We’re all on drugs right now. Maybe yours are genuinely medicinal so that you can cope with various ailments, or maybe your substance of choice is more metaphorical in nature. Whatever the method for consumption or the item in question, we’re all regularly injecting something between our toes so that we can get some sort of high.
Do video games count as a drug then? Well they’re certainly addictive, they can bend your mind and they can be harmful if you over-indulge in them. The consensus may be uncertain on the longterm benefits of games, but one thing is for certain: Devolver Digital’s co-founder want the offerings from that publisher to be the tipple of choice for digital drug use.
“We’re feeding the country, we’re feeding the world, and we choose what we put into our creations—which are often the result of what we’ve been fed,” Devolver Digital co-founder Mike Wilson said in a statement that is definitely his own opinion and not that of the company he helped co-found. For reals:
We are the pharmaceutical companies. We’re where people are turning in their most vulnerable moments; when they’re feeling their lowest, or they’re feeling like a piece of shit, or life isn’t working out as it should, because we live in this winners and losers society that is based on all kinds of things that are almost impossible to achieve for young people now.
That idea lead to Devolver Digital’s current mission, to release video games that are intentional in their design and delivery system “Whether you think these are drugs—and by the way, I’m not against drugs at all—but if we’re going to be drug dealers, let’s offer people psychedelics,” Wilson said.
Let’s offer people something that’s going to help them expand and grow. Let’s not offer them crack-cocaine. Let’s not offer them meth. Let’s not literally mine for addicts.
Are we, collectively, gonna get our shit together and be intentional about what we’re feeding our friends, ourselves, the general public, young people at their most vulnerable state? Then who’s going to do that?” he said. “Are we gonna leave it to the casino bosses? Are we gonna leave it to the people talking about user acquisition and monetization? Are we gonna try and compete in that game?
That’s a refreshingly honest take on the industry, especially one that is filled with all manner of fence-sitters who strive to stay as neutral as possible with their products. Devolver Digital’s games may not have the AAA star power of the bigger power players, but at least they can eclipse those publishers with their ballsy approach to rolling out consistent winners that tackle all manner of topics and genres.
That, and whoever puts their annual E3 press conference event together is definitely on drugs. The groovy, hilarious and wonderfully ridiculous types of drugs that result in this annual gold:
Last Updated: November 5, 2019
Raptor Rants
November 5, 2019 at 14:41
“We are the pharmaceutical companies. We’re where people are turning in their most vulnerable moments; when they’re feeling their lowest, or they’re feeling like a piece of shit, or life isn’t working out as it should…”
So you are going to bleed us for every cent we are worth? Good to know.
So do we get GamersAid (Like Medical Aid, but for gamers)? With all the co-payments and scummy business practices?
HairyEwok
November 5, 2019 at 14:41
You know this popped up this morning, just imagine how things will be if EA actually decided to go into the medical aid/insurance business.
Admiral Chief
November 5, 2019 at 15:05
Insert credit card for full medical benefits
Raptor Rants
November 5, 2019 at 17:01
We’ll be doomed
Admiral Chief
November 5, 2019 at 15:05
You have to pay for your PS and XB sub, so, maybe
Original Heretic
November 5, 2019 at 14:52
I like his attitude.
Because IMO he’s quite right.
When I’m feeling very low, I do tend to game more often. Escapism, yes