I doubt it will have the earth shattering impact of "Top Ten Games Every Gamer Should Own", but I'm hoping that this week's Cracked LCD Countdown manages to at least take out a few major metropolitan areas.
I wanted to go through and lay out my ten biggest grievances about hobby gaming, the industry, and the community. I "bitch" a lot, but it's because I think we can do better. "We" meaning everyone involved in hobby games at every level. Sorry, I'm not just not one of these people who thinks that as long as there's a fun new game out for me to play that everything is going just fine or that gaming is doing all it can or should be. I want more.
So this is intended as constructive criticism, but undoubtedly feelings will be hurt and sensibilities upset. That would register as a "mission accomplished" on my end, because as far as I'm concerned it's that whole cracking eggs to make an omelet deal.
Is hobby gaming doomed? No. Is it a failure as a medium? No. But there are at least ten bitch-worthy things going on that by jingo I'm going to rant and rave about until something changes...or I grow a beard, and wind up with the ol' sandwich board strolling through Gen Con to proclaim the end.
Michael is a member of the Fortress: Ameritrash staff, and a regular columnist for Gameshark.