I am the best.

[rogueslayer452]

++ Due to 2NE1 having reunited at Coachella recently, which was a pleasant surprise to say the least, it made me yearn for reunions of 4Minute and Wonder Girls so badly, even though the likelihood of that happening is small.

I've been listening to kpop (and jpop/cpop/etc) since the early 00s and when I discovered 2NE1 and those other groups when they debuted it wasn't anything new for me, but I think I mostly was only exclusively listening to solo artists, which I didn't realize at the time because I only ended up listening to whatever sounded good, and still do, actually, I don't really pay that close attention to anything beyond that (I'm not of the kpop fandoms, btw, I listen to what I like and that's it). But 2016/2017 were years that a bunch of kpop girl groups ended up getting disbanded, with 2NE1, 4Minute, and Wonder Girls being the most notable ones, which I have to admit was disheartening at the time with them disbanding so close together (I even made a post about it at the time when it happened). I know some individual members of those groups attempt to go solo afterwards and some are quite successful, but still. Disbanding happens all the time, usually due to contractual negotiations, but I think it was with those particular disbanding that made me understand just how fragile the industry worked over there.

I don't know, I just felt like rambling about this since I'm still slightly bitter about it, but still happy to see that even after all this time the members of 2NE1 can still come together to do a small unofficial comeback reunion.

++ I haven't been playing video games as much as I used to, and it's not due to disinterest because I still want to, but it's more due to a combination of IRL stuff that got in the way over the last few years and also focusing my attention on other fandom and media things. There are plenty of games that I have that I haven't gotten around to playing yet that I want to, it's just a matter of finding the right time to do so since my schedule is a bit borked at the moment.

Of course now I'm thinking about all the games that I want to play, but can't because a.) I don't have the console the game is exclusively on and b.) most games nowadays are far too expensive. It's been that way for years now, but it's something that just completely baffles me, and it's why I'm always so "late" when playing games because I wait for certain ones to go on clearance sales at a much lower price. I mean, I'm not that concerned about being caught up with whatever is popular in the gaming world, but it's just ridiculous that the more notable games that I find intriguing and want to play are ones that I probably won't be able to for some time for all the reasons stated above. It's annoying, is all.

Comments

[autumndaze]

Playing "late" is something that bugs me too because, despite recently, I'm generally like that as well. There are a few exceptions (mostly Nintendo), but most of the time I put something on my Steam wish list and wait for it to go on sale, assuming it's even on PC. I even like... got a PS5 recently because I had the money and felt it was time to try being a console gamer... and the entire Kingdom Hearts series was ported to PC almost immediately alkdjlakjdlkj along with ports for Sony first party titles like Horizon Zero Dawn and the new God of War... and it's like... OF COURSE THIS WOULD HAPPEN T-T

It's one reason I like Gamepass, because I can play new games at launch and I get more of a "test run" to see if I'd like them to begin with. It's better than $70 a piece anyway -.-

[rogueslayer452]

I really do hate it when that happens, honestly, and it's one of the main reasons why I wait and see if this does happen to any of the games I want.

[author_by_night]

I used to play The Sims, so I kind of hear you on prices. I always had to wait a year or two because the initial price was always crazy.

That's about as much as I've gamed recently, so I can't really add more than that. :P Although I did a little gaming as a kid, but mostly with friends and family, or educational ones, so.

I also get real life - that's partly why I stopped. And the thing is that gaming takes a LONG TIME. Even just playing The Sims,by the time you get the game going, it might already have been several minutes. It's time consuming. On the rare occasions I do play The Sims, I have nothing going on that day. Nothing. Because it will take up a large chunk of said day.

I think we forget how tethered artists are to whatever companies they're working for decide - because essentially, that's what it comes down to. It sounds like there's more to it than what I'm probably thinking of from American eyes (I know nothing about South Korean music, I can't speak to that), just a general observation. And it doesn't matter what the medium is, unless you go completely independent, but then that's risky and harder. Plus there are probably legal issues if you were under contract with someone and break to do your own thing.

[rogueslayer452]

Yeah, it is quite time-consuming, especially the games that have hours upon hours of gameplay content. I'm not a hardcore gamer or anything like that, I actually do have games that I haven't completed, but I know that there are those out there who are completionists and not only have to finish the game but go back and unlock every achievement, especially since games nowadays implement things where you have to unlock certain things in order to get the extra content featured.

Like, I understand that gaming is something many do, especially those who do it for a career (see: all the gaming YouTubers and streamers and professional gamers out there), and there's nothing wrong with that, sometimes I like that there's a lot of hours you can waste in a game, to immerse yourself into the story, but not everyone is able to do so because, well, life.

(Again, I'm not deep or heavy into the gaming world, I play games when I want to and stop when other stuff is occupying my time -- like currently, for instance -- and I watch other people play games online, or I like previewing what a game is like to see if it's something worth investing in the future, and sometimes I love looking at the cutscenes of story-driven games because those are fun, but otherwise not everyone is going to be able to play those games either because lack of accessibility/availability or, y'know, time.)

It sounds like there's more to it than what I'm probably thinking of from American eyes (I know nothing about South Korean music, I can't speak to that), just a general observation.

There is, though there's more overlap and similarities than most realize when it comes to both industries, it's just the way both are handled and how most view them (and there's a lot to unpack with that, but that's several essays worth tbh). But as a general observation, yes, a lot of it is contractual obligations and we tend to forget that there's a lot of behind-the-scenes stuff that we don't know about when it comes to music artists, and the entertainment industry as a whole, even. We only see the image they show us, not the complicated nature of the business hidden behind the curtain. Music artists, bands, groups, all of them aren't infinite, unless they plan on making it their entire life career they aren't infinite, they have expiration dates, sometimes not even of their own choice. It's unfortunate, but it happens.

[blakmagjick]

There are a number of games that I won't play because they are exclusive on a system I don't have...and likely won't get any time in the near future. Kinda sucks for sure.

[rogueslayer452]

Yeah, it seems rather pointless to buy a new system just for one game. It's just a waste of money, which is precisely what they want, of course. But yeah, there are unfortunately games that I want to play but can't, and probably never will, because I don't have the system it is only available for. Which sucks. But unless I find them at a good lower price (clearance, used, whatever) then I'm not bothering. Same with games, too.

[megan_moonlight]

I definitely understand what you mean about video games being expensive being annoying. I don't play many games (I'm very picky), but I did have to wait for some of the ones I wanted to check out to become cheaper as well.

It's one of the reasons why I'm usually pretty 'late' to the party when it comes to games, too. Only recently I started playing the Mass Effect games (until now I just watched playthroughs on YT and read fics), so that's fun.

I'm already waiting (and looks like I'll be waiting for a while) to see how expensive the next installment of my favourite game series, Dragon Age, will be when it comes out.

[rogueslayer452]

Yeah, for the games I most likely won't play for a long while I end up mostly consuming other content for it, like watching playthroughs, the cutscenes/cinematics, reading up on the lore, looking at fanart, etc. Contrary to what others may think, I don't think it ruins the experience when I finally do get the chance to play the game at all, but rather enhances it (also, I'm not that good at playing games, I always will look through walkthroughs if I'm stuck and I do play on easy mode until I get the hang of things).