INTERVIEW

Interview: Marc Ecko — Responding to "Gamers Are Pissy"

Written by Matt Paprocki
Published March 15, 2006
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To them, this title is the perfect storm, the combination of two artistic mediums - gaming and graffiti - that are widely misunderstand and demonized by older generations. If this were a film or a book, would these same individuals have had an issue? Most likely not. Instead, suddenly people are scared "oh my goodness, there is going to be a graffiti epidemic!" Yeah right.

When was New York City awash in graffiti? The 1970s. The reasons for that are complex, but I can safely say that the graf artists back then were not corrupted by videogames! If a kid wants to learn how to write on the wall, they'll sure as hell figure it out without a PS2 or Xbox. My daughter is three and she does it in my kitchen every day.

I think the whole "games make kids do evil things" is a tired argument. I mean, how many TV news programs about games have begun with this line: "It's not Pac Man anymore..." If this were a book or a film, they wouldn't even bat an eyelash.

This is a story I take great pride in... a celebration of a wildly creative cultural movement...just like gaming.

Thanks, Marc, for your comments!

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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.
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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

#1 — March 15, 2006 @ 20:09PM — Deano [URL]

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.

#2 — March 16, 2006 @ 01:30AM — whatever

who is mark ecko?

never heard of him.

#3 — March 16, 2006 @ 01:55AM — Victor Plenty [URL]

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.

#4 — March 16, 2006 @ 09:15AM — Eric Olsen

very nice, thanks Matt!

#5 — March 20, 2006 @ 23:18PM — justin

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

#6 — July 15, 2008 @ 03:00AM — aaron

that game waz bad these haters wish they can make a game like that!!

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