Next Generation of Video Gaming?

Video Games

I find myself wondering following the release of the PS3, XBox360, and
Wii; if the "next generation" of gaming is really an improvement to the
video game world.  I ask myself this because (while I concede that video
games are indeed more popular and entertaining now than they ever
were before) it seems as though these new video games are turning even
the casual gamer into technology dependant addicts.  

It used to be that video games were for kids.  As a disclaimer, I do
understand that the earliest gaming systems weren't exclusively for kids,
but they also had spotty popularity as well.  It wasn't until Nintendo
(NES) that video games really came into the mainstream in the United
States.  As a kid, I grew up with NES, and I remember racing home to
play Contra (anyone else still remember "up, down, up, down, left, right,
left, right, b, a, b, a, start" by heart?) and Super Mario Brothers 3 with
my brothers after school.  It was a social activity and a bonding activity
for my brothers and I.  Now, a couple decades later, with Nintendo
Entertainment System just a fond memory, I consider modern day video
games and all the "great improvements" that have come with
advancements in computer technology...      

I purposefully put quotes around great improvements, because while no
one (including myself) can argue that video games and consoles haven't
taken leaps and bounds within the past 20 years, one can argue that the
leaps and bounds taken are not the best thing for human development
and sociability.

One of the single most groundbreaking (and therefore profitable) improvements to video game consoles was the addition of online gaming 
capability which allows gamers to play multi player games without actually
knowing anyone they are playing with.  One of the largest draws (at least
initially) of console gaming systems was that they were actually more fun
with more people playing them.  In the early days, if you wanted to play
video games by yourself, you usually stuck to computer gaming.   Now, 
you can play any game by yourself and have approximately the same 
experience (by playing online) as you would if you had a bunch of friends 
over.

Is this really an advancement in video gaming?  Previously, if you had a
really cool multi player game, and none of your friends were available,
you'd probably find something else to do with your time.  You'd go
outside, spend time with family, read, etc.  Now, there is no reason to
ever leave your video game console, because there is an unlimited supply
of gamers ready to play (at any time) online.  While this obviously makes
the video game manufacturers and system developers more money
(because it keeps you using their product), is it really a good thing?

When do we realize as a country (or civilization) that sometimes
technology makes life easier, and other times it acts as a crutch that 
keeps us from truly living life?  When will we realize that sometimes it's
better to go outside and actually play tennis or golf, rather than just 
simulating it on a t.v.?  Where will America's athletes and musicians 
come from if the people who love sports and music just simulate their 
talents on video game systems rather than "getting out there and doing?"

Only time will tell what the future and further development of gaming 
has in store for us, but based on the current progression, I highly doubt
that it will include nature, the outdoors, or real personal interaction.  
Then again, who knows?... Maybe the current trends of technology are
just a sign of things to come.  Maybe the future of our civilization is
that of online connection and interaction...

Times do change, but it just makes you wonder... Do we change the
times?  Or do the times change us?

Next Generation of Video Gaming?

Ross McKeon - Does he even follow the NHL?

NHL

Ross McKeon.  

Anyone who follows hockey and frequents Yahoo! Sports is most likely
familiar with Mr. McKeon... He writes columns, articles, and blogs on a
quite regular basis pertaining to recent events in the NHL.  He gives
opinions on players and teams, and makes predictions.  Where he gets
his expertise, I'll probably never know... but what I do know, is that half
the time when I read his material, I think to myself:  "is this guy drunk,
or does he just always have problems using logic?"

Now don't get me wrong, I'm no hockey Guru by any means... but I do
understand the sport in great detail, and more importantly, I understand
the players (their strengths and weaknesses) and how those strengths
and weaknesses play a role inteam strategy... something Mr. McKeon
seems to overlook regularly despite his well established position.

To quote a passage of McKeon's recent article "Red Wings an
Unstoppable Force" (Posted May 19, 2008):

"When is the last time an opponent enjoyed success on the power play
against the Red Wings? It’s not just a matter of luck. Watch how
Detroit plays short-handed. No other team in the league is as aggressive
up the ice as the Wings.  They make opponents work for every inch of
ice even on the power play.

Detroit routinely sends a forechecker deeper than any other team when
short-handed.  The result? A rushed pass here, a poor decision there,
regrouping and wasted time in the power play. Oh, and short-handed
chances."

