This week, as you may or may not know, is the launch of The Dark Knight, and like many others I have been counting down(2 days 18 hours), taken the day off work and will be seeing the first screening I could get tickets for. Now obviously, I have been asked by MANY people why it is so important to see that first screening, why can't I just wait to see it that night? And I thought to myself, I wanna see it now dammit! the soonest I can see it I will... But I'm not the only one thinking like this, I said, my friends are all going for the midnight launches in the states. And then it hit me... only my "nerd friends" as my girl friends from high school so lovingly call them, are as excited as I am.
Now many of you probably get the same thing but my family and friends are constantly telling me I need to grow out of all of this stuff, and that video games are for children. And the two things combined, an obsession with "toys" and a lack of patience, begs the question, has a part of us forgotten to "grow up"? At what point did other people start thinking, "oh I'll get that in a couple of weeks" or "oh yeh that movie looks pretty cool, I might try and see that", and we stayed in the frame of mind of "I must get that game as soon as it comes out" or as I like to call it the Veruca Salt syndrome.
I WANT IT AND I WANT IT NOW!..... sound familiar?
We've all done it, gone to a midnight launch or at 9am to be one of the first to get our hands on our game of choice, but why? Please dont think I'm criticising, but the question begs to be asked, why must everything be so childish about it. Think of it this way, how many times has a release date been pushed and the first thing that happens is a flood of angry blogs about how useless the game developers must be and so on and so forth. After babysitting for many years, I noticed that this is strangely familiar to another scenario, a child is told they can't have something and what do they do? They drop to the floor, kicking and screaming, bawling their eyes out until they get what they want or tire themselves out(or have the living shit beaten out of them if they have shitty parents). And how many times have we heard about violence at midnight launches, or people lining up for hours or even days on end to be the first people to get it? Are we all just children throwing tantrums but with the means of money, writing skills and a lack of a curfew? Is the video game industry just another excuse to stay a kid for some of us?
Now all this said, I am not going to change, I love the idea of getting games early and being the first to have something, but this had just been on my mind and wondered if anyone else had noticed the similarities. The next time someone asks you if you're going to a midnight launch or anything like that, ask yourself, if a 5 year old was in your situation, what things would he do differently?
Oh yeah, he might goto bed once he got home because he has school the next day.
I worry about this kind of stuff a lot. I am taking off work for Dark Knight, but I have been planing to take a day off for a while now and it is just good timing. Or at least that's what I keep telling myself lol.
If you want to grow up and be boring - be my guest. But I doubt most of you will, which is a good thing.
Even when I get my degree and I take my career very seriously, I'll always be able to hark back to World of Warcraft or TF2 where my childish antics on flatulence are always welcome.
Granted, I'll never marry or have children, but they're just wastes of time anyways!
i hate that shit so much, i don't like the idea that its socially acceptable to go out and get drunk all the time, but having a great deal of interest in gaming somehow manages to make less of a person.
i know i work a lot, but i would rather spend my time playing games and buying geeky shit than doing stupid things..
As a poor guy coming from a poor family, I've never really been able to get everything I want "now." Not usually, anyway. So, it's not really a way that I think. But if I'm really into something at a given moment, like I was with Halo when 2 and 3 came out, then I do tend to want it ASAP.
As for growing out of it, I expect my tastes to change over time, but I feel no need to abandon any interests simply because they're "childish" or socially looked down upon. I am what I am.
I don't really do any sort of "midnight launch" deals unless it makes sense. I waited a day in line for a launch Wii, because I knew they'd be hard to find... and they were.
I went to the midnight launch of SSBB because it was released on a Sunday, and I knew if I put picking it up off until the morning, I'd sleep in until noon, and loose about 2-3 hours of time I could be playing the game in "waking up" (food, shower, etc.) and going to pick it up. And it was daylight savings day, so each hour counted more than normal. Plus it was the reason I bought my Wii...
The main reason I like to get/see stuff early to avoid spoilers.
If you (as I do) spend hours a days on the internet reading everything there is to know on a couple topics, then you're bound to accidently spoil some things.
But then again, I'm extremely weak-willed and spoil things for myself a lot as well.
