There are thousands of game websites. Why does the internet need this one?
When I skim English-language gaming news websites, it is difficult to ignore that most of the top sites take a progressive worldview as normative. Entertainment as a whole leans left politically, and gaming is no exception. I think it is fair to say that the overwhelming majority of people involved in games journalism on these sites espouse some form of progressivism, particularly of the woke variety. Many developers seem to be trending that way, too. Some games are explicitly woke, while others include woke elements that sometimes seem to add nothing but a way to try to propitiate the very-online progressives who demand sufficient virtue signaling before approving some games.
So, is Ancient Province going to be a "Conservative Gaming Website?"
No. It is not going to be "conservative" in American terms. That term is too imprecise and can be misunderstood. Fiscally conservative? Socially conservative? Both? Something else? There are some commonalities between what is called "conservatism" and what I intend for this site, but "conservative" is not the best word to use. Instead, I prefer the word, "traditional." Ancient Province Games is going to be a haven for gamers and others of a traditional mindset. Or, at the very least, it will be a place where progressivism, woke or otherwise, will not be normative, and dissent from what is woke will be acceptable. Who is welcome here? Everyone who wants to be here, including the woke. But woke-ism will not be the default worldview.
The worldview of Ancient Province Games can be derived from its name. Ancient and "traditional" frequently go hand-in-hand. For this site, "Ancient" should evoke timelessness, rootedness, and that which is so worthy it deserves to be cherished and passed through the generations. It touches upon what is transcendent. It calls us to be conformed to that which is greater than ourselves rather than to try to conform reality to our whims and wants. It connects us to the past but also to the future through the handing down of what we most deeply value. It is redolent of authentic religion rather than a DIY spirituality. When I discuss games and gaming, a main point of focus will be how those games deal with the transcendent. To push back against modern or post-modern ideologies, one must be connected to what is Ancient.
Province suggests "provincial," which, aside from being the name for a member of this community, suggests a certain parochial or narrow view of things. "Provincial" is sometimes used disparagingly, perhaps with an undertone of pity, though not always, to describe the views of people who are supposedly not sophisticated or cosmopolitan enough. But here it should be synonymous with "local" or "localism." It should indicate a focus on one's immediate environment and community in a physical, geographical sense. It should spur a person to find others who are like-minded and build relationships with them. It is almost contradictory for a website about gaming - a global phenomenon which brings people thousands of miles apart together virtually - to push localism, especially during a pandemic. Yet human flourishing requires relational connections that respect our nature as embodied beings. If you exist purely online, you exist nowhere, not everywhere. When I talk about games, a main point of focus will be how those games deal with "embodied-ness" and related ideas. "Province" pushes back against the excesses of globalism, purifies populism, and emphasizes the human need for physical experiences of community.
Which brings us to Games. Why do we play? To escape? For fun? To appreciate a unique interactive art form? To learn? To be transformed as we transform the game world? There are many reasons. One commonality is that games present us rulesets and problems to solve within those rulesets, and humans tend to enjoy solving problems and being rewarded for doing so. Additionally, we can compete and/or cooperate with others to deepen that sense of satisfaction. We hone skills and overcome challenges, and what we experience and learn in games can often be translated into the real world. Indeed, strong bonds can be forged between players who sit on the same couch or at the same table, or wait in the same online lobby or explore the same digital world. People whose ways of life stand in direct contradiction can find common ground on a game board or in a multiplayer match. They can even become friends. So, why do we play games? Because we love to, and we love to share that love with others. When I talk about games, a main point of focus will be figuring out just what it is that makes it fun for me. "Games," understood this way, pushes against the politicization of all things, that dreary and wearying trend that drains innocence and joy from life, and makes space for fun, be it "serious fun" or fun that is decidedly unserious.
So how can this be condensed to a single thought? What's the elevator pitch version of this post? TLDR plz!
Ancient Province Games cherishes worthwhile tradition, champions authentic community, and celebrates good fun. If you like the sound of that, welcome! If you don't, well, you are still welcome. Regardless of what you think, I am going to keep doing what I am doing.