Console Wars: The Biggest Casualty Is The Reputation Of Gamers

The "Console War" is raging on into next-gen, but at the expense of the reputation of ALL gamers. I'm tired of seeing gamers treating each other poorly over which console they purchased. All this hate and hostility undermines what gaming is all about, which is having fun.

[jhoward585]

Good read. I agree, the fanaticism of gaming has really got out of hand this GEN.

[TheDude79]

Thanks bud! Just trying to do my part in bringing gamers together!

[Eonjay]

There are people who fight over things you wouldn't believe. I think competition is great as long as people don't take things personally. Our back and forward sparing doesn't hold a candle to political, spiritual, or even other ideological debates. But its still gets petty at times.

Don't expect gamers to be united as long as media outlets are using the "console war" to gain hits for advertising.

Instead of focusing on games that everyone can play, they will chose a few exclusives to focus on and ram those stories down your throat. When they do talk about games everyone can play (and there are dozens), they focus on resolution gate. Fanboys respond to whats presented as news. We need, first and foremost, a better class of gaming journalism.

[MysticStrummer]

I'd say the biggest casualty is the hurt feelings of overly sensitive fanboys, no matter what their chosen brand is. The general consensus from non-gamers is that gaming is childish anyway, even though gamer demographics don't really support that argument and haven't for a long time, so the "wars" don't really impact gamer reputation much.

If you meant the reputation of individual gamers among the rest of the community, then I agree. Either way, it was a good read.

[jhoward585]

Anytime. You deserve a + bub for a well written article.

[randomass171]

That's crazy, I actually wrote a blog about this topic not long ago. Really glad to see others discussing this as well. :)

[3-4-5]

* I'm glad all games are made. Some I don't respect, and other's I'm just not ready for, but I'm glad they are made for those that want to play them.

* Video games aren't for ME, they are for US ALL.

* It goes hand in hand with the entitled spoiled brat syndrome that is plaguing the US currently.

* IF something doesn't happen exactly as they want it, then they bash it because they didn't get their way.

* Another thing: ALL The Dev's chasing the quick money now, won't exist in 10 years.

[ATi_Elite]

"we’re trash-talking about the monthly NPD report?"

Like Allen Iverson would say

"we are talking about a NPD sales report, a SALES REPORT, not the fun we have playing the games but a sales report.

.....and this amazes me!

[TitanUp]

the only sales i care about are mmorpg if the sales arent good the mmo of my choice could be in jeopardy

[mcarsehat]

What the reputation of nerdy, graphics obsessed, conflictual man-children?

yeah, suppose so...

[osprey19]

Fully agree with this. Ive seen people snub fun games because they aren't 1080p@60fps. Its all got rather pathetic.

[MasterCornholio]

I agree. Nothing wrong with playing a game like Infamous at 1080P 30FPS when the games fun and a ton of PS4 owners enjoyed it.

[SpinalRemains138]

Yes.

I actually don't understand all the sub 7.5 scores for the game.

Were they playing the same game? The game is a blast and beautiful to boot. I really hate how so many gamers and reviewers have become so entitled. Far too many seek perfection with every iteration and anything less gets criticized as sub par or as boring. I really don't get it.

[randomass171]

I've seen people snub games for being made by the wrong developer. :/ Some guy I used to know was psyched for Ducktales Remastered. The moment he heard it wasn't developed in house by Capcom, he stopped caring altogether.

[TheEnigma313]

This is a good article I just think MS soured a lot of people. They came into this gen all wrong. MS fueled a lot more hatred towards them.

[TheDude79]

I agree that Microsoft made some mistakes when it came to delivering their message to gamers when the Xbox One was announced, but all this hate and such has been happening for a few years now. PlayStation fanboys are just as much at fault as Xbox fanboys.This is something that we all have to take responsibility for

[Belasco]

Case in point, blaming everything on "the other guy". This has been going on for a long time,it's not new.

