500°

5 Reasons It's Still Not Cool to Admit You're a Gamer

Let's get this out of the way right now: The only reason I don't have more game consoles hooked to my TV is because I'm out of ports on the back for cables to plug into, and I don't want to have to get off the sofa to switch over. I've been playing video games since the Carter administration. So do not compare me to Roger "I never play video games yet dismiss them as worthless" Ebert here. Just... don't. I would have taken my SNES as my date to senior prom if they had let me.

But the thing is, I grew up. Gaming didn't. Why? Why is it that of all my many hobbies--reading, motocross, Gun Kata--only gaming lowers my sense of self worth? Maybe it's because...

Natsu X FairyTail5086d ago

kind of a funny read to me but I dont hide the fact that I'm a gamer. To say the truth I dont even mind calling my self a geek in way. I do love Games , ComicBooks , Mangas , PVC action figures , Collectibles, SuperHero Movies japanese Music , UnderGround New School hiphop , Indie music and etc etc

blizzard_cool5086d ago

I agree, why the fuck would I hide the thing I like. I'm not ashamed of my self...

Hideo_Kojima5086d ago (Edited 5086d ago )

But where I live geeks are now cool.

Edit: The article says its been 30 years and all we had were mindless games but Heavy Rain did very well and was popular towards some casuals.

I think the reason why mindless games seem to be even more popular is because people just want them to be nothing more.

SeanRL5086d ago

What really pisses me off is when you are good at a game or you know a lot about a game and then someone calls you a "gamer" like it's an insult. We're not all fat antisocial people. I work out, I love to act, I've got great friends and I'm a gamer. I don't understand how people think it's an insult to be a gamer.

presto7175086d ago

People still look at me as a "gamer". Even though my rep is steadily climbing. But still...

Hideo_Kojima5086d ago

I know people that are proud hardcore gamers and walk around with N64 Tshirts and yet they are popular.

As long as you have charisma it doesn't matter if you like watching game reviews and marking game releases on you calender.

I think the reason why some gamers are unpopular is because they lack social skills to begin with which makes them boring.

They don't become unpopular because they like games.

The stereotype between uncool and gamers has gone in my area just like the stereotype of people wearing glasses and book worms has vanished in most places.

rockleex5085d ago (Edited 5085d ago )

That much.

But thankfully Sony's here to provide me with more than just mindless games.

Uncharted 2, Heavy Rain, ICO, SOTC, Last Guardian, GT5, etc.

Playstation grew up with me, its the main reason why I'm still a gamer today. Proud to be one. ^_^

rockleex5085d ago

Not if you play MGS games.

The stories are even better than Bond movies. Close to The Dark Knight levels.

How about Xenogears?

Silent Hill 1?

He conveniently forgets that 99% of all movies have crap storylines and are just crap in general.

Videogames are like that too.

Prototype5085d ago

Who cares what people think

I'm a gamer, you either respect me or find someone else to talk to, end of story.

IcarusOne5082d ago

Especially the "shiny tech" argument where fanboys count pixels instead of giving a shit about the game's story or characters. The fact that in one breath people can piss all over Avatar for "having no story and being only about the technology" and then douche a 360 game for being subHD is almost hilarious...

If it weren't for the fact that 90% of the people on N4G are these people.

+ Show (5) more repliesLast reply 5082d ago
ThanatosDMC5086d ago

They think gamers are those weird no life people. Those people are idiots.

Trey_4_life5085d ago

We wouldn't have this issue if it wasn't for the halo geeks ruining the image of gamers.

We all know it's the illiterate children who play that cartoony shooter that gives gamers this image.

Nike5086d ago

I never really found it a prob to be a gamer. I mean, my girlfriend games and has recently gotten into Dragon Age (and flirted with Alistair - f**king Alistair), before which she was into Arkham Asylum and Age of Mythology.

But what I've found is that every one is generally accepting of gamers so long as we don't bring it up in every conversation like it's the only thing we live for (which it obviously isn't - even renowned game journalists like Leigh Alexander admits she'd love other conversation topics besides gaming when she's done with work). I'm pretty sure other professionals don't do that either.

My girlfriend wants to talk about Dragon Age, then I also tell her about AD&D games, Baldur's Gate 2 and Awakenings. Do I preach about the artistic merit of Chrono Trigger while we're having lunch together? For that matter, do attorneys give legal advice, psychologists psychoanalyse or chartered accountants get taxes when doing the same with their loved ones? Not really, and not on a humongous scale.

TrailerParkSupervisr5086d ago

that pic at the end is hilarious! the guy dressed up as a Big Daddy.

PS: don't wear that on your first E-Harmony meet-n-greet.

CellularDivision5086d ago

Ill be honest, I do not call myself a gamer. Ever. Gamers are loosers.

Also...

American comics are better than manga.

Ghost Rider (awsome burning skull) vs YuYuHakusho (14 year old kid spirit gun ooh scary)

XabiTheHumble5086d ago

You just basically exposed your self as an example of point number 2. Instead of focusing on the story of the manga your to worried about how cool the character looks. 12 year old confirmed.

