There exists a certain societal impossibility when it comes to defending the gamer identity and the moniker of being a “gamer.” Although I am in high school, and it would be more culturally expected to profess my “juvenile” hobby, I remain reticent about such disclosure. Why? Because of the mass of filth that frequent major social gaming outlets and plague communities like my DotA.

There are a few strong and bright men who are covertly attempting to elevate the hobby of gaming to something more than acts of moral turpitude. These strong men care about neglected factors such as narrative, and character development in a climate consisting mostly of adrenaline-based action titles and shallow sports clones. These strong men, shouldn’t be confused with elitists, a word Magnalon loves to throw around. Not everyone who enjoys, say Bioshock, based on its narrative rather than its action elements is an elitist. Nor is it condescending to demand that gamers shape up and adapt a unified code of ethics described below:

1. Do not abusively treat other players verbally (e.g. trash talking)
2. Do not leave games excessively and for selfish reasons
3. Do not create artificial advantages over other players (e.g. cheating, team stacking, bug exploits, etc)
4. Do not steal from other gamers (using PayPal reversal or other scamming methods)
5. Expend an appropriate level of effort (this relates to sucking: there is a difference between playing poorly and playing poorly while not giving a damn)
6. Respect the industry (buying or renting used games, en masse, is detrimental to the industry)

Regarding nr 6, I only have a brief caveat to apply because the entire topic is unfortunately not incontrovertible, and so it deserves its own blog. You’re basically only excused from buying quality games at full MSRP if you are on wellfare. If everyone bought used games or rented then publishers would shut down studios and there wouldn’t be an industry of which to speak. Enough said, buying used is selfish and blatantly disrespects the creative minds behind our most beloved games.

Now I will admit, I fail at nr 1 because I am both demanding and judgmental when I play online. However, these basic, common-sense entities are so void in most people online that it’s impossible to ever envision a reputable gaming sub-culture. Certainly, not one that is recognized as art when this so called “art” consists mostly of financially lucrative genres such as mindless shooters and tacked-on multiplayer games.

The underlining problem is of maturity which is why gamers are usually considered petulant children. This hobby starts in childhood and the problem is people don’t disassociate from this rudimentary corollary in themselves. Their own childish gravities are inextricably bound to their avocation. As a result, any propitiousness, a desirable social trait, is tragically forlorn

The ignominy of being a gamer is best recapitulated by referring the cesspool of juvenile degenerates who populate major gaming serves around the world. The only hope rests in the secretive caucus of a few brave men (the designers of Bioshock come to mind) who seek to undergird traditionally neglected elements such as narrative, and who aspire to elevate games as a medium of aesthetics.

Let’s hope they win the fight.