Now that my review of Marathon is out, I can finally share other's work on the game in good conscience. My YouTube algorithm is all sorts of messed up now, so I watched this yesterday per recommendation.

I've heard one element of his thesis before; that the game and its commercial success are two different elements, but online commentary fuses the two then reduces them to whatever brings in the clicks. If I never had to see a Steam player count chart again, I'd be a happy gamer. It's a big part why my review focuses 100% on the game and not the fractal data the tabloid-esque entertainers are fixating on.

It all reminds me of this other piece I read before launch from Kevin Dowling:

Gaming brings people together. It also helps people escape the ridiculous reality of our intense lives. I found that in Marathon. And found it ironic that online chatter was of doom & gloom. Because of course, if I said that Marathon was a disaster, Sony will go under and the industry is in turmoil I'd get more hits. It's a great game, Bungie-esque and a lot of fun is not what people get riled up and click things about.