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 FairyTail5098d 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_cool5098d ago

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

Hideo_Kojima5098d ago (Edited 5098d 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.

SeanRL5098d 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.

presto7175098d ago

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

Hideo_Kojima5098d 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.

rockleex5097d ago (Edited 5097d 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. ^_^

rockleex5097d 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.

Prototype5097d ago

Who cares what people think

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

IcarusOne5094d 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 5094d ago
ThanatosDMC5098d ago

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

Trey_4_life5097d 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.

Nike5098d 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.

TrailerParkSupervisr5098d 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.

CellularDivision5098d 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)

XabiTheHumble5097d 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.

IcarusOne5094d ago

What was the point of that comment?

MisterNiwa5098d 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.

HolyOrangeCows5098d ago (Edited 5098d 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.

tinybigman5098d ago

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

Imperator5097d ago

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

+ Show (6) more repliesLast reply 5094d ago
Dsnyder5098d 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.

Reibooi5098d 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-akaB5098d ago (Edited 5098d 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 .

Nike5098d 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.

dizzleK5098d ago

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

XabiTheHumble5097d ago

Luckily for me, both are pretty impressive.

jjesso19935098d 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

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80°

NVIDIA's popular RTX 3080 is now at its lowest price ever on Amazon amid 50 series rumors

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60°

The Nordic Game 2024 (NG24) Spring conference is to host more than 150 speakers

"While the 20 year anniversary edition of Nordic Game, NG24 Spring's homepage on 21-24 May in Malmö, Sweden, is getting closer, the organizers announced that more than 150 speakers are now lined up for the show." - Nordic Game.

170°

I Miss When Games Came In Full Package Rather Than Broken Mess Filled With Microtransactions

The gaming industry has drifted away from offering full-fledged games to putting unfinished titles that are jam-packed with microtransactions on the market.

Read Full Story >>
gamescordia.com
Christopher2d ago

It's not the fault of the gaming industry. Gamers were told what was happening, were warned about where this would lead, did nothing, and now are acting like it's the fault of publishers that they kept buying these games and investing in MTX. If only those gamers at that time felt as strongly about these things as they do Helldivers 2.

Hugodastrevas2d ago

I don't think MTX target the common gamer but instead predate on the so called "whales". It's gambling pure and simple.

Christopher1d 23h ago

Oh, so it's okay to buy MTX-laden games as long as you don't spend money on MTX, which has led to even more MTX-laden games with even more predatory practices where content that used to be unlocked is now behind paywalls?

C'mon now people. You gave the corporations and inch, and they kept taking and taking. Community members told people that investing in these things alone would only lead to more and more MTX and putting more and more behind paywalls. But it's only the fault of the corporations, not the people who kept supporting it with purchases as more and more was taken away?

Hugodastrevas1d 22h ago

@Christopher that's a straw man, I didn't say any of that I just added context.

-Foxtrot1d 20h ago

Well exactly

People stand up for something which seems small to them and they get called whiners or negative. Then years later the shit hits the fan and they all go “why is this happening?” Like they are innocent.

The issue aswell is younger gamers who grew up with all this thinking it’s normal and we all just look like old farts yelling at clouds when we’re trying to help us all, even them.

Crows901d 2h ago

Who woulda thought that listening to your elders could be a good idea...too late now

Hofstaderman1d 1h ago

It all started with that damn horse armour. Back then I thought nobody was stupid to buy into that crap. How wrong I was....

CrimsonWing691d ago (Edited 1d ago )

I like how people move the goal-post. First it’s, f*ck any game with MTX’s, f*ck GaaS games, f*ck this game with “optional” MTX’s (Dragon’s Dogma 2), Helldivers 2 is ok because it’s fun and even though it has Battle Passes or Season Passes and MTX’s it’s ok because… you don’t need to buy them? 🤷‍♂️

HellDivers 2 is the best selling game this year. Just think about that, games like FF7 Rebirth sold poorly, but a continuous game that lives off recurring revenue sells extraordinarily well. Then we’ll hear everyone b*tch about a GaaS future.

I really wonder what this industry would’ve been like if we never gave into this crap, and yes I’m saying “WE” since I’m guilty of it, but man it’s literally no closing the door once it’s been opened.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 1d ago
Hugodastrevas2d ago

This is what amazed me the most when playing hours upon hours of stellar Blade version 1.00.00 no bugs, no crashes, no sudden drops in frames, no screen tear, no falling from the world, just a complete package on a game under 50GB.
I think Korea will play a major role in gaming in the long run , because they're releasing banger after banger.

isarai2d ago

Still pretty common to find if you stay away from the AAA publishers, in the last 10yrs ive probably only bought like 3 games combined from EA/ACTIVISION/UBISOFT. Even now i still buy games that work right out the box perfectly fine. Just recently got like 6hrs into Alone in the Dark, and not a single sign of any of that bs, really enjoying my time with it.

shinoff21831d 17h ago

There's such a misconception about every game needing a patch,this and that when in reality it's not even close. You nailed it isarai

Crows901d 2h ago

It's really only AAA devs and publishers that seem to have these constant problems

z2g1d 3h ago (Edited 1d 3h ago )

And we as gamers have to accept our role in that. Constantly never being satisfied. Constantly demanding more while paying less. Constantly demanding better frame rates, better graphics, more modes and faster faster faster…. Then review bombing the product when a demand isn’t met. Meanwhile those same demands are making games more difficult, complex and more expensive to create than ever before, on shrinking timelines that burn out employees and make their lives miserable.

You wanna know why so many games get delayed? Cuz the original release dates weren’t realistic to begin with, but you can’t tell a gamer their game is further away than they want to hear. Some dev or game designer will be threatened physically. That builds even more pressure and rushing. We are officially squeezing water out of rocks and still complaining about that how hard you have to squeeze the rock be just waiting for rain. Most of the time we take it out on the developing studio, when it’s the publisher making the calls.

All you need to do is read the comments on most websites and social media to see how toxic, entitled and petty the gaming community at large is, and realize how that transforms into impossible expectations on the parts of game makers.

Crows901d 2h ago

Nope. Some gamers are to blame. Never demanded anything you mentioned.

A fully finished and functioning product is a standard. It's not demanded. If someone sells you a tv that only works 60% of the time are you going to recommend it OR write a review calling out the obvious problem...it's not a demand...it's a standard.

A standard triple A publishers can't seem to hit consistently.

thorstein1d ago

You've never heard of planned obsolescence.

HankHill21h ago

I take it you like microtransactions? 🤣

Kinza550121d 3h ago (Edited 1d 3h ago )

This is one battle that gamers have never won, hahaha. They were parading recently for their "win" against Sony. Where's the energy for this one, guys? LMAO!

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