G4 Poll Questions: TMI

Lets take a break from current events to talk about something that has been bothering me a lot lately. Online poll questions have been a standard of television for a while now. And no one seems to realize this more than the good people at G4TV (known as the home of games, gadgets and gigabytes). While watching a recorded episode of X-play, I noticed a poll question on its ticker, which asked "On what console will you play Dragon Age: Origins?"


I must have read the same question from G4 over a countless number of games. Then suddenly, it dawned on me:

Why the hell should anyone care what console that I play a game on?

Lets go through the logic of this question for a moment. I wholeheartedly do not see a problem with poll questions involving video games. Questions like "which game was better" or "which new console do you plan on buying" is a sure-fire way to start a forum discussion (or flame-war, which in some cases is just as fun). And even some, like "would Master Chief totally kick Marcus Fenix's ass" are the bread and butter of many flame soldiers.

Even so, asking what console I will play a game on is ultimately futile for several reasons.

It assumes that many people have a choice in the matter when they simply do not. A good percentage of the G4 viewing audience are underage, and therefore must rely on their parents' aid for their major purchases. Therefore, if their parents are unable or simply unwilling to buy them more that one console, then they have no choice.

Not to mention all the adults who only own one console. Aside from the obvious "I can't afford two consoles" line, many adult gamers simply don't care to own more that one. They have a lot on their plates, be it work, college, or simply having a social life. A question like "what console will you wasted 80 hours of your life on" is simply incomprehensible to them. On the other hand, many of them are still products of the "Console Wars" of the 90's; the hardcore faithful who will only stick with one console even if their body is battered away and their bones ground to dust.

Now lets talk of the ones who can own more than one console and play them all with regularity. A question like "which console to play a game on" will, of course, matter to them. If they prefer graphics, they will no doubt go with the PS3. If they don't care about graphics but want better online support, they'll most likely go with the 360 (and if they're thick they'll go with the WII! OH snap!).

Now this is a very important decision to them no doubt, and the choice they make will definitely affect their experience with the content (some games will even limit certain content to certain console versions). Even with this reality in mind, one question remains: why the fuck should G4 or anyone else care what version of a game I'm playing?

It really comes off as insincere and borderline intrusive that G4 wants to know what device I use to do anything. It's like that guy at GameCrazy who asks, "what consoles do I play" in that monotone voice because he really doesn't care but asks anyway because his boss told him to be "friendly" with the customers. And if you really care to tell total strangers what console you play anything on, you're an arrogant prick.

When OnLive comes out it's going to eviscerate the planet in a super-nova of win anyway.