Cowboys and Zombies - Red Dead.

so, red dead redemption (RDR) is getting another download content (DLC). this will be the 4th. the first was awesome, the second was pretty good, the third seems pointless and the 4th.... well, it looks amazing. but i have a problem with it.

well before any DLC was released for this game, it was perfect. it was tasteful and the story was gripping. the characters had great qualities and you could believe in them. and the story, did i mention it already? yeah? well, i meant to. it is that amazing. i have played plenty of video games and not a one of them held me and surprised me as much as that of RDR. it is a story set in the wild west of a man with a dark past who has set out on the journey to set things straight so that he can live a long and prosperous life with his family. everything about it was just right. the pacing of game play in contrast to cinematic, length of campaign. everything was just right. it was a work of art.

i used the word art on purpose.

earlier this year roger ebert posted a blog and in its contents mentioned that video games are not a form of art. well, obviously the gaming developers and community were outraged and came back with a vengeance and made mr ebert eat his words, though not before they could be dipped in molten lava.

the gaming world was right. video games are art. they are scored by award winning composers and scripted by some of the most inspired writers. they have directors coaching every scene. every twitch of a 3d finger. you cant deny the artistic passion that is poured into almost every facet of these games. hell, at times you can hardly even call them just a game.

this is where it starts to get weird.. i mean, not really weird, i just change my mind about video games and art.

you see, the 4th DLC for RDR is going to introduce zombies. DAMMIT!! now, i love a good zombie game as much as the next guy. left for dead blows my mind. but its left for dead. RDR is not. here, try this...

left for dead is to red dead as dawn of the dead is to the unforgiven.

you see? do you understand now why i think this sucks. no? really? you suck. i will try something else. how about this, you dont ride to the top of the empire state building for the thrills, you do it for the grandeur. you dont ride the superman at 6 flags for the grandeur, you do it for the thrills. RDR is a game not just in a class all its own, it is of a class all its own. although shooting hordes of zombies with my ol style repeater seems fun i cant help but assume how generic it will make such a stylish game feel in a matter of seconds.

Mr Ebert was wrong about video games.... at least til they get zombies.