No one can debate the fact that the Detroit Red Wings have played 
boring, defensive hockey all season long.  They allowed very few goals 
during the regular season and often allowed fewer than 20 shots on goal a 
game.  Big deal.  They weren't playing against the Pittsburgh Penguins all 
season were they?  For that matter, the Detroit Red Wings and the 
Pittsburgh Penguins did not play each other even once during the 
2007-08 regular season.

What makes Mr. McKeon think that Detroit (or even Pittsburgh for that
matter) would dominate this series after both teams have shown
proficiency at overcoming whatever obstacle they are faced with so far
this postseason?

Detroit's penalty kill is aggressive and can create turnovers.  Pittsburgh's
powerplay is equally as effective though.  To say that Detroit will stifle
Pittsburgh's powerplay solely because the Red Wings contained Dallas',
Colorado's, and Nashville's powerplay units is just plain asinine
considering that Pittsburgh's powerplay outpreformed all three of these
teams by a wide margin during the regular season.  

Why when suggesting that Detroit's forwards are good at causing
shorthanded turnovers, did Mr. McKeon forget to mention that
Pittsburgh's defenders who handle and pass the puck do so better than 
almost anyone in the league?  There is a reason Sergei Gonchar had 46 
powerplay points this year, and it isn't from turning the puck over on the 
powerplay.  

Ross McKeon should give credit where credit is due.  To suggest that after 
dominating the competition throughout all stages of the playoffs thus far,
either team would suddenly forget how to play hockey just because a 
couple of old guys (or young guys - depending on the team) are skating on 
the same ice is them is ridiculous and appalling.  This series will last at 
least 6 games, because neither team played this well and came this far to 
lose any sooner than that.

Ross McKeon - Does he even follow the NHL?

2007-08 Stanley Cup Finals (Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Detroit Red Wings)

NHL

Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and the Pittsburgh Penguins are done
waiting for the Western Conference (and the rest of the league)
to catch up with them.  They will begin their final seven game series of 
the playoffs against the Detroit Red Wings this Saturday (May 24, 2008).  
The Detroit Red Wings eliminated the the Cinderella Dallas Stars in six
games for the chance to face Pittsburgh for the 2007-08 NHL 
Championship and the coveted Stanley Cup.

Detroit comes into the championship series with a stellar 12-4 record
and home ice advantage, but one can't help thinking they are huge
underdogs in this final series.  Pittsburgh has only lost 2 games so far in
the playoffs (and doesn't have more than one loss to any single
opponent); and has not been phased by last year's eastern conference
champions (Ottawa Senators), the 2007-08 season leader in shutouts 
(Henrik Lundqvist of the New York Rangers), or the tough play of the
Broadstreet Bullies (Philadelphia Flyers).

These cold weather birds have faced nearly everything that professional
hockey has to offer from gritty back checking, to free-wheeling finesse
forwards, to stingy goaltending.  I cannot think of anything that the
Detroit Red Wings can throw at them that they haven't already seen,
and thoroughly conquered already during the playoffs.

What does Detroit have that can counter the balance and outright skill of
this Pittsburgh team?  Well, Detroit's fans are some of the best in the
sport, and they do have many players with years of playoff experience
and an amazing defensive core.  Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg
are two of the most gifted offensive talents in the game, and Detroit
does also have some amazing defensive grit in their forward core as well.

At the end of the day though, I'm not sure that all of Detroit's positives
will equal a Stanley Cup victory.  All the grit, offensive talent, and 
defensive experience in the world would still have trouble stopping 
Crosby, Malkin, Marion Hossa, and company right now.  They seem to
have that chemistry... that "something extra."  The air just seems to
blow their direction... The ice seems smoother and faster for them...
Their equipment seems lighter and less cumbersome... It seems as
though the Pittsburgh dynasty has begun.

Only time will tell what happens with these playoffs, but as for me, I'm
predicting that Pittsburgh wins in 6 (with some very entertaining and 
high-scoring games thrown in the mix).

2007-08 Stanley Cup Finals (Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Detroit Red Wings)

First Post - Welcome!!!

Welcome to my new blog!  This is the first post, so I just wanted to go on record before anything else, saying thanks for your interest!

First Post - Welcome!!!