WCG Ultimate Gamer: A Non-Review

This article isn’t really a review of Sci-Fi channel’s newest reality show, but more of a criticism of how the world of television sees video games.  Since WCG Ultimate Gamer is one of the only shows that I know that is about video games, it had my curiosity. Too bad it wasn’t a better attempt.

WCG Ultimate Gamer showcases twelve gamers competing to compete. The winner will represent the WCG at worldwide competitive gaming events including the 2009 Grand Final in China. So technically, they have to win this reality show and the Grand Final to be the Ultimate Gamer. So basically, the whole title is a lie. By the way, the winner will also get $100,000.

This show doesn’t really care about gaming, but it is just another excuse to get another needless reality show on air. The game follows all the conventions of a reality show as it puts these characters under one roof for some odd reason or another.

Why in the world would a fair and unbiased competition put all the competitors in the same room? There is only one explanation: to intensify the non-existent drama. Common sense has shown that if you stick twelve mice in one small space, and then shake the cage, there will be fights. Nonsense has shown us that it is fun to watch tiny furry creatures beating each other up.

I mean, if this is supposed to be a fair competition, then these people shouldn’t be in the same room where they can develop personal angst against each other. Maybe the next Olympiad should have all the contestants of an event stay in the same room before they go out on the field to compete.

Of course, they have the stupid shots where they show something happening, and then they show a contestant talking about it. Those of you who love reality shows will probably think it is more of the same, and those who love video games will not find it complementary to gamers or the gaming industry at all.

Granted, they didn’t show gamers as the traditional stereotype: the overweight man-who-won’t-grow-up living in his parents’ basement. Instead, they went out of their way to find attractive people in good physical shape.

Well, even though I’m saying that this isn’t a review, I am saying that I believe that video games deserve more of spotlight on television than this. I’m not the type who believes that gaming will always be a geek thing. It is widely known that many professional athletes play video games on their downtime, and not just the sports-related ones like Madden. Games like Guitar Hero and Rockband have shown how games can turn geeks to rock gods, overnight.

If you are going to do a show about people playing video games, then shouldn’t most of the action be devoted to the game itself? After all, when you watch a football game, ninety percent of what you see is the players on the field, and ten percent showing the reality behind it. On this WCG Ultimate Gamer, it is just the opposite.

Wouldn’t it have been better if the show was about the gaming? Maybe that’s just not as interesting, like the last scene at the end of The Wizard. By the way, that film was just one big ad for Nintendo.

How about this? Maybe they could do the show around a group of people playing an MMO game. Just make sure it is ninety percent gaming, and less than ten percent about their personal lives.

So here’s how it is: don’t give us drek like The Ultimate Gamer, but something that treats video games, gamers, and the gaming industry with a modicum of respect.