Welcome
to Isometrics, where the literary look at computer and video games
has kind of languished for several months, much of which will become
clear. I questioned whether I could rightly do the usual end of year
articles given I'd been absent all year. I will explain that further
below, as well as what the Isometrics Awards will look like this
year, however we need to talk about this year. Oh what a year it has
been.
2016
has been a rough year, for many reasons and in many many respects.
The deaths of so many incredible stars, artists and general big names
has left a pall over the year, not just for the number (which in
practise wasn't much bigger than any other year), but for the talent
that has been lost, from the enigmatic creator of Omikron, David
Bowie all the way through to the most recent deaths of bright lights
such as George Michael and Carrie Fisher. Add to that the political
strife throughout the world, most notably in the west, with Brexit
and the US Presidential Election seemingly splitting the UK and
America respectively down the middle in a way that had not been seen
for generations. We are in a world which can feel like it is
spiralling out of control, wild and violent. It leads to panic as we
aren't sure whether this is anything new, some new media created or
at least facilitated typhoon of aggression, fear, uncertainty and
doubt, or whether this is simply a Hobbsian state of nature. The
world can currently like it is controlled by Salvador Dali or Franz
Kafka, and sometimes it can feel easier to seek escape, as dangerous
and damaging the consequences can be.
I
cannot say things aren't so bad, many things are and the evidence and
heartbreaking consequences are a matter for public record. However,
there are glimmers of hope, silver linings of positivity, and a sense
that things can be better, things can be beaten if we all look after
each other. I don't know how much this will matter, but to anyone who
feels they are not listened to, that they are actively being attacked
and told they do not belong, you are welcome here at Isometrics.
Isometrics is about progression, it is about looking at the world
through the odd, fascinating, askew yet recognisable viewpoint of
video games, and this will not change. Ultimately, people should not
be forced to endure and overcome based on their sex, their gender,
their race, their colour, their creed, and while I wish I could do
more, know that you are welcome, you are loved and you belong.
Anyway!
Video games, that's why we're here right? And my has it been a doozy
of a year, stacked to the rafters with a sheer weight of releases. A
lot have been terrible, but they have been drowned out by some
absolutely incredible games, to the point where I have had to extend
by best of list (I've just about got it down to 15) and will be
shrinking the worst list to the 5 most underwhelming and
disappointing games (There are way more bad games, but none managed
to really endure and cause too much pain). Gaming has progressed in
an incredibly positive direction, possibly due to the strife in real
life itself however it means we are seeing beautifully realised
games, the pockets of positivity and progression have begun to
flourish, with games with increasingly diverse and interesting casts,
mainstream games covering issues that simply were outside the scope
and seeming ability of AAA publishing. There seemed to be a maturing
of the medium and realisation that designing games to convey
particular ideas, explore sociological, philosophical and literary
ideas and generally act like the works of literature I constantly
champion them as would not take away games that are fun. This is
something that becomes very clear once you read my list.
It's
not all been good, with all matter of bile being slung, every little
thing seemingly becoming a major twitter scandal for five minutes and
there were still some appalling business practices added to games,
particularly from the usual suspects such as Activision and EA.
However there were less games that seemed to be truly hateful, and
the ones that are seemed to avoid the mainstream for the most part.
Censorship is something of a hot potato, although given that the
biggest anti-censorship advocates seem to only care when it relates
to anime characters flashing, things like Torrential Downpour seemed
to have about as much effect as the old moral crusades of old, namely
boosting success out of spite.
It's
been a weird year, not least for me. I felt like things were going to
change in a huge way by the time March rolled along. Things changed,
but in a way that kept everything in my current situation the same,
except increasingly burned out and less motivated by writing, the
form I have the biggest passion for. I really regret how 2016 turned
out creatively, and a lot of my plans and visions for the year
basically vanished by April, and it took until August for me to even
consider continuing any creative projects. It was not all bad, the
work I did for Get Your Rock Out I love and I hope I can continue,
and Pixel Herstory on Fanny Pack is probably the one column I wish I
could write more of, because the more I research the more awesome
fascinating things I discover. The biggest change of course has come
that I have a new job as a writer, something I'd aimed to do by the
end of this year and actually succeeded at.
I
apologise that I've hijacked this gaming retrospective, but in
practise this was my 2016, and video games were this year, more than
any other an escape and a respite. I firmly believe, since change is
actually happening that this will not be the case going forward. If
it is of any consolation, the Isometric Awards will be as in depth as
possible to make up for lost time. I will only commit to the best and
worst for now, but I will try and do others if I can fit them into a
very hectic January. It stands to reason that Isometrics will be on a
planned hiatus other than the end of year stuff and come back in
February, everything sorted and ready to go.
If you
got this far thank you very much, and here's hoping your 2017 is full
of hope, joy and love, because while war, strife and divide make for
a lot of good games, as you will see, hope, joy and love make for
some of the best games ever.
