Noob, lol.
But seriously, amazing article, Holmes! I wish that people could follow suit, but this way of thinking literally permeates every hobby/pop-culture item available. Sports culture is a perfect example (ie how many years you've followed a team [how many years you've gamed]; stats; willingness to watch collegiate level to augment your pro level knowledge [do you play retro or "hardcore" games]; general mechanical understanding of the game and terms [ie game genre definers]).
I've come to just accept it for what it is, and enjoy people of varying viewpoints. As long as the "elitists" aren't personally attacking people, I can accept it -- but looking down on people isn't exclusively a gaming-centric idea. Hey, I might even learn something!
"Gamer" sounds gross. Why would anyone willingly label themselves as such? Playa sounds much more charming.
Also why is that picture of Tara Long and Conrad Zimmerman drawn as topless elderly cat owners relevant?
Well said.
When I think of the term gamer, I think of people who only see gaming as competitive. These are the most pathetic. I mean really, if you're seeking a sense of accomoplishment from being the best at a certain game you need to reevaluate your life up until this point. Sure, you can play to win, but recognize that the thrill of victory is fleeting, and that your accomplishment really means nothing.
The problem with competition is when the competitors get out of control with their attitudes, cheating, and not knowing how to NOT be competitive. But the simple fact of the matter is that healthy competition is always, always good.
Oh, haha, I just remembered about that contest you had! You ever get results, or did that go to a green pasture to peacefully die? Whatever the case, just keep making these videos. The world will become a better and more resolved place if we can shout these articles to the world.
She got "tense" because she co-directed a movie where she knew next-to-nothing on the topic. It's a natural question to ask the director if they are involved or understand the topic that they are communicating to you on film. That has nothing to do with "gamer cred".
This is what people fear (and see everyday) in the gaming world. MTV hosts shift from hosting music shows to all of a sudden being game critics and hosting gaming shows. Models who look pretty are telling us how to play games as they read a script. It all lacks weight and makes gaming into nothing more than the weather segment on the news where the weather bunny reads what the meteorologist wrote and has no understanding of what she's talking about. It's superficial and lessens us as gamers if we allow pretty or funny to be more important than knowledge or passion. There's a place for both (see G4TV)... but overall I think most gamers prefer original thought on games, passion for games and knowledge about games over someone just trying to sell themselves and merely see the gaming industry as a vehicle for their personal success.
Credibility IS important - maybe not as important as people think, but I still think it's important. Credibility also lends itself to expertise. If you - Jonathan - wrote a review of Dust 514, a PS3 FPS game, I would take it with a grain of salt as you don't seem to play a lot of FPS games. I would want to read a review by someone else who does play a lot of FPS games and can better compare and discuss the game mechanics, weapons, maps in relation to other common FPS games before I bought it (though Dust is free, so I guess that point is moot!). You're one of my favorite writers Jonathan... but I do think that experience, knowledge and passion are needed for expertise, which gives credibility, not just writing skill. "Gamer cred" is a mixed bag... but I think it speaks more to expertise and passion for an aspect of the industry. Lisette's passion seems to be for making films and she made a good one. Any credibility will be as a director.
... then again, we live in a pretty shallow society where being funny or being pretty, or just being available often is more important than knowledge... which is why we have FOX news segments talking about the terrible sex scenes that children will be exposed to in Mass Effect. Save the children!!... but look pretty while you're doing it. Definitely don't do any research or become knowledgeable on a topic before being an "expert".
:(
Similarly, my respect for those who read Twilight and claim to like books or watch The Three Stooges and claim to like movies is minimal, which makes me an elitist of the highest order.
you got the name of the lovely (and obviously very talented) lady wrong. It's "Lisanne", not "Lissane" Pajot!
Second, I kind of disagree, partially at least. A few years ago I tried listening to an episode of an all female gaming podcast, I was interested because it was a perspective I hadn’t heard much of at the time, and about ten minutes in one of them of them admitted to having only ever played the DS and another admitted to having never finished a game in their life, I turned that shit off then and there and I’d do it again today.
When I want to read or hear about videogames I want it coming from people who give a shit, Hell that’s why I come to Destructoid, you care, that’s what I’d consider “gamer cred”. Nobody ever started at the top but it tends to happen now and then in the world of gaming, people who don’t know what they’re talking about get hired to host internet shows, especially guilty are the sites that just hire wannabe models, they come across as phonies, and I’d imagine that’s why Lissane Pajot hesitated, she was afraid she’d look like a phony, not that I think she is one, because she gave an honest answer.
So yeah, I don’t think we should judge someone on how many achievements they have but I do think how much they care about gaming is a little relevant.
Still, I agree with this wholeheartedly. I'm tired of being an outcast because people think games are for elite members or certain titles aren't "hardcore."
Doesnt mean boots are fish. Yes,we could include everyone as a gamer, but we cant. Idiot attention whores are not gamers, theyre predators. Maybe were a bit zealous in our defense of gaming, but fuck those people that dont get it. Those same people worship a goddamn fictional story and proclaim it a god.
I don't care about the "gamer" level of people though, or if they're a "gamer" at all. There are so many different genres and so many games it's impossible to say which ones one should play to be considered a "proper gamer." Whenever I say I'm a gamer and people ask me if I played the latest Call Of Duty or any other popular shooter and I tell them I'm into RPGs and puzzles they look at me with a betrayed look like a lied to them.
I agree with Holmes though. Just play whatever games tickle your fancy and be happy. There's no reason to antagonize other game genres just because they're not your cup of tea.
is everybody retarded except me?
Thank you!
Why can't someone, regardless of whether they are a gamer, make a documentary about gaming?