I went on holiday back to Scotland for three weeks, two days before GTA IV was released. Somehow I managed to avoid any spoilers, but at the same time I was patient enough to get home, buy my copy and play it even though there were tonnes of people have completed it.
I think it's just a question of patience; I think I'm pretty patient (in my job I have to be) and I'm prepared to wait for things. I've not played CoD4 or the Orange Box because I want to build a new PC first. And that looks like it's gonna happen in October. Again, I'm not rushed I'm just gonna take my time.
I think the primary reason is due to the crowds that midnight releases pull. The people at a midnight showings WANT to be there. They didn't randomly decide to see a flick. They called off work and cleared their schedules. That (usually) means no crying babies, no G-Unit ringtones, etc.
When the credits rolled after Iron Man, the theater I was in burst into applause. That doesn't happen at the matinee.
Basically, these sorts of events draw out and bring nerds together. Specifically for movies, it lets the more "dedicated" fans enjoy a film in the company of like-minded individuals, which typically (in my experience) leads to a more enjoyable night at the movies, which in turn motivates future midnight attendances and thereby propagates the need to hold such screenings.
tl;dr they're fun because nerds in large groups are awesome.
When your an adult you have responsibilities and priorities that mean you can't just take off work because a movie is coming out. If you just take vacation every time a movie you want to see comes out, how will you have any vacation left for when Warhammer : Age of Reckoning comes out?
I think the more we grow up, the more we need our heroes in games and movies ASAP. To, you know, help us escape our daily lives which always turn out to be less fun then when you were a kid :)
The impatience, for me, comes from the fact that while I have the money to spend on games when and where I want, I don't necessarily have the time to wait around for them or to actually play them.
I think that there is some serious balancing that has to take place when you get older and have a career and family. It's been something that I both look forward to and would rather not go through with. It just depends on the day and what aspect of it I'm thinking of. This sort of thing was what I wrote about for my first blog. Balancing games and "grown up" life. I still haven't figured it out yet to be honest.
some people never grow up. some people do. in any sufficiently large population there will be plenty of both.
does the nature of the interest skew it one way or another? maybe. i think now and in the future it will reach an equilibrium (see what i did there) just like any other group.
its always the lowest common denominator that gets noticed, there are plenty of us out there that are enthusiastic, interested, AND patient and understanding.
ive been to midnight releases before. i actually camped out for a wii and was turned down as #25 of 24 wiis. i just said darn and went home to take a nap. would someone else make a scene? maybe. depends on the person.
dont be ashamed of having a passion or a real interest. its not childish to be fired up and sincerely into something... in fact this is what most people lose as they grow older and their criticism of it is mostly because they are jealous and want you to suffer the same hollow/mindless attitude theyve adopted.
however, impatience maybe something that can be addressed as you "grow up". thats not to say you cant want to see something first or be the first, but it is to say that being the first or being impatient is not inextricably linked to being passionate or being a fan.
I've never really been a "gotta have it day one!" type of person, even when I was a kid. I think the last midnight showing I went to was for Star Wars Episode 1, and that was only because a bunch of my friends had gotten tickets. Although I was hoping to see The Dark Knight Friday, but I couldn't get the night off.
There's no point trying to appease those that say that you should grow out of this phase already and go with the status quo flow. You did grow up! You have a steady job, income and all the responsibilities of being an adult - so where's the problem? There isn't one - you are who you want to be, isn't that what counts?!
The problem is that mainstream society will continue to see all things geeky as things you should leave in your adolescence. Screw that! Like hell I'm gonna stop being geeky because people think it's time to 'grow up, get married and start a family'.
For the most part, my family is cool about my interests and share it to different extents. It's when I talk to co-workers or acquaintances that I'm left with so very little to say. I don't watch crappy shows like 'Dancing with the Stars', but I did watch some excellent Doctor Who! What? Noone knows what Doctor Who is? ~silence.. facepalm in 5,4,3,2,1. FACEPALM IS GO!~
Another great example is that I had my preordered rubber ducky Chocobos (rubber chockies?) sent to my workplace. They were well-received by the few who saw me open the box until I get the question: So whose kids are those for? While wearing a tight smile, I say they are for ME! Blank stares and the eventual 'Oh...' all around. Their minds will be blown when the epic Kamina statue I have on preorder arrives. Heh! I love making the norms squirm.
