IGN Made Me Think? About Addiction?

They've done it! It's finally happened! IGN has finally written an article that can't, logically, be seen as pointless drivel. It's actually more of an Op-Ed, but it's one of the better ones that I've seen on the internet, let alone on IGN.
Don't get me wrong. I enjoy IGN's content a great deal and I tend to look to them for my gaming news. It's just that their content is well... Let's think of it like Jim Gaffigan would, "It's all McDonald's. McDonald's for your soul. Momentary pleasure followed by incredible guilt, eventually leading to cancer. 'I'm lovin' it.'"

Anyway!

IGN. Yes. Article.

So, IGN posted an Op-Ed written by IGN Wireless editor Justin Davis. Who?  Yeah. I was unaware of him until now, too. Guess if you don't do the mainstream stuff or scream "BEYOND!" you're not likely to be known on the website, unless you write something with some heart. And this guy did.

Seriously. If you're a person that has come to hate life - aka the 99% - and has come to play video games as a means of stress release and relaxation, then perhaps you should be reading this little tidbit from Mr. Davis. Here is the link!

He basically talks about how video games can be a destructive means of "security" and protection from the outside world. According to Davis video games have a certain level of guaranteed accomplishment; that they give you a feeling that your hard work is paying off. I, for one, cannot see anything incorrect with this logic.

I mean, the basis of video games is to play something entertaining, whether that be manipulating RG3's rookie season in Madden NFL 13, or you're running around a dark version of ancient Greece, killing Gods in God of War. Either way, you're doing it because you want to be entertained, right?  Well, what if you're doing it because you NEED to be entertained? There's a new and troubling way to think about it.

The truth is, you want me on that TV; you NEED me on that TV.

Gaming as an addiction isn't a relatively new viewpoint, but the way that Davis words it - in an "everyday man" sort of way - is a bit more convincing than from a doctor who's never laid a finger on a controller and yet wants to put you down for your evil vice (shame). Personally, I can find a whole lot of things that relate to me recently for why I would use a digital world to escape the shitty one in which I currently reside. And frankly, I don't care.

I'm not running out and buying up every new game every week for $60 a pop. I'm not standing in line for 18 hours waiting for the latest consoles (just bought my first N64 the other day which doesn't work on this craptastic coax port on this TV but that's anotherrantforanotherdayohmyGodmakeitstop!!). I'm not ignoring work, my girlfriend or eating in favor of long term gaming sessions. Well, maybe the eating part if I'm really getting into a game and a I have to turn in a review by a specific time, but that's actually doing work. REGARDLESS. I'm not letting the controllers control me.

Either way, I'd say that if you do have a curiosity into the psyche of a gamer and you'd like to read something that isn't pointless opinion about why Black Ops II is the second coming, I'd suggest reading Davis's Op-Ed.

Examiner blurb!!

Hey, guys.
I know you're desperate to hear my opinion on something soon, but I have nothing at the moment. However, I do indeed want to point you in the direction of my Examiner page, which has been updated with a short blurb about the "Hearthfire" DLC for Skyrim. Check it out!
Here it is!!!



In other news....

Weeee! Pandas!!

You Are a Splinter Cell

Morning, all!

It's Tuesday, so that means there should probably be some posts going on in here again. Today, we're going to try something different. How about not hearing from me for a change, hmm? Okay then. Today's piece is brought to you by @xbmcxbox, or Xbox Softmod. They specialize in softmods on the Original XBOX.

***As a note, Gamer Cents blog does NOT endorse/support the modification, whether hardware or software, and sale of any gaming console - XBOX, 360, PS2, PS3, etc - as it is a breach of the terms of use to either sell these modded systems and/or use them in an online capacity.

However, Gamer Cents is a blog that covers viewpoints on different topics of gaming, modding should not be excluded from that.***

You are a Splinter Cell

The date was October 31, 2006. I remember because I still have the receipt. I had previously gone to GameStop and purchased an Xbox Action Replay Kit. At the time, it cost around forty dollars, but it was worth it for what I had in mind. I was planning to hack my very first game console.

I was fascinated by anything hacking, tweaking, modifying or reverse engineering. The first thing I ever hacked was the T-Mobile Razr, clearing space and customizing files. The discovery in hacking electronics always kept me curious. But I'm not a real hacker; the real hacker is the guy who created the Splinter Cell exploit. I just read and applied like most.

I’m thinking the hacker read the back cover of Splinter Cell and took it seriously. At the top right it states, “You are Sam Fisher. You have the right to spy, steal, destroy, and assassinate to ensure that American freedoms are protected. If captured, the U.S. government will disavow any knowledge of your existence. You are a Splinter Cell.” That was intense! 

Anyhow, I was going for the Splinter Cell Xbox softmod. This quickly struck a chord since I always like software and I was always tweaking my Windows XP every chance I got. Software is where it's at - hardware always came off as tedious to me - so it was cool that I didn’t have to unscrew the Xbox to hack it. Anyhow, I got home with the hardware requirements to softmod the Xbox and this is when I started cracking my head. The difficulty was all in the research. It had seemed as if no one person was capable of publishing a simple softmod tutorial and these days people still write in circles. The lack of simplicity in tutorials is catastrophic. One should take tips from the instructions on the back of a Pop-Tarts® box, like "Step One: remove pastry from pouch." On top of that, there's such animosity on forums; users are so quick to flame you. Just make sure to hold back to block. Eventually I softmodded the Xbox and learned how to install emulators and XBMC. The first game I played was Donkey Kong Country (SNES); I was so amped I think I did a barrel roll.  At the same time I felt like Sam Fisher; I had sneaked my way in and solved the mission. 

At the same time I felt like Sam Fisher; I had sneaked
my way in and solved the mission.

Some time afterwards, I stumbled upon an idea to simplify the softmod process for the newbs. I quickly put it up on eBay, promoting that Action Replay was not required to softmod the Xbox. It did very well and then eBay eventually suspended me. This caused me to branch out, I began a site and instead of Action Replay Kit, I named it the Xbox Softmod Kit. Eventually I would write my own tutorial that was rated "E" for everyone to comprehend. The idea was to help the new comers cut through the forums and obscure information and create a one-stop service to softmod the Xbox.

The Xbox Softmod Kit is still active today with a 3-day rental option and contact support for obscure questions. Needful to say, I created this niche and now there are a few others doing the same. A special thanks to UberDalem from GameBlips forever posting that video tutorial/review and to the one who created the exploit, you are a Splinter Cell.