[MorePowerOfGreen]

This didn't help either, matter of fact it caused most of this gen's issues, being the biggest factor of setting the tone for this generation. https://www.youtube.com/wat... Gaming is like this because Sony breeds and depends on a certain type of gamer to fight their battles.

[MysticStrummer]

Are you really not aware of how ironic it is that you would comment on this subject?

MS was the reason Sony's E3 press conference was so effective. They bought that on themselves with their own arrogance and poor decisions, just like Sony's arrogance and poor decisions had them at a disadvantage when last gen started.

You can't possibly think that clip "caused most of this gen's issues". MS has done the same thing to Sony more than once. It's just business, and it's been going on in the console industry for more than 30 years.

[vitullo31]

you are such a pathetic person

[iceman06]

Ahhh, the moment where a known fanboy enters an anti-fanboy argument with fanboy banter...priceless!?!? Nah, just sad!!!

[DoesUs]

If you want to know why MPOG is the biggest fanboi on here, and has been for years, check Lucas replies in the below thread. Caught with multiple accounts.

http://n4g.com/news/1484565...

[GarrusVakarian]

You know....ive heard you bring up this argument multiple times now and i think it's about time i call you out on it.

You constantly say how it's not MS's fault for the public's soured view of them in recent times.....but instead it's actually SONYS fault for encouraging it's fans to "keep the hate going".

I'm sorry, but that argument is absolutely pathetic and could only be made by someone as delusional as you. MS and MS only are to blame for their soured reputation amongst gamers, THEY are the ones who abandoned the core gamers in the last 3 years of the 360's cycle, THEY are the ones who tried to change how we game by taking away the control whilst also gaining our wallets, THEY are the ones who told us to "get a 360" if we didn't like it and constantly acted like we were dumb peasants for "not getting" their vision.

You can carry on telling YOURSELF that the MS hate has been caused by some ridiculous Sony conspiracy, but you aren't fooling ANYONE. Every ounce of hate that MS has received has been 100% self-inflicted. I can't believe you are even attempting to try and twist self-inflicted doubt and scepticism towards Sony.

Did Sony take advantage of the backlash? OG COURSE! It's business, you take advantage of any slip-up your direct competitor makes. But to say Sony, and i quote, " breeds and depends on a certain type of gamer" is downright delusional. They made money from people who didn't want to take MS's crap......how can you blame them for that?

And just like 'DoesUS' mentions below. I've called you out about your multiple trolling accounts over the years here, so how can anyone take what you say seriously? You even made an account called 'PS3Slim' and pretended to like Sony and the PS3 while stealth trolling it. You are nothing but a blind MS sheep and everyone here see's right through you.

http://n4g.com/user/home/ps...

(He gave his PSN ID out multiple times over multiple accounts, giving himself away).

Oh and btw, i watched the video.....how in the hell is that trolling MS?! They announced their policies, that would have been finalized MONTHS beforehand, in front of a live audience...and due to the previous news about MS and their horrible DRM policies creating worries in peoples minds about if Sony were going to do the same, the crowd cheered and applauded, which is exactly what i did when i watched it. I'm so glad that video makes you so bitter and im glad MS didn't get their own way.

Just admit it, once and for all, you HATE how successful the PS4 has become and you hate that MS's mishaps only added to that success. You hate it and you will try and deflect it any way you can.

[ziggurcat]

@ MPOG:

you know, calling sony out for "trolling" or causing a generation's problems is a moot point because this happened:

http://www.dailymotion.com/...

so it's time you got off of that tiny, little soap box of yours because MS's problems this generation (so far) have been caused by them repeatedly shoving their own feet into their mouths. Sony or their fans have had nothing to do with it...

[randomass171]

But that also brought gamers together in a way. Suddenly xbox and PS fans found common ground with the things Microsoft was doing wrong, and the massive backlash helped reverse all that.

[djplonker]

Since when did us gamers have a reputation?

everyone has an opinion and grouping everyone under the word gamer is dumb look at andriod v apple or bmw v ford even outside of gaming there heated discussions about what is better.... god damn gamer hippys go hug a minecraft tree!