Hmmmm this seems oddly reminiscent of a conversation that we had on the way back from supanova lol,
But your right there is a certain 5 year old mentality that seem to grab at the very core of some people when it comes to there passions, For me if there’s movie I want to see ill be there on the opening night, if there’s a game that I just must have (which admittedly, isn’t all the time) then yes, I will line up for the obligatory 2 - 4 + hours before the store opens just to get my copy first, ive done it for Halo 3, GTA IV, X Box 360, PS3 and im damn sure ill be doing it for little big planet and a host of other tittles when the come out.
To those out there that would mock the simple gamer or other such “nerdy” people (I know your out there ive heard your comments while ive been waiting in line), I say you have probably done it to but may not have even realized it.
Must get that car park spot
Must buy that out fit
Must have latest phone
Must have, must have, must have…..
We all do it in our own way so before you criticize, look at yourself and remember you’ve done it too. There’s nothing wrong with being passionate, It’s not being immature its just being yourself.
Destructoid is an open discussion community. You don't need to "audition" to post a comment - just speak your mind. We respect differing opinions on the site, so have at it. Be smart, funny, insightful, clueless, or cute -- but back it up with substance. Keep your cool, keep it fun. We only ask that you act respectfully and above all: don't be a troll and ruin it for everyone else. Don't bring down gamers or we'll, you know, gently shoot you in the face and stuff you into a flaming mailbox. Each comment is your opportuntity to make this community awesomer. Is that even a word?
Avoiding the banhammer only requires common sense: spamming, trolling, racism, NSFW stuff, and other forms of sucking will not be tolerated. If anyone is griefing please report abuse. Be good. Don't suck!
about me
I'm one of the token Australians.. I like ponys, kittens and rainbows.. Be careful, I am a predator and I may just send explosive kangaroos after you.
I play vidyagamez...
Destructoid is an independently-run publication forged by our love of video games and the gaming community's need of accountable enthusiast press living the dream since March 16, 2006
(# 0) on 07/13/2008 01:21
(# 1) on 07/13/2008 01:22
just blame marketing it builds hype and honestly hype is fun.
(# 2) on 07/13/2008 01:22
(# 3) on 07/13/2008 01:26
(# 4) on 07/13/2008 01:57
Even when I get my degree and I take my career very seriously, I'll always be able to hark back to World of Warcraft or TF2 where my childish antics on flatulence are always welcome.
Granted, I'll never marry or have children, but they're just wastes of time anyways!
http://www.destructoid.com/blogs/nopk/women-back-into-the-kitchen-now-please-81757.phtml
(# 5) on 07/13/2008 02:10
i know i work a lot, but i would rather spend my time playing games and buying geeky shit than doing stupid things..
anywho, keep the geek dream alive!
AND LONG LIVE LORD BALE!
(# 6) on 07/13/2008 02:20
As for growing out of it, I expect my tastes to change over time, but I feel no need to abandon any interests simply because they're "childish" or socially looked down upon. I am what I am.
(# 7) on 07/13/2008 02:31
I went to the midnight launch of SSBB because it was released on a Sunday, and I knew if I put picking it up off until the morning, I'd sleep in until noon, and loose about 2-3 hours of time I could be playing the game in "waking up" (food, shower, etc.) and going to pick it up. And it was daylight savings day, so each hour counted more than normal. Plus it was the reason I bought my Wii...
(# 8) on 07/13/2008 03:00
If you (as I do) spend hours a days on the internet reading everything there is to know on a couple topics, then you're bound to accidently spoil some things.
But then again, I'm extremely weak-willed and spoil things for myself a lot as well.
(# 9) on 07/13/2008 03:06
I went on holiday back to Scotland for three weeks, two days before GTA IV was released. Somehow I managed to avoid any spoilers, but at the same time I was patient enough to get home, buy my copy and play it even though there were tonnes of people have completed it.
I think it's just a question of patience; I think I'm pretty patient (in my job I have to be) and I'm prepared to wait for things. I've not played CoD4 or the Orange Box because I want to build a new PC first. And that looks like it's gonna happen in October. Again, I'm not rushed I'm just gonna take my time.
