Open Letter to FANBOYS

[Argote]

Copied form : http://www.gamespot.com/features/6128136/p-18.html

Dear Fanboys,

I have a few pieces of advice I want to pass onto you in this GameSpotting. I know that in an age of multiple platforms and a huge amount of games, it can be difficult to remain loyal to one platform or one company. It's a real challenge, and you are all noble and courageous for taking on this quest. I have a few suggestions that I hope you all take to heart. It will help guide you down the path of the fanboy.

GameSpot is the most reliable source for reviews. Except when another publication rates the game you're hyping higher than us. Then that publication is the most reliable source. Until next week, anyway.

A person who owns just one console is inherently less biased than editors at GameSpot who have access to all consoles.

The term "exclusive" is tricky. Its definition changes depending upon whether a hot game appears on your platform or not.

Innovation is what it's called when your console has a unique feature. Otherwise, it's called a gimmick.

Your specific needs are shaped around your platform's features. For instance, if your console doesn't feature HDTV support, then it really wasn't that necessary to have, anyway.

A game that is scored less than a 9.5 on any platform you don't own is called a flop. If it does achieve that score, it's called overrated. (According to the GameSpot rating system, a game rated 8 or above is "great," but we all know that it really means "flop.")

Sales numbers are everything, as long as the numbers are best for your favorite company or console. If that means you have to dig up numbers for sales in New Zealand stores from seven months ago to prove your point, so be it.

Likewise, it is up to you to monitor how companies are doing and report every dip in stock price of manufacturers of other consoles. You're all experts in the fields of economics and finance, so your analyses will always prove correct.

You must realize, that some companies are evil, and some are inherently good. Some companies do it for the money, others do it... so, well, you can brag about them.

Perhaps the most clever thing you as fanboys can do is to come up with derogatory names for competing consoles, such as Xbrick instead of Xbox or FlopStation 2 instead of PlayStation 2.

On message boards, the best way to convey your point is to write in all caps, ignore the rules of grammar, and include lots of "LMAO's" and "LOLs" in your post.

It makes perfect sense to insult a company's lineup one moment and at the same time hope that company will go third party and develop for your console the next.

Playing a game on a different console for ten minutes at a friend's house qualifies you as an expert on that game and console.

You are obviously the most knowledgeable person about hardware. So when you're talking about the difference between CISC and RISC processors, everyone should stop and listen.

A sequel on another console is a "rehash," while a sequel on your console is not; in fact, it's highly anticipated.

Your platform is the best one in existence. Any time you see what might be evidence to the contrary, it's clearly because others are blinded by their idiotic fanboyism.

So you see, dear readers, the best part about being a fanboy is that you can never be proven wrong. As long as you ignore the rules of logic and sensibility, you will never have to worry about whether or not you made a good investment. That sure helps all the insecurity go away, doesn't it?

In the meanwhile, the rest of us will have to go on using our brains to make decisions when it comes to videogames. We will have to actually think about whether or not it's worth it to buy a console based on our needs. We will have to consider forking over more money for a new machine if its games are excellent. We will have to play the best games instead of bash them if they're not on our consoles.

In other words, the rest of us non-fanboys are doomed to a life of playing the best games and enjoying our hobby, while you will have the luxury of being able to ignore the majority of games that come out, because they're not on your console. That is indeed very lucky for you all.

And with that, I must wrap up my letter today. I hope I was able to teach you all a thing or two.

Your Pal,

Adam

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :ninja: :ninja: :ninja: :ninja:

[Veedems Veteran]

I wrote an article like this about browser fanboyism, namely Firefox fanboys. I'm glad people are continuing the fight against blind favoritism and the inability to see something from more than one side.

[vincent]

yup, blind favoritism is as whack as it gets.

[jerry]

One of such fanboys attacked me today, tell me about it. :pinch:

[Andrew Lyle Global Moderator]

I wrote an article like this about browser fanboyism, namely Firefox fanboys. I'm glad people are continuing the fight against blind favoritism and the inability to see something from more than one side.

586129545[/snapback]

fanboyism is getting out of control... like a company can make you so angry from people saying "that system sucks" and make you want to lash back...

all they really need to say is "thats your opinion, and my opinion is blah blah blah".

i see it all the time on here, and i don't fanboy any software, hardware, or anything else. i like both AMD and Intel. i like Xbox, Playstation, and Nintendo. i like Windows and Mac (altho i use windows, and said some dumb things in the passed)

but in the end, i only pick what is gonna give me what i need, eg, performance, appearance, and the best overall experience. i don't fanboy anything, i choose wisely

[Slimy]

one of the best pieces of writings in a long while :yes: thanks for posting it!

[Doli]

I think fanboys wont swallow this...and for once be quite with a "meh" and they wont even post a reply to this.

not that there is anything wrong with that :D

Edited June 27, 2005 by dolimite35

[boygasm]

what exactly is a fanboy?

[oddcrap]

Common sense.. this isn't really news. You just have to expieriment with different software and see which one(s) you like best, rather than going by what people say or review.

