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Videogames: what's all the fuss about? photo

For gamers, it's easily to take the "waste of time" attack personally, and that's why it was nice to see some of the very smart responses given to a post called "Couldn’t Care Less About Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii and Playstation 3: Am I Really Missing Much?" by Lucy from Product-Reviews.

In this post, Lucy says that she doesn't get why people are so passionate about what console is the best, or why gamers will talk endlessly about what games are the best. She really wants to know what all the fuss is about.

Why are people so passionate about which console is better, which games are better when really it’s all a waste of time? By not taking an interest in the three above consoles is my life seriously lacking something?

While it would have been safe to expect an all-out, flame-filled string of fanboy attack responses, most of the 70 or so replies are actually somewhat focused and informed. They range from a general defense of gaming to a precise answer to "what the fuss is about." While I don't necessarily agree with some of the views, and a few go way into left field, it's nice to see this collection of mostly well-informed responses to a question that is so close to flame bait that it's in danger of combusting.

Hit the jump to see some selected responses.

Playing Defense: 

Dlusin comes out strong:

What you did by going on the internet and stating that games are a waste of time is very similar to going to a museum, or an art exhibit and stating quite loudly that everything in the building is absolute garbage, than asking for the people there to try to convince you otherwise. Putting people on the defense is not usually a great way to get the best information. It is amazing how imagining somebody else on the other side of the screen changes how people can communicate.

Kirk's a bit defensive, but I like his angle. Read his whole post for the long answer.

I don’t personally give a toss about make-up, or shoes, or foreplay, or geography, or history programs, or politics, or The Beatles or Martin Luthor King, but at least I am not so ignorant as to even make the claim that I don’t understand what all the fuss is about or especially to state that it is all a waste of time.

Different things matter to different people for a billions different reasons, and YES I will frikin defend vidogames till the end!

Those in favor of a more passive approach: 

Heet:

Go buy a Wii. Now. You’ll see what we’re talking about.

This response from will is a bit sad, but still valid:

I play games because I live a sad pathetic life, anything that takes my mind off that is a good thing. Since games are interactive, its an easy way to get swept up in something so I can kill more time without thinking about how sad I am. That way, it will seem like a shorter amount of time till I die.

Runner-up:

Shushu:

I feel the same way when I hear people talk about other things, like the latest pop music gossip, the Super Bowl, or even the World Series.

Come on, it’s just some guys running around, playing with a ball and a bat.

Just like every other form of recreation, in the end, you could just call it a “waste of time”, but the truth is we all need to PLAY, to turn on our imagination and engage our creativity. It’s how we explore and learn about ourselves. And if you don’t see that games are just as vital and powerful in that effect as music, movies, sports, etc… then you are probably just a different fanboy.

 

My favorite response:

questworld says it nicely:

The arguments stem more from fanboyism than anything else. No, the systems themselves aren’t that big of a deal. Your personal choice or interest will depend in the same way as it applies to anything that interests a person. If you buy a car, you buy one that’s best for you, and that pretty much revolves around budget, horse power, driving conditions (i.e. long daily commutes, city driving, etc.), and what have you. Only fanboys or aficionados would argue in detail “which is better.”

If you’re indifferent with videogames, trust me, you’re not missing much when it comes to the arguments because for the most part it is all subjective. This isn’t arguing over the positives and negatives of a medication. You don’t learn anything applicable outside of learning what you like, and that’s difficult to assess based on what others say they like. You might find some nugget of info that might make you pay notice and gain interest to a certain title, outside of that it’s all you. You see what you like, you read about it, and if it interest you, you buy it or try it.

What’s the fuss with all the arguments? Well, if there’s anything worse than arguing with fanboys, it’s arguing with fanboys in a supposed intellectual level with supposed “logic” thrown around. Seriously, what idiot would actually try to reason to another why they shouldn’t have so and so game when the latter requests for it on their system. It’s like kids trying to get the same toy in a toy box and one of them says “I’m sorry, but you’re not mature or hardcore enough to appreciate this G.I. Joe.” Even if there were two separate Joe characters to play with the former would still argue that the latter can’t play with any G.I. Joe. And that my friends is simply based on pure self serving greed. It’s as simple as that. Sounds like age old typical human bullshit logic if you ask me. Racism, sexism, religious fanatics, etc. pretty much stem from the same superiority complex.

