Interview: Marc Ecko — Responding to "Gamers Are Pissy"
Published March 15, 2006
Aside from the reviews which you touched on before, what was your feeling on the gaming medias coverage overall?
Marc Ecko replies: There has been a wide mix of reviews. I haven't seen such a polarized response in a LONG time, and I take that as a compliment. Some get it, some don't. Just like graffiti or gaming. I'm really proud of the fact that guy like Jeff Gerstmann at Gamespot.com, one of the harshest reviewers out there, got pumped about the game and said great things. Of course I'm disappointed in the ones that lazily classified Getting Up as "yet another urban game" or the guy who claims you can unlock *ecko unltd. clothes. I must have missed that level. But what can I do? It is a game that takes at least 10 or 15 hours to get into. I understand game journalists are swamped and maybe didn't make it that far in.
As far as the media's reaction to my comments, I am grateful that people gave me their ears. I'm rough around the edges and because of that some people heard sweet R&B while others only heard noise. What can I say? That's me.
The showing at E3 didn't seem to resonate with the media at all. Do you think that affected their final thoughts on the game?
Marc Ecko replies: It didn't? Maybe I'm too close to it. Personally, I was very pleased with the showing at E3 and what was written after the fact. I'm not a reporter but it seems difficult for any one game to "resonate" when you're stretched thin trying to take it all in. For anyone who has gone more than a couple times knows, E3 is work and it's hard to focus on walking, let alone games. We were working with unfinished code, and trying to explain what the game was going to be 10 or so months later.
What's your idea of a perfect video game?
Marc Ecko replies: The one we're playing in our heads at Ecko Games. You know I'm going to go all out trying to make it!
Your not the first to the market with a game based around graffiti, so why do you think politicians have pushed for the boycotting of your title specifically?
Marc Ecko replies: Because I'm an easy target, probably. Coming after me guarantees a bit of news coverage. This, like the long list of targeted games that have come before Getting Up, is an over reaction by politicians to the perceived power of gaming. For them to blame gaming for everything that is inherently wrong in our homes, in our schools and on our streets is much easier to do than to actually figure out ways to fix the systemic problems that exist within our culture. And it underestimates the intelligence of the gaming consumer.
Matt Paprocki is the former reviews editor for Digital Press, a video game website with an appreciation for the retro side of the industry. The deep game collection which spans nearly 30 systems and 2,000 games line his walls for research purposes. Matt strives to bring credibility to video game journalism, and take it in a new direction to aid the industry in becoming respected with all forms entertainment media. He currently freelances for GameArgus.com and MultiPlayerGames.com.- Interview: Marc Ecko — Responding to "Gamers Are Pissy"
- Published: March 15, 2006
- Type: Interview
- Section: Gaming
- Filed Under: Gaming: Xbox, Gaming: PlayStation 2
- Writer: Matt Paprocki
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Comments on this articleComments
who is mark ecko?
never heard of him.
I don't know why gamers hate Marc Ecko's Getting Up, but I have seen some fairly strong evidence that many gamers do in fact hate the game rather intensely.
very nice, thanks Matt!
well i live in OZ, (it may as well be a mythical place the damn country is run by a dwarf....) and as soon as this game was anounced in under a week it was banned, i mean if we are going to get in to the whole 'games are evil' thing take this in to retrospect, PACMAN.... ahem (if we are going to get critical here.....) pac man is about a guy/thing that is chased by the fears and taughnts of the world (ghosts) so he turns to a life of drugs to help him cope (pac pills) he eats the pack pills and sudeenly all his problems aren't what they were before, and then as with most drug trips he gets the munchies and eats the ghosts and various other fruit and such around the level..... i'm sorry but that sounds all to much like a good friday night, and how old is that game.... mid 60's i think, and when was the hieght of drugs and so forth... mid 60's i think, hmm there is a pattern there, what i'm saying is i fix computers for a living, and as i by product i love playing games, and after having to aquire this game thru illegal means, (cos its the only way i can get it...) i have to say after seeing a preveiw video of getting up and then playing the game for about an hour or two i have to say this game is not urban and it is not just another gta, and it is not 'dumb' as most of the games are leaning towards ( and by dumb i mean you have to think about certain things that you have never thought of while playing a game before) this game is quite simply put one of the best games i have ever played and if the ban gets lifted i will go out and buy 2 copies because it is that good the gameplay is fresh and instinctive, the levels are very well planned the story and the voice acting is top notch ( take note hollywood) and the graphics are great considering the time at which the engine was started, ( if they get updated with the latest tech you will have a game to surpass all others) i belive that if this is the direction that games are going i will egarly await the next installment by mr marc ecko, yes he has a clothing label and shoes and from what i read a magazine, and god knows what else but he is on a good thing with the games mark, fresha dn innovative 20 out of 10, its about damn time
that game waz bad these haters wish they can make a game like that!!
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Nice interview Matt!
I would agree that the hard-core gamers are fussy or pissy (whatever term you want to use) but I would argue that given the propensity of the game industry to over-hype, over-promise and then ship buggy, below-standard products out, gamers generally have a reason to be pissy. Far too often they've been sold products that, due to the publisher's need to ship or to hit the stores for Christmas, that are poor quality, untested and crash frequently.
Given the reviews I've read, it does'nt sound like Urkel's (sorry, Ecko's) game is buggy or problematic. My guess is that the negative reaction is a knee-jerk response to a). yet another "name" pushing a game onto the market and b). his comments which probably got a small number of hard-core gamers backs' up...who then just couldn't resist trying to spin up some trash talk in response.