[Andrew Lyle Global Moderator]

what exactly is a fanboy?

586129695[/snapback]

exactly as it says...

take Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 for example. people have liked and loved playstation for years, and here comes along the xbox. new and the best system out on the market, and it proves to be the best performer. fanboys will disown this piece of information, and keep worshiping there playstation / nintendo.

same with xbox 360 and playstation 3. the stats are NOT final, and as of right now, xbox 360 appears to be the better performer, and already in production of games, etc...

fanboys will not even think twice of xbox 360, and stick with there playstation.. because of the name. hope that answers your question.

[fAlCoNNiAn]

o nooeeesss, i luv my intel!!!!1111one!111!!!one!! so much better than amd!!11111!! oh gawd, im so 1337!!

sorry had to get that out. nice read, thanks (Y)

[Tech Star]

Nice articall! Fanboyism is getting out of hand....

[emel]

what exactly is a fanboy?

586129695[/snapback]

OMG XBOX360 OWNZ CRAPSTATION 3 ..LMAFO..LOL... :pinch:

[Toastyone]

Every time I think of Fanboys I think of this wonderful comic :D :D

[DirtyLarry Veteran]

What always get's me chuckling is that IMO being a fanboy is exactly like working for a boss that never bothers to learn your name, yet you are still willing to be a "team" player.

[L3thal Veteran]

Beautiful article (Y)

[Argote]

Every time I think of Fanboys I think of this wonderful comic  :D  :D

586129832[/snapback]

Posted that on a thread once and it got closed!!!

[Slimy]

exactly as it says...

take Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 for example.  people have liked and loved playstation for years, and here comes along the xbox.  new and the best system out on the market, and it proves to be the best performer.  fanboys will disown this piece of information, and keep worshiping there playstation / nintendo.

same with xbox 360 and playstation 3.  the stats are NOT final, and as of right now, xbox 360 appears to be the better performer, and already in production of games, etc...

fanboys will not even think twice of xbox 360, and stick with there playstation.. because of the name.  hope that answers your question.

586129709[/snapback]

you realise that your post was also biased? people don't just care about the specs.

[kaffra]

GameSpot is the most reliable source for reviews. Except when another publication rates the game you're hyping higher than us. Then that publication is the most reliable source. Until next week, anyway

Great article, but i dont think Gamespot reviews are that reliable. Am i a fanboy?:x

[jerry]

Great article, but i dont think Gamespot reviews are that reliable. Am i a fanboy?:x

586130578[/snapback]

If your opinion is not driven out of love/hate of a particular game/console then no. :p

[Denis W. Veteran]

Every time I think of Fanboys I think of this wonderful comic  :D  :D

586129832[/snapback]

^ LMAO. Great comic!

He nailed it right on the spot. This kinda reminds me of how I felt back in November 2004 (and the hype around the Xbox game that came out then). The fans call it 'anticipated.' Everyone else just called it '1.5' or a rehash.

Great article, but i dont think Gamespot reviews are that reliable. Am i a fanboy?

586129832[/snapback]

Of course not. This scenario comes to mind:

"IGN gave XXXXXX 9.9. But Gamespot sucks ass, they gave it 9.1."

For the aforementioned game, this happened numerous times. Just because it was given a 9.4 people that I knew bitched about that, while other sites gave it a near perfect score. My response: SO WHAT?!

[mufdvr3669]

exactly as it says...

take Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 for example.  people have liked and loved playstation for years, and here comes along the xbox.  new and the best system out on the market, and it proves to be the best performer.  fanboys will disown this piece of information, and keep worshiping there playstation / nintendo.

same with xbox 360 and playstation 3.  the stats are NOT final, and as of right now, xbox 360 appears to be the better performer, and already in production of games, etc...

fanboys will not even think twice of xbox 360, and stick with there playstation.. because of the name.  hope that answers your question.

586129709[/snapback]

Here's a nice example of a fanboy not even realizing he's being a fanboy. :whistle:

[Objexxx]

^^ My thoughts EXACTLY. :whistle:

[nav1]

Common sense.. this isn't really news. You just have to expieriment with different software and see which one(s) you like best, rather than going by what people say or review.

586129688[/snapback]

Well, like my mom says, "common sense is the least common of all senses". I personally think there is nothing wrong with favoring one console or brand if you truly are convinced that that particular company is the one that fits your particular needs, given that you've tried the others, and as long as you are aware that that's your opinion and you have to respect other people's.

[ms998]

Here's a nice example of a fanboy not even realizing he's being a fanboy.  :whistle:

586130609[/snapback]

I don't agree - all that was said was definition of fanboy - support whatever platform they have to the detriment of all other options.

People should buy the console that has the best specification together with the best line up of games. I haven't followed much of the console was but from what I've read the X-box spec is more well known n and has a line up of games. This is compared to a PS which is not yet finalised and fewer games announced.

I could however have interpreted his comments incorrectly :p

and before anyone says say - No - i'm not a fanboy - I don't even own a console and never have