 






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34 comments | showing # 1 to 34
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Snaileb 's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/30/2007 11:30
Snaileb
These are really intresting, and I suddenly feel depressed for Will.
JACK of No Trades's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/30/2007 11:34
JACK of No Trades
Games gives us the ability to escape from reality. They give us a way to vent. They alows us to relax and forget about the fucked reality we live in.
Zarathustra's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/30/2007 11:36
Zarathustra
Wow, she really went all out. One blog asking why do people argue about games, AND why do they play them at all. That's a tall order. The responses seem to cover both questions pretty well, and without major flaming. I'm shocked. Hooray for thoughtful, well-spoken gamers!
Mustin's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/30/2007 11:38
Mustin
People who don't play video games and/or understand them...


suck
Variable Gear's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/30/2007 11:39
Variable Gear
Oh no, will Destructoid go down the "Greater-Than-Thou" path? Check 60 Minutes this Sunday for the world exclusive!

On-Topic: I hate fanboys. Fuck 'em all!
Kyuzo's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/30/2007 11:39
Kyuzo
Yes, send Will a cake or something to cheer him up.
SpiderChrist's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/30/2007 11:43
SpiderChrist
@Kyuzo
or one of those cushiony companion cubes.
Variable Gear's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/30/2007 11:47
Variable Gear
@ JACK:

Alternate realities, FTW!

Aaron Mxy Yost's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/30/2007 11:52
Aaron Mxy Yost
Poor Will. Down the road, not across the street Will!

I can understand why console fanboyism makes little sense to a gaming outsider though... it's like someone with no interest in sports wondering why people argue so passionately about which team is better.
GuitarAtomik's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/30/2007 11:52
GuitarAtomik
Will = Emo
MaxVest's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/30/2007 11:56
MaxVest
Somebody send Lucy a Vii. It'll change her mind for sure.

Mabans's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/30/2007 12:01
Mabans
She's a woman that's why she doesn't get it. She probably doesn't get sports either. Or cars or just sitting around all day doing nothing.. The only ones (women) who do are usually ones that act like "one of the guys" (which your not by the way). Most of the demographic of video gamers are boys, guys, men. Why? because our favorite past time is to do NOTHING but what WE want to do. Aka, play video games, tinker with our car or build something. Not everything in life HAS to have some sort of purpose, sometimes we do it because it's fun. As for being a fan boy it is true with the GI Joe comparasion. I have all 3 consoles and I love all the games. Maybe I should bake cookies, that'll make that silly Hole Lucy happy..
Variable Gear's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/30/2007 12:10
Variable Gear
Bans wants the women to make him sandwiches, so that he can level up and still sustain himself. Who can argue with that.
naia-the-gamer's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/30/2007 12:30
naia-the-gamer
Bans is on thin ice on the woman comment, but I'll ignore it for now :)

I play video games because it spawns creativity and imagination. I get to do things I couldn't do in real life (save something like Wii Sports) and that's fun to me. It's also fun to play together with friends.

I'm glad the responses on her article are actually thought out and not just fanboy banter. The only thing that should get in the way of a REAL gamer from having most/all the consoles is money, and not some stupid horse betting race.

I also think she needs to find a genre she can get into, and that will change her mind.
mrkonchu's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/30/2007 12:42
mrkonchu
Hmm yea its a pointless argument and anyone even the writer of the original story could see if they actually looked. People play games because they are entertaining/fun. Same reason people watch TV and Movies or listen to music or read books. And the reason for different console selections is similar to different Genre's of those before mentioned forms of entertainment(though there is some crossover of similarity).
Variable Gear's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/30/2007 12:51
Variable Gear
@ naia-the-gamer:

Yeah she needs to find a genre that with characters that she could relate to. If she wants to play games with only female characters, may I suggest JRPGs.

