the kind that will make a total idiot out of themselves in a forum, or spout inappropriate views nobody around them asked for. They are usually closed-minded, self-conscious, and narrow viewed little twits, that have a very hard time conceiving JUST how narrow their views really are.

I'm going to cite a few examples of Biased ASS behavior. If you are guilty of any of these (I know I am), it doesn't mean you're beyond hope. Just make sure you check yourself, and do what you can to make sure your bias is justified, and considerate.

Biased ASS Behavior checklist:

A B.A. HATES something because of who created it. I.E. "Crazy Taxi SUX because Sega made it. Everything they do is CRAP." That's NO reason to dislike something. I don't like Sony's business practices, but it doesn't mean I hate all their games.
Opposite spectrum: A B.A. LOVES something because of who made it. I.E. "Everything Squaresoft does RULEZ!" (You'll find that biased asses use the terms "rulez" and "Sux" a bit too often, besides usually having a major deficiency when it comes to correct spelling and grammar) Blind loyalty is okay in moderation, but too much of it doesn't mean you don't HAVE a brain, only that you're not using it.
A B.A.'s game playing system of choice "RULEZ". Everything else "SUX". I understand COMPLETELY that not everyone has the funds, the space, or the desire, to own all game systems. But that just doesn't justify bashing the ones that you don't have. That's Generalizing, and trying to convince yourself you did the right thing. If you have fun with what you've got, YOU MADE THE RIGHT CHOICE. Simple as that. No need to feel insecure.
A similar case: Computer game players vs. Console game players. To say you PREFER one or the other is fine. To say that all computer, or all console games SUCK because you prefer the other kind, is Biased ASS mentality.
A B.A. will ALWAYS use system specs in their arguments, usually in the wrong context. "PS2 is more better 'cuz it's got more bittage" (actual quote from a moronic newsgroup message) is in NO WAY a compelling argument to ANYONE that actually knows anything about game systems. Real game players know that specs mean next to NOTHING. The games and the amount of fun you have with them means ALL. Of course, I'm fairly convinced that most B.A's aren't CAPABLE of having fun with a game anyway. They're too busy complaining (Hey! I'm generalizing!).
A B.A. will praise, or scorn a system or a game even if they haven't seen it yet. I have NOTHING good or bad to say about the Playstation 2. You know why? 'Cause I haven't SEEN IT YET!!! There goes that "Single system/brand name" loyalty crap again. Totally alien concept to me, 'cause I go where the games are.
A B.A. will quote game magazines word for word, whether it's positive or negative. I'm sorry, but I don't really trust using someone else's opinion as my own. I may agree with what a reviewer says once I see the system/game I'm reading about for myself, but until then, I take most people's views with a grain of salt. I suggest you do this with Geeky's and my reviews as well.
A B.A.'s tastes are the ONLY THING that matters. In the Sega forums lately, I keep reading posts from this IDIOT who claims that Resident Evil: Code Veronica is better than ANYTHING. Better than Dead or Alive 2 (not out yet: see B.A. point number 6), better than Shenmue, better than Crazy Taxi. Now, I'm not bashing RE:CV at all. I'm sure it's fantastic (and I have seen enough of it to at least make a quick assumption). But comparing this, basically an action/adventure game, to a fighting game, a free-roaming RPG (best way I can think of to describe Shenmue), and a Driving game? Different Genres, different tastes, different strokes. How can a game be better than something that it's not comparable to? These thoughts can only exist in the mind of an ignorant, biased ASS.
To back up their claims, B.A's will state rumors as facts, and blow stuff WAY out of proportion. Recently, there has been a (proven FALSE) rumor that the PS2's DVD player capabilities would lack certain features, such as closed-captioning, and subtitling. Of course, more than one Biased ASS has to scream about this as fact. Not only is this petty, but it makes you look REALLY stupid when you're proven WRONG. Then there are the biased asses that bitch about all the defective Dreamcasts and games, and other things in that vein. If you listen to these nimrods, you'd think ALL the systems are defective. I know of at least 10 that aren't...
Only a B.A. would ask, or claim to know the answer to "what is the Greatest game EVER?" Real players know that there's no such thing. It's all individual taste. Your favorite current game is not someone else's, and it most likely won't always be yours either. Before you ask, or answer this question with something like "Zelda 64!!!", have some consideration for your fellow gamer.
B.A's will almost ALWAYS spout their opinion where they're not appropriate. People who go to Sega forums and say "SEGA SUX PS2 RULEZ" are not only biased asses, they're also ignorant fanboys in need of a life. Another example of this that I can think of is one time when I was waiting in line at Best Buy, and there was a couple buying a Nintendo 64 in front of me. This Best Buy Blue Shirt Biased Ass (B.B.B.S.B.A) goes out of his way to run up there and tell them they're making a mistake buying the N64, and that the PSX is WAY MORE BETTER!!!! Did this couple ASK for this moron's opinion? NO! Mind your own business, Fanboy. At least Game Hits doesn't have anyone like that (if they do, point 'em out to me, and I'll smack them for you. What? Smack myself?)
The final, and perhaps the most ironic point. B.A's will swear up and down that they're "not biased". Like I said at the beginning of this rant, EVERYBODY is biased! I am, you are, everybody is! Some B.A.'s will claim they own all the systems (some do, some don't), so they can't be biased. Well, you have a favorite system or game, don't you? THEN YOU'RE BIASED! Really, it's not that hard to understand.

Well, that's my list. I'm certain ALL of us are guilty of at least one of these things (like I said, I know I am), but all you really have to do is realize it, and try to check yourself (I do constantly). It's only my opinion, but I think that this world needs more biased, but reasonable, people and less Biased Asses. Be what you will.

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