(# 10) on 07/13/2008 03:22
When the credits rolled after Iron Man, the theater I was in burst into applause. That doesn't happen at the matinee.
Basically, these sorts of events draw out and bring nerds together. Specifically for movies, it lets the more "dedicated" fans enjoy a film in the company of like-minded individuals, which typically (in my experience) leads to a more enjoyable night at the movies, which in turn motivates future midnight attendances and thereby propagates the need to hold such screenings.
tl;dr they're fun because nerds in large groups are awesome.
(# 11) on 07/13/2008 03:22
(# 12) on 07/13/2008 05:22
Some people just need to grow up, I guess.
(# 13) on 07/13/2008 08:41
...Or a teenager that doesn't know what the real world is like.
(# 14) on 07/13/2008 09:28
(# 15) on 07/13/2008 09:30
(# 16) on 07/13/2008 10:04
(# 17) on 07/13/2008 10:30
I think that there is some serious balancing that has to take place when you get older and have a career and family. It's been something that I both look forward to and would rather not go through with. It just depends on the day and what aspect of it I'm thinking of. This sort of thing was what I wrote about for my first blog. Balancing games and "grown up" life. I still haven't figured it out yet to be honest.
(# 18) on 07/13/2008 13:34
does the nature of the interest skew it one way or another? maybe. i think now and in the future it will reach an equilibrium (see what i did there) just like any other group.
its always the lowest common denominator that gets noticed, there are plenty of us out there that are enthusiastic, interested, AND patient and understanding.
ive been to midnight releases before. i actually camped out for a wii and was turned down as #25 of 24 wiis. i just said darn and went home to take a nap. would someone else make a scene? maybe. depends on the person.
dont be ashamed of having a passion or a real interest. its not childish to be fired up and sincerely into something... in fact this is what most people lose as they grow older and their criticism of it is mostly because they are jealous and want you to suffer the same hollow/mindless attitude theyve adopted.
however, impatience maybe something that can be addressed as you "grow up". thats not to say you cant want to see something first or be the first, but it is to say that being the first or being impatient is not inextricably linked to being passionate or being a fan.
(# 19) on 07/13/2008 15:03
(# 20) on 07/13/2008 15:10
The problem is that mainstream society will continue to see all things geeky as things you should leave in your adolescence. Screw that! Like hell I'm gonna stop being geeky because people think it's time to 'grow up, get married and start a family'.
For the most part, my family is cool about my interests and share it to different extents. It's when I talk to co-workers or acquaintances that I'm left with so very little to say. I don't watch crappy shows like 'Dancing with the Stars', but I did watch some excellent Doctor Who! What? Noone knows what Doctor Who is? ~silence.. facepalm in 5,4,3,2,1. FACEPALM IS GO!~
Another great example is that I had my preordered rubber ducky Chocobos (rubber chockies?) sent to my workplace. They were well-received by the few who saw me open the box until I get the question: So whose kids are those for? While wearing a tight smile, I say they are for ME! Blank stares and the eventual 'Oh...' all around. Their minds will be blown when the epic Kamina statue I have on preorder arrives. Heh! I love making the norms squirm.
(# 21) on 07/14/2008 06:24
But your right there is a certain 5 year old mentality that seem to grab at the very core of some people when it comes to there passions, For me if there’s movie I want to see ill be there on the opening night, if there’s a game that I just must have (which admittedly, isn’t all the time) then yes, I will line up for the obligatory 2 - 4 + hours before the store opens just to get my copy first, ive done it for Halo 3, GTA IV, X Box 360, PS3 and im damn sure ill be doing it for little big planet and a host of other tittles when the come out.
To those out there that would mock the simple gamer or other such “nerdy” people (I know your out there ive heard your comments while ive been waiting in line), I say you have probably done it to but may not have even realized it.
Must get that car park spot
Must buy that out fit
Must have latest phone
Must have, must have, must have…..
We all do it in our own way so before you criticize, look at yourself and remember you’ve done it too. There’s nothing wrong with being passionate, It’s not being immature its just being yourself.