IcarusOne5082d ago

What was the point of that comment?

MisterNiwa5086d ago

But you hate the Playstation, ohohohohoho.
CONTRADTICTION MUCH, ISNT IT?

Ok so, I agree with most of you guys..

If I were to say that I enjoy games, and someone would be like:"Really? You are a Gamer?" Id just say: "Yeah.. so what?"

Geez, people these days.

HolyOrangeCows5086d ago (Edited 5086d ago )

"I'm going to guess these sessions rank right up there with a men's room conversation with a stranger at the very next urinal, while the stranger is pooping in it"
LOL, funny article.

I'm so ashamed of my gamer-ness! *Slit, slit, slit*

EDIT: I disagree with number one. Having high standards for something we put $60 smackers (And a heck of a lot more outside the US) on isn't a crime.

tinybigman5086d ago

about my gaming habits i tell them to go to hell hahahaha.

Imperator5086d ago

Why would anyone be embarrassed of being a gamer? It's a hobby I love.

+ Show (6) more repliesLast reply 5082d ago
Dsnyder5086d ago

But he makes some good points. Especially in the immature sexual elements and the gamers whining over sub HD. When Bayonetta came out I knew gaming had reached a new low. It was getting unbelivably good scores for basiclly being about a woman with 6 ft legs and a grapefruit heat runing around provacatively and pulling off stripping dances with every finishing move. I protested the game on n4g and most people either said that I was a butthurt ps3 fanboy or I was gay (really now?) and I realised with such an acceptance on low forms of entertainment like this, gaing wont be considered a mature medium for a long time.

Then there is the whole pixel counting thing and comparing multiplat games with minimal graphical differences. The fact that people can whine over a few minute pixels missing for your game is pretty sad but going as far as to compare GTA IV's minimal graphical differences between the console versions just to win your fanboy wars is childish. Fanboys dont know when to just shut up and admit that thier cause is not helping anything.

Reibooi5086d ago

Bayonetta was reviewed so well because it has some of the best action combat ever put in a game.

In fact if you spent time reading any of the reviews you would know that 90% of the complaints about the game was the over the top sexual presentation of Bayonetta herself. That however doesn't change the fact that the game has excellent game play and combat and that's why it was reviewed so well.

Baka-akaB5086d ago (Edited 5086d ago )

i do noy know where your allegiance lies , and i frankly dont care .

Like said above , pretty much every complains about the game was precisely about its massive amount of erotic material and skimpy outfits , with it's very confusing yet paperthin plot .

Pretty much most reviews gave warnings about that aspects of the game , and were only compelled to still give it good grades , because underneath it all , the gameplay was that deep and that good .

You also mention something , that makes me go mad quite often ... why that butthurting need of "maturity" , and "acceptance" ?
Is your self esteem so low , as a gamer , that you feel such a longing ?

Mature medium ? Wich exactly ?

Was de Sade , Beaudelaire , and many other poets and writers , comtemporary or from the past , that concerned about appearances and posturing , that it prevented them from writing basically porn prose ? And did it stopped them from becoming classic authors , while scandaleous in their lifetime ?

Again wasnt one of this year's smashing tv hit , Spartacus , a gratuitous display of naked women , sex scenes , and blood ?

Isnt transformers one of the biggest movie success of the decade , with over 800 millions $ , when it's as dumb as it could be , and an excuse for many to oogle at megan fox ?

The only criteria of acceptance games need , is the amount of people playing , and it's worth as an industry . It already easily equally successful if not superior to tv and movies , with an ever increasing user base

If game studios stopped doing whatever they want , and kept following code established by so called superior or more mature medium , they would just shrivel into mediocrity .

Nike5086d ago

Never really checked out the Alan Wake graphical analysis articles when they came out, but lol, did they really go into so much detail? Quite hilarious.

dizzleK5086d ago

girls don't want to know that your k/d ratio is actually bigger than your penis.

XabiTheHumble5086d ago

Luckily for me, both are pretty impressive.

jjesso19935086d ago

Im not ashamed either why be ashamed of somthing I enjoy i have never ever been put down for liking games and I would not let anyone put me down for somthing I enjoy

Show all comments (57)
250°

Microsoft’s Surface and Xbox hardware revenues take a big hit in Q3

Microsoft just posted the third quarter of its 2024 fiscal financial results. The software maker made $61.9 billion in revenue and a net income of $21.9 billion during Q3. Revenue is up 17 percent, and net income has increased by 20 percent.

Read Full Story >>
theverge.com
darthv7221h ago

Xbox content + services up 62% while hardware down 31%... seems about right with the way they tout you don't need the hardware to play. People can play on their phones or smart tv or other means. I don't hardly play on my consoles directly since getting devices like the logitech g-cloud and ps portal. Which is to also say I have been playing more digital than physical because of these devices.

solideagle8h ago

you should apply in MS PR team buddy, I think you will do a great job in my humble opinion :)

Sonic18815h ago

I thought darthv72 and Obscure_Observer already work for Microsoft 🤔

dveio5h ago

MS: "Xbox services and content without AB up 1%, with AB up 62%. Hardware down 31%. In total a loss of 350 mill."

darthv72: "Seems about right."