There is a difference between becoming someone who refuses to look at game releases objectively, not asking things such as "What does this add to what I've already witnessed?" or "Is this possibly derivative of what I have seen and played?" and those that choose to think a bit about what that game has brought to their mental world.
In the end that's why all games are useful to think about in context to other games. Hence why seeing games that are similar to Enchanted Realms (Farmville maybe, don't use Facebook) have given me more of a dislike of grinding in any game, considering the fact that it can be implemented in any title ever created. You need to know the best and worst of what can be given to you in order to actually understand the worth of what you are playing currently.
Hardcore should mean understanding a complex yet intuitive system, not basing it off of how much time you've played the title. I wouldn't consider myself a Hardcore gamer, yet I always bump up difficulty to the tops and play rouge likes all day. Hardcore is a name from the slow minded, for the slow minded from what I see. I'm here to learn damnit! Not prove that I've got the most time on my hands.
Think about a person playing a fighting game for 200 hours versus a person who spends 200 hours on 10-20 different titles. Which do you think would have more to bring more variety to the table on a day when someone asks, "What do you think would make a game fun and addicting?" Hence reinforcing that Hardcore should be reserved for those that give away their choice to learn many games, over being needlessly specialized at one or few.
On a side note, all games are legitimately games, however I don't call anyone a "Gamer" (Toss away descriptor in my opinion) Likewise I wouldn't flame anyone for enjoying things such as Angry Birds. Either by gameplay style, since I'm pretty sure I pooped my pants playing my first game with a physics engine, or by platform. Considering my tablet has Avadon, Swords and Soldiers, and even the ability to play a third person shooting game (Shadowgun I think), I believe the lack of a controller is more or less a current problem over being an overall problem.
As long as your brain is firing on more cylinders than what you're used to, I'm glad you're actually learning. That's also when we will get great new game ideas. Give yourself a larger tool set to work with, think about what does and doesn't work objectively rather than decide whether its good or not off the drop of a hat.
Geez, TL;DR
Aw well hope someone reads it. ^_^
Great write up Holmes, I haven't read a big article from you in a while but it seems to me you're getting better as a writer.
Also, on the video, --and I know it's how you've acted on the previous episodes-- your demeanor is so dramatic that it's obvious that you think it's a silly posture to hold, it makes the video + article feel a little redundant, it also seems to make these women a bit uneasy.
I think your argument would be better served if you acted like you believe what you're saying without being too obnoxious or antagonistic (not everyone who think these certain ways are). That way some people might be more interested in the point you are trying to make and be eager to read your article for clarification instead of deeming the issue so silly as to not need any further explanation.
Good article. positive and very well writtenand, with a thoroughly good analogy. you really nailing down the zeitgeist of modern gaming culture and all of its inadequacy.
I just hope that it doesn't fall on too many deaf ears, but judging by some of the comments you've already received, who knows how that will turn out.
keep up the good work, always looking forward to reading more of your features in the future.
Actually whilst I'm here I do have one problem with your article, could you please kindly reform from using the word addicting, and instead use the more common adjective, addictive, using the word addicting can makes the Grammar in your article comes across as sloppy.
but overall good work very good work.
I think your argument would be better served if you acted like you believe what you're saying without being too obnoxious or antagonistic (not everyone who think these certain ways are). That way some people might be more interested in the point you are trying to make and be eager to read your article for clarification instead of deeming the issue so silly as to not need any further explanation."
This.
"It all roots down to don't judge someone for the things they like. Judge them for their actions and their attitudes towards others. Simple as that."
That really does sum it up well.
As far as "gamers" and elitism; Holmes hits it pretty good and Chris Carter also brings up some valid points. Whether sports or video games people want to feel like they belong to an exclusive club.
This is not necessarily a bad thing. The only time its bad is when you start to take it too seriously. When you become so entrenched in an opinion there are no alternative opinions that matter.
I used to be like this with other media, like music. I figured you had very poor taste if you didn't listen to similar bands as me. As I was exposed to more stuff though different people I realized its not about what people are listening to but that they are enjoying it and it makes them happy. Things are good in different ways. Who am I to decide whether a song has merit based on my own tastes?
I think people who play video games can have a similar attitude towards others and that's the line we need to start looking at.
Stop telling people what they are allowed to think. If someone wants to ask if you're a gamer, that's entirely their right, and people are grown up enough to answer the question for themselves without the need for white knighting or shaming.
As far as this woman here, "are you a gamer?" "Well, I wasn't when I started this documentary. I went into it with an open mind, looking at independent gaming with fresh eyes. Over the course of shooting though, I've really grown to appreciate the medium more and I would now say I'm probably a gamer." Was that so hard? Jesus. I don't feel any sympathy for her here. She could say that she's more into ... you know, films, since she's a documentary film maker. Is that a problem? Just be honest.
Unless she has something to hide, then there's no reason to even care about this. It's a very straight ahead question. Just tell the truth.
"characterized by assumption of dignity or importance. "
I know exactly what it means :)
You really should expand the scope of these. I can't tell you how many times people have implied I'm less of a person because I don't watch a particular show, like a particular band, know about a particular book series, or drink a particular beer. Far far more so than my worth has ever been judged as a gamer. And for those people, like the kinds of gamers you're writing about, I just... stop paying attention to them. If they want to live their life constantly judging the worth of themselves versus others they aren't the kind of people I want to associate with.
Of course I'm NOT in a position where I'm trying to market something to those people so that choice is easy, but I think the saying holds true. You see so many PR disasters because the sort of people you're writing about, like the kerfuffle with the Bioware writer, or every time CliffyB opens his mouth.

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