[cfc78]

I think we all have a bit of fanboyism in us but some people just take it to far to the point where gaming and having fun takes 2nd place which is not what its all about.

[creatchee]

Exactly. And for the love of all that is holy, I cannot understand people who spend more time ragging on the console that they DIDN'T buy than they do playing the console that they actually did.

[iceman06]

Especially in the classical sense, you know, being a dedicated fan of the industry. Now, that fanatical take where you feel like you have to attack anybody and everybody who doesn't agree with you...yeah, it's a bit much.

[Elwenil]

I think it's human nature. People argue about their favorite choice of a multiple all the time. Sports teams, car manufacturers, political parties, favorite beer, favorite colors, etc, etc. People want to support what they like and with that sometimes comes putting down it's competitor. Granted, many people take it too far and descend to juvenile levels but competition is bred into us and most of us do it to one extent or another unless you are completely passive and near comatose.

As for a gamer's reputation, I don't even thing that figures into the equation since there is no cost to it. Being an extreme fanboy might make you look ridiculous to outsiders, or make you hated by the fanboys of a competing product, but it's not going to cost anything major in real life since it's mainly an Internet phenomenon. We all have opinions, we all want to express them and have others support our opinion and some of us simply feel jaded or slighted when someone goes another way. The general anonymity of the Internet seems to make people go a bit farther than they would in person, otherwise it might just be normal, usually good natured "trash talking". But in the end there is no cost, no penalty for taking an extreme stance so I wouldn't expect it to go away anytime soon, nor would I expect many to worry about their "fanboy rep".

[randomass171]

Gamers' reputations fall into the big picture, I think. It's difficult for the rest of entertainment to take video games seriously and part of it is because you don't commonly see people complain about movies or TV shows the way we complain about video games. Those communities don't usually go at each other, that's also pretty uncommon. Gamers just seem to breed a lot of anger and negativity that just doesn't need to be there it seems.

[cfc78]

When it gets to the point when xbox and ps fans start meeting up for a battle royal in the streets then i think its gone to far but at the moment its just how it is pretty harmless but annoying at times.

[choujij]

Is it as bad as people fighting over religion, politics or sports teams?

Last time I checked, I haven't heard of any shootings, stabbings or riots taking place because someone said "Xbone sucks" or "Stupid console peasant".

[TheDude79]

I'm by no means suggesting that it's on that level as those, those are definitely unique in their own ways. But the is an issue amongst gamers, and as a gamer I'm voicing my concern with it.

[choujij]

I understand and appreciate what you're saying. It's just that from my perspective, I've seen the console wars take place since the Sega and Nintendo days (ever watch Billy Madison?).

I think the only real reason the console wars have been more heated as of late, is that a large number of consumers were quite put off by the policies that the MS was going to employ (whether or not the policies were understood). The more passionate or excited people feel about a topic, the more likely they are to be vocal about it.

Unfortunately, a lot of people (often without realizing it) consider their materiel possessions as an extension of themselves or who they are. So when someone puts down something that they may own or are quite fond of, often they feel the need to defend themselves or the product in question or retaliate.

Other than that, it's really no different than the typical Sony vs Nintendo vs MS vs PC vs MAC arguments that are much like the Star Wars vs Star Trek, Marvel vs DC arguments type arguments. They're not going to go away, so you learn to live with it.

[Illusive_Man]

Sony Fans were so amped up after getting thrashed the better part of last gen by Nintendo and Microsoft on the portable and home console front. Now their anger has spilled over and they've become so deluded they actually think that PS4 is more powerful than PC and that good games only require they be 1080p/60fps. Pure delusion. Their fanaticism has ruined the gaming community.

[MysticStrummer]

…said a person who's clearly part of the problem.

[Alsybub]

It has become out of hand.

Right or wrong though, your comment will definitely incite some hate.

[jhoward585]

A true fan boy is one thing, but a double minded fan boy is another.