FLS119's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/30/2007 12:58
FLS119
Hmm, let's see here. This Lucy girl needs to get laid....
MechaMonkey's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/30/2007 13:01
MechaMonkey
@ Variable Gear

I don't know how you did it, but you discovered concept art of a Big Mommy from Bioshock 2.
LethalHairdo's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/30/2007 13:11
LethalHairdo
Last response ftw...like I been saying about everything that people can get fanboyish about.
Variable Gear's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/30/2007 14:04
Variable Gear
@ MechaMonkey:

That is a man.
Pistolaero's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/30/2007 14:08
Pistolaero
I've always thought that gamers shouldn't be fanboys to any certain system. You might prefer one over the other and that's fine. In the end, I think its fair to say we're all fanboys of video-games. Why go any further than that?
The Incredible Edible Egg's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/30/2007 14:35
The Incredible Edible Egg
EVERYBODY GOTO THAT FORUM AND KEEP POSTING THE WORD PENIS! THAT WILL PROVE WERE NOT ALL INSANE!!!
SubOrbital's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/30/2007 15:15
SubOrbital
I'm glad she didn't get flamed to hell, because really, we shouldn't get our panties in a bunch. People have different interests and not everyone enjoys gaming, just like not everyone enjoys sport or reading, etc. It was nice to see some intelligent answers.
Eschatos's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/30/2007 15:20
Eschatos
PENIS PENIS PEINS
iliketuna's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/30/2007 15:41
iliketuna
i'll be your friend will! please dont kill yourself :( :( :(
Jark212's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/30/2007 16:11
Jark212
i would compare this to people saying who's god is better...
WDot's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/30/2007 16:47
WDot
Jark212: Honestly, most of the world has the same God, just different views on what he believes. =p

Back on topic: Was she trying to stir up a flame war or something? I'm glad most people didn't oblige. If she doesn't know why people like to play games, maybe she should play some games. Perhaps a better blog post would be... "I've never been into video games. Suggestions for getting my feet wet?"
RskimB's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/30/2007 18:21
RskimB
Thanks for upping this, wow I doubt she expected the rational responses she got.
Spartacus's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/30/2007 19:02
Spartacus
I think that Will guy needs a hug.

Great read.
Bob Muir's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/30/2007 20:37
Bob Muir
Will needs therapy.
Holiday's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/30/2007 23:18
Holiday
Quote FLS119: Hmm, let's see here. This Lucy girl needs to get laid....

Um I think that's the point, SHE IS GETTING LAID. Man oh man, I remember when people read books and wanted to travel across Europe.

But the answer to her question is...Because mass marketing now rules the 14-34 demographic.
PetiePal's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/30/2007 23:21
PetiePal
I feel for Will. Let's give him a hug, or send him a companion cube.
EthanGray13's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/31/2007 10:36
EthanGray13
One point that I think no one has mentioned yet is sour grapes. I am one of the fortunate people who can afford all the consoles, well at least I buy them all at any rate, but not everyone can. Some people simply refuse to be happy with the choices they make and must belittle others for choosing differently or belittle the product they couldn't have. When you have people like that in all camps it can get a little messy.

That being said there are also just people who are jerks who think they are the center of the universe and that the world should move to their whims and opinions. Unfortunately most of the people like this tend to also like to stir up trouble.

Why don't people who like movies, reading, cars, or shopping get publicly called to task to defend their hobbies more often?
MissHinasaki's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/31/2007 12:04
MissHinasaki
I think it can be considered an advancement in the gaming world when we retaliate with actually logical and sensible responses as oppose to freaking out and becoming really defensive. What's going to make the world more excepting is answers to questions, not attacks. Gamers are people, too. I don't know about you but I would much rather be lumped into a pile with sports fans or other fanatics as oppose to slackers and negative things like that. Maybe we don't contribute to the world as much and maybe we're just way more vocal on the internets, but god damn, we're no different than those annoying people who write reviews for some play that they publish in some paper, and they're accepted.
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