Spare us the manipulative metaphors

[Atom Again]

After reading the thread on "Am I the only 3.0 grognard left?" it got me thinking about one of my pet peeves lately.

Why do gaming companies feel the need to manipulate us by using computer and biology metaphors to describe their new editions?

Don't know what I mean? Simple...

Dungeons & Dragons isn't getting a new edition. It's "evolving".

World of Darkness isn't getting a new edition. It's "rebooting".

People who switch to these new editions aren't merely switching. They are "upgrading."

Notice how these metaphors all suggest that the new editions are somehow "superior" to the old? More "highly evolved"? More "powerful"? More "functional"?

And many gamers buy into this crap. They shake their heads at fellow gamers who refuse to "upgrade", to "evolve", to "modernize."

Newsflash: organisms evolve. Games DON'T. Computers get upgrades. Games DON'T.

[RANT OFF]

 

[haiiro]

Dungeons & Dragons isn't getting a new edition. It's "evolving".

What would you prefer this process (getting a new edition) to be called?

(No antagonism here, I'm just curious.)

 

[Mark]

It's called..."spinning"...?

 

[Keeper of Secrets]

I dunno. Game rules (and worlds) seem to be organic documents in the same way that the Constitution is considered an organic document. Though I do know what you mean about being made to feel inferior if you don't upgrade.

 

[Dark Jezter]

I've read many rants in my day. This is one of them.

 

[Atom Again]

I've read many rants in my day. This is one of them.

Did ending with "RANT OFF" tip you off?

 

[rkanodia]

DarkJezter, thank you for making my day.

 

[Atom Again]

What would you prefer this process (getting a new edition) to be called?

(No antagonism here, I'm just curious.)

Why not just "introducing a new edition"?

Newer isn't necessarily better--except, perhaps, in biology and computers. Which is why the marketing gurus manipulate us by using metaphors from those disciplines.

 

[Chainsaw Mage]

DarkJezter, thank you for making my day.

??? How did he make your day? By saying he's heard rants and that was one of them? Is that all it takes to make your day?

Atom Again may be a bit grumpy in how he expressed himself, but his point is perfectly valid. Metaphors DO shape how we think, and when applied to RPGs, it's hard to justify the use of biological and electronic-oriented metaphors.

Do you have something to add to the discussion, or just more cheap shots?

 

[Mark]

"We must move forward... not backwards, not to the side, not forwards,
but always whirling, whirling, whirling towards freedom!" - Kang