A double minded fan boy are the worst because their opinion diminishes over time. Its no longer about what they really think /feel about their system of choice.

well,I've notice some gamers on here have been Spouting their fan boyish for both console(x1/ps4)

I think that where the out of control behavior got started.

This is just of the beginning of the console war ,and I'm afraid after E3 its going to be hell.

[yewles1]

6 to 7 years too late for this one.

[QuickdrawMcgraw]

Hahaha what a holier then thou written article...I have enjoyed and read a lot of funny lines from fanboys over the years...Even been swayed enough by Xbox fanboys to actually buy a 360 last gen...There are fanboys for many things...Sport teams,Auto's,phone's,e ct....Fanboys wear their hearts on their sleeves for all to see...You never have to guess where they are coming from...I rather have that then people who are wishy washy...Who even if they prefer something over another...Would never say why...Just so they can seem reasonable(for lack of a better word)and so so mature...Enjoy your superiority and quiet life...I will choose to enjoy the humor,fire,and passion of the lowlife unreasonable fanboys...PS4>Xbox1

[tgunzz]

Where this is heading is beyond blogs.. The root to the so called product debate is actually an attack on an individuals choice (and that's the way the majority will take it), it's the way it's communicated.... The comfort level to disrespect people grows through these articles, and eventually it will hit outside. We will at some point see events on the news, that trace it's flame back to a multitude of articles from websites (who don't moderate) the comments as they should, where they will find racist over tones, porno, insults, etc, etc, etc.... The sadness is that a great outlet for gamers to commune was allowed to be tainted by simple poor customer service... When that first comment came through that was full of disrespect, and insults (on any website)they allowed it to post (that's the beginning)... Terrible indeed.....

[Museigen]

Pointless article, console wars have been around ever since Nintendo vs SEGA. They'll be around until consoles stop being made.

" We need real gamers to stand up and ignore these idiots, don’t respond to them, and don’t give them the time of day. Block them from Twitter, tag them as spam in forums, and report them to mods."

Wow...really? In the end, it's an individual's opinion, which are they entitled to. Yet, you say block, or mark their opinion as spam. This could be applied to your article, since you're calling people idiots for having an opinion. You in turn would be one of those idiots, since your blog is purely your opinion.

BTW, what's a 'real gamer' to you? someone who owns all 3 consoles...smh News flash...a 'gamer' is not someone who owns all game consoles, but rather someone who plays more than one game genre. 'Fun' is subjective, what's fun to you may not be 'fun' to someone else. Everyone should have an opinion about the products they buy, whether good or bad.

[TheDude79]

"Wow...really? In the end, it's an individual's opinion, which are they entitled to. Yet, you say block, or mark their opinion as spam. This could be applied to your article, since you're calling people idiots for having an opinion. You in turn would be one of those idiots, since your blog is purely your opinion."

Had your actually read the article correctly without assuming it was an article about bashing people and their opinions, you would know that I'm not bashing people for their opinions. I respect opinions, even yours, but it's when people get hostile and belittling others is where a line is crossed and is totally unnecessary. And if you think people should accept these rude, insulting, sometimes threatening "opinions" than you're apart of a minority my friend. Everyone is entitled to an opinion, and I would never argue that. Just like you can throw yours around on here, I can voice mine on my site. However I don't think anyone should have to tolerate or endure the types of comments that I'm referring to. I'm sorry you didn't like our article, but I respect your thoughts on it.

Oh, and a real gamer is someone that enjoys gaming regardless of what system they play on, and doesn't bash others because they enjoy games on another console. I never said anyone had to own all 3 consoles to be a real gamer, so please don't spin my words to justify your false accusations. I want gamers to get along, to embrace gaming together. Thanks for reading the article though.

[jhoward585]

TheDude79

Right on man.. I couldn't have said it better.

Dang, N4g are full of immature little school boys who don't have enough common sense to know everyone are entitle to their own opinion.

[Skate-AK]

Some peoples reputation got ruined more than others.