The capitalism it portrays fundamentally is just normal capitalism without any of the pretenses: it strips away the niceties of the imperial core and dials up the fascist death cult shit to the point where violence is a constant facet of life, but all the corruption and brutality that maintain capitalist hegemony are just done out in the open instead of behind closed doors or off in the periphery, far from the doorsteps of the people giving the orders.
I think it's this bit that loses me with their attempt at critique. Like part of capitalism's horror is the mask, trying to keep things as livable as possible for as long as possible, trying to sell you on the positives. Like yeah, you know the slop you're eating is corn syrup and microplastics, but you get sold on warm advertising and nostalgic brands, whereas in Cyberpunk 2077 they throw it all out and just go "Yeah you're eating a bar of microplastics, what of it, piggie?" It kinda adds deniability to it for G*mers to go "Well see it's not actually capitalism because capitalism isn't that bad" even though it fundamentally is the same.
Then again G*mers can't understand subtlety so fair enough.
I think consumers in general can't understand subtlety. That's why I strongly advocate that anyone with a point to make should make it as hamfisted and on the nose as possible, just straight up beat the viewer the viewer over and about the head with the point to the point of directly telling it to them. That's not to say that all art has to do that, but that if one wants to convey a message with it it should be as clear and direct as possible.
I think it's this bit that loses me with their attempt at critique. Like part of capitalism's horror is the mask, trying to keep things as livable as possible for as long as possible, trying to sell you on the positives. Like yeah, you know the slop you're eating is corn syrup and microplastics, but you get sold on warm advertising and nostalgic brands, whereas in Cyberpunk 2077 they throw it all out and just go "Yeah you're eating a bar of microplastics, what of it, piggie?" It kinda adds deniability to it for G*mers to go "Well see it's not actually capitalism because capitalism isn't that bad" even though it fundamentally is the same.
Then again G*mers can't understand subtlety so fair enough.
I think consumers in general can't understand subtlety. That's why I strongly advocate that anyone with a point to make should make it as hamfisted and on the nose as possible, just straight up beat the viewer the viewer over and about the head with the point to the point of directly telling it to them. That's not to say that all art has to do that, but that if one wants to convey a message with it it should be as clear and direct as possible.