An Addictive Grinder

Now, I’m not about to say I would never accept a sponsorship that made me a hypocrite.

But so far the answer is no.

One of the ironies of the fast growth of the Science Fiction channel, podcast and community is that I am now being sent sponsorship offers…

…by the producers of the cultural artefacts I critique.

Most recently I had an offer from a game company making the mobile game for a franchise I have been very critical of.

That’s all the details I can give because the individuals who approached me were perfectly professional and I’m not trying to shame them.

I did actually consider their offer because it was a reasonably large fee that would have paid for the Gene Wolfe video essay I.E. 3 months of work researching, writing, and making what I think will be the most complex critique I may ever attempt.

But in our discussions the game was described as an “addictive grinder”.

“How Video Games Make You An NPC” is a major video essay I have been researching for a long time, so there’s a lot I could say about the real meaning of the words “addictive grinder”.

I think almost everyone understands that a mobile game of a scifi franchise is, in all likelihood, just going to be a generic game engine, skinned with elements resembling the franchise.

And that is what it is.

But I think what’s only slowly dawning on many people, or still not understood, is that the movies and tv shows of these franchises are also just generic productions skinned with the visual style of the franchise.

Rings of Power’s entire purpose is to just be a generic fantasy show, skinned to look like the movies, with some Second Age easter eggs scattered around for the fans. It really has no more to do with Tolkien than the inevitable RoP mobile game will.

I have of course turned down the addictive grinder. I don’t guarantee never to accept a video game or similar sponsor. I live in consumer capitalism like everyone else, and if the cost of getting projects like the Gene Wolfe essay done is a hit to my critical credibility, so be it.

I guess it’s even possible I will one day be caught telling you how great the Rings of Power mobile game is. Although if that happens assume that Bezos has kidnapped my cats and is holding them until I say something nice about his shitty Fake Tolkien franchise.