MS: "Excuse m ..."

darthv72: "I don't hardly play on my consoles directly."

MS:

Lightning7733m ago

What he said was facts. How he plays games is no concern of you. Don't get too mad about it.

Cacabunga7h ago

I can tell people like you are an absolute minority..

If service is up means their fans and fanboys accepted this model and subscribed to it. The near future you will see a big decline because the service is saturated.

shinoff21837h ago

But that's been ms for years. When things aren't going their way they try to change the way things are said. For instance console sales are down, they stop telling how many sold instead telling us how many hours spent in halo or headshots. So it makes sense console sales down just say people are playing on more devices then previous. What they won't say is how many xbox players jumped ship to ps5.

Cacabunga5h ago

Hardware sales are so bad that Sony and Nintendo are blowing the sales off the water with their hardware.

If Xbox are losers, others aren’t..
Xbox already tried everything with Xbox live then subscriptions went down so much that they had to find something else. Their fans subscribed then reached saturation rather quickly.

Hardware and exclusive games is where it’s at! Keep gamers excited, announce decent software and people will support you

itsmebryan1h ago

@shin
Well keep it simple Sony 's operating income is down 26% and Microsoft's is up 32%. No MS spin there, just facts. 😉
Cheers

romulus2343m ago

Odd that a company that touts you dont need the hardware to play is already touting another console in the works.

darthv7231m ago

They are not reliant on the HW but still want to maintain a presence (no matter how small) is a good thing. It shows commitment to the craft. It reminds me of SNK and how they made games for their own hardware (Neo Geo) while also making them for others because they knew there was a market to do so. They knew they would sell more to others but also sell to their own niche fan base.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 31m ago
purple10110h ago

Xbox hardware revenue tanks to lowest point of Xbox Series generation

Profchaos10h ago

I'm not surprised surface is struggling they aren't relevant anymore

XBManiac9h ago

Too expensive hardware when others offer the same or more for less? Good work, Green Team.

SimpleDad9h ago(Edited 9h ago)

"Despite some early successes for Xbox games on rival platforms, Xbox hardware is down by a massive 31 percent this quarter."
"Without Activision Blizzard, Microsoft’s overall gaming revenue would have actually declined this quarter."
"Xbox content and services would have only been up a single percent without Activision Blizzard..."
"It looks like next quarter is going to be a similar story for gaming at Microsoft, too."

That is crazy... so A/B/K is carrying the whole Xbox gaming.
Oh and Microsoft will be fine. Windows, Office and Cloud are growing with each pc purchase.

purple1018h ago

Activision: "we gonna need a bigger rucksack/backpack please"

Microsoft: "why's that"

Activision: "to carry yo' weak ass'

Profchaos8h ago(Edited 8h ago)

Top brass have also wanted to start seeing returns on the 100 billion they have put into various Xbox related moves so seeing more multiplatform games is highly likely especially from abk

It's basically saying that PlayStation is the reason Xbox is afloat right now thinks to Ps5 versions of COD

Kornholic7h ago

So basically PS and PC gamers' money is keeping Xbox on life support.

MrDead11m ago

The only growth MS will get out of the console industry is if it supports it's rivals platforms. Xbox is a pointless machine now. I can see them on a big push for live next, and they won't give up on trying to buy Steam.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 11m ago
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140°

Why Monopolies In Gaming Must Not Be Allowed

As of right now, there are no monopolies in the games industry, and for the sake of the medium as a whole, they never should either.

thorstein19h ago

Shouldn't be allowed in any field.

Inverno16h ago

And yet the biggest tech companies in America are essentially that. They buy up all the small comps only to kill them off and steal what they have, and if they can't buy em they bleed them to death.

jwillj2k415h ago

Eventually they’ll realize the value is with the employee not the company. Buying an IP means nothing if the people who contributed are let go. They’ll get it one day.

MrCrimson14h ago

tech is different because they buy threats and then kill them. Twitter bought Vine and did nothing with it. Despite people seemingly liking it. Could've had tiktok a decade before bytedance. go figure.

Zenzuu15h ago

Monopolies shouldn't be allowed regardless. Not just for gaming.

MrCrimson14h ago

They buy IPs not talent. That's why these buyouts never work and the IPs die. Right now it's too expensive to develop games - but I expect that to shift maybe as AI tools can make it easier. The best games have been indie games for awhile as big developers fuck their ips to death with "games as a service" -

120°

This Gigabyte GPU is now among the cheapest RTX 4090s on Amazon after a hefty deal

On Amazon, you can't get an RTX 4090 for less than this one from Gigabyte, which now offers great value after an eye-catching April deal.